Wheaton to host state legislative hearing

The college will host a public forum on Wednesday, June 13, sponsored by state Sen. James Timilty and the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. The hearing is open to the public.

The forum, which will be held in Hindle Auditorium at 1 p.m., is one of five planned statewide to solicit testimony from municipal officials and civic leaders on the portions of Governor Deval Patrick's ''Municipal Partnership'' legislation before the committee. Hearings also will be held in Worcester, Lowell, Springfield and Dorchester.

The focus of the forums will be on municipal finance law, bonds / bonding, debt management, and municipal and regional government authority and practices. The Committee will also entertain proposals to streamline and improve municipal operations.

The Municipal Partnership Act proposes several changes in state law to help lower costs of operations for cities and towns and to allow them to raise revenue beyond the property tax, according to newspaper reports.