New Director of Neighborhood Services Addresses NEWNC

Jerome Smith, the new Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services was the guest speaker at last week’s North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) monthly meeting.

Smith explained some of the new programs established to make things easier for small businesses and certain landlords and an abutters meeting program at the site of requests being sought within the neighborhood.

Several abutter meetings have already been held in the North End.

He also spoke about the city’s new survey program that will be undertaken throughout Boston’s neighborhoods geared toward identifying community needs like street lighting, sidewalks and street repairs and other neighborhood improvements.

Smith also advised of a Zoning Licensing Board of Appeal special committee to address smaller requests to cut down the usual lengthy process to getting things approved.

The committee and residents that attended the meeting appeared to be pleased with the new programs.