Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.

Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.

Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.We’ll also share the recording of this mtg

Can you post on Neighborhood Nextdoor?

Stack

Town Hall meeting information 2/16 6pm https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityCalendar/view.aspx?guid=71fc15938aa642798aed75888caad959

Information regarding timeline, focus groups etc. https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=4043

Randi Frank, our Executive Search Firm consultant can be reached at Cambridge@RandiFrank.com for questions/comments

And you can always email me at amallon@cambridgema.gov

Agree with primary importance of climate change and recognizing that it’s a state of emergency

I agree with Diane Martin that commitment to dealing with the Climate Crisis with an environmental justice lens must be uppermost.

I assume Marie is referring to “Biosafety Level[s].”

Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.We’ll share the recording.

Welcome to Councilor Toner!

I want to amplify Gwen Speeth's comment that an environmental justice lens is super important to how we approach the climate emergency

I agree with Marie about biolabs in residential areas and what the levels mean in impacting the neighborhoods.

Agree we should look for someone from outside Cambridge and Middlesex county who can bring fresh vision

I agree with Diane Martin that addressing the climate crisis should be a central concern of the new city manager, and that figuring out how individual departments of the City can do their part in addressing climate change is key.

Thank you, Heather!

I thank everyone for adhering to the time allotted to share.

I agree with Heather that the manager should not be afraid of no knowing everything and is willing to reach out. That other opinions area valid too. They also need to be independent thinking.

I agree with Mike regarding attention to equity, resilience and housing.

Agree with alternatives to the police

I agree with Catherine Hoffman that alternatives to police should be a priority for the next City Manager

Agree re: responsiveness to City Council.

I agree with Mike Nakagawa that we need to prioritize resiliency - social, climate, change of all kinds - with a view to greater equity and jobs of all kinds, not just new R & D, high-end real estate, etc.

Agree with City Manager in partnership with the Council and neighborhoods as opposed to concentration of power

I agree with Cathy Hoffman's call for creativity in dealing with city needs.

I agree so much with Catherine Hoffman that City Manager should work with our elected representatives

I agree with Cathy about finding omeone who is open to cutting edge alternatives around housing, equity, climate change.

Agree with emphasis on HEART proposal

Agree with speakers who have spoken to our climate crisis being front and center, not only with mitigation strategies but making the most vulnerable neighborhoods resilient, of course with a key priority being environmental justice at the core of climate crisis initiatives.

Yes on Municipal Broadband.

Agree on Prioritizing renters. Renters are not "temporary" citizens, they are the core of our city

Yes to not treating neighborhoods as "Sacrifice Zones"

I think the housing issue - equity in housing - be a priority. We can't keep good teachers because they can't afford to live in Cambridge and there is NO parking. I'm a retired teacher. Also, placing low income and middle income tenants in ultra small apartments in renovated buildings while gentrifying everywhere else is not the answer. Decent apartments and houses should be available to low to middle income people.

Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.

I would like to see a manager who is familiar with and implements methods of conflict resolution and engagement about conflict which are inclusive.

Agree with less emphasis on growing tax revenue

I agree with Mike Nakagawa that resilience is a broad priority touching on climate change mitigation, jobs, housing, better representation on boards and task forces (not just people who all agree with one another).

Agree: Diversity is our strength and we should be cultivating it

Agree with less concern with growing tax revenue and more emphasis on providing services to our most vulnerable citizens.

I agree with Richard Krushnic, and want to make sure that diversity isn’t just racial, but economic as well.

Allan Sadun is spot on!

An issue that has broad effect on so many things people see as problems is the policy choice to prioritize the AAA bond rating and low residential tax rate, which has resulted in a preference for high-end commercial property over housing, a preference for the functional equivalent of extended-stay motels being almost all the new housing that's built, and the resulting housing squeeze that has raised property values in an unsustainable manner and hollowed out our residents.

