The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council met on June 8. Ken gave a further update on the town of Essex’s special events permitting policy and he reported that the Chamber Board approved the Council’s recommendation and authorized him to send a letter to the Selectmen expressing Chamber concerns about the policy. The Council also asked Peter to follow up with legislators on a range of unemployment-related policy issues, including the sharp increase in assessments on Massachusetts businesses due to deficits in the solvency account and the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

On Wednesday, June 17 the Council and the Chamber’s Rockport Division hosted a Rockport Board of Selectmen candidate forum moderated by Bob Visnick. With input from Council members and the public, Peter developed questions on a variety of topics that Bob posed to the candidates. All five candidates seeking election to the Board of Selectmen at Rockport’s June 22 town elections participated.  In addition to the candidates and the moderator, about thirty people attended this in-person event at Rockport Inn & Suites. 1623 Studios recorded the forum and aired it on local cable channel 20 several times prior to the election. For a link to view the recording, please click here.

The Government Affairs Council leads the Chamber’s focus on economic development and public policy, one of our key platforms. This Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 7:30 to 9 AM, and participation is open to any Chamber member with an interest in being engaged with our state and local government and helping foster a vibrant Cape Ann economy.  Currently, those who are part of our monthly meetings include representatives from Cape Ann’s industrial, tourism, government, real estate, legal, non-profit and services sectors. To learn more or join in these meetings, please contact Ken or me.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 13.

Bill Scott
Chair, Government Affairs Council
Scott Energy Company