These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Empty storefronts, double poles
City Council Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee, 6 p.m. Monday. This committee run by city councilor Jesse Clingan asks for a report on enforcement of a law meant to shorten how much time properties stay vacant and for the utilities Eversource, National Grid, Comcast, Xfinity, Astound and Verizon to appear and talk about their double poles – the ones they leave standing after installing what was supposed to be their replacement. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Regulating local AI and Airbnbs
City Council Legislative Matters Committee, 6 p.m. Tuesday. This committee run by city councilor J.T. Scott looks at matters including protecting private significant trees during construction, updating the short-term rental ordinance for Airbnbs and Vrbos and adoption of an artificial intelligence ordinance. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Overnight warming center info
Informational meeting, 7 to 8 p.m, Tuesday. A warming center reopens in December in the Cummings Building, 42 Prescott St., Prospect Hill, to provide a safe sleeping place for adult residents experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the year. Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
Somerville housing vouchers
Cambridge Housing Authority, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Among agenda items is renewal of a contract to run Somerville’s municipal voucher program, which provides financial help for up to 30 households paying at least half their income for rent and utilities, who are ineligible or poorly served by federal or state housing programs or face eviction or severe overcrowding. In the community room of the Frank J. Manning public housing apartments at 237 Franklin St., Central Square, and watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Waste overflows in public waters
Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan public hearing, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Comment is asked on a Somerville, Cambridge and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority draft control plan for combined sewer overflows, which are when waste overflows into public waterways – the Alewife Brook, Mystic River and Charles River – as sewer and water systems get overwhelmed by storms. In-person at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, and watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Paying for park and museum care
Community Preservation Committee, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Members continue deliberations on helping pay for such things as Somerville Museum collection care; ArtFarm park construction; and renovations at the schoolyard of the Kennedy elementary school near Porter Square and First Universalist Church building at 125 Highland Ave., Spring Hill. There are also off-cycle requests to aid cemetery and Elizabeth Peabody House improvements.
