The Somerville Police Department employs over 140 uniformed members in 10 divisions, which are also supported by the all-volunteer Somerville Auxiliary Police Department. Approximately half of the force serves in the Uniformed Patrol Division, which answers over 45,000 calls for service per year. Currently, Acting Police Chief Michael Cabral leads the department, and in late 2010, incoming Police Chief Thomas Pasquarello will take the helm.
The department is strongly committed to the concept of community policing, which encourages every officer to maintain strong ties to the community. To that end, seven Neighborhood Police Officers are each assigned to one of the city's seven wards, where they patrol, take part in events and stay in close contact with community leaders.
In addition to police headquarters in Union Square, two neighborhood substations also make officers more available to residents. The East Substation is located in East Somerville at 81 Broadway and the West Substation is in Teele Square at 1154 Broadway.
Many nonemergency services are also provided by the department including child seat safety checks, investigation of traffic safety complaints and finger printing.
Costume Works designs and creates customized costumes for stage productions and promotional use. The staff will work with clients whether they have a completed design ready to execute, or just a series of ideas that need fleshing out. This is their 2,800 square foot studio and main headquarters. Check out the company Web site for a portfolio and list of clients.
Charles Rose Architects is an architecture agency in Somerville. They take great pride in architecture that doesn't harm the environment and reduces energy consumption. Some of the features that are offered for their work include daylighting, solar heating, recycled materials and energy-efficient mechanical equipment.
United Refrigeration is a commercial and industrial refrigerator dealer, located in Somerville. Call for more information on ordering services. Technical assistance is also available.
When inside the City limits, residents can simply dial 311 to connect to any City department or service. The City Hall office that answers the line is known as Constituent Services. Not only will they connect you to the person you need, they also track calls to be sure they are handled promptly. Their web page also links to the answers to many commonly asked resident questions from street sweeping regulations to how to apply for the City's pharmacy discount card.
The 311 line is open 24 hours per day 7 days per week for urgent calls. All other calls should be made during City Hall office hours so that the department needed will be open. During business hours, TTY service and operators that speak Haitian Creole, Spanish or Portuguese are available.
Open since 1978, Mudflat Studio is part of a Boston -based, national non-profit organization that has been in existence for more than 40 years. Holding over 20 classes per week for all levels and ages, Mudflat also conducts classes at schools, senior centers, and other locales nationwide, and is always accepting new students. Private classes and workshops arranged by age group are available as well. As part of Somerville Open Studios, it holds two yearly sales, one in May and one in December, featuring the work of students and faculty alike. Each workstation in the spacious downstairs classroom features a spinning wheel, and the hot kilns are constantly churning out new works.
Originally built as a YMCA in 1904, this building has character to spare. The adult program list is extensive and includes activities such as swimming lessons, yoga, karate and an array of dance classes. Senior citizens can loosen up with water aerobics courses, many of which are free to members. Memberships are reasonably priced for individuals and families. Other programs include a pre-school, child care, outreach and youth day camp.
Working out of a large workspace in the Brick Bottom Artists Building in Somerville, Studio TKM offers services in preserving works on paper for companies that do not have the capabilities themselves, such as libraries, archives, historical societies and museums. Maps, historical documents, fine art and architectural plans are just some of the works the studio has serviced.
Head down Highland Ave. and you can't miss City Hall, which sits atop Central Hill next to Somerville High School. Built in 1851 as the city's first high school, the building has housed city government since 1871. Today, the majority of City offices are still at City Hall. But in a city of over 74,000, one building can't hold them all. So another dozen City offices occupy City Hall Annex on Evergreen St., a handful are at the Department of Public Works building on Franey Road, and a few are at other locations in the city.
Offices located at City Hall include:
- Mayor's Office
- City Clerk
- Election Department
- Assessor's Office
- Treasurer/Collector's Office
- Auditing Division
- Constituent Services
- Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD)
- Parks and Open Space
- Planning and Zoning Division
- Transportation and Infrastructure Division
- Communications Office
- Somerstat
- Information Technology Department
- City Solicitor's Office/The Law Office
- Personnel Office
- Purchasing Office
The Community Action Agency of Somerville, or CAAS, works to fight poverty through its Advocacy and Head Start programs. CAAS provides services ranging from eviction prevention and tenant rights and gender discrimination counseling to medical-legal advocacy, public benefit access and case management. CAAS also serves over 350 children in Cambridge and Somerville, ages three to five, and their families, with its Head Start Program, offering health, education, nutritional and social services.
Khalsa Design Incorporated is a prestigious design and architectural firm specializing in the design of affordable housing and government projects. This business has multiple in-house functions, such as mechanical and engineering, designed to meet the unique demands of its clients. Khalsa Design Incorporated provides renovation and adaptive re-use of historical structures. Call the number provided to schedule an appointment.
Johnson Roberts Associates is an architectural firm. The firm helps clients through initial design and into master planning and construction. The company's portfolio includes public libraries, town offices, public safety facilities, court houses, college and university facilities, churches and historic preservations.