| Q: |
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How was the Advisory Board established? |
| A: |
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The MWRA Advisory
Board was established through the MWRA Enabling Act (Section 23
of Chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984).
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| Q: |
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What is the role of the Advisory Board? |
| A: |
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Through the
Enabling Act, the Advisory Board is empowered to review the
Authority's Capital Improvement and Current Expense Budgets.
Meetings relating to project costs and schedules take place
throughout the year between MWRA staff and Advisory Board
Members and staff. These efforts culminate in the Advisory
Board's annual budget comments and recommendations in February
and April of each year.
In addition to budget review, the Advisory Board provides the following services:
- Assists the Authority in
developing policies. Examples include the development of a
new sewer rate methodology (June 1994), performance of a
cost/benefit analysis of covered storage (November 1995),
and the development of a system expansion policy (December
1996).
- Develops and pursues a legislative agenda on behalf of ratepayers.
- Serves as a conduit between service area communities and the MWRA relative to budget
review, MWRA projects, local initiatives, etc.
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| Q: |
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Are all of the Advisory Board's recommendations
to the Authority implemented? |
| A: |
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No. The Authority
is not required to accept all Advisory Board Recommendations. However, the Advisory Board has achieved success with its review of the Authority's Proposed
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Current Expense Budget (CEB). The Authority agreed to adopt a ten-year CIP spending cap of
$2,307 million with FY01, FY02, and FY03 capped at $500 million, $402 million and $329 million (including inflation), respectively.
The Advisory Board believes that the adoption of a CIP spending cap will help to ensure that the pace of capital spending is both predictable and
sustainable. Follow the links to see the Advisory Board's Comments and Recommendations on the
CIP or CEB.
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| Q: |
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How do I contact with the Advisory Board? |
| A: |
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The Advisory Board
mailing address is:
MWRA Advisory Board
11 Beacon Street, Suite 1010
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617.742.7561
Fax: 617.742.4614
Email:
mwra_ab@mwra.state.ma.us
Advisory Board staff can also be contacted
through the MWRA e-mail system.
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| Q: |
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Who makes up the Advisory Board? |
| A: |
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The Advisory Board
is composed of the following:
- One representative from sixty of the sixty-one local bodies (Lancaster is not represented)
- One from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (a legislatively created, comprehensive
regional planning organization)
- Six persons appointed by the Governor:
- One expert in environmental protection
- Three representatives from the Connecticut River basin, Quabbin/Ware watershed,
Wachusett watershed
- Two persons qualified by membership or affiliation in organizations directly
concerned with the recreational or commercial uses of Boston Harbor
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