Assembly authorizes speaker to draft joint letter requesting $500 million for Clean Water Trust; motion passes

The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates on April 2 voted to authorize the speaker to coordinate with the county administration and commissioners on a joint letter to the governor and the Legislature requesting $500 million from the environmental bond bill be allocated to the state revolving fund (Clean Water Trust) and asking that the governor rescind proposed changes to the 2025 Intended Use Plan (IUP) draft regulations.

Why it matters: Delegates said additional state funding for the state revolving fund would help Cape Cod towns finance sewer and freshwater initiatives; the motion also objected to proposed regulatory changes the assembly said could affect local projects.

Deputy Speaker Gessen moved the authorization and asked that the speaker coordinate drafting the joint letter with the board and administration. The motion text included two specific requests: that the governor rescind proposed changes to the 2025 IUP draft regulations and that $500,000,000 be allocated from the environmental bond bill to assist the state revolving fund in meeting future financing demand.

The assembly held a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the motion as passing with 14 delegates representing 91.07% of the county population in favor. The transcript records no named no votes or abstentions on the floor at the time of the roll call.

What was decided: Authorization was approved; the speaker and administration will now draft and circulate the joint letter and return for any final sign-off before transmission.

Ending: Delegates approved the authorization by roll call and instructed the speaker to work with the administration and commissioners on the letter.