Click to go to a specific town's site (opens new window)

Regional Highlights

School Building Assistance

Legislation spearheaded by Treasurer Tim Cahill was recently signed by the Governor to fund all 425 school building projects on the SBA waitlist by FY07 and open the list to new projects.  Senator Resor worked continuously with the Treasurer’s office and Senate Ways and Means to promote successful passage of this legislation to assist all of her district communities that have school building projects on the waitlist.   

FYI: Senator Resor and state Treasurer Tim Cahill will be hosting two informational forums next month regarding the new SBA regulations.  These will be held on September 9, 2004 in Littleton from 9:00-11:00am and September 17, 2004 at Assabet Valley from 11:00am-1:00pm.  The Senator encourages anyone who may be interested to attend.

I-495 Technology Initiative

Senator Resor worked with her Senate and House colleagues to secure $100,000 in funding for the I-495 Technology Corridor Initiative (ARC of Innovation) that was include in the budget.  Senator Resor also took the lead in organizing her colleagues to override the Governor’s veto of this money, so that this organization could continue to serve the communities along the I-495 corridor.  

Centers for Excellence

Despite Governor Romney’s veto of funding for the Technology Initiative of Metro South/West Regional Employment Board for their Center of Excellence program, Senator Resor was able to successfully secure $75,000 in funding for the program.

Senior Property Tax Relief

Senator Resor filed several bills relative to senior property tax relief, including several home rule petitions.  After lengthy consideration of many diverse proposals, the Joint Committee on Taxation brought forward a package of provisions for local property tax relief, and in July the Legislature passed a local option tax relief proposal in the FY05 budget.  Unfortunately, an amendment by the Governor killed the proposal.  It is unclear whether any further proposals will prevail in this Legislative Session.

Transportation Assistance

On July 31, the Legislature sent a three year, comprehensive $2.55 billion Transportation Bond bill to the Governor for action.The bill authorizes $450 million dollars for Chapter 90 funding, specifically $120 million for FY05 and included several provisions for the southern Metrowest communities:

• $1.8 million for traffic signalization in the Northborough town center and the installation of a signalized traffic control devices at the intersection of Route 20 and Hudson Street, and to widen Route 20 eastbound, all in the town of Northborough.    
• Funds to widen Church Street and replace the Church Street Bridge, as well as realign the intersection of Whitney and Church Streets.
• $10,000 in funds for a noise  study along Route 290
• $500,000 for a curb cut and construction of a queuing lane on the western side of Route 20 heading eastbound in Marlborough near the Marlborough/ Northborough line in close proximity to the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and also for adequate signage to be installed to inform eastbound motorists how to access businesses on the westbound side.

• A provision that funds be expended for the construction of additional commuter parking on land owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority adjacent to the Westborough commuter rail station

•  $450 million in new Chapter 90 authorizations to restore the program to $120 million annually through fiscal 2007, as well as a mandate that the MassHighway Department notify cities and towns of their share of the funds by April 1st of each year.  

•  $25 million in new Public Works Economic Development (PWED) grants and $3.6 million in new Small Town Road Assistance Program (STRAP) authorizations

Northborough

Pothole Grants

Northborough/Southborough Regional School District

The Northborough/Southborough Regional School District was also awarded $200,000 from the Foundation Reserve Fund (“pothole” grant program).  This money will be used to address unexpected increases in required local contributions for special education costs

Northborough School District

Senator Resor was pleased that the Northborough School District received a $75,000 award from the Foundation Reserve Fund (“pothole” grant program).  This money will be used to address unexpected increases in required local contributions for special education costs.  

Cathode Ray Take Back Legislation

Senator Resor worked with Representative Naughton and the town of Northborough to develop this legislation.  She co-sponsored H.4535, a bill that promotes recycling and requires industries to take responsibility for the waste they generate.  This bill recently received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, of which Senator Resor is the chair, and is currently before the House Ways and Means Committee.   

Past Highlights

Central New England Sports Property 2002

Senator Resor supported the town’s efforts to secure $250,000 in self-help grant funds from the Executive Office of environmental Affairs to purchase the Central New England Sports Property. The acquisition of this property represented was an important addition to Northborough’s open space estate.  

Southborough

Pothole Grant for the Northborough/Southborough Regional School District

Senator Resor worked to assure that the Northborough/Southborough Regional School District would be awarded $200,000 from the Foundation Reserve Fund (“pothole” grant program).  This money shall be used to address unexpected increases in required local contributions for special education costs.  

Transportation Assistance

On July 31, the Legislature sent a three year, $2.55 billion Transportation Bond bill to the Governor for action, and he has recently signed this bill into law.  Included in the law is a provision submitted by Senator Resor and Representative Paul Loscocco that “funds be expended for the completion of improvements in the town of Southborough and Hopkinton to the MBTA train station, located in Southborough, and the completion of all improvements and outstanding items to have been completed by the authority in Southborough and the construction of sidewalks from the station to Hopkinton State Park.”  

Westborough

Lyman School

Under Senator Resor's guidance and working with House members, Governor Romney recently signed as part of the State's economic stimulus package a measure that would allow the Town of Westborough to partner with Mass Development and the Mass Technology Collaborative in developing a multi-use development at the Former Lyman School for Boys Property.  Part of the development will include the construction of 40 single-family homes, 50% of which will be deemed affordable housing.

Municipal Relief

A measure sponsored by Senator Resor and enacted as part of the municipal relief package was a proposal by the Town of Westborough relative to the impact of premiums on notes or bonds on levy limits.  Many communities in the district including Westborough had been undertaking large construction projects and have planned their budgets around these capital expenditures.  When this new reporting mechanism was issued by the Department of Revenue, it was supposed to be effective in FY04.  Senator Resor filed to have the effective reporting date postponed until FY05 to ensure that communities had ample time to make the necessary budgetary adjustments for compliance.

Safe Havens

The Town of Westborough and several other communities passed Home Rule “safe haven” petitions to provide a safe location for infants in the case of abandonment by young mothers.  This summer the Legislature passed a state-wide “safe haven” program which protects parents from criminal neglect statutes if they voluntarily place a newborn with a hospital, police department, or manned fire station.  The bill was successfully passed and signed into law by the Governor on July 30, 2004 and is expected to take effect the end of October, 2004.  

Liquor Licenses

The Senator, along with Representatives Polito, Peterson, and Loscocco, have filed Senate Bill 2326 and Senate Bill 2327 which are home rule petitions requesting additional liquor and/or wine/malt licenses for the town of Westborough.  Both of S. 2326 and S. 2327 were reported favorably from the committee on Government Regulations.  S. 2327 was engrossed by the Senate on August 19, 2004 and is now awaiting action in the House of Representatives.  

Nathan Fisher House

Senator Resor worked with representative Polito to secure state funds for further restoration of the Nathan Fisher House which will help make the Westborough Heritage Museum a reality.  

 Westborough Courthouse

Senator Resor worked her colleagues in the Westborough delegation to prevent the closure of the Westborough Courthouse.  The closure of the courthouse would have been a great inconvenience and loss to the town of Westborough and surrounding communities.