RECONSIDERATION
1. Councillor Maher filed reconsideration on the vote taken on October 25, 2004 placing on file a communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 04-90, regarding a report on the new traffic plan proposed for the Dunkin Donuts on No. Massachusetts Avenue.

CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as Constables Without Power for a term of three years, effective the first day of January, 2004:
Tyler Coady, 32 Goshen Road, Williamsburg, MA 01096
Robert Fitzpatrick, 27 Lyle Terrace, MA 02148
John Dudley, 79 Lincoln Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170

2. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as members of the Human Right Commission for a three-year term to expire on October 30, 2007:
Charles E. Kavanagh, 34A Cedar Street, Cambridge, MA
Daniel Klubock, Feinberg & Kamholtz, 125 Summer St., Boston, MA

3. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the newly formed Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Committee.
“It is my intention that this Committee eventually be comprised of 13 members. However, all 17 applicants bring particular skills and expertise to the membership. Natural attrition will result in a complement of 13 members.”
Ian R. Lemieux, Beth Damsky, Jordan Blair Woods, Jeffrey M. Walker, Christopher C. Kim, Priscilla Ho-Hway Lee, Jennifer Hess, Rev. Lesley Rebecca Phillips, Seth Lee, Robert L. Parlin, John W. Gintell, Stephen Crowe, Rev. Irene Monroe, Colby S. Berger, Adrienne M. Thomas, Nancy L. Alach, Michael Shaps

4. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $250,000 in Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account to provide funds for the Massachusetts Avenue/Lafayette Square Improvement Project.

5. Transmitting communication from Robert W. Healy, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $16,000 from Traffic, Parking and Transportation Salary and Wages account to the Travel and Training account (judgments and damages) to cover medical services and/or prescription reimbursement costs for Traffic Department personnel injured in performance of their duties.

ON THE TABLE
1. Placed on the Table on the motion of Councillor Simmons relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 03-137 of December 22, 2003, regarding a report on the number of investment managers for the pension fund with the list to reflect the number of women-owned and minority-owned investment managers.

2. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 615 Concord Avenue. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

3. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 28 Elliot Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

4. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 226 Main Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

5. Placed on the Table on the motion of Mayor Sullivan on an application received from Bank of America, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 1000 Massachusetts Avenue. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department and abutters.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a meeting held on September 22, 2004 for the purpose of considering proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to implement the Tree Protection Ordinance. The question comes on passing to be ordained on or after October 18, 2004. Petition expires December 21, 2004. At the October 18, 2004 City Council meeting the City Council voted 8-1-0 to Ordain, but vote was premature because there was no report from the October 5, 2004 Planning Board hearing. Said report from Planning Board was received October 25, 2004. City Council must re-vote.

APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS
1. An application was received from Thomas Maniotis, requesting a curb cut at the premises numbered 66 Fresh Pond Lane; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical and Public Works. No Neighborhood Association for that area.

2. An application was received from Papyrus, requesting permission for a sign at the premises numbered 18 JFK Street. Approval has been received from Inspectional Services, Community Development Department. This is a pre-existing sign.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Kevin Hill, regarding Harvard's development of the Mahoney's site.

2. A communication was received from the Bush family, transmitting appreciation to the City Council for the resolution honoring their fallen hero, Adam Harris.

3. A communication was received from Roy Bercaw, regarding police.

4. A communication was received from Michael Brandon, regarding traffic safety concerns of Dunkin' Donuts neighbors at 2480 Massachusetts Avenue.

RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution on the death of of Bertha L. Higgins.   Councillor Toomey

2. Congratulations to Mona Abo-Zena and her family on the birth of her daughter, Noor.   Mayor Sullivan

3. Resolution on the death of Mary E. Saulenas.   Mayor Sullivan

4. Resolution on the death of Kenneth P. Kane.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Toomey

5. Congratulations to Cambridge resident Tod Machover on being the principal guest composer of the Indiana State University’s 38th Contemporary Music Festival on November 10-12, 2004 and as he pursues a new chapter in his musical career.   Mayor Sullivan

6. Congratulations to the award recipients of the Massachusetts Association of Italian American Police Officers Inc. on celebrating their Annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, November 21, 2004 at the Crown Plaza in Woburn.   Mayor Sullivan

7. Resolution on the death of John A. Roffi.   Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Toomey

8. Resolution on the death of Denis K. Caulfield.   Mayor Sullivan

9. Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2004 World Series.   Councillor Maher, Mayor Sullivan, Councillor Simmons

