02-23-2012 — File 192715

City of Somerville, Massachusetts Matters of Business of the Board of Aldermen REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 23, 2012, 7:00 PM Aldermanic Chambers ***************** Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 1 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 NOTICE: This is NOT the official version of the Board of Aldermen's minutes. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first checking with the City Clerk. OPENING OF THE MEETING Attendee Name Title Status Arrived John M Connolly Alderman At Large Present Bruce M. Desmond Alderman At Large Absent Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present William M. Roche Ward One Alderman Present Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Present Thomas F. Taylor Ward Three Alderman Present Sean T. O’Donovan Ward Five Alderman Present Rebekah Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Present Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Present Tony Lafuente Ward 4 Alderman Absent 1. #192591 Roll Call Call of the Roll. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 2. #192592 Minutes Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting, January 26, 2012. RESULT: APPROVED CITATIONS PUBLIC HEARINGS ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS 3. #192593 Order By Ald. O’Donovan, Desmond, Sullivan, Connolly, White Jr., Heuston, Gewirtz, Trane, Taylor, Lafuente That this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Works investigate the repeated power outages around 470 Medford Street and take the necessary steps to ensure that NStar resolves this problem. RESULT: APPROVED

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 2 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 Ald. Roche recused. FOLLOWUP: Public Utilities and Public Works Committee 4. #192594 Order By Ald. Taylor That the Director of SPCD update this Board on the status of its study to protect neighborhoods in RA and RB Districts. RESULT: APPROVED FOLLOWUP: Land Use Committee 5. #192595 Order By Ald. Taylor That the Commissioner of Public Works resurface Belmont Terrace in the Spring of 2012. RESULT: APPROVED 6. #192596 Order By Ald. Connolly, Gewirtz That the Commissioner of Public Works repair the pothole on Lowden Avenue, between Kidder Avenue and Mallet Street. RESULT: APPROVED 7. #192597 Order By Ald. Connolly, Desmond, O’Donovan, Sullivan, White Jr. That the Commissioner of Public Works update the Public Works and Utilities Committee with the status of double poles and street lamps not working. RESULT: APPROVED FOLLOWUP: Public Utilities and Public Works Committee 8. #192598 Order By Ald. Connolly That the Director of Communications appear at the next meeting of the Public Works and Utilities Committee with an update and cost of the cable, internet and telephone providers in Somerville. RESULT: APPROVED FOLLOWUP: Public Utilities and Public Works Committee 9. #192599 Communication By Ald. Taylor In his capacity as a member of the School Committee, conveying a report of the School Committee’s activities. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 3 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 UNFINISHED BUSINESS REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 10. FINANCE COMMITTEE A. #192600 Committee Report Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on February 22, 2012. RESULT: APPROVED B. #190546 Mayor’s Request Requesting approval to enter into a lease agreement with Zipcar Inc. for 14 City parking spaces for a term of 3 years with two one-year options to renew. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE C. #190738 Mayor’s Request Requesting authorization to enter into a contract with City Solutions Inc. to operate a modular news rack program for 10 years. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE D. #191387 Officer’s Communication Retirement Board notifying this Board of a vote on a cost of living adjustment at its meeting on June 8, 2011. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE E. #191972 Mayor’s Request Requesting an appropriation of $25,000 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund for the purchase of 1 License Plate Reader system for the Police Dept. RESULT: APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Connolly, Sullivan, White Jr., Roche, Heuston, Taylor, O’Donovan, Gewirtz, Trane ABSENT: Bruce M. Desmond, Tony Lafuente F. #191973 Mayor’s Request Requesting an appropriation of $5,000 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund for the purchase of 1 Laptop for the Police Dept.’s License Plate Reader System. RESULT: APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Connolly, Sullivan, White Jr., Roche, Heuston, Taylor, O’Donovan, Gewirtz, Trane ABSENT: Bruce M. Desmond, Tony Lafuente

