The Council met for the final time this session on Monday and thanked colleagues leaving or who have left this term, thanked the Mayor and Vice Mayor for their leadership, received a report on the former Fresh Pond Seafood property, and discussed snow removal. The Council did not act on two zoning petitions scheduled to expire on December 18.
The Cambridge Nanomaterials Advisory Committee meets tonight. The Committee has begun the process of developing a report to the City Manager regarding the findings and recommendations of the Committee.
Cambridge Leaders 2008 is scheduled for Wednesday January 23rd at the Hotel Marlowe from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thanks to Comcast, Alexandria Real Estate and Cambridge Savings Bank for sponsoring Leaders 2008.
This is the last Update for 2007. Look for the first Update of 2008 on January 2. Have a great Christmas and New Year and we look forward to serving the Government Affairs needs of the Cambridge business community in 2008.
2008 Leaders Event Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mark your calendar for Wednesday January 23 for the 2008 Leaders Event. Meet your elected representatives and senior officials from state and local government. We may also have some special guests. The Hotel Marlowe will be our host and the time is 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thanks to Comcast, Alexandria Real Estate and Cambridge Savings Bank for sponsoring Leaders 2008. Registration and additional information are available on the Chamber website at Cambridge Leaders 2008.
December 17, 2007 City Council Meeting
Senator and Councillor Anthony Galluccio and Clerk of Courts and former Councillor Michael Sullivan for their years of service on the City Council and thanked Mayor Kenneth Reeves and Vice Mayor Timothy Toomey for their leadership during the current term. The Council also received a report on the future use of the Fresh Pond Seafood site on Fresh Pond Parkway and passed several orders in response to the two recent snow storms. The Council also let the Cott Petition and the LEED proposal expire.
Thank You Anthony, Michael, Ken and Tim
The Council, as is its tradition, used part of Monday’s meeting to thank Councillors leaving the Council and the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the current term for their service. This was the last meeting as a member of the Council for Senator and Councillor Anthony Galluccio. Clerk of Courts and former Councillor Michael Sullivan, who resigned earlier this year, was also in attendance for the purpose of his being honored for his service. Galluccio and Sullivan both received well deserved praise for their service on the Council to the Cambridge community. The both spoke about their love for service on the Council and urged their colleagues to find common ground to best serve the people of Cambridge.
The Council also thanked Mayor Reeves and Vice Mayor Toomey for their leadership during the current Council term which officially ends at 10:00 a.m. on January 7. The new Council will be sworn –in at that time and the Council will also select the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the new term at that meeting.
Fresh Pond Seafood Site
The Council received a report,
City Managers Agenda Item 1, from the City Manager that the former Fresh Pond Seafood site on Fresh Pond Parkway was purchased and the new owner is planning on developing the site as retail and office by special permit. The Planning Board will hold a hearing on the project on January 8.
Snow Issues
The Council passed four policy regarding snow removal and enforcement.
Policy Order 3 asks the City Manager to inform all property owners that the City strictly enforces the Ordinance requiring removal of snow from all sidewalks within 12 hours of the snow stop falling and before 1:00 p.m. when the snow falls at night.
Policy Order 4 asks about the feasibility of allowing crossing guards to write citations to property owners who do not properly remove snow from sidewalks.
Policy Order 5 asks for increased traffic enforcement and control during snow storms to keep vehicles from blocking intersections.
Policy Order 6 asks the City to establish a “snow removal” list of hourly or by the day employees to assist with snow removal from exempt and city-owned properties and crosswalks and asks the Human Services Department to revitalize the youth snow shoveling program that matches a snow removal person with an individual who needs assistance.
Zoning Petitions Expire
The Council took no action on two zoning petitions that were scheduled to expire on December 18. The Cott petition, which would down-zone a single block in mid-Cambridge in response to a proposal to develop a single family home, expired with no discussion. The proposal to add Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements to the zoning ordinance expired but this issue will be reviewed by a task force the Council asked the City Manager to form at the December 10 meeting.
