2026-09-24 - City Council Regular Meeting

05:12Mr. President, in your word tomorrow,

05:15unfortunately, the Dolly Parton tribute

05:18is cancelled. Yeah.

05:22As a brunch the next day, though.

05:26AM Dolly, not PM Dolly.

05:48Were

05:56you going to crowd serve in the Dolly

05:58Parton tribute?

06:00You were, weren't you? I would I would

06:03have held you up.

15:59Revalidating everyone.

16:08I was trying to make people

16:41All right. Would counselors please take

16:42their seats. Going to call this meeting

16:44to order.

16:59Recording in progress.

17:10>> All right, folks.

17:13Calling this meeting to order. Quiet

17:14down, please.

17:16It is Thursday, September 24th. Uh my

17:19name is Lance Davis, presiding. I use

17:21hehim pronouns. This is a meeting of the

17:22city council. Um, please note that video

17:26and audio of this meeting is being

17:27recorded and may be shown live on local

17:29access government channels and on the

17:30city of Somerville website and will be

17:32available for future review. Would the

17:34clerk please call the role?

17:35>> This is roll call. Councelor Winkampen

17:37>> here.

17:38>> Councelor Link

17:39>> here.

17:39>> Councelor Scott. Councelor Klingan

17:42>> present.

17:42>> Councelor Shrezo

17:43>> here.

17:44>> Councelor S.

17:46>> Councelor Councelor Wheeler

17:48>> here.

17:48>> Councelor Hart

17:49>> here. Council Laughlin.

17:50>> Yeah.

17:51>> Councelor Umba

17:52>> present.

17:52>> And councelor Davis

17:53>> here.

17:53>> With 10 members present. We have quorum.

17:55>> All right. Thank you. Councelor Scott is

17:57chaperoning a kids field trip the for

18:00the I don't know if it's the weekend or

18:01the week or whatever, but so he uh

18:03passed along his regrets. I'm sure he's

18:05having either more fun or a lot less fun

18:08than we are. Hopefully more. Um all

18:11right. Uh pursuant to our rule 32, let

18:13it be known that the city council

18:14salutes the flag of the United States of

18:15America. And let us recall our oath to

18:17uphold the Constitution and the laws of

18:19the Commonwealth to the best of our

18:21abilities and understanding. We begin

18:23our meetings with a moment of silence.

18:24Is there anyone wishing to say a few

18:25words about members of our community

18:26tonight?

18:31Okay. Uh I would like to uh ask the

18:34council remember Susan Jennick. Um the

18:36mother of councelor Strezo passed away

18:38recently after long illness. And uh,

18:40Madame Clerk, if we could uh, let the

18:43record reflect that uh, all counselors

18:45pass along our condolences to council

18:47and her family. Uh, would everyone in

18:50the chamber please rise however you are

18:52able uh, for a moment of silence.

19:13Thank you everyone.

19:18>> All right, madam clerk. First ite or

19:21next item?

19:21>> Next item is 1.3 approval of the minutes

19:23of the special meeting of July 27, 2026.

19:28for those I don't not sure why this one

19:30is just showing up now but this was the

19:32meeting that was called by the mayor to

19:34um discuss the uh body one camera policy

19:37effectively any discussion all right

19:40seeing none that item is approved

19:43>> next item is 2.1 a citation by councelor

19:45Stzo commending Gonzalo Pugo for his

19:48work as the executive director of

19:49Somerville Community Corporation

19:51>> so councelor Yanka would like to um take

19:53item 4.5 out of order sorry madam clerk

19:56I was looking I was looking for the

19:57approval of the minutes from our last

19:58meeting. I guess that one didn't get

20:01>> two minutes behind.

20:02>> Two minutes behind. All right. See, it's

20:04only taken me 11 years to pick up on

20:05that fact.

20:07Very good. Then uh so if see no

20:08objection then uh item 4.5 which um

20:11madam clerk just read into the record.

20:12Um councelor yampen.

20:15>> Oh was I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Yes.

20:182.1.

20:19Uh all right. Let me take a breath. Here

20:23we go. Item 2.1 which was the next item

20:25which is in order. Councelor Strezo,

20:27please go ahead. This is a citation.

20:35>> Well,

20:38Summerville Community Corporation

20:40recently had our the executive director

20:43uh Gonzalo Puglio uh resign and move on.

20:48and he I think we definitely had to

20:51issue a citation and honor him because

20:54he took SEC through a very difficult

20:58time.

21:00He became the executive director just as

21:03the pandemic started with SEC.

21:06And um when SEC was in a really scary um

21:13time, financial time, aside from what

21:16was going out going on around us with

21:19the pandemic, but also um there was a

21:22lot of of debt with Somerville Community

21:25Corporation that the nonprofit had to

21:28get out of. And

21:31I was also a new counselor at that time.

21:34And um as we were both watching um this

21:41onslaught of potential evictions

21:44and um disparity about to just overwhelm

21:50our community,

21:52um I saw him to be

21:56a necessary leader for the time and

22:00and

22:03really help prevent a lot of bad

22:06situations from happening with our

22:08community with a lot of our most

22:10vulnerable residents. He was a team

22:12player. Um, and

22:16I enjoyed working with him personally

22:18because he would always just tell me

22:20exactly um well what what what

22:25was realistic and what just

22:30could be a pipe dream or or

22:33he knew he had to make difficult

22:35decisions. He knew he had to navigate a

22:38massive sea change. I think he did it

22:41with integrity and and grace and

22:46um I'm not happy that he is no longer

22:49with Somerville Community Corporation

22:52and I I wish him the best. So I thought

22:54the citation was one of

22:57many ways we can we can honor him here

22:59in Somerville. So

23:03>> thank you.

23:06>> Oh, okay. Would you like to sponsor him

23:09to save a few words?

23:10>> All right. See, seeing no objection

23:12then. Um, do we have

23:29>> Okay. Okay.

23:31>> You should be able to unmute yourself

23:32and speak if you'd like to, sir.

23:58Hello. Can everybody hear me?

24:00>> Yes, we can.

24:02>> Great. Thank you. First of all, thank

24:05you, Counselor Stresso, um for this

24:08honor. um as you've said from day one um

24:13you know you were there uh to listen uh

24:17to offer uh your feedback around uh

24:20Somerville, what needed to be improved

24:23and how we can work in partnership with

24:25the city. Um I'd like to uh thank the

24:29full council as well uh for your support

24:32along the years. It was a really trying

24:35moment, especially after the pandemic,

24:38and the understanding that 100 homes was

24:40a very important initiative for the city

24:42of Somerville that we needed to protect.

24:46And while there was definitely a lot of

24:50uh difficulty as councelor Stresso has

24:52stated um there were opportunities uh

24:55for improvement that we were able to

24:57identify but none of this could have

25:00been done uh without the support of our

25:03team. uh Somerville Community

25:05Corporation and the staff that continue

25:08to work there have done a phenomenal job

25:11um stabilizing uh our real estate

25:14portfolio, increasing our programs and

25:16services to now include digital

25:18literacy, growing also our workforce

25:21development team, but more importantly

25:24uh serving the community with passion,

25:27honor, and hard work. Um, one of our

25:31mission statements has always been that

25:34life balances work. Uh, we truly believe

25:38that it's not about work life balance

25:41because life is the most important piece

25:44of the work that we do and that includes

25:47all of the residents in Somerville. Um,

25:50balance has to do with making sure

25:54because nonprofit is a very challenging,

25:57hardworking

25:59and can also create a lot of stress that

26:01to balance the work with time at home,

26:05time to self-reflect. And work is

26:08important as long as you believe in the

26:11mission and the support uh of what we

26:14do. and every single one of our staff

26:16members truly believes it today and will

26:20believe it in the future.

26:22Also, I want to recognize the

26:24partnership of the city of Somerville,

26:26specifically the office of strategic

26:29planning and community development, uh,

26:31specifically the housing division that

26:33from day one told us exactly what the

26:36problems were and worked hand in hand

26:39with us to make sure that when we were

26:43running out of cash, uh, that they were

26:45there to support us, uh, to make sure

26:48that the invoice that we submitted could

26:51have been done in a timely fashion so we

26:53can get the money we needed to support

26:54the community.

26:56All in all, um all of you have been

27:00there for us. Uh we appreciate the work

27:03that you do. We appreciate and recognize

27:07uh this citation and I gladly accept on

27:10behalf of Somerville Community

27:12Corporation and I do humbly hope uh that

27:16you continue to work with the

27:18organization with the staff and while I

27:21have left um to another organization in

27:24Fitchburg that is also going through

27:26similar issues uh like gentrification

27:30and displacement and I feel that God has

27:33called on me uh to now fulfill a new

27:36role. I know that whoever takes uh the

27:40new leadership of SEC, we'll do it

27:43proudly and we'll do it with better

27:45tools to continue to support all of the

27:48initiatives that UF city councilors has

27:50supported us. So again, thank you very

27:53much for this honor. I look forward to

27:56seeing you soon and thank you again very

27:59much for this official citation and

28:01thank you councelor Stresso for thinking

28:03of me. Have a great evening.

28:07>> Thank you very much. Any discussion? All

28:11right. See none. That item is approved.

28:13Next item madam. Next item is 3.1.

28:16Eversource applying for the grant of

28:17location to install 140 feet of conduit

28:20in Newton Street from the intersection

28:21of Prospect Street and Newton Street to

28:23a point of pickup at existing manhole

28:2531233.

28:27And we have Miss Duffy on the line.

28:29>> Right. Now call this meeting to order.

28:30Is there anyone here to speak on the

28:32item? Jackie Duffy.

28:36>> Hi. Good evening. How are you?

28:38>> Good. Thanks. Go right ahead. Uh we'd

28:40like to install 140 ft of conduit in

28:42Newton Street to provide electric

28:44reliability in the in the area. Uh the

28:48other piece of this um work order was

28:51already approved on 625, but we had

28:54missed this one piece on Newton Street.

28:56So that's why I'm back tonight for this.

28:58>> Okay. Anyone else here to speak on the

29:01item?

29:03Anyone online? Please use the raise hand

29:05function.

29:12I'm seeing no one, Mr. President.

29:15>> You said

29:15>> I'm seeing no one.

29:16>> All right. There being uh no one else

29:18here to speak on the item, I'll declare

29:19the public hearing to be closed. Is

29:20there any discussion?

29:23>> All right. Seeing none, that item is

29:25approved.

29:26All right. Now, we will get to uh some

29:29out of order items. Um so, the first as

29:31I already spoiled for you will be item

29:334.5. Um and then at the request of the

29:37administration and uh if there unless

29:40there's any objection, we'll wave the

29:41rules to take up item 7.3 and then items

29:447.6 and 714 together and then uh 717.

29:51So madam clerk which uh if there's no

29:53objection we'll take up item 4.4.

29:57Please read that. Item 4.5, a resolution

29:59by councelor Umba and councelor Yuan

30:01Campen in remembrance of Loa Rangzen in

30:04and in recognition of Somerville's

30:05Tibetan community.

30:07>> Council and Kevin Councelor Ba.

30:09>> Thank you, Mr. president uh for this

30:12opportunity and I just want to uplift

30:16the fact that Garenzen was a devoted

30:19member of the Tibetan community whose

30:22life was shaped by courage, sacrifice

30:26and and an un enduring commitment to

30:31preserving Tibetan identity,

30:34culture and history. He was born

30:39Lobson pen in eastern Tibet. He fled his

30:43homeland at 18 and eventually found

30:47refuge in the United States in 206.

30:51He devoted himself to Tibetan advocacy

30:54and community building, participating in

30:57demonstrations, hunger strikes, advocacy

31:00events, and a 13-day walk from New York

31:05City to Washington DC. Yet, those who

31:09knew him remember more than his

31:11activism. They remember his warmth,

31:15humor, generosity, love of dance and

31:18music, storytelling, hiking, and his

31:22determination to helping younger

31:25Tibetans remain connected to their

31:27heritage. his death on July 2nd, 2026

31:31outside the United Nations following an

31:34act of self emulation undertaken as a

31:38political protest

31:40brought renewed attention to the

31:42profound pain of displacement,

31:45separation, and cultural loss

31:47experienced by Tibetans living in exile.

31:51In honoring Lava Razen, the city of

31:56Somerville also recognizes that

31:59we need to celebrate the Tibetan

32:01residents and families who have made our

32:04community their home and whose culture,

32:08traditions, resilience, and

32:10contributions enrich the civic life of

32:12our city. We extend our deepest

32:15condolences to Loveg's family, friends,

32:18and the broader Tibetan community,

32:21including those grieving here in

32:23Somerville.

