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State Rep.
Thomas M. Stanley
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov
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Rep. Stanley testified at the Revenue Committee hearing in support of the Lincoln Affordable Accessory Dwelling Home Rule Petition. This legislation seeks to increase the town's affordable housing stock by incentivizing owners of accessory apartments to rent their apartments as affordable units.
Rep. Stanley heading to the Financial Services Committee Hearing.
Rep. Stanley speaking at the City Council meeting on the
high school loan order.
Waltham City Council discusses Waltham High School funding.
Chairs Harold Naughton and Senator Mike Moore, and members of the Public Safety Committee, consider firearms legislation in a packed State House hearing room.
Rep. Stanley and Members of the
Municipalities & Regional Government Commitee heard testimony from Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn in support of legislation that would allow cities/towns to levy fees on real estate transactions to help fund affordable housing.
Rep. Stanley attended a discussion about Fernald Reuse at
Government Center.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan speaking at a Labor Day Gathering at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation in Waltham. The event was hosted by the New England Regional Council of Carpenters and Carpenters Local Union 339.
Cong. Trahan addresses a packed room at the Labor Day event.
Charles River Museum
Rep. Stanley attended an engagement session in Natick hosted by The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) and the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (MASS-TF). The session focused on Military Installation and Defense Community issues involving Hanscom Air Force Base, Soldier Systems Center Natick, JBCC and Fort Devens.
Remembering 9/11
MA Fallen Firefighters
State House Ceremonies Remembering 9/11
Click
here to learn more about the Waltham Land Trust's 5K event!
Fall Colors
In the mood for autumn.
A boat enters Sesuit Harbor
Sesuit Harbor
Last days of summer
Boston Harbor
On the Greenway
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2019 Council and Committee Calendar
To view the Waltham City Council and Committee 2019 calendar, click
here.
Primary Election will take place Tuesday, September 17th
This year's municipal primary election will take place on Tuesday, September 17th. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 5th.
Please send us your hometown photos for inclusion in the Stanley Report!
Love to take photos? We are looking to include your pictures of Waltham in The Stanley Report! Please email
Mark Phillips
in Rep. Stanley's office a picture of your hometown for inclusion in the report. Remember to leave your full name if you'd like to be credited! We look forward to seeing your pictures.
Waltham City Council Authorizes $375 Million for New High School
On Monday night, the Waltham City Council voted to approve the loan order for the new Waltham High School. Rep. Stanley voted in favor of the loan order and will now encourage the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to grant Waltham over $100 million to help defray the costs.
Rep. Stanley Supports Bill to Protect Homeless Youth
In a letter to the leaders of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, Rep. Stanley urged favorable action on House Bill 144 to ensure positive transition for at-risk youth. Currently, anywhere between 33% and 50% of the state's homeless youth are coming out of our child welfare system. While many of the past innovative efforts and plans to address this issue required the state's systems to refrain from closing cases that make youth homeless, there needs to be accountability mechanisms in place to ensure that at-risk youth are not being pushed off the child welfare cliff.
The bill requires any agency/department of the Commonwealth or organization funded by the Commonwealth to provide a transition plan, including residential and/or custodial services, to youths before they can be discharged. Under the bill, emergency shelters would not be considered appropriate housing options. In addition to housing, the transition plan would be required to address continuity of care, health insurance, employment, benefits, and community resources.
Rep. Stanley asks Joint Committee on Financial Services to issue favorable action on his bill providing for the security of public deposits
Rep. Stanley testified on behalf of legislation he filed (House Bill 1113) to establish a framework for qualifying public depositories in addition to instituting rules for determining the collateral for public deposits. Massachusetts is one of several states that do not require banks holding public deposits from cities, towns and districts to secure them with acceptable capital. Local municipalities need security and safety of public funds and deposits.
The safety of public funds should be the foremost objective in public fund management. Collateralization of public deposits through the pledging of appropriate securities and surety of bond by depositories is an important safeguard for such deposits. Programs in other states pertaining to the collaterization of public deposits have generally proven to be beneficial for both the public sector and its depositories.
