Mid-May in the Mines of Moria – May 16, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting
City Auditor James Monagle and City Clerk Anthony Wilson will be making their exit at the end of this month with City Manager Louis DePasquale following in early July. Three simultaneous processes have been underway seeking their successors, but one of them seems headed to a conclusion this week with a communication that Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department is being recommended to the full City Council to be elected as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm to conduct interviews and potentially appoint the next City Auditor and City Clerk.]
Meanwhile, the Screening Committee for the City Manager position has been meeting “to interview 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council.” Public interviews of the finalists are expected the first week of June. The rumors have been flying like saucers. It will be interesting to see if the intergalactic search yields a candidate from Rigel VII or a more familiar face from closer to home with or without managerial experience. As Tim Toomey would often say, “It just takes 5 votes” regardless of any promise, public process, or other window dressing.
Meanwhile, back here in the dark Mines of Moria, here are a few items on this week’s menu:
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, in response to a question raised at the May 9, 2022 Council Meeting concerning the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition. [Solicitor’s Response]
pulled by McGovern; Referred to Petition (Unf. Bus. #2) 9-0
Unfinished Business #2. 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 or after May 23, 2022]
Councillor Carlone noted that he felt that the Alewife Triangle should not be included in the proposed moratorium
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with all relevant City departments, consultants, and the Alewife Quad Working Group on any and all progress on the Terminal Road connection and any related projects. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Carlone; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Terminal Rd connection: 1979 (Fishbook) plan or Envision Plan?
I still haven’t seen much evidence of any consistent vision from this City Council (or previous City Councils) regarding what they want for this area of the city. There’s the predictable knee-jerks for housing, but it generally seems as though all that Envision stuff (light industrial, etc.) was just an excuse for getting together to aspire. I personally will not be satisfied until I see multiple access routes in and out of this area and at least one bridge over the RR tracks as well as a simple pedestrian bridge over the Little River in the area of the Alewife Constructed Wetland.
On the Table #1. Section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 Special Regulations linkage fee, be amended by substitution (Ordinance #2022-14). [Tabled May 9, 2022]
Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to allocate the remaining ARPA funding, in compliance with the Final Rule, across community-serving applicants. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Nolan;
Azeem notes that he cannot support the original policy order because he wants subsidized housing proposals to be fully funded;
Zondervan wants the applicants to be funded rather than the projects proposed;
McGovern would prefer to not allocate this all at once, concerned about proposal from Nonprofit Coalition to be given $20 million to spread around;
Toner will not support order as proposed;
Mallon notes that there are already $190 million worth of proposals – well in excess of available funding, also concerned about proposals made at the Finance Committee;
Amended 6-1-0-2 (QZ – NO; AM,DS – Present);
Charter Right – Zondervan
There are a couple of councillors who continue to be unable to resist the urge for political patronage.
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, transmitting information regarding the City Auditor Search. Vice Mayor Mallon
Placed on File 9-0
See above. A vote is expected next week on the appointment of Joseph McCann from the City’s Auditing Department as our new City Auditor. [Note: There is now a Special Session scheduled for Mon, May 23 at 10:30pm for this purpose.] One down, two to go. There’s also the question of whether the City Council wishes to update the job description.
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0
“Due to an increase in the number of COVID cases and COVID-related hospitalizations within our community, we are encouraging our entire school community to mask, particularly when we are indoors. Please note that CPS is NOT reinstating a requirement but advising mask use based on current data.”
“Dr. Turk will be leading the process for the Math Coordinator position and is currently compiling an interview committee. Interviews will begin on May 20th. CPS is also screening applicant resumes to begin the process for the Chief of Academics & School position to prepare for upcoming interviews over the next couple of weeks.”
Math… good to hear they’re still doing that – with or without masks. – Robert Winters
Order #8. That the City Council delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interviews of the City Clerk finalists scheduled for May 23, 2022 to the co-chairs of the City Clerk Preliminary Screening Committee. Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #9. That the City Council delegate the drafting and finalization of the questions for the interview of the City Auditor finalists, scheduled for May 23, 2022, to the chair of the City Auditor Preliminary Screening Committee. Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0