These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Water and sewer billing issues
City Council Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee, 6 p.m. Monday. This committee run by city councilor Jesse Clingan gets an overview of water and sewer metering and billing practices after learning in May that coming years will deliver painful demands to taxpayers; and hears from the director of Public Works about putting a portable restroom at the Hoyt-Sullivan playground. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Procurement policy, police tech
City Council Legislative Matters Committee, 6 p.m. Tuesday. This committee run by city councilor J.T. Scott is likely to have a barn-burner of a meeting, taking on: an “ethical procurement” policy that touches on Israel, Palestine and debates over the meanings of genocide and antisemitism; and accepting surveillance technology such as the CrimeTracer program – which shared data with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency until 2023 – and body-worn cameras for police. The ongoing expenses of the cameras has Scott questioning that this is the time for adoption; we wrote about it here. Also on the agenda are proposals to require property owners to tell tenants if their building is being sold, and to ask permission from the state for the ability to give renters more power amid a housing crunch by regulating local leases and tenancy-at-will agreements.Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Plans for public libraries
Board of Library Trustees, 6 p.m. Wednesday. The group hears about librarians’ strategic plan and gets updates on personnel and the 2027 fiscal year budget. In-person at the Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
Founders Memorial Skating Rink
City Council Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee, 6 p.m. Wednesday. This committee run by city councilor Kristen Strezo talks about future community use of the Founders Memorial Skating Rink, which former mayor Katjana Ballantyne tried to make into a multipurpose facility last term with less time for ice sports. Issues around accessibility and universal playgrounds are on the agenda too. At City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, and watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Public drug use in Davis Square
City Council Public Health and Public Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. This committee run by city councilor Matthew McLaughlin wants police to address a recent upsurge in drug use and other drug-related activity in public spaces in and around Davis Square and public health and safety concerns at the Broadway Salvation Army, and to understand what’s happening with a languishing mission to create a civilian police oversight committee. Members also want an explanation of a May 28 bicycling traffic enforcement in Union Square, which was described by some members of the public as harassment. Orders for the placement of free menstrual products are also on the agenda. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Combining two public schools
New School Building Project School Building Committee, 4:30 to 6 p.m. July 6. More work on construction of a 925-student complex at at 115 Sycamore St., Winter Hill, to meet the needs of the combined communities of the closed Winter Hill Community Innovation School and aging Benjamin G. Brown School. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
About The Author
