The City of Somerville’s Treasury Department launched Citizen Self-Service (CSS), an online tool that allows residents to look up and access bill information. Residents can now view real estate tax bills, water and sewer bills, and personal property tax bills online, in real time, 24/7. CSS also allows residents to see official City records and check their payment history directly,  and it links to City Hall Systems, the City’s online payment vendor, enabling easy payment access that is safe, secure, and free of charge if a checking account is used as the payment method.

On Tuesday, November 2, voters in Somerville will cast ballots for Mayor of Somerville; four City Councilor-at-Large seats; Ward City Councilor in Wards 2, 5, and 7; and School Committee Members in Wards 3 and 7. Below is information on upcoming deadlines related to the election as well as information about options for voting.

Voter Registration Deadline

Voters have until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, to register to vote or update their voter information for the November 2 election.

Assembly Row and the Somerville Arts Council are thrilled to unveil a collaborative art project at Assembly Row titled “We Are Somerville.”  This art installation takes the form of three giant vertical banners, which feature portraits of people who live and/or work in Somerville. Collectively, these intimate yet bold portraits by local photographer Kristen Joy Emack convey the personality and diversity of Somerville. The banners adorn a facade along Great River Road and face the Mystic River and the Orange Line.

The Somerville City Council has passed a new ordinance that sets guidelines for when and how leaf blowers may be used within the city. With the fall season now here, community members are urged to familiarize themselves with the new rules, which apply to all users including the City and City contractors, residents, commercial properties, and landscaping or property maintenance companies that deploy leaf blowers. A full copy of the ordinance and regulations can be found at somervillema.gov/leafblowers, but key provisions include:

Interested in building a career in construction? Somerville Community Corporation, in partnership with the City of Somerville, is hosting a job fair to connect residents with local construction employment opportunities.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, and City staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to review the final design for schoolyard renovations at the West Somerville Neighborhood School.

The design includes a small turf field, age-appropriate play structures, active areas for kickball and basketball, a climbing wall, significantly more tree canopy, tables and seating, new safety surfacing and fencing, and drainage improvements, among other features.

The City of Somerville has set up two free flu vaccination clinics for residents in October that will be open by appointment. Additional dates will be added through the fall and winter and will be posted on somervillema.gov/flu. Residents are strongly encouraged to get the vaccine to protect their health as well as to support the community’s efforts to lessen the impacts of both influenza and the coronavirus. 

Every 10 years, Massachusetts cities and towns are required to review their population data from the most recent U.S. Census and submit an updated ward and precinct map to the State for approval. The State provides municipalities with strict guidelines that must be followed for this process. An internal working group is collaborating with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office to propose new ward and precinct boundaries that will be submitted to the City Council for local approval on October 28, 2021.

Join the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs, Padres Latinos, and The Welcome Project for a Latin American Heritage Celebration on Monday, October 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., in Chuckie Harris Park. The celebration will include music, food, a talent show, a traditional dress presentation, a piñata, raffles, and stories of everyday heroes in the community. 

The City of Somerville is set to debut the new Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan.

The Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan is a master plan and zoning recommendation document that establishes the long-term vision for Assembly Square, Somerville’s newest and fastest growing neighborhood. Once adopted, it will provide the basis for decision making, development, and further planning as Somerville and the Assembly Square Neighborhood move into the future.