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By Ethan Lee
Hometown Weekly Intern
On Feb. 1, State Representative Denise Garlick delivered a report, titled “2015: The Year in Review/2016: The Year in Preview,” to the community at Needham Town Hall. All Needham residents were invited to this event, which displayed Rep. Garlick’s many actions in the past year, as well as the issues that are to be emphasized in 2016.
The report began with a review of the accomplishments achieved in 2015 by the Massachusetts legislation for the district. The achievements were characterized into one word: “Balance.”
Representative Garlick explained, “I’m learning to balance the three issues of constituent services, legislation and budget. And I’m learning to balance the issues and concerns of my district with being in leadership in the House, and how, like everybody in the town, making sure I can balance my job with my family issues.”
Some examples of balance were improvements on the unemployment rate, veterans services, energy efficiency, public school education, and life sciences.
Garlick also emphasized the effort being put into recent issues in Needham. The EverSource vegetation company, the Add-a-Lane project on I-95, and the commuter rail are all issues that she is currently managing.
As EverSource removes trees that prove obstacles to transmission lines, Representative Garlick is supervising the company so that it does not remove more private property trees than the legal amount. She is monitoring work on the I-95 Add-a-Lane project and attempting to minimize nuisances to neighbors. With Keolis, the company managing the commuter rail, Representative Garlick is discussing constant delays and outdated equipment on the rail.
Further goals she described were improvements on energy, substance abuse, education, and fiscal reform.
Looking at the coming year in a broader perspective, Rep. Garlick is looking to publicize the needs of her district. She said, “As the state representative for my district, which is all of Needham, all of Dover, and half of Medfield, that people understand the issues and concerns of the people of this district is my number one priority.”
In her report, Garlick also talked about her endeavors to bring the community of Needham together. As the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Garlick has helped bring senior issues into a larger light in the community. Simultaneously, she has reached out to the younger generation in Needham by giving 20, 53-minute classes to eighth graders, as well as making visits to the high school.
Her constant availability, characterized by her weekly meetings at the Needham Library, has built further connections among Needham residents. She has also delved into the idea of a newsletter, dubbed the “Garlick Press,” to communicate her actions to the town, and pointed out improvements made to her new website.
For more information regarding Rep. Garlick, visit www.denisegarlick.com.
Camille Kerwin is an Intern at Hometown Weekly. For questions, email news@hometownweekly.net.
