Cambridge InsideOut - Feb 1, 2022
Possible Topics:
1) Shoveling Snow Against The Tide - January 31, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting
3) Tee Time for Toddlers – January 24, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting
4) Volunteer Opportunities - Boards and Commissions
5) Government Operations Committee - City Manager search
6) City Auditor Jim Monagle to retire May 31, 2022 at the end of his current 3-year term
7) Cambridge School Committee - Campaign Finance 2020-2021
8) Councils & School Committees: 1941 - Present
10) Civic Calendar
If you don't dig what's going down (or coming down), Zoom in to Monday Night Live. In addition to the meeting agenda, there will plenty of other agendas on display - some hidden, some not. Amid mixed precipitation and metaphors, here are some potentially stormy items:
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and committees to present a report to the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee which includes information on the history, membership data of golf course users, environmental conditions, and a legal analysis of what uses are currently permitted or what would be involved in changing use for other city needs. [Charter Right - Toner, Jan 24, 2022]
Substitute Order Adopted 9-0
The public comment on the proposed “study” of the golf course will likely be just as plentiful this week as it was last week. I'm sure Councillor Zondervan supports this because it's just one more chapter in his revolution book. Councillor Azeem knows so little about the people of Cambridge that he thinks that desiring “abundant housing” to grow on the golf course will score him big points in his YIMBY circles. Councillor Nolan will be playing both sides of the issue - as usual. As for Councillor Carlone, that's anyone's guess. I suppose if your whole goal in life is to be seen as “progressive”, then nothing should ever be left as is. That, in my opinion, is a stupid point of view. There are many great things that are best left alone save for the maintenance.
Substitution for Policy Order submitted by Councillors Toner, McGovern and Simmons as amended
O-3 Jan 24, 2022 Jan 31, 2022 Adopted 9-0
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Golf Course, also known as the Fresh Pond Golf Course, in West Cambridge is the largest open space in Cambridge and has been enjoyed as welcome green space for since 1933; and
WHEREAS: Golf is an important and safe outdoor activity, with many residents participating, and has operated in a manner to ensure the sport is accessible to an increasingly diverse community of residents, including keeping course fees low to ensure affordable to all users, and supporting the CRLS golf team when most urban high schools charge fees or do not have a golf team due to barriers; and
WHEREAS: The golf course is self-sufficient and operates on member fees and receives no additional funding from the city,
WHEREAS: The City seeks to encourage outdoor activity and physical activity among residents,
WHEREAS: Considering these trends, it makes sense review if other outdoor uses could be incorporated into golf operations without interfering with its current and primary purpose as the only low cost municipal golf course in Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with all appropriate departments, as well as the Cambridge Water Board and Fresh Pond Advisory Committee, and present a report to the Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, which includes but is not limited to a legal analysts of what uses are currently permitted, information on the history of the golf course, residency and other demographic information about membership data of golf course users, and any environmental constraints; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council request that the Chair of the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts, and Celebration Committee schedule a public hearing to discuss what other complementary uses, if any, might be made of the space that do not interfere with the regular operations of the golf course, and encourage greater usage by all Cambridge residents; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by March 30, 2022 to enable a committee hearing this spring.
Note 1: Zondervan stated that he does want to change/limit golf operations.
Note 2: Carlone scolded his colleagues for having scolded the original authors of the policy order.
Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes.
Charter Right - Nolan
The City Solicitor has provided partial language on the matters of City Manager review and how a charter review committee might be formed. There is still no word on how the City Council will go about reviewing board appointments or even which City boards and commission would be subject to Council review. More and more I am coming to the conclusion that city residents may have to soon form their own charter review movement independent of this City Council.
Manager's Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-85, which requesting a report on potential modifications or adjustments to the recent improvements that were made on the segment of Massachusetts Avenue from Dudley Street to Alewife Brook Parkway.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager's Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-1, regarding the feasibility of creating a Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group.
