CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Due to public health concerns, the hearings that normally would be held on a week have been postponed or canceled due to the guidance of Mayor Martin Walsh and the order of Gov. Charlie Baker. Some meetings, however, have been moved to an online or teleconference format under the emergency order on the Open Meeting Law issued by Gov. Baker.
City Council Committee on Ways and Means Meeting on the Fy21 Budget: A June 18, 9:30 a.m., meeting for the Committee to discuss the City’s FY21 budget.
From the June 18 Public Improvement Commission meeting, Rm. 801, 10 a.m.:
•On a petition by Mark Kenmore LLC for the Widening, Relocation, and Extension of the existing right-of-way lines of Commonwealth Avenue (public way), Boston Proper, generally at Beacon Street/Kenmore Square, located west of Brookline Ave.
•On a petition by Mark Kenmore LLC for the making of Specific Repairs within the following public ways in Boston Proper, consisting of curb realignment, roadway and sidewalk reconstruction, as well as new and relocated pedestrian ramps and driveway curb cuts:
Commonwealth Avenue – at address no. 560-574, generally at Beacon Street/Kenmore Square;
Beacon Street – generally at Commonwealth Avenue/Kenmore Square.
•On a petition by Crown Castle Fiber for a Grant of Location with lead company status and no participants to install new telecommunication conduit with City shadow within Camden Street (public way), Boston Proper, located generally at the rear of 396 Northampton Street, northwest of Columbus Avenue.
•1260 Boylston Street; Boston Proper – Pedestrian Easement, Specific Repairs – On a set of joint petitions by Scape Boylston LLC, Boylston Kenmore 1260 LLC, and Roofdeck LLC.
•Columbus Avenue; Boston Proper, Roxbury – Specific Repairs – On a petition by the City of Boston Transportation Department.
From the June 18 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH HEARING, noon, via Zoom: Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend reimbursements up to the amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From the June 23 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 10 a.m., via online Webex (hearings originally scheduled for April 16):
•37 Dwight St. Applicant: Highline Development Purpose: Construct a roof deck with roof hatch access. Construct rear deck. Both with exclusive use to Unit #2. Stairways shall have a headroom clearance of not less than 80 inches.
From the June 23 Boston Landmarks Commission, 4 p.m., via Zoom (HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/84813424975):
•Back Bay Fens – 31 Park Dr.: Replace existing concrete street light with metal street light and small cell wireless infrastructure including radio cabinet and antenna.
•Christian Science Church Complex – 210 Massachusetts Ave.: At fountain remove and replace bricks in-kind to accommodate replacement of trough grates, and waterproof trough.
•Charles River Esplanade: Extension of tree management and succession plan approved by BLC on 7/24/2018 to expire on 7/24/2021.
From the June 30 Zoning Board Appeals hearing, 10 a.m., via WebEx:
•171 West Brookline St., South End. Applicant: Bradley Apone. Purpose: Install a new rear deck on the first floor. to amend ALT931291.
•171 Newbury St., Back Bay. Applicant: Jason Zube. Purpose: Changing from a retail store to tattoo parlor.
Boston Fire Department Update on Permits
Due to the harsh economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, the Boston Fire Department is extending the expiration date on all existing Place of Assembly and Annual Permits from June 30, 2020 to September 30, 2020. Any issued Place of Assembly Permit or Annual Permit stating an expiration date of June 30, 2020 will now automatically be valid in the City of Boston until September 30, 2020. The invoices for renewal will be mailed out in mid-August, and the permitting cycle for both Place of Assembly and Annual Permits will become October 1 to September 30 of the following year from this point forward.
Reporting Workplace Safety Concerns
•Workers in any size organization have options if they feel they are being pressured into an unsafe situation. Attorney General Maura Healey has created resources for workers to report safety concerns during reopening. They include an online form at the Attorney General’s website and a dedicated Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465. People can also find those resources by calling 311.
•How to Report a Problem Property
Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Walsh has made fixing quality of life issues a priority in his administration. From investing in Public Works to making sure community policing is a staple in every neighborhood, we are making sure every neighborhood is clean, safe and a great place to live and work in. Unfortunately some properties in Boston need more help than others, and that’s why we are here. If you know of a property that fits one of the following criteria: multiple calls to 911, one that’s blighted or just a general concern, we encourage you to reach out to your neighborhood liaison.