CCJ web site: http://www.rwinters.com

The Cambridge Civic Journal is produced by Central Sq. Publications, 366 Broadway, Cambridge MA 02139. All items written by Robert Winters unless otherwise noted. (e-mail: rwinters@math.harvard.edu)

Contents:

0) Foreword
1) Help Wanted - Boards and Commissions
2) Dec 7 City Council meeting - newboxes, etcetera
3) Dec 14 City Council meeting
4) Planning Board - December Brings Resolution
5) Civic Tidbits
6) Calendar

0) Foreword

Here's to a healthy, productive, civil, insightful, and happy new year to any and all who might be reading this issue of the CCJ. Last year had its share of highs and lows on the civic front. Highest on my list would be the growing popularity of Central Square as a neighborhood retail district and the start of reconstruction of the water treatment plant at Fresh Pond. Lowest on my list would be the acrimonious way in which the Holmes Trust proposal in Central Square was turned into a battleground for reasons that make as little sense today as they did then.

My greatest hope for the new year is that greater numbers of level-headed residents of Cambridge will get involved in civic affairs. The "usual suspects" who speak at City Council meetings are becoming tiresome and it sure would be nice if the intelligence level of what goes on in the Sullivan Chamber were cranked up a notch or two. I really don't want to hear any more about petunias or football. I'm also way beyond weary of the continuing saga of three councillors trying to kick the legs out from under the city manager at every turn.

In my estimation, City Manager Robert Healy is one of the most dedicated public servants you'll find anywhere. He has done a great job in coaxing the City from an outdated manufacturing economy toward one that is more in synch with current realities and which makes good use of the resources that come with being one of the world's greatest university cities. This in turn has given us the financial capacity to do major infrastructure improvements throughout the city even as we support a wide range of human service programs.

My sense is that Bob Healy takes an enormous amount of pride in his job as city manager and that he won't consider his job complete until at least several more major priorities are accomplished. These include a new Police Station, a new Main Library, and the completion of the water treatment plant and resolution of other matters at Fresh Pond. It must be very frustrating for him to have to take the abuse that three disgruntled councillors regularly heap on him for reasons of their own. Councillor Toomey has even gone so far as to abuse his role as a state representative to vengefully cut into the city manager's pension as a means of leveraging him out of his job. So much for local authority.

Another reality of 1999 is that it's an odd number and that means municipal elections. Already the speculation is rampant about who's running, who's vulnerable, and what new slates or other political affiliations might emerge. Let's hope that we get lots of serious candidates this year and that candidates for City Council and School Committee show a little more fortitude than they've shown in the past.

1) Help Wanted - Boards and Commissions

I'm going to be blunt here. If you care about the civic culture of Cambridge, you should apply for one of the many opportunities now available on the various City boards and commissions. Some of these, especially the Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals, require a significant commitment. Others are purely advisory but provide a great opportunity for citizens to get to know the workings of the City, to make Cambridge a better place, and to learn a lot about a number of interesting topics. There is a need for both experts and non-experts. So get off your butt and starting writing an application letter to the City Manager. Here is a list of those boards that are currently seeking members:

Advisory Board of Environmentally Desirable Practices
Affirmative Action Advisory Committee
Affordable Housing Trust Board
Animal Commission
Arts Council
Board of Zoning Appeal
Board of Survey
Cambridge Housing Authority (elderly applicants preferred)
Cambridge Redevelopment Authority
Central Square Advisory Committee
Commercial Parking Control Committee
Commission of the Status of Women
Consumer Advisory Committee
Disabilities Commission
Half Crown Neighborhood Conservation District Commission
Harvard Square Advisory Committee
Historical Commission
Human Rights Commission
Human Services Commission
Library Board of Trustees
Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission
Peace Commission
Planning Board
Police Review & Advisory Board (East Cambridge applicants needed)
Public Art Committee
Recycling Advisory Committee
Traffic Board
Water Board

Send a letter and/or resume by January 15 to Robert Healy, City Manager, 795 Mass. Ave., Cambridge MA 02139. For more information, contact Lisa Peterson at 349-4300 or lisap@ci.cambridge.ma.us .

The City Manager has said that there may be some consolidation or other changes in some of these boards. You may want to offer some suggestions about this after you send in your application and learn about the function of each of these boards.

2) Dec 7 City Council meeting - newsboxes, etcetera

The primary topic at this meeting was a proposed ordinance that would regulate the placement of newsboxes, those ubiquitous boxes that dispense everything from newspapers to house listings to New Age class offerings. The owners of the boxes are crying "free speech" when convenient to do so, but the real issue is commerce. It was noted that there is now one location at MIT that has 28 newsboxes in a row. The City proposes to limit the number of boxes that can be clustered together and to require a minimum distance between clusters, crosswalks, and handicap ramps. They would also require box owners to maintain the appearance of their boxes and to keep them free of graffiti. Sounds good to me. Of course, the City may want to adopt the same standards for their poles, traffic control boxes, and other fixtures that all too often are covered in graffiti. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

It would seem that the big newspapers are OK with the amended ordinance proposed by the City which would require a $200 annual fee plus $10 for each newsbox. A number of smaller operators are less than thrilled, most notably Dean Wallace, publisher of "Editorial Humor." At one point in the meeting, he shouted, "When you go against the First Amendment, then you spit on America!" I'm sure that Mr. Wallace's first priority is keeping the citizenry well informed and not just turning a bigger profit by keeping his distribution costs at a minimum. Yeah, right. Just like Ackerley's billboards.