Placed on File 9-0
The repercussions of The Pledge continue. How many City ordinances are there that come with a pledge that they must never be reviewed or changed? Very progressive. As for the proposed membership of the “Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group”, will they be subject to City Council review? More significantly, will this group have any ability to do anything other than to inform the public that little or nothing can or will be done to alter the course of the juggernaut. As the Manager's communication says, “we educate the community on what elements of the projects are flexible and open to change and which elements are constrained.” Is the only change possible the color of the flexi-posts?
Manager's Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to not adopt the Cushing, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
Manager's Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Yamin, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 8, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Yard Setback Zoning Petition (Ord # 2021-22). [PDF of Committee Report #1 – unedited software-generated transcript with many errors]
Manager's Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Francis Donovan, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
The bottom line these days is that unless zoning changes are blessed by an elite few, they don't stand a chance, and it doesn't really matter if they have merit. Pretty soon it won't even be possible to serve on the Planning Board unless you have been pre-approved by that same elite.
Order #2. Wage Theft Ordinance. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
I still don't fully understand this proposal, though my suspicion, based on the proposed language, is that it may simply be a way to block the hiring of independent contractors or to ensure that only union members can be hired. The term “wage theft” is very provocative, but perhaps not necessarily accurate.
Order #3. That the City Council and School Committee hold a joint virtual roundtable on Tues, Feb 8, 2022 to discuss priorities for the FY23 Budget. Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
I'm a little confused about whether this is meant to have the City Council advise the School Department about their priorities or vice-versa. Their respective budgets have no intersection except perhaps in the shared use of some facilities, e.g. for polling locations or community school programs. - Robert Winters
7. Late Resolution for David Albert. Councillor Toner
Late Resolution Adopted 8-1 with Councillor Zondervan (unbelievably) voting NO
Res #7 Jan 31, 2022
WHEREAS: Officer David Albert announced his retirement after 33 years of service to the Cambridge Police Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert served as a Patrol Officer for 27 years and ended his last 6 years as a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert dedicated his energy and focus to serving the citizens of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert grew up in North Cambridge on Magoun Street and comes from a large family dedicated to public service to the City of Cambridge serving as police officers, firefighters and nurses, including his youngest daughter, Delaney Albert who recently joined the force; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert has earned a long and happy retirement with his wife Kathleen;
RESOLVED: That the City Council and City of Cambridge go on record thanking Officer Albert for his long and honorable service to the City of Cambridge.
Click on graph above for latest Cambridge data.
Feb 1, 2022 Breakdown of Cases:
18483 tested positive (total) - an increase of 117 from the previous day and 9339 over 48 days
139 confirmed deaths - 77 in long-term care facilities, 62 in general community
[Jan 14(1), Jan 18(1), Jan 24(2), Jan 26(2), Jan 27(1), Jan 30(1), Feb 1(3) - all in general community]
Thanks to vaccinations, even though the 7-day averages were dreadful
the impacts were not as bad as they could have been.
Harvard University COVID-19 data MIT COVID-19 data
The surge in new positive tests was due to a combination of the Delta variant and the Omicron variant.
High vaccination rates have helped to blunt what might have been a larger surge and far more deaths.
Covid Cases by Age Group - through Jan 23, 2022
[the pattern now appears to be similar across most age groups]
MWRA Biobot wastewater data - Jan 31, 2022
The pandemic that has convulsed the world for more than two years is entering a “new phase,” and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant offers “plausible hope” for a return to normalcy in the months ahead, the World Health Organization said in a statement released Monday.
Masks Required in Indoor Public Places & High-Quality Masks Recommended
The City of Cambridge requires that face masks or coverings be worn in indoor public places, including common areas of residential buildings with at least four units as well as common areas of office and laboratory buildings. The mask order applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines.
Not all masks provide the same level of protection. Research shows that high quality “medical-style” masks available to the public are most effective at protecting the wearer from infection. Look for masks that fit snugly and block at least 90% of small viral particles from being breathed in. Masks should also be comfortable, especially if they are being worn throughout the day.
Wear a mask with excellent filtration. Aim for 90-95%.
