Public’s questions for city manager candidates include broadband and relations with council
Four candidates for city manager took questions and met the public Tuesday, giving glimpses of their thinking on such as things as government transparency, community outreach and relations with the City Council, as well as more specific policy matters, including a sore point with the current manager: municipal broadband.
Attend meetings on buses, hiring diversity, improvements for Danehy Park and more
Public meetings this week look at hiring a next city clerk, auditor and city manager; improvements to buses and Danehy Park, and hiring diversity; adding bike lanes on Garden Street; remembering Robert’s Rules of Order; transportation zoning and housing atop the Crimson Galeria; and the state of mental health services in Cambridge.
Four candidates for city manager are identified, including an internal option: CDD head Farooq
The list of four finalists to become city manager was released Thursday, and it includes one internal candidate: Iram Farooq, assistant city manager for the Community Development Department since 2015. The other candidates are the town manager of Hopkinton; the city solicitor in Chelsea; and an executive director at Boston Medical Center.
Heard at the hearings: Parking revenue problems and budget clarity that might look like a mistake
In some more tidbits from budget hearings, we learned that even the most understandable budget ever still has some work to do in terms of clarity; that despite surging public records requests, the Law Department needs no more technology to help; and that parking revenue and the raising of annual parking permit fees can be sensitive subjects.
Heard at the hearings: Police want body cameras, broadband hire is under the manager, and more
In some tidbits from budget hearings, we learned that a municipal broadband hire is listed as being in the City Manager’s Office; our housing liaison could evolve into an Office of Housing Stability; police body cameras have wide support; and Cambridge ranks high on cybersecurity … according to the people responsible for Cambridge’s cybersecurity.
Covid funds will power $22M in cash assistance, but the federal money is being spoken for quickly
A final hunk of Covid aid funds arrived before the City Council on Monday – $23.1 million described by staff as aimed at concerns ranging from homelessness to broadband infrastructure – but a vote to release it was delayed by at least a week. Meanwhile, a “strategic pause” on public suggestions for the remaining $33.1 million was called.