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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1600 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 584
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Lydia Edwards
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act modernizing the governance of Port Authority parks in East Boston.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk 1 of 11
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1600 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 584
By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 584) of Lydia Edwards for
legislation to modernize the governance of Port Authority parks in East Boston. Environment
and Natural Resources.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act modernizing the governance of Port Authority parks in East Boston.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 349 of the Acts of 1986 is hereby amended as follows:
2 Clause (6) of said Section 1 of said chapter 349 is hereby amended by striking the first
3sentence in its entirety, and further amended by striking out the words “lobster facility and
4waterfront park” and replacing them with the word “parks.”
5 Clause (7) of said Section 1 of said chapter 349 is hereby amended by striking said clause
6in its entirety.
7 Clause (8) of of said Section 1 of said chapter 349 is hereby amended by striking the
8second sentence of said clause in its entirety, and inserting in place thereof, the following:
9“Phase I includes the area of the piers referred to as pier 4 and associated upland areas and
10consists of a park.” 2 of 11
11 SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 349 of the Acts of 1986 is hereby stricken in its
12entirety and replaced with the following language:
13 The following words as used in this act shall, unless the context clearly requires
14otherwise, have the following meanings:-
15 "Authority", the Massachusetts Port Authority.
16 "Commissioner", the commissioner of the department.
17 "Department", the department of conservation and recreation.
18 "Division", the division of capital asset management and maintenance.
19 "East Boston", the East Boston section of the city of Boston.
20 "PAC", the East Boston Project Advisory Committee, Incorporated, consisting of twenty-
21one members to be appointed pursuant to section 6.
22 “Parks”, all public open space operated and maintained by the Massachusetts Port
23Authority in the East Boston section of the city of Boston outside the boundaries of Logan
24International Airport, namely, Piers Park (Phase I, Phase II and Phase III) located at the piers,
25Bremen Street Park located adjacent to Bremen Street, the Al Festa Little League field located on
26Horace Street, and the Narrow Gauge Extension located near the Wood Island Marsh.
27 "Piers", Piers 1 through 4 located in the East Boston section of the city of Boston which
28constitute a part of the port properties as defined in chapter 465 of the acts of 1956 as amended.
29 "Plan", for the park(s) to be located on the Piers will consist of three phases. Phase I is
30the existing waterfront park being commonly known as “Piers Park” and is located on pier 4 and 3 of 11
31associated uplands areas as of the passage of this act. Phase II will be a waterfront park on
32associated upland areas north of pier 3, as more fully described below. Phase III will be a
33waterfront park on pier 3, as more fully described below. The authority has divided the
34development of the Piers into three phases, Phase I, Phase II and Phase III, for planning purposes
35and for review in accordance with sections sixty-one and sixty-two H, inclusive, of chapter thirty
36of the General Laws with the approval of the secretary of energy and environmental affairs.
37 The area of the Phase II and Phase III parks shall include at least the following as shown
38on Sheet Nos. 26N-14E and 26N-15E of the "City of Boston Topographic and Planimetric
39Survey", dated 1962 and on file with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (the BRA Plan);
40beginning at the eastern-most edge of Pier No. 1 and a line from that edge to Marginal Road;
41thence returning along said line to the water's edge at Pier 1; thence running in an easterly
42direction along said water's edge to the midpoint between Pier 1 and the existing Pier 3; thence
43running parallel to said eastern-most edge of Pier 1 to the "Pierhead and Bulkhead Line" as
44shown on the BRA Plan; thence running along said Pierhead and Bulkhead Line (but including
45the full outline of any existing piers) in a southeasterly direction to a point intersecting the line of
46the southwestern edge of the Phase I Park extended out to the "Pierhead and Bulkhead Line";
47then running in a northwesterly direction along the edge of said Phase I Park to a point
48intersecting the southerly edge of Marginal Street; and then running in a northwesterly direction
49along the southerly edge of Marginal Street to the point of beginning. The foregoing description
50is meant and intended to result in a continuous of upland and pier from the edge of Pier 1, to the
51existing Phase I park (i.e., Piers Park), as described in the FEIR. The Phase III park shall include
52all pilings, supports, the bulkheads, conveyors and structures thereon or thereunder, the land 4 of 11
53underneath said Pier 3, and the Phase II park shall include all Pier 3 upland areas located
54southwest of Marginal Street.
55 SECTION 3. Section 3 of said chapter 349 is hereby stricken in its entirety and replaced
56with the following language:
57 The division, on behalf of the commonwealth and in consultation with the department, is
58hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out
59its purposes and exercise the powers conferred by this act, if any.