I'm just trying to figure out if Councillors Nolan, Carlone, Zondervan, and Azeem are trying to take over the Fresh Pond Golf Course. There's also these:
Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Placed on File 9-0
Though still an order of magnitude greater than last summer, positive Covid tests continue to drop quickly as predicted by the wasterwater data. Drops in hospitalizations (and fatalities) generally follow. Cambridge residents continue to exercise greater caution than in most places, and there seems to be little or no cause to impose any additional restrictions. With luck we may even look forward to restrictions being eased within a few weeks.
Manager's Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan 2021 Update and Executive Summary.
Referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0
The documents are interesting, but what I would really like to know is how some of the ideas and proposals translate into requirements, costs, and incentives for various categories of property owners. If I need to do a roof repair or siding replacement on my triple-decker, will I soon be required to make other changes at a significantly increased cost? When my gas-fired boiler reaches the end of its useful life, will I be able to replace it or will I have to reconfigure my whole building and install a completely different heating system? Will mandates come with funding sources? Will new requirements have the unintended consequence of delaying renovations due to added costs? Should a homeowner rush a renovation now before costly new mandates are imposed? How will possible “point of sale” mandates affect decisions about potential improvements and who will bear the added costs? Will requirements for commercial properties lead to relocation? Perhaps we need an “Idiot's Guide to Net-Zero Requirements” for ordinary people.
Charter Right #1. That the City Council designates the Chair of Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee to serve as the City Council’s designee to coordinate with Randi Frank Consulting, LLC as well as appropriate City officials in carrying out the executive recruitment process for a new City Manager search process. That the City Manager is requested to ask the Purchasing Agent to coordinate with the Chair of Government Operations, Rules and Claims committee to engage the services of the identified Community Engagement Specialist(s) to work with Randi Frank Consulting, LLC in the executive recruitment for a new City Manager. [Charter Right – Simmons, Jan 10, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding the Clerk search process.
Placed on File 9-0
Communications & Reports #4. A communication was received from City Auditor, James Monagle, transmitting a memorandum regarding his retirement at the end of his current term.
Placed on File 9-0
At this point my confidence in our elected officials to competently fill all three of the positions for which they have direct control under the Plan E Charter (City Manager, City Clerk, City Auditor) is close to Net Zero. At least one councillor with serious self-loathing issues has already expressed the point of view that only candidates from outside of Cambridge should be considered. My sense is that if they really screw this up there may be an exodus of other prominent City staff.
Resolution #4. Congratulations to Christine Elow on her appointment as Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. Councillor Simmons
Resolution Adopted 9-0
It was an inspired choice by City Manager Louis DePasquale to appoint Christine Elow as Acting Commissioner last August, and this seals the deal. One point worth emphasizing is how much has changed in the ~30 years since the transition was made from Police Chief to Police Commissioner. This was very controversial and political back then, and in the interim all of the Commissioners have come from outside of Cambridge - Perry Anderson, Ronnie Watson, Robert Haas, and Branville Bard. I remember Ronnie Watson once remarking that his intention was to have the command staff become so solid that there would be no need to look outside for his successor. Well, it took a few years but it's noteworthy that Christine Elow is Cambridge born and bred and rose up through the ranks, and nobody in the political sphere finds it at all controversial that she is now Police Commissioner - especially when you consider the fact that there are continuing conversations about possible restructuring of public safety and how to respond to emergency calls.
Order #2. That the City Manager is hereby requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to determine what safety improvements could be made to the area in front of CRLS and the crosswalk on Broadway. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
This Order brought back a memory from when I first arrived in Cambridge in 1978 and for a long while afterwards. It used to be commonplace for CRLS students heading home after school to purposely walk in the middle of the travel lanes on Broadway - not because it was necessary but just to be defiant. I haven't seen that so much in recent years. I suppose it all fits under the umbrella described in Bruce Springsteen's song “Growing Up”, e.g. “when they said ‘sit down’ I stood up.”