Agree fully with those looking for emphasis on creative solutions to how the city builds affordable housing and incentives developers to do this, too. This speaks directly to the concerns raised by a number of speakers about the strengths that comes from our city celebrating diversity among its residents.

I agree that dense housing is one of the solutions we need in order to address the Climate Crisis

Yes, Ellen. So true.

Agree with Ellen, we need to make affordable housing that is not limited by citizenship.

actually the power of a tsa but that is granted to him as well.

tsar

Agree with social housing

Agree with Carolyn: Manager will listen to and work with the elected Council and be transparent when ignoring Council mandates.

Thank you, Carolyn.

I want to see Cambridge push our neighboring communities to do more. Duplicate the things that have made Cambridge great in other areas - walkable communities with jobs/housing/amenities that are quickly reachable by public transit, and to have a good regional transportation system, so that people who don't necessarily want to live in Cambridge but want access to the urban core can get here in a reasonable time without a car.

Ground rules: Please be civil. Be brief so more people can speak. Stay positive: say what you’d like to see in a new manager. Please stay muted until you speak.To speak, use the reaction button to raise your hand. People will be called on in the order they raise their hand. People can’t speak again unless all who want to speak have spoken. You can also comment in the chat, especially if you want to agree with a comment.You will get a poll soon after the meeting is over so that we can get an idea of peoples’ priorities. We will send a different follow-up poll based on the discussion and a report on the meeting to participants and the city a week later.Agenda:1. Vice Mayor Mallon explains hiring process, timeline and ways to give input2. Issues; each person has 90 seconds to speak3. Characteristics/attributes; each person has 60 seconds to speakThe meeting will end at 5:30pm. We will have an extra 15-20 minutes after meeting for folks to talk more.

Agree with Mike Nakagawa

While Lee is right about the executive power of the City Manager, the Mayor and the City Council is the policy body. So the City Councillors need to insist on their policy role be recognized by the Manager.

Agree about not building in flood plains!

Agree support for small business is critical.

Agree with everything Nicola has said

Thanks, Nicola.

Agree with prioritizing public tranisit, so fewer people need cards.

Boards and Commissions should be appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

Agree with Nicola as well. Small businesses are being stressed by rents as much as residents

Agree with Alice on commission appointments.

@Alice, as you know, Council cannot force a City Manager to do anything he (and so far they've all be male) doesn't want to do. We need a city manager that wants to work with Council in order have that collaboration, otherwise there's not a lot Council can do about it.

Agree we need a Manager who wants to work collaboratively with the Council

See https://www.cambridgema.gov/Services/combinedseweroverflows

agree with everything that Nicola says. pathway to ownership, small business support, food insecurity, eliminate conflict of interest (including City Council) the city needs proper city planning, community focused, diversity, creating city-owned housing.

I agree with Gwen on the Alewife Brook/sewage issues.

Agreed with Nicola about equity across the board - and I would hope to see regular reporting on progress towards equity goals and outcomes

Mike. The City Council hires and can fire the Manager.

Whoever does appointments shouldn't be afraid of choosing gadflies (within reason).

the new manager must not be an “inside appointment” who acts on behalf of only one part of the Council.. We must go outside to find an objective individual.

I would like the city manager to pull people together instead of marginalizing the ones who don't already agree with the pre-ordained decision.

The City Council ought to do that, too.

Alice, is that the way to run a city, threatenm to fire the leader of the executive branch for each decision that isn't liked? We need a city manager who wants to work with the community. The past city managers know that they weren't actually going to be fired.

If anyone wants more information about the Alewife Brook sewage issue (52 million gallons of sewage-contaminated stormwater in 2021), go to savethealewifebrook.org

I would like the city manager to be someone who looks at and encourages others to look at issues in a comprehensive way, attends to downstream effects of decisions, relies on data and brings best practices in city planning to Cambridge

Agree with Gwen about prioritizing runoff/sanitation/pollution issues in the Alewife flood plain.

People have been referring to supporting “HART” - what are they referring to?

