Yi-An Huang selected by Cambridge City Council as next City Manager

June 6, 2022 – The Cambridge City Council tonight voted 8-1 to select Yi-An Huang as the next City Manager to succeed Louis DePasquale when his contract ends on July 5, 2022. The initial City Council vote was 6-3 with Burhan Azeem, Dennis Carlone, Alanna Mallon, Patricia Nolan, Quinton Zondervan, and Sumbul Siddiqui voting for Yi-An Huang and Marc McGovern, Denise Simmons, and Paul Toner voting for Cheryl Watson Fisher. Subsequently, Paul Toner and then Marc McGovern changed their votes to Yi-An Huang to make it a final 8-1 vote.

After the vote, the City Council went into Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations as well as any possible procedure for choosing an Acting City Manager until Mr. Huang assumes his new role.

PS - The City Council also voted to appoint DPW Commissioner Owen O’Riordan to serve as Acting City Manager after Louis DePasquale leaves and before Yi-An Huang takes over. Excellent choice. - RW

Comments?

I Met the Finalists

May 31 – I have traveled cross-country many times and I can tell you that there are two distinct ways to do so (other than means of travel, e.g. hitchhiking, riding the Dog (Greyhound bus), driving a VW Bus alone, driving a VW Bus with a friend, etc.). The first way is to carry a camera and record all sorts of things (or a phone for all you thoroughly modern Millies). The other way is to just experience it - no camera. I'm glad for the times I brought my camera, but I generally have a greater fondness for the trips I simply experienced (including getting arrested for armed robbery, but that’s another story that we need not get into here - though I can tell you it was a case of mistaken identity).

So tonight I went to the “Meet the Finalists” forum featuring the four finalists for Cambridge City Manager with no notepad for recording juicy quotes, slips of the tongue, profound observations – and I didn’t write down a single word. I did have a camera – but just for getting some serviceable headshots of the finalists (Iram Farooq, Cheryl Fisher, Yi-An Huang, and Norman Khumalo) since I had a hard time finding anything good on the Internets. I really just wanted to look into the faces of the candidates, listen to how they spoke (rehearsed vs. sincere), whether they exhibited any clear differences in perspective (they did), and simply let my instincts take over.

I do have a favorite among the finalists, but I’m going to refrain from telling you who that is until (maybe) after all is said and done. I will say that all four of these candidates are very qualified and would bring distinctly different experience, skills and personal qualities to the job.

The City Council will have a Special Meeting on Wed, June 1 starting at 6:00pm to “interview” these finalists, and they are expected to vote at yet another Special City Council meeting at 6:00pm on Mon, June 6 (likely interrupting their regular 5:30pm meeting for this purpose). There is no guarantee that 5 votes will be gathered on any one of these candidates at that meeting, so the process could see several ballots and maybe even additional meetings before a decision is made and the white smoke is released from the roof of City Hall. Honestly, I have no idea how this group of city councillors will come together to make this decision or what kind of wheeling and dealing may go on behind the scenes in order to reach a decision. Transparency is a great concept except when it isn’t. - RW

Norman Khumalo

Yi-An Huang

Cheryl Fisher

Iram Farooq

Comments?

Initial Screening Committee for the City Manager Search Finalized (Apr 14, 2022)

Brian Burke - Resident Advocate Kathleen Moore - Resident Advocate Susan Fleischmann - Resident Advocate Banti Gheneti - Resident Advocate Mo Barbosa - Health & Human Services Representative Rachel Weinstein - Cambridge School Committee Representative     Christine Elow - Public Safety Advocate Michael Monestime - City Planner

Vernon Walker - Non Profit Representative Thomas Lucey - Higher Education Representative B. Kimmerman - Large Business Representative Jason Alves - Small Business Representative Elaine DeRosa - Affordable Housing Advocate Chris Cassa - Arts/Recreation Advocate James Kaufman - Municipal Finance Representative

Cambridge City Manager Search

2022 Cambridge City Manager Leadership Profile (final revision of job posting)

All in a Day’s Work – June 6, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

It would be difficult to identify a City Council meeting in recent history as potentially consequential as this one. The opening act will be the City of Cambridge Scholarship Awards Ceremony starting at 4:00pm. The Regular Meeting starting at 5:30pm includes the vote on the FY2023 Budget ($754,373,160 General Fund; $13,537,970 Water Fund; and $41,163,235 Public Investment Fund) as well as a total of $159.9 million in loan authorizations. Then there’s the matter of the 6:00pm Special Meeting to choose among four finalists who will be the next City Manager (Iram Farooq, Cheryl Fisher, Yi-An Huang, or Norman Khumalo) with a possible Executive Session thrown in if there are any contract matters to negotiate. It should be noted that there is no guarantee that five votes will coalesce on one candidate. There could be multiple ballots or the can might be kicked down the road a bit if they can’t get to five.

