Those who stood up for block-grant funds April 19, 2017. Read about it >> / Julie Wayman photo
UPDATED, March 1: A federal program that provides funds for housing and other services to low- and moderate-income residents — which has been targeted for cuts by the Trump administration — is seeking more money than last year.
Arlington’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is requesting $1,758,870, up from $1,654,224 this year. Local representatives presented their annual funding requests and midyear report to selectmen Monday, Feb. 26.
Speaking at the meeting were Susan Carp, executive director, Council on Aging; Janet Maguire and Peggy Regan, Ottoson teachers; Pamela Hallett, executive director, Housing Corporation of Arlington; Lisa Urban, Fidelity House; Julie Kramer and Diane Dupont, Foodlink; Derek Curren, executive director, Boys & Girls Club; and John Marshall, director of recreation.
Among the amounts sought is $200,000 for capital improvement sought by the Housing Corporation of Arlington. The works aims to repair HCA properties townwide built in the early to mid 1900s.
The board voted unanimously to receive both the performance update for CDBG’s 2017-18 program year as well as the initial CDBG funding request for 2018-19, referring these requests to the CDBG committee.
Arlington has been receiving federal block grants for 43 years, since the beginning of the program, in 1975. The town received 22 proposals this year, said Julie Wayman, block-grant administrator.
See links to their requests for funding the applications >> See the midyear report >>
“CDBG is a safety net, and the different applicants support and complement each other,” board Chairman Joseph A. Curro Jr. said.
Helping our community
For instance, many programs provide services for children from low-income families. Teachers Maguire and Regan run “Operation Success,” a service to students living in Menotomy Manor that encourages them to attend at least one cultural event a year.
Another request came from Arlington’s Boys & Girls Club, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The club supports the Jobs-Jobs-Jobs programs for teens, and an annual scholarship program. Curren said 35 families received scholarships last year, and would like to provide for 50 families this year.
The recreation department provides scholarships as well as 200-plus programs to more than 10,000 residents. “It’s a great help to everyone in the community,” says Marshall.
Food Link provides food to low-income families, including the Arlington food pantry, Arlington Eats, Boys & Girls Club, Fidelity House, Germaine Lawrence, Council on Aging and the Senior Center.
Town Meeting articles: 5 OK’d, 2 tabled, 1 to committee
Selectmen approved the following five warrants, to be voted on at the annual Town Meeting, starting April 23 (see links to Town Counsel Doug Heim’s comments about these proposals >>):
Article 6 (Capital Planning Committee) aims to change the number of registered voters on the Capital Planning Committee from four to as many as six, and have the ending dates of members’ terms be staggered; they currently all end simultaneously. Having extra committee members “is an excellent idea because of all the work they do,” said board member Clarissa Rowe.
Article 11 (Vacant Storefront Registry) updates an article approved last spring. It seeks to extend the period of time a property is not used or occupied before being considered “vacant” from 21 days to 90 days.
Heim says that “21 days is not enough time to advertise and then fill the store,” and the recommended 90 days “gives enough time to determine if they need a waiver.”
Article 13 (Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture) aims to coordinate all of Arlington’s arts organizations into one, unified community, with four subcommittees. “Putting all four organizations under one umbrella, reducing redundancy, makes sense,” Curro said.
Article 14 (Tree Preservation and Protection) aims to increase the fees for tree removal, or to authorize the Board of Selectmen to set tree removal fees, to reflect the true cost of tree removal. “It’s a good idea to do it by tree size, under the purview of the selectmen,” said Rowe. (This bylaw applies only when seeking demolition or a permit, not when taking down one’s own trees.)
Article 21 (Vote/Vision 2020) seeks to change the name of the Vision 2020 Standing Committee to “Envision Arlington.” Sue Doctrow, Vision 2020 member, says, “We need to rename 2020 because it’s not that far off in the future, and the new name is timeless.”
Selectmen voted to table the following two warrants:
Article 7 (Town Meeting Warrant Delivery) seeks to change the manner in which warrants are delivered. Town Meeting members would continue to receive paper copies, whereas all other residents would be notified electronically. Traditionally, a warrant booklet printed by The Advocate has been mailed to all homes in town.
Switching to predominantly electronic delivery would “save paper and money,” said Town Moderator John Leone. However, Selectmen expressed concerned that many residents still expect and prefer paper copies.
Article 15 (Noise Abatement) seeks to reduce the permissible hours and noise volume generated by parties and events on residential private property.
