Improper safety tagging at Albion Park was one of many issues addressed at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Alderman. ~Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Amy Swain

Last Tuesday, September 13, the Board of Aldermen (BOA) held their regular meeting. There was a plan in place to discuss the new base water charge that many voiced outraged over at the last meeting. At that meeting, the board requested the DPW have certain information regarding their budget and describing reasons for the new charge, so that the Board as well as any concerned citizens could make educated decisions and requests. As the department released this information less than two hours before the meeting, all there was to do was express further outrage. Alderman at Large William A. White, Jr. did just that, and plans were made to have a more in-depth discussion at the next meeting on September 23.

Other topics discussed included Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang’s attempts to make Somerville a greener city. After receiving emails from citizens citing concerns over recent tags seen left at Albion Street Park with an image prohibiting dogs and children, Niedergang made calls to the company the tags belonged to. In this instance, there were no chemicals sprayed and the tags were apparently left in error.

The incident raised the issue of how often this is happening around the city. The alderman requested that the DPW and the Director of Sustainability and Environment appear before the BOA and the School Board to comment on the use of pesticides on city property and discuss the possibility of organic maintenance, including cleaning products used in schools and city buildings.

Niedergang also brought up the Somerville Municipal Job Creation and Retention Trust Fund. It has recently made it through state legislation, and the city now has the ability to begin collecting funds and providing job training for our residents. The Director of the SPCD will be requested to report on the matter soon.

A request to demolish the bus shelter at Broadway and Cedar Streets was also submitted.

Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston expressed concern about notice and information available to residents regarding streetscape reconstruction around Union Square. People do not seem to be aware of construction projects ahead of time, which leads to more traffic jams and general frustration. She requested that the director of Capital Planning and the City Engineer construct a timeline, which is expected to continue through 2019, describing which roads will be closed then, and what plans are ahead.

Wrapping up the meeting, and keeping with the theme of desired government transparency, Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne took some time to discuss the importance of residents being aware of public hearings. The Board counts on citizens to voice concern, but many residents aren’t aware of those opportunities until it’s too late for them to speak, according to Ballantyne. There was no absolute solution offered to the problem. The regular newsletter was mentioned, as well as more frequent updates to the city’s website.

Any current concerns about these issues can be brought to the next regular Board of Alderman meeting this Thursday.