8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Florrie Darwin, Scott Kyle, and Michael Rogove; and the reappointments of Chandra Harrington, Joseph Ferrara, Kyle Sheffield, Gavin Kleespies, Paula Paris, Elizabeth Lyster, and Yuting Zhang as members of the Cambridge Historical Commission. (CM25#184) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Simmons, Charles Sullivan (Hist. Comm.), Azeem, McGovern; Substitute Order Appointments Adopted 9-0; Placed on File 9-0

CM25#185     June 30, 2025

I am writing to recommend the following appointments and reappointments of members and alternates to the Cambridge Historical Commission for terms of one, two, and three years, effective June 30, 2025. These are revised based on the conversation had at the Government Operations meeting held on June 25, 2025.

New Appointments

• Florrie Darwin, 7 Follen Street. Ms. Darwin, a lawyer, is an educator in the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School. From 1991 through May 2024, she served as chair of the Cambridge Rent Control Board, member and chair of the Planning Board, and trustee of the Affordable Housing Trust. Appoint as an alternate for a three-year term ending 6/30/28.

• Scott Kyle, 15 Clifton Street. Mr. Kyle is a semi-retired general contractor with 40 years’ experience doing residential construction in the Boston area. He served on the Lexington Historic District Commission from 2006 until 2011. Appoint as an alternate for a three-year term ending 6/30/28.

• Michael Rogove, 65 Sparks Street, is a software engineer who has resided in Cambridge for many years; he is currently a tenant in the Huron Village area. Until recently he served as Secretary to the board of the Livable Streets Alliance, an advocacy organization. Appoint as an alternate for a three-year term ending 6/30/28.

Reappointments

• Chandra Harrington (Chair), 360 Concord Avenue. Member since 2005, term expired 6/26/23. Ms. Harrington is a fourth generation Cambridge resident, a retired museum executive, and an active member of the Cambridge Black History Trail Committee. She serves as the Commission representative on the Community Preservation Committee. Reappoint for a one-year term ending 6/30/26.

• Joseph Ferrara, 195 Brattle Street. Member since 2009, term expired 7/7/23. Mr. Ferrara is the president and CEO of Veranex Solutions, a life-sciences consulting company. He serves as the required nominee of the Cambridge Historical Society. He is a resident of the Old Cambridge Historic District and has experience in architecture, which he practiced from 1985 until 1996. Reappoint for a one-year term ending 6/30/26.

• Kyle Sheffield, 13 Ellsworth Avenue. Alternate since 2016, term expired 7/20/22. Mr. Sheffield is a practicing architect at Blue Hour Design. Appoint as a member for a one-year term ending 6/30/26.

• Gavin Kleespies, 26 Cpl. McTernan Street. Alternate since 2017, term expired 10/18/23. Mr. Kleespies began his career in local history at the age of 13 as a Harvard Square tour guide. He served as Executive Director of the Cambridge Historical Society and is now President of Gore Place, an historic house museum in Waltham. He is also the City’s representative to the Massachusetts 250th Commission. Appoint as a member for a two-year term ending 6/30/2027.

• Paula Paris, 169 Fayerweather Street. Alternate since 2017, term expired 10/18/23. Ms. Paris is a lifelong resident of West Cambridge. She is Deputy Director of the educational non-profit JFY NetWorks, which prepares underserved youth for college and the workplace and is an active member of the Cambridge Black History Committee. Appoint as a member for a two-year term ending 6/30/2027.

• Elizabeth Lyster, 62 Kinnaird Street. Member since 2019, term expired 12/18/22. Ms. Lyster is the required nominee of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. Reappoint for a two-year term ending on 6/30/2027.

• Yuting Zhang, 169 Msgr. O’Brien Highway. Member since 2022, term expired 2/28/25. Ms. Zhang is the required nominee of the Boston Society of Architects. She is a practicing architect and principal at Studio RE + N. Reappoint for a two-year term ending 6/30/2027.

The City Manager’s office posted a request for applications for the Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC) on the City website and via a news release on November 15, 2024, with a closing date of December 16, 2024, which was later extended to January 27, 2025. During that time, the CHC advertised the vacancies on the CHC website and CHC social media channels (7,000+ followers). Outreach to the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (required by our ordinance) was conducted, but a response was not received. The call for applicants was also posted in a City press release, the Daily Update newsletters, the website, and social media. There were twenty-one applicants, eleven of whom were interviewed (six of whom were interviewed a second time with the Deputy City Manager). The interview panel, made up of City staff members and the CHC chairperson, has recommended the appointment of three of those applicants.

The proposed distribution of one, two and three-year terms is intended to bring the Historical Commission into compliance with its enabling legislation. MGL Ch. 40C states, “The appointments to membership in the commission shall be so arranged that the term of at least one member will expire each year, and their successors shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment for terms of three years. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.”

