Relates to an individual's right to request a hearing regarding an unemployment insurance benefits claim

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 2 co-sponsors

Gloucester may use public funds to maintain certain private roads that serve at least 10 taxed properties, connect two public roads, lead to public interests, lack current private

COMMITTED TO RULES

Purpose

This local bill authorizes the City of Gloucester to use public funds to maintain, repair, and improve certain private roads within the city. It creates a local exception to general state restrictions (notably Section 6N of Chapter 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws) by specifying conditions under which the city may appropriate and expend municipal funds on private ways.

Key provisions

Authorizes Gloucester, notwithstanding state law to the contrary, to appropriate and expend public funds for maintenance, repair, and improvement of private roads when all the following conditions are met:

The private road serves at least 10 residential properties that pay property tax to the City of Gloucester.
The private road is a connector street between two public roads.
The private road leads to a publicly accessible place of interest (for example, a community or recreational venue or a multi‑use commercial/recreational location).
The private road is not currently maintained by a developer or private entity under an agreement or covenant requiring such maintenance.
The private road is primarily used as a through street by non‑abutting property owners.

The bill uses permissive language (“may appropriate and expend”), meaning the city retains discretion and must act by local appropriation before spending.

Who would be affected

City of Gloucester: gains explicit statutory authority to fund certain private road work and would bear related budgetary responsibilities if it chooses to appropriate funds.

Residents and property owners served by qualifying private roads: may receive publicly funded repairs and improvements.

Non‑abutting users of those roads (through traffic and visitors to public venues) could benefit from improved access.

Private developers or entities currently under maintenance covenants would not be eligible for this public funding while their agreements remain in force.

Fiscal and legal implications

Potential municipal cost: funding would require appropriation from Gloucester’s budget or other municipal funding sources; the bill does not provide state funding.

Creates a local exception to state restrictions on using public funds for private roads; could set a precedent for similar local petitions elsewhere.

Local approval: the filing indicates the petition includes approval of Gloucester’s mayor and city council.

Legislative status & timeline (as provided)

Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate: July 31, 2025; filed August 29, 2025.

Referred to committees; hearing (written testimony only) scheduled September 23, 2025.

Reported favorably by committee and placed in Orders of the Day for the next session (reported November 13, 2025).

Current status listed as COMMITTED TO RULES.

Notes on inconsistencies in the supplied materials

The header provided initially refers to unemployment‑insurance hearing rights; the full bill text and caption actually address private road maintenance in Gloucester. This summary follows the bill text.

Sponsor and action lists include duplicated and apparently unrelated entries (some items and named sponsors appear inconsistent with a Massachusetts local bill). The authors of the bill text are State Senators Bruce E. Tarr and Ann‑Margaret Ferrante, and the filing notes local approval by Gloucester officials.

Bill