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Council approves road‑safety and aging grants and asks staff to study a senior navigator function
Summary
The council approved a $64,974 municipal road safety grant to support targeted traffic enforcement campaigns and a $302,640 ageing services grant to preserve congregate meals and expand programming; it also adopted a charter‑right policy order asking staff to study a senior navigator role.
The Cambridge City Council on Nov. 17 approved appropriations for traffic enforcement and senior services and adopted a policy order asking the city to study whether a dedicated senior navigator function is feasible.
Traffic enforcement grant: The council approved an appropriation of $64,974 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the municipal road safety program. Lieutenant Phil McDavitt of the Cambridge Police Department’s traffic unit said the money supplements existing enforcement work and supports focused, data‑driven campaigns (bicycle/pedestrian safety, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding). “We deploy our resources according to the data,” McDavitt said, noting prior campaigns covering crosswalk violations, stop sign and red‑light enforcement, obstructing bike lane violations and speeding. Councilors asked for clearer public reporting on where campaigns are deployed and an evaluation of effectiveness; staff said citation dashboards and past campaign reports are available and the grant is recurring.
Aging services grant and senior navigator study: Council approved a $302,640 appropriation from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence for senior services (salary and wages $181,607; program maintenance $106,033; travel and training $15,000). Assistant manager staff explained the funds provide food support (to avoid cuts to congregate meals), cover staff costs previously paid by Somerville‑Cambridge Elder Services, expand pilot programming at the Russell Youth & Community Center, and support instructors and medical transportation for senior centers.
Related policy action: Separately, the council—on a charter‑right policy order filed by Mayor Simmons—asked the city manager and the executive director of the Council on Aging to explore the feasibility of creating a dedicated position or function to triage and direct seniors to services. Sponsors emphasized the order is intended as budget‑neutral exploration (reallocation or redirection of existing duties is an option) and asked staff to return with recommendations.
Votes at a glance: Appropriation of $64,974 for road safety — approved (7‑0, 2 absent). Appropriation of $302,640 for aging services — approved (7‑0, 2 absent). Charter‑right policy order to study a senior navigator — adopted as amended (7‑0, 2 absent).
What happens next: Staff said they will provide the council additional information on campaign locations and enforcement effectiveness, and the city manager’s office will return with a feasibility report on the senior navigator function for committee referral if needed.
