Carolyn Dykema - Precinct 2

Drivers Encouraged to Sign Up for New Online License Renewal Reminder

The Registry of Motor Vehicles now offers an online service that will remind you 30 days before your driver’s license is due to expire. Residents who sign up for the service can choose a reminder by phone, email or text and there is no additional cost to the public.  The new service replaces the mail reminder program that was discontinued earlier this year as a cost-saving measure.

The new reminder service is provided by the RMV in collaboration with Sendza, Inc. (sendza.net) and is sponsored by local businesses.  Any information you provide is protected by a strict privacy policy.

Drivers are encouraged to sign up for the program by visiting https://secure.rmv.state.ma.us/RMVReminder/intro.aspx. For more information visitwww.mass.gov/rmv.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 2009

CONTACT

Leah Robins, Legislative Aide

Office of State Representative Carolyn Dykema

617-722-2210

Leah.robins@state.ma.us

Representative Dykema  
Testifies in Support of the Community Preservation Act

Boston- Representative Carolyn Dykema testified last week in favor of Senate Bill 90, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation. The bill will ensure towns continue to receive state matching funds to support affordable housing, protect open space and preserve historic structures.

“Our farms, opens spaces and historic resources are central to our quality of life and tourism here in Massachusetts. They also go a long way toward attracting and retaining our world class workforce.” said Dykema. “The CPA is one of the few options towns have for protecting our community treasures and I support SB90 because it’s needed to keep this important program intact.”

One of the key features of the original Community Preservation Act passed in 2000, is that a local surcharge on the property tax would be matched using funds generated by a surcharge on statewide real estate transactions. In the first six years of the Act, local CPA funds were matched 100% by the Commonwealth but that percentage is expected to decline to 29% this year. The changes supported by Rep. Dykema will ensure towns receive a 75% match.

A cosponsor of the bill, Representative Dykema notes “Matching funds were a key factor for many towns when they approved CPA and the state needs to honor its commitment to providing these funds to our communities.”

The Act to Sustain Community Preservation would also allow CPA funds to be used for the rehabilitation of existing outdoor parks and other recreational resources whereas under current law, rehabilitation projects are restricted to properties acquired with CPA funds.

“In many cases our towns don’t need new parks, we just need to maintain what we have. Holliston is a great example, where local residents have been trying for years to renovate Goodwill Park downtown; the proposed changes to CPA can help renovate the park for residents of every age and ability.”

Rep. Dykema is a member of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business which is currently reviewing the bill.

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October 7, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Leah Robins, Legislative Aide

Office of Representative Carolyn Dykema

(617) 722-2210

leah.robins@state.ma.us