Agree with Gwen on pressing need for City Manager to understand the ramifications of development in flood zones, such as Alewife and acts proactively to mitigate what could be disastrous consequences if sewage continues to overflow and/or extreme storms that we can expect to see as climate change intensifies and more flooding occurs.

Here’s a link to the HEART Program behind referenced (correct me if I’m wrong, folks): https://linktr.ee/CambridgeHEARTProgram

HEART = Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team

Agree with Green circular economy

being*

^Alison- HEART is an alternative to policing that is separate from police.

Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART) is a program to create peer rsponders as alternative to police

Smaller, locally-owned businesses have been priced out of Harvard Square and elsewhere.

Agree with trees

Indeed, E.J.

Agreed about using the city’s purchasing power to support local, independent businesses!

Agree with need to address needs of small businesses and to foster diversity along multiple dimensions

Agree with biodiversity

This one is the website for HEART https://www.cambridge-heart.org/

agree about decreasing toin use by the city

Thank you, Virginia!

Welcome 😊. Happy to be here.

Affordable housing should be distributed throughout all Cambridge that includes West Cambridge where to my understanding affordable housing has yet to appear .

Harry Spence!!! Yes, he is a local hero.

Agree that small businesses have been pricing out of Cambridge. We also must advocate for a more diverse, equitable and inclusive small business ecosystem in Cambridge.

Thanks to all who helped me “have HEART” 😉

CHEART was begun by Black and Brown Cambridge-rooted people to conceive of community safety in the interests of all residents but especially those who have been most marginalized. Already receiving some private funds and underway with training responders, HEART is a deeply community led vision which garnered the approval of 8 City Councilors in June but then it went to the Manager and has been languishing and being subjugated to a city-funded Public Safety Department which will hire its own responders and be based in the police station.

Great summary Catherine

Agree with Claudia. I would love to see a City Manager willing to work with other nearby municipalities, especially in terms of transportation, housing and the environment.

I was wondering how the City Mgr could impact our relationship to larger regional agencies such as MBTA, MDC, etc.

Agree with regional focus

I'm not too keen on how Harry Spence approached court reorganization, perhaps because I've seen the effects. I'm sure there are lessons to be learned from his experience in Chelsea.

John Hawkinson, the City of Cambridge website you give does not give the full picture of the Alewife Brook sewage issues, as the data presented uses modeling, rather than the actual data that are being collected. Savethealewifebrook.org (created by an Arlington Town Meeting Member to advocate for her Enivronmental Justice Community constituents). It collects the data buried in links behind the (legally mandated) City website.

agree with Carole OHare that a manager is not only based on financial and AAA rating but using our resources to help residents beyond building to for economic justice, small business, community oriented.

The City Manager must require and or expect all members of the City Council to be respectful in their discourse towards other agency leadership and amongst themselves.

agree with regional transportation. The targeting of affordable housing tends to be outside the trans system and aggravates some of the talking points.

Agree with subsidized/free MBTA passes for our residents, Agree with racial justice need. Agree with working with neighboring municipalities

Valerie, we need respect for the public as well.

I agree with Phyllis. I love to see more mixed income housing and “housing that is affordable for all.”

It's pouring.

I want a City Manager who *won't* put the people who already live here ahead of everyone else. Thousands of newcomers come to Cambridge every year to gain the skills and resources to change the world. We should welcome them with open arms.

The rainy day is here@

!

I agree with Phyliss that affordable housing should be similar to the housing where residents of the three major income level

agree with Phyllis. Warehousing low income people is tandamount to segregated housing.

I think Phyllis is describing social housing. In any case, I strongly agree with her that we need city supported mixed income housing.

(Continue) income levels share housing within the same complex.

Yes on nimble action on COVID policies.

One thing that I should have said that I haven't heard explicitly said by anyone is maintenance of what we have. Too much city property is falling apart because maintenance isn't sexy.