32:25His memory remains

32:27with us and that preserving culture is

32:30an act of community, that belonging must

32:33be protected, and that the stories of

32:35immigrant and displaced communities

32:38deserve to be heard and honored. So let

32:41this resolution be more than an

32:44expression of sympathy.

32:46Let it call on all of us to learn about

32:49Tibetan history in culture. Listen to

32:53the experiences of our Tibetan community

32:56neighbors. stand against discrimination

32:59and cultural erasure and build a summer

33:02where every person can preserve their

33:04heritage, live with dignity and know

33:08that their community stands with them.

33:12So at this point I'll kick it up to my

33:14colleague and co-sponsor

33:17councelor Yu Campen and then he will

33:19sponsor one of the speakers to speak.

33:21Thank you.

33:21>> Very good. Thank you councelor Kempen.

33:24>> Thank you Mr. President and through you.

33:25Thank you to councelor Emba for for the

33:27leadership on this. Um so we have an

33:30incredibly wonderful Tibetan community

33:31here in Somerville. Um and this has just

33:34been an incredibly difficult time for

33:35the Tibetan community um everywhere in

33:38the world. Obviously the catastrophic

33:40floods that impacted Tibet and Nepal

33:44have just been unimaginably difficult

33:46and and traumatic. Um and obviously a

33:49lot of the world's attention has

33:51understandably been focused on Nepal.

33:52But these floods were enormously

33:54impactful in Tibet. Um and unfortunately

33:57a lot of the press um around this event

34:00has referred to the border of Nepal and

34:03China. Um and that is of course

34:06profoundly painful for the Tibetan

34:07community here in Somerville but

34:09everywhere. And as as my colleague

34:11mentioned over the summer, a really

34:13respected and beloved member of the uh

34:15Tibetan community living in New York,

34:17but known to personally to to a lot of

34:19people here, um named uh Loba Rangzen

34:22self- emilated in front of the UN um in

34:24protest of China's escalating continuing

34:28campaign of cultural eraser of Tibet. Um

34:30and this act has just I know I've heard

34:32from from friends and neighbors really

34:34deeply affected people here in

34:35Somerville. So the purpose of this

34:37resolution is just to show our support,

34:38our love for the Tibetan community

34:40during an incredibly difficult time. And

34:42I'd ask that to sponsor um W3 resident

34:46Don Dump uh Funkang.

34:50Katu Campin would like to sponsor the

34:52speaker. Seeing no objection, please

34:54step forward.

35:01Will and Ben for uh sponsoring this

35:04resolution for Logarang and the

35:07recognition of the Tibetan community in

35:09Somerville. Uh we're a small community

35:11but extremely active not just in the um

35:15activism for Tibet but in the community

35:17of Somerville in general. Um I wanted to

35:20give some context of who we are and why

35:22Tibetans are here. Um I live at uh in

35:27Boston Street, 39 Boston Street. I have

35:29three little boys who are here, twins

35:31who are six and a 10-year-old and uh I

35:34felt it was important for them to see

35:36how much support the city gives to the

35:39Tibetan community. Um I'm a local

35:42business owner and a homeowner. Um but I

35:44thought I'd give some context by the

35:47reason why uh Tibetans are in America

35:49and not just as immigrants but as

35:51refugees as well. Uh my parents escaped

35:55uh Tibet in 1959 after the occupation by

35:58the Chinese Communist government. Here

36:01uh when I refer to Tibet uh to China,

36:03sorry, I'm talking about the Chinese

36:05communist government, not the Chinese

36:07people. So I just would like that to be

36:09clear. Um my Tibet was an independent

36:12country up until 1959. We had our own

36:15currency. We had our own postal service,

36:18our own stamps, our politicians and

36:20people traveled on Tibetan passports,

36:22not Chinese. After 1959, when my father

36:25and mother along with most of the

36:27Tibetans that are here are descendants

36:29of those Tibetans that have escaped uh

36:31Tibet after the Tibet's occupation by

36:34China uh were born like myself in as

36:37refugees in India, Nepal uh and then

36:40from there have come over to the west

36:42for in different ways. myself and some

36:45my friends, my mom won a green card

36:48lottery. Uh it was a one-time deal that

36:50the US government gave to Tibetan

36:52refugees in Nepal and India. Hence the

36:55reason why I'm here and my family is

36:56here. So um I think it's important uh to

37:03remember why it is essential to support

37:07uh the cause of Tibet right now. uh

37:09China is systematically trying to erase

37:12Tibetan culture, Tibetan identity and

37:15the way uh col um coloniz colonizers

37:19have done in many parts of the world but

37:21it's happening right now. Um what

37:23they've done is basically through

37:25torture, intimidation,

37:28um arrests uh made it so difficult for

37:31Tibetans to uh retain their identity

37:34over the last 67

37:37years and to the extent that now what

37:40they're doing is well so in this whole

37:42time Tibetans have that have been born

37:44in uh in Tibet have still manage to

37:47retain the Tibetan spirit. So now what

37:49they're doing is putting all young

37:51Tibetans from the age of four to 18 in

37:54Chinese colonial boarding schools.

37:56Something that the US and Canada and

37:59Australia did a 100 years ago. And uh

38:01the governments have apologized to the

38:03native people for how wrong that was.

38:05But this is happening right under our

38:07watch. And what is happening is that

38:10they are putting over a million Tibetan

38:13children. That is a sixth of our

38:15population in colonial boarding schools

38:17where kids are not allowed to go back

38:20and see their parents and they are

38:21brought up in Chinese Mandarin language.

38:24Hard Tibetan is hardly taught and all of

38:27the uh the teachings that are given to

38:29them is about Chinese propaganda and how

38:33uh the communist party is great and

38:35mistruths about Tibetan culture

38:37altogether. It's difficult after the

38:39schools, after a few months in school

38:41for little children to talk to their

38:42parents, let alone their grandparents.

38:44So, this is China's way of

38:45systematically erasing Tibetan culture.

38:48So, this is what we're facing with and

38:50the reason why it's important for a city

38:51like Somerville where we appreciate and

38:54back uh and support the diversity of the

38:58greatness of the city through its people

39:00to support something like this. Um, one

39:03of the other things I would say um that

39:06China is doing is uh basically

39:09as I said systematically erasing Tibetan

39:12culture. But over that period of time

39:14since 1959

39:16uh China has effectively killed off 1.2

39:20Tibet 1.2 million Tibetans in Tibet. So

39:22that's one6th of our population. I I

39:25will give you a sense of how big Tibet

39:28was. Up until 1959, they were probably

39:30just a few hundred Chinese in Tibet. And

39:33Tibet is the the original size of Tibet

39:36is uh twice the size of Western Europe.

39:40That's how big Tibet was, right? And is.

39:42But now there are massive Chinese cities

39:45all across Tibet. And we are a minority

39:47in our own land. So uh we are doing

39:50everything we can here promoting Tibetan

39:53Buddhism which is the prim the primary

39:56religion of Tibetans and we believe in

39:58peace and nonviolence and as many of you

40:00probably know the leader of our um

40:02Tibetan Buddhism is his holiness the

40:04Dalai Lama who was recognized uh in 1989

40:08with the Nobel Peace Prize. So Tibetans

40:13want to fulfill the wishes of his

40:15holiness and to be able to return one

40:17day to a free Tibet. Right now myself an

40:21American citizen I'm not able to go to

40:22Tibet because of um I because I promote

40:26human rights for Tibet here. Logorang

40:29was a Tibetan that was born in Tibet and

40:31did everything he could to bring

40:33attention to uh the Tibetan cause in in

40:36America. And uh at the end u because of

40:40China's policies he was led to make the

40:42ultimate sacrifice which is basically

40:44setting himself on fire at the UN

40:47building. So, um, what I'm asking for,

40:50uh, for the council members is to, uh,

40:53hopefully pass this resolution in

40:54support of all the peace and education

40:57that, uh, Tibetan community is, uh,

40:59bringing about, uh, for the, uh, to the

41:02residents of Somerville, but also for

41:04the resolution of Tibet in the future

41:06through our children. Uh, thank you all

41:07for your support.

41:10>> Thank you.

41:11>> Have any questions? Sorry, question. Any

41:14discussion?

41:18See none. Thank you very much.

41:21Uh, councelor Link would like to sign

41:23on. I think whole council would like to

41:24sign on to that one. Absolutely.

41:27All right. Thank you. Uh, next item m so

41:30uh to the next out of order item. Uh,

41:32seeing no objection. That's 7.3.

41:37>> Next item is 7.3. Mayor's request

41:39requesting the appropriation of $19,986

41:43from the salary contingency account to

41:45police department personal services

41:46accounts to fund a collective bargaining

41:48agreement with local 888 crossing

41:51guards.

41:54>> I see Labor Council Seru approaching.

41:57Could you just introduce introduce

41:58yourself for the record and go ahead?

42:00>> Yes, council president you uh labor

42:03council Matt Serigu. Uh we're here

42:05before you tonight uh seeking immediate

42:07approval of an appropriation to fund a

42:08recent MOA we uh have reached with the

42:12crossing guards union. So this contract

42:14will provide 2% increases each year of

42:16the contract which is our fiscal year 27

42:2028 and 29. That's consistent with the

42:22colas we've negotiated across the city

42:24for these years. And then we're also

42:26increasing the footwear stipen for this

42:28group from $100 to $150 per year. So the

42:32thinking being summer and winter shoes.

42:34Uh and then we're adding a winter

42:36stipend as well, a winter clothing

42:38stipend. So that will cover any other

42:41accessories uh that they can purchase in

42:43their discretion on top of adding uh

42:47hats, winter hats, and a pair of gloves

42:48to the equipment we're purchasing anyway

42:50for them. So that that money isn't

42:52intended to be for gloves. There's been

42:54discussion of gloves before, but uh

42:55we're going to get the gloves. Uh, and

42:57then we're also just going to give them

42:58money for hand warmers or whatever else

43:00they might uh choose to purchase.

43:03>> Very good. Thank you. Any questions?

43:07Councor Hart,

43:08>> thank you so much. I'm just curious,

43:09could you did you mention the number of

43:11the winter stipend? I'm curious.

43:13>> Uh, it's $100 for the winter statement.

43:18>> Any further discussion?

43:22>> All right. See none, then that item is

43:24approved. Thank you.

43:26Uh, next out of order items, if there's

43:28no objection, we'll take up 7.6 and 7.14

43:32together, please. Madam clerk.

43:34>> Yes. 7.6. Requesting approval to

43:36establish a grant match account with a

43:38$15,000 transfer from the Health and

43:40Human Services Community Wellness

43:42Division's Professional and Technical

43:43Services Account to the Health and Human

43:45Services Community Wellness Division

43:47Special Items Account for the

43:48Massachusetts Department of Agricultures

43:50Fiscar 2027 Food Security Infrastructure

43:53Grant match requirement.

43:55and 7.14

43:58requesting approval to accept and expend

44:00a 15 $59,497

44:03grant that requires a match from the

44:04Massachusetts Department of Agriculture

44:06Resources to the Health and Human

44:08Services Department Community Wellness

44:09Division for the expansion of cold

44:11storage capacity of the Somerville

44:13mobile market farmers market.

44:15>> All right, very good. I introduce

44:17yourself for the record and then go

44:18ahead.

44:20>> Good evening through the chair. Lisa

44:21Robinson, director of the community

44:22wellness division um and office of food

44:24access healthy communities. This is um a

44:27state grant through Mass um Department

44:29agriculture resources looking to replace

44:31our outdoor walk-in cold storage unit

44:34that we use currently for the Somerville

44:35mobile farmers market. So it's it's old.

44:37It needs to be replaced and um we'll

44:39make it a little bit bigger because the

44:41market is expanding.

44:44>> Approved. Councelor Bob moves to

44:47approve. Any discussion on the motion?

44:50All right. See none. Take those two up

44:51together. Right. All right. Those two

44:52items are approved. Thank you. And then

44:55our final out of order item will be

44:577.17.

44:59>> Yes. 7.17. Uh conveying an update on the

45:01civilian oversight policy development

45:03process.

45:05>> All right. And we have manager Hillman

45:06here for that one, I believe. Manager

45:07Helman,

45:09introduce yourself formally for the

45:10record and then uh floor is yours.

