Creative Council Bill Reported Out of Committee

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NORTH ADAMS – A bill that would establish a state Creative Economy Council was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Wednesday, according to state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams. House bill No. 4227, An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Creative Economy Council, would create the council within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. "If you look at the history of this state, you can see that we have consistently been a hotbed of Yankee innovation. We can claim the first power transformer created in Pittsfield, the first public school, the first mutual fund, the first viral immunization, and the first use of ether," said Bosley, House chairman of the committee. "By creating this council, we draw attention to our proud history of innovation and our future of creating jobs and enriching lives." The key points of the bill are as follows: ●The council’s mission is to develop a statewide strategy for the enhancement, encouragement, and growth of the creative economy in the Commonwealth, and to promote through public and private means responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices. ●The council will reflect the depth and breadth of experience and intelligence that we have in the commonwealth, including stakeholders from all the diverse sectors of the creative and innovative economy and key members of state government. The council will also: ● Research and evaluate studies done in other states to locate and identify best practices that easily transfer to the Commonwealth; ● Build upon the recommendations of the "Innovation Agenda: Growing the Creative Economy in Massachusetts" statewide conference of May 3, 2006, and the Berkshire Creative Economy Report, in order to develop a state wide strategy for enhancement of the creative economy; ● Provide recommendations on restructuring economic programs within state government to enhance our creative economy efforts; and ● Provide strategies and proposed legislation where necessary to provide linkage between programs to enhance the creative economy. Bosley also added a member from the Berkshire Creative Economy Initiative to the Creative Economy Council.
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Pittsfield Road Cut Moratorium

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's annual city road cut moratorium will be in effect from Nov. 29, 2024 to March 15, 2025. 
 
The road cut moratorium is implemented annually, as a precautionary measure, to ensure roads are kept clear of construction work during snow events and to limit the cuts in roads that are filled with temporary patches while material is unavailable.
 
During this period, steel plates are not to be used to cover open excavations in roads. Also, the Department of Public Services and Utilities will not be issuing the following permits:
 
• General Permit
• Sewer Public Utility Connection Permit
• Stormwater Public Utility Connection Permit
• Water Public Utility Connection Permit
• Trench Permit
 
Limited exceptions will be made for emergency work that is determined to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of a property or its occupants.
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