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and committees to present a report to the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee which includes information on the history, membership data of golf course users, environmental conditions, and a legal analysis of what uses are currently permitted or what would be involved in changing use for other city needs. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem
Charter Right - Toner
[Note: There was overwhelming opposition to this Order during Public Comment. The only people speaking in favor of the Order seeking to change the use of the Fresh Pond Golf Course were from “Our Revolution” and the “Cambridge Residents Alliance”.]
I suspect this is all about toppling the perceived aristocracy minus the guillotines. I have never played golf (except miniature golf), but I have never viewed it as a sport of the elite. The Revolutionary Guard within the Cambridge City Council takes on yet another battle to nowhere. Is the latest vacant thought to replace 18 holes with 18 stories? One of the things I like most about Cambridge is the diversity of buildings, densities, and uses - and that includes that fact we somehow can still have a golf course in addition to our current considerable density of housing.
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Inspectional Services Department, the Department of Public Works, the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City departments to determine the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Do these three councillors know something about a “natural disaster” to come? Flood? Pestilence? Tornadoes? Actually, the essence of the Order concerns disasters like building fires, so I suppose this is more of a semantic thing rather than planning for the Apocalypse.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record in support of House Bill 965 and Senate Bill 623 that would prohibit the sale of fur, and urge the Massachusetts Senate to pass this bill. Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
I learned something new from this Order - raccoon dogs. They're not racoons. Be like Pat Nixon and wear a respectable Republican cloth coat.
Committee Report #1. The Health & Environment Committee met on Dec 22, 2021 to discuss the BEUDO amendments. [Minutes] [Cover Letter] [Proposed Amendments – red-lined] [Proposed Amendments – clean] [City Solicitor Letter]
Proposed Amendments Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
This has been in the works for some time - amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance that was ordained in 2014 that requires energy and water reporting from commercial properties over 25,000 square feet and residential properties over 50 units. It is an essential element of the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP). It's not just about disclosure. There are requirements for emissions reduction explicitly in the ordinance: From a Baseline determined in 2018-2019, covered properties are required to reduce emissions to 80% of Baseline by 2025-2029; 60% by 2030-2034; 40% by 2035-2039; 20% by 2040-2044; 10% by 2045-2049; and 0% for 2050 onwards. It remains to be seen if similar requirements may be imposed on smaller residential properties at some point. - Robert Winters
Jan 31, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) to potentially fill either full member position(s) and/or associate member position(s).
BZA members must be residents of the City of Cambridge. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
Made up of five members and up to seven associate members, the Board of Zoning Appeal reviews applications for special permits and applications for variances from the terms of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, in accordance with M.G.L. c.40A and the Zoning Ordinance. The BZA also hears and decides appeals of orders and determinations made by the Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A, §8 and the Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the BZA reviews applications for comprehensive permits, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40B. In evaluating applications and petitions, the Board conducts public hearings and votes on the application or petition’s conformance with the provisions of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
The Board of Zoning Appeal meets twice each month on Thursday evenings for approximately 3-4 hours. Until further notice, all board and commission meetings are being held virtually via the Zoom platform. The Board of Zoning Appeal is subject to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c.30A, §§18-25, and all deliberations of the Board occur at public meetings. The meetings are also audio recorded and may be video recorded. As part of their time commitment, Board members are expected to review application and petition materials prior to each meeting. Materials may include development plans, impact studies, narrative descriptions, provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, information from city departments, written comments from the public, and other documents.
Ideal candidates would possess the ability to participate in a collaborative process, work with other Board members to consider diverse ideas, apply the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance to the facts presented in applications and petitions, and reach a decision. Members should also have strong attentiveness and listening skills. While there is no requirement for a technical background, interest and understanding of development, architecture, urban design, and zoning is desirable.
Individuals interested in being considered should apply by using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and finding “Board of Zoning Appeal” in the list of Current Vacancies. A cover letter and résumé or summary of 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. The deadline for submitting applications was extended to Feb 14, 2022.