In our initial recommendation, proposed terms were randomly assigned to existing and new members listed in alphabetical order: In our revised recommendation, the longest serving Commission members are assigned the shortest terms, and the new appointments all receive three-year terms:

	Term in Years	Member or Alternate
Harrington, Chandra	1	Member
Ferrara, Joseph	1	Member
Sheffield, Kyle	1	Member
Lyster, Elizabeth	2	Member
Paris, Paula	2	Member
Kleespies, Gavin	2	Member
Zhang, Yuting	2	Member
Darwin, Florrie	3	Alternate
Kyle, Scott	3	Alternate
Rogove, Michael	3	Alternate

For those long-serving members whose terms expire in one year, and others whose terms expire in two years, their service on the Historical Commission need not stop at that time. They may continue to serve if, after a recruitment and interview process of prospective new candidates, they are renominated and subsequently approved by City Council.

I appreciate the willingness of these community members to serve on the Cambridge Historical Commission and, with your approval, look forward to their appointments.

8. Congratulations to Joseph Grassi on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons

R-8     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR WILSON
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Joseph Grassi retired on June 7, 2025, after 33 years of dedicated service to the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: Officer Grassi most recently served as a Patrol Officer with the Cambridge Police Department, having been appointed in June 2012; and

WHEREAS: In his final five years with CPD, Officer Grassi served in Day Operations within the Central and Harvard Square Unit, where he became an essential part of the community fabric through consistently professional, friendly, and effective interactions with residents, business owners, and visitors, reflecting his deep commitment to community engagement and public service; and

WHEREAS: Officer Grassi previously spent 14 years serving children and families through the Department of Human Services at the Frisoli and Gately Youth Centers; and

WHEREAS: Demonstrating a deep commitment to public education, Joe served on the Cambridge School Committee from 1993-2009, where he provided leadership and helped improve academic achievement; and

WHEREAS: Joe was a tireless community activist, successfully advocating for the renovation of youth recreation facilities, the preservation of open spaces, and creation of sports leagues for Cambridge youth; and

WHEREAS: A proud fourth-generation Cantabrigian, Officer Grassi is a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Northeastern University; and

WHEREAS: A veteran of the United States Army, Joe served honorably in the Persian Gulf War; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record expressing its sincere gratitude to Officer Joseph Grassi for decades of commitment to the City of Cambridge and its residents, and wishing him good health and happiness in his much-deserved retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Joseph Grassi on behalf of the entire City Council.

18. Congratulations to Officer Robert P. Reardon on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons

R-18     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR WILSON
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Officer Robert A. Reardon has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant with the Cambridge Police Department; and

WHEREAS: Sergeant Reardon has honorably served with the Cambridge Police Department for the past seven years and most recently served as the Interim Public Information Officer, acting as a key point of contact for members of the community seeking information from the police; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record congratulating Sergeant Robert A. Reardon on his promotion, thanking him for his exceptional service to a grateful city, and wishing him continued success in his new role as Sergeant; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Sergeant Robert A. Reardon on behalf of the entire City Council.

20. Congratulations to Superintendent Pauline Wells on being awarded the 2025 Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement Organization Heritage Award.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons

R-20     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR WILSON
MAYOR SIMMONS

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Superintendent Pauline Wells received the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement’s Heritage Award on June 12, 2025; and

WHEREAS: The Spirit of MAWLE Awards were created to recognize the exceptional accomplishments by women in law enforcement who have distinguished themselves through excellence in performance, leadership, mentoring, courage, and community service; and

WHEREAS: Superintendent Wells received the MAWLE Heritage Award in recognition and appreciation for her outstanding and dedicated service; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record thanking Superintendent Pauline Wells for her commitment and dedication to the residents of Cambridge, having served with the Cambridge Police Department for over 30 years, and congratulating her on receiving the 2025 MAWLE Heritage Award; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Superintendent Pauline Carter Wells on behalf of the entire City Council.

24. Congratulations to Donald “Ducky” Down on his retirement from the Department of Public Works.   Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern

R-24     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR TONER
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN

WHEREAS: The City Council has learned that Donald Down, fondly known as “Ducky” retired on June 28, 2025, after an incredible 51 years of dedication with the City of Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: Ducky began his career with the city as a young man and rose through the ranks to become a trusted and respected supervisor with the Department of Public Works, consistently exemplifying hard work, loyalty, and a deep care for the neighborhoods he served; and

WHEREAS: A lifelong resident of East Cambridge, Ducky took particular pride in his stewardship of Donnelly Field, treating it as a second home and ensuring it remained a safe, clean, and welcoming space for generations of families and young athletes; and

