Representative Don Humason



WATCHING PAINT PEEL By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. July 8, 2006 There’s an old saying that to kill time you can sit around and watch paint dry. In the case of members of the House of Representatives we can watch the paint peel. Sadly, the roof of the 111 year old Charles Brigham extension of the Massachusetts State House, which contains the House Chamber, leaks whenever it rains, which lately has been a lot. The water runs into the Chamber and down the walls and is destroying the beautiful and historic murals at the front of the room. Plaster is crumbling, paint is peeling, and the priceless murals are pulling away from the wall. Due to a spitting contest between the Boston Historical Society and the Bureau of State Office Buildings the problem is only getting worse. The state wants to repair the roof by putting a high-tech rubber membrane on the roof. The historical group wants the roof repaired using the original material, metal. While the bureaucrats bicker, a priceless historical building is slowly being destroyed. Some might argue it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to “fancy up” state buildings and make them into Taj Mahals. A recent report regarding the former School Building Assistance Bureau’s policy of paying exorbitant prices for extravagant additions to new school projects around the state complained that too much money was being wasted on pricey materials and expensive add-ons and not enough attention was being paid to the learning spaces. I agree with that report. But getting back to the State House, I think it is our responsibility to maintain and preserve this precious public resource that is as much an art, cultural, and historical museum as it is a government building, not to mention the state capitol. With it being the week of Independence Day Beacon Hill was pretty quiet. Neither branch met in formal session this week, although I went to Boston Thursday to attend an informal session and catch up on mail and emails in my State House office. I’ve griped before and I’ll say it again: Spam emails are an incredible waste of time and money and cost me and everybody else hours of productivity. I hate Spam emails! Next week the pace is sure to quicken. The deadline of the end of formal sessions on July 31 is only three weeks away and there is so much to do. Governor Romney has said he intends to veto much of the pork out of the recently passed FY ’07 budget. We’ll need to take up those veto overrides, as well as overrides of the supplemental budget and the Economic Stimulus bill already passed. A Constitutional Convention is also scheduled for Wednesday, July 12, although it remains to be seen whether the Leadership will allow it to happen or attempt to delay or re-schedule it again. I want to tip my hat to the organizers of the 2006 Westfield fireworks and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for a great evening last Monday. In spite of threatening weather, everything went off pretty nicely (albeit a tad early). And to the folks at Hampton Ponds and in Wyben, kudos for continuing their annual tradition of community Fourth of July parades in those two neighborhoods. I had the pleasure of marching in both parades and, as always, enjoyed the slice of Americana that each parade represents. Some things to look forward to that are coming up around town: The annual Pancake Breakfast on the Green next Thursday, the kick-off of another great summer camping season for Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids/Camp Togowauk next Friday, and the annual Friends of Grandmother’s Garden Garden Tour next Saturday and Sunday. Barring any unforeseen scheduling snafus, I’ll see you there. Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street,* Westfield, MA 01085,* 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us * * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my Saturday Westfield Evening News column, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience
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WATCHING PAINT PEEL

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

July 8, 2006

There’s an old saying that to kill time you can sit around and watch paint dry. In the case of members of the House of Representatives we can watch the paint peel.

Sadly, the roof of the 111 year old Charles Brigham extension of the Massachusetts State House, which contains the House Chamber, leaks whenever it rains, which lately has been a lot. The water runs into the Chamber and down the walls and is destroying the beautiful and historic murals at the front of the room. Plaster is crumbling, paint is peeling, and the priceless murals are pulling away from the wall.

Due to a spitting contest between the Boston Historical Society and the Bureau of State Office Buildings the problem is only getting worse. The state wants to repair the roof by putting a high-tech rubber membrane on the roof. The historical group wants the roof repaired using the original material, metal. While the bureaucrats bicker, a priceless historical building is slowly being destroyed.

Some might argue it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars to “fancy up” state buildings and make them into Taj Mahals. A recent report regarding the former School Building Assistance Bureau’s policy of paying exorbitant prices for extravagant additions to new school projects around the state complained that too much money was being wasted on pricey materials and expensive add-ons and not enough attention was being paid to the learning spaces. I agree with that report.

But getting back to the State House, I think it is our responsibility to maintain and preserve this precious public resource that is as much an art, cultural, and historical museum as it is a government building, not to mention the state capitol.

With it being the week of Independence Day Beacon Hill was pretty quiet. Neither branch met in formal session this week, although I went to Boston Thursday to attend an informal session and catch up on mail and emails in my State House office. I’ve griped before and I’ll say it again: Spam emails are an incredible waste of time and money and cost me and everybody else hours of productivity. I hate Spam emails!

Next week the pace is sure to quicken. The deadline of the end of formal sessions on July 31 is only three weeks away and there is so much to do. Governor Romney has said he intends to veto much of the pork out of the recently passed FY ’07 budget. We’ll need to take up those veto overrides, as well as overrides of the supplemental budget and the Economic Stimulus bill already passed.

A Constitutional Convention is also scheduled for Wednesday, July 12, although it remains to be seen whether the Leadership will allow it to happen or attempt to delay or re-schedule it again.

I want to tip my hat to the organizers of the 2006 Westfield fireworks and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for a great evening last Monday. In spite of threatening weather, everything went off pretty nicely (albeit a tad early). And to the folks at Hampton Ponds and in Wyben, kudos for continuing their annual tradition of community Fourth of July parades in those two neighborhoods. I had the pleasure of marching in both parades and, as always, enjoyed the slice of Americana that each parade represents.

Some things to look forward to that are coming up around town: The annual Pancake Breakfast on the Green next Thursday, the kick-off of another great summer camping season for Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids/Camp Togowauk next Friday, and the annual Friends of Grandmother’s Garden Garden Tour next Saturday and Sunday. Barring any unforeseen scheduling snafus, I’ll see you there.

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366.

Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

* * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my Saturday Westfield Evening News column, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group