There are other agenda items as well – including the initial steps toward a Charter Review Commission. Here are the items that seem interesting and/or highly consequential:

City Manager Selection

6:00pm   The City Council will hold a Special Meeting to appoint one of the following finalists as the next City Manager: Iram Farooq, Cheryl Watson Fisher, Yi-An Huang and Norman Khumalo.
The City Council Meeting to discuss the City Manager hiring process will convene in open session. The City Council may then go into an Executive Session to conduct contract negotiations with a candidate for City Manager. The City Council will return to open session.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding the Executive Session for the City Manager hiring process.
Order Adopted 9-0; Executive Session held

Here’s a little note from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA):

THE ROLE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
Under the council-manager form, the elected officials (e.g. the council or board) are the legislative body and the community’s policy makers. Power is centralized in this body, which approves the budget and adopts local laws and regulations, for example. The elected officials also focus on the community’s big-picture goals, such as community growth and sustainability.

The elected officials hire a professional city, town, or county manager based on that person’s education, experience, skills, and abilities and NOT on their political allegiances. The elected officials supervise the manager’s performance, and if that person is not responsive and effective in their role, the elected officials have the authority to remove her or him at any time.

I am mentioning this primarily in response to some of the lobbying effort I have seen over the last several days - including a video promoting one particular candidate and featuring a City Council aide as well as others with known political affiliations. There have also been mass emailings sent by political organizations lobbying for other candidates. There is nothing illegal about any of this, but my hope is that each of the nine city councillors will make their decisions on behalf of the residents of the city and the City’s workforce – independent of any and all of this political lobbying.

I do have a favorite candidate and I have communicated that preference to the candidate as well as to several city councillors, but I want to be very clear that my inclinations have absolutely nothing to do with any organized group in the city nor any narrow agenda, and I fervently hope that whoever is chosen will not be beholden to any political interest or individual. - RW

By the way, I don't know that there’s necessarily a required procedure for how the selection will take place. This is not like the vote for Mayor where each councillor in turn names his/her selection for Mayor followed by possible vote changes prior to the gavel being struck three times signifying the end of the vote. The selection may happen via a motion by one of the councillors to hire one of the finalists and if that candidate receives five votes (with or without changes in the vote) then the matter is settled. I’m not sure if a Motion to Reconsider or the exercise of the Charter Right is permissible in this matter.

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Yi-An Huang selected by Cambridge City Council as next City Manager

June 6, 2022 – The Cambridge City Council tonight voted 8-1 to select Yi-An Huang as the next City Manager to succeed Louis DePasquale when his contract ends on July 5, 2022. The initial City Council vote was 6-3 with Burhan Azeem, Dennis Carlone, Alanna Mallon, Patricia Nolan, Quinton Zondervan, and Sumbul Siddiqui voting for Yi-An Huang and Marc McGovern, Denise Simmons, and Paul Toner voting for Cheryl Watson Fisher. Subsequently, Paul Toner and then Marc McGovern changed their votes to Yi-An Huang to make it a final 8-1 vote.

After the vote, the City Council went into Executive Session to discuss strategy for contract negotiations as well as any possible procedure for choosing an Acting City Manager until Mr. Huang assumes his new role.

PS - The City Council also voted to appoint DPW Commissioner Owen O’Riordan to serve as Acting City Manager after Louis DePasquale leaves and before Yi-An Huang takes over. Excellent choice. - RW

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FY2023 Budget Adoption and Loan Order Authorizations

Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an order authorizing the City Manager to transfer necessary funds needed to maintain appropriation control as part of the fiscal end-of-year closeout process.
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $14,600,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $15,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of a multi-use paths Danehy/New Street Path, Linear Park and Grand Junction Path, which runs from Henry Street to Gore Street on both City, MIT and MassDOT property. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for the replacement of existing gas boilers at the Morse and Cambridgeport schools. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $78,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Port, Alewife and Central Square areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $13,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets, sidewalks and bike facilities. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $37,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of improvements at the Fire Station Headquarters Building located at 491 Broadway. [Passed to a 2nd Reading May 2, 2022; To Be Adopted on or after May 23, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Patricia M. Nolan, Chair and Councillor Dennis J. Carlone Chair of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on May 10, 2022, May 11, 2022 and May 17, 2022 to discuss Fiscal Year 2023 Budget.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Zondervan motion to amend budget to reduce Police Dept. to $68,731,130 Fails 1-8 (QZ - YES)
General Fund Budget of $754,373,160 Adopted 8-1 (QZ-NO)
Water Fund Budget of $13,537,970 Adopted 8-1 (QZ-NO)
Public Investment Fund Budget of $41,163,235 Adopted 9-0

Though I don’t think there will be any controversy over these votes other than the usual token NO vote, it goes without saying that this is perhaps the single most consequential vote of the City Council in any given year. The only vote more consequential is the vote to select a City Manager.

