Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CCRPC director reports on legislative wins and pending items including $3M rural capacity, Brownfields funds and housing bill S.100
Summary
Executive Director Charlie Baker reported a $3 million Rural Capacity allocation in the Budget Adjustment Act, a statewide $1 million Brownfields assessment allocation, and noted that Housing bill S.100 is expected to advance in the Senate soon with substantive debate in the House.
At the March 1, 2023 meeting, Executive Director Charlie Baker updated committee members on several legislative and program developments affecting regional planning work.
Baker reported that the Budget Adjustment Act included a one-time $3 million Rural Capacity allocation intended to help under-resourced towns leverage ARPA and other funding; RPCs will assist municipalities with these efforts. He noted that funds must be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
Baker said Regional Planning Commissions received a 30 percent funding increase in FY23 and that commissions are seeking full formula funding in FY24, which could approximately double ACCD funding if approved. He said increased funding would expand staffing capacity to help towns with bylaws, housing, grant administration and project management, and mentioned discussions around shared services for zoning administration.
On Brownfields, Baker said RPCs statewide will receive $1 million for Brownfields assessment from the state Budget Adjustment Act; an EPA grant application decision remains pending and should be known in May.
Baker also referenced Housing bill S.100 (championed by Rep. Kesha Ram Hinsdale) as a high-priority measure addressing statewide housing challenges. He told members he expected Senate passage in the near term with substantive debate when the bill reaches the House in March.
Committee members suggested adding emergency-response capacity to the list of municipal needs; staff agreed to include it in the list of services towns may need.