I need to leave early, but re: desired characteristics, I would seek a manager with an explicit commitment to accountability to the elected city council and its priorities. This would include offering a concrete process for monitoring that accountability and, ideally, expertise in some of the key areas such as climate resiliency, social housing, policing alternatives, municipal broadband, etc.

Agree with Ms Bonds - mixed income housing under same roof.

I agree with Rena for the need of city-wide planning.

There is an example of the housing Phyliss speaks of under Peter Daly, HRI.

Mary Baine Campbell, we absolutely need more democracy.

Agree with making city government more democratic and Manager who supports this

I definitely agree on more forceful COVID-19 mandates.

agree with Monica on the arts— it’s part of what makes cambridge vibrant!

Agree with support for arts

Well-said, Phyllis. It’s not time to save money for a rainy day when we’re in a tsunami. It’s a time to spend it, among other things, on maintaining and improving natural infrastructure creatively to make life better for ALL Cantabridgians, rather than assuming that the highest good is not raising real estate taxes on homeowners (I say this as a homeowner).

thankyou Monica for advocating for the arts. I totally agree of the desirability of a city which invests in theater, visual arts, writing in publicly accessible funded ways .

Yes, to phasing out city manager form of government -

I love Stephanie’s comment about “finding ways to say yes.”

I agree that we must have a City Manager who recognizes the central role that the arts play in quality of life for all, who sees the arts as essential and complementary to strengthening all other priorities by allowing communities to express themselves.

Stephanie - Love that we have a Manager the makes sure our Solicitor is more solutions-driven and looking what it possible vs. what is not possible.

Yes to Stephanie and Kathy

I agree on no one from current administration

Yes to phasing out city manager form for democratically elected mayor

Agree with Stephanie that we need a City Manager who respects democracy

I would like a city manager who holds the universities to account and demands more from them

Phasing out City Manager will require overhauling the City Charter. I believe that Councilor Nolan and others have advocated revisiting the Charter.

Yes, Stephanie. No mention of Cambridge HEART?

Agree with Stephanie regarding accountability from corporations who can do more of their share for an more equitable and just city

I have to jump off, thank you to the Cambridge Residents Alliance for putting this together! Again here is the link to the Town Hall on 2/16 at 6pm https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityCalendar/view.aspx?guid=71fc15938aa642798aed75888caad959

Transitioning to an elected mayor rather than a City Manager would be a great idea.

Thank you vice mayor!

A manager who will hire a new City Solicitor based on his/her/their values

Thanks to the Vice Mayor!

Any questions/concerns, please email Randi Frank @ Cambridge@RandiFrank.com or me @ amallon@cambridgema.gov

Didn't we just pass a ballot initiative to revisit the City Charter? 🧐

agree with elizabeth werby about getting more from the universities

only in minor ways - council appointing commissions, annual reviews of the manage.

How A-level will the city manager applicant pool be for a city that might be phasing out the job?

Yes to transparency

Totally agree that the rainy day is here! And that ideas that will help us adapt to it have been defeated not just by the city manager but by the money and influence of developers. I think the violent reactions to quick-plan bicycle safety and bus lanes have to do in large part with the general feeling that between lack of democracy and presence of mega-money we have neither agency nor representation in major policy enactments.

This is not a comment, but a question (given that earlier speakers have said they either want the new manager to NOT be from / live in Cambridge or TO be from / live in Cambridge): what do people see as the advantages of each side?

I agree with Stephanie that we need city solicitor who is not “tied” to existing city employees

youth is good as long as their is wisdom and experience in the breadth of transparency.

Maybe we don't need police to cover everything, and we have an alternative to armed city officials interacting with the community. (e.g. Cambridge HEART)

Alison, I think the biggest reason people want new blood is the perception (which I share) of rampant cronyism.

Carol OHare--for the right person, helping a city to transition to democratic government could be something to be proud of!

A younger city manager might care about performance reviews. Someone going on retirement won't care what anyone else thinks.