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Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to proposed amendments to the Truck Safety Ordinance, Chapter 8.112.080 of the Cambridge Municipal Code (“Ordinance”). [Manager’s Letter] [Revised Truck Ordinance] [Proposed Order 6A] [Proposed Order 6B]
Order 6A Adopted 9-0; Order 6B Adopted as Amended (Zondervan) 9-0

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Memorial Drive Closure Kerfuffle

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department to limit the blocking off of Memorial Drive to vehicular traffic to Sundays.
Tabled 8-1 (QZ-NO)

Communication #13. A communication was received from Lynn Cetrulo, regarding Traffic planning and road layouts.

Communication #17. A communication was received from Larry Cetrulo, regarding Traffic planning and road layouts.

I will note that the combination of the long Memorial Day weekend plus Boston Calling plus various commencement activities plus students moving out plus the Memorial Drive closure recently made Mt. Auburn Street and Putnam Avenue into a traffic nightmare. I’ll let others decide whether the overall effect of Memorial Drive closures from Saturday morning through Sunday night is a net benefit or if a smaller window of time would be preferable. I hope this is really more about community benefit than just a generic #WarOnCars.

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Notable Orders

Order #1. Urge Harvard University to work as quickly and deliberately as possible to ensure that the human remains of the nearly 7,000 indigenous peoples and 19 enslaved individuals currently in their possession are released to the appropriate parties.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0 (voice vote)

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate City personnel and other appropriate parties to develop a standardized, transparent, and cohesive community engagement plan for the entire, department-wide municipal government.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0 (voice vote)

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Charter Review Commission

Order #8. Creation of an Ad-Hoc Committee for ad-hoc committee for the purpose of reviewing and selecting self-nominated residents and stakeholders to be on the Charter Review Commission.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Nolan; Amended 7-2 (BA,QZ-NO); Charter Right - Azeem

Communications & Reports #4. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting a communication about the Charter Review Committee.
pulled by Nolan; Charter Right - Azeem

Sign me up. - RW

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A Committee Report (for a change)

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on Apr 6, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend the zoning ordinance entitled “Article 22 Sustainable Design and Development” (Ordinance #2022-7).
pulled by Zondervan; suggests this be allowed to expire and be re-filed as amended; Accept Report, Placed on File 9-0 (voice vote)

Comments?

Once, Twice, Three, Shoot! – Decisions, Decisions – May 23, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

There is an actual meeting agenda this week, but much of the attention now is on the fact that the four finalists for the City Manager position have been revealed and a vote is expected in early June. In the meantime, it’s likely that the appointments for both the City Auditor and the City Clerk will be made at a Special City Council Meeting earlier in the day on Monday, May 23, starting at 10:30am. Unless something unexpected happens, we’ll likely have both Joseph McCann appointed as City Auditor and Diane LeBlanc appointed as City Clerk with both expected to assume their new positions in June.

Note: At a Special Meeting earlier in the day the City Council unanimously appointed Joseph McMann as City Auditor and Diane LeBlanc as City Clerk - both for three-year terms.

Communications & Reports from City Officers #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information about the City Manager finalists. [Iram Farooq] [Cheryl Fisher] [Yi-An Huang] [Norman Khumalo]

Order #1. That the City Council delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interview of the City Council Manager finalists, scheduled for June 1st, 2022, to Randi Frank, LLC with assistance from the City’s Personnel Director Sheila Keady Rawson and with input from individual councillors by confidential submission of requested questions to Randi Frank for her consideration.   Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Mallon; Adopted as Amended 9-0

The public’s chance to “Meet the Finalists” will take place at the Fitzgerald Auditorium (CRLS) on Tues, May 31 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, and the City Council interviews will take place during a Special City Council Meeting on Wed, June 1 starting at 6:00pm. The City Council is expected to vote to appoint the next City Manager during a Special City Council Meeting on Monday, June 6th. The meeting will be broadcast on 22-Cityview or Channel 99, and can also be live-streamed online on Zoom. Unless one candidate manages to earn 5 votes right away, it’s not at all clear how the selection will proceed from there.

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (McGovern ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $11,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Human Services Extraordinary Expenditures Account to support major capital improvements at the Danehy Park Complex.
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted 9-0

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to allocate the remaining ARPA funding, in compliance with the Final Rule, across community-serving applicants. [Charter Right – Zondervan, May 16, 2022]
Zondervan motion to introduce Late Communication and Substitute Order reducing amount requested to $10.5 million from ARPA funds but allows $500,000 for political patronage to HEART and other details; Zondervan substitution passes 6-3 (PN,DS,PT - NO); Mallon motion to refer substitute order to Finance Committee Adopted 9-0

On the Table #2. Section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 Special Regulations linkage fee, be amended by substitution (Ordinance #2022-14). [Tabled May 9, 2022]
Azeem motion to remove from Table 9-0; Petition Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

Unfinished Business #3. That Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 - Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). [Tabled May 2, 2022; To Be Ordained on of after May 23, 2022]
pulled by Toner; Motion to Amend to substitute Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 with Alewife Overlay Districts 1-5 (Toner) Approved 5-4 (BA,AM,MM,DS,PT - YES; DC,PN,QZ,SS - NO)
[Note: This takes Alewife Triangle out of the moratorium area. Carlone supported this one week earlier and flip-flopped.]
Ordained as Amended 9-0

Resolution #1. Thank You to Anthony Wilson for his service.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Simmons; Adopted as Amended 9-0

Resolution #2. Congratulations on the birth of Francis James Gutoski.   Councillor Toner
Adopted 9-0

Resolution #3. Congratulations on the Retirement of Ellen Watson from the License Commission.   Councillor Toner
Adopted 9-0

Resolution #4. Resolution for 2022 Cambridge Jazz Festival.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Simmons; Adopted as Amended 9-0

Resolution #5. Congratulations to Alisa Amador.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon
Adopted 9-0

Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department to limit the blocking off of Memorial Drive to vehicular traffic to Sundays.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Charter Right - Toner

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with all relevant City departments to draft a report for a future Transportation and Public Utilities Committee hearing on the impacts of the MBTA Bus Network Redesign.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Azeem; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee met on Apr 12, 2022 to discuss new guidelines for Boards and Commissions appointments.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Health and Environment Committee met on Apr 26, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on a proposal to amend Section 2.66 of the Municipal Code to add a new section titled “Article III Green Jobs”.
pulled by Zondervan; Report Accepted, Placed on File, Amendment referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Late Order #9. That Deputy City Clerk Paula Crane be appointed interim City Clerk as of June 1, 2022 and until the permanent City Clerk shall assume office.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Comments?

Cambridge Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Saturday, June 11

The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Cambridge for 2022 will be held on Saturday, June 11, from 9:00am-1:00pm, at 65 Waverly Street. Additional 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Collection dates are August 27 and November 5.

Accepted items include:
• Batteries: Vehicle & Non-Alkaline
• Car Fluids: Antifreeze, Brake, Engine Degreaser, Transmission
• Car Tires (max four per household)
• Chemicals: Cleaners, Glues, Removers, Photography & Swimming Pool
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs
• Mercury Items: Thermometers & Thermostats*
• Paints: Oil-Based & Latex
• Poisons: Insecticides, Pesticides & Weed Killers
• Prescription Medicines (accepted year-round at Cambridge Police Dept. 125 Sixth St.)
• Propane Cylinders (20 lbs. or less only)
• Waste Fuels: Antifreeze, Gasoline, Kerosene, Sterno & Motor Oil (motor oil also accepted year-round at DPW) Fire Extinguishers

Items not accepted include:
• NO Alkaline Batteries
• NO Ammunition, Fireworks & Explosives (contact Cambridge Fire Dept. at 617-349-3300)
• NO Asbestos (requires proper disposal)
• NO Bleach or Ammonia
• NO Commercial/Industrial Waste
• NO Construction Debris
• NO Empty Aerosol Cans
• NO Compressed Gas Cylinders
• NO Infectious or Biological Waste
• NO Radioactive Waste
• NO Smoke Detectors
• NO Syringes (Contact Cambridge Public Health Department at 617-665-3848)

See additional event information here.

The Cambridge Recycling Dropoff Center located at 147 Hampshire Street, also accepts some of the items listed above, including non-alkaline batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury items, and motor oil. Cans of latex paint may be dried out and set out for curbside trash collection, with the lids off. Let evaporate outside or add kitty litter to speed drying. Hours of operation for the Recycling Center are Tuesday, 4:00-7:30pm, Thursday, 4:00-7:30pm, and Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Learn more at Cambridgema.gov/hazardouswaste.