10. Resolution on the death of Corporal Brian Oliveira.   Vice Mayor Decker

11. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Douglas Bascom.   Vice Mayor Decker

12. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Jonathan Gadsden.   Vice Mayor Decker

13. Resolution on the death of Specialist Andrew Ehrlich.   Vice Mayor Decker

14. Resolution on the death of Sergeant Dennis Boles.   Vice Mayor Decker

15. Resolution on the death of Lance Corporal Richard Slocum.   Vice Mayor Decker

16. Congratulations to Trellis Steptor and Lisa Bromer on their marriage.   Councillor Davis

26. Congratulations to Reverend Gregory G. Groover of the Charles Street A.M.E. Church on the celebration of his 25th ministerial and 10th pastoral anniversary.   Councillor Reeves

ORDERS
1. The City Manager and the Mayor is requested to arrange an appropriate celebration of the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series.   Councillor Simmons

2. The City Manager is requested to report on a plan to ensure greater frequency of care and cleaning for the playground in the Cambridge Common, including efforts to provide for better lighting, patrolling of the area for flagrant behavior, and more frequent pick up of refuse.   Mayor Sullivan and Councillor Toomey

3. The City Council meeting scheduled for November 29, 2004 be and hereby is cancelled.   Councillor Davis

4. The City Manager is requested to confer with the Cambridge Health Alliance and the owners of the Twin City Mall to ask for an increase in the number of parking spaces for the East Cambridge Health Clinic and for an increase in the number and size of signs warning about cars being towed.   Councillor Toomey

5. The City Manager is requested to make every effort to publicize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and its critical tax assistance opportunities to the residents of Cambridge.   Mayor Sullivan

9. The City Manager is requested to confer with MIS, the Electrical Department and the Public Information Officer with the view of having announcements of scheduled outages on the City Website, giving due consideration of how to word the message so as not to increase the risk of crimes.   Councillor Simmons

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. A communication was received from D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee, for a meeting held on September 30, 2004 to receive an update on the new Media Art Center and to discuss the quality of customer service provided by NSTAR and any other business that might properly come before the committee.

HEARING SCHEDULE
Mon, Nov 1
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Nov 3
9:30am   The Finance Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss assessing models and the city's property revaluation.  (Anastos Room, 2nd floor, City Hall)
7:00pm   The Government Operations and Rules Committee invites members of the public to a facilitated opportunity to receive a brief presentation on the results of a citizen satisfaction survey and to express their views on city services and City Council priorities.  (Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue)

Thurs, Nov 4
4:30pm   The Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a petition to create a new Special District 15, Section 17.600 and to amend the Zoning Map in the area of 237 Putnam Avenue and 19-21 Blackstone Street. This meeting to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 8
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Nov 9
11:30am   The Public Safety Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue discussion regarding a new or renovated police station. At the meeting, committee members and administrative staff will also agree upon a regular monthly meeting time.  (Ackermann Room)

Wed, Nov 10
9:00am   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss transportation for seniors and accessible taxi cabs.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 15
8:30am   The Government Operations and Rules Committee will conduct a facilitated working meeting for the City Council to set FY 06 priorities. No public comment.  (Water Department, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Conference Room)
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Nov 16
10:00am   The Economic Development, Training and Employment Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue discussion on a funding mechanism for an annual expenditure relative to public celebrations.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 22
2:00pm   Government Operations and Rules Committee  (Ackermann Room)
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Nov 23
9:00am   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss health of children, obesity and environmentally healthy buildings.  (Sullivan Chamber)
10:00am   The Human Services Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss School Master Space calendar and receive an update on a discussion with School Principals on the issue of space, and to receive an update on Summer Programs.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Nov 29
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Dec 6
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Fri, Dec 10
9:00am   The Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public meeting to continue the discussion of obesity in Cambridge.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Dec 13
5:30pm   Roundtable City Council Meeting. Joint public meeting with the School Committee for a discussion of school related issues. No public comment. No votes will be taken. Meeting will not be televised.  (Location TBA)

Wed, Dec 15
2:00pm   The Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee will conduct a public meeting to discuss follow up on snow clearance issues and any other matters that might come before the committee.  (Ballroom, Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)

Mon, Dec 20
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 10, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 24, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Jan 31, 2005
5:30pm   City Council Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     November 1, 2004
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: The City Manager and the Mayor be and hereby is requested to arrange an appropriate celebration of the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series.

O-2     November 1, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council with a plan to ensure greater frequency of care and cleaning for the playground in the Cambridge Common, including efforts to provide for better lighting, patrolling of the area for flagrant behavior, and more frequent pick up of refuse.

