At the Council’s most recent meeting on May 11, Peter gave an update on his 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. Ken also gave a further update on the town of Essex’s special events permitting policy. The Council agreed to make a recommendation to the Board to send a letter to the Selectmen expressing Chamber concerns about the policy

In other business, guest speaker Maria DiStefano, Northeast Regional Director for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, made a presentation to the Council on a range of business assistance programs currently available to Cape Ann businesses. For a link to Ms. DiStefano’s power point presentation, please click here. The Council also talked about upcoming town meetings and local elections, and made tentatively scheduled a Rockport Board of Selectmen candidate forum on June 17.

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, June 8.

Bill Scott
Chair, Government Affairs Council
Scott Energy Company