60 SECTION 4. Section 4 of said chapter 349 is hereby stricken in its entirety and replaced
61with the following language:
62 In addition to all powers otherwise granted to the authority in act or by law, the authority
63is hereby authorized and empowered:
64 (a) to enter into an agreement or agreements with the PAC concerning the planning,
65design, construction, use, operation, security, and maintenance of the parks and setting out the
66financial responsibilities of both the PAC and the authority relative to these facilities and
67consistent with the purposes and provisions of this act;
68 (b) to design in consultation with and subject to review by the PAC, and to construct,
69improve, maintain, and secure the parks, including associated buildings, facilities and
70improvements thereon as public parks for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public;
71 (c) to apply for and receive funds from any source, public or private, by gift, grant,
72bequest, or otherwise, and to expend the same on behalf of the authority to provide for the
73design, construction and operation of the parks; 5 of 11
74 (d) subject to the approval of the PAC, to convey or lease to an individual or entity other
75than The Trustees of the Reservations, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation, the Phase III park
76or any part thereof, including all associated buildings and facilities and improvements thereon,
77for design, construction, maintenance, operation and use as a public park for the benefit and
78enjoyment of the general public; and
79 (e) to do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and
80exercise the powers conferred by this act.
81 SECTION 5. Section 5 of said chapter 349 as most recently amended by Section 107 of
82Chapter 126 of the Acts of 2022, is hereby stricken in its entirety and replaced with the following
83language:
84 (a) Any design, construction, demolition, repair or replacement of a park undertaken
85pursuant to this act shall be deemed a public works pursuant to section 39M of chapter 30 of the
86General Laws or a building project or construction of a building by a public agency for purposes
87of sections 44 through 58, inclusive, of chapter 7C and sections 44A through 44H, inclusive, of
88chapter 149 of the General Laws and chapter 149A of the General Laws, as the same may be
89applicable, and the prevailing wage law pursuant to sections 26 to 27H, inclusive, of chapter 149
90of the General Laws shall apply.
91 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this act or any other general or special law to the
92contrary, any portion of the Phase III Park to be constructed pursuant to this act that is leased by
93the authority for a period of not less than 99 years to an entity wholly owned by a nonprofit
94corporation organized for conservation purposes or for the preservation of open space, the
95construction of such park and the improvements to be located thereon by such nonprofit 6 of 11
96corporation pursuant to such lease shall not constitute a public works pursuant to section 39M of
97chapter 30 of the General Laws or a building project or construction of a building by a public
98agency for purposes of sections 44 through 58, inclusive, of chapter 7C and sections 44A
99through 44H, inclusive, of chapter 149 of the General Laws and chapter 149A of the General
100Laws; provided, that the prevailing wage law pursuant to sections 26 to 27H, inclusive, of
101chapter 149 of the General Laws shall apply.
102 SECTION 6. Section 6 of said chapter 349 is hereby by stricken in its entirety and
103replaced with the following language:
104 Phase I of the parks is comprised of the existing park space located on pier 4 and
105associated upland areas being commonly known as Piers Park. Construction of Phase II park
106shall be commenced immediately by the authority, in consultation with the PAC. The authority is
107hereby directed to move as expeditiously as possible to construct Phase II park. The authority
108also may proceed with the proposed development of the Phase III park pursuant to the terms of a
109long-term ground lease with a third party entity in consultation with the PAC regarding design
110and the PAC’s approval of construction commencement. Notwithstanding the previous sentence,
111the authority shall have no obligation to commence construction of Phase III of Piers Park until
112bonds in an amount adequate to meet the expenditure necessary to construct said Phase III of
113Piers Park have been issued and sold by the state treasurer, as provided for in this section.
114 (a) PAC Membership. The PAC shall consist of twenty-one (21) members, seven (7) of
115whom shall be appointed by the district’s house of representatives member, seven (7) of whom
116shall be appointed by the district’s senate member, and seven (7) of whom shall be appointed by 7 of 11
117the district city councilor. Except as otherwise provided herein, members of the PAC shall serve
118for terms of three (3) years.
119 (b) For the purposes of this act, the term of initial appointments made to the PAC in the
120first year shall begin on March 31, 2023; provided, however, that all terms shall expire on the
121last day of the calendar year.
122 (1) Members shall be divided equally into Class One, Class Two and Class Three.
123 (i) Class One shall consist of seven (7) members, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by
124the district’s house of representatives member, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the
125district’s senate member, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the district city councilor;
126provided, however, that the term of the initial appointment of Class One members shall be
127through December 31, 2023; provided further, that subsequent Class One members shall serve
128for terms of three (3) years.
129 (ii) Class Two shall consist of seven (7) members, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by
130the district’s house of representatives member, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the
131district’s senate member, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the district city councilor;
132provided, however, that the term of the initial appointment of Class Two members shall be
133through December 31, 2024; provided further, that subsequent Class Two members shall serve
134for terms of three (3) years.
135 (iii) Class Three shall consist of seven (7) members, two (2) of whom shall be appointed
136by the district’s house of representatives member, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the
137district’s senate member, and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the district city councilor;
138provided, however, that the term of the initial appointment of Class Three members shall be 8 of 11
139through December 31, 2025; provided further, that subsequent Class Three members shall serve
140for terms of three (3) years.
141 (2) Unless otherwise specified herein, members of the PAC shall serve without
142compensation for terms of three (3) years.
