Governor Baker Signs Bill To Ensure First Responders’ Confidential Access to Mental Health Services

Governor Baker Signs Bill To Ensure First Responders’ Confidential Access to Mental Health Services

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BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined law enforcement and elected officials for a ceremonial bill signing for S.2633, An Act relative to critical incident intervention by emergency service providers.

This bill established a privilege for communications by first responders who, after witnessing traumatic events, seek out their peers for crisis intervention services. This will ensure law enforcement officers are able to confide in their peers about their experiences without fear of the conversation being used against them in employment decisions or subsequent court proceedings.

“Providing law enforcement officers with the ability to confidentially seek guidance from their peers will help them cope with the events they experience in the line of duty,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are thankful for the Legislature and law enforcement for their advocacy on this bill to increase support for services and reduce stigma around mental health issues.”

“Our administration is grateful for the Commonwealth’s first responders who put their lives on the line each day for their communities, and we are pleased to sign this bill affording them additional protection when they seek mental health counseling,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

“First responders put their own safety on the line to help those in need, and we need to be conscious of the mental toll that their demanding and critically important work can take,” said Public Safety Secretary Tom Turco. “This law is designed to encourage first responders to seek the assistance they may need, from peers who understand what they are going through, without the worry that doing so may damage their employment status or stigmatize them.”

“This is common sense legislation that will offer law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency service providers the resources they need to debrief and manage the psychological impact following an incident,” said Representative Ed Coppinger (D-Boston), the House sponsor of the bill. “Critical incident intervention is a peer-to-peer resource in which registered and trained emergency service providers offer consultation, counseling, and stress management. This peer support is the first, necessary step in checking the stress health of an emergency service provider and it can often bridge the gap if further help is required.”

“Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics work every day under demanding circumstances, and responding to critical incidents can have a direct, negative impact on the mental health of first responders,” said Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury). “Confidentiality is an essential piece of comprehensive mental health services, and this bill will encourage greater participation and improved mental health for these brave men and

“After a 26 year career serving in law enforcement, I speak with first-hand knowledge of the great value that access to Critical Incident Stress Management plays in ensuring the wellness of our brave first-responders,” said State Representative Timothy R. Whelan (R-Barnstable). “The crises they see are many. The magnifying glass which they work under is great. These women and men need supports for their mental health given the horrors they will see in their careers. I commend my colleagues in the legislature for enacting this legislation and thank Governor Baker for signing this bill and affirming his support for our first-responders.”

“Effective crisis intervention and stress management has emerged over the last decade as a proven method for the immediate provision of urgent psychological support in the wake of a critical incident or traumatic event experienced by our first responders,” said Brian Kyes, Chelsea Police Chief and President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs. “We applaud the Governor yet once again for signing this important piece of legislation brought forward by members of the House and the Senate to allow for confidentiality, absent extenuating circumstances, in order to effectuate a more comprehensive and intensive diffusion and debriefing in the interest of furthering officer/firefighter wellness.”

“The Massachusetts Coalition of Police extends our thanks to Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, and the Legislature, for recognizing the stress that public safety personnel face on a daily basis. This legislation is the cornerstone to working towards an environment that treats critical incident stress as a serious health concern for public safety workers and provides a means to offer assistance,” said Massachusetts Coalition of Police President Scott Hovsepian.

Governor Baker Announces Appointment of Andrew Maylor as Comptroller

Governor Baker Announces Appointment of Andrew Maylor as Comptroller

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today announced the appointment, effective February 18, 2019, of Andrew Maylor as Comptroller of the Commonwealth, an independent overseer of the Commonwealth’s financial transactions, accountability and service delivery across all branches of state government. Mr. Maylor most recently served as Town Manager for the town of North Andover and has over three decades of experience in both the public and private sector in financial management.

“Andrew’s extensive experience in the public sector overseeing multi-million dollar budgets, managing operations and establishing capital improvement and financial plans make him extremely well qualified to serve as Comptroller,” said Governor Baker. “I am confident that Andrew will bring the level of transparency, integrity and accountability necessary for this job. We look forward to working together and thank Thomas Shack for his public service as Comptroller.”

