Annual Report of the City of Cambridge

92 Pages·1995·8.1 MB·English

by  Cambridge (Mass.). Office of the City Manager.

ANNUAL REPORT
1993 1994
-
City of
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
FRONT COVER PHOTO
The Haggerty School, located on Cushing Street in West Cambridge, is the first totally
new elementary school to be built in the City in over two decades. Constructed at a cost
of $9.1 Million, it is expected to open in early 1995.
Printed on recycled material
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Manager’s Letter. 2 Fire .25
Organizational Chart . 6 Police.31
Profile of the City of Cambridge. 7 Traffic & Parking .32
Office of the Mayor. 8 Police Review & Advisory Board.34
Positive Edge.10 Inspectional Services .36
Environmental Program .11 License Commission .37
City Clerk.12 Consumer Council.39
Law Department.13 Weights & Measures .39
Finance . 14 Electrical.40
Administration .14 Emergency Management.40
Revenue . 14 Public Works.41
Cash Management/Payroll.14 Community Development .49
Pension Liability.14 Historical Commission.52
Claims Trust Fund.14 Conservation Commission.53
Budget.15 Peace Commission.55
Personnel.15 Rent Control.57
Affirmative Action.16 Cable TV.58
Purchasing.16 Water.59
Assessing.17 Library.62
Auditing .17 Health & Hospital .65
Management Information Systems.18 Human Services .72
Retirement System.18 Veterans’ Services.79
General Services.19 Commission on the Status of Women.79
Printing.19 Human Rights Commission.80
Election Commission.19 The Schools.82
Arts Council. 20 Fiscal Year 1994 - Facts on File.84
Animal Commission.24 Department Heads.86
Department Telephone Numbers.87
1
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS 02139
Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone]
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
ROBERT W. MEALY
City Manager
RICHARD C. ROSSI
Deputy City Manager
To the Honorable, the City Council,
Residents and Taxpayers of Cambridge:
On behalf of the City of Cambridge, its employees and the distinguished members of the City Council, I am
pleased to present to you the City of Cambridge’s Annual Report for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 1993, and ending
June 30, 1994. I believe you will find this Annual Report both interesting and informative as it recapitulates the
accomplishments and achievements of the City for Fiscal Year 1994.
The City continues to be in sound financial condition as demonstrated by a healthy increase in the year end annual
general fund balance and the retention of the City’s strong Aa' credit rating. TTie improvement in year end balance was
largely the result of the collection of over $5,000,000 in delinquent property taxes. TTie improved tax collections as well
as increases in other revenue sources such as the Hotel/Motel tax and the motor vehicle excise tax are reflective of the
overall improvement of both the region’s and the City’s economy. For more information on the City’s finances, I urge
readers to obtain a copy of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
The City’s strong financial position continues to allow the City to provide a wide array of programs and services
to our residents. Throughout this report the reader will find detailed narratives discussing those programs. The section
below highlights some of the particularly noteworthy achievements of FY94.
• Cambridge continued its commitment to protect and improve the health of the community in FY94. The Cambridge
Hospital, nationally recognized for its innovative neighborhood health care system, saw the official opening of the
Riverside Neighborhood Health Center thereby making quality health care more accessible to the residents of
Cambridge. Furthermore, both the Health and the Human Services Departments received substantial State grants
from revenue generated from the cigarette tax, for education on and prevention of tobacco use, and to provide
cessation programs for smokers who are trying to quit. Recognizing the hazards of second hand tobacco smoke, the
City Manager, by executive order, declared a smoking ban in all city-owned public buildings.
• Cambridge was one of eight communities nationally to receive a major grant to address lead in the City’s housing
stock; the Community Development Department successful secured a $3.34 million grant from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development for a new home deleading program. Community Development also served as a
national leader in the innovative implementation of the Federal HOME Program, which has provided $1.9 million
to the City for affordable housing development.
