[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6317580,"mediaKeyId","2370833-47bbf4b94ea9f5a7b7705a524eb5aeb2","parentId",2370833,"title","Somerville committee weighs brief extension of curbside yard‑waste collection into December","audioSeconds",1488,"startMs",132000,"endMs",1620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370833-47bbf4b94ea9f5a7b7705a524eb5aeb2&start=132&end=1620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370833-47bbf4b94ea9f5a7b7705a524eb5aeb2/thumbnail_132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317580/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-weighs-brief-extension-of-curbside-yardwaste-collection-into-December","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317580-78f8cd1dc8f4791f8c4291e9f4f8512b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174865&Signature=bRAXgFNkBtwLddGHl478IJP3bqKpIu3d4z7TvHozuuc6BznZ8i-Uk2BuL3m8PVG0BW8CzHQRTQFcbO6aqIg6bbNCLe6plSnmbjslFAdeAzwexEEErgA-aKXmkRph4qFaCNQv7y0AkHDtoDVXfZ7iGWfbN3roOexedOICKq5RMuJ353pwPq3N-7t1sayuF~l3fI38ggn6R0Be8Fwd7vpRAB9x6u0mY~WeGLHU8wONo2M1sPUh-ztzQpDPdtIpxl-UFnQc9kUJsnsDVGBc92fmmJBpN1oh3U2zm-oh-doW4JDgFAcMPaPbhe0HJjDvHYWvuxF2-JPbtnYHdesG5M7Pyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Somerville City Council Committee on Open Space, Environment and Energy discussed whether to extend the city’s curbside yard‑waste collection later into the year during a Feb. 20 remote meeting.

The discussion centered on a request submitted by Councilor Syed to add at least one extra week of curbside yard‑waste collection in the fall. Commissioner Joe Lighthand, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, told the committee that the city typically ends curbside service the first week in December so crews can shift to snow‑season preparations and other winter work.

The committee heard from Commissioner Joe Lighthand that extending curbside pickup into December raises operational and contractual issues. “Heading into December, we’re really into the midst of our preparing for our snow season,” he said, noting the need for staff capacity to address potholes and other pre‑winter work. He also said the city contracts yard‑waste hauling and that extending service would likely require a contract amendment and additional money.

Councilor Davis pushed back on the timing rationale and urged flexibility for residents who cannot transport yard waste to the DPW yard. “The last several years…there’s still stuff on the trees after our final yard‑based collection comes around,” Councilor Davis said, arguing some residents need one more week of curbside pickup. He suggested shifting an existing weekly pickup later in the fall — a “net‑zero” swap — rather than adding overall weeks.

Councilor Wilson, who chaired the meeting, described the idea as a net‑zero shift of one pickup week from earlier in the fall to the end of the season so the change would be fiscally neutral. Commissioner Lighthand said he would consult the contracted hauler about feasibility and cost; he reported that he had already reached out to the contractor and was awaiting feedback.

Committee members also noted equity and practical concerns: some residents lack vehicles to drop material at the DPW yard, and senior residents sometimes require individual assistance. Commissioner Lighthand said the DPW has occasionally coordinated with the Council on Aging to help individual seniors after curbside service ends, but said those arrangements are situational and require resources. Councilor Burnley raised the connection between yard‑waste policy and the city’s composting pilot, noting that expanding composting could change the volume and destination of yard waste.

The committee did not adopt a formal change. Councilor Davis moved to keep the request in committee and return it after the commissioner consults the contractor and reports back; the motion was made during the meeting but a formal vote on the motion was not recorded in the transcript. Commissioner Lighthand said he would work with his contractor and DPW staff to explore compromise scheduling and to report back to committee.

