Contents
1) Announcement of Resignation from Board of Alderman
Dear Constituents and Friends:
I am writing today to let you know that I am resigning my seat on the Somerville Board of
Aldermen, effective October 31, 2006.
It is with sadness that I tender my resignation, but it is time. During my Special Election
campaign for state representative, I was asked whether I would hold both seats, and I said that
I would not do so for long. After my saying so, many constituents asked me to stay as long as
I could, and Rep. Toomey also encouraged me to serve in both capacities.
So, for the last eight months, I've been conducting my own study of the feasibility of serving
both as State Representative for the 27th Middlesex District, and Alderman at Large in
Somerville. I feel that it has been beneficial for the city to have me working in both positions,
bringing my city experiences directly to bear on the new role I've been learning on Beacon Hill.
Working a day job and a night job, however, has been hard on me and on my family.
Even working day and night, I find that there have been unavoidable schedule conflicts.
Thursdays are typically days when the House schedules Formal Sessions, and these sessions can
run late into the night. Board of Alderman meetings are also scheduled for Thursday nights. I
have rigorous personal standards for attendance at scheduled meetings, so it is intensely
frustrating when I feel I must choose between equally important duties.
Yet I am comforted by the fact that I leave the Board at a time when many of my major
undertakings are in good shape. The landmark agreement on the development of Assembly
Square brings that vitally important but previously contentious area of city planning and policy
to a more advantageous place than often seemed possible. Important projects like the Green Line
extension and Community Path are seeing real progress, and the Orange Line stop at Assembly
Square now seems achievable.
The other comfort in my departure from the Board is that it is not my departure from the city,
or from the halls of government. Relinquishing my duties on the Board of Aldermen only
enables me to bring even more time and focus to the State House. I am no less able, and in fact,
may be better situated, to advocate for the needs of my city as its state representative, than as
alderman.
I offer you my thanks for all you have taught me in my seven years on the Board of Aldermen.
I trust that you will not hesitate to let me know how I can best continue to serve our city.
Warmest regards,
Denise Provost
2) Transportation Developments
A) How to Submit Written comments on Green Line extension
Thanks to all who attended the October 16, 2006, session at City Hall to review and comment
on the scope of environmental review for the state's plans to extend the Green Line through
Somerville into Medford. Whether or not you chose to testify that evening, your comments on
the Expanded Environmental Notification Form for the project can still get on the record -
indeed, only written comments will become part of the record. Here's how to do it:
- Deadline for submitting comments: November 9, 2006 (may be extended)
- Written comments should be submitted to:
Secretary Robert W. Golledge, Jr.
EOEA, Attn: MEPA office
Deirdre Buckley, EOEA No. 13886
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114-2524
- Email comments should be submitted to: deirdre.buckley@state.ma.us (please include your
mailing address in the email if you would like to receive a copy of the Scope for the EIR)
- Make sure to include the project number: EOEA No. 13886
- Contact for project information: Stephen Woelfel, 617-973-7474
I included more information in my last newsletter about the progress on the Green Line
extension, including some suggested talking points that could be used in written comments. If
you would like this information, please email my legislative aide Liz Monnin-Browder at
Elizabeth.Monnin@state.ma.us or call 617-722-2810.
B) Caring for Elders at Home? Transportation Needs Focus Group
Attention, Caregivers of Elders (Children and Spouses): SCM Community Transportation, a
local non-profit provider of transportation services, is looking for focus group participants. SCM
wants to understand the transportation needs of today's elders who live at home, and how SCM
might better meet those needs.
Tentative date: Saturday, November 11 10:00-12:00.
Food and beverages will be provided.
Please contact Reed Cochran at 617.625.1191 x 24 or rcochran@scmtransportation.org.
C) Community Path Update: Plans, Funding, Moving Ahead!
I) Plans
This summer, at a well-attended community meeting, plans were unveiled for the extension of
the Somerville Bike Path/Community Path from its current terminus at Cedar Street to Central
Street. A feature of the elaborated design that was well received by the neighborhood is the
development of a new, passive “Greenway Park” in what is now a wooded area near the
intersection of Centre Street and Woodbine Street.
This wooded area is the northwestern end of a long parcel of land that extends southeasterly to
Central Street, where some of it is used as a parking lot. This land, opposite the Verizon
building on Central Street, belongs to the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). The Alliance has
offered to convey this land to the City of Somerville for the purpose of extending the
Bike/Community Path.
The City of Somerville is about to engage a contractor to assess whether there is any
contamination of the CHA parcel. At minimum, a great deal of debris must be removed from
the unpaved portion of the land, a project tentatively scheduled to occur this spring. Cleanup will
be followed by neighborhood meetings concerning the design of the new Greenway Park,
construction of which could commence as early as autumn, 2007.
I would have liked to have provided a link that would allow readers to see the plans so far.
Those plans, and a narrative about this and related projects, should be posted on the city's
website in early November. To check on these plans once they're posted, go to
the City's website.
II) Funding
I am delighted to announce that the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs has awarded a
$192,104 grant to the City of Somerville for the purpose of extending the path from Cedar Street
to Central Street, and for developing the “Greenway Park.” This funding allows for progress
to continue on the project as scheduled. Additionally, Congressman Capuano has secured an
earmark of $900,000 in a federal transportation funding bill, which Somerville now may also
be able to secure.
3) Public Health: Flu Shot Clinics
Free flu shots will be available to all Somerville residents over the age of 11 at a series of city-sponsored clinics beginning on Monday, October 30, 2006 and running through November.
- Clinics are open to Somerville residents over the age of 11 (parents must be present).
- Flu shots are free, but the city is reimbursed by Medicare for the cost of holding the clinics
- Please bring your Medicare Card or your Medicare HMO card (ie: Harvard Pilgrim “First
Seniority,” Blue Cross Blue Shield “Medicare HMO Blue” or “Medicare PPO Blue”, or Tufts
“Medicare Preferred”)
The schedule for flu clinics can be found on the
City of Somerville web site.
For more information on the flu, visit www.mass.gov/dph, or contact the Somerville Health
Department at 311.
4) Opportunities: MassGAP: Getting Qualified Women into Government
The Massachusetts Governor's Appointments Project (MassGAP 2006) is a bipartisan
collaboration of women's groups whose purpose is to increase the number of women appointed
by our new governor to senior cabinet level positions, agency heads, and selected authorities and
commissions in the Commonwealth. MassGAP was formed with the goal of eliminating the
difficulty that state executives claimed they experienced when they tried to find qualified women
for high-ranking positions.
MassGAP will start accepting resumes on November 8 (the day after election day), and will
screen resumes and forward selected resumes to the Governor-elect by the end of November.
To learn more and to submit your resume to MassGAP (after 11/8), visit www.massgap.org.
5) October Office Hours in Somerville
I invite you to join me for a cup of coffee during my upcoming office hours in Somerville. I
look forward to hearing your ideas, questions, and concerns.
This Saturday, October 28, 10-11:30am, Café Rossini, 278B Highland
6) Community Events: Ghosts of Somerville this Sunday
Historic Somerville will once again perform “The Ghosts of Somerville” at the historic Milk
Row Cemetery on Sunday, October 29, from 4pm until dusk. Hot cider will be served - but
remember, dress warm.
Material from this newsletter may be quoted freely, provided that it is credited to Denise
Provost, www.provost-citywide.org
copyright 2006 Denise Provost
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