HEART needs to be in the heart and head of our next City Manager

Second what Henry says re: experience in diverse communities

@Heather, so the assumption is that if they don’t live in Cambridge, they’re less likely to be part of the cronyism?

I totally agree that developers are not the priority of the CM - For Profit Development should no be the priority of the city of Cambridge - we need to build / retrofit housing for low and moderate income residents, especially those who now cannot stay in Cambridge. And we need to put investment into sustainability for the 21st century.

Agree with all Henry’s points!

Alison, better chance

I won't say this aloud because it's similar to what I said in "Issues", but I would like to see someone who has demonstrated that they care about renters and understand renters' issues

I agree with Henry - a city manager who can listen to and work with a diverse community

^Dan- we did pass a charter review, and it will be happening this year.

Thanks, Heather

Also want to agree with Stephanie that we need a break from former administrative teams--no offense intended but we need the initiative and creativity and urgency that come with a break.

Re: Barry's remark, someone who is at least able to understand input from experts (rather than just "stakeholders") and process such input to make decisions.

Is there a job description for the city manager (existing) that can be shared? Or, where would one find this?

yes!!!!

Yes, E.J.

I agree that Cambridge should look at greater financial contributions from Harvard & MIT. It is possible that the city doesn’t realize the extent to which universities globally are outsourcing jobs that used to be local, which changes the relationship between the city and these “non-profits”.

agree with an outsider. we don't want someone who thinks they know better and wants to make the city in his own image. (would prefer a woman in charge)

Next City Manager ought to be somebody who sees her/his role as including visibility in the community and listening sessions directly with residents.

Compassionate. Experience with long term planning and track record of those plans being measurably implemented/achieved. Tech-forward. Experience collaborating with major local corporations and extracting rents/value and social contributions from them. Nice. Balance between listening to politicians and having strong values and vision. Belief in expertise over own shoot from the hip convictions.

agree with virginia on immigration and people who are poor

agree with melisa about omeone who"s willing to be outin the community

I agree that we should not have a city manager from Cambridge. I would prefer someone from outside of Massachusetts. I'd like to have someone who has published on their commitment to democracy and participatory budgeting.

I agree with Virginia’s that we need a City Manager who is motivated by love and acts with empathy.

I'd like to see someone who's helped a city, university,corporation or non profit successfully navigate a progressive transition

Please send us an name of potential candidates Randi@randifrank.com or cambridge

I agree with Stephanie that we should not have a City Manager from Cambridge and someone committed to democracy. I agree with Virginia that we need a City manager with empathy especially for immigrants and the unhoused.

^Madge asked Is there a job description for the city manager (existing) that can be shared? Or, where would one find this?

I do not know if there is already a job description.

Good question for Vice Mayor Mallon.

Someone willing to change the City Solicitor

the vice mayor mentioned that part of the process is putting together a "leadership profile" - I assumed that was a long-form job description i.e. "the ideal candidate is ..."

Lee, a job description was developed for the hiring of the current city manager, and the Government Operations Committee will be working to develop a revised version for this year.

Yeah, those are rough synonyms (leadership profile and job description).

What occurs to me during this terrific discussion today is this: As outreach and search gets underway, what is the job description that prospective candidates will see?

I agree with Mike: collaborative, responsive to wide range of residents and seeks opinions of a wide and diverse cross section of renters as well as owners

agree with Valerie— CM should walk the streets, interact with the public

I will ask Vice Mayor Mallon to share the job description with us all.

Yes, Ms. Bonds, a City Manager who reaches out proactively to hear from our city’s youth – and listens to what these young people tell us about what they want to their city to be when they are adults in this city where they were raised.

Will the job description be updated to reflect any of what is being said today?

agree with valerie that we need someone who's committed to youth--and maybe we need an explicit youth agenda for cambrige?

Agree with Mike and Phyllis--the city manager needs to be a natural collaborator, delegator, team player, a big fan of the (always annoying and inefficient!) democratic process.

Yes, the whole point of the extended public process run by the consultants is to develop the leadership profile/job description.

