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Pertinent Legislation Proposed in Mass.

Legislation Update
November 25, 2017

House Bills

MA H.956

Title: An Act to prevent unnecessary vacancies in foreclosed homes
Description: Would “protect tenants and prevent vacancies in foreclosed homes”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H956
Status: On agenda of 9/26/2017 hearing with the Judiciary Committee
Note: See S.841 below

MA H.1089

Title: An Act relative to the sale of foreclosed residential property to certain cities and towns.
Description: Would “grant cities or towns the right of first refusal on foreclosed residential property”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H1089
Status: On agenda of 10/31/2017 hearing with the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

MA H.1109

Title: An Act relative to vacant and abandoned property in the Commonwealth
Description: Would “authorize municipalities to implement an abandoned property registration and security program“.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H1109
Status: On agenda of 10/31/2017 hearing with the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

MA H.1115

Title: An Act to minimize foreclosures and their harm
Description: Would use “municipal actions to minimize foreclosures and resulting vacancies”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H1115
Status: Hearing scheduled for 11/14/2017 with the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

MA H.2349

Title: An Act to amend the foreclosure statute to require judicial foreclosure
Description: Would “require judicial review of foreclosures on residential mortgages”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2349
Status: On agenda of 9/26/2017 hearing with the Judiciary Committee
Note: See S.763 below

MA H.2957

Title: An Act to require banks, lending institutions, mortgage companies or sub lenders to file with the registry of deeds in each county within thirty days of mortgage sales and/or foreclosures of property
Description: Would require “certain financial institutions to file sale and foreclosure information with registries of deeds.”
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2957
Status: Referred to Joint Committee on Financial Services

Senate Bills

S.763

Title: An Act to amend the foreclosure statute to require judicial foreclosure
Description: Would “amend the foreclosure statute to require judicial foreclosure”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S763
Status: On agenda of 9/26/2017 hearing with the Judiciary Committee
Note: See H.2349 above

S.841

Title: An Act preventing unnecessary vacancies in foreclosed homes
Description: Would “prevent unnecessary vacancies in foreclosed homes”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S841
Status: On agenda of 9/26/2017 hearing with the Judiciary Committee
Note: See H.956 above

S.884

Title: An Act clarifying municipal authority regarding cash sureties and foreclosures
Description: Would “clarify municipal authority regarding cash sureties and foreclosures”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S884
Status: On agenda of 9/26/2017 hearing with the Judiciary Committee

S.2187

Title: An Act protecting abandoned animals in vacant properties
Description: Would “abandoned animals in vacant properties”.
Current text: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S2187
Status: 10/23/2017 Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties