Volunteer Opportunities – Cambridge Boards & Commissions
Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission Members Sought
Feb 26, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission (LGBTQ+ Commission).
The LGBTQ+ Commission was established under Chapter 2.125 of the Cambridge Municipal Code. The function of the Commission is to advocate for a culture of respect and monitor progress toward equality of all persons with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and to promote policies and practices that have a positive effect on the health, welfare, and safety of all persons who live, visit, or work in the city with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Commissioners are expected to be knowledgeable about the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and must live or work in Cambridge.
Commissioners are expected to:
- Attend monthly meetings;
- Participate and volunteer for outreach and other community events;
- Promote the principals of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
- Work with LGBTQ+ Commission staff.
The LGBTQ+ Commission consists of up to 20 members appointed to 3-year terms.
- Meetings are typically held on the fourth Thursday of every month, 6-8pm., though the meeting schedule may be reassessed to accommodate Commissioners’ needs.
- Under the provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, meetings are usually required to be in person at 51 Inman Street; although the LGBTQ+ Commission has shifted to meeting hybrid under the temporary Open Meeting Law provisions.
- The LGBTQ+ Commission will continue to utilize remote capabilities whenever public health needs arise.
Board and commission members in Cambridge do not generally receive compensation for their time. However, the city has explored the possibility of offering a stipend for high time commitment boards. Serving on the LGBTQ+ Commission does not require a high time commitment and therefore is not under consideration for a potential stipend at this time.
The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 25, 2024. Applications can be submitted using the City of Cambridge’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications can also be obtained at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information, contact Carolina Almonte at 617-349-4396 or calmonte@cambridgema.gov.
Members Sought for City of Cambridge Danehy Park Improvements Plan Working Group
Feb 13, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang seeks volunteers to serve on a new Working Group to help guide the Danehy Park Improvements Plan Project.
Working Group members will have two general responsibilities:
- Serve as community representatives to help guide the City Manager and staff on key issues related to the design of improvements to Danehy Park;
- Help communicate the process and design of the project back to the larger community.
Danehy Park is 30 years old and needs a fresh look. The City of Cambridge has contracted with a landscape consultant team to plan the next 10-20 years of improvements to the park. The goal is for Danehy Park to be an exceptional public park that residents of Cambridge will continue to be proud of and cherish. The Capital Improvement Plan will identify improvements for Danehy Park that:
- complement the essential natural, historic, and visual character of the site;
- are based on a strong public engagement process that prioritizes outreach to traditionally underrepresented groups. In addition to the Working Group, there will be a community engagement process for additional public participation;
- provide access to and protect the plants and animals of Danehy Park;
- address future flooding and heat impacts due to climate change;
- allow people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to relax, play, exercise and connect with other people in the park;
- judge the condition and quality of the parks features and systems; and
- propose a series of distinct projects and phased improvements to the park.
The Working Group will be made up of 10-15 members, representing a diverse set of interests. This will help ensure that multiple perspectives are heard and that there is appropriate representation reporting back to the larger community. The Working Group will include residents, institutional representatives, and a variety of people that currently use Danehy Park. It is anticipated that the group will meet six to eight times between April 2024 and December 2024. Meetings of the Working Group will be open to the public.
Individuals who want to shape the future of Danehy Park and want to collaborate with City of Cambridge staff to realize the goals above are encouraged to apply.
Persons interested in applying can do so through the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and select “Danehy Park Improvements Working Group” in the list of Current Vacancies. A letter of interest can be submitted during the online application process.
The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 11, 2024.
Members Sought to fill Cambridge Library Board of Trustees Vacancy
Feb 12, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees for the Cambridge Public Library.
Library trustees are volunteer community representatives, library advocates, and leaders in the establishment of goals and policies for the Cambridge Public Library system. Trustees are a vital link between the library staff and the community and work to ensure the quality of library services, collections, and programs, and to make certain that the library reflects and is relevant to the community.
Trustees are appointed by the City Manager following City Council confirmation to serve a 3-year term. Board members are expected to attend monthly board meetings, committee and community meetings, appropriate continuing education workshops or conferences, and library programs as their schedules allow. Monthly meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5pm, virtually and in-person in the Cambridge Public Library Board Room, 449 Broadway.
Ideal candidates will have an interest in and passion for public libraries and an understanding of the importance of the public library as a center of information, culture, recreation, and life-long learning in the community. Candidates should also have knowledge of the community, including an awareness of diverse social and economic conditions, needs and interests of all groups. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking skills are required. Trustees work productively as a team. It is also important for candidates to understand how the role of the public library is evolving and how information technology and societal changes inform the library’s future.
Applications can be submitted to the City Manager’s Office using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. For more information about the role of Library Trustees, contact Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries at mmccauley@cambridgema.gov.
The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 18, 2024.
Members Sought for City of Cambridge Planning Board
Feb 12, 2024 – The City of Cambridge is seeking members to serve on the Planning Board. All Cambridge residents are invited to apply.