O-3     November 1, 2004
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
ORDERED: The City Council meeting scheduled for November 29, 2004 be and hereby is cancelled.

O-4     November 1, 2004
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY
ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Health Alliance and the owners of the Twin City Mall to ask for an increase in the number of parking spaces for the East Cambridge Health Clinic and for an increase in the number and size of signs warning about cars being towed.

O-5     November 1, 2004
MAYOR SULLIVAN
WHEREAS: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit available to working families and individuals earning low and moderate incomes; and
WHEREAS: The EITC lifts more families out of poverty than any other program the federal government offers; and
WHEREAS: The EITC remains one of the most underutilized programs out there; now therefore it be
ORDERED: The City Manager be and hereby is requested to make every effort to publicize the EITC and its critical tax assistance opportunities to the residents of Cambridge.

O-9     November 1, 2004
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with MIS, the Electrical Department and the Public Information Officer with the view of having announcements of scheduled outages on the City Website, giving due consideration of how to word the message so as not to increase the risk of crimes.

TEXT OF COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Report #1
The Cable TV, Telecommunications and Public Utilities Committee held a public meeting on September 30, 2004, beginning at 9:10am in the Ackermann Room for the purpose of receiving an update on the new Media Art Center and to discuss the quality of customer service provided by NSTAR and any other business that might properly come before the committee.

Present at the meeting were Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Committee, Mayor Michael A. Sullivan and City Clerk D. Margaret Drury. Also present were Calvin Lindsay, Director of the Municipal Cable TV Office, George Fernandes, City Electrician and William Zamparelli, Community Relations and Economic Development Representative for NSTAR.

Councillor Simmons convened the meeting and explained the purpose. She invited Calvin Lindsay to report on the new Media Arts facility. Mr. Lindsay said that the project planners are still taking care of the last issue, which relates to an abutter. Once that is taken care of, the project will be ready to bid. The new center will be in the Solomon’s Transportation Building.

The Municipal Cable TV Office will be located there, with offices, an edit room and studios. The School Department TV operation will be located there as well and will include a curriculum for the Rindge School of Technical Arts students. Educational Access, which Ginny Berkowitz of CCTV is working on, will also be located in the Media Arts Center. All three will share a single broadcast service. The current channels for these operations will stay the same.

Councillor Simmons asked if the School Committee broadcast would be upgraded. Mr. Lindsay said that he does not know and explained that the School Committee operation is separate from the City cable enterprise.

Councillor Simmons then moved to the issue of NSTAR and customer service. She said that she receives complaints about blackout information not being available. William Zamparelli said that there is a one number entry point. An automated message requests the caller to enter his or her telephone number. In calls where the telephone number is supplied, the call goes right to a dispatch center, and is answered by an employee of the dispatch center. This system works well for major problems affecting lots of customers. It is efficient and it allows the automated collection of data about the problem from the phone number entered by the caller.

Councillor Simmons said that Area Four has had service outages recently and she received several calls about the outages.

George Fernandes said there was an outage last summer. It was caused by a problem with an underground cable. Two other short outages in Area Four involved maintenance work.

Councillor Simmons said there was an outage last week. She and her daughter were watching a movie when the power was lost. Mr. Fernandes said that for scheduled outages all customers are notified by mail or phone. Most of he outages in Area Four have been scheduled outages. Mr. Zamparelli said that some maintenance outages are scheduled. Some are not.

Councillor Simmons asked if there is a number she can call to find out about outages. Mr. Zamparelli said yes, 1-800-552-2000. If NSTAR knows about the outage, there will be a recorded message about it. He said that when the dispatch center receives a call reporting an outage, a troubleshooter goes out first and investigates and fixes the problem, if possible. If it is not possible for the troubleshooter to fix the problem, she/he directs the dispatchers to send out a crew.

Mr. Zamparelli said that one big flaw with the system is that the call center and dispatchers do not have knowledge about the cause of the problem until the troubleshooters have come and gone, and often until a crew has been there and the outage has been fixed. In case of longer outages, there will be a recorded message. Mr. Zamparelli said that a lot of times people want to talk to a live person and so they hang up, but this system (Century Twenty One) is the best way for dispatchers to get the best information about the problem. Customers should call 1–800-552-2000 for gas and electric emergencies, and outages. The customer will first get an automated message that asks for the customer’s phone number. The system identifies the area and first gives a taped message of any outages in the area with a status report. Then the customer gets a menu regarding the specific problem. After this selection, the customer reaches a call center representative who responds to the call and takes the relevant information. They batch calls into incidents, which allows analysis of the most likely piece of equipment causing the outage.