Most of the councillors are supportive of the proposed ordinance. Only Councillor Triantafillou insisted on being recorded as voting in the negative, arguing that she was more concerned about the First Amendment than her colleagues. Councillor Galluccio was the only other councillor who seemed to raise any serious objections.

Recommendations for Neville Manor and Fresh Pond

Another point of controversy that elicited its share of public comment was a proposal to return the Lusitania soccer field on the Fresh Pond Reservation to a natural state as per recommendations from the Neville Manor Site Plan Advisory Committee, Conservation Commission, and Water Board. Numerous soccer participants and advocates spoke in opposition to the proposal.

The twelve elements of the site recommendation are as follows:

1. Siting of the skilled nursing facility on the Neville Manor site in a manner that is consistent with the Home Rule Legislation adopted by the City Council on June 30, 1998, concerning the total allowable footprint and square footage, the restrictions on use of the facilities and the return of the remainder of the site to the Fresh Pond Reservation.

2. Siting of the skilled nursing facility on the Neville Manor site in a manner that least harms significant trees, and avoids wetlands and other sensitive areas. (Significant trees to be added to site to at least replace any trees removed.)

3. Removal of the subsidiary buildings (with either the retention of below ground floor of the administration building for the boiler operation or inclusion of power plant in new or existing building) with the result that the total square footage of building footprint for all buildings on the Neville Manor site shall not exceed 51,034 square feet and the total usable floor area in such buildings shall not exceed 150,000 square feet.

4. Building a youth soccer field on site with minor support parking.

5. Returning Lusitania field to a natural state based on consultation with Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Committee, Conservation Commission and Water Board.

6. Relocation of the DPW/Water yard to an offsite location and possible retention of small area for nursery. (Relocation efforts to begin immediately.)

7. To protect the Watershed, use of best management practices in the assisted living facility and the skilled nursing facility.

8. Return of land not used for the two facilities to the Reservation to be maintained as green vegetated open space protected by conservation easement or other regulatory measures.

9. Ensure that landscape design and parking for the skilled nursing and assisted living facilities are consistent with the proposed stewardship plan for the entire Fresh Pond Reservation.

10. Commitment to long term funding and management plan for the proposed Fresh Pond Reservation stewardship plan

11. The permitted uses of the Neville Manor site shall be a nursing home, assisted living facility, local water board or other municipal use related to the care and maintenance of Fresh Pond, and all other uses specifically related thereto.

12. The Maynard Ecology Center will be accommodated within the Neville Manor site.

3) Dec 14 City Council meeting

Significant items at this meeting included:

a) A citizen petition asking the City to purchase a parcel on Putnam St. for use as a park;

b) A request from the East Cambridge Planning Team for facilitation and funds comparable to what was provided in the WR Grace matter;

c) Introduction of Michael Anthony Sullivan, Jr., recently born to Denise and Councillor Michael Sullivan;

d) Discussion of the idea that the City tax some university properties in which profit-making activities occur;

e) Membership on City boards and commissions;

f) A proposed allocation of funds for the Mayor's Initiative on Race and Class;

g) The demise of the K9 unit of the Police Department; and

h) Discussion of the recent MCAS scores for the Cambridge Public Schools.

Public Comment

Of the 16 persons who gave public comment, 7 of them spoke about a proposal for the City to purchase "Putnam Park," a parcel of land on which a house once stood and which burned down about a decade ago. The owner was involved in rent control related legal disputes about the house back then and has expressed no interest in selling the property to the City. The parcel has been used by neighborhood residents and children from the King School for the last several years.

Two persons from East Cambridge requested that the City give $15,000 to the East Cambridge Planning Team to conduct a traffic study in response to recent development proposals in that part of the city. They also requested professional facilitation and staff support from the Community Development Department to conduct a comprehensive review of planing and development in that area.

Taxing the Universities

Though the City Manager's report on the question of taxing profit-making enterprises occurring within the university community was referred to the Finance Committee for further discussion, the Council did offer some commentary. The report did not recommend taking any action on this matter, arguing that the chief result might be that the universities would simply reorganize their operations to minimize any potential tax implications. As a member of the university community, I would be concerned that segregation of enterprising faculty from the purely academic faculty might be an unintended consequence. It's a complex issue, no matter how you cut it.

Councillor Born, whose Order on this subject got this ball rolling, gave examples of other university cities that are addressing this issue. Councillor Triantafillou was most outspoken about the potential chilling effect that this might have on academic freedom. Councillor Galluccio spoke of how the universities have filled the void created by the loss of manufacturing in the city and suggested that the City Manager should pursue this matter further.

