Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker Tuesday signed into law a bill aimed at making local government more efficient.
Baker described the legislation as a “weed whacking” of obsolete laws.
It gives cities and towns more freedom, reduces state oversight, and reforms some municipal practices.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz regrets that a provision to give localities more control over liquor licenses was not included.
"For a community like Northampton which has a thriving entertainment-restaurant economy it is a really important issue," said Narkewicz.
The number of liquor licenses available in a city or town is subject to a population-based cap that can only be lifted by a vote of the state legislature.