Monthly Updates from City of Cambridge DPW Recycling Division

Trash Carts Rolling Out June 6-24

New trash carts are right around the corner! Read our latest news or watch this video.

Requests for Trash Cart Changes:
We received more than 2,000 requests so forgive us if we make a few mistakes.

• If you think your cart delivery is a mistake, please request a change at CambridgeMA.Gov/Trash
• If you would like to change the size of the trash cart, you can use the same form.

Please note: we will not make any changes until after the trash carts are delivered; we will schedule the swap with you soon after.

Old Trash Barrels
Starting on June 11, the City will collect old trash barrels for special recycling. It may take 1-3 days for barrels to be collected. Your new cart will have a tag on it that will have these dates.

Find the dates and the following at CambridgeMA.Gov/Trash:
  • days you will receive the new trash carts,
  • cart size and dimensions,
  • default size and number of trash carts for your building.

Got new tenants? New neighbors?

Instead of baking cookies, welcome them to Cambridge with a brand-new kitchen compost bin. Delivered fresh to your doorstep!
  1. Fill out this form to have kitchen bins delivered to your building.
  2. Drop off a kitchen bin to each new resident.

June 11th Household Hazardous Waste Event

The next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Day is Saturday, June 11 from 9am to 1pm at 65 Waverly Street, Cambridge.

For directions, accepted items, and more info please visit our website. If, after reviewing the HHW website, you are having trouble identifying the proper disposal method, email us. An estimated 10% of visitors at HHW days bring the wrong items.

Did You Know? Prescription medicines may be brought to the Cambridge Police Dept headquarters on 6th Street any time, any day.

Consider Getting a Rain Barrel

Residents have until June 5 to purchase a rain barrel for a discounted price of $79. After ordering, residents will be able to pick it up on Tuesday June 14 at DPW's 63 Mooney St site. To read more about the barrel and to place an order, click here.

There are several benefits to rain barrels. Capturing rainwater reduces runoff, lowers municipal water demands, saves energy at treatment plants, and improves residential stormwater management.

Reduce & Reuse Tips

Tip #1: Laboratory Plastics. As a life sciences epicenter, it's important that we consider ways to reduce, reuse, or recycle the tons of waste generated in labs across the City. A lot of the products used in labs can be hazardous or a biohazard and that requires special waste handling. However, some lab plastics can be reused or recycled. For example, labs go through many pipette tip boxes. Unfortunately, they're hard to recycle because recycling facilities are concerned with cross-contamination of lab-based recyclables. However, there have been some developments in finding a way to recycle plastics that aren't required to be handled in a special manner. Green Labs Recycling is a new venture based in Concord, MA. Many Cambridge institutions use their services to rescue plastics from the trash. Read more about their efforts here.

Tip #2: Tennis Balls. These aren't a major source of trash, but if you're an avid player or part of a tennis club, it may be of interest how to recycle those tennis balls after using them. Recycleballs.Org recycles tennis balls into new items. As usual, we would also recommend reusing tennis balls first. Give them to a neighbor's dog, or reuse them on the bottom of chair legs to prevent scratching the floor.

Take Our Waste Survey

Help us improve our services, please take our Waste Survey. Visit CambridgeMA.Gov/WasteSurvey to take it. Thank you!

Upcoming Dates

• Sat, 6/11: Household Hazardous Waste Event, 65 Waverly Street.
• Mon, 6/6 - Fri, 6/24: Delivery of new trash carts.
• Sat, 6/11 - Sat, 6/25: Retrieval of old trash barrels.
• Sat, 8/27: Household Hazardous Waste Event, Location TBD.

Email us to share other waste-related events!

Join Our Mailing List!

What Are We Reading?

To Solve the Fertilizer Crisis, Just Look in the Toilet (Bloomberg)
I’m a Fashion Editor, and I Shop at the Dump (NYTimes)
A Year Of Factory Errors (Lovin Spoonfuls)
Upcycled Products to Prevent 703 Million Pounds of Food Waste Per Year (Waste360)

Download the Zero Waste Cambridge App

With the Zero Waste Cambridge App you can:

• Set reminders and view calendars for trash, recycling, compost collection, and street cleaning.
• Get alerts for collection day delays due to holidays or weather events
• Use the Get Rid of It Right tool to find out how to dispose of waste
• Test your recycling skills with an interactive waste sorting game—fun for kids and adults!