House Bill 1113
Rep. Stanley Testifies on Affordable Housing Bill
Rep. Stanley testified at the Joint Committee on Revenue hearing in support of a Lincoln Affordable Accessory Dwelling Home Rule Petition. This legislation (H.2645), sponsored by Rep. Stanley, seeks to increase the town's affordable housing stock by incentivizing owners of accessory apartments to rent their apartments as affordable units. The bill represents an innovative effort made by the Town of Lincoln to diversify their housing stock and increase the number of high-quality, affordable housing units in the community.
Accessory units, also known as accessory apartments, guest apartments, in-law apartments, family apartments or secondary units, provide supplementary housing that can be integrated into existing single family neighborhoods to provide a lower-priced housing alternative with practically zero negative impact on the character of the neighborhood. They effectively improve the affordability of housing for both homeowners and renters at all stages of their lives while also helping to maximize use of existing public infrastructure and services, while reducing the pressure on open space and farmlands from development. Maintaining or increasing the number of people per household unit as well as the number of households per lot in existing residential areas reduces the costs for municipalities to extend utilities and services. Municipalities also gain additional tax revenue from accessory apartments as a result of improvements to the existing stock in addition to saving money through the enhancements to moderately priced housing stock that don't requiring local funding.
Rep. Stanley Attends Defense Economic Development Engagement Session
Rep. Stanley attended an engagement session in Natick hosted by The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) and the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (MASS-TF). The session focused on Military Installation and Defense Community issues involving Hanscom Air Force Base, Soldier Systems Center Natick, JBCC and Fort Devens.
Earlier this year, Lt Governor Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy visited each Massachusetts region to learn about opportunities for economic growth - ideas and recommendations that will shape the Commonwealth's upcoming Economic Development Plan. This session was a follow up meeting with a specific focus on our military and defense communities.
EEE in Massachusetts
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. EEE can cause severe illness and possibly lead to death in any age group; however, people under age 15 are at particular risk. EEE does not occur every year, but based on mosquito sampling, a high risk of occurrence of human cases currently exists.
Learn more about EEE and how to protect yourself and your family.
Baker Administration Proposes Tax Relief Measures, Major Deposit in Rainy Day Fund
The Baker Administration filed legislation to provide tax relief to Massachusetts residents and make a milestone deposit in the Stabilization Fund to bring the fund balance to $3 billion. These proposals are part of a $651 million supplemental budget bill that also makes investments in a wide range of areas including infrastructure, education and support for cities and towns.
The proposal calls for setting the 2020 Part B income tax rate at 5.0% - bypassing the remaining revenue tests that the Commonwealth otherwise would be required to pass before the rate is reduced to that level. Taking this proactive step would ensure that the will of Massachusetts voters as prescribed in a 2000 ballot initiative is fulfilled next year, ending any uncertainty and assuring that the rate changes to 5.0% on Jan. 1. Because the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget already assumes a reduction to 5.0%, there would be no budgetary impact from the change. By statute, the rate will remain at 5.0%, and there would be no trigger tests in future years.
The bill also proposes a doubling of the income tax exemption for dependents, from $1,000 per dependent to $2,000, resulting in a direct additional benefit for 1 million taxpayers who have children, or care for dependent relatives who are elderly or have a disability, of approximately $50 per dependent. To support the increase, the budget calls for a one-time deposit of $175 million from the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) surplus into the Tax Reduction Fund. That funding would support two years of deductions at the higher rate, without any impact on the FY20 or FY21 budgets, and would provide a sufficient transition period until the higher exemption can be incorporated into future budget assumptions. The $2,000 per dependent exemption is estimated to reduce tax collections by $87 million per year.
The budget also proposes a change to ensure that Massachusetts military veterans who are permanently disabled won't face a tax liability as a result of a federal program to cancel their federal student loan debt. Under current Massachusetts law, that loan forgiveness would be considered a taxable benefit. For example, a $20,000 loan forgiven could potentially create a $1,000 state tax bill. The budget proposal will make the benefit non-taxable in Massachusetts.
