CPA and State Laws: Where to Look and Who to Call for Guidance
There are many state laws that intersect with the Community Preservation Act, and all of them are important to proper implementation of CPA. Common examples include the state's conflict of interest laws, procurement, open meeting, public records, municipal finance, and campaign finance laws.
Listed below is contact information for the various state agencies that oversee implementation of these laws. In some cases we also have provided links to Coalition newsletter articles that describe how CPA intersects with these laws.
Conflict of Interest Law
Governs conflicts between private interests and public duties of municipal committee members.
- State Agency: State Ethics Commission
- Phone: Call the "Attorney-of-the-Day" at (617) 371-9500 or (888) 485-4766
- Email: Request advice online
- Read a Coalition technical assistance article on this subject
Procurement Laws
Governs implementation of many CPA projects after approval by the legislative body.
- State Agency: Inspector General's Office
- Phone: (617) 722-8838
- Read a Coalition technical assistance article on this subject
Prevailing Wage Laws
Governs many CPA projects that involve contracting of professional services.
- State Agency: Department of Labor Standards
- Phone: (617) 626-6953
- Read a Coalition technical assistance article on this subject
Open Meeting Law
Governs use of meeting agendas, email discussions among committee members, minutes of committee meetings, conducting executive sessions, and use of documents and exhibits during meetings.
- State Agency: Division of Open Government in the Attorney General's office
- Phone: (617) 963-2540
- Email: openmeeting@state.ma.us
- Read the state's "plain English" Open Meeting Law Guide
Public Records Law
Governs the public's rights to access records of municipal committees.
- State Agency: Public Records Division in the Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Phone: (617) 727-2832
- Read the state's Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law
Municipal Finance Law
Provides legal opinions on the Community Preservation Act.
- State Agency: Bureau of Municipal Finance Law at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue
- Phone: Call the "Attorney-of-the-Day" at 617-626-2400
- Email: DLSLAW@dor.state.ma.us
Campaign and Political Finance Laws
Governs use of public resources and rules for municipal officials when advocating for Town Meeting warrant articles and ballot elections.
- State Agency: Office of Campaign and Political Finance
- Phone: Call the "Attorney-of-the-Day" at (617) 979-8300 or (800) 462-6273
- Email: ocpf@cpf.state.ma.us
Accessibility Laws
Develops and enforces regulations designed to make public buildings accessible to, functional for, and safe for use by persons with disabilities.
- State Agency: Architectural Access Board (AAB)
- Phone: (617) 727-0660
- Email: william.joyce@mass.gov
June 2021