Update: This forum will take place as scheduled, but due to the unstable weather forecast caused by the Nor’easter affecting Massachusetts, the outdoor portion of the event is on hold. Depending on weather conditions, a decision will be made on Thursday to either allow for a casual reception outside or mingling inside following the town hall portion of the event. If the mingling is held inside, attendees will need to wear masks the entire time and food/drink will not be allowed due to COVID safety restrictions. If weather permits for the outdoor portion of the event, the reception will be held with casual snacks and pizza.

As Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone prepares to leave office in January after serving 18 years as mayor, the City of Somerville will host an in-person community conversation with him. The discussion will look back at both city and community efforts during his administration, check in on the ongoing response to the pandemic, and look forward to the challenges and opportunities in the city’s future. Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Byron Barnett (recently retired from 7News WHDH) will facilitate the town-hall-style event, which will be open to attendees’ questions. A casual outdoor reception with local foods will follow, and City staff will be available at the reception to check in with community members on specific questions.

“Community conversations over the years have kept me inspired and informed and I want to get out one more time to check in with the people of Somerville, thank them for all they do, and talk about where we are heading next. I may be stepping away from City Hall, but Somerville is my home, and we have so much more important work ahead of us. So I think of this not as the last conversation but rather one of many more to come in different forms,” said Mayor Curtatone.  

When and Where: The town hall event will take place on Thursday, October 28, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St. The event will include both indoor and outdoor components, taking advantage of the newly improved ventilation systems within the school buildings to maximize protection from COVID-19. The community conversation will take place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium, where masks will be required at all times, seating will be socially distanced, and ventilation systems will be running. Afterward, community members will be invited outside for a casual reception with refreshments from local food establishments. 

The town hall portion of the event will be live-streamed at somervillema.gov/virtualtownhall and available for later viewing at youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Live simultaneous Spanish interpretation and English captioning will be available. Portuguese, Haitian Kreyol, and Nepali interpretation can be requested in advance by emailing sbernt@somervillema.gov.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Nancy Bacci at 617-625-6600 x 2250 or nbacci@somervillema.gov.