Bedford Wins Municipal Vulnerabilities Preparedness MVP Grant; Stanton Speaks at Statehouse

Along with mayors and selectmen from other cities and towns, Sarah Stanton (seated center) appeared at a public hearing held by the Joint Committee on Revenue to advocate for S10, An Act Providing for Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investments in the Commonwealth, filed by the Baker administration. Courtesy image (c) 2019 all rights reserved

By Dot Bergin

Town Manager Sarah Stanton went to the Statehouse on June 18 to speak in favor of Senate Bill 10, legislation that would establish a new, sustainable source of revenue to help towns and cities prepare for the adverse effects of climate change.

Stanton, in company with mayors and selectmen from other cities and towns, appeared at a public hearing held by the Joint Committee on Revenue to advocate for the bill,  An Act Providing for Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Investments in the Commonwealth, filed by the Baker administration. The bill would direct $137 million annually to cities and towns to protect public health, safety, and property and reduce the long-term costs of climate-related risks. Funding would come through a modest increase in the deeds excise rate (Real Estate transfer fee), with revenue deposited into a Global Warming Solutions Trust fund and directed to municipalities.

What, exactly, does this mean for Bedford?

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The legislation would provide continued funding for the Municipal Vulnerabilities Preparedness (MVP) fund, which gives grants to municipalities to identify key climate-related hazards and develop action programs to mitigate risks. This year Bedford applied for – and received – a Planning Grant from the MVP fund. Stanton told The Citizen that “we are just getting started” in coming up with plans to make Bedford climate resilient. She has already convened a working group of town department heads to begin developing ways to use the Planning Grant. Adrienne St. John, Public Works Engineer, wrote the application for the grant and is spearheading the project.

To apply for a Planning Grant, Bedford had to provide letters of support from the Town administration, from local boards, and from concerned committees such as the Energy and Sustainability Committee. Communities who complete the MVP program are then certified as an MVP community and are eligible for an Action Grant, to fund a specific project or projects.  Read more about the program here: https://www.mass.gov/municipal-vulnerability-preparedness-mvp-program.

What Happens Next?

St. John explained the way the MVP project plays out: In the planning stage, cities and towns receive grants, in amounts usually ranging from $10,000 to more than $25,000, according to the MVP website, to conduct two public meetings and to hire a consultant to guide the process. The town will be working with Beals and Thomas, environmental consultants,  Southborough, MA, a firm that has done work with Bedford in the past.  First, a public meeting of “stakeholders” – fire, police, public safety, and other concerned entities – will take place in the fall, followed by a second workshop, both at dates to be announced. Public engagement and input are key components. The result will be a report to the state and, if all goes as anticipated, Bedford would then apply for an Action Grant to complete a major project as identified in the workshops. (Action Grants can range from small sums to substantial grants. In 2018 Natick received $9,000 to plant trees to mitigate heat islands while Salem won more than $300,000 for extensive sewer work.)

Several neighboring towns – Acton, Arlington, and Concord – have already completed the MVP planning phase and have issued detailed reports on ways they are working to make their towns climate resilient. Concord’s report is here: https://concordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17809/Concord-Summary-of-Findings-Final-MVP-Report. Our neighbors report the same concerns we face: extreme heat (or cold) events, street flooding, downed trees, gas leaks, need for infrastructure upgrades – the list goes on.  Although Metrowest towns are not in quite the dire straits faced by coastal communities, we are not immune to risks. Think about days-long power outages that have occurred in recent years because of storms, or, as long-time residents may recall, flooding on the Concord river in which the water came up Carlisle Road to the “100-year” mark and wiped out a home in West Bedford.

Returning to Stanton’s testimony in favor of Senate Bill 10, increased revenue will be needed to continue funding the MVP program, as more and more communities take advantage of the resources it offers. In just over three years, over 70% of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns have joined the program.

Receiving this Planning Grant is a ‘win” for Bedford. Although only in the beginning phase with little concrete information yet available, The Citizen will be following progress closely as details shape up. When dates are announced for the public meetings, you will see them in The Bedford Citizen.

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