Representative Lenny Mirra

The town of Boxford recently received a $13,626 Recreational Trails Program grant from the Department of Conservation. Congratulations, Boxford!

To learn more about the program, please click the link below.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/services-and-assistance/grants-and-technical-assistance/recreational-trails-grants-program.html

Representative Mirra recently submitted an argument published in the Boston Globe, writing in favor of the MBTA’s plans to privatize the Arborway, Lynn, and Quincy Garages.

“After years of mismanagement and neglect, the financially-plagued MBTA, is burdened with waste and inefficiency. As recently as 2015, it was projecting a cost growth rate that was three times dedicated revenues. Of the $132 million spent on bus maintenance in fiscal 2016, nearly $100 million was for labor. Bankrolled by T riders and taxpayers, the MBTA had the highest vehicle maintenance per hour costs of bus operation of six comparable transit agencies in 2015, according to a new report from the Pioneer Institute…”

Click the link below to read the rest of the article.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/07/21/mbta-puts-bus-maintenance-work-out-bid/vL03JXa9TgpbDINORXAtfK/story.html

West Newbury recently received a grant from the MA Department of Energy for $133,154. The grant will go toward upgrading the lighting systems in the Page Elementary School, Public Safety Building, Department of Public Works, and Recreation Pool. Congratulations, West Newbury!

To learn more about this grant and others, click the link below.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/pr-2017/over-14-million-in-green-communities-grants-awards.html

On Tuesday, August 29th, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito visited the towns of Groveland and West Newbury to discuss the Green Community Grant (awarded to West Newbury) and the Community Compact Grant (awarded to Groveland). Representative Mirra met with the Lieutenant Governor as well as town officials to discuss implementation of programs funded by these community grants. Please click the link below to read more about these grants.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/pr-2017/over-14-million-in-green-communities-grants-awards.html

Earlier this week, Boxford unveiled a brand new solar field behind the Town Hall. After years of hard work from many members of the town as well as the State Legislature, Boxford now proudly operates a 1-megawatt solar field (roughly 2,700 panels) that will help the town and state greatly reduce their CO2 emissions. This is a huge step toward cleaner energy in Massachusetts. Congratulations, Boxford! Read the full story here: http://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/solar-panels-spring-from-boxford-s-landfill/article_793ea0ee-c8cd-5d20-b280-c45dcc73aad5.html

Representative Mirra was recently interviewed by Christian M. Wade of the Salem News to discuss the funding of MassHealth, including the $200 million in new fees for private businesses passed on Beacon Hill. As a member of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Rep. Mirra has a deep understanding of the complexities of our public health care system in the state. He supported Governor Baker’s proposal to reform various aspects of the program and reign in the overwhelming costs of MassHealth – “It’s become totally unsustainable,” he said. “Everything else in the budget gets squeezed.”

Read the full article here: http://www.salemnews.com/cnhi_network/massachusetts-lawmakers-reject-health-reforms-but-keep-new-fees/article_e628d7c6-4502-511b-9bac-676ad04a0f09.html

The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners recently announced a total of $468,102 in federal grants to be awarded to local libraries throughout the state. Georgetown’s Peabody Library received $15,000 for “Serving Tweens and Teens”, one of the MBLC’s major projects of this year. Congratulations, Georgetown! To read more about this grant and others, please click the link below.

https://mblc.state.ma.us/news/news-releases/2017/nr1707131.php