Possible Topics:Cambridge InsideOut - Nov 26, 2019
Possible Topics:
1) Turkey Trot - Nov 25, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
especially the legal opinion on the License Commission
2) Planning vs. "Let's Make a Deal"
3) Karp Petition and East Cambridge development
4) Is there such a thing as an ideal density? Or is the sky the limit?
5) Lame Duck Walking - Nov 18, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
6) News
8) The Last Thing on their Minds - Nov 4, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
9) Public financing of municipal elections?
10) Will rent control rear its ugly head?
Rent control proposed at State House H.1316 and HD.1100
11) Civic Calendar
Turkey Trot - Nov 25, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
Manager's Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,924,594.18, associated with Education First’s EF 3 Building, SP#328) from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Public Works Extraordinary Expenditure account which will be used to support utility work associated with the Port Project and were paid by Education First to fulfill their Inflow and Infiltration requirement. This is what "mitigation money" is supposed to be all about - actual mitigation and infrastructure improvement. Contrast this with the current practice of granting upzoning not for the sake of good planning but for cash and prizes - and, of course, subsidized housing units. At least the proposal to glue subsidized housing units onto a self-storage facility didn't fly. Mark my words - this is only going to get weirder in the next City Council term. Manager's Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-140, regarding Harvard Square plaza area safety improvements. During my four decades in Cambridge I have seen the Harvard Square pedestrian environment reconfigured several times - each time under the belief that nirvana had been achieved. The last iteration was the "Super Crosswalk" that apparently was never all that super. The next iteration is coming. No matter the outcome, we will be assured that congestion and delay is not a negative consequence but is instead good for us and we should shut up and be grateful - and all parties involved will continue to bend the traffic laws as they see fit. Manager's Agenda #11. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $107,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Finance Other Ordinary Maintenance account as initial support of the recommendations of the Mayor’s Arts Task Force regarding the Central Square Cultural District. Yippee! Money for Central Square! Now if we could only categorize sidewalk repair and improvements to the T station as "art" we'll be all set. Manager's Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-122, which requested a legal opinion on the License Commission's authority. This is by far the most important item on this agenda. Though this legal opinion merely states what many of us have known and understood all along, it should put to rest some of the outrageous misunderstandings that have been circulating. That said, I read an opinion today that it was somehow problematic that a quasi-judicial body like the Cambridge License Commission can act without micromanagement by the City Manager - even though any decision of the License Commission can be appealed. Imagine how outraged people would feel if it was suggested that the Planning Board should not issue or deny a Special Permit without the approval of the City Manager. Ultimately the City Manager is "the appointing authority" and could appoint only yes-men (and yes-women) to all the City's Boards and Commissions as well as the Police Commissioner and Fire Chief, but that practice would likely head south pretty quickly. City Solicitor Glowa's legal opinion is both impressive and timely, and I hope it puts to rest some of the falsehoods from the Lower Port to the Upper West. Committee Report #1 & Committee Report #2. A report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Sept 26, 2019 and Nov 14, 2019 to discuss the petition by Stephen R. Karp, Trustee of Cambridgeside Galleria Associates Trust, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by adding a Section 13.100 that creates a new PUD-8 District and to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge by adding the new PUD-8 District, which District would include the property located at 100 Cambridgeside Place (currently zoned in the Business A and PUD-4 Districts). I do hope that the City Council passes some version of this zoning amendment solely because I think we could a lot do better in that corner of the city than what exists now, and some reconfiguration of the Cambridgeside Galleria should be part of that. However, I find aspects of the committee report to be problematic, e.g. "the Petitioner will pay the City $50 million dollars in mitigation funding" and "what would happen to the proposed community benefits if the Petitioner decided to proceed under their current zoning" and "she felt that the height and massing could be appropriate depending on the community benefits." In short, approving changes in zoning should be primarily about good planning and not about any "quid pro quo". Unfortunately, this brand of zoning negotiation as commodity trading is not exceptional in Cambridge these days - and it may only grow worse. - Robert Winters |
Lame Duck Walking - November 18, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
