[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6604071,"mediaKeyId","2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6","parentId",2994514,"title","Committee dispositions: pool items kept in committee; playground repair approved; minutes and adjournment recorded","audioSeconds",1136,"startMs",4148000,"endMs",5284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6&start=4148&end=5284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6/thumbnail_4148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604071/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-dispositions-pool-items-kept-in-committee-playground-repair-approved-minutes-and-adjournment-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604071-963ed85c09db684151828325a5dcddee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153521&Signature=L8ng1FaBfesk-ultc30p95Sn4yqxj1WT1CpvTxqFncBZGpXyqWTfY2V4Mra09mBj2NBpUt41isxFzvafyFRR-EbboloxbN1uoC03xalDH83-Ccu2th4RR3su~xLbE~sFxBZiKGZk3w5cILgehSOL9QmhMQ2oSDvFENLbUHaQDykG5KmKzpfB9-hi9VZvogx~7mYSxVwDl3-52Wh96lL42Ml4U2NkUp~8~EHT2-o0Hmlp58d06VFo~xglakaA6UlPvx1UPpHJuWoUaKY0hxtsK6~VotUHVpvzASmoeK8-J3JsgdLco0-KnfcOsS6dqKktXN6yMXexJnwK87DGPbMQPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-04-15T12:06:00Z","article","The joint meeting reached several formal dispositions on agenda items and recorded a roll‑call vote to approve the minutes and adjourn:

- Items 3 and 4 (notification process for Jenny Smithers Pool cancellations and updates on the pool closure): the committee marked these as complete or placed them on file for now. (Disposition announced by Chair Lance Davis; no formal roll call recorded.)

- Items 5 and 6 (report on cause of the reported chemical imbalance at the Jenny Smithers Pool; develop a new maintenance process): the committee voted to keep these items in committee for further follow‑up. Committee members requested a written process clarifying cross‑departmental roles and procedures.

- Items 7 and 8 (DPW repair of damaged play structures at Capuano Early Education Center; planting natural turf and support for the May 3 Family Fun Day): DPW described a short timeline for the play equipment repair and committed to meet the principal on turf options; the committee recorded no objection to proceeding with immediate repair and temporary remedies for the May 3 event.

- Item 25‑0233 (DPW to work with relevant staff to develop a school‑building tracking system): administration reported the tool is in use and the committee marked this item complete.

- Approval of minutes and adjournment: a roll‑call vote was recorded on approval of the minutes of March 31 and to adjourn. Councilor Saeed, Councilor Wilson and Chair Lance Davis voted yes on the recorded roll call.

Ending

Committee leaders asked the administration to return to committee with written, cross‑departmental processes on pool testing and maintenance, and for DPW to provide a schedule for the playground repair and a plan for interim turf mitigation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - School Building Facilities and Maintenance Special Committee - 2025-04-14 - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 14 joint committee meeting the panel marked notification and update items for Jenny Smithers Pool complete/on file, kept investigation and new‑process items in committee, approved playground repairs and interim turf work options, and voted to approve the March 31 minutes and adjourn.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604076,"Administrators say Somerville school facilities tracking tool is in use; continuous improvements planned",165,4854000,5019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6&start=4854&end=5019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6/thumbnail_4854000.jpg","/articles/6604076/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Administrators-say-Somerville-school-facilities-tracking-tool-is-in-use-continuous-improvements-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604076-bd678545f4bde18703ccc7a190e0947b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153521&Signature=Zk1hEL2ZHe5TB0MFpu01~X4qVm38ENOuIvATnUYD4aWcho6UvgMhTwtkYAVxNrD39jdgShUOAdCflp0lV3gcihAYaW5rqp4sSzRIKfwiA1k5W2bGRjXhDHERMnD45wHUnwgmMvXL1ujY5kwnQ0ai80R1qgYLRcsp-7JMB4ctfe1CbVlnq8G6fLbOwCmvzteN5nbPZl2kIsBrLny4VuG1sRhcT3VGdJ3aTWxt~AhjPPbqIGbNIDAk3SopmvRKR2spn54DSatx3lG8TPEsZrdCt5gCxnX-4AS5vndkzaWtqvqvd9gL0hnTKIfGLVew18CHBMN4aBzFpZRPNomhxBkqYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liaison Radazzi told the joint committee that a school‑building conditions tracking tool is already available and in use by the administration, the Department of Public Works, IAM and Somerville Public Schools to log and prioritize outstanding facilities requests.