There was a discussion about possibly having notification of outages on the Internet. Councillor Simmons said that notification on the Web also raises issues of the notifications increasing crime. Mr. Zamparelli said yes, alarm systems do go out when there is no electricity.

Councillor Simmons made the following motion:
ORDER: City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with MIS, the Electrical Department and the Public Information Officer with the view of having announcements of scheduled outages on the City Website, giving due consideration of how to word the message so as not to increase the risk of crimes.

The motion passed without objection.

Mr. Zamparelli stated that NSTAR does notify all customers by mail when there is an outage scheduled for their neighborhood. The problem is that the notification provides a large window of time and that can be frustrating for customers. Also, the notice says if not this week, then next week, which also frustrates customers.

Councillor Simmons said that this last outage took out the emergency lights. Mr. Zamparelli said that should never have happened. There is supposed to be battery backups for those lights.

Councillor Simmons stated that she would like to have someone put together a pamphlet on what to do when your power goes out.

In response to a question from Councillor Simmons, Mr. Fernandes said that outages are not happening to Area Four in particular, and that they are not the result of too much usage. Mr. Fernandes added that this was a good year for electrical usage because there were few 90-degree days. Heat waves are the most difficult circumstances for electrical systems.

Councillor Simmons said that she would like to see publicity about the need to use the emergency number.

Mayor Sullivan asked if the problems with the help line have been solved. Mr. Zamparelli answered in the affirmative. NSTAR has established metrics for response times. They are way better than they were three or four years ago.

Councillor Simmons asked what triggers involvement of the Electrical Department. Mr. Fernandes said that if the Emergency Communications Department is called about an outage that they are not aware of, they will call NSTAR and usually the Electrical Department as well. He in turn will call the NSTAR dispatcher. Thereafter, someone from NSTAR has to respond and find the problem and see if they can switch it. That usually takes from ½ to 1 hour. Mr. Fernandes said that at night, another response time issue is that night dispatchers and troubleshooters are located in the South End in Boston. There is sometimes a delay in getting a crew here from there. During the day, crews are dispatched out of the Somerville Office so there is a faster response. Mr. Fernandes said that the underlying issue is that NSTAR does not have dedicated Cambridge troubleshooters and crews as Cambridge Electric used to have. The troubleshooter could be in Lexington and have to get to Cambridge.

Mayor Sullivan asked about the capacity from Area Four east to Kendall Square. Mr. Zamparelli said that NSTAR has permitted a transmission line through an existing conduit, a redundant line to provide backup to the existing 115 k. v. line. Before this NSTAR was tied to the Morant power line. NSTAR put in the first 115 k. v. line to tie NSTAR to the New England grid and competitive power providers. That line provided the lifeline for the distribution of power to Kendall Square and East Cambridge.

Mr. Fernandes explained that the link between Morant and NSTAR got interrupted. Now NSTAR is going to put in a backup. Mr. Zamparelli added that the line will be a tie from Morant to the Putnam substation. NSTAR is in the process of putting in a $25 million dollar substation on Athenaeum Way and a parcel that NSTAR secured from Morant.

Mr. Fernandes said that Cambridge has the power while Morant has the power. If Morant goes under, this new substation will be essential. Morant has authority from ISO to shut down their new plant as of October 1st. Based on load estimation, he does not expect problems. By the summer of next year, when the load goes up, NSTAR will have a new 115 k. v. line, and the new substation will be well along the way.

Mayor Sullivan stated that this has been in the works for ten years. Mr. Fernandes said that Morant’s circumstances are what moved the process along. Mr. Zamparelli said that the substation is scheduled to be functional at the end of May 2005 when the first transformer will be operational. NSTAR can use Morant’s existing power plant until the new transformer is on line.

Councillor Simmons asked about the environmental impact; she stated that she would like the information for the next meeting along with information on the cost impact. Councillor Simmons asked whether building the new transformer would affect rates. Mr. Zamparelli responded that it would but that he does not know what the cost will be. He stated that he would send information on environmental and cost impact to Councillor Simmons.

Mayor Sullivan asked Mr. Fernandes whether Cambridge is satisfied that NSTAR is investing enough to sustain the system. Mr. Fernandes stated that NSTAR has made a lot of improvements of the transmission line so that capacity is available. He stated that NSTAR must do more work with the secondary circuits in neighborhoods, the neighborhood transformers and lines and switching.

Councillor Simmons thanked those present for their attendance and participation.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10am.

For the Committee,
Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair