Agenda Text
title
Requesting approval of an Administrative Order relative to the establishment of a Capital Planning and Engineering Department.
body
Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
Pursuant to Section 37 of Chapter 400 of the Acts of 2012, which amended the Charter of the City of Somerville, I hereby introduce the attached administrative order which establishes, subject to your approval, a Capital Planning and Engineering Department in the city of Somerville.
Section 37 of Chapter 400 of the Acts of 2012 allows the City of Somerville to pass, subject to approval of 2/3 of the Board of Aldermen, administrative orders that establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct of the business of the city. Administrative orders may provide for the combination, separation, creation or dissolution of departments, provided that all essential city functions are assigned to a department, board, commission or office.
Under Section 40 of the City Charter, the Division of Engineering is established within the Department of Public Works. Under this administrative order, functions currently assigned to the Division of Engineering will be reassigned to the Capital Planning and Engineering Department.
This administrative order will provide benefits to the City of Somerville by establishing a separate Capital Planning and Engineering Department. The department will have direct accountability to the Mayor and will be charged with the responsibility of developing, managing, and overseeing capital and engineering projects, which are often large and complex and are important to the City’s future.
The duties and functions of the Capital Planning and Engineering Department described in the attached administrative order are intended to be read broadly and serve to illustrate but not to circumscribe the duties and responsibilities of the department under the charter, ordinances, and the general laws.
The Law Department has determined that if this order is approved, amendments to the following ordinances will be necessary to reflect that the Engineering Division is under the Capital Planning and Engineering Department: Section 11-1; Section 11-3; Section 11-4; and Section 11-141.
The only additional costs associated with the approval of this order will be any increases to the compensation of the Director of Capital Planning and Engineering, as approved by the Board of Aldermen, to reflect the increased responsibilities of the position.
My staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor