Swampscott hoping for state money for Humphrey Street improvements

SWAMPSCOTT – The town could receive $150,000 from the state to make improvements to Humphrey Street.State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), who was elected March 3 to fill Douglas Petersen’s unexpired term, had initially earmarked $350,000 for improvements to Humphrey Street.”I worked very closely with Town Administrator Andrew Maylor on assessing the needs of the town,” she said. “He flagged this as something that is long overdue.”Ehrlich’s aide Tom Mills said she filed a budget amendment in April requesting the funds. Swampscott Town Meeting was told on May 5 Ehrlich had filed the legislation but by the time the legislation made its way through the House of Representatives the amount had been reduced to $150,000.”It cleared Ways and Means at $150,000,” Ehrlich said. “It may go up or may go down.”Mills said the next step is for the legislation to make its way through the Senate and Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) has pledged to support the amendment.Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Scibelli said if the legislation were passed the town would put the money to good use.”Let’s not put the cart before the horse,” he said. “The idea is let’s wait until it’s passed. If it’s passed the selectmen will appoint a committee to come up with a plan.”