[{"_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",6571020,"mediaKeyId","3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5","parentId",3167392,"title","Votes at a glance: committee approves Feb. 19, 2025 minutes and adjourns","audioSeconds",44,"startMs",2772000,"endMs",2816000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5&start=2772&end=2816","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5/thumbnail_2772000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571020/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-Feb-19-2025-minutes-and-adjourns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571020-9af65772a673550e23be715a487c5c90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150971&Signature=FP0FFeFCHdL60AbGIotjNEFSMEkdiHrKuT07oF5rDKWfb12GLch94y-Hc-HxDvGVRYbkfqJ3gtKC1CjNkFGgzTFGFP1dVFJSNX0kJcrO77iuX3DUjdKFe4SFd-n1-G6gJipEIDH2VaSOhqmr~78c9whpp5j0RIlS-tJUbp1jqzLv3GQ4r9DC-xxIGp6DnKHw~h7EE7azFLaqD8bVdJBAp9ghj~9O4wouiNeR6VjNVwKF2DDAjJDDGfyQzrZTwNXf8ceLOclVWGrvGwFAhpJgLN2-TtZOBjw4jjDVE55TwmNjyOrr9LJ8tTNb5-j25knoFc2MsOUycW3FVPp3meLTGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-05-01T07:40:00Z","article","Councilor Burnley moved to approve the minutes of the Rodent Issues Special Committee meeting of Feb. 19, 2025 and to adjourn. The motion was considered as a single motion and recorded as approved by the members present.

Vote record (as announced): yes — Councilor Burnley; yes — Councilor McLaughlin; yes — Councilor Wilson. The committee then adjourned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Rodent Committee - 2025-04-30 - May 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 30 Rodent Issues Special Committee meeting the members approved the Feb. 19, 2025 minutes and adjourned; the committee combined the two actions into a single motion.","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},6571025,"Somerville launches rodent fertility study; SMART box deployment shifted to commercial areas",206,1072000,1278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5&start=1072&end=1278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5/thumbnail_1072000.jpg","/articles/6571025/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-launches-rodent-fertility-study-SMART-box-deployment-shifted-to-commercial-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571025-1d4c4510cbaa5df89947b69f3e07d127/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150971&Signature=UEZ-t68f3IEHQtTjVgrzZtlzKP-d~7SzF725qvO4g9ju1QYjvVQkDT7Od6n9RsdDYl1cU7bEW97bbQV5IUPIQE0dD23wkY2tUkAvs0Kgt17a9fm4kuPu9a6KOwxWtOnMj7kmfs8~3dM26MGNwBSfwrWPZ60Kqt1Yh5jxKi6xhw4lhxkB7j-bEhSaeLNTpvJz~Hp4NYKo-BoCEpYS22MrL6Y0O2IrDcO7rRgC9FalKZpALknT4PvnlKzBTJw0dKskvuIi8RUhH6PEkKMlY-eGDYhvFMFLVm-F3TKO4FbcXHxcumM-FYEFe1dM~aXphB9Pw4HzlOha4QvpMwgCUR2sOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A city staff member said Somerville has enrolled 14 properties in a rodent fertility study centered on Lincoln Park and will place bait stations and train volunteers in early May.

“I just have a few updates about the rodent fertility study. We had about 14 properties signed up ... We are starting to set the bait stations on May 6,” the coordinator said, and added that staff will hold an in-person volunteer training that day with a follow-up on May 8.

Staff also reported a change in the city’s SMART box deployment strategy. After four years of piloting the automated boxes, staff said their 2024 residential deployment yielded limited returns — “377 captures for 60 boxes” in 2024 — and that the city will now focus SMART boxes on commercial areas where capture rates have been higher. In early 2025 deployment at commercial hotspots such as Union and Davis, staff reported about 205 captures already for the winter months.

The committee was invited to observe volunteer training and staff said they will report back on results as the study and the adjusted SMART deployment progress through spring and summer.","City staff said 14 properties signed up for a rodent fertility study at Lincoln Park, with bait stations to be set in early May, and reported a strategic shift in SMART box use away from residential areas to focus on commercial hotspots.",{"_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},6571029,"Somerville to require rodent-control plans for construction permits; city moves to risk-based restaurant fees",160,2251000,2411000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5&start=2251&end=2411","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5/thumbnail_2251000.jpg","/articles/6571029/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-to-require-rodent-control-plans-for-construction-permits-city-moves-to-risk-based-restaurant-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571029-d57234b5d4d7557a87a8d3abb0bbe1af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150971&Signature=iG5-aYmh-A2S~3Rtnqb9Btq8Xcw0bvWJrDpK5CnghI8JGvgj4pbedlL1XdKblm4PIfeSRw6d0iyLv6ELvc~0du07SJ0-lDqKMV6k8R-70zygOL8wkfyatlTVrjM04~yVIFP805ukM~S6JikUw3KZw36QuEJJ7XpTUL2R-Ago5x9~CZvfq9~44NX5UCaHPIOp4RVTPzMc~xVozIlS9RSgI82vQYI3Y20WRVKXmkfwbViwE5bh2udLr3B7lq-GJDYb3ywap7sAZCl9r4Wt-zrk0T2FWElmARLxbBIj6kduYLXi87cKDNVRD8-u7EWPxmU9ub6q5CnS1fjyJo3NUiS2fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Antonovica told the Rodent Issues Special Committee on April 30 that Somerville is adding rodent-control plan reviews to several permit routes and is changing restaurant licensing to a risk‑based fee model that can rise or fall with compliance and inspection results.