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 4 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 G. #192486 Order By Ald. Heuston That the Chief Assessor appear before this Board to provide specific details and responses to citizens’ concerns regarding recent tax bills, including increased land values in particular areas of the city. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED H. #192567 Mayor’s Request Requesting approval of a $20,000 grant from the MA Cultural Council for the Arts Council’s ArtsUnion program. RESULT: APPROVED I. #192583 Mayor’s Request Requesting a transfer of $931,762 from the Salary Contingency Acct. to the School Salaries Acct. to fund salary increases for the settlement of various collective bargaining agreements. RESULT: APPROVED J. #192584 Mayor’s Request Requesting the acceptance of a $45,000 grant for FY2013 for the Police- Based Jail Diversion Program Grant for individuals with mental illnesses or emotional disturbances. RESULT: APPROVED K. #192585 Mayor’s Request Requesting the acceptance of a $32,000 grant for FY2012 for the Police- Based Jail Diversion Program Grant for individuals with mental illnesses or emotional disturbances. RESULT: APPROVED L. #192601 Order By Ald. Trane That the Chief of Police, the Chief Assessor and the City Solicitor determine if the Police Dept. has the authority to ticket vehicles with outstanding excise taxes due, and if so, to proceed with such action. RESULT: APPROVED 11. TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMITTEE A. #192602 Committee Report Report of the Committee on Traffic and Parking, meeting on February 21, 2012. RESULT: APPROVED B. #192109 Resolution By Ald. Trane, Sullivan That this Board requests that the Traffic Commission consider extending visitor parking from 48 to 72 hours.

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 5 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED C. #192273 Public Communication Green Cab requesting consideration from this Board for a taxi fare increase. RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Connolly, Sullivan, White Jr., Roche, Taylor, O’Donovan, Gewirtz, Trane ABSENT: Bruce M. Desmond, Maryann M. Heuston, Tony Lafuente Approved Fare: The first eighth of a mile is $1.75; additional eighths of a mile are $0.45. D. #192428 Order By Ald. Roche That the Director of Traffic and Parking consult with the Traffic Engineer to determine the feasibility of Cross Street East being a one way from Broadway to Mystic Avenue. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED E. #192510 Officer’s Communication Director of Traffic and Parking responding to various Board Orders. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED F. #192537 Order By Ald. Sullivan, Roche, White Jr., Connolly, Taylor, Desmond That the Commissioner of Public Works repair the light on the traffic island directly in front of 252 Medford Street. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED G. #192603 Order By Ald. Trane That the Director of Traffic and Parking investigate more efficient ways to lay out cab stands at the Davis Square MBTA stop. RESULT: APPROVED COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR 12. #192604 Mayor’s Request Requesting the creation of a Bicycle Stabilization Fund and the acceptance of a mitigation payment of $2,178 from Mudflat Studios, to purchase a bicycle corral. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 6 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 FOLLOWUP: Finance Committee 13. #192605 Mayor’s Request Requesting an appropriation of $2,178 from the Bicycle Stabilization Fund to install a bicycle corral at 79-83 Broadway. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWUP: Finance Committee 14. #192606 Mayor’s Request Requesting the re-appointment of Adrian Botelho as Constable, for a term to expire December 31, 2012. RESULT: APPROVED 15. #192607 Mayor’s Communication Presenting the final draft of the SomerVision Comprehensive Plan. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWUP: Land Use Committee Housing and Community Development Committee COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS 16. #192608 Officer’s Communication Planning Board conveying its recommendation on a proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Districts for Somerville Avenue from Wilson Square to the Cambridge line at Porter Square, White Street, and Elm Street from White Street to Wilson Square, and to amend the Floodplain Overlay District. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE FOLLOWUP: Land Use Committee 17. #192609 Officer’s Communication Planning Board conveying its recommendation on a proposal to amend the Zoning Ordinance to add a definition of pervious area and amend the table of dimensional requirements and footnotes to require a minimum pervious area on lots in certain zoning districts. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE FOLLOWUP: Land Use Committee Legislative Matters Committee 18. #192610 Officer’s Communication Director of Traffic and Parking responding to #192529 re: accidents at Summer and Lowell Streets.