The bill calls for using the FY19 surplus to fund a one-time, milestone deposit in the Stabilization Fund to immediately achieve a balance of $3 billion, the largest balance since the fund was created and representing approximately 10% of state tax revenue - an important measure of protection against any future economic downturn. The deposit is expected to total approximately $168 million. The FY20 budget anticipates an additional deposit of $476 million, which would bring the Stabilization Fund balance to $3.5 billion by the end of FY20.
In addition to the tax measures and Stabilization Fund transfer, the bill calls for $100 million in education investments, including $50 million for targeted assistance for school districts with high concentrations of low-income students to implement turnaround strategies. The proposal includes $15 million for the Commonwealth Commitment program, as well as other college scholarship programs aimed at improving college affordability and student success, and $15 million to support scholarship assistance for high school students enrolled in Early College programs, in partnership with higher education campuses. The budget also proposes $15 million to fund a second round of grants for school security infrastructure, and $5 million in additional support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-focused programs.
The supplemental budget also provides more than $100 million in overall infrastructure spending, including $50.5 million in grants to cities and towns for local road and bridge improvements and more than $60 million in investments related to clean drinking water, including funding for PFAS testing and mitigation.
Baker Administration Awards $12 Million in Skills Capital Grants
The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $12 million to 45 high schools, colleges and educational institutions that will use the grant to acquire the newest technologies to educate students and expand career education opportunities. Schools can also now apply for an additional round of Skills Capital Grants, totaling $15 million, which will be awarded in the fall.
The goal of the Skills Capital Grants, which range from $50,000 to $500,000, is to help high schools, colleges and other workforce training organizations invest in the most up-to-date equipment to give their students an advantage when they continue in their chosen field or area of study. These grants cover a broad array of fields, from construction and engineering to healthcare and hospitality.
MassDOT Releases Study Detailing Congestion Impacts and Trends, Recommends Series of Next Steps
A data-driven report on congestion was released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) with recommendations for state and municipal government, the private sector and other stakeholders to make commutes by road and transit more reliable, accessible and predictable while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report quantifies levels of congestion and recent trends for specific locations, analyzes the problem's causes and recommends solutions ranging from transit improvements to more telecommuting to conducting a feasibility study of congestion pricing using managed lanes. A copy of the MassDOT Congestion Report can be viewed
here.
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Publish your events in The Stanley Report!
We want to hear from you! The Stanley Report is a great way to spread the word about an upcoming event. Please forward any community, civic or nonprofit upcoming events that you would like included in next month's Stanley Report. If interested, please email Mark Phillips, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your
event.
The Western Greenway 5K
Help the Waltham Land Trust preserve community greenspace while staying fit and enjoying the Western Greenway! The Waltham Land Trust's Western Greenway 5K Run/Walk will take place on Sunday, October 27th at noon. The vent will raise money for saving land and building community trails. The 5K (3.1 mile) course goes through and around a variety of habitats in Beaver Brook North Reservation and Rock Meadow, including cattail marshes, forests, vernal pools, and open meadows. To register or learn more, click
here.
10th Annual Farm Day
Waltham Fields Community Farm will host its 10th Annual Farm Day on Saturday, October 5th to celebrate local agriculture and the fall harvest on the community farm. The event will feature agricultural demonstrations, activities, and games for all ages, including the farm's famous Dig-Your-Own carrot patch. Visit their chickens, enjoy a treat at our Farm Day Bake Sale, dance and enjoy live music, and so much more fun! It's a wonderful opportunity to gather with family, stroll through the farm fields, and learn all about the last operating produce farm in Waltham and our education and food access programs.FREE! No Admission tickets needed. Free Shuttle service to the farm from Waltham Center on the Tick Tock Trolley.
Learn more.
