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Councilors press city to improve construction outreach after reports of sustained disruption to Somerville small businesses
Summary
Committee discussed mitigation measures for city-led and third-party construction projects; staff said limited funding constrains direct financial aid and proposed the Economic Development Division act as a convener for better advance communication and signage; a separate notification resolution will stay in committee for further work.
Committee members and economic development staff on June 30 discussed long-standing concerns from small businesses about construction impacts and the limits of city resources to provide direct financial relief.
Deputy Director Dana Whiteside said funding to provide direct monetary aid to businesses affected by construction is limited and that the division's most practicable role is convening city departments and external project leads to coordinate communication and mitigation. "We have more control with those projects that are city led. We have perhaps less…
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