“Amplification noise is dreadful, and police need to be enforcers. The town needs to do a little work before we’re ready to go to Town Meeting,” said Rowe.
Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said he will check police records to see whether the issue raised by resident Meredith DeMola regarding her neighbor’s loud parties is widespread, or at just this one house, before any decisions are made.
Selectmen voted to send the following article to the Procedures Committee:
Article 16 (Time of Town Meeting Sessions) aims to start Town Meetings an hour earlier, at 7 p.m., so they end an hour earlier, which is more convenient for some members.
“Town Meeting previously voted on this, and the time change was voted down. The Procedures Committee is now working on this,” said Leone, representing proponent Bill Hayner.
All votes were 4-0. Selectman Kevin Greeley was absent because of the death of his mother.
White Ribbon Day: Everyone can participate March 1
March 1 is proclaimed “White Ribbon Day” in Arlington, as unanimously approved by selectmen Feb. 26.
The effort encourages men and boys to be part of the solution in ending violence against women, and to change societal attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate gender-based discrimination.
You can help support this campaign simply by wearing a white ribbon on Thursday, March 1. Get your free ribbon, and a copy of the pledge, from the Board of Selectmen’s Office at Town Hall.
Caryn Malloy, the town’s human-resources director, says this event shows the “seriousness that Arlington takes regarding sexual harassment.” The town’s policy, last revised in 2013, is being updated to include pregnancy as a protected class. See the town’s policy >>
New Rainbow Commission
Arlington now has its own Rainbow LGBTQ+ Commission. Selectmen unanimously agreed to appoint the following residents to this newly created group:
Jacquelyn Dembro – Facilitator at HOBY, a leadership seminar for high school students (three-year term).
Bill Gardin – Steering committee vice chair of the Mystic LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network (Queer Mystic), a grass-roots organization that supports the safety, well-being and celebration of LGBTQ+ youth in and around Arlington (two-year term).
Mel Goldsipe – Arlington Human Rights Commission member (one-year term).
Brooks Harrelson – Vision 2020 Diversity Task Group member (three-year term).
Lisa Krinsky – Director of LGBT Aging Project, a program of Fenway Health, creating welcoming and inclusive environments for LGBT older adults and caregivers (three-year term).
Helene Newberg – Diversity Awareness program facilitator at Lotus/IBM (two-year term).
“You make the town work, and we appreciate your expertise,” said Selectman Dan Dunn, who will be the committee’s liaison to the board.
The commission includes Anna Watson (one-year term), appointed by the School Committee.
Enhanced Surveillance Study Committee
The town’s Surveillance Study Committee, previously consisting of four members, now has six. Selectmen unanimously approved the following representatives:
Douglas Funkhauser – 30-year Harvard employee, longtime Arlington resident.
Jon Gersh – Town Meeting member, software engineer.
Gary Horowitz – Arlington Human Rights commissioner
Ian Pilarczyk – Lawyer, college lecturer and administrator.
Stephen Revilak – Town Meeting member, Information Technology Advisory Committee member, software developer.
Mark Streitfeld – Concerned with data collection and surveillance, yet wants to protect civil liberties.
The Surveillance Study Committee, established in February 2017, examines the town’s use of surveillance cameras and their impact on privacy, civil liberties and human rights.
Recent appointments/reappointments
Selectmen unanimously approved the following town appointments and reappointments:
Stephen Poltorzycki – Appointed to the Arlington Committee on Tourism and Economic Development. Attorney, real estate agent, Arlington Commission on Arts commissioner, and member of the Arlington Center for the Arts, Sustainable Arlington and Chamber of Commerce (term expires 2/28/21).
Karen Bishop – Appointed to the Board of Youth Services. Associate executive director at The Learning Center for the Deaf, coaches town sports (term expires 1/31/21).
Cynthia DeAngelis – Reappointed to the Commission on Disabilities (term expires 1/31/21).
Roland Demers – Reappointed as Constable (term expires 1/31/21).
Special requests
Selectmen unanimously granted the following special one-day requests:
Beer and Wine License, March 3, Masonic Hall, Elizabeth Warren Campaign Fundraiser.
All-Alcohol License, March 24, Arlington Catholic High School Gym, Annual Quiz Night.
April 23, 2017: Town sticks up for U.S. grass-roots funds; will you?
This news summary, by YourArlington freelance writer Susan Gilbert, was published Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, and was updated the next day, to add votes.
