From: John McElduff [mailto:jhmcelduff@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2013 11:13 AM
To: nlf@newtonlowerfalls.org
Cc: acicconejr@newtonma.gov; asalvucci@newtonma.gov; asangiolo@newtonma.gov;
byates@newtonma.gov; Clappin@newtonma.gov; dcrossley@newtonma.gov;
dkalis@newtonma.gov; gschwartz@newtonma.gov; gtanswiston@newtonma.gov;
jharney@newtonma.gov; jrice@newtonma.gov; lbaker@newtonma.gov;
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salbright@newtonma.gov; slennon@newtonma.gov; slinsky@newtonma.gov;
thessmahan@newtonma.gov; vdanberg@newtonma.gov
Subject: Riverside Neighborhood Mitigation Fund Problem

 

Neighbors,

 

The Riverside developer has agreed to provide $6.1M to a neighborhood
mitigation fund, of which 68.4% will fund city sewer inflow and infiltration
repairs. The state mandates only 34.2% of the fund are used for this
purpose. Our aldermen report that there exists a fine city wide eleven year
program, which in its second year is properly addressing sewer infiltration
and inflows. The project is well funded by low interest bonds.

 

Fortunately some of the sewer mitigation money will fix sewers in villages
impacted by the project (Quinobequin Rd., St. Mary's St., Lyons Field, etc),
but the money is technically funding a city wide program, at twice the state
mandate.  

 

I recently advocated by letter to the Land Use Committee Chairman, that
34.2% ($2.08M) be redirected back to the impacted neighborhoods (excluding
sewers), since Newton was doubling the state mandate. He did not make this
pitch to his committee in the last meeting. 

 

The aldermen of the land use committee have prioritized the City over the
village, as they voted 7-0 to move the project to a final vote by the Board
of Alderman. They know how much $2.08M can do to fix traffic. I can't speak
for committee member Jay Harney, who missed the vote due to a prior
commitment, but I think he would have voted no. Apparently the additional
tax revenues that are estimated to prop up the city wide coffers are not
enough. I believe that they are negative, which is why the committee may be
acting this way. In other communities the new tax revenues are enough to
please selectman from non impacted neighborhoods.    

 

Unfortunately, later this evening, the Board of Alderman will most likely
approve $2.08M of our mitigation funds to be used elsewhere in the City, as
part of their acceptance of the Riverside and Hotel Indigo special permits.
It sure would make sense for them to hold off on their vote until their next
meeting on 10/7/13, so that NLF and Auburndale can properly weigh in on
this.

 

I would appreciate if other members of our community could express their
thoughts on this $2.08M neighborhood injustice, both on the list serve and
in writing or email (see above) to Land Use Committee Chairman, Alderman Ted
Hess-Mahan. 

 

Thanks,

 

John McElduff

46 Lafayette Rd