8/21/08

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“I fully respect the governor,” said Sen. Brian Joyce about the vetoes in Patrick’s hometown. “He was exercising his prerogatives as governor. In both instances, they were within larger sections and he vetoed the entire section. Neither (earmark) was singled out.”
In all, the governor cut $122.5 million to reach a $28.1 billion state budget. Many of the vetoes were for local programs and projects, and were restored in last-minute legislative sessions.
Rep. Walter Timilty said he was not upset by the vetoes either.
“(Patrick) has to be even handed with all the cities and towns in the Commonwealth,” he said. “The governor has to look at the big picture and we’re facing serious financial problems. He has to do his job, but I’ll continue to do mine.”
The proposed Milton Center for the Performing Arts will have a $50,000 budget for studying feasibility and possibilities, potentially including architectural drawings. According to the language, the town will serve as a “fiscal agent” for the project until a nonprofit is created to oversee planning. The center might stage plays and musicals, exhibit films, have classes and host the local access cable television studios.
One location suggested is the Woman’s Club building on Reedsdale Road. Woman’s Club President Anne Thompson said the group is open to the possibility, but has yet to commit to the idea.
“The bottom line is that the (club’s) board of directors has the last word,” she said.
The town has considered ownership of the building in the past, but Town Meeting rejected the idea due to the cost of repair and maintenance. It is currently used for parties, dance lessons and Milton Players performances.
Selectmen Chair Kathy Fagan said the study could help the club.
“Our goal is to help them facilitate what to do with the building next,” she said. “I would just want to make sure that whatever they do with the building would fit in well with the neighborhood and fit in well with the legacy of the building.”
Joyce said other places for the center have been suggested, such as the old movie theater in East Milton Square behind the former Java Jo’s coffee shop. Joyce said he’s heard from some two-dozen residents interested in getting involved, many with backgrounds in design, arts and other key fields.
There is currently no money for the concept beyond the study grant, though a $1 million appropriation was included in a general government bond bill recently signed by the governor. An appropriation in a bond bill does not guarantee funding. It authorizes the state to borrow money for the project.
The $100,000 Pine Tree Brook grant covers the sixth phase of the multi-year project, which started at the Neponset River and is clearing and dredging the channel to reduce flooding. The current round of cleanup may reach Blue Hills Parkway, according to Dick Russell who said he began lobbying for funding 10 years ago.
Russell said Pine Tree Brook handles two-thirds of the runoff from the Blue Hills. Blue Hills Parkway is the halfway mark of the project that ends at Pope’s Pond.
The low water table in the area increases problems when the flow is heavy. Removing sediment and vegetation that blocks the brook will help prevent flooding of property near the waterway. So far, almost 2,000 tons of sediment has been removed at a cost of $430,000 – paid for by the state.
In addition, Russell said the cleanup is important if the Neponset is ever restored to its natural state by removing the dams, as is under consideration. Without dams, spawning fish might move beyond the Milton Village area where they currently stop.
Russell said the fish could use Pine Tree Brook as a spawning area. The return of fish could eventually bring federal funding to Pine Tree Brook maintenance, he said.