• In FY94, our school system continued to receive local and national recognition. The school received a three-year,
$1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation which is one of the largest grants the school has ever
received. The focus of the grant is on training classroom teachers in science education and improving science
instruction in grades K-9. The national media also recognized Cambridge schools: In September, 1993 ABC’s "This
Week With David Brinkley" broadcast a show on school choice that featured interviews with Cambridge parents;
in addition, ABC’s "Nightline" anchor Ted Koppel interviewed the Assistant Superintendent on the Algebra Project.
FY94 was also the first year under the Massachusetts Education Reform Act. This Act delegates more authority to
the Superintendent and school principals, and under the Act, each elementary school formed a School Improvement
Council which elected parents and teachers to develop improvement plans for the their respective schools.
• Cambridge also continues to place a high priority on public safety. The Cambridge Police added 37 sworn officers
in FY94. Additionally, 13 officers were relieved from administrative duty by hiring civilians and redeploying them
2
to the street. This brought the total FY94 increase of sworn police officers on the street to 50. Moreover, the Fire
Department increased the number of uniformed fire fighters by 30.
• Significant progress was made in the area of emergency communications. The City hired its first Emergency
Communications/911 Director, and began planning efforts to merge police, fire and emergency medical dispatching
into one consolidated dispatch center. Included in this project as well is the improvement of public safety computer
technology and police radio communications.
• Demonstrating its commitment to the employment of Cambridge residents, this year the City officially established
the Workforce Development Program. The primary goal of this program is to enhance and expand employment and
training services to Cambridge residents through a variety of mechanisms. The Program is also responsible for the
operation of the Citywide Youth Employment Office which, in partnership with local business, works to expand
employment and career opportunities for Cambridge youth. The Office is responsible for the operation of the
Cambridge Youth Employment Center (located at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School) which acts as a
direct link to graduating youth entering the workforce.
• The City continued its commitment to environmental preservation through the official establishment of the
Environmental Program. The program coordinates environmental planning, programming and response among City
Departments. The Environmental Program is also responsible for the coordination and implementation of the City’s
Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance which is aimed at improving air quality for the City.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Cambridge, its employees, and the distinguished
members of the City Council for their dedication and commitment in keeping Cambridge a fiscally sound city while still
offering the level services on which Cambridge residents have come to depend.
3
City Council
1993 - 1994
Front row, left to right. Councillors Katherine Triantafillou, Vice Mayor Sheila T. Russell, Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves,
Kathleen L. ^m. Back row, left to right, Jonathan S. Myers, Michael A. Sullivan, Francis H. Duehay, Timothy J. Toomey,
Jr., WiUiam H. Walsh.
City Council
1992 - 1993
Front row, left to right. Councillors Walter Sullivan, Sheila T. Russell, Alice K. Wolf, Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves. Back row,
10 to right, Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., Vice Mayor Edward N. Cyr, Jonathan S. Myers, William H. Walsh, Francis H.
E)uehay.
4
School Committee
1993 - 1994
Left to right, Committee members: Henrietta Davis; David Maher, Vice Chair; Fred Fantini; Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves,
Chair; Robin Harris; Joseph Grassi; Denise Simmons.
School Committee
1992 - 1993
Front row, left to right. Committee members: Denise Simmons; Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves, Chair; Henrietta Davis. Back
row, left to right, Fred Fantini; Larry Weinstein, Vice Chair; James Rafferty; David Maher.
5
u
c m fH
o 4J *44 « 0)
0) •H c 0 44 p
0) m o >4-1 •H Id p
o m ■r^ 0) P 0 U 0
•H -H m C 0) u c
> >-l g m m c 0) .H d 0 >4 Id
o „ g-H+J 0 OQ 0 0 H P X
U E 0) u 0 gj::-i Vi •H r-4 0
o OT c o e oioi ' 4J n t« Id 44 0)
c u 3 o-t o m c « X Id X r4
o r-l 0 m o PC--* >iC 0 ■rija •«-!«—( 4J f-H
i-H1 Id U ^ £ Vi «J U g44 CU 3 «H •*-!