Editor's Note: One of the most damaging results of last November's vote re: charter change is that appointees to several City boards, most notably the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Historical Commission, and probably all of the neighborhood conservation district commissions may now be subject to an inquisition by a controlling majority of city councillors.
Today's meeting of the City Council's Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee primarily focused on the proposed calendar for the City Manager search process and some discussion of how the Screening Committee that would select the priority candidates and finalists might be formed. The significant of the latter cannot be overstated. If any great candidates cannot get past the screening committee then nobody will have a chance to evaluate those candidates, and the City Council will only be able to choose from the pool of candidates recommended by the Screening Committee – unless, of course, they go with former City Councillor Tim Toomey's advice that “it only takes 5 votes” to select a candidate even if that person is not in the pool of those who survived the screening.
The City Council and the City Administration often claim to be quite transparent in all that they do – even in the Zoomy Pandemic World – even though many people would beg to differ. One person during public comment even remarked that it wasn't at all obvious how to even access the agenda of this meeting. True or not, the point is that the City Council and its committees as well as the City Administration really need to be MORE transparent, and simply saying that information is included in the City's updates or posted somewhere on the City website isn't really enough. One need only consider some of the chatter about bike and bus lane implementation to understand that just because public information exists that doesn't necessarily translate into transparency or engagement.
Anyway, here is the agenda and the schedule discussed at today's meeting. There does seem to be a heavy tilt toward “advocacy groups”. My sense is that there may be a need for public engagement outside of the parameters prescribed by this committee or the firms hired to assist in the search process. - RW
Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee - Jan 25, 2022 Agenda
- Timeline presentation & adoption
- Focus groups & Town Halls
- Employee engagement
- Screening Committee
- City Staff liaison
Potential Focus Groups:
- Non-profit community leaders
- Faith based community (Cambridge Black Pastors Alliance, other faith leaders)
- Low Income Housing residents
- ACT/CHA & others Tenant Council
- Arts Community
- Affordable Housing providers
- CRLS Students
- Public School Staff & administrators
- Community School parents
- Neighborhood Associations (Part 1: East/Port/Mid/C-port): ECPT, WEHA Neighborhood Association, MCNA, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, Port Neighborhood Association
- Neighborhood Associations (Part 2: North/West/Alewife/Highlands): Fresh Pond Residents Alliance, Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Association, Maria Baldwin/Agassiz Neighborhood Association, Porter Square Neighborhood Association, Harvard Square Neighborhood Association, North Cambridge Stabilization Committee
- MBK, Equity Road Map, The Black Response/HEART, Families of Color Coalition
- Transportation (Cambridge Bike Safety, Transit Advisory, Bicycle Committee, Pedestrian Committee, Friends of Grand Junction)
- Environment (Green Cambridge, Mothers Out Front, Public Planting committee, Friends of Riverbend Park, Charles River Conservancy, Friends of Riverbend Park, Magazine Beach Park)
[it was suggested that CRWA, 350 Mass, and Sunrise Cambridge be added]- Homeless Shelter providers
- Senior Resident Representatives
- Small Business owners
- Business Association ED’s/Chamber of Commerce/Cambridge Local First
- University Relations
- Cambridge Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (employee group)
- Board and Commissions members
Town Halls:
- Cambridge resident and stakeholder
- Cambridge municipal employees
Screening Committee composition:
(4) City Council members
(3) Resident representatives (who have demonstrated advocacy in support of community needs)*
(2) Business related representatives (with demonstrated partnership experience, ideally from a large and a small business)
(1) Representative from the Cambridge School Committee or a senior School Department administrative representative
(1) Public Safety representative (Police/Fire departments)
(1) Person with demonstrated knowledge of municipal finance
(1) Health and Human Services/Public Health representative
(1) Representative with knowledge of City Planning and Development (experience in urban design and transportation issues preferred)
(1) Higher education/institutional partner
(1) Public art and/or recreational representative
(1) Affordable housing advocate
(1) Non-profit community representative