45:13>> Good evening, Mr. President. Through

45:14you, my name is John Hillman. I'm the

45:16public safety for all project manager

45:18for the city.

45:21Let's get my notes in order here.

45:29I apologize. One second.

45:44Well, I can't find my first page of

45:45notes, so I'm just going to go off the

45:46top of my head. I apologize. Um so thank

45:49you for having me here this evening. Um

45:51you know we are here tonight to and

45:53myself here to present an update to you

45:55all on the process of uh developing a

45:58civilian oversight body here in

46:00Somerville. Um you know I think the main

46:02thing I want to get across before we

46:03start the presentation tonight is we're

46:06really trying to present to you all what

46:07the administration is currently

46:08assessing around this topic. Um it's

46:12very complicated. Um it has a lot of

46:14nuance to it. um it's even more

46:16complicated to do the work once the body

46:17is established. And so I think what we

46:20want to get across tonight is what are

46:22we talking about with community members?

46:23What are we talking about with

46:24advocates? Oh, thank you, Amanda.

46:27Um this is going to be a more thorough

46:30review um of the research that we've

46:33had, you know, with community with

46:34counselors in recent weeks. Um, you

46:37know, we really want to, like I said,

46:39approach what we're addressing tonight.

46:40Um, and to shed light on the process for

46:42both you and the community who is

46:44watching this evening. Next slide.

46:52So, just a couple uh a quick reminder of

46:54what I discussed two weeks ago. Um, we

46:56reviewed and cataloged what we consider

46:58to be primary resources that will shape

47:00the future of civilian oversight here in

47:02Somerville. That includes, of course,

47:03the 2025 task force report. It includes

47:06the RSJ community workshops that

47:08underwent in 2023. Um there was a 2021

47:11city council legislative analysis report

47:13that we're looking at. Um a 2020

47:16resolution um by councelor President

47:18Davis and others. Um as well as 2021

47:21justice some real policy demands. Um

47:23we've sort of taken all those and we

47:26understand some of these recommendations

47:27align with one another. Some of them

47:29conflict with one another um across a

47:32number of the topics. But the bulk of

47:33this presentation, we're going to

47:34highlight those recommendations across

47:36the key topics I'm going to present to

47:38you tonight. Um, you know, the

47:40administration's also held this past

47:41month engagement sessions with

47:43counselors, with community advocates,

47:46other municipalities who currently have

47:48oversight entities. Um, as well as we've

47:50had a couple meetings with the former

47:51civilian oversight task force as well.

47:54Um, I will also add that per this

47:57request of the council, um, we have

47:59updated the civilian oversight task

48:01force website as of today, um, both with

48:03the listing of these primary resource

48:05documents, um, as well as just some

48:07context of where we are currently as of

48:10September of 2026. Um, you know, lastly,

48:13I'd want to note that obviously we're

48:16going through the early stages of a

48:17collectively bargained process right now

48:19with police unions. Um while civilian

48:21oversight is just one piece of the

48:23contract negotiations taking place, you

48:25know, the administration has made clear

48:27that the creation of this oversight body

48:29is going to be one of the key topics of

48:31ongoing labor negotiations and I'll be

48:34speaking about that a little bit more as

48:35we move forward. Next slide.

48:40So I just want to take a quick overall

48:42context uh approach here to the topic

48:44tonight and moving forward which is this

48:47policy development process is going to

48:49be just that uh process. Um as the mayor

48:52has stated since the outset of last

48:53month when we started this we're

48:55committed to making this a collaborative

48:57process at every step of the way. Um and

48:59that's going to emphasize the need for

49:01continuous feedback from the folks in

49:02this room and the gamut of stakeholders

49:04who for whom this body is going to be a

49:06priority. Um success here is going to be

49:09creating an entity that's both effective

49:11and sustainable, right? Um and a

49:14northstar is not achieve that's not

49:15easily achieved as we've seen across the

49:17Commonwealth and the nation as a whole.

49:20So this is a complicated topic. Um it

49:22contains many options, pathways for

49:24consideration, and we want to hear from

49:26you and we want to hear from the public

49:28on the best path forward here. Um it

49:31might sound like lip service, but the

49:32administration is truly open-minded on

49:35how we're going to proceed here. Um, we

49:38know it's going to require compromise

49:41from all of us. Um, where we end up may

49:43not align with every recommendation I

49:45present to you tonight. Um, but we're

49:47committed to creating a process here

49:49that's going to get us as close as

49:50possible to aligning everything that

49:52we're going to lay out for you tonight.

49:53Next slide.

49:57So, um, I believe it's important to

49:58quickly note some three external factors

50:00here that are going to weigh pretty

50:02heavily on the policy process um, that

50:04I'm going to lay out before you tonight.

50:06One is the role of the Massachusetts

50:08peace officer and standards training

50:10commission. So as some of you know the

50:11state oversight body was created in

50:13December of 2020 u marking its creation

50:16right after some of the work that I

50:18described here. The task force did a lot

50:21of its work. Um you know as the

50:23structure was sort of getting up to

50:25speed. Um and so a lot of these resource

50:27recommendations don't necessarily have

50:29the context of what post is actually

50:30doing today. Um, and so we need to talk

50:33about what POST is actually doing and

50:36how that's going to interact with the

50:37local oversight body moving forward. So

50:39what does POST do? Um, in short, it

50:41holds the ability to deserve an officer

50:43from statewide service and it does so by

50:45conducting investigations into pretty

50:47severe complaints, right? Some of those

50:50require a mandatory inquiry. You know,

50:52an officer charged with a felony, a

50:54chief recommends for descertification,

50:56misdemeanors,

50:58excessive use of force, right? It's

51:00additionally possible for local

51:02oversight entities like one we could

51:03have in Somerville to maybe resurface ca

51:05resurface cases for consideration um or

51:08a local investigation if a case is

51:10overlooked or in a rare circumstance

51:12where there's a stark disagreement with

51:14post findings. Um we can also audit

51:17posts, right? We can see if the police

51:19department is properly working with

51:20post. Are they reporting their data to

51:22post in a timely manner? Um these are

51:25all things that local entities are

51:26possible to do with post currently. um

51:29it's only really functioned at full

51:30capacity for a couple years at this

51:32point um in essence. So you know we want

51:35to take out in their role but we want to

51:37have a conversation with you and the

51:38community and figure you know understand

51:40together what post does and how we can

51:43either we can uh create an oversight

51:45entity that's going to complement it and

51:47build upon it. Um that remains a topic

51:50for us today. Um and we're going to keep

51:52talking about it moving forward. Um, I

51:54also already mentioned obviously

51:55collective bargaining, but I just want

51:57to say this out loud. As we all know,

51:58any change of working conditions for the

52:00city's union staff requires the city to

52:02negotiate with any relevant union, and

52:05that of course includes unions that

52:06represent our local police.

52:09Lastly, I just want to mention

52:10Massachusetts civil service law. Uh in

52:13short, state law determines the ultimate

52:15hiring and employment procedures for

52:16public staff with the exception of 6A

52:19section 10 um of the state law which

52:22basically excludes post descertification

52:24uh decisions from civil service law. So

52:27I can just repeat that that basically we

52:30you know civil service law guides all of

52:31this but post as a new law in all and

52:34you know in all consideration sort of

52:35supersedes that law from a starting

52:37point. You have to be certified by post

52:38to be a police officer in Massachusetts.

52:41Um, so I don't want to overstate or even

52:44understate the role and impact of these

52:46realities. Um, I do think it's important

52:48for us to collectively paint a clear

52:50picture for the community on these

52:52factors. Um, that's undoubtedly going to

52:54play a part in our policy conversations

52:56moving forward. So, I just wanted to lay

52:57that out here tonight. Next slide.

53:04So um what I'm going to do now is we're

53:07going to be presenting what I would

53:08describe as sort of policy

53:10considerations um that we are currently

53:12assessing. Um you know this is not to

53:14say there are not scores of other topics

53:16to consider on this of course um it's

53:19just it's areas we've of heard most

53:21often from stakeholders moving forward

53:23on this work and through our research

53:25have found it to be kind of the key

53:26areas for discussion for establishing an

53:29ordinance for oversight. Um, after

53:31presenting these options and giving an

53:33overview to you all, I'm going to

53:34provide a quick overview of what our

53:36resources say about these. Um,

53:38understandably, there's going to

53:39obviously be a lot, especially in the

53:41task force report that I'm not going to

53:42say tonight or I would have you for like

53:44another hour. Um, but for expediency

53:46sake, I won't, you know, share all of

53:48it, but there's a lot in there. Um,

53:50other options or pathways are going

53:52should be considered, right? Right?

53:53These resources aren't going to tell us

53:55the only things we can do, but I think

53:57it's important to ground our work in the

53:58substantial amount of thought that's

54:00already gone into this from all of you

54:02and our community at large. So, let's

54:05get started. Next slide.

54:08So, as a starting point, there's the

54:10question of where the body and its

54:12associated staff lie within municipal

54:15government. Um there's the option of

54:17placing the executive director and the

54:19board directly within the executive

54:21office um under the supervision of the

54:23mayor. Secondarily, we've found examples

54:26from comparable municipalities that

54:28place it under the supervision of the

54:29legislative branch across the country.

54:32Um this is a popular approach for those

54:34that want to ensure a stark firewall

54:36between, you know, the oversight entity

54:38and the executive branch that oversees

54:39public safety staff. Um it's really

54:42meant to serve as a true check and

54:43balance on the executive office. if you

54:45place this body under the legislative

54:47branch, which we've seen a number of

54:49times in our research. Lastly,

54:51obviously, we can place it within the

54:53same public safety structure as police

54:54and fire and core and parking. Um, we've

54:57seen that in Cambridge and elsewhere.

54:59Um, but of course, in this example,

55:01supervision is still going to lie in the

55:03executive office. Um, it just wouldn't

55:05lie directly within the mayor's office.

55:07Next slide.

55:10So, just giving you a sense of sort of

55:11how I'm structuring this, but you'll see

55:13here um our primary resources, the task

55:15force report, the 2020 and 21 council

55:18work, and the justice Somerville

55:20document. Um I basically have laid out

55:22for you all the context of what they've

55:23said about these topics in this in the

55:24slide deck, and please refer back to it

55:26after this presentation. I know it's a

55:28lot of information. Um but there's not a

55:30ton on this topic in the primary

55:32resource documents. I will note the 2020

55:35council resolution did call for two

55:36separate bodies, right? Right? One

55:38that's focused on systemic review and

55:40the other being strictly focused on

55:41complaint investigation in terms of how

55:44it can be structured. Next slide.

55:48Next we have the composition of any

55:50potential board. Right? Now obviously

55:52this is important and can be highly

55:54variable of how we structure it. Um that

55:56can include the number of members um

55:58which we see varies pretty wildly across

56:00the country. Um though many will aim for

56:03smaller ones just to ensure quorum avoid

56:05long-term vacancies etc.

56:08um the term of how member appointments

56:09occur, right? Who specifically who gets

56:12the number of appointments across

56:13government. Um many are aim for a direct

56:15split, right? Two two one joint

56:18nomination for four one joint

56:20nomination. Um others will give a slight

56:23majority to one or the other between the

56:25executive and the legislative branch. Uh

56:28lastly, the qualifications. This is a

56:30big topic. I'll be quick on this. Um

56:32people, you know, you call for diverse

56:34backgrounds for people serving in it. Um

56:36it could be youth oriented academics,

56:39subject matter experts, former law

56:42enforcement. We see all of these

56:43examples that are stated in ordinances.

56:45Um we'll also see non- voting roles

56:48particularly for law enforcement

56:49members. Is that something that

56:50communities want to pursue?

56:53Next slide.

56:57So our primary resources here are pretty

57:00extensive on this topic, but I'll

57:01summarize them quickly. Um the task

57:04force called for nine members, six

57:06appointed by the city council, three by

57:07the mayor. Um it also emphasized the

57:09need for individuals with direct

57:11experience in the criminal justice

57:13system. Um to summarize the council work

57:16in 2021, there's a few things. Um it

57:19notes only 30% of members should come

57:20for mayoral appointment in the text. Um

57:23it also calls for a rule that requires

57:25quote no less than one black or brown

57:26person serving as a full-time member. Um

57:30it also recommends that no individual of

57:32any current or former experience in law

57:33enforcement be on the board. Um just us

57:36similarly emphasizes that need um while

57:38also saying it should come from

57:40underrepresented communities that are

57:41most likely to be subject to excessive

57:43use of force incidents to directly quote

57:45them.