“Every single one of these [construction and demolition permits] has to go through a rodent-control plan review,” staff said, describing a routing change that adds inspectors to permit reviews before work begins. Staff said submitted plans must specify the frequency of contractor visits and indicate how pest control will be maintained throughout demolition, construction and vacancy phases.

Director Antonovica said the city will use complaint and smart-box data to assign restaurants a risk level. “We are working on using the data that's being collected right now through the tickets and the smart boxes, to implement a fee structure and risk-based license,” Antonovica said. She described a move away from size‑based fees (seats/size) toward risk-based categories tied to compliance and observed rodent activity.

When asked about the fee differential between risk levels, Antonovica said the Board of Health–approved schedule yields roughly a $200–$250 delta between adjacent risk tiers. Inspectional Services staff also said they can lower a business’s risk level — and its fee — if inspections and complaint history show improvement.

Staff said enforcement mechanisms include regular inspection routes and the ability to use building-code provisions if a site is not being maintained in a pest‑free condition. They also noted the city can request invoices from pest contractors to verify that agreed servicing has occurred.","City staff told the Rodent Issues Special Committee the building permit review process now includes rodent-control plan review for demolition and construction, and Inspectional Services is shifting restaurant licensing fees to a risk-based structure tied to rodent activity and inspection findings.",{"_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},6571034,"Somerville committee: quarterly rodent data show declines; city expands residential, school inspections and IPM work",137,234000,371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5&start=234&end=371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167392-03a355206a0dccfd719d0e3e3b8342b5/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6571034/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-quarterly-rodent-data-show-declines-city-expands-residential-school-inspections-and-IPM-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571034-fdd3f4a82cbd199b2bc51da5bb0fa545/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150971&Signature=GYRvZvLHTM1J~RfCJO6J9vvsuSrAJUFPnKQSm2tBGr8o43eEfgfacZ9CWyynyhvPJCFZGBRuokMdIpC6HP1~2lslxITwcOszC1Fzzl3kP~QEbojkkvKL6G2BIryZaAv-s9SbL7T8UYDJjPwBqP-cAhsm3l7gDxK2me2FfRcU7NtTHZklWhFwXb0cDKTcl3SJUpBGC9r3FE5dnLfXFfsW8LpUE2cXImzBCY-l43~x4ko~T43dKJshFV~Tw8FpbBj2L9ireT3kNonFY8bHaAAMh1oXJ6V3~waQzo1kDrTvaU3AmCCoJI6ntHQoG0VtljPCmLWQuyXTV7bxlm0aJsQ~4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jake Wilson, councilor at large and chair of the Rodent Issues Special Committee, called the committee to order on April 30 and opened a quarterly update on rodent-control work across the city. Staff presented January–March 2025 data and described new and expanded programs for residences, schools and public properties.

Colin Ziegler, environmental health manager, said the city’s January–March figures are lower than past years and attributed part of the decline to winter weather. “We see a steady decline of complaints since 2023 for all three months,” Ziegler said, noting that 2021 had been a peak year for complaints.

The update showed a notable level of field activity: staff reported “a little over a thousand visits in January, February, and March” for the city’s residential assistance program. Ziegler and other staff emphasized that residential trash violations were the most frequent enforcement issue and that many commercial properties generate repeat violations; one chart showed nearly 60% duplicate properties among commercial trash violations.

The committee heard that the city has strengthened the residential program: inspectors now use carbon monoxide machines (for qualifying cases), dry ice treatments, and a two‑month program model to focus on quality of service rather than weekly visits stretched over long periods. The residential program covers properties of three units or fewer and now includes property profiles that track visits, bait consumption and past interventions.

A new school-inspection process was described as a formal partnership between the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) and the Department of Public Works (DPW). Staff said complaints and maintenance reports from schools are being routed into the city’s CitizenServe/311 workflow so that school staff and complainants receive written site assessments, photos, responsibility assignments, and scheduled follow-ups. “These reports are not random documents floating around anymore,” an environmental health coordinator said, describing the change.

Committee members asked about specific tactics and compliance. Councilor McLaughlin said he had seen a city bait box outside his building and praised follow-up for a senior resident who lacked email. Ziegler and staff said they are also shifting to alternative bait products on city properties to reduce secondary-poisoning risk, and that use of toxic rodenticides (SACR products) on city properties has been curtailed.

Staff described communications work and public outreach as improved, including a “food, water and shelter” mailer, garden‑specific IPM guidance, new signage discouraging intentional bird feeding in parks, and a social-media/flyer campaign timed to seasons. Inspectors received formal IPM training in partnership with neighboring municipalities.

Ziegler said the committee will get another update later in 2025; staff framed the meeting as part of a regular quarterly reporting cycle so the committee can track progress and set objectives for next year.","The Somerville City Council Rodent Issues Special Committee heard first-quarter data showing fewer rodent complaints than in recent years and staff described expanded residential services, new school inspection procedures, and citywide integrated pest management (IPM) work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: committee approves Feb. 19, 2025 minutes and adjourns

Somerville launches rodent fertility study; SMART box deployment shifted to commercial areas

Somerville to require rodent-control plans for construction permits; city moves to risk-based restaurant fees

Somerville committee: quarterly rodent data show declines; city expands residential, school inspections and IPM work