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 7 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 19. #192611 Officer’s Communication Director of Traffic and Parking responding to various Board Orders. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE FOLLOWUP: Senior Services Committee NEW BUSINESS 20. #192612 License/Permit Public Event Permit, Davis Sq. Ministries Palm Sunday Donkey Walk, College Ave. From Powderhouse Park to Davis Sq., Apr 1, 8:30-9:30 AM. RESULT: APPROVED 21. #192613 License/Permit Public Event Permit, Davis Sq. Ministries Easter Sunrise Service, Powderhouse Park, Apr 8, 6:30-7:30 AM. RESULT: APPROVED 22. #192614 License/Permit Public Event Permit, Union Sq. Farmer’s Market, Union Sq. Plaza, Saturdays from Jun 2-Nov 17, 7AM-2PM. RESULT: APPROVED 23. #192615 License/Permit Renewing Garage License, NStar Electric and Gas Corp., 181 McGrath Hwy., 20 autos in. RESULT: APPROVED 24. #192616 License/Permit Renewing Garage License, Motorsports Inc., 486R Columbia St., 3 autos in, 5 out. RESULT: APPROVED 25. #192617 License/Permit Renewing Used Car Dealers License Class 2, A Plus Auto Body, 297 Medford St., No autos. RESULT: APPROVED 26. #192618 License/Permit Renewing Used Car Dealers License Class 2, Pat’s Auto Body, 161 Linwood St., 15 autos. RESULT: APPROVED

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 8 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 27. #192619 License/Permit Renewing Used Car Dealers License Class 2, Pat’s Auto Body, 308 McGrath Hwy., 12 autos. RESULT: APPROVED 28. #192620 License/Permit Renewing Used Car Dealers License Class 2, Pat’s Auto Body, 182 Washington St., 27 autos. RESULT: APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS 29. #192621 Order By Ald. Taylor, Heuston That the Chief Financial Officer appear before this Board’s Committee on Finance to present an update on the FY12 budget, especially expenditures. RESULT: APPROVED FOLLOWUP: Finance Committee 30. #192622 Mayor’s Request Requesting the approval of the release of an obsolete drain easement in Assembly Square. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWUP: Finance Committee 31. #192623 Mayor’s Request Requesting the appointment of John O’Connor to the Fire Dept. Reserve List. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWUP: Confirmation of Appointments Committee 32. #192624 Officer’s Communication Director of Constituent Services responding to #192581 re: 24-26 Sterling St. 311 call data. RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 33. #192625 Officer’s Communication Assistant City Solicitor responding to #192373 re: guidelines for reporting contractor violations to the State (Fines for Code Violations). RESULT: PLACED ON FILE

February 23, 2012 Somerville Board of Aldermen Page 9 of 9 Printed 2/23/2012 LATE ITEMS 34. #192565 Mayor’s Request Requesting an appropriation of $781,250 for construction of a new park at 15-25 Cross Street and authorization to borrow that amount in a bond. RESULT: APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Connolly, Sullivan, White Jr., Roche, Heuston, Taylor, O’Donovan, Gewirtz, Trane ABSENT: Bruce M. Desmond, Tony Lafuente 35. #192566 Mayor’s Request Requesting the acceptance of a PARC 19 grant of $500,000 from the Division of Conservation Services for construction of the park at 15-25 Cross Street. RESULT: APPROVED 36. #192626 Order By Ald. Trane That the Chief Information Officer check, clean and secure all IT cables in the Committee Room and ensure that all IT equipment is working properly. (2nd request) RESULT: APPROVED 37. #192627 Mayor’s Request Requesting a transfer of $55,000 from the Salary Contingency Acct. to fund a non-union wage study. RESULT: REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWUP: Finance Committee ADJOURNMENT Adjournment Submitted by John J. Long, City Clerk