57:47Next slide.

57:50So this next one I'm going to call scope

57:51of work. Um it's really just a big

57:54picture question on what the

57:56responsibilities are going to be of this

57:57board when we move forward. um pulling

57:59from relevant models, right? And so I'm

58:01going to summarize those models quickly.

58:03Um there's an investigatory model,

58:04right, that's primarily focused on just

58:06that. It's focused on efforts of

58:08independent and real-time investigations

58:09of complaints, be them complaints

58:11directly sent to them or maybe

58:12complaints sent to the police that are

58:14then forwarded to the the civilian

58:16oversight entity. So this role sees this

58:18board kind of, you know, as a parallel

58:20track investigation at the same time as

58:22professional standards. Um, many

58:25municipalities will have their own

58:26investigator on staff to support this.

58:29Um, I'd argue that's pretty critical.

58:31Um, in this instance, if you're going to

58:33have independent investigations, you

58:35need independent staff on the board that

58:37know how to do that. Um, just from our

58:39re research and experience, it's very,

58:42very challenging for civilians to do

58:44that on their own. So, I would just note

58:45that. Secondarily, there's a review

58:48model. Um I would describe this as kind

58:50of the most prevalent oversight approach

58:52across the Commonwealth and nation. It's

58:54a very common approach uh you know for

58:58this and then sort of combining with

58:59systemic advisory roles as a starting

59:02point for these new entities. Um we see

59:05advisory oversight boards you know they

59:07review completed investigations by

59:08professional standards and ultimately

59:09sustain or disapprove or have no opinion

59:12on the findings of professional

59:13standards. Um they could recommend

59:15further investigation be it locally or

59:17by a state entity. Um but they're going

59:19to utilize completed files by

59:21professional standards as a foundation

59:23for their following actions and

59:24recommendations. Right? Um often what

59:27you're going to hear from professionals

59:28in the oversight space is a review model

59:30can kind of tell you if independent

59:33parallel investigations are truly

59:35needed. Right? So that data, community

59:38feedback as a starting point often will

59:40point communities in the direction of

59:42expanding the resources, the staff, um

59:45the mission, um of the board as it's

59:48needed, um as you're reviewing how the

59:50review process goes. The last one I'm

59:53going to highlight is an auditing

59:55approach. Um this is kind of coming more

59:57popular in recent years. Um but the way

1:00:00I would describe it, it's a way for real

1:00:01time or expedited auditing and

1:00:03professional standards investigation. So

1:00:05instead of a board doing their own

1:00:06investigations, they're basically

1:00:08monitoring the work of professional

1:00:10standards in real time. Um this is can

1:00:14be good. Um it creates real-time urgency

1:00:16for oversighted entities for

1:00:17high-profile incidents um without the

1:00:19burden of them having to start an

1:00:21investigation from scratch. So see that

1:00:24in Philadelphia right now. They've kind

1:00:25of championed that model uh at present

1:00:27time. So, as I note at the bottom of

1:00:30this slide, it's really common for

1:00:32municipalities of some real size to

1:00:35combine aspects of all of these in some

1:00:37way. Um, that becomes a choice on

1:00:40resource capacity and the potential

1:00:42powers vested in the board, the

1:00:43ordinance, collective bargaining, or

1:00:45even local ballot initiatives. How these

1:00:48three things kind of come together.

1:00:51Next slide.

1:01:00Sorry, Madam Clerk. Next slide.

1:01:06Oh, this is the next slide. I apologize.

1:01:09Um, oh, yes, the resource review. I

1:01:10forgot about critical resource review.

1:01:12Um, so the task force is really strong

1:01:14on this language. Um, it says, you know,

1:01:17a local entity for direct local

1:01:19investigation should be pretty rare and

1:01:21only when circumstances require it. Um

1:01:24they talk about considering post the

1:01:26district attorney's office our local

1:01:28professional standards division um with

1:01:30the task force kind of saying you know

1:01:32it should be a backs stop to the

1:01:33failings or shortcomings of other

1:01:35investigatory bodies. Um I will say the

1:01:372021 council resolution and the just us

1:01:40policy demand document is pretty short

1:01:43and direct on this topic. uh basically

1:01:45stating the need to investigate

1:01:46complaints for particular high you know

1:01:49leverage incidents and events use of

1:01:51force and custody deaths profiling

1:01:53incidents and public in uh assembly

1:01:55infringements is what just us lays out.

1:01:58Next slide.

1:02:02I do mean it. I meant it that time.

1:02:04Thanks. Um so next there's a question of

1:02:06police records and data access. Um, that

1:02:10means considering the process for how

1:02:12we're going to request records by this

1:02:14new board, the rules and regulations

1:02:16that guide private personnel files, and

1:02:18any access beyond our public records

1:02:21law. Um, I'd argue a lot of this is

1:02:23going to be determined by what we just

1:02:25discussed prior, right? For instance, if

1:02:28the oversight is strictly a review based

1:02:30model, they're going to receive

1:02:31completed investigations with an

1:02:34opportunity for records request amid

1:02:35that review. If we're doing dual track

1:02:38investigations, we're doing auditing,

1:02:40that's going to require us to be

1:02:42extremely prescriptive on what can and

1:02:44cannot be shared uh to ensure the

1:02:46integrity of separate investigations

1:02:48while also protecting the privacy of our

1:02:50city staff and personnel who will be

1:02:53subject to multiple uh investigatory

1:02:55processes. Um we need to clearly

1:02:58understand the rules that govern that

1:02:59request and review of body warn camera

1:03:02footage as well. We know this is an

1:03:04important consideration. Um, we know how

1:03:06vital it is to be detailed as legally

1:03:08allowed for that circumstance and you

1:03:10know we've see it in neighboring

1:03:11communities how important it is to get

1:03:13this right up front. Next slide.

1:03:20So the the primary resources here are

1:03:22pretty scant on the data and records

1:03:24access stuff. Um I would just highlight

1:03:27the task force says it calls for

1:03:28unfettered access quote as it's

1:03:30permitted by law in collective

1:03:32bargaining items. Um, besides that, I

1:03:35didn't have much for you all. Next

1:03:37slide.

1:03:42So, as it pertains to potential

1:03:44disciplinary actions um, and powers of

1:03:47the board, I would present pretty three

1:03:49distinct paths here for you tonight. One

1:03:52is obviously the choice to provide

1:03:54binding disciplinary power to the board,

1:03:57right? Calls anything from calls from

1:03:59training all the way to potential uh,

1:04:01termination. Um that option is likely

1:04:04going to require the city to exit the

1:04:06civil service system um and amend the

1:04:09existing rules that govern employee

1:04:10practices through ongoing collective

1:04:12bargaining negotiations. So at present

1:04:14all city union staff including our

1:04:16police staff are entitled to procedural

1:04:19protections when it comes to matters of

1:04:20employment discipline and those

1:04:22processes cannot be bypassed by a

1:04:24civilian oversight board without it

1:04:26being collectively bargained. Um I note

1:04:29at present time examples of binding

1:04:31civilian disciplinary actions are pretty

1:04:32rare across the country. Um though it

1:04:35does exist in some form in Chicago, some

1:04:37select municipalities in California that

1:04:40I found. Um but it is quite rare. Um

1:04:43there are two other forms here of

1:04:44non-binding disciplinary recommendations

1:04:46that I want to highlight for you. Often

1:04:48there's going to be some form of

1:04:50executive or police response in the

1:04:52instance an oversight disciplinary re

1:04:54recommendation isn't acted upon. So they

1:04:57provide a recommendation. Um the police

1:04:59chief does not act upon that

1:05:01recommendation and it requires a

1:05:03response within a certain amount of time

1:05:04to explain the rationale behind not

1:05:06acting upon that recommendation. Right?

1:05:09The manner of that response is going to

1:05:11be really important to consider here. um

1:05:14you know privacy concerns, civil service

1:05:15law. The process for outlining the

1:05:18ultimate decision can take place in

1:05:20executive session obviously with the

1:05:22board members afforded the opportunity

1:05:23to ask questions of the chief, ask

1:05:25questions of the mayor um while adhering

1:05:27to our collectively bargained privacy

1:05:29and due process protections with staff.

1:05:32Um I will say though it's not uncommon

1:05:34for municipalities to carve out a form

1:05:36of public response in these matters. For

1:05:39example, I found, you know, instances

1:05:40where a public written statement of some

1:05:42form is required of an executive or

1:05:44police chief. Um, while an appearance

1:05:46before the board might come in executive

1:05:48session.

1:05:51Next slide. Thank you.

1:05:57So on the pre primary resources here, I

1:06:00would just say the task force is quite

1:06:02clear clear in noting the realities of

1:06:04collective bargaining protections and

1:06:06civil service currently preventing

1:06:07binding disciplinary power, but it does

1:06:09call for the chief to appear in a public

1:06:11meeting before the board within 90 days

1:06:14to explain any differing decision.

1:06:16That's what the task force report says.

1:06:17Um the 2020 council resolution instead

1:06:20calls for any final decision on

1:06:22discipline to lie with board members.

1:06:24following a response from the police

1:06:26chief on its own determination. So

1:06:28that's an example where these things do

1:06:29not align. Next slide.

1:06:34The question of subpoena power. So this

1:06:37dovetales obviously into our discussion

1:06:39around the potential investigatory and

1:06:41disciplinary powers vested in this

1:06:43board. Many municipalities will write

1:06:45into their ordinance voluntary

1:06:47cooperation procedures as it pertains to

1:06:50interviews and personnel record

1:06:51requests. Um while we see voluntary

1:06:54cooperation function across the country,

1:06:57um it's obviously not uncommon for it to

1:06:59fail in high-profile incidents. Um in

1:07:03that case, a lot of uh local entities

1:07:05will go to post um and recommend, you

1:07:08know, investigations that require the

1:07:10power that it currently holds when they

1:07:12have voluntary cooperation in place. Um

1:07:15there's of course the option of vesting

1:07:17direct subpoena power in the board. um

1:07:20with the understanding this is going to

1:07:21have collective bargaining implications.

1:07:23Often we see communities put this issue

1:07:25issue also to a ballot initiatives um to

1:07:27enshrine subpoena power in a new

1:07:29oversight body that just happened in

1:07:31Portland last year. Um Portland Maine.

1:07:35Uh lastly, an approach we see now and

1:07:36again and I'll try to be clear on this

1:07:38is called a sort of gated subpoena power

1:07:40process. So in this instance, a local

1:07:43entity will utilize a local power vested

1:07:45in the legislative branch to issue

1:07:47subpoenas. Um, this is a power granted

1:07:50to our city council and city councils

1:07:52across the state under general law. Um,

1:07:55oversight bodies will basically take a

1:07:56vote to compel the city council to

1:07:58consider their subpoena request with the

1:08:00council or legislative body issuing a

1:08:02subpoena on their behalf if approved.

1:08:05This is a a style for board subpoena

1:08:08power that we've seen multiple times now

1:08:09across the the country.

1:08:12Next slide.

1:08:15So, all three of these very short here.

1:08:16They're very clear. um be it the task

1:08:18force, the council, just us, they're to

1:08:21the point they're calling for, you know,

1:08:22the oversight end to be vested with the

1:08:24power to issue subpoenas with the task

1:08:26force recognizing sort of the realities

1:08:28of collective bargaining. But yes, all

1:08:30three of these are very clear on the

1:08:31topic of subpoena power. Next slide.

1:08:37Lastly, this is uh the topic of the

1:08:39budget. So there's going to be need to

1:08:41be a termination on the stipen provided

1:08:43for board members ensuring it's

1:08:45appropriate for the amount of time the

1:08:47effort required that can only really be

1:08:50determined once the cadence and mission

1:08:51of the board is finalized right how

1:08:54often are they going to meet how much

1:08:55work is required what are we issuing to

1:08:57them that's going to determine that

1:08:59ultimate stipen process um as you know

1:09:02the administration's already included in

1:09:03a budget for our potential executive

1:09:05director for this board in FY27

1:09:08so you know while a job description like

1:09:09this exists. I think it's fair to say

1:09:11that we're going to have to put some

1:09:13shared thought into what are the other

1:09:15responsibilities of this based on where

1:09:17the board ends up um and once the true

1:09:20scope scope of the board is finalized

1:09:21working together to finalize that JD. Um

1:09:24you might include additional staff um

1:09:27ultimately which we haven't budgeted

1:09:28for. Um lastly, you know, we have to

1:09:32think about setting aside funds for the

1:09:34extraordinary circumstance of requiring

1:09:36an independent investigator, a third

1:09:38party investigator to be hired. This is

1:09:40common practice in these boards. Um you

1:09:43might also think seek out third party

1:09:45dispute mediators to resolve issues

1:09:47between civilians and police officers.

