A state-run commission charged with planning major fixes to the Morrissey Boulevard corridor is facing increased criticism this week from a key constituency that wants the Healey administration and other state leaders to hit the reset button as they near a Dec. 31 deadline to make recommendations.

The Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association voted to declare “no confidence” in the Morrissey Boulevard Commission’s efforts at its October membership meeting. This week, the civic group took the further step in calling on the commission to expand their scope of work and focus more on the rotary at Kosciuszko Circle and other infrastructure that critics say the commission has improperly omitted – to date – from its mission.

Jake Wachman, a Savin Hill resident and an appointed member of the commission, said they plan to approach state Sen. Nick Collins next week to present their concerns.

“The Civic Association and [its] Government Affairs Committee hear everyone loud and clear that the Morrissey Commission is not living up to its original mandate,” wrote Wachman in a statement read at Monday’s CSHCA meeting. “The ‘no confidence’ vote at the October civic meeting passed overwhelmingly, showing a clear indication that the community would like MassDOT to more closely follow the original vision and law for the commission.”

Wachman is also the chair of the CSHCA Government Affairs Committee.

Longtime civic leader Don Walsh offered his opinion that the commission’s work to date has been disappointing.

“Halfway through they announced they wouldn’t even look at Kosciuszko Circle and that’s some other group,” he said. “It’s really disgusting…The responsibility fall on us to make some noise right now. We will be the ones that suffer. They don’t care.”

The state-run commission was created through legislation led by Collins in 2022. Meetings started in Nov. 2023. While there was initial hope that the body would bring resolution to long-held concerns about the corridor’s infrastructure needs, residents have grown increasingly critical of the Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) commitment to the work.

Wachman said that is the crux of what they will present to Collins at the CSHCA Government Affairs Committee on Nov. 13. “In short, the six Morrissey Commission meetings have so far resulted in plans for a road, but not included comprehensive planning and K-Circle as listed in the original law, plus have been increasingly vague on traffic volumes, how to address climate resiliency, and ecological issues on the waterfront,” read Wachman’s statement.

CSHCA is asking Collins and other elected officials for four measures.

First, they would like the Commission to start work on comprehensive plans for population growth in Dorchester and along the Morrissey corridor. Second, they want to reintroduce K-Circle back into the planning process, as it was removed earlier this year and diverted to a different planning effort. Third, they would like to discuss and implement more climate resiliency efforts beyond the suggestion of building a wall between the neighborhood and the ocean. Finally, they would like the commission to focus on ecological issues for the waterfront and Dorchester Basin.

Asked for comment by The Reporter, Collins said, “I expect there will be a significant part of the next Commission meeting agenda to lead into and focus on Kosciuszko Circle. It was important to begin these conversations with everything that flows into Kosciuszko Circle first. It is a key component to the local and regional transportation plan and deserves the attention it needs to get the best plan possible. That includes short-term and long-term improvements.”

MassDOT received a request for a response, but did not respond.

The Government Affairs meeting is Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom and the Morrissey Commission’s seventh meeting will be on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. on Zoom or in person at the Holiday Inn Express, 69 Boston St.

• $750K donation is discussed – A long-talked-about $750,000 gift from developer Centre Court Partners to the CSHCA is still in the pipeline, but the civic group is inching closer to resolving red tape issues and accepting an initial donation.

Community Benefits Chair Don Walsh said they have completed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for neighbors to review that would codify how a fiscal partner manages the money. The group had to seek out a fiscal partner to accept and manage the gift as the city indicated CSHCA could not accept it directly. The MOU indicates the check would be delivered to the fiscal sponsor, and they would be responsible for making annual payments to CSHCA from the lump sum and creating reports to keep track of spending. For their effort, CSHCA would give the sponsor $50,000 over three years.

So far, Walsh and Liz Doyle said they met with Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation. Other possibilities include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester and Cristo Rey Boston High School. “Basically, Dorchester Bay thinks it’s a good idea and they’re happy to do it,” said Doyle.
Walsh said the Committee would have a meeting on Nov. 20 to get final feedback on the MOU, which is on the CSHCA website. He hopes to get a final vote at the December general meeting.

•Eversource trenching to continue through December – Eversource representatives said that they would continue that work in Savin Hill to complete the Andrew Square Reliability Project and that they may be working overnights.

Dave Cotter of Eversource noted that they have work remaining on Grampian Way, Savin Hill Avenue, and Playstead. “At this point it’s a race against time before we get snow…It’s on the table and we’ve done it twice already,” he said.

Neighbor Heidi Moesinger lodged her displeasure with the night work, saying it shook houses and residents cannot sleep. “It doesn’t work here for all night long work,” she said.

EverSource is expected to circle back in 2025 to pave roadways, fix sidewalks, and complete the project, which started on Dewar Street and went under the Expressway, through Savin Hill, up Morrissey Boulevard and all the way to Andrew Square.

•The CSHCA will have its annual holiday party on Dec. 2 at the Dorchester Yacht Club. In-person only at 7 p.m.