The state House of Representatives is expected to take up H.4219, An Act Relative to Immediate COVID-19 Recovery Needs, which includes $3.65 billion worth of one-time expenditures mostly from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, later today. The bill also utilizes surplus state revenues from FY21.

A summary of the legislation, as proposed by the House Committee on Ways and Means, can be found below. Representatives filed 1,126 amendments to the proposal, which will be taken up as the House begins its deliberations today.

The Senate is expected to propose its own ARPA spending plan in November; differences between the two versions would have to be reconciled, before proceeding to the Governor for his signature or vetoes.

The legislation proposes to allocate $3.65 billion among the following categories:

By subject matter, the proposed legislation includes, but is not limited to, the following expenditures:

Click here to access the full text of the legislation, and/or to track amendments filed by members as the House works through the legislation today.

The Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will host Congresswoman Lori Trahan of Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District virtually on Thursday, November 4th at 10:00 AM. The Congresswoman will discuss her work on the House Energy & Commerce and Natural Resources Committees, as well as comprehensive PFAS legislation recently passed by the House. This event will be hosted virtually via Zoom; advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Congresswoman Trahan has served in the House since 2019, and represents the 495/MetroWest Partnership communities of Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued its final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, a draft of which was previously issued for public comment in 2019 and underwent a second public comment period in 2020.

The final Master Plan establishes goals to reduce disposal statewide by 30%, from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030, over the next decade. It sets a long-term goal of achieving a 90% reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050.

Among its strategies for reaching these objectives, MassDEP will expand its current waste disposal bans by:

These changes require amendments to the 310 CMR 19.000: Solid Waste Management Facility Regulations, which will have an effective date of November 1st, 2022.

Click here to download the complete plan. To review MassDEP responses to public comments received during the development process, click here.

The Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) has released its draft Public Participation Plan to provide guidelines for achieving effective public engagement in the regional transportation planning process as part of the federally mandated Public Outreach Program.

Written comments are being accepted until Wednesday, December 8th at 4:30pm; the CMMPO expects to endorse the PPP at its meeting the following Wednesday.

The public also has an opportunity to weigh in on the draft PPP at a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 17th at 5:30pm. The event will be taking place both virtually and in-person. Click here to register for and join the event virtually. If you would like to attend the meeting in-person, it will be held at the CMRPC Office Conference Room, located at 1 Mercantile Street, Suite 520, in Worcester.

495/MetroWest Partnership communities served by the CMMPO are Berlin, Grafton, Hopedale, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Upton, and Westborough.

Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District is inviting area municipal leaders to an in-person Town Hall featuring special guest Strong Towns founder and President Charles Marohn, on Monday, November 15th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Black Box Theater in Franklin. The Congressman is looking to bring together local elected leaders, municipal administrators/managers, planners and economic development professionals, transportation engineers, and grassroots advocates "to discuss how to make our communities and streets financially strong and resilient."  

Click here to RSVP for this event. Interested participants are asked to RSVP so that organizers may track capacity at the venue. This event is open to all interested municipal stakeholders. 

The event will be held at the Black Box theater (home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company) at 15 West Central Street in Franklin. Free parking is available next to and behind the theater, and on Main Street. Because this will be an indoor event, participants are asked to wear face coverings. Questions regarding this event may be directed to Dana Hanson, District Director for Congressman Auchincloss, at dana.hanson@mail.house.gov.

To view all upcoming events or view recordings of past virtual events, visit the "Events & Committee Meetings" section of our website 495Partnership.org.

Throughout 2021, the 495/MetroWest Partnership is acknowledging our Investors in our Information & Resource Updates. Click here to learn about becoming an Investor!

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The 495/MetroWest Partnership thanks The TJX Companies, Inc. for their ADVOCATES level Investment! Check out our full list of Investors online at 495Partnership.org.