4J <d C 0) c g Id Vi 0) BH m X Id >
OE(l)(na)Un]OV4(U4-><H O B O g 0) 0)
SQj.Sc+JEnJeoxiJJC^ 0 d) X 1? X z
<d r^ C (1) »H o 0) ^ n
•J) u < c3 S CUDC J > PC u
Vi O' <d
O m c •P
~1 0> u (D ‘r-l •H
Id o 0 0) C 0) Oi
a u moo vi u vix: m u
Id -H (UX-I Id CO-PO) O
z ^ o o > 0) Id >4-1 -H --1 n
Vi ■P W Vi >1 J 4J 3 4-1
>1« c > 0) 4J m c -P
■p </) 0 Vl >iOT --4 >1 0) -H 0 m ^
•H •r4 0) 4J c 4J Vl m -H C -H jd
u a 4-» w -H >iD -ri Id m m o x> 4i
Id C.-I conCmmid •H
* B Q)JC3Vi03T( -PVim Ql
T PM »B V0344g-T»£3(>Ug-P-gH-HQ.H)gga(l<)-Qr4 «0)
U Q)00^-H0jC30
R < OOiOWUUUfaU
A
H
Vi
O
C 0>
0)
Vl a
L •r 0
1 O' I
A P Vl Id
: 0 a >1
N >i +j
t •H
O X o
tn >1
I •Pr •pM
T
u U
A
Z m
p 0)
I TJ c o
N >1 p 0) c m P
0) Id g 0 0) > O'
A IH 0 0) -P P P C
• >1 <a X O' m 3 o-p
G Vl > 4-> (0 Id m m CO 4«:
O P Vl O' 4-1 --4 3 C-P Id p
O' a (U • c c u 0) Id g 0) rH Id
R « «) W >-r4 0) 4J 0 •H •rH X g X Id X
d a 0) CXI p -r| X iH > 0 *-H c
O Id 0 C P C Id >1 U P •9 0) >iO Id ta 0 ta
X 0 O' Id x: o O 3 X u o ♦rH
•M • #H (1) t—\ x: c Oi C 0) -P m 4-> o
>10) m O'Di PC Oi 4-> (U 0) 0) m p X o -P
+» > 0) 0 g 3 4-> o o 0>C 44 X: 0) >4-1
•H t> Q VlTJ >14-) W < c •P 0) -P POO O' Ol'IH
U Q PC 0^ P 0) »H Vh r-4 0 o o •p m Id
la 0 --1 Id P> o> O'g o-p 0 E -P r-l 0) C P
P > tax: g4J c C Di XXXXPUSmEh
d P O' p a w o -P •"H 0
at -P C O' 0 bi 1 -P c m rH
■P d •H c X5 1 n: g c 3 0)
u d c -H x: -1 1 0 Id 0 >
•fi4 c m oivJ 4-» c .H X (1)
u a Id 3 H r-l m 0 cv •o
rH 0 0) 3 3 O 0)
1^8 DiXZX^oW X
p
) 0
u O'
a Id
ta d u
d
H S-H
l4 Id O'
>l'*4 O'CrH
44 *44 >1 C-rl 0)
p (l)-H m c
4-1 3 3 m Id c
•H 0) m c m X 0
4> Id O'Id 0) 0) u m
d u T} (1) > m p p CO
d u 3 P 0) m 3 (U M
44 H m E-i X << X X X
u bi
•p
u
u a. s X o
<
6
A GENERAL PROHLE OF THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
The City of Cambridge is located in southeast Middlesex County across the Charles River from the City of Boston.
The City is bordered by the Towns of Watertown and Belmont on the west and the Town of Arlington and the City of
Somerville on the north, and occupies a land area of 6.26 square miles. According to the US Bureau of Census, the City’s
estimated population in Calendar year 1990 is 95,802, down from a 1950 peak of 120,740.
