Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone continued to make the case for support of the Green Line Extension project as he addressed the most recent Regular Meeting of the City of Somerville Board of Alderman.

By Amy Swain

The Board of Alderman held a regular meeting last Thursday, October 13. The meeting began at 7:00 p.m. and carried on for roughly three hours.

Much of that time was spent listening, and then responding to Mayor Curtatone’s presentation on upcoming city projects. “It is a very complex but exciting time in our city,” Curtatone began. “We all know the commitments we highlighted in Somervision. We’ve made significant progress, but we still have a long way to go. The three key commitments we have to focus on now are the Green Line Extension, investing in our aging water and sewer infrastructure, and overhauling the broken zoning code.”

Focus was held on the Green Line Extension – taxpayers have no idea what this will cost, and have been told it is on the horizon for years. The mayor revealed that the state has asked Somerville to put forward fifty million dollars toward the project. This constitutes only around 2% of the total cost of the extension.

The mayor believes it imperative that we invest. “We can all think of things we could do in the city with that money. However, we are receiving record low borrowing rates and the development community must chip in. How much we don’t know now. There is a lot happening. But I’d rather be in this position than to say nothing is happening.”

The Board showed far less enthusiasm. Ward 4 Alderman Lafuente said he feels saddened by the rush to focus on the Green Line Extension. “Of course, the GLX is important. But when you look at it in the big scheme of things, probably not as important as infrastructure, or Winter Hill, or the high school. Things being put on the back burner, again.” While he did not voice firm resistance to investing in the project, Lafuente urged the mayor to use caution and consideration: “We have to think about today and tomorrow. These decisions will put things into motion for twenty or thirty years.”

Board President and Alderman at Large White voiced concerns regarding finances. The mayor said proudly, “We are in the best financial standing the city’s ever been in.” “Yes we are,” White retorted. “But we are talking about doubling our debt over the next few years, that raises alarm.”

A concern each member of the Board had regarding focus on the big three projects is that decisions and movements, specifically in Union Square infrastructure projects, are being made by the Redevelopment Authority, which was described by Ward 5 Alderman Niedergang as “a joke.” “It is scary to me, and should be to anyone who is well informed that this Board has a lot of power over the future of Union Sqaure. It is simply not up to that responsibility. The elected representatives of the people should be making these decisions which are going to make or break the city going forward.”

The presentation wrapped up with the BOA asking for more involvement for themselves and for residents. President White advised that all interested parties pay attention to BOA meeting agendas come November. Mayor Curtatone will be presenting to the Commonwealth late November or early December, and the Board sees it fit that Somerville get the information before it becomes finalized.

Alderman Niedergang brought up several other topics that warranted discussion: “Why don’t our police officers wear nametags? Larger cities do, state police do. I think it’d be good for citizens to be able to identify them. I would at least like an explanation.”

Next, “We need to make a clear and reasonable call on whether it is alright to put trash in plastic bags neatly on the street.” Niedergang referred to a person who was ticketed for this, despite the fact that there is no clear statement on the website or 311 that this is illegal. Alderman Sullivan voiced concern over ticketing for this. “What’s wrong with giving residents a written warning? In this already troubled economy we’re facing.” Aldermen Heuston and White both stated frankly that barrels are needed to keep trash from attracting rats. “We have totally turned this city around in the way we deal with trash and the way our city looks,” said Heuston. “If there is a loophole allowing plastic trash bags on the curb, I will be working against it.”

Alderman Niedergang also proposed the idea of educating citizens on using the “Dutch reach” method when opening their car doors. This would entail opening with your right hand, forcing you to look out and back. “We’ve had accidents this year where cyclists were killed – one was from being doored. This really is a life and death situation.” There have been signs posted, but the Board wants more action, so they sent the item to the Department of Public Safety and Health.

Niedergang’s fourth request was that the director of the SPCD (Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development) report to the BOA on development of a strategic plan for the city’s role in job force development. “The mayor established a Jobs Advisory Committee which did quite a bit of work in 2012 and issued a good report. It seems though, that the recommendations in that report have not been adopted.” The city has recently gained a new Director of Economic Development, and the board supports the request that he present a plan to work on job force training and development.

All of these topics will be discussed either in special meetings or BOA regular meetings, all of which have agendas on the city’s website.