News & Notes
  A publication of the MWRA Advisory Board 
  March 2015
 
Advisory Board Recognizes
2014 Legislators of the Year

The Advisory Board has recognized the efforts of four legislators whose efforts have significantly benefited MWRA ratepayers.

Senator Anthony Petruccelli has been the Vice Chair of the MWRA Legislative Caucus since 2005.  

Senator Anthony Petruccelli accepts his 2014 Legislator of the Year Award  from MWRA Advisory Board Executive Director Joe Favaloro.


His tireless efforts in 2014 ensured that the MWRA received Debt Service Assistance (DSA).  He also worked to keep two significant pro-MWRA components in the landmark Infrastructure Bill:
  1. 1.  50% state participation in paying for entrance fees;
  2. 2.  Up to $13 million per year in reimbursement
  3.      for inflow/infiltration projects.
Senator Petruccelli is the first member of the Senate to be recognized by the Advisory Board for a second time.

*****

Senator James Eldridge is a leading voice in the Senate for water/wastewater infrastructure financing.  

He co-chaired the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, which laid the foundation for water/wastewater investment.

He was former Senate President Murray's point person to get an Infrastructure Bill enacted in 2014.

Senator Eldridge successfully shepherded the passage of the landmark S2021 Infrastructure Bill.

Advisory Board Chair Katherine Dunphy (center) presents Legislator of the Year Awards to Senator James Eldridge and Representative Carolyn Dykema.


*****

Majority Leader Ron Mariano, along with Speaker DeLeo, is a founding member of the MWRA Legislative Caucus, created in 1991.  Since 2005, he has been its Chair.  He is the point person for MWRA / state relations.  

His actions and support have resulted in over $500 million in DSA since 1994. 

In 2014, he ensured that DSA was part of the State Budget and was, in fact, received by the Authority to offset FY15 assessments.

He is also the first member of the House to receive a second Legislator of the Year award.

*****

Representative Carolyn Dykema is one of the leading voices for water/wastewater infrastructure financing.

She co-chaired the Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, which put water and wastewater back on the radar screen. The Commission identified a $20 billion shortfall in financing needs.

She took the report and worked tirelessly to enact a landmark Infrastructure Financing Bill, which passed in 2014.

The Advisory Board thanks all of the Legislators of the Year for their efforts on behalf of our communities and their ratepayers.
Local I/I Program Expansion
a Major Success

MWRA Executive Director Fred Laskey, City Engineer and Director Stephen Casazza, AB Chair Katherine Dunphy, the Honorable Jeannette McCarthy, Mayor of Waltham and AB Executive Director Joseph Favaloro at I/I check presentation.


Advisory Board Chairman Katherine Dunphy joined MWRA Executive Director Fred Laskey and MWRA Advisory Board Executive Director Joe Favaloro in Waltham on March 31 to present Mayor Jeannette McCarthy with a check for $3.6 million from the MWRA's Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Program, which will help fund repair and rehabilitation of Waltham's sewer infrastructure.  

The expanded program (Phases 9 and 10), adopted in July 2014, doubled the amount from $40 million to $80 million per phase.  It also changed the mix from 45% grant/55% loan to 75% grant/25% loan and extended the repayment period from five years to ten years.  

The Authority has distributed nearly $11 million in I/I grant/loans to communities from Phase 9 funds.  To date, in Phases 1 through 9, over a quarter of a billion dollars have been distributed to MWRA communities.  


In Memorium
Charlie Button
1945 to 2015

Earlier this month, Charlie Button passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.  

Charlie was a major reason the Boston Harbor Cleanup Project was a success and a model to the country.  He served as the MWRA's Deputy Director of the Project Management Division from 1988 to 1998 and returned as the Chief Engineer from 2005 to 2011.  In all, Charlie spent over 40 years in water and wastewater design, construction and operations.

The Advisory Board offers our deepest condolences to his family and a thank you for all the contributions that he made.

He will be missed.

Upcoming Events

 

MWRA Public Hearing on Proposed CEB - Boston City Hall

April 7th - 6:30 p.m.

 

April 10th - Executive Committee Meeting - Charlestown at 8:30 a.m.

 

April 15th - 

Board of Directors - Charlestown

at 10:00 a.m.

 

April 16th -

Advisory Board Meeting - Wellesley at 11:30 a.m.

 

 
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