These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Changing spaces, changing places
Traffic Commission, 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The commission decides on a slew of streetscape changes, such as changing a number of resident permit parking spots to accessible parking, on Winter Hill along a section of Tennyson Street and at 446 Medford St. and 51 Preston Road on Spring Hill. The city is working to remove and reposition bus stops along Washington Street between Union Square and McGrath Highway, including one in front of the police station. Elsewhere in Union, officials request to change the use of multiple spots on Bow Street around Walnut Street, with suggestions of converting three to five back-in angled metered parking into accessible parking and removing a loading zone, among other items. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Antidisplacement film and panel
Antidisplacement Task Force, 6 p.m. Thursday. Three committees look at why and how residents, small business, nonprofits and creatives are being displaced. The group presents takeaways from its reports, screens a film called “Displacement Stories” commissioned by the city to shares how residents are affected and holds a panel discussion. The committees published task force reports in February after the mayor called for an evaluation into a local rental crisis for renters and businesses and challenges to nonprofits, artists and cultural organizations. Free dinner is served at an in-person at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St.
End-of-year approvals
City Council, 7 p.m. Thursday. As the council winds down the fiscal year, members look to approve items such as $51.5 million in water and sewer appropriations for next year, an event permit for the city’s June 25 firework celebration and block party licenses around town. On the second floor at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, or watchable via videoconferencing.
School rebuilding scope
Construction Advisory Group, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Conversation continues about whether to include the Benjamin Brown School in the current Winter Hill Community Innovation School building project scope. The working group spends time talking about concepts for a design from the city’s K-8 master plan and other educational considerations, such as specialized programming, school size, grade bands and family engagement. The Winter Hill school closed in 2023 over safety concerns, and the earliest estimation for its project completion is the end of 2031. A survey sent to determine the scope this year surprised and upset advocates, so the group will take up how well the community engagement process is going and select an outside group to help. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Medford Street Brazilian cafe
Zoning Board of Appeals, 6 p.m. Wednesday. Kero + Homemade Bite Brazilian Café requests a special permit to operate in the commercial section of a two-story home in Gilman Square. The property at 374 Medford St. is at the edge of the business district (and down the street from longtime Brazilian standout Modelo’s Market Cafe). Also, developers of 142 Cross St., East Somerville, request a hardship variance from regulations dictating the look and extension of a front façade along the street. The building demolition was approved in April by the historic preservation commission at the site of a former Italian pizza shop, where JAC Investments plans to put homes in a triple-decker. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Listen to Ward 7 candidates
Ward 7 Democratic Committee, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The local democratic committee hosts a forum with municipal candidates for Ward 7, which covers much of West Somerville. Elected members of the group endorse some candidates after discussion and online voting. Incumbent councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld steps down at the end of June, and will not finish her term. Watchable via videoconferencing with registration.
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