New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) appointed Town of Framingham Public Works Assistant Director-Engineering Water and Wastewater, James Barsanti as President during their Annual Conference and Exhibit at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel on January 25, 2017. Barsanti has 31 years of experience in the water and wastewater field and recently served as president-elect of NEWEA. NEWEA’s mission is to promote education and collaboration and offers members a wide range of resources including education, training, leadership skills and technical journals for wastewater professionals

On June 2, 2016, the Planning Board granted a decision for the construction of the RCS Learning Center located at 82 Edmands Road. The decision regulates the hours of construction and development related activities for the project. Pursuant to condition 12, the RCS Learning Center and its contractors are required to abide by the following hours of construction:

Senior citizens living at the 198-unit Essex Towers in the Gateway City of Lawrence will have affordable rents extended through 2036 and see some moderate property improvements as a result of $15.8 million in MassHousing financing

On Wednesday night, Mayor Martin J. Walsh led a group of 400 volunteers, including City of Boston cabinet and department heads, State officials, community and civic leaders, and homeless providers in conducting the street count for the City's 37th annual homeless census. The street count is part of a larger census of homeless adults and families in emergency shelters, transitional housing and domestic violence programs

Congressman Richard E. Neal, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh gave an exclusive tour of Union Station today for a group of Western Massachusetts veterans and residents of the Soldiers Home. Since its construction in 1926, the iconic train station in downtown Springfield has played a significant role in the lives of countless members of our Armed Forces. It’s the place where they departed for their military service, and the setting for their return home to loved ones. Today’s tour is an expression of appreciation and gratitude to our local soldiers for their honorable service. The renovated and restored Union Station will open to the public this year

“These CCRI grants are helping dedicated nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts provide the housing and services these individuals and families require to become successful in beating addiction and leading stable, productive lives.’

As New England prepares for an upcoming energy auction that will impact future energy prices, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) reintroduced the Fair Ratepayer, Accountability, Transparency and Efficiency Standards (RATES) Act. The legislation would ensure that consumers can protest any energy rate change filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The general public has an avenue to protest a rate change filed with FERC through the Federal Power Act (FPA), which allows new rate changes to take effect if FERC approves them or fails to issue an order either approving or denying filed rates.

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that 2016 closed out in December with single-family home sales essentially at the same pace as last year. Eleven of the 12 months of the year saw an increase in home sales over 2015. Median prices were also up for 10 straight months as home values reached new highs. Condominium sales were down in December, after a year of mostly increases. Overall, 2016 was a positive year for home sales in Massachusetts as both year-end single-family and condominium sales and median prices were up over 2015.

Governor Wolf attended the VFW’s 53rd Annual Mid-Winter Conference in Pittsburgh. The governor discussed issues faced by veterans in our communities, progress in veterans’ services, and thanked the VFW for working to ensure that veterans across the Commonwealth are getting the support they deserve.

Under new leadership, 2016 was a year of multiple successes for MassHousing. The state’s affordable housing bank had its best lending total in its history; received three bond rating upgrades from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s; and created the first-in-the-nation statewide loan program to spur the new production of housing that is more affordable to middleincome renters.

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) is pleased to announce the addition of six new members to its Board of Directors

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and her colleagues, including Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), hosted a forum with Americans from across the country who were victimized by Department of Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin.

FY 2017 third quarter Real Estate and Personal property tax bills are due on Wednesday, February 1st. Bills were mailed to all property owners on December 31st, and include both the February payment stub and the May stub which will be due on May 1, 2017.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary-Designate, Dr. Ben Carson, raising questions about Carson's experience and priorities for the agency. This letter comes in advance of Dr. Carson's appearance before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Thursday

The Massachusetts Association of Realtors® (MAR) reported today that holiday cheer wasn’t the only thing in abundance in December as both the number of homes put under agreement and prices were up in the final month of the year. This was also true for condominiums put under agreement. This trend was mirrored in the year-end totals for 2016 compared to 2015. Realtors’® confidence in the market was positive again in December as their confidence in prices was down slightly.