BOSTON – A second round of violence prevention funding has been awarded to the Salisbury Police Department and the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, State Representative Michael A. Costello and State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives announced today.

The Salisbury Police Department, which collaborated with Newburyport and Amesbury on its application, will receive $63,000 for drug awareness and drug enforcement efforts.

The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center will receive $51,570 for its domestic violence rapid response team.

The money was awarded by the Executive Office of Public Safety as part of the federal Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Grant program.

“This funding will continue to support critical criminal justice initiatives in my communities like drug education and drug enforcement by our local law enforcement officers,” Representative Costello said.

“I have been a long-time supporter of Suzanne Dubus and the outstanding work that she and the domestic violence team do at the Crisis Center so I am excited to see support for those programs continue as well,” he added.

“I appreciate that the Executive Office of Public Safety has recognized the work of our local police departments to reduce drug-related crimes by providing this second round of grant funding,” said Senator Ives. “And, this grant funding is critical to the continued successful operation of the Domestic Violence High Risk Team, a nationally respected model, which addresses and reduces the risk of homicides associated with domestic violence.”

“We’re very fortunate in these difficult financial times to be granted this money again. We look forward to working with our other partners in Amesbury and Newburyport to continue to reduce drug use and drug violence,” said Salisbury Police Chief Tom Fowler.

The first round of Byrne grants were awarded in February 2012. The Byrne Grant is designed to provide seed money to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions.

SALISBURY– Friday, May 17, 2013— The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Highway Administrator Frank DePaola today joined state and local officials, as well as bicycling and walking advocates to celebrate Bay State Bike Week 2013 with the opening of the Gillis Rail Trail Connector in Salisbury. The connection links existing bicycling and walking paths in Salisbury and Newburyport.

“MassDOT is pleased to promote the healthy transportation modes of walking, bicycling and transit,” said Administrator DePaola. “The growing network of shared use paths in this region makes it easier for residents and visitors alike to walk and bicycle in comfort and safety, and to connect with transit, such as at the Newburyport MBTA Commuter Rail station.”

The completion of the $1 million, .25 mile project adds a new piece to the Bay State Greenway, which is a growing network that hopes to establish 788 miles of bicycling facilities across the Commonwealth. So far, more than 150 miles have been established.

“I greatly appreciate that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has made the Salisbury Rail Trail Connector a priority,” said Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives. “The Connector is an exciting development for people that have been using the trails in Newburyport and Salisbury and have sought a safe way to get to both trails. Now, more people will come to enjoy these rail trails because there is a safe and convenient connection.”

“The rail trail connector creates a safe method for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Route 1 and connect to the rest of the Coastal Trails Network,” said Representative Michael Costello. “This was a matter of public safety, but the new route also has spectacular vistas along the Merrimack River. I want to thank the Department of Transportation’s Design Team and Highway Administrator Frank DePaola for his leadership on the project.”

The project also supports MassDOT’s GreenDOT and Mode Shift policies, as well as the Healthy Transportation Compact. The policies and initiatives work to balance the needs of all transportation users, expand mobility, improve public health, support a cleaner environment and create stronger communities.

Later this year, MassDOT will begin construction to replace the Whittier Bridge on Interstate 95. While construction will use innovative, accelerated techniques to better accommodate vehicle traffic, the project will also allow for the construction of the first separate shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists on an Interstate in Massachusetts and will provide a direct bicycling and walking link to the park & ride facility on Route 113.

With the Senate Chair, Anthony Petruccelli, my Chief of Staff, Adam Martignetti, the Vice-Chair of the Committee, Representative John Fernandes, and Representative Russell Holmes taking public testimony on Banking and Insurance Legislation.

BOSTON – The House of Representatives yesterday passed the annual state budget, which includes funding for several local initiatives, including the re-nourishment of Salisbury Beach after severe erosion occurred there, State Representative Michael A. Costello (D – Newburyport) announced.

The House also passed the so-called “Chapter 90” bill for funding local road construction projects, increasing the amount of the program from $200 million to $300 million. Both the state budget and the road construction bills move to the Senate for its consideration.

Representative Costello secured $300,000 for the re-nourishment of Salisbury Beach State Reservation after winter storms left several areas of the beach severely eroded. The fee for camping and parking on the reservation will also increase from $2 to $3 to be placed in the Salisbury Beach Preservation Trust Fund for enhancing and maintaining the beach in the future.

“This money will provide the resources to harvest additional sand or to purchase additional sand and to place it in some of the areas on Salisbury Beach affected the most by erosion,” Costello said.

The state budget will also support the Newburyport Shellfish Purification Plant, Our Neighbor’s Table of Amesbury, the C-10 Research and Education Foundation, and directed state police patrols at Salisbury Beach during the busy summer tourist season.