(1) Representative who advocates for the quality of our community’s civic and social wellbeing
City Manager Search Timeline
| Steps | Activity | Description | Dates | Status | |
| Phase 1: Week 1-5 1/17/22 - 2/27/22 Position Assessment, Community Engagement, and leadership profile development | Step 1 | Create dedicated email and City webpage for City Manager search process | Randi Frank Conulting, LLC will create and monitor a dedicated email for recruitment and to solicit stakeholder feedback. A dedicated webpage on the City's website will be posted with information regarding the search. | 1/17-1/30/22 | In process |
| Step 2 | Conduct staff & City Council interviews | Randi Frank Consulting, LLC, assisted by the City’s appointed search liaison, will conduct interviews with the Mayor, City Council members, Personnel Director, City's Senior Staff, employee groups, employee unions, distribute an employee survey, etc. to collect information to develop a comprehensive leadership profile. | 1/19-2/4/22 | In process | |
| Step 3 | Conduct focus groups and other community engagement as related to developing a leadership profile and community vision for the next City Manager | Randi Frank, LLC will conduct town hall style meetings where residents will be invited to participate in a discussion of what they would like to see in the next City Manager. coUrbanize will develop an extensive online community engagement feedback mechanism. Cortico will conduct 20 targeted focus groups (up to 90 minutes each), all with the purpose of collecting information to develop a leadership profile. | 2/7-2/25/22 | In process | |
| Step 4 | Employee Town Hall w/Randi Frank, LLC | Meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from employees on what they would like to see in the next City Manager, this meeting will not be public. | 2/15/22 5- 7pm | Scheduled | |
| Step 5 | Government Operations Meeting: Resident Town Hall | Public meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from residents on what they would like to see in the next City Manager | 2/16/22 6- 8pm | Scheduled | |
| Step 6 | Leadership profile completed | Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a Leadership Profile to help inform applicant recruitment and screening processes. | 2/27/22 | ||
| Step 7 | Stakeholder engagement report | Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a stakeholder engagement report for use by the City Council and incoming City Manager. | 2/27/22 | ||
| Phase 2: Week 6-9 2/28/22 - 3/27/22 Position announcement, Advertising, Candidate Recruitment and Outreach | Step 1 | Position announced/posted | Randi Frank, LLC shall place the position in the appropriate online publications, including International City and County Management Assoc., National Forum for Black Administrators, the International Hispanic Network, and other websites where potential candidates might look for career opportunities. In addition to public sector publications and websites, outreach should include LinkedIn and other private sector resources. | ||
| Step 2 | Applicant recruitment period | In addition to the job being posted on the above mentioned publications, Randi Frank, LLC shall recruit from their database of contacts, and conduct outreach to potential contacts. | |||
| Step 3 | Screening committee identified | The Government Operations Committee will identify and announce an applicant screening committee to review applicants resumes, and do the initial candidate screening. | |||
| Phase 3: Week 10-11 3/28/2022 - 4/10/22 Candidate Evaluation and Screening by Executive Search Firm |
Step 1 | Candidate credential review | Randi Frank shall review and evaluate candidates' credentials, considering the criteria outlined in the leadership profile. | ||
| Step 2 | Candidate interview & reference collection | -Randi Frank, LLC shall interview the most highly qualified candidates virtually to fully grasp their qualifications and experience, as well as their interpersonal skills. This is an hour long interview, asking specific questions about their experience and skill set. -Randi Frank, LLC shall gather formal and informal references (two per candidate of those deemed "highly qualified") and an internet search of each candidate will be conducted. |
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| Phase 4: Week 12-13 4/11/22 - 4/24/22 Presentation of Recommended Candidates | Step 1 | Recruitment report | Randi Frank, LLC will prepare a Recruitment Report that presents the credentials of those candidates most qualified for the position. A binder which contains the candidate's cover letter and resume shall be prepared, along with a "mini" resume for each candidate, so that each candidate's credentials are presented in a uniform way. NOTE: the screening committee will be provided with a log of ALL candidates who applied, and all resumes can be reviewed if desired. |
