Rep. Jones Secures $100,000 For Lynnfield Projects In House Budget

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has secured $100,000 in state funding for the Town of Lynnfield as part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 House budget to help pay for the construction of a new war memorial and upgrades to the historic Lynnfield Meeting House.

The funding, which will be evenly split between the two projects at $50,000 apiece, was given preliminary approval by the House of Representatives during its annual budget debate which took place from April 25-27. Both earmarks still require Senate approval and Governor Charlie Baker’s signature before the money can be released to the town.

“This state funding will help Lynnfield honor its local veterans for their sacrifices and will also facilitate interior improvements to the historic town meeting house,” said Representative Jones. “These two projects have been identified as priorities by Lynnfield officials, and I will do everything I can to see to it that both earmarks are retained in the final budget.”

This marks the second consecutive budget cycle in which Jones was able to successfully advocate for money for the local war memorial through the budget amendment process. The Fiscal Year 2022 state budget, which was signed into law on July 16, 2021, also included $50,000 for the memorial.

Plans are underway to construct a new monument on the green space adjacent to South Common Street, across from the Town Common and near Lynnfield’s existing veterans memorial, that will help educate visitors about the town’s history while recognizing local residents who have served in the U.S. military. In addition to highlighting the country’s major wars from the Revolutionary War to the present day, the memorial will include the names of every Lynnfield man and woman who served in those wars.

Built in 1714, the Lynnfield Meeting House is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Massachusetts State Register of Historic Places. According to the Lynnfield Historical Commission, “The meetinghouse is thought to be the third oldest Puritan meetinghouse in New England still standing on its original ‘green,’ and it claims to be the second oldest active meetinghouse in New England.” Jones noted the funding will be used for interior preservation work and kitchen facility upgrades.

The FY23 budget now moves to the Senate, which will release and debate its own spending proposal in May.