Download the app for iOS or Android or find it online here.     DPW on Facebook     DPW on Twitter

BEUDO

Dear Cambridge City Council,

I am writing to you with many questions regarding the changes proposed to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (“BEUDO”). I have read the proposed changes now a few times over and must confess that I barely understand them. Some of the language is clear enough but the practical application, consequences for non-compliance, reporting, and potential hardships caused by this change cannot be gleaned from the language presented. I am also not alone in my confusion as many property owners whom this ordinance will glance are either unaware that BEUDO exists at all or at the very least have no idea that changes with serious financial ramifications could be passed. I fear the Council is using this issue to play politics and lip service to the very real and serious demands that climate change will have on all of us. It is a policy change as blunt as the one proposed that leads me to believe this has less to do with the environment and more to do with ideology. If you made it this far I am grateful and will spare you any further narration; my questions are thus:

• Eversource currently only feeds 800 amps of “network” power to buildings in Central Square and likely elsewhere. The International Building code which the state has adopted has a very conservative rubric for determining energy demands often overstating them by a significant factor when remodeling, changing use, building an addition, etc. To meet the demands of this ordinance one would have to introduce switch gear, transformers, and other electrical apparatus at ground level or below grade. For a new building this is problematic but solvable (usually) for an existing structure the demand could be next to impossible. The clearances required and 24 access requirements alone are usually non-starters. So what happens in a zero lot line scenario and there is no place for these required upgrades?
• Emergency backup power is required for buildings of a certain size with elevators. The current options for this type of service is gas or diesel only. Are we going to tax building owners for whom there is no other means of compliance? Section 29c seems to attempt to address this but the requirement if for owners to seek out alternative fuel suppliers which is essentially forcing owners to buy from only Cambridge approved sources. I see no other mention of back up emergency power in this document.
• Central Square currently has only a one-way feed from Eversource. Literally half the Square cannot make use of solar power. I see no pressure from this Council or the City on Eversource to upgrade their feeds or infrastructure. Is it the “plan” of the Council to foist the responsibility solely on property owners?
• What happens if it is impossible to comply? Currently there is an additional tax for non-compliance but after 2035 what happens?
• Data collection for BEUDO at the very least seems incomplete. How can CDD derive an algorithm for carbon usage with a complete and detailed dataset? Do they use a similar one-size-fits-all calc like Eversource and our building code does? Why is data collection so poorly presented? Can we no get similar devices to those the Water Dept uses to collect usage data without sending an analog fill-in-the-blank? Can we at least get data input online through either Viewpoint or some other service?

We all agree that the environment is an important issue. We all strive to make our buildings more efficient. Aside from being environmentally conscious it’s also just good business sense. The proposed amendments read like an attack written by someone who does not know how buildings work. I suggest we scrap it … start with Eversource and good data collection. Let’s get all of the people who for the past eight years never even heard of BEUDO all up to speed. We can teach people how to make their buildings more efficient but without Eversource in tow this entire endeavor is futile … which I feel at least someone has to know that or should. If this passes in its current form I fear that only lawsuits and bitterness will proceed. It really doesn’t have to be that way and if the Council truly means to foster better climate stewardship then this proposal does not reflect the seriousness of that mandate nor the absolute dire need of real consequential change.

Good Luck,
Patrick W. Barrett

City Manager Louis A. DePasquale Submits Proposed FY23 Budget to Cambridge City Council

On May 2, 2022 the City Manager submitted the proposed Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), as well as the proposed FY24-FY27 Operating and Capital Plans.

The Operating Budget of $801,451,870 represents an increase of $48,754,799 or 6.5% over the FY22 Adjusted Budget. The proposed Capital Budget is $164,063,235.

The public is encouraged to review the budget document, which contains a special joint City Manager and Mayor COVID-19 message; Consolidated Spending information across departments on key priority areas; City Council Goals; Key Initiatives for FY23 (Section I); narratives for each Department (Section V); and FY23 Capital projects (Section VI).

There will be public hearings on the FY23 Budget at the City Council Finance Committee on Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00am; Wednesday, May 11 at 6:00pm (School Department); and Tuesday, May 17 at 10:00am.

Link to Open Meeting Portal

The projected budget adoption date is Monday, June 6, 2022.

Link to FY23 Submitted Budget (PDF)     Significant Budget Modifications (2-page PDF)

Links to Specific Sections of FY23 Submitted Budget (PDF)

Plague Report (June 7) - The holiday weekend did not leave us unscathed…

There were 182 new COVID positive tests reported on Tuesday, and the 7-day daily average jumped up to 99.7. The total number of residents who have tested positive is now 29,145. The main Omicron wave crested over three months ago, and the Omicron BA.2 subvariants (BA.2.12 at 57.6% and BA.2 at 42.3%) are now the predominant threat with the BA.1, BA.1.1, and Delta variants negligible or nonexistent as detected in wastewater samples in Middlesex County. The Cambridge total increased by 182 today, 156 yesterday (covering 3 days), and 101, 192, 120, 142 (covering 4 days from Saturday through Tuesday), 105, 136, 107, and 145 in recent days. Time will tell how long this rocky road continues. The 7-day averages had been dropping steadily for the last 3 weeks but the rollercoaster continues. The percentage of positive tests (measured over the last two weeks) now stands at 7.08% (previous rates 7.45%, 7.36%, 6.11%, 4.65%, 4.2%, 3.85%, 3%, 2.3%, 1.94%, 1.63%, 1.71%, 1.56%, 1.09%, 0.87%). Most importantly, the effects of the virus appear to be much milder than previous variants.