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| Step 2 | Screening Committee initial meeting | Randi Frank, LLC will meet with the screening committee to review the recruitment report and expand upon the information provided. The report will be provided to committee members 2-3 days in advance of this meeting, giving the screening committee the opportunity to fully review it. In addition to the written report, Randi Frank, LLC will spend 2-3 hours bringing the candidates to life by reviewing the virtual interviews and providing excerpts from 2 references. NOTE: at this meeting, the interviewing process will be finalized, including the discussion of any specific components of the Screening Committee deems appropriate |
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| Phase 5: Week 14-16 4/25/22 - 5/15/22 Interview Process Screening Committee |
Step 1 | Develop interview questions | Randi Frank, LLC will provide the Screening Committee with interview books that consist of the recruitment report, the credentials each candidate submits, a set of questions with room for interviewers to make notes, and an evaluation sheet to assist interviewers in assessing each candidate's skills and abilities. | ||
| Step 2 | Conduct interviews | The Screening Committee will conduct an interview of the 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council | 5/2 & 5/3? | ||
| Step 3 | Reference checks etc. | Once candidates are selected, references will be contacted, employment & education credentials verified, review search results on Google, and social media activity. | |||
| Phase 6: Week 17 5/16/22 - 5/22/22 Interview Process Community & City Council |
Step 1 | Community interviews | Randi Frank, LLC will offer community interviews with finalists as a means for the community to interact with and get to know the finalists in an informal setting. At this interview, finalists would give a brief overview of themselves and answer questions from the audience. Consultant will also work with the Personnel Department to coordinate a tour of Cambridge facilities and interviews with department heads and a final interview with City Councillors. Randi Frank, LLC will be present for all of the interviews, serving as a resource and facilitator. | ||
| Step 2 | City Council interviews | A public interview of all finalists will be held in a special meeting of the City Council. | |||
| Step 3 | Site visits (if desired) | If site visits are desired, this step can be utilized | |||
| Step 4 | Selection of finalist | The City Council will vote for a selected candidate in a public meeting. | |||
| Phase 7: Week 18+ 5/23/22 - 5/30/22 Appointment of Candidate | Step 1 | Salary & benefit negotiations | |||
| Step 2 | Notification of final appointment | ||||
Jan 18, 2022 – Under the Plan E Charter, the Cambridge City Council directly hires only 3 people - The City Manager, the City Clerk, and the City Auditor. There is currently a search process underway to identify a successor to City Manager Louis DePasquale when his contract ends on July 5, 2022. City Clerk Anthony Wilson informed the City Council in September that he would be leaving his position when his contract ends on May 31, 2022. Now City Auditor Jim Monagle has informed the City Council that he will be retiring from his position at the end of his contract - also on May 31, 2022.
Dear City Council,
After serving as City Auditor for the past 20 years, I am writing to inform you that I plan to retire at the end of my current term, which expires on May 31, 2022. It has been a tremendous honor to serve as City Auditor. I am proud of my record of providing independent and timely oversight of the City's finances and operations. Working closely with the Council, administration, and my team, I have carried out my duties to ensure that City's programs are executed legally, efficiently, and effectively. It has been a pleasure working for the City Councils during my tenure.
The role of City Auditor is not always well understood by the public because most of an auditor's work takes place behind the scenes and is buried in detailed financial reports. The staff of the Auditing Department works tirelessly to promote an honest, effective, and fully accountable City government. The collaborative nature of the auditing team and the passion each employee brings to their role plays a critical role in safeguarding against potential fraud or misuse of City resources. My staff's attention to detail is responsible for the timely creations of the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Schedule A, and Per-Pupil Report. These documents play a crucial role in providing financial information to the City Council, City Manager, the investment community, the state and federal governments, and the residents of Cambridge.
I have been fortunate to have worked with so many incredibly talented and dedicated staff during my tenure, and I want to thank each of them. I also want to thank the three City Managers I have worked with and each City department. The City Administration has always been collaborative, hardworking, and dedicated to serving the residents of Cambridge.