Next steps: the item remains in committee pending a follow‑up report from the Department of Public Works about contract implications, costs and operational feasibility.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City Open Space, Environment and Energy - 2025-02-20","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Somerville City Council Committee on Open Space, Environment and Energy discussed whether to extend the city’s curbside yard‑waste collection later into the year during a Feb. 20 remote meeting.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6317575,"Somerville adds local energy adviser and ramps outreach as Mass Save 2025–2027 plan advances",0,1508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370833-47bbf4b94ea9f5a7b7705a524eb5aeb2&start=1508&end=1508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370833-47bbf4b94ea9f5a7b7705a524eb5aeb2/thumbnail_1508000.jpg","/articles/6317575/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-adds-local-energy-adviser-and-ramps-outreach-as-Mass-Save-20252027-plan-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317575-514ca9f3396824de97b3e0cdab381d27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174865&Signature=dvFObEn5ntkeVpgSZx1PunWsZHvv4lTKWUvmDXctFK5R1U-44PtubHB84Qaf9Zef2sjfN8LlMEZmPo~TWubwTMcCO9NbCZPYyarCyaV~oQ1mrfLYUCeP09Ib9p1-uAx2oqRgxxSk47G2VPy-XPpEP7deYKtEBayaVKqKfqp2Ry22dP7vX3oKIOOXrlD42x2hPf5wnCba-55MEozMQvrHJy560Jc2WACK6d7VTe72MKGLjH~wmK~fBeD3E0SUFHOnewxiGCX5aNNUJTUPTQs2A9cAYNmB88rXGw7CYuAc-8YRf5MuFImiXq289Pi5X3ZLLTJuQHbASk7RH9WJoemnSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Feb. 20 meeting of the Somerville City Council Committee on Open Space, Environment and Energy, city sustainability staff described planned outreach tied to the Mass Save 2025–2027 program and the city’s efforts to help residents undertake energy efficiency and decarbonization measures.

Garrett, Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, told the committee that the 2025–2027 Mass Save plan is headed for final authorization by the Department of Public Utilities and that the program will broaden incentives, including support for heat‑pump installations in addition to insulation and air‑sealing. Garrett said the city has hired an energy adviser, Shannon Taylor, whose role is to help residents and small building owners navigate audits, contractors and financing.

“Heat pumps” are a new, emphasized incentive in the forthcoming plan, Garrett said, and the city has been admitted into Mass Save’s Community First Partnership program. That partnership will help fund the energy‑adviser position through 2027, provide outreach funding and increase coordination so the city can obtain more data about which households complete measures.

Garrett outlined the city’s outreach strategy: targeted letter campaigns to households believed to be heated with oil, outreach to small rental properties (two‑ and three‑unit buildings), presence at community events such as vaccine clinics, and posters with QR codes linking directly to the city’s Somerville Energy Efficiency Now web pages and the energy adviser’s contact information. The city also created a pamphlet about Mass Save incentives and planned to distribute it at public counters and through contractors and contractors’ visits.

Committee members raised questions about data access and contractor coordination. Garrett said data sharing with utilities is complex and subject to privacy constraints, but the City expects better access through the Community First Partnership. Councilor Wilson expressed support and urged broad outreach to renters and homeowners. Councilor Burnley suggested ensuring contractors and tradespeople have materials about Mass Save incentives so they can inform homeowners during work; Garrett said a pamphlet and counter materials are being prepared.

No formal vote was taken. Councilor Wilson characterized the staff update as “work completed” for the committee’s purposes and the item was disposed of during the meeting; staff will continue outreach and coordination with Mass Save and utility partners. Garrett said the city will try to publish the energy adviser’s contact information and outreach materials widely and to return with data if and when the city receives more detailed utility information through the partnership.

Next steps: the city will continue outreach, maintain the energy adviser position through the Community First Partnership funding period (through 2027), distribute pamphlets and posters, and pursue data‑sharing arrangements with Mass Save and the utilities.","City staff reported on planned outreach tied to the Mass Save 2025–2027 incentives, including adding an energy adviser position, targeted outreach to oil‑heated and rental properties, and posters/QR codes linking residents to local assistance; staff said final DPU authorization and utility data sharing remain pending","actionData","errors"]

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Somerville committee weighs brief extension of curbside yard‑waste collection into December

Somerville adds local energy adviser and ramps outreach as Mass Save 2025–2027 plan advances