Cambridge, first settled in 1630 by a group from the Massachusetts Bay Company, was originally incorporated as
a town in 1636 and became a city in 1846. Since 1940, the City has had a council-manager form of government with nine City
Councilors elected at-large every two years.
Cambridge is widely known as a University City. Harvard, America’s oldest University, was established here in
1636, six years after the City itself was founded. It is also home to Radcliffe College, Lesley College, Cambridge College,
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Over one-fourth of its residents are students, and over one in six of all jobs are
in these institutions. Yet Cambridge is more than a college town. It features blue collar workers and professionals, political
activists, street musicians, and immigrants ftom around the world.
• Cambridge residents live closely together; only six US cities with a population over 75,000 are denser (Source; 1990 US
Bureau of Census).
• Cambridge is a city of 13 neighborhoods, ranging in population from 582 (Cambridge Highlands) to 13,006 (Mid
Cambridge) (Source: 1990 US Bureau of Census). Most neighborhoods have their own political and community
organizations. Residents often participate vocally in City debates.
• Cambridge is diverse ethnically. Seventy-five percent of all residents are white; 14% are black; 8% are Asian; and 3%
are other races, including American Indian. Seven percent (7%) of all residents are of Hispanic background (Source: 1990
US Bureau of Census).
• The fastest growing sector of the economy is the medical and biotechnical area, including biotechnology firms, hospitals,
medical laboratories and medical instrument makers. Employers in this group grew by an average rate of 112% between
1987 and 1990 (Source; 1991 City of Cambridge).
• Median 1989 family income was $39,990, compared to $17,845 in 1979. In 1989 dollars, this is an increase of 25%.
Median household incomes rose from $14,211 to $33,211, a growth of 30% when corrected for inflation. Seven percent
(7%) of all families have incomes below the poverty line (Source: 1990 US Bureau of Census).
• The local housing stock contains 41,979 units. Average household size in 1990: 2.08 persons/household (Source: 1990
US Bureau of Census).
• Cambridge is a city of renters. Seventy percent of all households are rented; 30% are owned. Nearly 13% of all homes
are single family; 36% contain 2-4 dwelling units; 13% have 5-9 units. The 38% remaining are in buildings of 9 or more
units. Twelve percent (12%) of all units are publicly owned or subsidized (Source: 1990 US Bureau of Census; Goetze,
Cambridge Housing Challenges).
• Housing costs have risen locally. The median price for a one-to-three family home in 1981 was $84,550; in 1991 it was
$200,000. Condominium median price was $160,000 in 1991, up from $37,000 in 1981. The average rent in 1990 was
$632 (Source: Banker and Tradesman. 1990 US Bureau of Census).
• Nearly two thirds of all local jobs are in services (64%). Service employment is dominated by education, health services
and business services, including research and computer/software services. Fifteen percent (15%) of all jobs are in the
retail and wholesale trade; 7% are in manufacturing. Other major employers include: government, finance, insurance and
real estate, and transportation. The largest employers in Cambridge include Harvard University, MIT, Polaroid, Draper
Labs, Mt. Auburn Hospital and Lotus Development (Source: 1990 City of Cambridge).
• Many Cambridge residents work in professional and managerial occupations (47%); another 31 % work in technical, sales
and clerical positions; 11 % work in service occupations; and 11 % work in blue collar trades such as precision production,
craft, repair and machine operations (Source: 1990 US Bureau of Census).
• Though famous for education, Cambridge is also an industrial city. The first ladder factory in America was built here.
Other factory "firsts:" piano keys, reversible collars, waterproof hats and mechanical egg beaters.
• Cambridge remains an innovator of new industries. Important high technology industries, many of them aided by MIT,
include computer software, artificial intelligence, optic^ instruments, advanc^ materials and biotechnology.
