GREENFIELD — With any luck, the town will receive at least $100,000 in state funding to help furnish the new Senior/Community Center building.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has approved an amendment from Rep. Paul Mark to provide $100,000 for furnishings and equipment for the new building as part of the Council on Aging line item in the state budget.
The amendment, approved by the House Tuesday night, still needs to go through the Senate, which will debate and pass its own version. The two different versions will be reconciled through a conference committee in June.
“I had asked Mayor Martin if he had any local projects he was looking for help on for funding, and (this was) the one that seemed most appropriate for the state budget at this time,” Mark said.
Originally, he said he filed an amendment for $200,000 — the amount Martin had requested to fill the new Senior/Community Center with the furnishings and equipment that were not included in the modified plan approved by Town Council this month — and that amount was debated by the House and reduced to $100,000.
“We got half what I was looking for and we’re hoping we’ll get the other half when the Senate takes up their version of the budget over the month of May,” Mark said.
Mayor Martin could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but Greenfield Finance Director Marjorie “Lane” Kelly said, “Mr. Mark has always been a strong advocate for the town and our departments, and we’re very appreciative.”
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at: aluttrell@recorder.com or
413-772-0261, ext. 268
On Twitter, @AvivaLuttrell