These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Sustainability at new school
New School Building Project School Building Committee, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday. The committee reviews the preliminary sustainability goals for a school to meet the needs of the communities of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School and potentially the Benjamin G. Brown School. Up for consideration are approaches such as solar panels and mass timber, which is made by layering and bonding wood to form strong structural components that can replace steel or concrete and make development easier, faster and cheaper. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Education budget approval
School Committee, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Monday. The agenda includes approval of a $123 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year starting July 1, along with a first reading of a district cellphone policy and presentations on out-of-school-time, homelessness and “school climate and safety.” In the recent past, that has been code for discussion of whether an armed, uniformed school resource officer returns to the high school and Next Wave/Full Circle alternative schools. Televised and watchable online and by Zoom videoconferencing.
Review for fiscal year 2027
City Council Finance Committee, 6 p.m. Tuesday. This committee run by city councilor Ben Wheeler looks department by department at the 2027 fiscal year starting July 1, including line items for the City Council, executive branch, finance, and sundry under the rubric of “operations and systems”: the city clerk and licensing; constituent services; elections; Equity & Belonging (formerly the Department of Racial and Social Justice); law; People Operations (formerly Human Resources); SomerStat; and Technology & Innovation. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Hazardous waste collection
Household hazardous waste drop-off, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Items accepted from residents include motor oil, aerosol paint, household cleaning chemicals, rechargeable batteries and more. At the Department of Public Works, 1 Franey Road, Magoun Square.
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