By Stephen Tait
Staff Writer
May 06, 2008 03:52 am NEWBURYPORT — Rep. Michael Costello got several earmarks for city projects placed in the House version of the state's fiscal 2009 budget, which passed the House Saturday. The funding, which among other things would buoy economic development programs and help fund transformation of the Kelley School into a youth center, was included the $28.2 billion state budget that now must be approved by the state Senate and signed by the governor. Costello, D-Newburyport, secured more than $600,000 for nine institutions or local government programs in his district, which also includes Salisbury and Amesbury. In Newburyport, the key earmarks were $40,000 for the Office of Economic Development and $100,000 for the city's Youth Services program. Costello said he's confident his earmarks will have the support of Sen. Steve Baddour, D-Methuen, who represents Newburyport and surrounding communities. Overall, the House budget included $210 million in new spending, despite warnings from budget watchdogs that the state couldn't afford it. Critics have called the House budget "not realistic." Mayor John Moak said the money for economic development will help to ensure the continuation of a grants programs and allow the city to keep its advertising campaign to attract businesses to move to the city, especially to the industrial park. "I'm really pleased about that, because I wasn't sure how we were going to continue with some of those initiatives," Moak said. The mayor did say, however, that the money will not be used to hire another economic development director, a position that was cut from the last budget after funding from the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which split the cost of the salary, ran dry. Costello said he hopes by getting the money for economic development it will encourage the city or the chamber to match the state money "so they can parlay it into a bigger number." "It is our way of helping out the chamber and the city to plan for economic future," he said. Costello also secured funding for Youth Services to explore the possibility for use the Kelley School as a youth center. Moak said his administration is considering using the building, which was closed last year as part of a restructuring plan for the school system, for use as a youth enrichment center under a short-term lease that could last two to three years. "We'd like to see if we can afford to do it," Moak said of the proposed program. "This will really help us to be able to look at that idea with some funding behind it. That is a real positive for us." Since closing, the Kelley School has sat unused, which concerns some leaders since the city continues to pay thousands to maintain it and pay electricity and heating bills. Costello, who help create the Youth Commission as a city councillor, said he is hoping to see the school used as a youth center. "The Kelley School for more than 100 years served our youth well," he said. "This is a great opportunity for the property to be continued to be used for the benefit of our children, and I'm excited about that. "I think we can make that a tremendous youth center." Rep. Brian S. Dempsey, D-Haverhill, got a $75,000 earmark for Link House Inc., a Salisbury drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Moak said Baddour is well aware of the importance of the earmarks. "Those earmarks are coming from (Costello) and hopefully will be supported by (Baddour), but they are from conversations we continually have," Moak said. "They know very well how I feel about (the earmarks)." Costello also said Baddour will push for the earmarks secured in the House, and may even push for others. "He'll definitely put in for these earmarks," he said. "Steven has been very supportive."
Costello Earmarks: r Newburyport YWCA — $100,000 r Our Neighbor's Table — $25,000 r Pettengill House — $75,000 r C-10 Monitoring, Phase 2 — $75,000 r Boys and Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley — $100,000 r Newburyport Shellfish Purification Plant — $330,000 r Salisbury Chamber of Commerce — $50,000 r Essex County Reserve Officer Training — $25,000 r Newburyport Office of Economic Development — $40,000
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