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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6236       FILED ON: 6/18/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
  OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
  COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
  STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
  (617) 725-4000
 MAURA T. HEALEY  KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
     GOVERNOR  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
  June 18, 2026
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
        Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 8, Paragraph 1, Clause (2) of the
Amendments to the Constitution, as appearing in Article LXXXIX of said Amendments, I am
filing for your consideration the attached legislation entitled “An Act exempting George Patrinos
from the maximum retirement age for the position of firefighter in the Town of Dudley.”
      I am filing this special legislation at the request of the Town of Dudley’s Town
Administrator and Fire Chief, with support from Dudley’s legislative delegation.
        This legislation would exempt George Patrinos, a 64-year-old call firefighter in the Town
of Dudley, from the mandatory retirement age of 65 as contemplated under M.G.L. c. 32, § 1. As
a call firefighter, Mr. Patrinos acts as a part-time emergency responder who augments full-time
personnel by responding to calls only in the event of an ongoing incident. Granting this
exemption would preserve continuity of public safety services in the town while imposing no
additional burden on the Commonwealth.
        Mr. Patrinos’ 65th birthday is on October 20th, 2026. I therefore respectfully urge your
prompt consideration of this bill so that Mr. Patrinos may continue serving as an active call
firefighter before he reaches the mandatory retirement age. Timely action will ensure no
interruption in the experienced emergency response support he provides to the Dudley Fire
Department.
  Respectfully submitted,
  Maura T. Healey,
  Governor
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  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
     An Act exempting George Patrinos from the maximum age requirement age for the position of
     firefighter in the town of Dudley.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
     of the same, as follows:
 1  Section 1: (a) Notwithstanding chapter 32 of the General Laws or any other general or
 2   special law to the contrary, George Patrinos, firefighter in the town of Dudley, may continue to
 3   serve in that position until he reaches the age of 70; provided, however, that he is mentally and
 4   physically capable of performing the duties of such position. The select board of the town of
 5   Dudley may, at its own expense, require George Patrinos to undergo an annual examination by
 6   an impartial physician designated by the town to determine his capability to remain in service.
 7  (b) No further deductions shall be made from the regular compensation of George
 8   Patrinos under said chapter 32 for any service subsequent to his reaching 65 years of age and,
 9   upon retirement, George Patrinos shall receive a superannuation retirement allowance equal to
10   that which he would have been entitled had he retired at 65 years of age, if any.
11  Section 2: This Act shall take effect upon its passage.
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