Government Affairs

GA Blog: Hamilton

Showing blogs: 1–6 of 11

5.27.10 North Shore Towns Amongst 35 Massachusetts “Green” Communities

The Boston Globe reports that Governor Deval Patrick designated 4 North Shore cities/towns amongst the 35 first official “Green Communities”, making them eligible for $8.1 million in grants for local renewable power and energy-efficiency projects. In order to qualify, cities/towns must meet five clean energy goals, including:

Adopting local zoning bylaws to encourage and speed up permitting for renewable energy projects
Purchasing only fuel-efficient vehicles for their municipal fleet whenever possible
Requiring all new residential construction over 3,000 square feet, as well as all new commercial and industrial real estate construction, to save energy by adopting new building codes.

Green Communities are eligible for millions in local aid under the 2008 Green Communities Act; they include Acton, Arlington, Athol, Andover, Becket, Belchertown, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hamilton, Hanover, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Kingston, Lancaster, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Lowell, Mashpee, Medford, Melrose, Montague, Natick, Newton, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Salem, Springfield, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Wenham, and Worcester.

The communities’ deadline to apply for a piece of the $8 million is June 4; the grants will be awarded in late June. Each community will also receive a Big Belly solar waste compactor to be delivered in time for the summer parks and beaches season.

Read the entire Boston Globe article.

4.28.10 Hamilton Town Meeting Discusses Meal Tax to Build Up Downtown

The Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle reported recently that Hamilton Town Meeting voters were considering creating a stabilization fund, then adopting a local meals tax, 100% of which would be used to support revitalizing the downtown area.

The proposal was intended to benefit restaurant owners with more business, residents with a more friendly downtown and the community in general with more businesses and customers in Hamilton, supporting tax revenue.

Read the entire Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle article.

2.16.10 Hamilton Affordable Housing for Seniors

Hamilton Old Library on Bay Road

The Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle reports that Seniors and selectmen recently discussed the potential options for creating affordable senior housing in Hamilton. The Old Library on Bay Road (shown above), currently the site of the Hamilton Council on Aging, has been considered by the Selectmen, but seniors are suggesting other potential sites, including the town-owned land off Patton Drive behind Winthrop School and the Public Safety Building, and unoccupied Hansbury estate property on Willow Street.

Read the entire Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle article.

10.26.09 Hamilton Community Preservation Act (CPA) Projects

Voters at the October 17, 2009 Hamilton Town Meeting

According to the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle , voters at a Town Meeting last week voted to appropriate $122,400 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for the following projects:

Repaint Hamilton’s historic Town Hall - $33,000
Replace the front steps at Town Hall with granite steps - $28,000
Renovations to the historic town cemetery building - $13,000
To fund an ADA elevator study, environmental assessment, and space needs study for Town Hall - $38,000
Weaver Pond Nuisance Vegetation Control project - $9,400
New Historic District signs - $1,000

The Community Preservation Act is a state law that Hamilton has adopted, which allows the town to establish a fund, raised through a property tax surcharge of 2%, to support affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and recreation. Any project that meets the requirements and is approved by Town Meeting voters will receive between a 5-50% match from the state. The article reports that, Hamilton received a 34.81% “match” for fiscal year 2009.

Read the entire Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle article.

6.8.09 Potential Affordable Housing Development in Hamilton

The Salem News recently reported that a few affordable housing apartments are being contemplated at the site of the Hamilton's Acord food pantry. The current space would be renovated to include 3 studio apartments on the 2nd floor and a one-bedroom, handicapped-accessible apartment on the 1st floor. All of the apartments would be affordable for those making between 50-65% of the median household income, $82,000, in metro Boston.

Read the entire Salem News article.

4.21.08 Age Restricted Zoning in Hamilton

There was an interesting letter to the editor in the Salem News recently about age restricted zoning in Hamilton. According to the author, the Hamilton Planning Board is trying to change the zoning bylaws of Hamilton to allow age-restricted, dense development by offering a "Senior Housing Bylaw" at the next town meeting on May 5, 2008.

Click here to read the Salem News letter to the editor.