Highland Glee Club Recruiting Male Singers
The Highland Glee Club is looking for male singers to volunteer to join the club. All voices and all ages of men are wanted to join and sing. Please contact the club president, Ron Jantzen at 508-613-5450, with any questions. Rehearsals start after Labor Day. Click
here to learn more.
Upcoming Events at Stonehurst!
Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham, is hosting a variety of events in the upcoming monnts. Learn more about upcoming events at Stonehurst
here.
Learn about The Leland Home
The Leland Home provides a safe and affordable residence for persons age 62 and over who desire or need assistance in their daily living. The group helps to maintain the dignity and independence of our residents by offering a warm friendly and homelike setting. Learn more.
Communities against Abuse in Later Life
Communities against Abuse in Later Life (CAALL) is a partnership of agencies working to end elder abuse. REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is the lead partner joined by the Waltham Police Department, Waltham Council on Aging, Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Springwell, Inc., and the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Please click here to learn more or call the 24-hour CAALL Helpline at 781.790.3966.
Volunteers needed to mentor vulnerable, aspiring Waltham High School students
The John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation's focus is on turning children at-risk into children of promise. The city of Waltham has joined many Waltham companies in supporting the Mazie Mentoring Program at Waltham High School. The Foundation selected Waltham High School as the venue for a second mentoring program in 2010, modeled after their successful program in Framingham High School, now in its 20th year. As the program grows, so does the need for volunteer mentors. To find out more about the Mazie organization please visit www.mazie.org.
About the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra
Now in its 32nd season, the mission of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra is to provide the community opportunities to perform in and attend orchestral and chamber concerts of the highest quality. It provides a venue for musicians with a range of ages and abilities to enjoy the art and music making. It makes a long lasting impact to society by creating engaging programs that inspire, entertain and nurture the minds and spirits of its audience and members. Click here to learn more and see a calendar of events.
About Thom Charles River Early Intervention
Thom Charles River Early Intervention provides home visits to babies and toddlers who are delayed in their development or who are considered to be at risk of delay. Services include parents as partners in these visits. The dedicated clinicians who work with these families are to be applauded. Learn more about the orgranization. http://www.thomchild.org/charles-river.htm
Learn more about The Waltham Land Trust
The Waltham Land Trust is creating a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space. To learn more about the non-profit group and their events celebrating Waltham's natural environment, visit walthamlandtrust.org.
Waltham Symphony Orchestra Concerts
For information on concerts and events at the WSO, click here.
Waltham Public Library Offers Events
The Waltham Public Library offers many events for residents of all ages. To view a calendar of events, click here.
Meals on Wheels program
The Waltham Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels (MOW) program delivers lunch to homebound seniors who are unable to provide their own meals, and who meet certain guidelines. Special dietary considerations are available for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. This daily check in by a volunteer driver may be the only social contact an elder has and helps reduce the isolation often experienced by disabled seniors. Drivers are trained to identify and report observations or emergencies that might indicate a medical problem or the need for more intervention.
Learn more or call 718-314-3300.
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State Representative
City Council
Former City Council President
State Committees:
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight
Joint Committee on Financial Services
City Council:
Veterans Committee
License and Franchise Committee
Public Works and Public Safety Committee
Education:
Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)
Community Involvement (Past & Present):
Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Youth Basketball Association, Basketball Plus Program, Central Middle School Basketball, Little Nippers Baseball, Warrendale Little League, Waltham Youth Soccer, Waltham Police Athletic League, CCD Teacher, St. Jude Church, Waltham Lions Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Reagle Players Board of Directors, Warrendale Little League Board of Directors, Waltham Partnership for Youth Board of Directors, Waltham Day Center (Homeless) Advisors Board, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe & Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Waltham Public Library Planning Committee, Waltham Sons of Italy, Middlesex Area Enough Abuse Campaign.
Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, 2008 COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, 2003 MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, 2007 Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, 2006 Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, 2003 Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center, 2019 Community Health Center Leader Award, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
Personal:
Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss
Children: Ryan, age 25, Parker, age 16
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