Daily Current, Friday, October 16

Daily Current · Friday, October 16 · 4:45

State spending with diverse businesses doubles, and Gloucester special ed reserves drop.

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Good morning. It is Friday, October 16. This is the Daily Current, free public information for Cape Ann from the Cape Ann Current. I am Kerry Jane. Today, state spending with diverse businesses doubles, Gloucester's special education reserves drop, and two restaurants compete for a liquor license.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts spent 4.53 billion dollars with businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities and LGBT owners, and with small businesses, in the 2025 budget year. That is more than double the 1.96 billion dollars spent in 2017. The figures come from the annual reports of the state Supplier Diversity Office. Over the same years, all state payments grew about 60 percent.

In Gloucester, the school district's reserve fund for surprise special education costs is about to hit a record low. At its Wednesday night meeting, the School Committee heard the district expects 4.1 million dollars this year from the state circuit breaker program, which pays back costs for students with the highest needs. After most of that money is spent, only 348,382 dollars will be left to carry over into the next budget year. A subcommittee chair said the district used to carry over about 1.1 million dollars.

In Manchester by the Sea, the Planning Board told a developer on Tuesday, October 13, that its plan for Gordon Woods is still too big. Jefferson Apartment Group wants to build 245 rental apartments in four and five story buildings off Pine Street, down from 300. The developer plans to use a state law that lets it skip some local zoning rules if enough homes are affordable. The Planning Board chair said many residents walk in the woods and think of it as public land, though Gordon College owns it.

In Gloucester, two restaurants are competing for the city's last available year round full liquor license. The Licensing Board heard pitches on Tuesday, October 13, from Rocky Neck Lobster Company Two and a proposed Indian restaurant called Mehfil. Mehfil's lawyer told the board his office never mailed required notices to nearby property owners. Board members signaled support for Rocky Neck Lobster Company Two, but took no vote. The board plans to make its pick at a Zoom meeting on Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m.

Three Cape Ann boards meet on Monday, October 19. According to the agendas, Essex selectmen will vote on holding a Fall Town Meeting on Monday, November 16, and a special election on Thursday, December 10, for the Essex Elementary School replacement project. The Manchester by the Sea Select Board takes up its special town meeting and election warrants. A Gloucester City Council committee takes up a proposed shopping cart ordinance.

In public meetings today, a Manchester Essex schools communications working group meets virtually at 11:30 a.m.

Today from 2 to 2:30 p.m., the Cape Ann Museum hosts a free tour of the Captain Elias Davis House in Gloucester. Tomorrow, the Sawyer Free Library Tech Expo runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Gloucester, and the Rockport Harvest Fest takes place downtown from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In high school sports Thursday, Manchester Essex boys soccer shut out Ipswich 2 to 0. Hamilton Wenham beat Rockport 2 to 1. In girls soccer, Ipswich beat Manchester Essex 3 to 0, and Hamilton Wenham beat Rockport 2 to 1. Swampscott volleyball edged Gloucester 3 sets to 2. In golf, Beverly beat Gloucester 48 to 24, and Ipswich beat Manchester Essex and Rockport. Tonight in football, Manchester Essex plays at Triton at 6:30 p.m., and Swampscott visits Gloucester at 7 p.m.

The National Weather Service expects a wet and windy Friday. Forecasters say showers are likely most of the day, with a high near 68, and south winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour could gust up to 33 miles per hour. A small craft advisory is in effect for the bays until 6 p.m. today, followed by a gale watch through Saturday evening. The weather service says Saturday brings a chance of morning showers, then partly sunny skies and a high near 51. High tide in Gloucester Harbor today is at 3:41 p.m.

That's the Daily Current for Friday. Everything you heard, with its sources, is at capeanncurrent dot com, along with short editions for each town. I'm Kerry Jane, the Cape Ann Current's host. Everything we share is free public information from public records and government data, and every source is listed on our website. Catch the Daily Current again tomorrow. Keeping Cape Ann current.

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