Welcome to Board Briefs, a segment where we highlight key discussions from the MWRA Board of Directors meetings—particularly those that matter most from the Advisory Board’s perspective.This month’s spotlight features a topic that received significant debate both at the morning Administration and Finance Committee meeting and during the full Board meeting later in the day: proposed extensions of the mitigation agreements for the City of Quincy and the Town of Winthrop. These agreements aim to address MWRA’s long-term operational impacts on these host communities.
The Agreements at a Glance
Both Quincy and Winthrop have maintained longstanding mitigation agreements with the MWRA, originating during the Boston Harbor Project. These mitigation agreements represent payments from the MWRA to Quincy and Winthrop to help offset the impacts of hosting major MWRA facilities. Over time, these agreements have evolved to account for ongoing operational effects, such as emergency response services, heavy vehicle traffic, and municipal infrastructure demands. Under the approved amendments, annual payments will start at $934,576 in 2026 and, with a 2.5% cap on inflation increases, will culminate in $1,167,158 by 2035.
While the amounts are consistent for both Quincy and Winthrop, the specific impacts they address remain distinct. Quincy’s payments help fund fire response and other municipal needs tied to the sludge-to-fertilizer facility located at the Fore River Shipyard, while Winthrop’s funds address ongoing infrastructure and public safety concerns stemming from the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. For comparison, payments under the previous ten-year agreements began at $760,000 in 2015 and increased incrementally to $949,136 in 2025.
A Lengthy Debate on Agreement Terms
The debate centered on the length of the proposed ten-year extensions. Advisory Board representative Andy Pappastergion was vocal in his opposition to the ten-year term, expressing concern that a lot can change over such a long period. He stressed that while he supports continued mitigation funding at the levels and terms presented, a shorter agreement would offer future Boards greater flexibility.
Winthrop Fire Chief Flanagan countered this position, highlighting the importance of financial certainty for Winthrop’s capital planning. He noted that the mitigation payments are earmarked for specific projects, and the ten-year term ensures reliability for the town’s budget process. Ongoing impacts, including fire and police services, traffic concerns, and infrastructure needs, were emphasized as key priorities for Winthrop.
Mr. Pappastergion responded by questioning how Winthrop successfully managed capital projects under previous agreements with shorter terms such as the five-year agreement from 2001 to 2005. He emphasized that a shorter, five-year term would better balance stability for the communities with the need for fiscal flexibility.
The Outcome: A Rare Split Vote
Despite extensive debate and efforts to reach a middle-ground compromise, the Board ultimately approved the ten-year extensions in a rare split vote:
- 8 in favor
- 2 against—the dissenting votes came from Advisory Board members Lou Taverna and Andy Pappastergion.
While supporters argued the agreements offered financial certainty, the dissenting votes underscored the value of shorter terms to ensure future Boards have the flexibility to revisit and adapt agreements in response to evolving circumstances.
Why Split Votes Matter
While the MWRA Board is known for its collaborative decision-making, split votes play an important role. They reflect meaningful debate, ensure that divergent viewpoints, particularly those centered on fiscal accountability and flexibility, are heard, and demonstrate that the Board doesn’t simply “rubber-stamp” decisions.
Mr. Pappastergion’s and Mr. Taverna’s opposition highlights the Advisory Board’s commitment to reasonable, flexible, and responsible spending by the MWRA.
Looking Ahead
Although the ten-year agreements have been approved, the Advisory Board’s position lays the groundwork for future conversations. When these agreements are revisited in 2035, the Advisory Board will continue to push for balanced, flexible, and responsible terms that serve both MWRA and its host communities.