Serving as North Andover Town Manager, Andrew Maylor was responsible for 220 employees and a $100 million budget and developed various strategic planning initiatives. He is credited with instituting Financial Reserve and Debt Service policies that directly led to North Andover’s first AAA Bond Rating. In Chelsea, serving as City Auditor, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy City Manager he established plans to provide the most efficient use of funding and accountability for the city.

“Working together in the midst of the Merrimack Valley gas crisis, Governor Baker and I experienced first-hand the leadership and management skills Andrew Maylor possesses,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Over the course of his career, from stewarding municipalities towards efficient uses of funding to creating increased levels of accountability, he has proven he has the financial acumen and skill set to serve the Commonwealth in this role.”

The Comptroller is appointed by and serves coterminous with and independent of the Governor. The Office of the Comptroller is served by an Advisory Board chaired by Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan and consisting of the Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, Trial Court Administrator and two gubernatorial appointees with experience in accounting, management or public finance who serve three-year terms.

“I am looking forward to using the skills I have developed during the past twenty-five years in municipal government in my new role as the Comptroller of the Commonwealth,” said Andrew Maylor. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with state agencies and constitutional officers to ensure accountability and increase transparency.”

About Andrew Maylor:

Andrew Maylor began his career in the private sector in 1985 with Putnam Investments and worked for several other private employers during an 8 year period. In 1993, Maylor began his career in public service with the Town of Winthrop. In 1996, Maylor became Auditor of the City of Chelsea before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 1997. As Chelsea’s Chief Financial Officer, he developed and implemented internal control procedures to eliminate material weaknesses identified by the City’s independent auditing firm. In 2000, Maylor was appointed Deputy City Manager of the City of Chelsea, a city of over 35,000 residents, 375 employees and a $105 million budget. In that role, he authored the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and implemented an asset inventory system designed to protect city assets and provide compliance with GASB 34. Additionally, he re-engineered the City’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan, creating a more efficient use of funding and accountability.

Maylor was appointed the first Town Administrator of Swampscott by the Swampscott Board of Selectmen in October 2002, where he oversaw the operations of a town of 14,000 residents, 120 employees and a budget of $54 million. As Town Administrator of Swampscott, Maylor negotiated multiple three-year contract renewals for the Town’s employee unions and co-authored grants for historical preservation, handicapped accessibility, homeland security and planning. In 2010, while serving as Town Administrator, Maylor was selected by the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) to chair the Essex Regional Retirement System (ERRS). Maylor was credited with implementing the necessary changes to remove ERRS from supervision by a state monitoring team. 

Since 2011, Maylor served as North Andover Town Manager, overseeing services for 30,000 residents, 220 employees and a $100 million budget. He developed and implemented strategic planning initiatives including the Facilities Master Plan, a $30 million, seven project facility renovation initiative. He is credited with instituting Financial Reserve and Debt Service policies that directly led to North Andover’s first AAA Bond Rating.

Maylor has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of United States and Canada in 1998-2001 and 2012-2016, and the Distinguished Budget Award in 1998-2002 and 2006-2016. Mr. Maylor is a member of the adjunct faculty in Merrimack College’s Master of Public Affairs Program and has served in a similar role at several other colleges during the past twenty years. Maylor earned his Bachelors in Management Science from Bridgewater State College and his MBA from Suffolk University. He received his MPA from Villanova University.

MAYOR WALSH LAYS VISION TO FURTHER SUPPORT A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS

MAYOR WALSH LAYS OUR VISION TO FURTHER SUPPORT A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS, BUILDING ON HISTORIC PROGRESS MADE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO PRIORITIZE INCLUSIVE GROWTH, ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SOCIAL PROGRESS

Celebrates historic progress and prioritizes expanding opportunity for all Bostonians