Manager's Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with comments and suggested improvements, the CambridgeSide Galleria Associates Trust Zoning Petition. Manager's Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,475,844.18 from Free Cash to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund which will be used to fund specific future projects, requiring individual appropriations by the City Council at a later date. Manager's Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt the Exterior Building Insulation Zoning Petition. Committee Report #3. A report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Nov 12, 2019 to discuss the Insulation Zoning proposal A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a petition to amend provisions in Article 5.000 and Article 22.000 pertaining to setback requirements and exterior building insulation. Manager's Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt Article 22 Green Building Requirements Zoning Petition. Committee Report #2. A report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Nov 12 at 12pm to discuss Green Building requirements A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a petition to amend provisions in Section 22.20, which governs Green Building Requirements, and also applicable definitions contained in Article 2.000. Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to fully restore sharrows to Broadway, alongside the new door-zone bike lane, as a reminder to motorists that cyclists are always allowed to take the full lane. Councillor Zondervan I completely agree with this Order (as a person who prefers biking along with other traffic on most roads with ordinary speeds), but I continue to marvel at the trend among city councillors to assume roles which previously were the domain of the professional staff. I can't decide if this is great wisdom or micromanagement or just a vote of "no confidence" of City staff. Committee Report #1. A report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Chair of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee, for a public meeting held on Nov 14, 2019 to discuss the Solicitor's Response to Policy Order O-9 from the June 10, 2019 City Council Meeting. I used to be somewhat agnostic regarding campaign donations from people with business before the City Council, but the recent municipal election campaign has pushed me into the camp of those who feel that some limitations should be the rule. I'm still not convinced that public financing of municipal election campaigns would be worth it either practically or bureaucratically. I also can't wrap my head around the fact that some of our local elected officials (and their ardent supporters) feel outrage about the Citizens United court decision that opened the floodgates in campaign spending yet have no qualms whatsoever in doing the same thing at the local level. - Robert Winters |
Oct 28, 2019 – The City of Cambridge will reduce the speed limit on most city-owned streets to 20 mph, starting in mid-November. The new speed limits will apply on smaller, primarily local-access streets. Larger, arterial roads will still have a speed limit of 25 mph, unless otherwise posted. By driving at or below 20 mph, people can help reduce the likelihood of a crash. Lowering speed limits is a key part of the city's Vision Zero strategy to eliminate all crashes that result in serious or fatal injuries. If a crash does happen, it is much less likely to cause serious injury or fatality. When in doubt, go 20 mph.
Data show that reducing speeds has a big impact on the outcome of crashes. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that people walking are almost half as likely to be killed or seriously injured if struck by a car traveling 25 mph as compared to a car traveling 30 mph.
“We’ve heard concerns about speeding from people throughout the Cambridge community,” said Joseph Barr, Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department. “Reducing the speed limit is an important step towards addressing those concerns. This change will also inform the way that we design our streets and help support our ongoing traffic calming efforts.”
During implementation, approximately 660 “Safety Zone” signs will be installed. A contractor, managed by city staff, will complete the majority of the work. Installations will begin in mid-November and proceed for approximately three months. Work will start in East Cambridge and proceed across the city to the west. A map of streets with 20 mph speed limits and approximate sign locations is available at cambridgema.gov/20mph. The map will be updated on an ongoing basis as new signs are installed.
Reducing the speed limit on most city-owned streets to 20 mph follows the reduction of the default speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph in December of 2016. It also builds off work done in early 2018 to decrease speed limits to 20 mph in the city’s five squares. Both this and the previous speed limit changes were made possible by the State's 2016 Municipal Modernization Act. Chapter 90, Section 18B of the Massachusetts General Laws allows the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department Director to establish 20 mph safety zones in the interest of public safety.
City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents, business owners, and local professionals interested in serving on the Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) beginning in January 2020.
The RAC is a volunteer committee which provides advice, recommendations, and assistance to the Department of Public Works (DPW) regarding recycling, composting, reuse, and waste reduction. The RAC does this through research, feedback, public outreach, and event planning. The RAC has been instrumental in the city’s new Zero Waste Master Plan, Fix-It Clinics, marketing and education, and other important initiatives that have made Cambridge a national leader in waste reduction.
