Stanley votes to authorize Mayor McCarthy to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with UMass and advance current negotiations

Rep. Stanley voted to protect Waltham’s farmland and support the Waltham Fields Community Farm and the Waltham Field Station Community by voting to authorize Mayor McCarthy to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with UMass and advance current negotiations. At the April 8th City Council meeting, Rep. Stanley spoke in favor of his intentions to protect Waltham’s farmland and voted in favor of city entering MOA with UMass to hopefully finalize Waltham’s purchase of the Waltham Field Station. He strongly supports the purchase with CPA funds to permanently preserve the property for agriculture & open space and continue the City’s commitment towards sustainability.

The Waltham Fields Community Farm and the Waltham Field Station Community asked the Council to commit to: define the language within the MOA which expresses the City’s interest in acquiring the property for “certain municipal purposes”; publically advocate for the permanent preservation of agriculture at the Waltham Field Station; protect the current tenancy of the vital and sustainable non-profit organizations housed at 240 Beaver Street in the hope of strengthening services offered to Waltham residents and those in our neighboring communities; and continue to amplify and enhance future initiatives to strengthen the City of Waltham as a sustainable community and partner in food security, environmental stewardship, and urban agriculture.

Sen. Barrett, Rep. Lawn and Rep. Stanley filed state budget amendments which will allow UMass to use unspent appropriations on the Field Station building to prepare for sale to the city and use by current nonprofit tenants.