The Public Facilities Committee met on January 21, 2026, regarding the following. See report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appointment of Alejandro Valcarce as Commissioner of Public Buildings (7-0)
- Eversource petition for grant of location (6-0-1, Councilor Kelley not voting) to install one new jointly owned pole 866/6A on the south side of Rumford Avenue, approximately 450 feet west of Lexington Street. Barrett Tree Services is requesting an improved electrical service to install fast electric car chargers to maintain their equipment and power machinery.
Held
- Discussion regarding Day Street, Fuller Street, and Commonwealth Avenue intersection redesign (6-0-1, Councilor Kelley not voting). The committee held to allow DPW to turn community-provided sketches into design concepts and schedule a community meeting. During the last ten years, there have been 16 crashes at the intersection, four with serious injury (including one serious bicyclist injury). The plan reduces a wide and confusing intersection and would create two standard T-intersections.
- Review and clarification of public way improvements requiring City Council approval (5-1-1, Councilor Kalis opposed, Councilor Kelley not voting). The committee held to explore defining what constitutes “major construction work” and whether abutters should be notified. A unique project last year caused issues.
Present: Councilors Kalis (Chair), Albright, Dahmubed, Getz, Gordon, Grossman, Kelley.
Absent: Councilor Leary.
City staff: Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer; Shawna Sullivan, Commissioner of Public Works; Bernie McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works; Ned Codd, Director of Transportation; Alejandro Valcarce, Deputy Commissioner of Public Buildings; John Daghlian, Associate City Engineer.
