These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Slower, calmer community path?
Bicycle Advisory Committee, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The committee discusses safety and speed calming on the Community Bike Path. There are at least two outstanding orders by city councilors to make the path safer, and councilor Naima Sait said at a Sept. 29 meeting of the Traffic and Parking Committee that she would submit another about signs and overall strategies for safety (while suggesting there are certain factors “out of our control” that may limit the impact). A safer crossing of the path at School Street is examined, and director of engineering Brian Postlewaite said plans for that intersection and one at Lowell Street may be unveiled in October. In person at City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave., Winter Hill, or watchable via videoconferencing.
Public space uses for all
City Council, 7 p.m. Thursday. The city looks at three resolutions by councilors Lance Davis and Kristen Strezo about safety and cleanliness in Davis Square area public spaces, including a request for data on the number of used and unused needles found in Davis Square outside of designated safe boxes. Residents say 311 requests to handle abandoned items and needles in places such as Seven Hills Park go unresolved for days, Strezo said in a call, and she wants to hear from the administration about places for unsheltered folks to store belongings. In person on the second floor of City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, and watchable via videoconferencing.
Indigenous People’s Day
City of Somerville, Monday. Municipal offices are closed and waste pickup is pushed back one day in recognition of the holiday. The city began observing in 2022 a day marking “the historic, cultural and contemporary significance of Indigenous Peoples of the lands that also became known as the Americas” and acknowledging the city’s location on Indigenous Peoples lands and the pain and tragedy caused by explorer Christopher Columbus.
Magoun Square power issues
Public Utilities and Public Works Committee, 6 p.m. Wednesday. At least three power outages occurred in June in the Magoun Square neighborhood, and councilor Naima Sait wants updates from provider Eversource on short- and long-term fixes. The business district along Medford Street lost power twice between June 11-13, and homes on Henderson Street went dark the evening of June 22 – a 94-degree day, Sait noted in emails. All three outages were caused by faulty cables, the utility said. Eversource installed a temporary gas generator in the business district while it automated two underground switches to decrease downtime in event of outages. Councilors also want the commissioner of public works to “increase sanitary maintenance of the streets and sidewalks” in Magoun. Watchable via videoconferencing.
A stronger
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