Cambridge Recycling began in 1989 with a few volunteers dedicated to beginning a recycling drop-off program. Today, the city recovers more than 11,000 tons per year of recyclables from more than 44,000 households. Approximately 32,000 households have access to curbside composting, reducing the city’s trash by more than 7% in the first year of citywide composting. More households will be added to the program over time. The City now serves 123 businesses in the Small Business Recycling Pilot. Lastly, the RAC is working on a Single-Use Plastics regulation in conjunction with the Cambridge City Council and the Department of Public Works.
Currently, the city’s goals to reduce waste match those in the MA Solid Waste Master Plan. Using 2008 as a baseline year, the city aims to reduce trash 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. As of 2018, the city has reduced trash by 28%.
The Committee has been active for over 20 years and consists of at least nine members with a demonstrated interest in the topics listed above. Members serve a three-year term and are expected to attend monthly meetings (Sept-June). The city seeks members that represent local businesses and property managers, Cambridge residents, and users of the Recycling Center, universities, non-profit organizations and social service agencies whose goals overlap with waste reduction.
Duties, Responsibilities and Minimum Requirements include:
Helpful Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
To learn more about the committee’s work, please consider attending an upcoming meeting, on Oct 16 or Nov 13. For more information, contact Michael Orr, Recycling Director, at 617-349-4815 or morr@cambridgema.gov. The deadline for submitting applications is November 15, 2019. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking residents who are interested in serving on the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust.
The Affordable Housing Trust administers and oversees city funds allocated to create and preserve affordable rental and homeownership housing, and to support housing programs that address the city’s affordable housing needs. The Trust members review proposals for new housing preservation, development efforts, and other housing programs, and provide housing policy and program advice to the City Manager, city staff, other city boards and commissions, and the Cambridge City Council.
The Trust is comprised of members with experience in affordable housing, housing policy, finance, development, planning, and design. The Trust is chaired by the City Manager and generally meets on the fourth Thursday of every month, from 4-5:30pm, at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, Nov 1, 2019. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the city’s online application system at cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees for the Cambridge Public Library.
Library trustees are volunteer community representatives, library advocates, and leaders in the establishment of goals and policies for the Cambridge Public Library system. Trustees are a vital link between the library staff and the community and work to ensure the quality of library services, collections, and programs, and to make certain that the library reflects and is relevant to the community.
Trustees serve a 3 year term and are expected to attend monthly board meetings, committee and community meetings, appropriate continuing education workshops or conferences, and library programs as their schedules allow.
Ideal candidates will have an interest in and passion for public libraries and an understanding of the importance of the public library as a center of information, culture, recreation, and life-long learning in the community. Candidates should also have knowledge of the community, including an awareness of diverse social and economic conditions, needs and interests of all groups. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking skills are required. Trustees work productively as a team. It is also important for candidates to understand how the role of the public library is evolving and how information technology and societal changes inform the library’s future.
The deadline for submitting applications is October 22, 2019. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. For more information about the role of Library trustees, contact Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries at 617-349-4032.
Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking members of the community who live and/or work in Cambridge (including private sector and municipal employees, business owners, students, and others) to become a part of the Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity. Applications from interested community members are welcome through October 18, 2019.
The mission of the City of Cambridge Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity is to foster fairness, equity, unity, appreciation, and mutual understanding across all people and entities in Cambridge. The Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity works to provide opportunities for constructive discussions and community events regarding race, class, religion, gender, disability, and sexual orientation, through recognizing and raising awareness of historic, existing and potential civic issues; providing opportunities for honest dialogue and engagement; and by building bridges across communities to better understand and connect with one another.
The Committee generally meets monthly. Committee meetings are open to the public and may include presentations by guest speakers, city staff, and various experts. For information on the committee’s work, current goals, meeting schedule, and events, please visit: www.cambridgema.gov/civicunity
Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Applications are due by Friday, Oct 18, 2019.
If you have question about the application process, please contact the City Manager's Office at 617-349-4300 or fgaines@Cambridgema.gov.