Boards and Commissions

The City Manager reported that letters have been sent to all members of City boards and commissions whose terms have expired. All such members have been invited to express their interest in being reappointed to these boards with the understanding that they would be included in a larger pool of applicants. Mr. Healy remarked that he has received about 65 applications for the new Open Space Green Ribbon Committee. He noted that applicants for one board might be asked if they have interest in serving on other boards.

Several councillors expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the terms of some board members have long since expired. Councillor Toomey directed his comments at the Planning Board in particular, undoubtedly because he would like to see a certain outcome in matters related to the ComEnergy site. Councillor Russell raised the issue of whether the various boards and commissions themselves might need some revision. Many of them were created over the years by various ordinances and some have, arguably, lost some of their relevance and others could be consolidated to produce more effective boards. Mr. Healy stated that some recommendations to that effect may grow out of this process.

Councillor Born argued that there is some need for "institutional memory" on some of these boards, notably the Historical Commission. The same argument can easily be made for members of the Planning Board. Several councillors encouraged the City Manager to make information on the function of these various boards and commissions more accessible to the public and for more outreach to occur in order to bring new faces into these important civic functions.

Mayor's Initiative on Race and Class

The most tense moments of this meeting occurred when the Council was asked to vote on an appropriation of $146,900 to fund an initiative from the Mayor's Office that is in response to a series of events and incidents over the past couple of years. These include the conflict between parents from the Maynard School and the Cambridgeport School over school facilities, the controversy at the Agassiz School involving former principal Peggy Averitte, current lawsuits against the City alleging racial discrimination, and resident opposition to some affordable housing projects.

The chief source of tension here was the assertion by Councillor Triantafillou that Mayor Duehay had not consulted with his colleagues on the City Council. This opinion was shared, to a lesser extent, by several other councillors. Mayor Duehay was very clear about this being his initiative and how this was appropriate in light of his role as Chair of both the City Council and School Committee. He spoke in positive terms of an initiative by School Committee member Denise Simmons (who spoke on this matter during the public comment), but argued that a much more comprehensive and professional approach was needed if any systemic improvements were to result from this initiative.

Councillor Triantafillou was very critical of the manner in which the Mayor was proceeding and suggested that the efforts of others who have been working on related issues were being undervalued. She named the Peace Commission, Women's Commission, and Ms. Simmons, in particular. In one of the most curious quotes of the year, Councillor Triantafillou said, "we should give money to African-Americans who are trying to pay their mortgages." This would certainly make for a rather odd initiative on race and class.

Councillor Reeves looked as though he was about to erupt with some really brutal and memorable criticism of the Mayor, but Councillor Russell exercised her charter right to delay further discussion on the matter until the Jan 11 City Council meeting. One can only hope that the councillors had an opportunity to work out some of their differences over these past several weeks.

There are just a couple of observations I would make at this point. First, it has been suggested by a number of people that Ms. Simmons' forum on race and class this past October might have been something of a political balloon floated in anticipation of a possible City Council run this year. Others, including myself, have sensed that Councillors Reeves and Triantafillou and possibly some new faces might want to make "race and class" a central theme in their political strategy for 1999. This would certainly explain some of the objection to the fact that this initiative is coming out of the Mayor's Office. It must be pointed out that both Councillor Reeves and Councillor Triantafillou implored Mayor Duehay to take steps in this direction and he did promise to do so.

Talking about those MCAS Scores

In response to an Order congratulating the Morse School on their performance on the recent MCAS exam, several councillors expressed their views on the relevance of the exam, on the value of competition, and on what should be done in response to the exam results. It was proposed that a roundtable discussion with the City Council and School Committee take place on this subject. That is one meeting which I will certainly attend.

Councillor Davis was perhaps the most outspoken in her criticism of the MCAS exam and of the idea that other measures of student performance are just as valuable, including student portfolios. Councillor Reeves took the opposite position. While not assigning any ultimate value to the MCAS results, he argued that in the real world there would be tests and that competition is not necessarily a bad thing. He bemoaned the fact that the scores were generally low while the per-pupil spending was so high. He was dismissive of the argument that the high number of immigrant children in the system would cause the scores to be low, arguing that this nation has always had immigrants and that this was no limitation. He argued that Cambridge should take these exam results as a wake-up call and that we should take a good hard look in the mirror and vow to excel in the future. "Next time, we should knock the ball out of the park," he said.

Councillor Galluccio pointed out that many of the factors that are often used as cop-outs were present at the Morse School and that they exceeded expectations nonetheless. He confessed that as a student he was often confronted with not-so-good scores. He argued that this is not a time to browbeat students, but to accept the scores as a reality and to do what it takes to bring us to the level of those cities that performed well on the exam.

Mayor Duehay noted in particular the good performance of the Cambridgeport School, the King Open School, and the Morse School.

Scorecard: Dec 7 and Dec 14 City Council Orders

P (policy-related), I (requests for info), R (rules and procedural items), M (maintenance - potholes, traffic, etc.), D (deaths), C (congratulatory orders), A (announcements), and F (foreign and national policy). Here’s the approximate tally of orders introduced: