The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 10 to June 17, 2021

Gobi Amendment Ensures Stability of Popular DTA Program

BOSTON (June 8, 2021) - Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) fought successfully for the inclusion of an amendment to the state's Fiscal Year 2022 Budget during the Senate's debate that would ensure the year-long operation of the popular Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) operated by the Department of Transitional Assistance. Launched in April 2017, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides a 100 percent incentive--a dollar-for-dollar match--for each SNAP dollar spent on targeted fruits and vegetables purchased at farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs statewide. By increasing access to locally grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP clients, the program benefits family and community health, and support farms and the local economy.

Gobi is the co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Food Systems Caucus and a former chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture who has seen firsthand the success that HIP has had since its inception. She had this to say on the amendment's inclusion in the version passed by the Senate, "The support that this amendment and program receives here reflects the benefits that it offers to our state, local farms, and families. Every dollar spent stays in the state. It goes back into the local economy, helping farmers protect their land and helping our citizens stay fit and able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables over less healthy options with their SNAP dollars."

Since its inception 85,000 families have earned HIP incentives, purchasing $19.5 million in local foods that directly benefited more than 200 farms in the state. More than 63,000 households used HIP in FY21, totaling more than $5 million in incentives being put back into the area. Estimates show that each dollar spent results in an additional $1.12 in local economic impact as farmers contribute back to the local economy.

With the amendment's language having been included in both the House and Senate version of the budget passed this session, it will be passed into the final version being sent to the Governor for consideration. For more information on the program, please visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-healthy-incentives-program-hip.

Legislators Announce Grant for Polus Center

BOSTON (June 8, 2021) - Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and Representative Susannah Whipps (I-Athol) joined the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today in announcing a grant award in the amount of $45,000 for the Polus Center for Social & Economic Development. The award comes as part of the administration's Partnerships for Recovery Rapid Reemployment Program, which is designed to address the significant economic impact that COVID-19 has had on the more than 1.9 million Massachusetts residents who have experienced an employment interruption due to COVID.

Gobi had this to say on the grant award being announced today, "I join with Representative Whipps in congratulating and thanking the Polus Center. There is a need for many skilled workers and pharmacy technicians are in demand. I appreciate this important partnership that benefits all."

Representative Whipps added, "I'm happy to join with Senator Gobi to support funding focused on inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities and victims of conflict. Polus has a strong history in the region and we're proud to promote their program."

Located in Petersham, Massachusetts, the Polus Center has more than 35 years of experience designing human service programs and promoting new opportunities for persons with disabilities and victims of conflict in the United States and throughout the world. Today, their primary work in Massachusetts is to help people with disabilities gain the skills, credentials, career-support and work opportunities to help them find competitive employment.

The Partnerships for Recovery Rapid Reemployment Program makes CARES Act funding available to fund the scale up of existing training vendors, partnering with employers, to train and place in employment those individuals impacted by COVID for priority occupations to meet post-pandemic hiring demands. In partnership with MassHire North Central Career Center, the Plus Center will provide training and placement to impacted individuals for jobs as Pharmacy Technicians, with trained people being placed at CVS Pharmacy.

For more information on the program please contact Senator Gobi's office by email at Anne.Gobi@MASenate.gov.

Gobi Secures Funding for Cathy's House during Budget Debate

BOSTON (June 8 2021) - State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) was vocal last week during the Senate's FY22 budget debate in support of an amendment earmarking funds for improving the facilities at Cathy's House in Winchendon coordinated by the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center. The amendment submitted by the Senator would expend $25,000 for maintenance and improvements at the facility, which offers transitional and permanent supportive housing options for female homeless veterans experiencing homelessness.

Gobi had this to say on the amendment's acceptance to the budget, "Our Women Veterans are the fastest growing group in Massachusetts. It is imperative that we provide the necessary support and services to them here at home, and I am thankful for all that MVOC does to improve the lives of all our vets."

Cathy's House provides a clean, sober, and safe community living environment where residents live and work towards regaining individual personal wellness and an independent and responsible lifestyle. Between 2018 and 2019 homelessness has increased 2% among women veterans while decreasing between male veterans by 3%. These individuals face unique and significant mental health challenges, and gender-specific safety measures must be taken to ensure proper transitional housing after serving active duty. More than half of all homeless female veterans were sexually assaulted during their military service and many exhibit mental health disabilities as a result, making the need for female only shelters even greater to ensure their successful rehabilitation.

The budget is currently being finalized in a joint conference committee. For more information on the amendment or budget process, please contact Senator Gobi's office by email at Anne.Gobi@MASenate.gov.