City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking residents to fill two positions on the City Manager’s Digital Equity Working Group. This administrative working group will provide input and guidance to the City Manager and staff at key milestones during the City’s yearlong study of digital equity in the Cambridge. The working group will assist in creating a draft vision and set of goals to inform the City’s digital equity strategy. Additionally, the working group, based on the findings of the study and research of best practices and regional efforts, will help develop targeted strategies the City could take to address digital equity in Cambridge.
The working group will meet quarterly with the possibility of 3-4 additional meetings. The term of this working group is one year.
Applications to serve on the City Manager’s Digital Divide Working Group can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or relevant experience or interest may be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, October 11, 2019.
The Last Thing on their Minds - Nov 4, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting
Manager's Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the creation of a new municipal Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas (“GHG”) Reduction Revolving Fund (“Revolving Fund”) to serve the City of Cambridge’s (“City”) municipal energy aggregation, and adoption of the proposed new ordinance, Chapter 3.24, entitled “Departmental Revolving Funds.” From the Manager's letter: "The Aggregation adder is expected to raise approximately $650,000 annually, or a total of $1.3 million during the current supplier contract period (January 2019 - December 2020)." Proposed uses are: (a) Invest $1.3 million in a solar energy project located on a municipal building; and (b) Deposit income earned from the sale of generated Net Metering Credits annually into the Revolving Fund. Those funds would subsequently be used to finance other solar energy/renewable energy projects and all resulting GHG reductions would be attributed to the Aggregation’s participants. Seems like a reasonable plan of action. Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City staff on determining the most appropriate signage and messaging that would best educate cyclists on the importance of following traffic laws, particularly stopping at red lights, for their own safety and the safety of other cyclists and pedestrians. 30 out of 31 Communications in which cyclists recoil in horror because a City Council Order from last week suggested "signage and messaging that would best educate cyclists on the importance of following traffic laws, particularly stopping at red lights, for their own safety and the safety of other cyclists and pedestrians." Only in Cambridge would a resolution calling for enhanced safety yield an avalanche of protest. The turf wars continue. Resolution #5. Congratulations to Sekazi K. Mtingwa. Councillor Simmons Sekazi and I worked together at MIT. I did the math and he did the physics in the MIT Concourse program. I'm glad to see him getting the recognition.
I don't know whether or not this is the best alternative for this intersection but it is an interesting proposal. I don't like the way it "pedestrianizes" cyclists and I would likely just ride through the roundabout with the rest of the traffic. It's a bit strange that the Council Order calls for a source of funding and a timetable for the design and construction prior to there being any decision on even doing such a redesign, but it's fair to say that this isn't the first instance of engineering via politics by this Council. Order #5. Resolution in support of the Harvard Graduate Students Union-UAW’S demands for a fair contract now. Councillor Siddiqui, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Mallon Finish your thesis, kids. There are better opportunities than being an ABD (All But Dissertation) graduate student. I'll add that it still seems funny that the United Auto Workers are representing Harvard Graduate students. 99 Items Awaiting Report (sung to the tune of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall") Wouldn't it be just marvelous if one of these weeks one of the councillors simply asked the manager to run through the list and say (a) which items he has no intention of reporting (possibly because it's either moot or ridiculous); (b) which items somebody somewhere is actually working on; and (c) which items he considers to be timely and important. For example, should we all be waiting with bated breath on the future of wood-fired ovens or electronic device usage by City-elected officials? I thought that the request for "a comprehensive, independent planning, and parking study of the neighborhood and use of the First Street Garage" had already been completed. Would it be so difficult to report on the "feasibility of allowing small businesses to host live acoustic music performances without a license?" Can anyone shed any light on the proposed Outdoor Lighting Ordinance that has apparently gone missing? - Robert Winters |
CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)
5:00pm Special City Council meeting to take up the petition by Stephen R. Karp, Trustee of Cambridgeside Galleria Associates Trust, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by adding a Section 13.100 that creates a new PUD-8 District. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
All Cambridge residents 12* and older, including non-U.S. citizens and university students, will be able to vote to decide how to spend $1,000,000 on projects to improve the City. Residents will be able to vote online starting on December 1 at pb.cambridgema.gov or in person at voting events throughout the City. PB ballots will be available in multiple languages. The online ballot will be available in English, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole & Spanish and paper ballots at voting events will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese & Spanish. To learn more about the PB process please check out the PB FAQs here.