7
Office of the Mayor OfTidal Functions/Public Events
The Office of the Mayor organizes, supports, and
What the Mayor Does - An Overview sponsors city-wide public events, such as the Harvard Yard
Rcnic and MTT Golden Age Luncheon for senior citizens,
Whether so intended or not, the function of the Office receptions for community groups and visiting dignitaries
of the Mayor of Cambridge is a full time endeavor. The such as Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide, and other
citizens of Cambridge have high expectations of their multicultural celebrations, such as Black History Month,
elected officials, and rightfully so. C^tabrigians expect, Caribbean Carnival, Gay Pride, Women’s History Month,
for one, that their elected officials be accessible, and visible and Veterans’ Day, throughout the year.
in the community. Our form of government in the City of In addition, the Mayor, with the assistance of various
Cambridge, "Plan E," clearly invests the City Manager volunteer committees, maintains Cambridge’s "Sister City"
wnth the mandate to manage the operations of the City on relations with six cities rqiresenting diverse nationalities,
a day-to-day basis. Yet it is the Office of the Mayor to cultures, and geographical regions of the globe. Currently,
whom many of our citizens look for leadership, vision and Cambridge’s "Sister Cities" are Bulawayo, Zimbabwe;
action on important civic and social issues. Coimbra, Portugal; Gaeta, Italy; Las Flores, El Salvador;
Mayor Reeves has strived to make not only his Tsukuba, Japan; and Yerevan, Armenia. Official delega¬
office, but each City Dqwtment more accessible to our tions from our Sister Cities in Zimbabwe and J^)an,
residents, and more responsive to their needs and concerns. including the Mayors of these cities, will be visiting
To the credit of our City, significant progress has been Cambridge in the fall of 1994, with the delegation from
made in this area, in many instances tWugh constituent Bale, Japan presenting a special gift to Cambridge: a hand
referrals and other linkages forged by Mayor Reeves’ staff. carved, three ton, twelve foot Japanese stone lantern. The
During his tenure in office. Mayor Reeves has made true value of our Sister Cities affiliations lies in their
a personal commitment to make his office - and his ear - potential for fostering education, cultural exchange, tourism
accessible to every resident of the City of Cambridge. To and trade.
this end. Mayor Reeves has actively listened to the con¬
Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and
cerns and ne^ of each resident, during each call or visit,
other Youth Initiatives
and has structured the functions of his office, office staff,
and programs in a way which will most capably address
the needs of this increasingly diverse population of our
City.
Constituent Services
One of the most vital functions of the Office of the
Mayor is our Constituent Services. Each day, the Office of
the Mayor receives literally dozens of citizen grievances of
inadequate services; requests for food, housing and job
search assistance; and requests for intervention on behalf
of City residents with landlords, tenants, financial aid
offices of various colleges and schools, utility companies,
businesses, neighbors, and others. In many cases, these
constituents may have exhausted the usu^ process for
resolution of their problem, and found little or no satisfac¬
tion. They turn to the Office of the Mayor, rightfully
expecting that their elected officials act as advocates for
Mayor Reeves converses with a young man employed
them. The diversity and volume of these requests is indeed
through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment
the sign of a healthy government, in which our citizens are
Program.
empowered to take part, and put government to work for
them.
Often the Office of the Mayor can respond to the
Mayor Reeves has built a strong record of advocacy
needs of a citizen by referring them to another City
department, making a phone call, or writing a letter on for and involvement with youth and their concerns. Under
their behalf. When a constituent request requires continued his direction, the Office of the Mayor has sponsored
intervention or involvement, experienced staff in the Office several Youth Town Meetings, where youth meet with
of the Mayor will work with a constituent to address his or pubUc officials ranging from the Mayor to School Commit¬
her immediate and long term needs. Despite the diversity tee members and others, to define the concerns of youth
and volume of requests that have been received, the Office and offer suggestions on how these concerns can b^t be
of the Mayor has yet to turn someone away without addressed.
lending an attentive ear, offering hope and giving a kind We live in a time when youth questions whether
word of encouragement. The Mayor Reeves’ Constituent society has a meaning role for them, or whether youth
Services staff are on call throughout the day to listen to the want Ae roles to which society has relegated them. Mayor
needs of constituents. Reeves has put youth concerns at the top of his action
8