WHEREAS: Ducky’s contributions extended well beyond his professional duties, as he remained a dedicated and active supporter of the East Cambridge Little League, mentoring youth, maintaining fields, and embodying the spirit of community pride; and

WHEREAS: Ducky’s impact is etched in the very streets and parks of Cambridge, and his legacy of service, kindness, and commitment will be felt for years to come by colleagues, neighbors, and the many lives he touched; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record extending its heartfelt congratulations and deepest gratitude to Donald “Ducky” Down, commending his 51 years of exemplary service to the City of Cambridge and wishing him good health and happiness in his retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Donald “Ducky” Down on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 to continue the discussion on a Zoning Petition by Mushla Marasao, et al. to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Sections 5.28.21, 8.22.1, 8.22.2, and Table 5.1 with the intent to remove gross floor area (GFA) and floor area ratio (FAR) limitations for religious uses, permit conforming additions to nonconforming structures without limitation for religious uses, and permit religious uses with the same dimensional limitations as residential uses except that in a Residence C-1 district permeable open space would not be required, buildings would be permitted up to 6 stories and 74 feet above grade without meeting inclusionary housing requirements, and buildings taller than 35 feet and 3 stories above grade would not be required to notify neighbors and hold a meeting. The Ordinance Committee voted favorably to forward the Mushla Marasao, et al. Zoning Petition to the full City Council with no recommendation. [text of report]
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Present: Azeem, McGovern, Nolan, Zusy, Siddiqui
Remote Present: Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Wilson
Absent: Simmons

A. An Ordinance has been received from Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk, relative to the Marasao Mushla et al Zoning petition in regard to Article 5.28.21, 8.22.1, 8.22.2, Tbl 5.1. (ORD25#12)

2. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 to discuss term limits and appointments to Neighborhood Conservation Districts and the Historical Commission, CM25#145, CM25#146, and CM25#147. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee voted favorably to forward CM25#145, CM25#146, and CM25#147 to the full City Council with no recommendation. [text of report]
Taken up early along w/Mgr #8; All Appointments Approved as Amended; Report Accepted, Placed on File as Amended 9-0
Present: Azeem, Sobrinho-Wheeler (Acting Chair), Zusy
Also Present: Nolan, Wilson, Simmons
Absent: McGovern, Toner

A. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Florrie Darwin, Scott Kyle, and Michael Rogove and the reappointments of Chandra Harrington, Joseph Ferrara, Elizabeth Lyster, Yuting Zhang, Gavin Kleespies, Paula Paris, and Kyle Sheffield. (CM25#145)

B. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment Sarah Holt, Emily Oldshue, and Ruth Webb and the reappointments of Marie-Pierre Dillenseger, Donna Marcantonio, and Peter Schur to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. (CM25#146)

C. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Nondita Mehrotra, and the reappointments of Constantin von Wentzel, Heli Meltsner, McKelden Smith, Theresa Hamacher, and Freweyni Gebrehiwet to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. (CM25#147)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: Safe, efficient, accessible, and sustainable transportation is a stated goal of the City Council and the City of Cambridge, with a citywide network of bicycle facilities – including separated bike lanes – as a key part of that vision, and being sensitive to the needs of all residents including those who rely on cars and walking; and
WHEREAS: Per the Cycling Safety Ordinance, passed in 2019 and amended in 2020, the installation of separated bike lanes as part of the Broadway Safety Improvement Project is scheduled for 2025 and 2026, and to ensure safe transit, will reallocate much of the public way on Broadway which will reduce as much as 60% of on-street parking spaces; and
WHEREAS: Many residents – as well as City employees and vehicles – continue to rely on parking along Broadway and its adjacent side streets near the City Hall Annex, the Department of Public Works, and nearby schools; and
WHEREAS: In order to help mitigate parking impacts of the Cycling Safety Ordinance, the City Council has requested that the City open up parking access at City-owned facilities – particularly school complexes – for public use, as outlined in PO25#38 and PO25#72, which are currently under consideration by the School Department and the School Committee; and
WHEREAS: There are several creative strategies that could improve parking access and/or reduce parking demand, including:

• Consolidating existing shuttle services to establish a citywide free shuttle, as is currently being explored by the Transportation Department;

• Expanding BlueBike stations along Broadway;

• Supporting and expanding car-sharing options;

• Assess if flexible parking should be expanded to more areas of the city;

• Exploring opportunities to make city-owned and privately-owned parking lots, such as Harvard’s Felton Street garage, available for resident use during off-hours; and

WHEREAS: Such options could help mitigate the impact of reduced on-street parking and provide alternatives for those who rely on motor vehicles; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments, including the Community Development, the Department of Transportation, and Public Works Departments, to explore creative solutions that reduce car dependency, while expanding access to parking options nearby Broadway, including the temporary use of City-owned lots and privately-owned facilities during the Port Infrastructure Improvement Project; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City staff to engage in intensive outreach to residents, businesses, schools, and other property owners along Broadway to communicate the option of Commercial Parking Permits; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to develop incentives for City employees to commute by means other than single-occupancy vehicles; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to provide a report back to the City Council in a timely manner on progress made toward implementing these measures.