1:09:49That's something the task force talks

1:09:51about quite extensively as well. So a

1:09:53couple of additional budget

1:09:54considerations as we move forward. Next

1:09:57slide.

1:09:59So the task force mostly didn't talk

1:10:02about budget to be honest. They

1:10:03considered it mostly out of their

1:10:04purview but you know was stated that it

1:10:06needs adequate resources. I will

1:10:08highlight the 2020 council uh resolution

1:10:12was more specific in one respect. I'm

1:10:14recommending a minimum an agency

1:10:16director as well as one agency

1:10:17investigator per 80 Somerville police

1:10:20employees. That would currently amount

1:10:22to about one and a half full-time

1:10:24employee investigators by the math. Um,

1:10:27and just us does note, you know,

1:10:29reasonable budget, appropriate support

1:10:30staff. It does note legal consultation

1:10:33as a budget consideration, which I think

1:10:34is a good point. Um, so that's just a

1:10:38little bit on the budget as we wrap up

1:10:39here. Next slide.

1:10:46Thank you. So, I do think it's important

1:10:48as I wrap up here to just call out some

1:10:51likely additional stuff this board is

1:10:53going to be doing. Um it's critical that

1:10:56we don't forget that this board is going

1:10:58to do much more than just investigate

1:11:00and review complaints of misconduct. Um

1:11:04both the task force and justice

1:11:05Somerville emphasized the importance of

1:11:07doing longerterm policy research,

1:11:09systemic reviews, recommendations on

1:11:12public safety more broadly across

1:11:13Somerville. That could be mean they

1:11:16partner with SPD um on the policy and

1:11:19data teams to help craft community

1:11:21informed policies and procedures

1:11:22together. Um, it should serve as a hub

1:11:25of community education, trainings,

1:11:28public meetings, information sources.

1:11:30That means a website, right, to help our

1:11:33residents understand public safety

1:11:35better here in Somerville. Um, and

1:11:37should feature members, officers, and

1:11:39subject matter experts together um, in

1:11:41all these instances. Um, and also this

1:11:44idea of alternative dispute resolution

1:11:46um, which the task force is, you know,

1:11:48like I said, has a lot of it in the

1:11:49report. All right, final slide. I'm

1:11:51almost done.

1:11:55So, I just want to thank you, Mr.

1:11:56President, uh, for the time tonight. Um,

1:11:59and to the council as a whole for your

1:12:00engagement on this so far. I understand

1:12:03this was a lot of information. Um, but I

1:12:05think it was important for us to share

1:12:07with the community kind of the breadth

1:12:08of policy considerations on this topic

1:12:10prior to a likely upcoming public

1:12:12hearing on the matter. So, people know

1:12:14what to ask, what to understand, what

1:12:16are we thinking about. That's what I was

1:12:17trying to convey this evening. Um, I

1:12:19want to encourage folks to reach out to

1:12:21the mayor's office with ideas, feedback,

1:12:23suggestions, all of it. Um, you know, I

1:12:26began this emphasizing collaboration and

1:12:29I want to end on that note, like I mean

1:12:30it. Um, we know reasonable people can

1:12:32and will disagree as we move forward

1:12:34here and that's okay. Um, but we want to

1:12:38hear from you tonight if possible on any

1:12:40of all these topics. But, you know, if

1:12:42you have strong feelings, we'd love to

1:12:44hear from you in the next week or so as

1:12:46we look ahead to an upcoming public

1:12:47hearing to know what you're thinking.

1:12:49What do you care about? What do we need

1:12:50to talk about together um on this bevy

1:12:52of topics? Right. So, I'm happy to

1:12:55answer any questions tonight that you

1:12:56may have on what I've shared uh to the

1:12:58best of my ability. And thank you for

1:13:00listening this long. Thank you.

1:13:03>> Thank you. any uh with a reminder that

1:13:06uh this my intent is to send a copy of

1:13:09this to legislative matters as we um um

1:13:13in several discussions about this this

1:13:15topic in in prior city council meetings.

1:13:18It's um our intent to have a public

1:13:21hearing. Um I know that the the chair of

1:13:24legislative matters um intends to to

1:13:26schedule that uh in committee. Um that's

1:13:28that'll be available for everybody to to

1:13:30watch and follow along. Um that said, uh

1:13:32certainly appropriate to ask questions

1:13:34tonight if if folks have any any

1:13:36questions or discussion,

1:13:39council.

1:13:42>> Thank you, Mr. President, through you.

1:13:44Um thanks so much for this presentation.

1:13:46I really appreciate it. I very much

1:13:49appreciate the context of uh these

1:13:53different uh reports and the council in

1:13:562020 and justice Somerville and and

1:13:59looking at this breakdown of sort of

1:14:01topic by topic what these different

1:14:03sources and voices have said. Uh I was

1:14:06really glad to see the point at the end

1:14:08about systemic policy review and

1:14:10practice analysis.

1:14:12I think what I hear the public asking

1:14:14for overall, not just for Summerville

1:14:16Police Department, but for all parts of

1:14:18the city government, is continued

1:14:20improvement. Uh, and an oversight body's

1:14:24ability to investigate misconduct is

1:14:26ultimately an important aspect of

1:14:28supporting improvement, but it's not the

1:14:30only one. Uh there are many other

1:14:32aspects of improvement and I want to

1:14:35make sure we're not losing sight of that

1:14:36crucial potential function of a civilian

1:14:39oversight body of becoming familiar with

1:14:42policies, practices and procedures uh

1:14:45within the police department and uh

1:14:48looking at them, reporting on them,

1:14:50making recommendations and and hopefully

1:14:52even being a partner in their

1:14:54development. Uh I I think there's a

1:14:56desire on the part of the public and for

1:14:59me as a counselor, I can certainly speak

1:15:01for myself, uh to know uh what's

1:15:03working, how how things that are working

1:15:06are working, uh what obstacles the

1:15:08police department is experiencing

1:15:10and uh and what's changing and how and

1:15:14uh and so in my mind, when I envision a

1:15:17successful oversight body, um I think of

1:15:21it as a a place where in the course of

1:15:24all of the day-to-day a work of policing

1:15:27that the police department is doing.

1:15:29They may not be doing a lot of sort of

1:15:32public communication, taking a step

1:15:34back, doing this kind of of reporting

1:15:37and and analysis. And I think a civilian

1:15:39oversight body uh could play a really

1:15:42important role in uh both understanding

1:15:46what's happening and being a conduit

1:15:48back and forth in a conversation with

1:15:51politicians and with the public uh about

1:15:53these practices.

1:16:00>> Other questions? Councelor Mclofflin.

1:16:03>> Thank you, Mr. President. Since this is

1:16:05becoming real now, I'll give my thoughts

1:16:07on it since I'm not on the legislative

1:16:09matters committee. Uh glad to see first

1:16:11of all the administration is open to

1:16:14discussing it with the council uh how to

1:16:16move forward and laying out some

1:16:18options. Uh something I didn't see

1:16:20discussed or I saw a little bit uh that

1:16:22I would like to see come out of civilian

1:16:24review is a concept of restorative

1:16:26justice. uh having something that you

1:16:29know we're discussing about punishment,

1:16:31the ability to um to fire someone or

1:16:35not. Uh but lots of times I feel like

1:16:37some interactions with police and the

1:16:39public can be brought back to a

1:16:41restorative justice model and have

1:16:43people just discuss what happened, the

1:16:45incident that occurred and have each

1:16:47side see each other's perspective. I

1:16:50find that goes a long way. in uh the

1:16:52Sville school system, we had the

1:16:54mediation program which went a really

1:16:56long way in addressing conflicts with

1:16:58students. So, that's just something I'd

1:17:00like to explore. I think that's a real

1:17:02tangible thing that we could get out of

1:17:04this without uh a major renegotiation of

1:17:07a contract or things like this. It's

1:17:09something that would actually be a huge

1:17:11positive um and not a heavy lift

1:17:14compared to some of the other um

1:17:15proposals we have. So, I just want to

1:17:17put that out there so when it's

1:17:19discussed in committee uh that we don't

1:17:21lose sight of uh actual communication

1:17:23between the public and the police.

1:17:26>> Yeah, Mr. President, thank you councelor

1:17:28for that. And yeah, I think what I

1:17:30touched upon or tried to touch upon

1:17:32there was sort of this alternative

1:17:33dispute mediation proposal um that's in

1:17:35the task force report. Um and they were

1:17:38similarly excited about that idea. Um

1:17:41and I think you know the idea is how do

1:17:44we have people that are properly trained

1:17:47um people that can hold that space in an

1:17:49appropriate way um that to mediate those

1:17:52situations and remove it from the

1:17:54disciplinary process and it's you know

1:17:57an easier step obviously to a lot of

1:17:59what we've described tonight. So I

1:18:01appreciate you raising it

1:18:03>> other discussion.

1:18:06All right, seeing none, thank you uh

1:18:08very much. We look forward to continuing

1:18:10this conversation in committee. Uh so

1:18:12that item is placed on file with a copy

1:18:13to legislative matters and stay tuned

1:18:15for the scheduling of a public hearing

1:18:16and further discussion on that in that

1:18:19committee. Um madam clerk, uh councelor

1:18:21strzza would like to wave the rules to

1:18:23take up items six. Uh counc you want to

1:18:26do them both. Okay. So 6B and 6 C. These

1:18:29are the legislative matter uh matters

1:18:31committee reports. I know we have some

1:18:33members of the public here uh for some

1:18:34of the topics there tonight. So, let's

1:18:36get through those and not make folks sit

1:18:38around and watch us longer than they

1:18:39have to. Although, you're always welcome

1:18:40to stay to the end.

1:18:42>> Um, so see no objection, then um if you

1:18:44would please read the first of those two

1:18:46items.

1:18:47>> Yes. Next item is 6B1, a report of the

1:18:50committee on legislative matters meeting

1:18:51on September 8th, 2026.

1:18:53>> Counc.

1:18:54>> So, here to present tonight is councelor

1:18:57Kristen Strezo as vice chair of the

1:18:59legislative matters committee. Uh, I

1:19:01have two meeting minutes to present. The

1:19:04first is Tuesday, September 8th of 2026.

1:19:09And uh this meeting was held remotely.

1:19:14We had uh public hearings that were

1:19:17taken up including uh on bodywn cameras

1:19:21and uh the and

1:19:25we discussed the Davis Square

1:19:26Neighborhood Council submitting

1:19:27comments. Uh that uh in

1:19:32and then we had a another public hearing

1:19:36on the proposed ethical procurement

1:19:40ordinance. Uh we had uh residents

1:19:44speaking for and against in that and

1:19:46more Davis Square Neighborhood Council

1:19:49um communication which is has been

1:19:52worked on. Uh that can be set aside.

1:19:56>> Mr. Jose, why don't we if if if that's

1:19:58the report for that meeting just those

1:20:00public hearings do you want to move to

1:20:01have that one accepted as then we can

1:20:03go?

1:20:03>> I'd like to have this one move to Yeah,

1:20:05I was going to take it collectively but

1:20:07let's do one at a time.

1:20:08>> Absolutely. So in case any any

1:20:10discussion between so any discussion on

1:20:11that report

1:20:13>> all seeing none that is approved. Madam

1:20:14clerk would you read the next item?

1:20:15>> Thank you.

1:20:16>> Next item is 61 report of the committee

1:20:18on legislative matters meeting on

1:20:19September 15th 2026.

1:20:21>> Back to you madam chair.

1:20:22>> Back at it. And so this meeting was also

1:20:26virtual. This was uh we discussed the uh

1:20:30Davis Square neighborhood recognition.