The Planning Board is made up of Cambridge residents who make recommendations and decisions about urban development on behalf of the City of Cambridge. The Planning Board has seven full members and two associate members who are appointed by the City Manager, and then approved by the City Council to serve a 5-year term. All members can participate in Planning Board discussions.
The Planning Board meets regularly in a public forum to discuss the City of Cambridge’s urban planning objectives, and apply them in the following ways:
- Reviewing major urban development proposals, granting certain types of special permits when they are needed, and putting conditions on special permit approval. The Planning Board reviews about 20-25 special permit cases each year;
- Reviewing proposed amendments to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, which sets rules for urban development, and making recommendations to the Cambridge City Council. The Planning Board reviews about 10-15 proposed zoning amendments each year;
- Making recommendations to the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) on some cases. The BZA is a different board that grants some special permits and variances.
- Discussing other City of Cambridge planning efforts.
Anyone who lives in Cambridge can apply to serve on the Planning Board. You don’t need to be a homeowner. The city is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
No specific professional background is needed to serve on the Planning Board. However, since a big part of the Planning Board’s role is reviewing building plans and designs, it is important that members have a strong interest and enthusiasm for urban design and how it shapes the community. Successful members of the Planning Board will be able to:
- Engage in a constructive discussion of urban planning topics, including urban design, transportation, housing, infrastructure planning, public space, and other topics;
- Listen to people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and consider different points of view;
- Visit and learn about different parts of Cambridge, and bring experience from other cities that members have visited, lived in, or learned about;
- Ask critical questions and make sure to get clear answers;
- Work toward constructive solutions to complex problems;
- Collaborate and build consensus with a group of people;
- Learn about and understand the laws related to planning and zoning; and
- Make reasonable decisions on behalf of the City that follow those laws.
We strongly suggest that people who are interested in the Planning Board attend or watch a Planning Board meeting. Visit www.cambridgema.gov/planningboard to learn about upcoming meetings. Archived video of meetings can be found on the City’s website here (then scroll to “Available Archives” / “Planning Board”).
By state law, all board members must complete a training in ethics and conflict-of-interest laws. The City’s Law Department also provides training and assistance to Planning Board members on legal issues. The City of Cambridge provides training to employees on topics including Preventing Sexual Harassment and Valuing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These trainings will be available to Planning Board members and may be required.
The Planning Board is supported by professional planning staff in the Community Development Department, with added support from the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, and others. Staff give written reports to Planning Board members on cases that are before them, and are also available if members have questions. Staff may also develop training on other topics that are relevant to the Planning Board’s work and may direct Planning Board members to training offered by outside organizations.
The Planning Board usually meets 2-4 times each month on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Meetings can last about 3-4 hours. Members are expected to attend most meetings. Members can expect to spend about 2-4 hours before each meeting reviewing materials such as plans and documents, which are sent to members about 5 days before each meeting. Some members find it helpful to visit sites that they are reviewing in person, but it is not required.
The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law usually requires meetings to be in person. However, the Planning Board has been meeting remotely under the temporary Open Meeting Law provisions established during the COVID-19 pandemic and may continue to meet remotely through March 2025. For remote meetings, Planning Board members must have a computer or other device with an internet connection, camera, and microphone that can support video conferencing. It is also helpful to have a private place to attend remote meetings without distractions.
Planning Board members receive $6,000 per year as a stipend. This stipend is meant to offset the annual out-of-pocket costs that members might pay to make it possible to serve on the Planning Board, such as child care, transportation, and other expenses.
People interested in being considered should apply by using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply and selecting “Planning Board” in the list of Current Vacancies. During the application process, you should provide a cover letter to explain why you are interested in being on the Planning Board, and a résumé or summary of applicable experience. Experience can include both professional and volunteer work.
The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 18, 2024.
If you have questions, contact Swaathi Joseph in the Community Development Department at 617-349-4668 or sjoseph@cambridgema.gov or visit www.cambridgema.gov/planningboard
The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The previous meeting featured some rather obvious jostling for position in the process of evaluating the recent Charter Review Final Report and deciding any charter change proposal. This week should bring even more of this power struggle when the question of “next steps” is taken up. The report has already been sent to the Law Department, the Election Commission, and perhaps more departments for review, but the question now is whether this should be initially vetted within the Government Operations Committee (chaired by Councillor Toner) or if Councillor Nolan (and perhaps others) will try to bypass that initial review by creating some kind of ad-hoc committee-of-the-whole so that she can gain more control of the process. This, of course, is intertwined with the election of Mayor Simmons who appoints all the City Council committees – and those appointments were done with some care.
Capitulation is the featured item on this week’s menu, and we’ll see if there are enough votes to send the Gaza stew back to the kitchen for revision. This meeting will take place entirely with Zoom for reasons that require explanation only for the extremely clueless. It will be interesting to see how many people sign up for Public Comment, and I do hope the Mayor asks each of them to state their home address (or at least their city of residence).