Note: Starting May 7, the City of Cambridge began providing Covid updates Monday-Friday only - no longer on weekends or holidays. As a result the number of additional reported Covid cases will likely be significantly larger on Mondays since they will include the new cases from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Cases will still be recorded according to onset date, including weekend dates.

Click on graph above for latest Cambridge data.

June 7, 2022 Breakdown of Cases:
29145 tested positive (total) - an increase of 182 since Monday
165 confirmed deaths - 85 in long-term care facilities, 80 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.

City of Cambridge Covid Information     Harvard University COVID-19 data     MIT COVID-19 data

The surge in new positive tests has been due to a combination of the Delta and Omicron variants.
High vaccination rates have helped to blunt what might have been a larger surge and far more deaths.

Covid Cases by Age Group - through June 6, 2022

(click on above graph for the latest)
MWRA Biobot wastewater data - June 3, 2022

MWRA Biobot recent wastewater data - North System - June 3, 2022
The 7-day average reached as high as 8644 in January before dropping to as low as 101 in March.
The recent rise due to the BA.2 variants brought it back up to 1273. It now stands at 977, but the
recent commencements and other activity may still lead to temporary increases in upcoming data.

Sample Date	5/17	5/18	5/19	5/20	5/21	5/22	5/23	5/24	5/25	5/26	5/27	5/28	5/29	5/30	5/31	6/1	6/2	6/3
North System (copies/ml)	1669	696	784	1243	906	1151	1077	743	561	1368	1043	1031	1246	919	1375	791	696	951
Northern 7-day Avg.	1273	1210	1086	1081	1020	1044	1035	922	894	968	944	962	972	951	1038	1090	990	977

There was an Ordinance Committee meeting on April 13 “to conduct a public hearing on Ordinance #2022-2 charter change municipal code amendments.” At this meeting the following language was proposed by the City Solicitor and amended by the City Council:

Be it ordained by the City Council as follows:
That Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.02 entitled “City Council” shall be amended by the addition of the following two sections:

Section 2.02.090 Annual Review of City Manager’s Performance

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, § 116(a) the City Council shall prepare and deliver to the City Manager an annual written performance review of the City Manager’s performance.

B. The annual written performance review shall address the City Manager’s performance during the prior year and the issues work that the City Council would like to be addressed performed by the City Manager in the following year.

C. The written report of the annual performance review of the City Manager conducted by the City Council should be based upon written information submitted to the City Council by the City Manager in the regular course of the business of the City, and upon an oral performance review meeting conducted individually or severally by and between the City Councillors and the City Manager.

D C. The annual written performance review shall be completed and delivered to the City Manager by no later than March 30 of each year and shall encompass the City Manager’s performance during the preceding calendar year.

Section 2.02.100 Special Committee to Review the City Charter Every Ten Years

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, §116(b), no later than July 1 in each year ending in 2, beginning in 2022 and every 10 years thereafter, the City Council shall establish a special committee tasked with reviewing the City Charter and recommending any proposed changes the special committee deems necessary or desirable.

B. The special committee shall:

(i) be made up of [NUMBER] 12-18 of registered voters of the City, not currently holding any elective office in the City;

(ii) include [NUMBER] [be made up of members selected by an ad hoc committee of four councillors appointed by the Mayor] of special committee members appointed by the Mayor, [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the City Manager, and [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the Superintendent of Schools;

(iii) hold all of its meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law and keep written minutes of all meetings which shall be submitted to and approved by the special committee at its next meeting;

(iv) hold not less than [NUMBER] of duly posted and advertised public meetings to seek input from members of the community on whether any changes to the City Charter should be made and the reasons why any proposed changes would be desirable, the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the electorate and the community in general, and the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the reasonable operation and effectiveness of City government;

(v) submit a written report to the City Council within one (1) year of its appointment, unless the special committee seeks an extension of the one-year period for enumerated reasons stated by the special committee and the City Council approves the requested extension of the one-year period by majority vote. The written report shall include any charter changes the special committee recommends as necessary or desirable by a two-thirds vote of the special committee, and shall include the reasons for the recommended changes to be made and the anticipated effects of the changes as set forth in subsection (iv) above; and

(vi) dissolve once it files its written report with the City Council.