1:20:32There's a lot of conversation about this

1:20:34and um I'm going to read the uh meeting

1:20:38minutes on this specific one. Uh just to

1:20:44highlight

1:20:45so councelor Scott the chair noted that

1:20:48noted that the union square neighborhood

1:20:49council had raised concern regarding the

1:20:51language governing formation and

1:20:53struggle structure of the Davis square

1:20:55neighborhood council bylaws. Um the the

1:20:57uh councelor Davis who is the um ward

1:20:59counselor reviewed the attachment

1:21:02discussed and and uh talked uh in depth

1:21:06about uh the the ordinance and allows

1:21:08for membership by individuals outside of

1:21:10the neighbor neighborhoods uh geographic

1:21:13boundaries with membership criteria

1:21:14determined by the neighborhood council

1:21:16within the requirement of the ordinance.

1:21:17He reviewed he he spoke that he reviewed

1:21:20the Union Square Neighborhood Council's

1:21:22comments and the attachment and he

1:21:25talked in depth about uh um

1:21:29what this formation of the council be

1:21:31and uh and where he was on this. It was

1:21:33a a hearty conversation. Um, and

1:21:38councelor Davis also discussed the

1:21:40ordinanc's provisions regarding

1:21:41neighborhood councils negotiating

1:21:42community benefits, CBAs, and noted that

1:21:46any resulting community benefits must

1:21:47directly benefit Summerrville residents.

1:21:49That's important. Um, councelor Yunan

1:21:52explained that the neighborhood councils

1:21:53are independent organizations and are

1:21:55not part of the city government. And he

1:21:56noted that noticed noted that the

1:21:58purpose of the recognition ordinance is

1:22:00to ensure that organizations seeking

1:22:02city council recognition at bylaws,

1:22:03elections, transparent meetings and and

1:22:06geographic boundaries that they take

1:22:07seriously. And so there was a lot of uh

1:22:11conversation on that. It was recommended

1:22:13to be approved. Um and then uh more

1:22:17comments about the formal recognition um

1:22:20for and against. And we also discussed

1:22:23in that meeting the uh approval of a the

1:22:28mayor's request of approval of a home

1:22:29rule petition to regulate uh

1:22:32anti-coagulant rodent rodenticides

1:22:35that was uh approved by the committee

1:22:38and

1:22:41a uh which and these will be before

1:22:44before you another ordinance uh amend

1:22:48amendment of chapter the code no

1:22:51ordinances that was approved and

1:22:54requesting an ordainment

1:22:56the mayor's request of section 2-323

1:23:00the code ordinances to update categories

1:23:02and associated salaries for non-union

1:23:04positions that was approved these uh

1:23:06ordinances have to be and and amendments

1:23:09have to be voted on tonight and with

1:23:11that I'm happy to submit this as

1:23:14presented and I'm asking for your

1:23:16approval

1:23:17>> any discussion on the report.

1:23:22Mr. Vice Chair, would you take

1:23:34>> Councelor Davis?

1:23:35>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, and

1:23:36through you, thank you to the good vice

1:23:38chair for for that report. Um, I just I

1:23:40know there's some folks here this

1:23:41evening that um have spent a lot of time

1:23:43working on the Davis Square Neighborhood

1:23:44Council process. um as well as from the

1:23:47units great neighborhood council who

1:23:48also spent a lot of time working on that

1:23:50process and aiding. So um

1:23:54after the legislative matters meeting uh

1:23:56I know we have I I think everybody was

1:23:59involved and I've I've received

1:24:00continued to receive some emails with

1:24:02concerns about the issues that were

1:24:04discussed and um I'm not going to go

1:24:06back in and sort of relitigate those. I

1:24:08think the the the discussions at in in

1:24:10the committee meeting were very thorough

1:24:12and I would encourage folks to go review

1:24:14that recording. um if uh you know if you

1:24:16want to sort of see the thought process.

1:24:18Um I just want to emphasize though that

1:24:20that for me at least as the war

1:24:22counselor who was you know sat in many

1:24:23many many of these meetings um other

1:24:25than when I have to be here for the

1:24:26school committee um

1:24:31I didn't take that uh vote to to

1:24:33recommend approval lightly. I think

1:24:34there are some, you know, there are some

1:24:36legitimate questions that were raised um

1:24:38and and both in terms of the the you

1:24:42know technical legality and just sort of

1:24:44the the sort of conceptual

1:24:46appropriateness. Um ultimately I in in

1:24:49my view the and in the view of the law

1:24:51department that the legal issues are are

1:24:53were settled. They they issued an

1:24:55opinion which was read into the record.

1:24:57Um but I just want to note that you know

1:25:00um and I did convey this to to the folks

1:25:02in in the neighborhood council that I

1:25:04given some valid questions raised, I

1:25:06think it's it's appropriate to sort of

1:25:08take a look at things and and and

1:25:09consider those and and and uh and

1:25:11consider whether any changes are made.

1:25:13But at the end of the day, my intent as

1:25:17one legislator and and we heard uh

1:25:20statements from the the W three and W

1:25:22two counselors who were very much

1:25:23involved in creating this concept of a

1:25:26of a community benefits ordinance that

1:25:28that that um sort of creates the concept

1:25:31of a neighborhood council in in our city

1:25:32ordinances. Um that the intent is to

1:25:35give these organizations broad leeway um

1:25:37and and really um allow them to to

1:25:40determine what's appropriate. Um, and

1:25:42there are specific there there's

1:25:44specific language that says they can at

1:25:45their discretion add new categories of

1:25:47of people, for example. That's, you

1:25:49know, that's what happened here. There

1:25:51may be some some potential

1:25:54inconsistencies in in some of the some

1:25:56of the language in the in the ordinance

1:25:58and um give us a good opportunity as

1:26:00we're reviewing all of our ordinances to

1:26:01uh to to see if there's some cleanup or

1:26:03some clarification that can be done

1:26:04there. But um I just want to acknowledge

1:26:06all the work and the the you know the

1:26:08continued um you know concerns that that

1:26:10continue to be to be raised. Um we you

1:26:13know we have we have collectively

1:26:15considered all those and and just

1:26:16speaking as as the ward counselor and

1:26:18and as one member of the committee you

1:26:20know my my view was that um you know

1:26:22this is as as the report noted the good

1:26:25council from W 3 said these are not

1:26:28formal legal uh you know entities that

1:26:31are part of the city government. they

1:26:33are community organizations and and both

1:26:35the the legislative intent from from my

1:26:37perspective and I think um the way that

1:26:39the ordinance reads it clearly gives you

1:26:42allows you know broad discretion uh to

1:26:44sort of set set a lot of the rules

1:26:47anyways and so I think that's what's

1:26:48what was done here. So um with that uh

1:26:51I'll I'll stop talking. Uh Mr.

1:26:52President, thank you for the uh for the

1:26:54time.

1:26:58Any

1:27:05further discussion?

1:27:08All right, seeing none, councelor Shzo

1:27:09uh moves to accept the report as

1:27:12submitted. Uh that is approved and that

1:27:14report is accepted and that leaves us

1:27:16with a whole bunch of votes to take on a

1:27:18whole bunch of different items. Let's

1:27:19take them in in order as they are listed

1:27:20here if that's okay that makes sense to

1:27:22you.

1:27:22>> Um so we have I think the first one is

1:27:256C2.

1:27:27This is the uh salaries for non-union

1:27:29positions that was approved. It's now

1:27:31appropriate for ready for enrollments

1:27:34and ordain.

1:27:34>> Correct. This is on enrollment on 6C2.

1:27:37Councelor Yuan.

1:27:38>> Yes.

1:27:38>> Councelor Link.

1:27:39>> Yes.

1:27:40>> Councelor Scott.

1:27:41>> Councelor Klingan.

1:27:42>> Yes.

1:27:42>> Councelor Strazzo.

1:27:43>> Yes.

1:27:43>> Councelor S.

1:27:44>> Yes.

1:27:45>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:27:46>> Yes.

1:27:46>> Councelor Hart.

1:27:47>> Yes.

1:27:47>> Councelor Mclofflin.

1:27:48>> Yes.

1:27:49>> Councelor.

1:27:50>> Yes.

1:27:50>> Councelor Davis.

1:27:51>> Yes.

1:27:53>> And this is on ordainment on the same

1:27:56item. Councelor Yuan Campen.

1:27:58>> Yes.

1:27:59>> Councelor Link,

1:27:59>> yes.

1:28:00>> Councelor Scott. Councelor Klingan,

1:28:02>> yes.

1:28:03>> Councelor Shzo,

1:28:03>> yes.

1:28:04>> Councelor Say,

1:28:05>> yes.

1:28:05>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:28:07>> Councelor Hart,

1:28:08>> yes.

1:28:08>> Councelor Mclofflin,

1:28:09>> yes.

1:28:09>> Councelor,

1:28:10>> yes.

1:28:10>> And councelor Davis,

1:28:11>> yes.

1:28:12>> The 10 members uh in favor, that item is

1:28:15ordained.

1:28:16>> All right. Very good. That'll take us to

1:28:186C3.

1:28:20>> Yes.

1:28:20>> And that is also uh ready for enrollment

1:28:22and ordainment.

1:28:23>> Correct. This is on enrollment.

1:28:24Councilwampen.

1:28:25>> Yes. Yes. Councelor Link.

1:28:27>> Yes. Please.

1:28:27>> Councelor Scott.

1:28:28>> Councelor Klingan.

1:28:29>> Yes.

1:28:30>> Councelor Strazzo.

1:28:31>> Yes.

1:28:31>> Councelor Say,

1:28:32>> yes.

1:28:32>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:28:33>> Yes.

1:28:33>> Councelor Hart.

1:28:34>> Yes.

1:28:35>> Councelor Laughlin.

1:28:35>> Yes.

1:28:36>> Councelor.

1:28:37>> Yes.

1:28:37>> And councelor Davis.

1:28:38>> Yes.

1:28:40>> On endamement. Councilor Yuampen.

1:28:42>> Yes.

1:28:42>> Councelor Link.

1:28:43>> Yes.

1:28:43>> Councelor Scott. Councelor Klingan.

1:28:46>> Yes.

1:28:46>> Councelor Strezo.

1:28:47>> Yes.

1:28:47>> Councelor S.

1:28:48>> Yes.

1:28:49>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:28:50>> Yes.

1:28:50>> Councelor Hart.

1:28:51>> Yes.

1:28:51>> Council Mclofflin.

1:28:52>> Yes.

1:28:52>> Councelor Umba.

1:28:53>> Yes.

1:28:54>> And councelor Davis. Yes,

1:28:55>> the item is ordained.

1:28:57>> All right. Next is 6C4. This is the uh

1:29:00recognition of the Davis Square

1:29:01Neighborhood Council um approval having

1:29:03been recommended that we'll take a roll

1:29:05call vote on that.

1:29:06>> Councelor Wampmpen,

1:29:07>> yes.

1:29:07>> Councelor Link,

1:29:08>> yes.

1:29:08>> Councelor Scott, Councelor Klingan,

1:29:10>> yes.

1:29:11>> Councelor Shzo,

1:29:12>> yes.

1:29:12>> Councelor Say,

1:29:13>> yes.

1:29:13>> Councelor Wheeler,

1:29:14>> yes.

1:29:14>> Councelor Hart,

1:29:15>> yes.

1:29:15>> Councelor Mclofflin,

1:29:16>> yes.

1:29:17>> Council Bob,

1:29:18>> yes.

1:29:18>> And councelor Davis,

1:29:20>> yes.

1:29:20>> That item has passed.

1:29:21>> All right. Uh next is uh 6C6. This is a

1:29:25home rule petition to regulate

1:29:26anti-coagulant rodenticides. The

1:29:29approval having been recommended. Uh

1:29:31roll call vote on that one.

1:29:32>> Councelor Yuing Campen.

1:29:33>> Yes.

1:29:33>> Councelor Link,

1:29:34>> yes.

1:29:34>> Councelor Scott.

1:29:36>> Councelor Klingan, yes.

1:29:37>> Councelor Strezo,

1:29:38>> yes.

1:29:38>> Councelor Say,

1:29:39>> yes.

1:29:39>> Councelor Wheeler,

1:29:40>> yes.

1:29:40>> Councelor Hart,

1:29:41>> yes.

1:29:41>> Councelor Mclofflin,

1:29:42>> yes.

1:29:42>> Councelor,

1:29:43>> yes.

1:29:44>> And councelor Davis,

1:29:44>> yes.

1:29:45>> That item has passed.

1:29:46>> All right. Very good. And then finally,

1:29:496C8.

1:29:51Uh this is amend amendment to chapter

1:29:54six uh that requires uh has been

1:29:58approved now and is appropriate for

1:30:00enrollment and ordainment.

