A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-7, regarding a review of the Final Report of the Charter Review Committee

Telephone [phone removed] Facsimile [phone removed] TTY/TTD [phone removed] Megan B. Bayer Assistant City Solicitors Acting City Solicitor Paul S. Kawai Sean M. McKendry Elliott J. Veloso Diane O. Pires First Assistant City Solicitor Kate M. Kleimola Sydney M. Wright Evan C. Bjorklund Franziskus Lepionka Andrea Carrillo-Rhoads Public Records Access Officer Seah Levy CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Office of the City Solicitor 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 March 4, 2024 Yi-An Huang City Manager Cambridge City Hall 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Response to Awaiting Report No. 24-7 of 2/12/24 re: report on a review of the Final Report of the Charter Review Committee Dear Mr. Huang: I write in response to Awaiting Report No. 24-7 of 2/12/24 which requests that the City Manager direct the City Solicitors Office, Election Commission and any other department deemed necessary, to review the Final Report of the Charter Review Committee and its proposals and provide written feedback on the legality, and practicality of the proposals in advance of future discussion. The Final Report of the Charter Review Committee was included on the City Council February 12, 2024 agenda and consists of a 90 page report, and totals 349 pages with the appendices. The Final Report includes recommendations for a new charter that were adopted by the Committee, as well as statements and votes on other issues that did not receive the necessary quantum of vote to constitute recommended changes to the charter. The Final Report also includes proposed text for a new charter. Before the Law Department and the Election Commission, and potentially other departments, can effectively and efficiently provide feedback on the proposals in the Final Report, the departments need clarity as to which proposals the Council is seeking guidance on, and/or what specific questions the Council has concerning the proposals in the Final Report. Once the departments receive further guidance, the departments will work to provide their review. We would be happy to work with the Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee to formulate and scope the questions that the Council would like answered, and to

2 subsequently provide guidance to the Council as it moves forward with its review of the Final Report and next steps. Please let us know if you have any questions. Very truly yours, Megan B. Bayer Acting City Solicitor