Government Central Legislative Affairs Update by Terrence F. Smith

Henrietta Davis Elected Mayor
On February 22, the City Council elected Henrietta Davis Mayor and Denise Simmons Vice Mayor. The election was held at a Special Meeting of the Council called to discuss the City’s response to MBTA proposed fare increases and service changes and to again vote for a Mayor.

Mayor Davis was first elected to the City Council in 1995 and has twice served as Vice Mayor. She has also served on the School Committee. Vice Mayor Simmons was first elected to the City Council in 2001 and has served one term as Mayor. She also served on the School Committee prior to her election to the City Council.

Healy Addresses February GAC
Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy addressed the February Government Affairs Committee (GAC) meeting and luncheon. He announced that the City has again received a Triple A rating from the three municipal bond rating agencies. The City has saved more than $10 million in interest costs since 2000 due to the Triple A rating.

The City Manager discussed proposed MBTA service reductions and fare increase and concern about the MBTA deficit and the larger issue of funding transportation. Healy said the MBTA is of great importance to Cambridge and the City is particularly concerned about any service reductions. He said that addressing the current MBTA deficit is a first step in addressing the State’s larger transportation funding issues.

Mr. Healy discussed economic development and said that there is a great deal of activity in Kendall Square including projects by Novartis, Biogen Idec, Skanska Broad Institute, Pfizer and more than a dozen new restaurants within the last nine months. The City continues to be an attractive place to invest.

The Manager reported that the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1, will include employee raises of 2.5 to 3.5%, following no wage increases in the current fiscal year. Health care costs are still an issue but the budget impact has been reduced by a combination of a lower rate of increase and increased employee contributions. The City is working to control energy costs and cited several examples, including changing streetlights to LEDs and installation of more efficient pump motors and photovoltaic panels at the Water Treatment Plant.

Healy said that the City’s banking services will go out to bid this year and that one of the major issues in past procurements, counting change from parking meters, is not part of this bid. The City has contracted with the MBTA for coin sorting and counting. He encouraged banks to bid for the City’s banking services.

City Manager’s Contract
On March 19, the City Council voted to extend City Manager Robert Healy’s contract through June 30, 2013. The Council passed Policy Order 7 to extend the contract and order the Council’s Government Operations and Rules Committee to begin a short and long term process for succession planning.

City Manager Healy’s contract was set to expire on September 30, 2012 and under the contract the Council was required to inform the Manager and the Manager was required to inform the Council by March 30, 2012 if they would be asking him to continue or if he would like to continue beyond September. Following the March 19 meeting, City Manager Healy announced he would retire at the end of the new contract.

Chambers for Innovation & Clean Energy
Almost two years ago the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce joined Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), a coalition of chambers of commerce interested in promoting energy efficiency, clean energy and innovation. Terrence Smith, CCC Director of Government Affairs, is a member of the CICE Advisory Committee. CICE recently updated its website, www.chambersforinnovation.com, and added information to help businesses reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and share information about innovation. Terry is seeking feedback on the site and information on what our members would like included. Please check out the site and contact Terry at tsmith@cambridegchamber.org.

Thank you to Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. and Forest City Enterprises, Inc. for sponsoring the 2012 Government Affairs Committee programming. Keep up with Government Affairs news by signing up for the weekly Government Affairs Update at www.cambridgechamber.org/business/government_monthly.html#gcamail. For more information, contact Director of Government Affairs Terrence Smith at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or (617) 876-4213.  


 “Help Wanted!” We need you! Are you looking to get more involved? We have openings on many CCC committees. Visit www.cambridgechamber.org/involved/committees.html or call Kelly at (617) 876-4217

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