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With the recent passing of Union Square Zoning, the redevelopment transition in the Union Square neighborhood is taking off. A neighborhood council is forming to influence the transformation and help shape the future of Union Square, and neighborhood residents and business owners are invited to participate.
Join the Union Square Neighborhood Council for a community meeting on either Wednesday, June 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. or Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., both at the Argenziano School, 290 Washington St.
At the meetings you will have a chance to:
· Learn more about the proposed Council
· Provide input on the Council’s role and approach
· Learn how to run for the first-year Union Square Neighborhood Council Board
· Meet your neighbors and fellow engaged community members
For more information about the Union Square Neighborhood Council, visit www.UnionSquareNeighborhoodCouncil.org or contact Sue Thomas at SThomas@somervillema.gov.
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*YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE: UNION SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL*
This week, there will be two opportunities for you to LEARN about the proposed Union Square Neighborhood Council and VOTE on its creation through ratification of proposed bylaws as developed by the Union Square Neighborhood Council Working Group.
WHEN
Wednesday, June 21, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 24, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE
Aregenziano School cafeteria
290 Washington Street
WHAT
Union Square stakeholders will be asked to vote by paper ballot on a proposal to create a Union Square Neighborhood Council through ratification of bylaws. The events (same format at each event) will include opportunities to learn more about the proposed Neighborhood Council, provide input on the Council’s role and approach, learn how to run on the Neighborhood Council’s first-year board, meet your neighbors and engaged community members. Attendees at Wednesday and Saturday’s meetings will have an opportunity to approve the proposed bylaws as is or suggest feedback and vote no on this version.
UNION SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
The Union Square Neighborhood Council has the potential to become a leading voice for the Union Square community. It will not only have a say in how community benefit fund dollars are allocated, as proposed in the pending Community Benefit Ordinance being debated by the Board of Aldermen, but it may also negotiate for additional community benefits from local developers. Furthermore, it will weigh in on future development projects and other issues important to Union Square including affordable housing, open space and athletic fields, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, small business preservation and jobs, support for the arts, and more.
The proposed composition of the 15-member Neighborhood Council’s board is as follows:
Union Square home owners: 2
Union Square renters: 3
Union Square business owners: 2
Union Square workers: 2
Charitable/ Religious/ Education/ Advocacy Group or Organizations: 2
Immigrant Members: 2
Open Seats: 2
ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN THIS WEEK’S ELECTION
The Union Square Neighborhood Council Working Group has established that voting is open to everyone who lives in Somerville or works Union Square. (See neighborhood map on page 18 of bylaws link below.) Somerville residents living outside Union Square are expected to identify themselves as Stakeholders. Stakeholders include but are not limited to people who participate in religious, social or community organizations in Union Square, receive services from an agency in Union Square, have kids in Union Square schools, take classes in Union Square, live just outside the specified border but identify with Union Square, have recently been displaced from Union Square, own property in Union Square etc.
To vote, a person must meet at least one of the four criteria below. The “boundaries of Union Square” refer to the boundaries as defined by the Union Square Neighborhood Plan and the Neighborhood Council bylaws (p. 18):
1. Be a resident of Somerville.*
2. Work at or own a business located within the boundaries of Union Square.
3. Own real estate property (residential or commercial) located within the boundaries of Union Square.
4. Lack a permanent address but receive support services within the boundaries of Union Square.
* Note: residents of Somerville outside of the boundaries of Union Square may become members but are not eligible to serve on the Board.
Non-members may still attend Union Square Neighborhood Council meetings and participate fully, with the exception of participating in voting.
All Union Square Neighborhood Council participants (members and non-members) will be asked complete a form which includes their name, address, qualifying criteria to join as a member (or wish to participate as a non-member), and statement of their “stake” in Union Square.
A “stake” in Union Square could include but is not limited to the following:
Any of the 4 qualifying membership criteria
– Participation in religious, social, or community organizations in Union Square
– Participation in schools or classes in Union Square
– Provision of services from an agency in Union Square
– Recent displacement from Union Square
– Strong identification with Union Square despite not living within its defined boundaries
PROPOSED BYLAWS
The proposed bylaws which will be voted on are located at the following link:
http://unionsquareneighborhoodcouncil.org/docs/usnc-interim-bylaws-06-10-17.pdf
MORE INFORMATION
You can get more information at the Neighborhood Council’s website:
http://unionsquareneighborhoodcouncil.org/bylaws