*All Cambridge 6th graders are eligible to vote.
Mon, Dec 2
5:30pm City Council Roundtable/Working Meeting for members of the City Council and School Committee to discuss the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program Study. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
12:00pm The City Council's Public Safety Committee will meet to discuss the following policy order: An amendment to Chapter 2.128 Surveillance Ordinance. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
3:00pm The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will meet to discuss the City Manager's report on the Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinance. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
5:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (1st Floor Meeting Room, 51 Inman St.)
I. MINUTES II. REPORTS 1. Executive Director's Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports III. PUBLIC COMMENT |
IV. ACTION AGENDA New Business Old Business 1. 2019 Municipal Election (Nov 5th) - Election Review |
6:00pm School Committee meeting (Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)
The School Committee will entertain a motion to convene in Executive Session immediately following the Regular Meeting on Tues, Dec 3 in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, for the purpose of hearing a Level III CEA Unit C grievance as part of collective bargaining and for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to a Level III grievance heard as part of collective bargaining and litigation positions of the School Committee as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee.
2:00pm The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss Policy Order #7, regarding Open Meeting Law review and Policy Order #11, regarding Council Budget-Private Attorney. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission meeting (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.)
The agenda includes a Public Hearing on the recently completed “Harvard Square Conservation District Study.”
6:00pm Human Rights Commission Meeting (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)
6:00pm-7:30pm Presentation on Harvard Square Kiosk and Plaza Project (Isaacson Room, Harvard Smith Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue)
As part of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero*, City staff have taken a closer look at the Super Crosswalk area (pedestrian crossing between the Kiosk and the Harvard Coop) to determine if additional safety measures can be incorporated into the scope of the reconstruction of the plaza. Staff have identified traffic signal changes that support travel lane reductions and improve the safety for all users. The changes will simplify the overall operation of the intersection; reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians; provide additional plaza space; and simplify the merge for cyclists and motorists travelling towards Porter Square. We invite you to attend the meeting to learn more about these safety improvements and provide input on the design changes.
*Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
6:00pm-8:00pm Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) Task Force Meeting (CRLS Main Cafeteria - 459 Broadway)
The City is developing an Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) that will guide the development of the urban forest into the future. The UFMP will include a strategic plan to evaluate, maintain and expand the urban forest canopy enabling it to be more resilient to climate change, reduce the urban heat island effect, mitigate stormwater runoff, reduce nutrient runoff, and contribute to the community well-being. The UFMP will coordinate with the efforts of the citywide comprehensive plan (Envision Cambridge) and the Climate Change Preparedness & Resilience Plan. The Task Force will meet to review and discuss the strategies outlined in the UFMP Technical Report to address canopy loss and canopy growth.
Mon, Dec 9
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
3:00pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend Articles 2.00 and 4.32 of the zoning Ordinance regarding Mobile Fueling. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
5:00pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a refiled petition to the amend the Zoning Ordinance to add a Grand Junction Pathway Overlay. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
Wed, Dec 11
8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)
2:00pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a proposed municipal ordinance entitled “Prohibition of Natural Gas Infrastructure in New Buildings”. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on the Harvard Square Zoning Petition. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
Mon, Dec 16
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
3:00pm The City Council's Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss restrictions and opportunities the City has when working with bargaining units to implement new policies. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
Mon, Dec 23
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
Mon, Dec 30
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
In between the inevitable hushed meetings to secure the necessary five votes to become mayor for the 2020-21 term, the lame duck session continues quacking. The agenda is quite short, but a few items worth noting are listed below. Honestly, I've been having more fun studying the 2019 ballot data now that the election results were finalized Friday evening [
This is your classic night-before-Election-Day City Council meeting where Council business places a distant second behind concerns about having all their incumbency protection ducks in a row. If this meeting goes beyond 6:15pm it will likely be because they were forced to listen to the repetitive whining of Public Comment. Anyway, here is my very short list of interesting items on this very short agenda: