City-Required Site Safety Plans, Contact Tracing Requirements, and Cleaning Protocols Added to Enhance Safety and Sustainability of Reopening

Creative Sidewalk Expansion Efforts, Proposed Expedited Permitting Underway to Support Outdoor Dining

Board of Health urges continued caution; coronavirus remains an active threat

The Somerville School Committee and the Somerville Teachers Association (STA) Paraprofessionals Unit C reached a tentative agreement yesterday on a 3-year contract that reflects the City’s and District’s commitment to equity and the important role that Paraprofessionals play in our schools supporting and working with classroom teachers. The tentative agreement reached requires ratification by the Union membership and the School Committee. The final offer came after months of negotiation to reach a fiscally responsible and sustainable agreement acceptable to all parties.

On Sunday, June 14, the City of Somerville will recognize Flag Day as a day of remembrance and reflection to honor those lost to the COVID-19 virus and those who have been victims of systematic racism. The Mayor and City Council ask that everyone take time on this day to personally acknowledge and reflect on the gravity of these events and to mourn the loss of life associated with them. Residents are encouraged to reclaim our nation's flag as a symbol of hope, welcome, comfort, and progress during these trying times.

The City of Somerville, Cataldo Ambulance, and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) formally launch their mobile COVID-19 testing unit in Somerville this week. The mobile unit, designed to lower barriers to testing and offer equitable access, is the next phase of the City’s COVID Action Plan to control the spread of the virus via testing, contact tracing, and safe isolation. The mobile testing unit will accept patients by appointment at roaming locations, as well as hold designated testing days for residents of senior housing buildings.

Somerville’s second Shared Streets route, which connects West Somerville and Davis Square, is set to open Tuesday, June 23. The Shared Streets initiative opens up low-volume or residential side-streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicle access for residents who live on the street or who need to use the street to get to their homes, first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers.

Pools, playgrounds, and splash pads will be opening in Somerville soon with new safety protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The City is also putting summer face covering guidelines into effect. Effective immediately, face coverings are still required for people ages 2 and up at all times when in public both indoors and outdoors, with the exception that during the hot weather season masks may be removed temporarily when outdoors if a distance of at least six feet from others can be maintained. Medical and disability exceptions continue to apply.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced that $1 million in Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief funds will be awarded to 123 local, small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by federal Community Development Block Grant monies, the Fund will issue forgivable loans to businesses in the city that collectively employ about 600 people.
 

All interested community members are invited to attend and speak at the Budget Public Hearing before the City Council’s Committee on Finance on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at 6 p.m., for public input on the proposed FY 2021 municipal budget. Written testimony will also be accepted (see below).

Because of Governor Baker’s and Mayor Curtatone’s recent orders limiting the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation, online in a webinar hosted on the GoToWebinar platform.

Learn more at https://www.somervillema.gov/FY21Budget