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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.
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| | 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. 50% state participation in paying for entrance fees;
- 2. Up to $13 million per year in reimbursement
- for inflow/infiltration projects.
Senator Petruccelli is the first member of the Senate to be recognized by the Advisory Board for a second time.
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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.
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Advisory Board Chair Katherine Dunphy (center) presents Legislator of the Year Awards to Senator James Eldridge and Representative Carolyn Dykema.
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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.
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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.
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