A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-39, regarding a report on the DeGuglielmo plaque in Harvard Square

City of Cambridge Department of Public Works Owen O'Riordan, Commissioner 147 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 theworks@cambridgema.gov Voice: [phone removed] TDD: [phone removed] To: Louis Depasquale, City Manager. June 11, 2018 From: Owen O’ Riordan, Commissioner, DPW Re: Council Order 18-39 Mayor DeGuglielmo Plaque in Deguglielmo Plaza. In response to the request that an eye level plaque be placed to more prominently reflect that the plaza is dedicated to the memory of former Judge, Mayor and City Manager Joseph DeGuglielmo, the Department of Public Works reports the following; DeGuglielmo Plaza was last reconstructed in 2011 and is one of the more significant and best used gathering locations in the city for artists and street entertainers and for friends and neighbors who use the space to come and sit and enjoy the square and the nearby cafes and small businesses. It is also the location of a busy stairway and elevator entrance to the MBTA station and being at the intersection of Brattle Street, Eliot Street and Mount Auburn Street sees significant pedestrian traffic volumes during the day. The DeGuglielmo plaque was re-installed as part of the 2011 reconstruction and was included as part of the granite wall along the edge of the plaza. Given this high volume of pedestrian activity the Department of Public Works would not recommend the construction of an eye level plaque within the plaza at this time but will revisit the suggestion if and when further reconstruction of the plaza is considered.