These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Most Wanted Weeds list
Urban Forestry Committee, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.Thursday. Somerville has a “Most Wanted Weeds” list, and officials provide updates about work to eliminate the baddies. The city raises awareness every year about invasive species such as black swallow-wort disrupting and crowding out native and natural habitats, offering resources for gardeners to identify invasive species and advice on how to get rid of them safely. Officials also share conversations about how they select and plant certain species to increase biodiversity across the city, and the group discusses the mix of trees along the Western Pearl Street Reconstruction project. Plans suggest 16 trees will be planted along Pearl Street between Gilman Square and McGrath Highway. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Month four on transformer topic
Planning Board, 6 p.m. Thursday. The board continues discussions into a fourth month about a hardship variance and major amendment granted to owners of 379 Somerville Ave., a new five-story, 10-home apartment building with one commercial unit at its base. Because the building owners say they were required by the local energy provider to have a pad transformer in the front of the property, the board says its construction is not “consistent with the approved plans” and has required a plan revision process. The building replaced music club Thunder Road, which never reopened after closing during the Covid pandemic and was demolished in 2021. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Removing permitting hurdles
Land Use Committee, 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Departing mayor Katjana Ballantyne wants to remove a required step in the permitting process: the presubmittal meeting with building officials after a development review application is submitted. Ballantyne’s request would remove it “for most permits and to improve clarity and consistency.” Proposed language suggests allowing applications to be “permitted by right” and that meetings be optional in most cases. Six-month extensions in the case of hardship would also be made easier to secure. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Preserving bus transit
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee, 6:30 p.m. Thursday. An MBTA director of service planning shares bus priority plans for the 90 bus route and discusses other East Somerville transit issues. The state’s transit authority reversed a temporary rerouting of the bus line last summer after community advocates argued for its direct access to businesses and school district offices. Also, city officials speak with the committee about plans to make Union Square safer for road users. The committee conducted a walk audit in the spring. In-person at 101 South St., Boynton Yards, Ward 2 (look for the door on the far left), or watchable via videoconferencing.
Setting tax rates for 2026
City Council, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. City councilors vote for their next president and vice president – the new term begins Jan. 2 – and take up regular business at 7 p.m., including how the city will levy taxes in 2026. Chief assessor Frank Golden speaks about how the city determines “the percentage of local tax levy to be borne by each class of real and personal property.” The council meets Tuesday (typically, meetings are every other Thursday) because of the Thanksgiving holiday. No agenda has been posted for other business beyond the internal election. In-person in second-floor chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill, or watchable via videoconferencing.
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