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at State of the City address  2019. (Photo by Chutze Chou) Color guards opens the ceremony. (Photo by Chutze Chou) BOSTON - Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh tonight delivered his fourth annual State of the City address at Symphony Hall, sharing historic progress made in the last five years in strengthening economic mobility, expanding opportunity, building affordable housing, and keeping Boston a safe place for all residents. In his address, Mayor Walsh reaffirmed his commitment to "make sure social progress and middle class opportunity grow together," and announced significant milestones reached in key initiatives to further these efforts, along with new ways to continue supporting this work. Governor of MA, Charlie Baker (left) and Mayor Marty Walsh's significant others Lorrie Higgins. (Photo by Chutze Chou) "Boston is stronger than ever because we are drawing on more of our people's strength than ever. Our city's success is our motivation to aim higher, work harder and make sure every single person in our city gets a full, fair shot at the opportunities we are creating," said Mayor Walsh. "Let's never lose sight of how far we've come; how far-reaching our leadership has been; and how deep our obligation is now, to stand together and keep leading." During his second inaugural address in January 2018, Mayor Walsh announced Boston's Way Home Fund to support the City's plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The fund had a goal of raising $10 million in private funds over the next four years in order to create 200 new units of supportive, sustainable, long-term housing for chronically homeless men and women. Only one year later, the fund has raised $5 million. Boston city councilors, from right, Ed Flynn, Michelle Wu, Althea Garrison. (Photo by Chutze Chou) Building on his Administration's efforts to ensure equity, opportunity and resilience for Bostonians, Mayor Walsh has shared his legislative agenda, with bills related to economic mobility and housing security, transportation and the environment, education funding, and health and public safety. The agenda aims to create affordable housing and keep tenants in their homes; reduce violence and fight for social justice, expand the middle class; and invest in education for all students. For more information on the Mayor's legislative agenda, please visit: boston.gov/legislativeagenda. Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary of Business Development  & International Trade and his wife Mary Truong, executive  director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants. (Photo by Chutze Chou) In addition to his legislative agenda, Mayor Walsh announced new programs and initiatives to further support his Administration's work to bring opportunity to the entire city, and prioritize the health, safety and equity of residents. The Josiah Quincy Orchestra program Summer Street Brass Band performs at the State of the City address. (Photo by Chutze Chou) We are making sure that social progress and middle class opportunity grow together. In his State of the City address, Mayor Walsh announced a Mobile Economic Development Center designed to strategically engage with residents on economic development policy around job training, business development, and placemaking and community economic development. In addition, he shared that JazzUrbane Cafe, a full service restaurant, entertainment venue, and community space has been selected to operate 7,800 square feet of street-level space in Roxbury's Bruce. C. Bolling Municipal Building. Mayor Marty Walsh vowed to leave no one behind.  (Photo by Chutze Chou) We are committed to lifting people up, not locking people up. Over the last five years our police officers have taken over 4,100 guns off the street. Through partnerships with the community, we've put thousands of young people on pathways to opportunity. As a result, we've seen arrests come down by 25 percent, and our crime rate reduced by 25 percent. Governor Charlie Baker (far left) greets people before the city address. (Photo by Chutze Chou)  We are welcoming more voices and expanding our democracy. Mayor Walsh announced that his Administration will reactivate the Human Rights Commission to provide a forum for Bostonians to address discrimination and secure the promise of equality. In addition, Mayor Walsh has appointed a Census Liaison to make sure that every resident of Boston is counted, because every resident of Boston counts. The Mayor will sign an executive order to require all City employees be trained on how to recognize and correct disparities in city services. Boston city councilors has front row seats. (Photo by Chutze Chou) We are committed to leaving no one behind. In Boston we've created more affordable homes than any time on record. We'll create 1,000 new homeowners in the next five years by building more affordable homes and providing more financial help. We've housed over 1,600 chronically homeless people. A year ago we launched the Boston's Way Home Fund and set a goal of raising $10 million over 4 years for supportive housing. After just 1 year, we have already raised $5 million. From left, Robert DeLeo, Suzanne Bump, Deb Goldberg, and governor Charlie Baker (far right) are among the attendees. (Photo by Chutze Chou) We are a community for every generation. The City will revamp and rename the Elderly Commission office to be the Age Strong Commission, to reflect the City's efforts to make Boston inclusive, accessible and positive for people as they age. The Commission will serve our seniors' needs and draw on their tremendous strength. We are not just surviving, we are thriving. Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, the City of Boston is rebuilding roads and bridges, making our streets work for bikes and buses, opening parks and investing over $100 million in libraries all across our city. In Boston, smart fiscal management has unlocked historic investments -- while keeping homeowner taxes the lowest in the state. The City is investing $28 million in Boston Common and $28 million in Franklin Park. In addition, the Mayor more than doubled the building budget for schools -- with over $300 million already spent on brand new schools, major renovations, energy efficient roofs, boilers, windows, and modern furniture. Another $800 million is on the way. Please find Mayor Walsh's 2019 State of the City remarks as prepared for delivery here. (From City of Boston)

