Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The MMA testified during the Oct. 13 hearing of the newly created Water Infrastructure Finance Commission, which is responsible for developing a long-range plan for financing water, wastewater and sewer projects.
A panel of local officials, including Natick Selectman Josh Ostroff, the MMA’s vice president, cited the importance of developing a means by which municipalities will be able to handle such projects without incurring enormous debt.
Gloucester Councillor Bruce Tobey, a former MMA president, is the municipal representative on the 18-member commission.
Terrance Sullivan, the public utilities commissioner in Fall River, described a number of water-related projects his city has had to undertake, including the replacement of old water lines and upgrading the sewage treatment plant, according to a report in the Fall River Herald.
“We’ve heard a lot of discussion today, but the underlying factor is money,” Sullivan was quoted as saying. “The projects are needed, but they’re expensive.”
Additional Water Infrastructure Finance Commission hearings are scheduled for Nov. 10 in Barnstable and Nov. 15 in Springfield. The Barnstable hearing will be held at the Tilden Arts Center at Cape Cod Community College, 2240 Iyannough Road; the Springfield meeting will be held at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 60 Congress St.