I want to thank the City Council for placing your trust in me and your dedication to your constituents and the City.
James Monagle
City Auditor
Cambridge School Committee - Campaign Finance 2020-2021
includes all 2020 and 2021 periodic reports - ranked by $ per #1 Vote
| School Committee Candidate | Start | Receipts | Expend | Balance | #1 Votes | $/Vote |
| Bhambi, Akriti | $0.00 | $70,912.00 | $65,475.58 | $5,436.42 | 3017 | $21.70 |
| Weinstein, David | $4,090.77 | $27,088.61 | $23,337.66 | $7,841.72 | 1617 | $14.43 |
| Weinstein, Rachel | $5,791.68 | $25,673.00 | $25,321.79 | $6,142.89 | 2950 | $8.58 |
| Hunter, Caroline | $0.00 | $14,040.05 | $10,023.12 | $4,016.93 | 1456 | $6.88 |
| Wilson, Ayesha | $2,089.36 | $18,024.49 | $15,311.36 | $4,802.49 | 4184 | $3.66 |
| Fantini, Fred | $5,041.23 | $8,586.00 | $8,186.67 | $5,440.56 | 3070 | $2.67 |
| Johnson, Daria | $0.00 | $5,230.00 | $1,975.50 | $3,254.50 | 1026 | $1.93 |
| Lim, Christopher | $252.02 | $3,494.00 | $2,014.00 | $1,732.02 | 1093 | $1.84 |
| Rojas Villarreal, Jose Luis | $516.81 | $3,250.00 | $1,457.11 | $2,309.70 | 1569 | $0.93 |
Plan E Cambridge City Councils - At A Glance (Mayor in bold) — Comments?
Plan E Cambridge School Committees (and Mayors) At A Glance — Comments?
Election Method Comparison – STV/Cincinnati vs. Fractional Transfer – 2021 Cambridge City Council Election (posted Jan 15, 2022)
CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)
5:30-7:00pm Citizens' Committee on Civic Unity Meeting (Zoom)
6:00pm School Committee Meeting (Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
The next Regular Meeting of the School Committee will be held on Tues, Feb 1 at 6:00pm for the purpose of discussing any and all business that may properly come before the Committee.
Individuals must sign up in advance to provide public comments. The sign-up window is Jan 28 through Feb 1 at 12:00pm (by phone) and 5:30pm (online).
6:30pm Planning Board Meeting (Remote via Zoom)
General Business
1. Update from the Community Development Department
2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts (11/9/2021, 11/16/2021)
3. Town Gown Reports (Reports)
• CDD Introduction • Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Lesley University • Harvard University
5:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (Remote via Zoom)
I. PUBLIC COMMENT II. MINUTES III. REPORTS 1. Executive Director’s Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports |
IV. ACTION AGENDA Old Business 1. Jan 11, 2022 Special State Election Review New Business 1. Planning for Future Polling Places |
6:00pm Central Square Advisory Committee meeting (Zoom)
6:30pm School Committee Special Meeting (Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
The next Special Meeting of the School Committee will be held on Wed, Feb 2 at 6:30pm for the purpose of approving and ratifying the Addendum to the contract for Dr. Victoria Greer. Votes will be taken. Individuals must sign up in advance to provide public comments. The sign-up window is Jan 31 through Feb 2 at 12:30pm (by phone) and 6:00pm (online).
5:30-7:00pm Transit Advisory Committee Meeting (Remote via Zoom)
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council Roundtable Meeting with School Committee (Zoom)
The City Council and School Committee hold a joint virtual roundtable to discuss priorities for the FY23 School Budget.
6:30pm Planning Board Meeting (Remote via Zoom)
8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm Bicycle Committee Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (2021-26). (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30-7:00pm Commission for Persons with Disabilities meeting (Zoom)
6:30pm BZA meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30-7:30pm Joint Transportation Committees Meeting (Zoom)
6:00pm The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet for the purpose of gathering resident and stakeholder feedback on the hiring of the next City Manager. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30-7:30pm Pedestrian Committee Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90- Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3- Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)