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE AGE STRONG COMMISSION

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE AGE STRONG COMMISSION

BOSTON- Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh tonight announced the launch of the Age Strong Commission, formerly known as the Commission on Affairs of the Elderly, at his annual State of the City address. The new name reflects the City's efforts to make Boston inclusive, accessible and positive for people as they age. "Boston is a community for every generation," said Mayor Walsh. "Our older residents are the heart of our city, and we look forward to continuing to serve their needs and draw on their tremendous strength. We see, hear, and value older people in Boston, and will continue our important work to make Boston an age-friendly city throughout all communities." Under the Walsh Administration, the Commission has actively engaged the community to learn how Bostonians are aging now and what their hopes are for aging in the future. Those conversations reflect a growing trend and national movement towards inclusive aging language and actions, designed by the FrameWorks Institute, the research partner for the Reframing Age Project. "How we engage our older residents is a social justice issue," said Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez. "Words matter. Boston's older adults are bold, strong, and vibrant, and its new name accurately reflects who we serve on a daily basis." The new name comes less than two years into the Commission's Age-Friendly action planning, which has resulted in successful launches of: the City's first pilot Senior Civic Academy; an interactive public restrooms map; age- and dementia-friendly business designations; an Employment Guide for people over 50; and a front-facing City staff training to educate employees on the needs of older people in Boston. "The word 'elderly' does not define the people we serve," said Age Strong Commissioner Emily Shea. "The people we work with everyday are so many things: experienced, vibrant, passionate, and most of all, strong. That's how we want to feel as we age, and that is how we hope to be seen." In addition its name rebranding, the Age Strong Commission has redefined itsmission and values in their updated website, www.boston.gov/age-strong. "This new name 'Age Strong' acknowledges the strength of Boston's human resources: the value, diversity and passion of its older people. Older Bostonians are an asset for this city. Their accumulated wisdom, skills and experience are examples of how we can all age strong," said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president of corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan. "The name is also a call to action reflecting the critical and important work of the commission." "The City of Boston's Age Strong Commission, like the AARP Disrupt Aging® initiative, is a call to shape the future of aging. We are all aging, every day. Aging is about growth, not decline. It creates new opportunities, not just challenges. Older people are contributors, not burdens. And each and every one of us should be valued for who we are, not by how old we are. I look forward to seeing the progress the Age Strong Commission will have on challenging outdated beliefs, so we can all choose how to live as we age," said Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts State Director. For 74-year-old Barbara J. Defoe, President of the Mayor's Senior Advisory Council, the new commission name is personal. "I embrace the name Age Strong as it relates to the more mature citizens of our city," said Defoe. "Age Strong suggests that we are the foundation of society, and have been the shoulders on which our nation is built. The name will be a constant reminder of the resiliency and power of all who have contributed to the greatness of the City of Boston." About the Age Strong Commission The Age Strong Commission works towards making Boston a city that fully embraces aging. Our mission is to enhance the lives of people 55+ with meaningful programs, resources, and connections so we can live and age strong together in Boston. For more than 50 years, we have served constituents as a City department, Council on Aging, and a Area Agency on Aging. In 2017, the Commission launched its Age-Friendly Action Plan, which is the City's blueprint to make Boston the best city to live and age in. Learn more about us at www.boston.gov/age-strong.