Chelsea Week Ahead, Nov. 16 to 22: Tax Hearing, Comcast, Market

Chelsea’s tax bills for next year get their public hearing Monday night, when the City Council takes up the fiscal 2027 tax rates at its regular meeting. The rest of the week is crowded in a different way: three public bodies meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Housing Authority holds a hearing on its annual plan Wednesday morning, the Winter Farmers Market opens Wednesday afternoon, the city takes testimony on its Comcast contract Wednesday evening, and two Eastern Avenue projects go before the public Thursday.

Here is the week of November 16 to 22, with what is left of this weekend and the dates to mark after it.

Tonight and Saturday

“Arsenic and Old Lace,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Chelsea High School auditorium, 299 Everett Avenue. The Drama Club’s fall play closes Saturday. Tickets and details.
Rain. The city said Thursday that Chelsea is expected to miss the worst of the season’s first nor’easter. Its forecast: steady rain through Saturday night, winds that could reach 20 mph, temperatures in the 40s, and a warmer Sunday.

Monday, November 16

City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 500 Broadway. The public hearing on the fiscal 2027 tax rates is on this agenda. What the assessors project for single-family, two-family, three-family and condo bills. The same meeting has a proposed rewrite of the scooter and e-bike rules, the city manager’s answer on early morning street sweeping on Broadway, and a vote on $1.3 million in Community Preservation money. Our full preview of the agenda.

Tuesday, November 17

Retirement Board, 9 a.m., Retirement Board Conference Room, 90 Everett Avenue, Suite 5. The notice says parts of the monthly meeting may be held in executive session.
Planning Board, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall. The Department of Housing and Community Development holds a public hearing at this meeting on the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. Staff will report on grant years 2022 through 2026, take comments on how well the programs worked, and discuss a proposed amendment to the fiscal 2024 award and a new Community Development Strategy. The projects named in the notice include sidewalk renovations, housing rehabilitation, 170 Cottage Street, the Voke Park tot lot and ball field, and social service programs. Written comments are due Tuesday, to Room 101 at City Hall or [email protected].
717 Broadway and Walmart, both on the agenda. Updated Friday evening: the Planning Board’s full agenda, posted Friday morning, lists public hearings at this meeting on the 150-unit, six-story proposal at 717 Broadway and Spencer Avenue and on Walmart’s site plan for 121 Webster Avenue, along with a public meeting on the event venue proposed at 212 Arlington Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on 717 Broadway remains Tuesday, December 8. What the agenda lists and what is still open.
City Manager Evaluation Committee, 6 p.m., City Hall. The council committee reviewing City Manager Fidel Maltez meets while resident comments are still being collected. How to send feedback before the November 27 deadline.
Board of Library Trustees, 6 p.m., Chelsea Public Library, 569 Broadway. The posted agenda lists the library director’s report and old and new business.

Wednesday, November 18

Chelsea Housing Authority board, 8:30 a.m., 54 Locke Street, and on Microsoft Teams. The meeting opens with a public hearing on the authority’s state annual plan, which the board is scheduled to vote on later in the same meeting. The agenda also has a presentation of the 2027 budget, contracts to replace a heating boiler at 44 Orange Street and the hot water boiler system at the Margolis development, and two change orders on the facade repair project at the Buckley development. Directions for joining remotely are on chelseaha.com.
Winter Farmers Market opens, 2 to 6 p.m., Chelsea Square, 179 Winnisimmet Street. The city says the market now accepts SNAP and HIP and will return on the third Wednesday of each month through March 2027. The $20 coupon survey and the swags made from the old holiday spruce.
Comcast public hearing, 5:30 p.m., City Hall, Room 305. The City Manager’s office is taking testimony on cable needs and on Comcast’s performance before the franchise is renewed. Written comments go through a survey in the Latest News section of chelseama.gov and are due by noon on November 30. Paper copies are available from Bernabe Rodriguez at 617-466-4106. What the survey asks.

Thursday, November 19

State hearings on the 111 Eastern Avenue garage, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., on Zoom. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is reviewing a Chapter 91 waterways license for the Logan Airport employee garage planned on Chelsea Creek. The department’s listing gives December 14 as the end of the comment period. Registration links and where to send comments.
Global Partners open house, 6 to 8 p.m., La Colaborativa’s Survival Center, 63 Sixth Street. The company will take questions about a permit for its terminal at 281 Eastern Avenue. The city’s announcement says food and interpretation will be provided.
School Committee Human Resources Subcommittee, 6 p.m., virtual. The only business on the notice is an executive session on a Level III grievance, and the subcommittee will not return to open session.

Looking ahead

Monday, November 23: the City Council and School Committee hold a special joint meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers to review the city’s finances and its revenue and spending forecasts with the city manager and the superintendent.
Tuesday, November 24: the Board of Assessors meeting is listed as canceled on the city calendar.
Friday, November 27: last day for resident feedback on the city manager’s evaluation.
Monday, November 30: the Comcast survey closes at noon.
Tuesday, December 8: Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on 717 Broadway, 6 p.m.
Monday, December 14: state comment period on the 111 Eastern Avenue license ends.

Meeting times and places come from the city calendar and the posted notices as of Friday morning. Boards sometimes continue cases or change rooms, so check the posted agenda on the day.