[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK IN FALL RIVER

                                 ______


                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 1995
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, many more people talk about 
making Government more efficient than actually doing anything about it. 
One organization that has done something about it is the housing 
authority in the city of Fall River, MA. Recently I was privileged to 
attend a ceremony in which the Fall River Housing Authority announced 
an agreement among itself, the Citizens Conservation Corporation, the 
Eastern Utilities Corporation, and HUD which will promote energy 
conservation, and provide additional funds for the improvement of 
public housing at no cost to the taxpayers.
  The major recipient of these funds will be Cardinal Medeiros Towers, 
a high-rise development for people with handicaps which was built 24 
years ago, and is in need of improvements. This program is an excellent 
example of how public officials, citizen groups, and private corporate 
entities can work together for our mutual benefit. Because I was so 
impressed with this, I asked Richard Viveiros, executive director of 
the housing authority, to prepare for me a summary of this effort, 
which I wish to insert at this point in the Record. I do so because I 
hope this will encourage others to emulate the excellent work of Mr. 
Viveiros and his colleagues. And I want to offer my congratulations to 
all of those involved.
                                Summary

       On March 20, 1995, the Fall River Massachusetts Housing 
     Authority signed a contract with Eastern Utilities 
     Corporation/Citizens Conservation Corporation [EUA/CCC] 
     enabling both parties to enjoy the benefits of private 
     investment in a public housing authority.
       CCC will invest $2.1 million to implement a host of energy 
     efficiency improvements that will save the authority at least 
     $7.5 million over the next 15 years. The authority will pay 
     CCC for the cost of design, construction, and legal fees 
     associated with this project out of energy savings projected 
     as $500,000 per year as a result of improvements to 7 
     federally aided developments for elderly/disabled.
       Cardinal Medeiros Towers, a 208-unit high-rise development 
     for the physically impaired and constructed in 1970, will be 
     the major recipient of the CCC investment. Approximately 
     $600,000 of CCC moneys is slated for the replacement of an 
     antiquated and inefficient steam heating system with new 
     high-efficiency boilers, which will dramatically improve the 
     comfort level of the building and dramatically reduce energy 
     costs. Other improvements for this facility include new 
     thermostats, new windows, and upgraded exterior lighting.
       The 6 other federally aided developments for elderly/
     disabled will enjoy similar physical improvements and energy 
     savings.
       The Fall River Housing Authority experience marks the first 
     time that private money's have been leveraged for public 
     housing energy conservation and physical improvement tasks 
     and was hailed as an avenue for other public housing 
     authorities to consider, in light of dwindling HUD resources.
       Both the authority's director, Richard J. Viveiros, and 
     congressman Barney Frank, advocated increasing private/public 
     ventures as funding alternatives. Viveiros, at a formal, 
     public contract signing ceremony, termed the partnership as a 
     win-win situation for all involved. ``There are no losers 
     here,'' stated viveiros, ``CCC gets a reasonable return on 
     its investment, our housing stock is substantially upgraded, 
     and residents enjoy a safer and more comfortable housing 
     environment--all without any governmental funding.''
     

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