Specifically, the House budget included:
• $90,000 for the C-10 Research and Education Foundation;
• $20,000 for Our Neighbor’s Table; and
• $400,000 for the operation of the Newburyport shellfish and purification plant

Local communities will receive the following increases in their Chapter 90 funding under the bill passed by the House:
Amesbury will receive, $609,794, an increase of $203,265 from last year;
Newburyport will receive $779,547, an increase of $259,849; and
Salisbury will receive $350,844, an increase of $116,948.

From the Newburyport Daily News: Shovels in for Nock School Renovations

BY DYKE HENDRICKSON – Newburyport Daily News – STAFF WRITER

— NEWBURYPORT — City and state officials gathered yesterday for a groundbreaking for the Nock-Molin Middle School renovation project, and congratulations and high expectations were the themes of the morning.

“Construction on this project represents another step of the community coming together,” said Mayor Donna Holaday. “We knew we had educational needs, we made a plan and then we created a campaign to inform residents of what had to be done.

“The voters gave us strong support and the work is beginning. We did it.”
Last year, Newburyport voters passed a property tax increase to fund the renovations to the school, as well as the construction of a new Bresnahan Elementary School and a senior center.

City officials say the major renovations at Nock-Molin will ease overcrowding and provide repairs and renovations.

The school, which encompasses about 161,000 square feet, is scheduled to receive new mechanical, lighting and electrical systems. In addition, improvements will be made to roofing, masonry and exterior windows.

Municipal leaders say that cost of the project is $27.9 million, with the state paying about 53 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Completion date is said to be August 2014 for the 875-student school, which hosts grades 4 through 8.

State Treasurer Steve Grossman said, “One of the greatest investments a community can make is in education. This project will provide new spaces for youngsters, which will result in additional opportunities to learn.”

“This is the proudest moment I’ve had as a state representative,” said state Rep. Mike Costello, D-Newburyport, who has two children at the Nock-Molin complex. “Years ago we changed the funding system and earmarked a small part of taxes to be set aside for schools.“Today we’re seeing the value — a school that will be improved and upgraded so youngsters will have a great learning experience.”

State Sen. Kathleen O’Connor Ives, D-Newburyport, told several dozen youngsters chosen to attend the ceremony that “A community wants to keep improving so it will be a great place to live, and have quality schools that can prepare youngsters like you.

“This is a very good day for the city and for its students.”

Holaday recognized those in the Port Pride campaign and one of its key leaders, Meghan Kinsey, for its successful effort in persuading voters to pay for renovations at the Nock-Molin, a new Bresnahan Elementary School and a proposed senior community center.

The Nock school was built more than four decades ago, and at least one observer had memories of its earliest days. “I was at the first groundbreaking, in about 1970,” said a senior construction executive, who was not identified. “I didn’t think I’d see a second, but this will make for a better school and educational experience.”

The signing of comprehensive dam safety legislation this week will provide coastal communities with a crucial source of state funding assistance for coastal infrastructure repairs, according to Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and Representative Michael A. Costello (D-Newburyport).

The bill, An Act Further Regulating Dam Safety, Repair and Removal, creates a new $17 million state revolving loan fund known as the Dam and Sea Wall Repair or Removal Fund. The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will administer the fund, which will make loans and grants available to local government bodies and charitable organizations to help pay for the inspection, repair and removal of dams, seawalls, jetties, retaining walls and other flood control infrastructure.

“This legislation has been a major priority for the Coastal Caucus because of the dire need faced by so many communities for the construction and repair of costly seawalls that protect homes, safety and infrastructure,” said Senator Tarr, the co-chair of the Coastal Caucus, who was instrumental in moving the bill to the Governor’s desk at the close of the 2011-2012 legislative session last month.

“Every community along the Merrimack River has infrastructure protecting homes and property from encroaching water,” said Representative Costello, who helped move the bill to passage in the House. “This legislation will provide those communities with an important resource that they can access to maintain, repair and upgrade that infrastructure. The revolving loan fund has proven to be a very successful tool with other state programs, and I am happy that it will now be used to address dams and seawalls.”

Fifty percent of the money expended from the fund each year will be dedicated to dam-related projects, and the remaining 50 percent to projects related to other means of flood or wave control. The bill also:

• authorizes municipalities to issue bonds to fund the removal or repair of unsafe dams and coastal infrastructure; and

• enhances the authority of the Office of Dam Safety by increasing the fines for allowing dams to become hazardous.

“The passage of this bill represents a major step for our state and our cities and towns,” said Senator Tarr.
“Now we have a new and substantial funding source to confront the serious problems that arise from dams and seawalls that need to be repaired.”