MMA testifies to Regulatory Committee in support of bill to allow RFPs for design, construction, financing and operation of water facilities

The Honorable Peter V. Kocot, House Chair
The Honorable Kenneth J. Donnelly, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
State House, Boston
 
Dear Representative Kocot, Senator Donnelly, and Members of the Committee,
 
On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Municipal Association would like to express strong support for S. 1536, An Act Allowing Cities, Towns and Districts to Procure Contracts for the Design, Construction, Financing and Operation of Wastewater and Water Treatment Facilities.
 
We appreciate the commitment of the Legislature and the Governor to work with municipal officials to find ways to allow innovative and cost-effective options for the construction of environmental projects intended to expand capacity and reduce costs. The harsh recession and slow recovery have created extraordinary challenges for state and local governments that will last for several years. Cities and towns will need strong and effective tools to avoid turning back the progress made over the past decade in protecting public health and the environment, and in promoting economic growth. This is a time for real and meaningful reform.
 
Under current public construction law, cities and towns cannot use a single contract to procure the design, construction, financing and operational services for wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities. Instead, cities and towns are required to obtain permission from the Legislature on a case-by-case basis.
 
S. 1536 would allow cities and towns, at local option, to issue a request for proposals, in compliance with the Uniform Procurement Act, for the design, construction, financing and operational services for wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities. The bill contains necessary exemptions from existing public construction laws, and the passage of this legislation would result in innovative and cost-effective construction of environmental projects throughout Massachusetts.
 
We respectfully ask the committee to give this important local government legislation a favorable report. Please do not hesitate to have your office contact me or MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Thomas Philbin at (617) 426-7272 at any time if you have any questions.
 
Thank you very much.
 
Sincerely,
Geoffrey C. Beckwith
Executive Director, MMA