April 4, 2007 GAC Update 

The Council did not meet this week. City Manager Robert Healy addressed the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee last Tuesday and discussed a number of matters including the Cambridge Energy Alliance, the City’s budget, capital projects, water and sewer rates, and his search for a new Police Commissioner. On Thursday, he announced the appointment of the new Commissioner.

The Council’s Finance Committee meets tonight at 4:45 for preliminary discussions on the City budget.  The Council meets next Monday.

City Manager Healy Addresses GAC

Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy was our guest at the March Government Affairs meeting and luncheon. The City Manager presented a brief preview of the Cambridge Energy Alliance that was announced later in the week and discussed the City’s efforts to reduce energy use in City buildings and to encourage green practices citywide.  He reported that water and sewer rates will be unchanged this year from last due to a number of factors including a better revenue stream resulting from the full installation of automated meter reading equipment across the City.  This is despite a 12.1 % increase in the Massachusetts Water resource Authority charge to the City.

Other matters raised in the meeting included progress on a number of major capital projects. Healy reported that work is underway on the new central library, the West Cambridge Youth and Community center, and the Public Safety building.  The renovations of the War Memorial at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School will move forward soon. The City has also been authorized to refinance old debt which will result in as much as $1.75 million in savings on interest payments.

While water and sewer rates will not increase the Manager could not make the same promise for the property tax rate.  The major cost increases to the City are health insurance, pension, and utility payments. The City has negotiated changes in employee contributions for health insurance which will be 15% of the City’s cost this year and will go up to 18% with the City paying 82%.

Two matters he discussed were further addressed on Thursday of last week. The first was the Cambridge Energy Alliance which was highlighted in last week’s update. The other was the naming of a new Police Commissioner; a decision he was still working on at Tuesday’s luncheon that was announced on Thursday afternoon.

New Police Commissioner Appointed
On Thursday of last week Cambridge City Manager Robert W. Healy announced that he has appointed Robert C. Haas as the next Police Commissioner for the City of Cambridge. He will assume the position effective April 9, 2007. Commissioner Haas has a distinguished record in public service and law enforcement. A copy of the press release announcing the appointment is available on the City's Web site at www.cambridgema.gov/deptann.cfm?story_id=1314

For a listing of public meetings, visit the Public Meetings link or the Public Meeting Notices area of the City of Cambridge Web site.