Brodeur: State Transportation Bill 'A Work in Progress'

Melrose State Rep. Paul Brodeur voted in favor of the $500 million transportation funding bill that passed 97-55 Monday evening.

Melrose State Rep. Paul Brodeur voted in favor of the $500 million transportation funding bill that passed 97-55 Monday evening. Tuesday afternoon, Brodeur said that the current plan is "a work in progress" with considerable differences to be worked out between Governor Patrick and members of the House. Brodeur indicated that "there's been a little bit of hard feelings right now between the House and the Governor," with Patrick having indicated he would veto that version of the bill.  "I think it's important to not come away from the table with nothing, and we have some very serious transportation needs," said Brodeur, citing for example the importance of MBTA funding to the Melrose area. "We certainly can't not have a bill."  In January, …

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Deval Patrick Files $13.7B Transportation Bond Bill

The transportation bond bill would provide funding for modernization and maintenance of the transportation system.

Governor Deval Patrick filed a transportation bond bill Wednesday that will finance an ambitious 10-year plan to overhaul the state’s ailing transportation system. The bill would invest $13.7 billion over 10 years in The 21st Century Transportation Plan “The Way Forward” if it is accepted by the state’s legislature, according to a press statement from the governor’s office. The funding would address a backlog of deferred maintenance and strategically improve the state’s transportation system by reducing congestion on roads, curbing delays and minimizing crowding on trains and buses, according to the press statement. “These investments will create the jobs and opportunity today that will build a stronger Commonwealth for tomorrow,” Patrick …

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Week in Review: Governor Visits Melrose, City Makes Safest Cities List

A look at some of the top stories on Melrose Patch this week.

Here is a look at some of the top stories on Melrose Patch this week: Governor: Investing in Early Education Important [VIDEO]: Governor Deval Patrick met with educators and children at the Franklin Early Childhood Center Friday afternoon in Melrose. Construction Begins on Melrose High School Science Labs: With the asbestos abatement work completed, construction of the Melrose High School science labs began this week, according to City Planner Denise Gaffey. New Pope Francis I Elected: Catholics in Melrose Area React: The white smoke appeared on Wednesday, signalling that the conclave had chosen Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be the new head of the Catholic Church. Melrose area Catholics responded. Melrose Makes Top 100 …

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Governor: Investing in Early Education Important [VIDEO]

Governor Deval Patrick met with educators and children at the Franklin Early Childhood Center Friday afternoon in Melrose.

Governor Deval Patrick paid educators and children at the Franklin Early Education Center a visit Friday afternoon in Melrose. Patrick, who was greeted in the lobby by parents, children as well as local and state officials, took a tour of the center before sitting down to read Dr. Seuss's "Sneetches on Beaches" to a small group of students. The children appeared to be enjoying themselves during the governor's visit, laughing at different points during the reading, engaging with him by answering his questions and also having him answer a couple of theirs. Prior to his trip to the Early Childhood Center, Patrick said he has visited Memorial Hall a couple times, Melrose High School, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and other locations …

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Governor Visits Franklin Early Childhood Center in Melrose [PHOTOS]

Governor Deval Patrick met with educators and children at the Franklin Early Childhood Center in Melrose Friday afternoon.

Governor Deval Patrick met with educators and children at the Franklin Early Childhood Center in Melrose Friday afternoon. Patrick was visiting the school to discuss the importance of investments in early education. Check out our photo gallery to see images from the governor's visit to the school.

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Massachusetts Legislators To Receive Pay Cut

A drop in the state's median household income led to the salary reduction.

Massachusetts lawmakers will get a pay cut this year, in accordance with a state law that links legislators’ salaries to the state’s median household income. Governor Deval Patrick’s office announced the drop in wages this week. “As required by Article CXVIII of the Amendments to the Constitution, for the purpose of adjusting the base compensation of members of the General Court, we have ascertained, from the federal census American Community Survey and reports of average weekly wages, that the median household income for the Commonwealth for the preceding two-year period decreased by 1.8 percent,” Patrick said in a Jan. 2 letter to State Treasurer Steven Grossman. The pay cut amounts to about $1,000 annually from legislators’ current base…

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Governor Deval Patrick's Milton Home For Sale

The governor's Milton residence is listed for $1,500,000.

Governor Deval Patrick’s Milton home is on the market. The 6,880-square-foot colonial at 75 Hinckley Road is currently listed for $1,500,000. The home, which is located in the Columbines section of Milton, has six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The real estate listing for the 1923 colonial is available here. Patrick, who is currently serving his second four-year term as Massachusetts Governor, has said he will not seek reelection in 2014.  

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Melrose Faces Up To $100K Local Aid Cut in Governor's Proposal

Beyond local aid, the city could lose funding from the state for special education, homeless student aid and charter school reimbursements in the half-billion proposal Gov. Deval Patrick released Tuesday.

Melrose could lose more than $100,000 in aid from state government, Mayor Rob Dolan said, as part of the half-billion worth of cuts that Gov. Deval Patrick proposed on Tuesday, in anticipation of the "fiscal cliff" combined with projected state tax revenues that are more than $500,000 lower than previously expected. "The uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and the resulting slow down in growth, is the direct cause of our budget challenges," Patrick said. "Congress and the President must come to terms on a solution so the private sector will continue to make the kind of investments that create jobs, grow state and federal tax revenue collections and contribute to a lasting economic recovery." Dolan told Melrose Patch his office is focused on …

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Patrick Says He Won't Leave Governorship for Washington

Rumor has it that Gov. Deval Patrick could be asked to be the next U.S. attorney general.

Governor Deval Patrick said he will not resign from his job even if President Obama asks him to become the next U.S. attorney general.  “I like what I do, and I have more that I want to accomplish in the next two years,” Patrick said, according to a Boston Globe article. “And then I promised [my wife] Diane that I’d go back into the private sector, and I’m going to keep that promise.” This means that Patrick will remain governor until his term expires, in January 2015.  Rumors have been swirling about Patrick's possible departure after Obama won re-election and a few nights later Patrick was among the few to attend what was called a "social dinner" at the White House. Patrick said there was no talk at the dinner about him joining the …

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