Author Archives: Tom Puglisi

Cambridge Matters #16 – April 27, 2020

Posted on by

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
April 27, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my most recent unofficial report on what took place last evening as part of the work of your city council. It was a relatively short meeting with most of the time being taken up by the presentation by CWDI.

I hope that you continue to be and stay safe and well.

Thanks to all of you who have written support letters for Snip Tuck’s grant application.

Thanks to all of you who are making face coverings for friends and people in the community. When this is all over, I would like for us to have a display of the many different and, I think, beautiful works of art and protection that you have made.

All the best.

Steve

Download (DOCX, 24KB)

Cambridge Matters – April 22, 2020 – City/County Taxes

Posted on by

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
April 22, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached please find something that I hope you will find helpful regarding upcoming budget decisions by us and by county council.
It is important as we do the work of government that you as taxpayers – in the city or county – understand some of what your elected officials are called upon to decide as part of our process in deciding what it will take to run our governments – city and county.

Steve

 

Cambridge Matters #17 – April 13, 2020

Posted on by

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
April 13, 2020

Dear Readers:

I am attaching my regular Cambridge Matters report as well as the final report of the Compensation Advisory Committee that was given at our meeting. The Compensation Advisory Committee did great work and a lot of research and provided a history of how we arrived at the difficult place that we are with regard to this matter particularly given the significant financial issues that the city will be facing due to the Covid-19 virus and closure of businesses and reduction and in some cases elimination of income to businesses, individuals, and government.

If you are someone who is retired and has an ongoing income stream from your retirement benefits or has a separate income stream, please consider supporting our local restaurants and businesses. There are some restaurants doing carry out. We have had some great meals that way. For businesses, buying a gift card for future use is also something that you can do.

I hope that the attached gives you a picture of some of the challenges that we face. After reading my report and/or the committee report, please let the Mayor and your Commissioner (or me) know what you think about the Compensation Committee report and recommendations. We need guidance for where to go. That matter will be on the agenda for our meeting on April 27th so another way to let us know is to join the meeting and call in when you are given the opportunity to provide public comment.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

Download (DOCX, 24KB)


Download (PDF, 2.22MB)

Storm Damage in the Historic District – April 13, 2020

Posted on by

Due to the heavy rain and high winds which are pummeling Cambridge, many of the properties in the Historic District will sustain damage to houses, fences and out buildings. The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) wants to make sure that those of you who sustain damage in the Historic District should do what is required to protect your property from additional water or structural damage without worrying about permits.

Repairs of less than 25 percent of a feature (such as a fence, windows in a house or a roof) do not require HPC approval or a building permit. If you have sustained more significant storm related damage, the HPC working with the Cambridge Department of Public Works can issue emergency Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) approvals almost immediately upon receiving an email and photos documenting the damage. Building permits, if required will then be processed by DPW.  Send the email to the HPC liaison Herve Hamon at hhamon@choosecambridge.com.  Mr. Hamon will send any appropriate HPC or city forms back and distribute the emergency requests to the Chair and Vice Chair of the HPC for approval.

If there are issues with obtaining permissions or additional concerns, please contact Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods (CAN ) at CambridgeCan@yahoo.com. They will forward the comments directly to the HPC Chair or Vice Chair.

Hopefully the emergency approvals will not have to be issued, but in case of damage we want you to know that there is a streamlined process available.