At the Public Utility & Public Works Committee meeting on Oct. 15, Somerville Department of Public Works Commissioner Jill Lakeman said the city has done targeted cleanup in Magoun Square and will send maintenance crews to repair and power‑wash public trash receptacles known as “big bellies.”

The item, brought forward as an order directing the commissioner to increase sanitary maintenance in Magoun Square, grew out of constituent concerns about trash, cigarette butts and the condition of public receptacles. "We do regularly clean Magoun Square weekly, and we dump the trash, you know, daily," Lakeman said, adding that crews had removed cigarette butts from tree wells and would perform targeted power washing and minor repairs on receptacles.

Committee Chair Councilor Jesse Klingen and Councilor Scott pressed staff on how often deeper cleaning — such as sidewalk power washing — is scheduled and who bears responsibility for cleanup immediately adjacent to businesses. Lakeman said the DPW’s routine work includes leaf collection, pothole repairs, curb work and trash pickup, but that specialized equipment and water‑truck capacity for regular power washing are limited. "Our water and trucks currently really have to focus on our plants that we have to kind of water throughout the city, with the limited water truck reasons we have currently," Lakeman said.

Committee members and staff also discussed the growing number of green‑infrastructure tree wells and other amenities that accompany street beautification. Councilor Scott suggested a public‑education campaign and questioned whether a small, dedicated crew would create the capacity needed for maintenance of the new installations; Lakeman said those items are on DPW’s queue but that increased infrastructure will require additional resources.

The committee recorded that minor repairs and cleaning of the identified receptacles will proceed and that the item is otherwise work complete for committee purposes. During the meeting the committee also approved the minutes of its June 2, 2025 meeting and adjourned by roll call vote (Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Scott and Chair Klingen voted yes).