\"This is a tool that is being used by, again, administration, DPW, IAM, and SPS administration,\" Liaison Radazzi said. She added that regular coordination meetings help the various offices prioritize work that may be done by different departments.

School committee members asked when the tool would be \"ready for use\" by school staff as a standalone reference; Radazzi and administration representatives said SPS already has access and that officials will continue to add capacity and functionality to improve transparency and reporting. Danielle Berry, identified on the record as the incoming facilities, transportation and safety coordinator for the schools, said she will work with DPW as the tool is refined.

Ending

Committee members expressed conditional satisfaction and directed the administration to continue improving the tool’s transparency and reporting capability so school staff can independently check status and closure notes on facilities requests.","City and school administrators told the joint committee a digital tracking tool for school building conditions is operational and being used by DPW, IAM and SPS; they said meetings help prioritize work and the tool will be iteratively improved.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604080,"Play structure repaired quickly; grass work at Capuano Early Education Center likely temporary before May 3 celebration",234,4202000,4436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6&start=4202&end=4436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6/thumbnail_4202000.jpg","/articles/6604080/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Play-structure-repaired-quickly-grass-work-at-Capuano-Early-Education-Center-likely-temporary-before-May-3-celebration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604080-98c0cfe496ceb63a921f57e2e81f0815/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153521&Signature=Kb6yw0giQOZQeLVRHVnMrZY8h6hV5kU6tFBQUVCHJjzhDOzZ32AXH6EaIs8MpUh3dgLxFa~xft4d6hr3qdm-BnDZFyZagJMaPex4V40J1GOba25aFK-FavOzXzMZa4-vNOqDBmE3KcZv1Mnlw63uY6MGKuNJkJgnZ2M5kzcJZ-1MWslGfcXre23QGCxXSichDCMO1cLizZw-YFjw3H4o2LUZjHMsAwe38hjLDiNqiCQks-9LU5lasSZm9Y6PCDh7YXah36T7P4I700K5KNen0oc2ZejupFmpjzO0LFDZNge7j7Y-iHVs-jjfOeK~bIKJOxJF7xDQwrtjVzxgoyUfwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Joe Lathan of the Department of Public Works told the joint committee that a damaged piece of playground equipment at the Capuano Early Education Center has a replacement part on order and will be repaired in a brief, on‑site operation this week.

\"We're just waiting for a part to come in. That has come in, we're planning to get that repaired this Wednesday. It should take maybe 30 minutes to get this fixed and new part put in,\" Commissioner Lathan said.

On a related request that DPW install natural turf in a muddy area used for spectator viewing, Lathan said reseeding or laying sod is not likely to produce rooted grass by the school's May 3 twentieth‑anniversary Family Fun Day. \"There's no way it's gonna be reseed and grown by May 3,\" he said, and recommended meeting with the principal to assess interim options. He suggested temporary, cosmetic measures for the event—such as mulch or other short‑term surface treatments—and said the department will return with a plan for long‑term remediation.

School committee members urged a short‑term fix to avoid presenting a mud pit to families celebrating the school's anniversary. \"They don't wanna have a mud pit,\" Dr. Phillips said, asking DPW to prioritize an appearance‑based mitigation for the event while pursuing proper long‑term planting.

Ending

The committee agreed there was no objection to DPW moving forward with the quick playground repair and to meeting with school leadership to select a practical temporary treatment for the muddy area ahead of the May 3 celebration. DPW noted that any permanent re‑sodding or reseeding will require taking the area out of use to allow proper rooting and therefore cannot be completed before May 3.","DPW said a damaged play structure at Capuano Early Education Center will be repaired within days and that planting new sod is unlikely to root before the school's May 3 family day; officials will meet the principal to choose temporary fixes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604085,"Somerville officials apologize for prolonged Jenny Smithers Pool closure; drainage, repairs and new communications promised",218,261000,479000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6&start=261&end=479","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2994514-210406d265f738ab1c702340b69d7de6/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6604085/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-officials-apologize-for-prolonged-Jenny-Smithers-Pool-closure-drainage-repairs-and-new-communications-promised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604085-c026fcfb4c71bc567c79657f66f4b3f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153521&Signature=VW50EdJFUJOBC~l-fc~D2K8t6qR6bJKqfZZXl~meVF6QNIbyMahleUM0U79KdHMkbsFddGyo7tz3r~lksgHIED8h80CBUpx2jopY78IMnbuBPGXQD6iTMfLbp5I5BIFbYQmX72MMfriasOFURvJTWWS7f-7IiwwfpF2Hu2gXU1I0owzyL-2cghnmM0-MtZ7T-MtKoNGqrigjA4-qpMpM3pxV1~Wjf0D0~CCTem4w2mNkk8fQFktVUZkeu5x7Z-XedRfeB~6mQZOjq5lA-SbND-EjGr0~YSMffru4E~wNWRulBg0RqYWAwBBLntC~1JVYrM6cCGfB2XjD-ORIlgBdng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director of Parks and Recreation Sue Yerkes apologized to the Somerville community for the prolonged closure of the Jenny Smithers Pool and said Parks and Recreation, the Department of Public Works and Inspectional Services are coordinating to reopen the facility safely.