1:30:02>> This is on enrollment. Uh councelorampen

1:30:04>> yes.

1:30:05>> Councelor link.

1:30:06>> Yes.

1:30:06>> Councelor Scott.

1:30:07>> Councelor Klingan.

1:30:08>> Yes.

1:30:08>> Councelor Shrezo.

1:30:09>> Yes.

1:30:09>> Councelor S.

1:30:12>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:30:13>> Yes.

1:30:13>> Councelor Hart.

1:30:14>> Yes.

1:30:14>> Councelor Mclofflin.

1:30:15>> Yes.

1:30:15>> Councelor.

1:30:16>> Yes.

1:30:17>> Council Davis.

1:30:18>> Yes.

1:30:20Now, honor Damon. Councelor Yampampen.

1:30:22>> Yes.

1:30:22>> Councelor Link,

1:30:23>> yes.

1:30:24>> Councelor Scott, councelor Klingan,

1:30:26>> yes.

1:30:26>> Councelor Shrezo,

1:30:27>> yes.

1:30:27>> Councelor S.

1:30:28>> Yes. Councelor Wheeler,

1:30:29>> yes.

1:30:30>> Councilor Hart,

1:30:31>> yes.

1:30:31>> Council Mclofflin,

1:30:32>> yes.

1:30:32>> Councelor,

1:30:33>> yes.

1:30:33>> And councelor Davis, yes.

1:30:34>> The item is ordained.

1:30:36>> All right, that settles all of them. Um,

1:30:38do do you want to take a picture?

1:30:41>> We like to take pictures here if you

1:30:43want to. All right. So, we'll take take

1:30:45a brief recess for uh for nature break

1:30:46and well pictures first and then nature

1:30:48break if you need it.

1:40:35All

1:40:44right, we ready to get back to work,

1:40:45folks.

1:40:57cherry.

1:40:57>> Yeah. Yeah. It's in the to

1:41:04>> last question. Should I stay for your

1:41:06section? Are you guys going to discuss

1:41:07it

1:41:08>> and would it be helpful? Yeah. Would it

1:41:10be helpful for you?

1:41:11>> You're not going to. You'll just say

1:41:12these are my recommendations and then

1:41:14they'll say like

1:41:15>> you know these are

1:41:24>> all right folks. I'll call this meeting

1:41:26back to order. I can see that a quorum

1:41:27is present.

1:41:29Uh, Councelor Wheeler, you want to take

1:41:31an item out of order?

1:41:33>> Uh, yes, please, Mr. President. I would

1:41:35like to take item 8.1 out of order.

1:41:38>> Whe like to wave the rules to take item

1:41:398.1 out of order. Seeing no objection,

1:41:41Madam Clerk.

1:41:42>> 8.1. City clerk requesting approval to

1:41:44hold a special election to fill

1:41:46vacancies in the Ward 2 and W 3 city

1:41:48council seats pursuant to uh chapter

1:41:512-12 of the city charter. We'll have

1:41:53some big shoes to fill at the beginning

1:41:55of the calendar year.

1:41:59Everybody good with that? All right,

1:42:02that that item is approved. Thank you.

1:42:05Let's go back to the regular order of

1:42:06business then.

1:42:11>> That takes us to 4.1.

1:42:12>> 4.1. Yep.

1:42:14>> Uh 4.1. an order by councelor Wheeler

1:42:16that the director of parking discuss

1:42:18with this council the feasibility of

1:42:19considering vehicle size and weight when

1:42:21establishing residential parking permit

1:42:23fees so the permit cost may better

1:42:25reflect the amount of parking space used

1:42:27and the relative impact of different

1:42:29sized vehicles on city street

1:42:31>> councelor wheeler thank you Mr.

1:42:33President. Uh so I'm familiar with this

1:42:35idea uh thanks to the several alliance

1:42:38for safe streets. Um it has been

1:42:40implemented successfully in other cities

1:42:42and the core idea is simple. Where there

1:42:45is varied use of a public resource like

1:42:48parking curb space by longer and shorter

1:42:51vehicles uh but we charge the same uh

1:42:54we're being a little unfair and if we

1:42:58can we should try to adjust. We

1:43:01currently have a one-sizefits-all

1:43:02approach to residential parking permits.

1:43:04Meaning parking a say a 13 foot long

1:43:082500lb Chevy AO costs the same as

1:43:11parking a 22 foot long 8,000lb Ford F uh

1:43:14450.

1:43:16People often need a truck for work. I

1:43:18have nothing against trucks or larger

1:43:19vehicles. Uh but the use of feet of curb

1:43:22space uh is different for different

1:43:25vehicles. Uh the impact on the asphalt

1:43:27on our city streets is different. uh and

1:43:29when there are different impacts and

1:43:31different amounts of use, uh having

1:43:33different amounts of cost, not radically

1:43:36different amounts, but amounts that that

1:43:38just reflect the use, uh is a simple

1:43:42thing that we do in all sorts of

1:43:43different areas of policy. Um, and

1:43:46connected to this, one thing I want to

1:43:47note is my understanding is that uh,

1:43:49unlike standard residential parking

1:43:51permits, permits for vehicles with

1:43:53handicap plates or vehicles owned by

1:43:56seniors in Somerville, those permits are

1:43:58free.

1:44:00With this idea, that would not be

1:44:01changed.

1:44:03um this uh this uh resolution um I'm

1:44:10forgetting if it's resolution or an

1:44:11order um but it is just to explore the

1:44:14feasibility the pros and cons of this

1:44:16idea uh and I think this is something

1:44:20that is worth our looking into I think

1:44:23it's something that from to the extent

1:44:25that in my conversations uh I have been

1:44:28able to understand the implementation

1:44:30complexity it does seem like in the

1:44:33permit uh application process. We have

1:44:35access to vehicle make and model which

1:44:38can give us uh listed length. Uh and uh

1:44:43I I think that hearing from the director

1:44:45of parking what this would involve and

1:44:47discussing the pros and cons would be

1:44:49very much worth it. I also want to note

1:44:51that there is a 2024 memo from the

1:44:54Cambridge city solicitor discussing this

1:44:57idea uh and making clear that uh such a

1:45:01policy if clearly grounded in the

1:45:04relative cost of the city uh and the

1:45:07limited amount of public curb space uh

1:45:10that this would be within our rights

1:45:11under state law.

1:45:18And that is all. Thank you.

1:45:21>> Right. Thank you. Any discussion?

1:45:23>> I'll wait for Yeah,

1:45:25>> you want to speak?

1:45:26>> Just want to mention um I know that this

1:45:28came from SAS uh with Somerville um part

1:45:32of the recommendations with SAS which

1:45:34has done incredible work and uh have a

1:45:37great relationship with me with uh

1:45:39members of SAS and I'm I'm proud of the

1:45:41work they've done here in the city and

1:45:43the suggestions they offer. And uh as I

1:45:45mentioned today to one of the members, I

1:45:48I love talking uh with TAS because I

1:45:51always gain new insight that uh um and

1:45:56and um more ideas that I I think about

1:45:58and and as I go about our community. Um

1:46:02this

1:46:04you Okay.

1:46:05>> Okay.

1:46:08this specific um

1:46:11idea I have my concerns with and I have

1:46:13told SAS that um and the imple

1:46:18implementation is concerning as it

1:46:20definitely can pummel some of our lowest

1:46:22income residents

1:46:25and um uh who may have a 1998 um Dodge

1:46:33minivan because it's all they could

1:46:34afford and their job they have to work

1:46:37in another city three cities over. Um or

1:46:43this could affect union work here. That

1:46:46bothers me too. This could um if you are

1:46:49an electrician or plumber and you have a

1:46:52work vehicle, this uh will change this

1:46:54this will uh impact that. I also think

1:46:59the

1:47:02the ADA the ADA concerns are the fact of

1:47:05of having an ADA minivan

1:47:08um which are very expensive vehicles to

1:47:11begin with but vehicles that have lifts

1:47:14and uh to

1:47:17assist with with wheelchairs

1:47:19and um mobility devices. this would

1:47:23impact that and um families that that

1:47:28just have cars. Uh I think that this

1:47:31would if it were to be considered has to

1:47:34be really extensively thought out. So,

1:47:38um I think there are numerous ways that

1:47:40we can change and I have been happy to

1:47:44support SAS's work and a lot of and and

1:47:47will continue to but this is one um

1:47:50policy that I do not think is um one we

1:47:54should pursue at this time without

1:47:56extensive conversation on who we're

1:47:59leaving out and to ensure that this is

1:48:01not a divisive um approach and that we

1:48:04are considering those that who may be

1:48:05most impacted.

1:48:07who are our uh most vulnerable residents

1:48:10of the city. So that is all.

1:48:14>> Thank you. Any further discussion? Send

1:48:16this to traffic and parking. Is that the

1:48:19discussion? Traffic parking. All right.

1:48:20So that item is approved with a copy of

1:48:22traffic and parking. Um councelor Ba,

1:48:24you'd like to wave the rules to take

1:48:25item 9.3 out of order.

1:48:28>> Mr. President. Okay. Uh

1:48:29>> see no objection then. Madam clerk,

1:48:30would you read 9.3, please?

1:48:37All right. Item 9.3, Davis Square

1:48:40Neighborhood Council applying for a

1:48:41public event license for Davis Square

1:48:43Neighborhood Yard Sale on September 27th

1:48:45from 12:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a rain

1:48:47date of October 4th.

1:48:48>> My understanding is that the rain date

1:48:50has already been activated. No, no

1:48:52surprise to anyone.

1:48:54Um, any discussion? I I'll just note it

1:48:57sounds like a cool way to find some

1:49:00treasures all across the neighborhood.

1:49:02So, I I look forward Moing around and

1:49:04checking.

1:49:06>> Mr. President, does this mean that you

1:49:07are going to have your own part of yard

1:49:09sale?

1:49:10>> I missed that.

1:49:11>> Will you m Mr. President, does this mean

1:49:13that you will also be uh partaking in

1:49:16the yard sale?

1:49:17>> I I will Well, it's that date is I

1:49:20believe also is that honk weekend as

1:49:22well? It's not. Okay. See, it's don't

1:49:24don't get me on dates. Um if that's the

1:49:26case, then yeah, we'll see. I I I could

1:49:28clean out my basement. That's a really

1:49:30good idea, actually. Um, councelor B,

1:49:32did you want to speak on the item?

1:49:33>> No. U Mr. President, I mean, uh, through

1:49:36the honorable license and Penichio, I

1:49:39would like to move to approve this.

1:49:42>> Very well, Council Art.

1:49:44>> Move to approve.

1:49:45>> All right. See no discussion then. That

1:49:47ad is approved. And have fun, folks. Go

1:49:49find some treasures.

1:49:52>> Quick point of order, Mr. President.

1:49:53Sorry, did I miss 3.1? Did that happen?

1:49:57>> 3.1 was the grant application, right?

1:49:59Yes, we did already do that.

1:50:00>> We did that at the top. We had we had

1:50:02Jackie Duffy here. It was really

1:50:03exciting.

1:50:06>> Um, all right.

1:50:09So, I will There's a few folks, members

1:50:11of the public here. Is anyone here

1:50:13waiting for another specific item that

1:50:14that you want us to take out of order?

1:50:17No. Okay. I just want to make sure we

1:50:18don't keep you waiting longer than uh

1:50:19than you'd like to. Um, all right. Very

1:50:21well then. Let's go back to our regular

1:50:23order of business, which will take us to

1:50:24item 4.2, I believe.

1:50:26>> Yes.

1:50:27>> 4.2. an order by councelor Wheeler that

1:50:29in the view of the proliferation of rats

1:50:31in the city, the director of public

1:50:32health and/or designates update this

1:50:34council on the status of dumpster

1:50:36license registration and enforcement,

1:50:38including estimates of the number of

1:50:40licensed and unlicensed dumpsters in the

1:50:42city which regularly contain discarded

1:50:44food. procedures for identifying

1:50:46unlicensed dumpsters and encouraging

1:50:47licensing, criteria for approval of

1:50:50dumpsters, staff capacity for dumpsters

1:50:52inspection and enforcement and current

1:50:54methods and best practices for excluding

1:50:56rodents from dumpsters.

