Members Sought for New CSO Control and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee

Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang seeks volunteers to serve on a new Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee. This new advisory committee will help guide the City in its multifaceted work to mitigate flooding and improve the water quality of our nearby rivers and streams. This volunteer committee will advise on the planning and implementation of programs, infrastructure projects, and other initiatives related to stormwater quantity, stormwater quality, sewer separation, wastewater, and more.

Role of the CSO Control and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee:

• Serve as an informed group of community stakeholders to advise on capital improvement investments specific to the City’s wastewater and stormwater systems.
• Assist the City with reporting back to the Cambridge community on on-going and future planning, design, design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects related to stormwater management, combined sewer overflow control, and flood mitigation.
• Seeking feedback from local experts to guide significant infrastructure projects and financial investments for decades to come.

What is the term of appointment?

• Members will be appointed for a 5-year term and may be reappointed for a maximum of two (2) terms.

When will the advisory committee meet?

• It is anticipated that the group will meet at least quarterly starting in early 2026, with the option to meet more frequently as needed for specific work and projects.
• Committee meetings may be held in-person, virtually, and/or hybrid; with most meetings anticipated to be in-person. All meetings will be open to the public. The date and time of the meetings will be established in collaboration with selected applicants.
• Members are expected to attend most meetings, and to engage in any committee-related work required between meetings.

What is the advisory committee composition?

• The Committee will consist of 11 to 15 members appointed by the City Manager, representing a diverse set of interests and specific subject matter expertise. This will help ensure that a range of perspectives are heard and provide multiple channels for reporting back to the larger community.
• The Committee will be comprised of residents, technical experts, and representatives from stakeholder groups.

What kind of skills and abilities do you need to effectively serve on the CSO Control and Stormwater Management Advisory Committee?

• Cambridge residents with subject matter expertise in the following areas preferred:

o   Finance, particularly an understanding of municipal financing and/or debt servicing
o   Hydrology and hydraulics
o   Water quality
o   Public health
o   Construction
o   Community relations, outreach, and engagement
o   Environmental law
o   Project management or strategic planning
o   Systems thinking

How to Apply. Use the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply and selecting it in the list of Current Vacancies. A letter of interest summarizing your expertise and how you will contribute to the Committee should be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting applications is March 13, 2026.

The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.