Audit Leads to Improvements in Game Integrity at Massachusetts State Lottery

BOSTON (June 9, 2021) - Today, the Office of State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump (OSA) released an audit showing improvements in oversight of lottery sales and game integrity at the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC). The report pointed to deficiencies in criminal background record checks for lottery sales agents, reconciliation reports for terminated sales representatives, as well as the process the agency was using to prevent family members of lottery employees from claiming winning tickets, which is prohibited under state law. During the audit, which examined April 5, 2019 through March 31, 2020, the Lottery reported that it has taken steps to address the audit's findings and recommendations.

The audit follows up on a previous report from the OSA that found similar issues related to criminal background checks not being performed regularly and incomplete settlement reports and activities by terminated lottery sales representatives.

"Although deficiencies still remain, today's report makes clear the Lottery has made significant progress since our last audit and has taken our most recent recommendations seriously," Bump said of the audit. "Right now, as our state recovers from COVID-19, the Lottery's support for our cities and towns is vital. Moving forward, it will be critical for the Lottery to continue to use and implement all the technological tools at its disposal to continue to modernize and enhance financial security and game integrity."

Today's audit showed the Lottery had not conducted Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) reviews for 3,146 (32%) of the 9,732 active lottery sales agents. The Lottery began implementing a new computer system to assist with CORI checks in April 2019. Prior to this, the CORI review process was performed manually and was ineffective because it did not track the next date when the next CORI review was needed which, the audit notes resulted in a significant backlog of reviews. In its response to this finding, the Lottery reports that it has reduced the CORI backlog by nearly 100 percent.

Additionally, of the terminated lottery sales agents reviewed during the audit, 24 percent had information missing from their final settlement reconciliations. The audit notes, this resulted in there being a higher risk for ticket game books and lottery funds not being returned to MSLC. The Lottery has since followed up on the audit's recommendations and has revised its policies to address terminated lottery sales agent reporting; this includes providing specific steps and requirements for processing instant ticket returns and collecting appropriate documentation.

Further, the audit reviewed lottery winner addresses for any matches with MSLC employees and found 39 claimants that had addresses that potentially matched. Additionally, there were 5,125 claims that could not be reviewed because addresses on claim forms were incomplete, inaccurate, or included post office boxes. Under state law, no ticket should be purchased and no prize should be paid to lottery employees or members of their family. Auditors presented these findings to Lottery management and in response, the Lottery performed an internal review which concluded that no ineligible player received a prize. The Lottery also stated that it will be implementing a new policy by June 30, 2021 to ensure that all customer service staff accurately record claimant name and address information at the time tickets are cashed.

MSLC was established in 1971 and is governed by five commissioners, including its chair which is the State Treasurer, as well as the Secretary of Public Safety, the Comptroller of the Commonwealth, and two people appointed by the Governor. The State Treasurer appoints the Lottery's director which is subject to the Governor's approval. The Lottery is headquartered in Dorchester and has five regional offices in Braintree, New Bedford, West Springfield, Woburn, and Worcester. During the audit period, MSLC had 375 employees. In fiscal year 2019, MSLC generated revenue of $5.509 billion and returned $1.104 billion in net profit to the Commonwealth.

The full audit report is available here.

Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate, and Kathleen R. Daigneault, Register of Deeds, Reopen Northern Worcester County Satellite Registry in Fitchburg

Community leaders
Community leaders were in attendance at the 2019 satellite registry launch of the Fitchburg Satellite Probate and Family Court. From Left to Right: Register of Probate, Stephanie K. Fattman; Register of Deeds, Kathleen R. Daigneault; Mayor Stephen Dinatale; Assistant Clerk Magistrate, Carol Vittorioso; Vincent Pusateri, President North County Bar Association; Kate Toomey, Register of Deeds.

FITCHBURG, MA (June 3, 2021) - Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate for the Worcester Probate and Family Court, has collaborated with Worcester Northern District Register of Deeds, Kathleen R. Daigneault, to reopen the Probate and Family Court Satellite Registry in Northern Worcester County, after its temporary closure due to COVID-19.

The satellite registry reopened on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 to continue efforts to expand the Probate and Family court registry services to northern Worcester County.

"During my first term in office, I have heard litigants, attorneys, and social service agencies express the need for court services in Fitchburg and Leominster," says Register Fattman. "Currently all 800,000 constituents in Worcester County travel to one courthouse in Worcester, but with families facing difficulties commuting, and conflicting and busy schedules we've seen the need to provide access to justice in Northern Worcester County."

The Probate and Family Court satellite registry will be open the First and Third Wednesday of every month at the Northern Worcester County Registry of Deeds, located at 166 Boulder Drive, Fitchburg from 9am-1pm. Services of the satellite registry will include a guardianship clinic, a lawyer for the day program, access to cases, filing services, magistrate help, and an informal probate session.