C. Action on any proposed Charter changes shall be as authorized by law.

Both sections (as amended) were forwarded unanimously to the full City Council with positive recommendations.

Featured recent stories in the Cambridge Chronicle (the paper of record) - with some comments:

If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.

Cambridge picks nonprofit executive to be next city manager (June 6, 2022)

Justice still being sought for Charlene Holmes 10 years after fatal Willow Street shooting (June 6, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of June 6-12, 2022 (posted June 5, 2022)

Harvard Square cobbler, Felix Shoe Repair owner, discusses life at 87 (June 7, 2022, subscribers only)

Taking a trip this summer? Don't get stuck in traffic because of road work on these routes (June 2, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 30 - June 5, 2022 (posted May 30, 2022, updated May 31)

Veterans picked to be next Cambridge auditor, clerk (May 31, 2022)

Massachusetts couples' new book offers a history of Cambridge's global influence (May 26, 2022, updated May 27)

Recycling boat shrink wrap has environmental and supply chain issues (May 26, 2022, subscribers only)

MBTA redesign would add four bus lines in Cambridge (May 25, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 23-30, 2022 (May 22, 2022, updated May 23)

Gather around: Public patios enliven Inman Square in Cambridge (May 20, 2022 from CDD)

Finalists for Cambridge city manager released (May 19, 2022)

New England predicted to see nation's highest wholesale electricity prices this summer (May 18, 2022, subscribers only)

City launches Envision Cambridge dashboard (May 18, 2022)

Discount rain barrels available to Cambridge residents (May 18, 2022)
Deadline to purchase rain barrels is Sunday, June 5.

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 16-22, 2022 (posted May 16, 2022)

Cambridge art installation to tackle Brattle Street slavery (posted May 13, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 9-15, 2022 (posted May 9, 2022)

3 top fishing spots around Cambridge (May 6, 2022)

10 municipalities endorse state Fair Share tax to address budget needs (May 5, 2022, Medford Transcript)

Baseball season kicks off with special parade in North Cambridge (May 4, 2022)

Body of man known as 'Michael' remains in limbo under state law (May 4, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of May 2-8, 2022 (posted May 2, 2022)

Cambridge Community Foundation awards $516K in grants to 73 nonprofits (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge earmarks $22M in APRA funds for basic income program (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of City Manager Louis DePasquale's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

PHOTOS: Scenes from Cambridge's 'state of the city' addresses (Apr 28, 2022)

In Cambridge, Hubba Hubba gets a makeover (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge children's librarian retires after 40 years (Apr 21, 2022, updated Apr 27)

Cambridge relief grants help keep restaurants afloat (Apr 27, 2022)

Advocates call for Baker to extend pandemic rental assistance (Apr 25, 2022, updated Apr 26)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 25 - May 1, 2022 (posted Apr 25, 2022)

Will the image on the MA state seal change? Here's why the commission may need more time (Apr 25, 2022)

Cambridge councillors endorse proposed 4% tax on wealthy (Apr 20, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 18-24, 2022 (posted Apr 17, 2022)

Cambridge salutes Rumba as Police Dept. retires K9 officer (Apr 15, 2022)

Boston Marathon's 'Original 8' women ran on 'momentous day' in 1972 (Apr 13, 2022, subscribers only)
Very nice to see my friend and neighbor Sara Mae Berman quoted and in several of the photos!

Kathrine Switzer still rewriting Boston Marathon history 50 years later (Apr 12, 2022)

Time to expand bottle bill has come, Cambridge lawmaker (Marjorie Decker) argues (Apr 13, 2022)

Campaign to change the perception of survivors of sexual assault, abuse (Apr 12, 2022)

Cambridge not doing enough to reduce carbon footprint, report argues (Apr 12, 2022)

Grant ensures continuation of trauma-informed law enforcement training in City of Cambridge (Apr 12, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 11-17, 2022 (posted Apr 11, 2022)

New book celebrates, documents Cambridge community gardens (Apr 6, 2022, updated Apr 7)
I highly recommend this article and the referenced online publication (and not just because I'm pictured in it back when I had long hair!)

Mystic River trails project to focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety (Apr 6, 2022, Arlington Advocate)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 4-10, 2022 (posted Apr 3, 2022)

City leaders: Bishop Allen Drive project exemplifies Cambridge values (Apr 3, 2022, updated Apr 4)