143 (3) Members of the PAC must be residents of the East Boston section of the City of
144Boston at the time of their appointment and for the duration thereof and shall be at least eighteen
145(18) years of age on the date of their appointment.
146 (4) Appointments to the PAC shall ensure representation of the demographic, linguistic
147and geographic diversity of the East Boston section of the City of Boston and shall include, but
148not be limited to, persons identifying as immigrants, persons of color, seniors, parents or
149members of groups working with youth, members of groups advocating for the environment or
150environmental justice communities, persons with disabilities and other demographics with a
151vested interest in the quality and accessibility of these parks.
152 (5) In the event a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a member’s term, hereinafter,
153“the unexpired term”, the holder of the office who appointed said member shall appoint a new
154member to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
155 (6) Notice of all appointments shall be made public by the PAC.
156 (c) The PAC shall meet from time to time to review the operation, security and
157maintenance of the parks and shall advise the authority on its compliance with the requirements
158of this act. The PAC shall create its own bylaws and procedures. 9 of 11
159 (d) The PAC is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with the authority,
160which will specify in detail the operational, security and maintenance requirements of the
161authority with respect to the parks. The PAC and authority shall review the contract from time to
162time and make amendments to any such contract that are reasonable and necessary in order to
163maintain continued uninterrupted operation, security and maintenance of the parks. In the event
164that the term of any such contract between the PAC and the authority concerning the operation,
165security and maintenance of the parks expires before the PAC and the authority renew such
166contract or in the event that the authority fails to renew any such contract with the PAC, the
167operation, security and maintenance obligations of the authority as provided in the most recently
168executed contract between the PAC and the authority shall continue until such time as a new or
169amended contract has been executed. The PAC shall also advise the authority as to the other
170issues in East Boston concerning the authority. The authority shall pay for the reasonable
171operating expenses of the PAC.
172 (e) The PAC shall approve all preliminary and final designs for new parks, and no
173construction for such parks may commence without approval of the PAC.
174 SECTION 7. Section 7 of said chapter 349 is hereby amended by striking all instances of
175the words “and lobster facility” as such words may appear throughout Section 7.
176 SECTION 8. Section 8 of said chapter 349 is hereby replaced with the following
177language:
178 The authority shall fund the final design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the
179Phase I park, and the final designs of the Phase II and Phase III parks. Notwithstanding the
180foregoing, the authority shall have no obligation to fund construction of the Phase III park unless 10 of 11
181and until bonds are issued by the commonwealth to meet the expenditure necessary to construct
182the Phase III park.
183 The authority shall have responsibility for the operation, security and maintenance of the
184parks. The authority shall enter into a contract with the PAC setting forth the standards by which
185said authority shall operate, secure and maintain the parks, such contracted standards shall be at
186least comparable to operation, security and maintenance standards employed by similar
187waterfront parks in the region. It shall be the responsibility of the authority, at all times, to
188provide adequate staffing levels necessary to operate, secure and maintain the parks in
189conformance with the contracted standards. Said contract shall provide that a penalty shall be
190assessed against said authority for any failure to comply with said contracted standards. Any and
191all such penalties shall be paid by said authority to the PAC to be placed in a separate account for
192the maintenance of the Parks. The PAC and authority shall review the contract from time to time
193and make amendments to any such contract that are reasonable and necessary in order to
194maintain continued uninterrupted operation, security and maintenance of the parks in
195conformance with the contracted standards. In the event that the term of any such contract
196between the PAC and the authority concerning the operation, security and maintenance of the
197parks expires before the PAC and the authority renew such contract or in the event that the
198authority fails to renew any such contract with the PAC, the operation, security and maintenance
199obligations of the authority as provided in the most recently executed contract between the PAC
200and the authority shall continue until such time as a new or amended contract has been executed.
201 SECTION 9. Section 9 of said chapter 349 is hereby amended by striking the first
202sentence and replacing it with the following: 11 of 11
203 Except as otherwise set forth in this act, the authority shall fund from its general revenues
204the final design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Phase I and Phase II. Further,
205except as otherwise set forth in this act, the authority shall also fund from its general revenues
206the final design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Phase III park, unless it is
207conveyed, transferred, assigned, or long-term leased to another entity in accordance with the
208provisions of section 4 of this act.
209 SECTION 10. Section 10 of said chapter 349 is hereby stricken in its entirety and
210replaced with the following language: “Intentionally deleted.”
211 SECTION 11. Section 11 of said Chapter 349 is hereby stricken in its entirety and
212replaced with the following language:
213 Any and all revenues received by the authority from the parks from rentals, fees, or any
214other charge or source, other than grants made for specific purposes relating to the parks, shall be
215deposited with the authority and applied to the operation and maintenance of the parks.
216 SECTION 12. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all existing
217membership and bylaws of the PAC are hereby dissolved as of March 31, 2023; provided,
218however, that initial appointments of the members to the PAC after the date of this act shall be
219made as soon as practicable pursuant to section 6 of this act.