Officials Likely to Hire Consultant To Advise State Government on Olympics

Legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Baker are moving toward the hiring of an outside expert to advise state government on Boston's bid to land the 2024 Olympics.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg said plans for bringing in a paid consultant were discussed during a private meeting with the governor on Monday.

DeLeo told reporters that lawmakers feel like they are ``operating in the dark'' when it comes to the Olympics and want to make sure Massachusetts taxpayers don't get stuck footing a bill for the games if Boston is chosen to host the 2024 games.

Rosenberg says there is no one currently in state government with the expertise to deal with complex questions surrounding the Olympics.

Baker has previously endorsed the idea of an outside consultant.

Democratic lawmaker Rep. William Straus of Mattapoisett also weighed in on the Olympic issue.  Straus feels any outside consultant hired by the Legislature should be paid for by the Boston 2024 Committee.