The State Senate today approved legislation extending the existence of the Arlington Belmont Cambridge Stormwater Flooding Board. Action will now be required by the House on the legislation. The Board grew out of informal conversations convened over 10 years ago between the three communities to remedy shared flooding problems.
The board funds an online flood monitoring station on the brook. The board produced in an initial report in 2005 which mapped out a number of specific measures which the board has followed up on over the later years. Measures taken include the clearing of debris on the Alewife Brook in 2009 and a major reconstruction of Belmont Sewers to reduce the risk of sewage flooding.
The text of the legislation as amended and approved appears below:
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT CREATING THE A-B-C STORMWATER FLOODING BOARD TO BE REVIVED AND CONTINUED.
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the towns of Arlington and Belmont and the city of Cambridge, with the approval of the Cambridge city manager and the boards of selectmen of the towns of Arlington and Belmont and the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, may revive and continue to December 31, 2017 the 2005 environmental joint powers agreement that created the A-B-C Stormwater Flooding Board.
Within 30 days after the approval by the Cambridge city manager and the boards of selectmen of the towns of Arlington and Belmont, the Cambridge city manager and the boards of selectmen shall each submit the written notice of their approval to the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, who shall hold a public hearing within 60 days after receipt of all such notices. Within 30 days after the hearing, the secretary shall issue its decision of approval or disapproval to the office of the senate clerk. If approved by the secretary and submitted to the senate clerk, the 2005 environmental joint powers agreement shall be effective retroactively from the date of its expiration in 2010 until December 31, 2017.
SECTION 2. Nothing in this act shall limit the authority of any of the parties to terminate the agreement in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 3. Any further extension of the environmental joint powers agreement shall be subject to section 20 of chapter 21A of the General Laws.