Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cambridge Access Riverside Boat Club topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cambridge bills seek lease for Riverside Boat Club and create priority for courthouse use
Summary
State Representative Jonathan Connolly told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight that H.3308 would allow the Riverside Boat Club to enter into a lease for a reconfigured waterfront boundary and that H.3309 would seek to prioritize vacant court facilities in Cambridge for trial-court use to improve local access to justice.
State Representative Jonathan Connolly told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight that two bills filed this session address waterfront access and local court facilities in Cambridge.
“Riverside Boat Club currently holds a five-year waterfront permit with DCR, and they're seeking to enter into a lease agreement under chapter 65 of the acts of 2010,” Connolly said while describing House Bill 3308 (and a companion Senate filing). He told the committee the reorientation of the club’s boundary would not reduce public space, would improve accessibility and would allow safer boat storage for local schools and community groups. Connolly said DCR has approved the bill language and that the measure passed the Senate on July 31.
Connolly also asked the committee to consider House Bill 3309, a proposal “facilitating access to justice in the city of Cambridge.” He said Cambridge’s district court sits in Medford and that a vacant former probate and family court at the Registry of Deeds might serve as prioritized space for trial-court needs or swing space while regional court planning proceeds. He said he had discussed the idea with DCAM and the trial courts and that those parties were receptive.
Why it matters: Supporters said H.3308 would preserve waterfront access while enabling the boat club to be a better steward of the Charles River shoreline. For H.3309, Connolly and other speakers framed the bills as improving access to justice for Cambridge residents who now must travel to Medford for many district-court matters.
Testimony and committee response: Connolly said the Riverside Boat Club bill had been vetted by both chambers and edited by the House committee on third reading; he asked for the committee’s help moving it forward. Representative Sonia Chang-Díaz (speaking in support from the committee) and other members praised the access goals of the proposals. Connolly said he would be happy to answer questions and work with the chairs and staff.
No formal committee actions or votes were recorded during this hearing. Witnesses and sponsors were invited to submit written materials to the committee record.
Ending: Sponsors said they hope the committee will report the measures favorably so the House and Senate can complete action this session.