Yes, Ms. Bonds. Include youth; accessible to the people and holds their staff accountable

Is the appointment term-limited? Could the candidate make an undertaking to accept the change to their position if/when the City Charter is amended to allow for an elected leader?

@ Madge - that’s my assumption based on the timeline that Vice Mayor Mallon provided.

We can't advertise the opening and see who applies. We need to actively find the people we want and court them.

Harry Smith or Harriet Smith🙂

Valerie, those are fabulous attributes - walking the streets, meets the residents, listens to youth.

I am a late arriver and so have missed the discussion. But I feel strongly that the City Manager needs to be responsive to the C its Council, who are our elected representatives. The current CM has increasingly behaved as the King of Cambridge, which is frustrating and utterly inappropriate.

Yes to Nicola, innovation, out of the box.

agree with amy "someone for whom this i a calling"

Gwen Speeth I think absolutely a position like this needs to be term-limited; urgency is induced by that and corruption reined in.

Virginia, many remarks have reinforced what you are saying.

^Virginia- feel free to raise your hand and speak.

I really like the references from community members idea from Nicola.

Agree manager should not be an internal candidate from within the current administration.

Yes to Nicola- ability to speak another language, empathy.

DEI training?

Agree with Nicola that knowing what the citizens in their community think of their performance is every bit as important as what their superiors think.

@Jeanne- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI training)

Agree with track record of collaboration

Supporting Nicola’s point in being sure to seek references from people whose lives have been impacted by the person that we are thinking about hiring.

Ditto in agreement with Nicola’s points - someone with a proven record of accomplishments on equity issues

yes to RGolberg--person with history of and commitment to collaborative leadership

Agree with Sheli about demonstration of accomplishments.

The City Manager was given that power given the history of past city government. We no longer need such power due to forums such as these that bring the community into the forefront, holding elected and appointed officials accountable and responsible for their actions.

I want a sense of humor and an ability to be silly on occasion or at least admire others' playful silliness.

I second Heather's vote for a sense of humor!

But not a MEAN sense of humor....

Correct, not a mean sense of humor; I admit that I don't consider that humor.

The structure (Plan E) was designed to prevent excessive City Council interference. But the CMs have taken it to be that they can act independently without collaboration. The CM can choose to be collaborative; we need someone who wants to collaborate

Will you send the poll by email, in case we need to leave at 5:30?

Yes, Mike

I agree with wanting a street walker for CM

I will send the poll by email to all of you.

I’ve been searching for info on the search for new City Manager for Cambridge, MA — and I have found nothing except an article from last summer saying the search is beginning. So — if there is a search, how do people know it?

In my travels over the years in Cambridge, my sense is most people think the city manager’s main job is to keep Cambridge on a sound fiscal track. The financial steward if you will. If this isn’t the case, or people want the role to embody something wholly different, major public education may be in order!

I’d like to see some sort of reach out to members of our community who are not here.

What we are all seem to be talking about wanting in a city manager is --a mayor.

Agree with more younger people and people of color, people with experience of problems being addressed

But as a historical note - the focus on fiscal issues started when the City was hurting and businesses were leaving. That is not the same situation now, and the demand to get into Cambridge is still strong, so it's not like our policies are nowhere near scaring businesses away.

yes to Phyllis B--we need more young people and POC in this conversation

I agree with Ms. Bonds and Phyllis B. That we need to ensure more BIPOC/youth representation for this search.

Agree with Phyllis, and that’s why we are here. Thank you!

We need to go out to the community to show the less represented are valued and have progress in policies that shows that they were actually heard

A free with annual evaluation using criteria for hiring

Absolutely support annual evaluation of CM by City Council.

Note that the latest charter changes call for annual CM performance reviews and the City Council can veto certain board/commission appointments

The question is what happens with the reviews

Like to see applicants with a proven record of accomplishments on equity issues

I agree with E.J. that the ability to seek and process health and science input is more important than a formal health or science background.