O-2     June 30, 2025
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The Ordinance Committee met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 and voted favorably; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor to ensure that the wording for the proposed amendment to Section 5.40 Footnote #2 is in line with the City Council’s intention to continue to include the inclusionary requirement for any nonreligious use property that is going above four stories, and to strike “except for religious purposes” used from Section 5.40 Footnotes #1 and #37.

O-3     June 30, 2025
MAYOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR TONER
ORDERED: That the Mayor is hereby appointing a committee, to be announced in the coming days, to screen applicants for the position of City Clerk; and be it further
ORDERED: That this committee shall be charged with reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and recommending finalists for consideration by the full City Council.

O-4     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
WHEREAS: The City Council and the community have expressed support for more street closures in the area of Harvard Square, including PO22#129, PO20#188, and PO19#321, and the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee held a meeting in November of 2020 about increased pedestrianization of Harvard Square; and
WHEREAS: Additionally, the FY26 Budget appropriates money towards a Harvard Square Pedestrianization Study, showing a commitment by the City Manager to pursuing long term pedestrianization strategies; and
WHEREAS: The City Council has also asked the City Manager to consider the use of permanent automatic bollards in Harvard Square as a means of implementing further pedestrianization options, per PO23#108; and
WHEREAS: Lower Bow Street, which has been closed to vehicle traffic due to construction for over a year that is expected to be completed soon, provides a timely opportunity to consider a pedestrian zone with possible option for times for deliveries modeled after the success of Winthrop Street in Harvard Square and would be a good opportunity to utilize permanent automatic bollards for ease of maintenance; and
WHEREAS: City staff are actively working with local property owners to assess operational needs for vehicle access in the area; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to continue to work with stakeholders in the area including Harvard University and the Harvard Square Business Association to pursue options for pedestrianization on Lower Bow Street and to report on the option for automatic bollards for Winthrop and/or Bow Street; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner on progress.

O-5     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: On February 10, 2025, the Cambridge City Council voted to adopt two zoning petitions to allow multifamily housing citywide with the goals of promoting the creation of more housing, removing barriers that have made it more difficult to build multifamily housing, and continuing to encourage the creation of permanently affordable housing; and
WHEREAS: Part Two of the Multifamily Housing Petition amended Article 1.000 of the Zoning Ordinance to establish Section 1.80, which creates a structured process for ongoing review and public reporting of housing production across the city, with an annual housing report beginning in 2026 to track year-over-year changes in the housing stock, and a five-year evaluation beginning in 2030 to assess on longer-term trends as well as other public planning objectives; and
WHEREAS: The intended outcomes of the zoning changes include the creation of more housing overall and increased affordable housing, as well as the preservation of existing affordable housing; and
WHEREAS: An interim report would provide a timely update to the Council and the community on the changing housing production landscape and an early understanding of whether newly proposed projects align with these goals; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to prepare an interim report on demolition requests and building permit applications, in order to facilitate a discussion on the outcomes observed during the first six months of the new zoning; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by September 2025.

O-6     June 30, 2025
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR WILSON
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has long recognized the importance of accessible and high-quality early childhood education, with the City Council committed to pursuing a Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program in 2017; and
WHEREAS: In Fall 2024, the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) officially launched, welcoming over 800 four-year-olds and some three-year-olds across 12 Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) sites, 7 Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) sites, and 23 community-based programs across 42 locations; and
WHEREAS: The program utilizes a family-choice-based system that enables each eligible family to select from a range of preschool options, with priority given to low-income families; and
WHEREAS: According to the March 2025 data snapshot from the Office of Early Childhood, 789 children were matched with CPP placements for the 2025–2026 school year, with enrollment numbers to increase through the summer; and
WHEREAS: Of these children, 44% had priority status, with 96% of priority families and 92% of non-priority families receiving one of their top three choices, and 89% of priority families and 75% of non-priority families receiving their first choice of preschool placement; and
WHEREAS: The City’s long-term goal is to expand the CPP to serve all three-year-olds and to explore refinements to the means-testing structure in order to enhance equitable access; and
WHEREAS: At a joint Roundtable of the City Council and School Committee in January 2025, a number of policy decisions were identified that will need to be addressed to support implementation in Year 3 and to further refine the long-term vision and impact of the CPP; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Human Services and Veterans Committee hold a meeting in Fall 2025 and extend an invitation to the Superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools and the School Committee to discuss the progress and future direction of the Cambridge Preschool Program.