Beacon Hill News

State Seeks Federal Transportation Grants—One Would Improve Local Train Service

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Gov. Maura Healey’s administration this week submitted $2 billion in federal grant applications for a variety of statewide transportation projects, including one familiar with local commuter rail passengers. The MBTA is seeking $672 million in grants from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance and Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects programs for the construction phase of the North Station Renovation and Draw 1 Bridge Replacement Project that would improve service. “The project to replace the North Station drawbridge is crucial to ensuring that we can safely and reliably provide train service in and out of North Station. It will allow us to operate trains more efficiently as we expand the number of tracks across a new bridge,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. Draw 1 is a called a “critical connection” that carries all MBTA Commuter Rail traffic on the north side of Boston across the Haverhill, Fitchburg, Lowell and Gloucester/Newburyport lines.

Beacon Hill News

North Andover Tallies Flood Damage at $30 Million

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North Andover sustained nearly $30 million in flood damage to public buildings, businesses and private homes after torrential rain swept through the Merrimack Valley earlier this month, which prompted local officials to declare a state of emergency. Damage to public facilities, including to town and school buildings, is estimated to cost nearly $3.4 million, Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues said in a letter Monday to Dawn Brantley, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. “We also recognize that the railroad sustained damages, but have been unable to learn the value of those damages,” Murphy-Rodrigues wrote in the letter. “Amongst those damage estimates are the costs for roads that have been completely washed away, damages to our school buildings and town buildings and cemetery damage where historic gravestones have sunk.” Murphy-Rodrigues said 56 businesses reported about $21.6 million in damages, with many unable to reopen for now. Meanwhile, flood damage to 309 homes is estimated to cost almost $5 million.

Beacon Hill News

Legislators Earmark $755,000 for Haverhill, Incl. Grants for Accessory Units, $250K for Downtown Plan

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Haverhill groups and projects stand to benefit from $755,000 included in the recently passed late state budget, including grants for those creating accessory housing units. Haverhill’s legislative delegation of two representatives and two senators worked together to include various projects, sponsored by each, in the new state budget for the year that started last month. “This budget represents historic investments in Haverhill and statewide. With $755,000 coming into local projects and organizations, increased funding for Haverhill Public Schools and permanent free school meals, I’m proud to have partnered with our Haverhill delegation to secure the funding that our city and constituents deserve,” Rep. Andy X. Vargas said in a statement. Vargas served as the lead sponsor in securing $50,000 for an “Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program.” He said the money, to be issued in the form of grants, will help boost the supply of low-cost housing.

Beacon Hill News

Finegold Takes Lead in Adding Ability to Change Gender on Marriage Certificates in Senate Bill

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State Sen. Barry R. Finegold played the leading role late last week in allowing residents to change their gender on marriage certificates in a larger Senate bill that would likewise permit all gender options on other state forms and documents. The “Gender X” bill, a priority of Senate President Karen E. Spilka, aims to allow nonbinary, gender-diverse and transgender people the option of selecting a gender other than the “male” or “female” choices long offered on government documents. “We as a commonwealth pride ourselves on inclusivity and efforts to show everyone they belong here, regardless of gender identity. This is a process we’re very proud about and steps we have taken. In Massachusetts today you can update name and gender on your driver’s license, social security card and even your birth certificate, but not your marriage certificate,” Finegold said on the Senate floor.

Beacon Hill News

Mom Files Ballot Petition in Hopes Voters Will End MCAS Test Graduation Requirement

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Sam Drysdale, State House News Service

A mom has officially filed a petition to put on the statewide ballot the question of whether students should be required to pass a standardized test in order to graduate, but it wasn’t the state’s large teacher’s union, which has been publicly considering whether to bring the question to voters. Shelly Scruggs, a Lexington resident and mother to a 15-year-old boy, told State House News Service Thursday she filed the petition on behalf of her son. He’s a rising senior at Minuteman Vocational High School and wants to be a plumber, but Scruggs said he has ADHD and “isn’t a great test taker.”

“But he works hard,” Scruggs said. “And he can do all this hard work, can get really good grades in class, go to school every day and be set up to do a great job at what he wants to do—and still not get a diploma. I just thought that’s criminal.”

The Massachusetts Teachers Association has long opposed the state law that ties a student’s graduation to whether they pass the 10th grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam, and earlier this month polled residents on removing the requirement.

Beacon Hill News

DiZoglio Takes First Legal Steps to Force Legislature to Comply with Operations Audit

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Chris Lisinski, State House News Service

The bitter fight between state Auditor Diana DiZoglio and the legislative leaders with whom she used to serve could head to court. As expected, DiZoglio announced Wednesday she will pursue litigation to try to force the House and Senate to comply with her audit of their operations after top Democrats refused by arguing that the auditor’s office does not have that authority. Flanked by stacks of historical reports, DiZoglio said her office’s research determined the state auditor has audited the legislature on at least 113 previous occasions. DiZoglio, a former representative and senator from Methuen elected to her new office in November, said House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka’s refusal to comply with a probe by the auditor’s office is “unacceptable” and pledged to challenge the matter in court. “We have two legislators who were elected by a very small fraction of the state twisting and weaponizing both Massachusetts General Law and the Constitution against the people of the entire state of Massachusetts to try and shield themselves from basic accountability,” DiZoglio said.

Beacon Hill News

Fiorentini Urges Legislators to Add More Street Repair Money to Compromise, Fewer Strings

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Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini says he’s happy both branches of the state legislature are moving toward compromise on road money, but has concerns the base amount doesn’t keep up with inflation and an additional amount in grants makes it difficult to plan. The House and Senate both approved legislation authorizing $200 million for the Chapter 90 program and another $150 million in transportation-related infrastructure grants. Lawmakers, however, have been unable to agree on where to direct $25 million of those grants. Now, they’ve named a six-lawmaker conference committee led by Transportation Committee Co-chairs Rep. William Straus and Sen. Brendan Crighton to find a compromise. A final bill and decision could come Thursday, but the mayor says he hopes legislators will add money by then.

Beacon Hill News

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, Others Create Youth Summer Jobs with AG Grant

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The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, Groundwork Lawrence and Merrimack Valley YMCA in Lawrence are among 59 organizations sharing in $230,000 in state grants to create and pay for youth jobs this summer. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said the summer jobs are focused on mental health, physical well-being and overall wellness. Other local groups creating summer jobs are Beyond Soccer and Boys & Girls Club, both of Lawrence. This is the ninth year the attorney general’s office is running the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program. “I am thrilled to continue the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Program and provide young people across the state with opportunities to engage with their communities and develop new skills,” said Campbell.