Marshfield: Legislation could help fund seawall repairs and re-construction

A piece of legislation designed to give coastal towns assistance when it comes time to fund repairs and reconstruction of failing seawalls is still alive, according to State Rep. Jim Cantwell.

The proposal calls for the creation of a revolving loan fund to help fund repairs and reconstruction of seawalls, jetties and dams all over the state.

“We just had legislation pass within the budget that instructs the DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) to come up with a funding mechanism, and funding plan, for how we will be do repairs for both seawalls and for dams,” said Cantwell. “There was no dollar figure put to that, but it is the impetus that they are supporting the concept I have for this legislation.”

Cantwell, who represents Marshfield and Scituate, remains cautiously optimistic that action might be taken over the next several months.

“I have a committee hearing next week, where we will talking about some long term bonding that we’ll do that will promote public safety, and promote new jobs,” said Cantwell.

Marshfield State Rep Jim Cantwell filed the legislation at the beginning of this term, and says he is pleased that even in tough times, when the house cut roughly $1.9 billion, that legislative leaders saw the need to have the investments in “critical infrastucture.”