Three cheers for hardworking, collaborative public workers!!

The City Council over time has let the CM become a power center independent of the Council. It didn’t used to be this way and the C its Council needs to exert its authority again.

Agree with Ellen, I worked in government for many years, people need to be supported who have great ideas and who are respected by their managers.

I agree with Ellen. The City Manager must reach out and engage city employees.

Ellen, I hope that was included in my definition of a good manager way back at the beginning: good managers find people who have knowledge and skills they don't and support them to become the best they can be.

With respect to government trashing, it is great if someone has a positive experience that they send a positive comment to the city. There are lots of excellent staff.

thanks all for being here! I listened to everyone and am excited that you are giving input to the search!

Ellen Schacter people have been talking about a new CM as a collaborator and delegator (not just boss man!). 100% agree with you.

agree with Ej and barry--formal science training not required

Lee, thank you very much, great meeting and very informative..

Currently, Cambridge has a documented history (as seen through lawsuits) of retaliating against employees. It has cost many millions of dollars.

DEI is an active process

Thanks Lee for organizing this town hall. I am hoping this is the first of many.

Yes, Heather, I remember the most recent issues with lawsuits.

Thank you everyone. Engagement is powerful. Now we have to figure out how to engage the underserved and underrepresented in our city.♥️ Good bye.

anyone who knows someone who can be a good candidate _ email Cambridge@randifrank.com

I agree with E.J. that the ability to seek and process health and science input is more important than a formal health or science background.

Indeed, Valerie. I would say the level of vitriol has silenced many people.

Feel free to tell everyone they can send names to me at Cambridge@randifrank.com or Randi@randifrank.com

@Randi: aside from posting an ad, what will you be doing to actively find people who we want to consider but hadn't applied

Councillor toner on call

Very encouraging--and civil--meeting. Thanks to Lee Farris and everyone who spoke or wrote. So much hope and possibility is in the balance. To those engaged in the search--work hard, good luck, and remember democracy!

Ms. Bonds. It would be great to have a youth led town hall about the City Manager.

Vice Mayor Mallon posted document - nothing has been decided on who it will be: Information regarding timeline, focus groups etc. https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=4043

Yes it would, Nicola.

How do we get the under-represented community members to participate in the process? Advertising a zoom meeting is not sufficient, or you'll get the general lack of color in skin and hair in the participants of most of the community meeitngs I attend

There also needs to be a way for people to communicate confidentially with Randi Frank if they fear retaliation.

I would like to be on the selection committee. Just putting it out there for the decision makers. :-)

There was a thought last year that each council member, including people not on the Govt. Operations, would select some people

Randi Frank has her hand up.

Nicola would be brilliant on the selection committee because of her experience, temperament and reputation and advocacy for small businesses, etc.

New City Council term with new head of Government Ops, so finally progress

I agree with Maria - this is late.

Marie raises an excellent point re the time frame being short with regard to a person relocating.

Yes, Nicola is exactly the kind of person who should be on the selection committee... knowledgeable, thoughtful, empathetic, and a listener.

I don't want an internal interim to become the permanent one

Isn't Iram Faroqu of CDD assistant city manager?

No

Iram is asst. mang.

That is why I made the suggestion.

Marilee, there are multiple assistant city managers for this, that and the other thing. Michael Brandon is talking about the deputy city manager (last was Lisa Petersen).

Ellen Semenoff is also an assistant city manager; she heads the Dept. of Human Service Programs.

Yes

thanks. got it.

Lee - thank you very much for a very important and well run meeting.

Thank-you … nice job Lee

Thanks—this was a very well-run and useful discussion!

Thank you, Lee, for leading the discussion.

Beautifully done!

great meeting. thank you

Bravo, Lee. Very well run. You did a great job.

can I say one more thing?

great job, Lee!

is it worth mentioning public meeting 2/16 6-8

Excellent chairing, Lee. Thank you!

Great job Lee!

Yes, very good job Lee!