\"I take full accountability for actions by parks and recreation staff that contributed to the delayed pool inspection on 02/27/2025,\" Director Sue Yerkes said, adding that staff retraining and revised communications are under way.

Commissioner Joe Lathan of the Department of Public Works said DPW stepped in to drain the pool as a \"reset\" after repeated attempts to correct the water chemistry failed. \"We started draining on the 3rd. We completed on the 7th,\" Lathan said. He told the committee DPW has ordered replacement drains that must be installed before the pool is refilled and cleared for use.

Officials described a sequence of troubleshooting steps taken between late February and April: repeated shock treatments, consultation with long‑term pool operators from neighboring municipalities, hiring an outside consultant, and, ultimately, a full drain and deep cleaning. Director Antonovica of Inspectional Services said tests showed a high level of total chlorine, meaning combined chlorine compounds were elevated; she said that measurement—not a single named chemical—was the metric that triggered concern.

DPW reported that once replacement drains arrive they will be installed, the pool will be refilled over about three to four days, chemicals will be reapplied to reach required balances, and Inspectional Services will subsequently re‑inspect the facility before returning operations to Parks and Recreation. Commissioner Lathan said an additional, temporary filtration measure recommended by an outside consultant—a peat‑based \"pool moss\" placed in deck tanks—will be used monthly as an extra cleaning step.

Council members and School Committee representatives focused much of their questioning on how and why the situation persisted for weeks and on communication failures. Councilor Saeed summarized constituent frustration over receiving late or unclear notices and said parents and swim instructors reported receiving last‑minute cancellations. \"We want transparency,\" Saeed told the directors.

Committee members also noted an erroneous online banner that briefly indicated the pool was open; Director Yerkes acknowledged the message was an old banner and said staff will correct it. Officials said Parks and Recreation uses the Somerville MyRec registration system to notify lesson registrants and that the aquatics program manager is responsible for sending cancelation notices. The committee asked for a broader, multi‑channel communications plan—email, MyRec alerts, social media, the City website and a posted notice at the pool—to avoid repeat last‑minute surprises.

Chair Lance Davis and Liaison Radazzi requested that items probing the cause of the imbalance and a new maintenance process (agenda items 5 and 6) remain in committee until the administration returns with a written plan clarifying roles and procedures across departments. Liaison Radazzi agreed to carry that request to the Mayor's Office.

The committee did not draw a final determination on the definitive root cause of the imbalance; officials said the investigation remains open even as immediate repairs proceed. A sequence of near‑term steps with approximate timings given on the record are: installation of replacement drains (expected within days of the meeting), refill (3–4 days), chemical rebalancing, and an ISC follow‑up inspection before reopening.

Ending

Committee members directed the administration to return with clearer, written processes about which department performs daily testing, how testing kits and supplies are tracked, and how communications will be handled with pool users and school partners. Items 5 and 6 (cause of the chemical imbalance and a new maintenance process) were kept in committee for follow‑up; the committee marked items 3 and 4 (notification process and updates on the continued closure) as complete/on file for now.","City Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Inspectional Services described a multi-week effort to diagnose a chemical imbalance at Jenny Smithers Pool, say the pool was drained April 3–7, and outlined next steps including replacement drains, refilling, ISC inspection and revised communications to users.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee dispositions: pool items kept in committee; playground repair approved; minutes and adjournment recorded

Administrators say Somerville school facilities tracking tool is in use; continuous improvements planned

Play structure repaired quickly; grass work at Capuano Early Education Center likely temporary before May 3 celebration

Somerville officials apologize for prolonged Jenny Smithers Pool closure; drainage, repairs and new communications promised