The ethical selectman, a how-to guide

The state Ethics Commission will soon be in town to give officials a rundown of the dos and don'ts of elected office, after Town Meeting members added a section to the town's bylaws mandating such a training session. Town officials announced last week the first of the new sessions, on the state's open meeting and conflict-of-interest laws. The bylaw applied to all town officials appointed or elected after Sept. 26, 2006, except School Committee members.

Responding to budget figures presented this month that painted a stark picture of town finances, town officials began a hiring freeze last week. While hiring freezes are not uncommon for towns in tight fiscal times, Brookline has generally been able to stave off the measure. The freeze was necessary, town officials said, to avoid budget deficits, saying they are more concerned about finances for fiscal year 2008 than they have been about any other recent budget. Officials have routinely cited skyrocketing costs for health insurance for town employees, rising energy costs, and general increases in the cost of doing business.

The town's Historical Commission hopes to receive a survey and planning grant from the state to update the town's historical survey of buildings. The survey would target properties that may have been overlooked in the past, with an emphasis on buildings from the 1930s. The National Register of historic sites includes any buildings constructed up to 1957, or at least a half-century old.

Got a news item from Brookline? E-mail Emma Stickgold at stickgold@globe.com. Cambridge

Computer World magazine recently named the city of Cambridge's website one of the best e-government sites for 2006. Since 2002 , residents have been able to pay bills online, including motor vehicle excise taxes and parking tickets. Last year , the city launched its free subscription service, "Cambridge E-Line," for weekly digital updates. This year , the city streamlined its permit applications, making 54 available online. Visit the site at www.cambridgema.gov.

The race is on for the next big cheese in the Cambridge Police Department. More than 50 applicants have thrown their hats into the ring, hoping to become the city's next police commissioner. A citizen panel and team of city department heads will make up an advisory committee to help with the sorting, interviewing and hiring of the new commissioner by March 2007, when the current commissioner, Ronnie Watson, retires.

Cantabrigians may get a little bounce in their step one of these days. The city's public works department is investigating using rubber sidewalks in a pilot program, especially around trees, so roots would have more flexibility to grow and wouldn't buckle the pavement above. The sidewalks are made from recycled rubber, primarily tires, and shaped into interlocking pavers to look like concrete sidewalks. Washington, D.C., has already devoted some stretches of sidewalk to the pavers.

Got a news item from Cambridge? E-mail Janice O'Leary at joleary@globe.com. Somerville

The city's 311 Constituent Service Center has started mailing welcome kits of information on city services to new Somerville residents. The kits are part of an effort to increase awareness of the program, which allows Somerville residents to get information and ask questions about the city by calling 311. The program now offers service in four languages, since it added an operator who speaks Haitian Creole. Services are also provided in Spanish and Portuguese. Launched on a trial basis a year ago, the program has been expanded to cover every cellphone provider in the city.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is hosting a community holiday party on Wednesday, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at Somerville City Hall. The annual party features a full buffet and music. All residents are invited and, if they wish, can bring a new, unwrapped toy for Somerville's Toys for Local Children campaign.

The Center for Teen Empowerment will host a dinner and dialogue session Wednesday to bring West Somerville youths and adults together. Twelve youth organizers will perform original skits, read poetry and lead a discussion about issues facing Somerville youths. The event is open to the public and will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, 155 Powder House Boulevard. To register to attend the event, contact Danny McLaughlin or Leon David at 617-625-6600, ext. 2254.

Got a news item from Somerville? E-mail Kristen Green at kristen.green@comcast.net.