1:50:58>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:50:59>> Thank you, Mr. President. So, a few

1:51:01months ago, a group of residents near

1:51:03McGon Square fed up with the many rats

1:51:05in their neighborhood asked city staff

1:51:07to walk their street with them. Public

1:51:10health director Colin Ziggler helped

1:51:11identify a serious problem with some

1:51:13commercial dumpsters that uh were nearby

1:51:15and were providing food for rats to eat

1:51:17on a daily basis. And following up on

1:51:20that, uh learned that these dumpsters

1:51:22were not licensed. And this is something

1:51:24that's new to me. Uh realizing that uh

1:51:27we have an ordinance that says all

1:51:29commercial dumpsters must be licensed

1:51:31and registered with the city as part of

1:51:32our process for ensuring they conform to

1:51:34our standards. But like so many other

1:51:36things, enforcing that is tricky and we

1:51:39don't always have the uh the personnel

1:51:41to do it. Um but thanks to public health

1:51:44staff, that situation, the particular

1:51:46one in Meon Square has gotten much

1:51:48better and those dumpsters were

1:51:50eventually revamped to keep rats out. Uh

1:51:52but this problem occurs in different

1:51:54ways across the city. Thankfully, we now

1:51:57have a new ratzar uh environmental

1:52:00health coordinator, Gay Rodriguez, just

1:52:02hired this month. and Director Ziggler

1:52:04has uh told me that uh attention to the

1:52:07city's dumpsters is one of the things

1:52:08his team will be working on. I've had

1:52:11some great conversations with Director

1:52:12Ziggler and at my suggestion, he eagerly

1:52:15agreed to come and tell us about this

1:52:16work uh to talk about the dumpster

1:52:18ordinance and um all the relation uh

1:52:22between that and rodents and what is

1:52:24planned to turn the corner on the

1:52:26feeding of rats through dumpsters in

1:52:28Somerville. Thank you.

1:52:31>> Any discussion? Councor Hart would like

1:52:34to sign on.

1:52:36All right. Council say would like to

1:52:38sign on. Did you want to send that to

1:52:39committee for discussion?

1:52:40>> Uh yes, please. Um I guess

1:52:44I think where do we put road? Was that

1:52:46sustainability infrastructure or public

1:52:47health public safety? I can't remember.

1:52:50>> Anybody remember public health public

1:52:51safety? That seems that seems like a

1:52:52better place for All right. So that'll

1:52:54be approved with a copy to public health

1:52:56and public safety. Next item.

1:52:59>> Next item is 4.3, a resolution by

1:53:02councelor Wheeler. that the

1:53:03administration develop a procedure

1:53:04allowing the parking department upon

1:53:06identifying a vehicle parked in a

1:53:08location such as a fire lane where it

1:53:10poses a public safety concern to arrange

1:53:12for the vehicle to be towed.

1:53:13>> Councelor Wheeler.

1:53:15>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh so towing

1:53:17ve vehicles from public property is done

1:53:19by the police department and generally

1:53:21in rear cases. We don't have an

1:53:24established procedure by which other

1:53:25departments, particularly the parking

1:53:27department, can request that a vehicle

1:53:28be towed even if they observe that that

1:53:31vehicle is parked in a location that

1:53:32poses a problem for public safety, such

1:53:34as a fire lane. Uh this came up because

1:53:38some residents in W 3 reached out to

1:53:39councelor Yuan Campen uh and also to me

1:53:42about a recurring problem on a very

1:53:44narrow street where vehicles have

1:53:46sometimes parked in the fire fire lane

1:53:48and in other parking areas that would

1:53:50prevent emergency vehicles from being

1:53:51able to access the street. Uh the

1:53:53parking department's been very

1:53:55responsive uh to times that that's

1:53:57happening and has ticketed those

1:53:59vehicles. But in some case that vehicle

1:54:01is there in the morning and that it's

1:54:02still there in the evening. even in rare

1:54:05cases it's there overnight. Uh currently

1:54:07there's just no procedure uh no policy

1:54:10by which such a case in such a case

1:54:12relevant departments whether it's the

1:54:14parking department um or other

1:54:16departments could reach out to the

1:54:17police department and ask that a vehicle

1:54:19be towed. I have discussed this with the

1:54:21administration and I'm hopeful that a

1:54:22procedure can be developed that works

1:54:24for everyone. I want to emphasize that

1:54:26no one's proposing that we suddenly tow

1:54:28cars willy-nilly. We're talking about

1:54:30limited cases that would be a real

1:54:31problem in an emergency. Thank you. Any

1:54:35discussion?

1:54:38All right, I see none. Want to send that

1:54:40one to committee or just follow up?

1:54:46>> Maybe it's not necessary to send that to

1:54:47committee unless anybody

1:54:49>> always always an option to follow up

1:54:50with the administration and then if

1:54:52there's a you know something more

1:54:53concrete, we can send that item to

1:54:54committee or or if there's no movement,

1:54:56we can you can submit another item and

1:54:57then you can put that to committee to

1:54:59sort of force force the issue. Um I

1:55:01think it was council member Mclofflin if

1:55:03I remember as president too who reminded

1:55:05us that not everything has to go to

1:55:06committee and we can always do followup

1:55:08ourselves. So uh uh in this in that

1:55:10spirit um very well that will be uh

1:55:12approved. Next item.

1:55:15>> Next item is 4.4. An order by council

1:55:17that the director of finance and the

1:55:19director of economic development report

1:55:20to this council on the situation of

1:55:22financial bankruptcy involving the

1:55:24investor funds holding equity in the

1:55:26empty lab building at 808 Windsor Place

1:55:29Boon Yards. Councelor Buff.

1:55:31>> Thank you, Mr. President. This is

1:55:33something that I this has been a while

1:55:35ago, about a month ago that I read, you

1:55:38know, in the globe about Biting Yard.

1:55:40So, I just completely forgot. I made a

1:55:43note on my desk and then kind of like

1:55:45saw the piece on like this. This was

1:55:49like last week. And so this is something

1:55:51that it was so interesting because the

1:55:54bankruptcy and financial distress

1:55:56surrounding the vacant lab building at

1:56:0080 808

1:56:05Windso place raised broader concerns

1:56:07about uh commercial tax base you know so

1:56:11the future property tax revenue fiscal

1:56:14stability so I I think the the property

1:56:17was assessed you know it's been falling

1:56:20because it first was his valuation was

1:56:22about $315 million and so but since then

1:56:26it's been declining and so I just want

1:56:30us to you know assess to see like given

1:56:33the scale of investment and the depth

1:56:35associate associated with this

1:56:37development it would be nice for the

1:56:39council to receive a clear assessment

1:56:41from the finance department about um

1:56:45potential implication for the city's tax

1:56:47base revenues borrowing capacity and

1:56:50also our AAA ratings because it's all

1:56:54like linked together. So, it will be

1:56:56nice for us just to get that information

1:56:59and just have a sense of where the city

1:57:02is going as far as our commercial, you

1:57:05know, uh properties are moving.

1:57:07>> Great. Any discussion?

1:57:10>> All right.

1:57:10>> I think this should go to finance.

1:57:12>> Uh any

1:57:14that's okay. All right. So, that item is

1:57:16approved with a copy to finance. Next

1:57:18item.

1:57:20>> Next item is 4.6. A communication by

1:57:23councelor Umba conveying his resignation

1:57:25from the city council.

1:57:26>> Here I got the eject button. There you

1:57:27go. You're at councelor.

1:57:30>> Oh my god. Thank you, Mr. President. Um

1:57:33just as it it states like following you

1:57:36know uh my re recent election as a

1:57:40democratic you know nominee for the

1:57:42state representative of the 34th ME

1:57:45district you know I've submitted my

1:57:47irrevocable

1:57:49resignation as councelor at large for

1:57:51the city council effective December

1:57:5431st. I'm grateful for the opportunity

1:57:57to continue serving, you know, a great

1:58:00city through the end of the year and to

1:58:01carry that commitment forward in my new

1:58:03role as a state representative.

1:58:06And under the city charter, Marian

1:58:08Wallace, the fifth highest vote getter,

1:58:11the honorable Marian Wallace, you know,

1:58:14uh, in the most recent election, you

1:58:17know, will succeed me and I have full

1:58:19confidence in her commitment to our

1:58:21community and its residents. So, it has

1:58:24been an extraordinary honor to serve the

1:58:27people of Somerville and I close this

1:58:29chapter with profound gratitude for the

1:58:32trust, partnership and support of our

1:58:34community.

1:58:36Peace.

1:58:38>> All right, that item is placed on file.

1:58:41Councelor say, do you want to take up

1:58:42the next three together related items?

1:58:45>> Uh, yeah, Mr. President, if you can read

1:58:47item 4.7, 4.8, and 4.9 together.

1:58:51>> Very well. 4.7 a resolution by councelor

1:58:55say that the director of the parking

1:58:56install drop off pickoff signage on

1:58:59cherry street across from the Kennedy

1:59:00school item 4.8 another resolution by

1:59:03councelor say that the director of

1:59:04mobility add bike racks at the Kennedy

1:59:07school and item 4.9 a resolution by

1:59:09councelor say that the director of

1:59:10mobility paint bike markings in the bike

1:59:12lane on Elm Street across from Kennedy

1:59:14school.

1:59:16>> Yeah. Uh so yeah through Mr. President I

1:59:18would like to have all these sent to

1:59:20traffic and parking. I just want to say

1:59:23the conversation will happen there. Um

1:59:26as uh you know um just but I just want

1:59:31to say a few things about it. Uh so the

1:59:33Kennedy as we know the Kennedy community

1:59:35school community uh they have an awesome

1:59:38design new design on street now with

1:59:40bike lane. Um they've been there the

1:59:44second week of school and it's really

1:59:47great to see so many parents biking

1:59:49there. students. Um so the the reason we

1:59:54have I put these um items forward uh

1:59:57there were some challenges uh the second

2:00:00full week of school uh well the first

2:00:03full week uh there was some challenges

2:00:06there and part of that has to do with

2:00:09the fact that the project was not

2:00:11completed before Labor Day. Um so there

2:00:15was missing paint on the bike lane. Uh

2:00:17there were flex posts missing that

2:00:19indicate you know where the car needs to

2:00:22be parked. Um and um yeah and then

2:00:27another one is um we need more bike

2:00:30racks.

2:00:32Uh so yeah so this was brought up to my

2:00:34attention by the some parents because

2:00:37tickets were issued by the uh parking

2:00:39department and uh I asked the parking

2:00:43department to not issue tickets for one

2:00:46week just in the live parking area so we

2:00:48can understand where the issues are and

2:00:51the staff I'm grateful for mobility

2:00:53staff they went there realized there's a

2:00:55whole area that did not have a sign and

2:00:57it's supposed to have a drop off pickup

2:00:59sign that's on cherry street Um so again

2:01:04some of these things I'm grateful to uh

2:01:08director Rosen uh he already took action

2:01:10on them. There's paint now the flex

2:01:12posts are um are uh yeah on on one side

2:01:18they're completed on the other side

2:01:20they're going to be completed next week

2:01:22and uh the sign on chase tree will go up

2:01:25next week as well. So, this will make

2:01:27the area functional and safe for

2:01:30everyone to use. Uh, there are other

2:01:32challenges as well where um with live

2:01:35parking versus uh short-term parking,

2:01:38but that's something the school and the

2:01:40school committee Laura Pone is working

2:01:42on uh with the principal just to see if

2:01:45there's a way to review the drop off and

2:01:47pickup policy for younger grades. Um so

2:01:51again I think uh yeah I would like to

2:01:53send these to committee even though

2:01:55action was taken on some of them already

2:01:57and continue to have that conversation

2:01:59so we can find solutions to uh the rest

2:02:02of the issues.

2:02:03>> Okay. Uh councelor link.

2:02:06>> Thank you Mr. President. Uh first of all

2:02:08thanks for all these these are um great.

2:02:10I love everything that I see. Uh I'm

2:02:13just curious 4.8 um the the bike racks.

2:02:16Is there a way to um without making it a

2:02:20big deal have it also a copy sent to

2:02:23school building facilities maintenance

2:02:24that the school committee could also

2:02:28>> so we we

2:02:30only send a copy of things to one

2:02:33committee.

2:02:34>> Yeah.

2:02:35>> So um and I think that given that's the

2:02:38the folks who can actually do the thing

2:02:40that is asked for uh will be apparent in

2:02:43traffic park and that's seems like the

2:02:44best place for it. Um that said,

2:02:46certainly the school committee could

2:02:47take up any item they'd like on their

2:02:49own. Um and to the degree that there's

2:02:51uh you know related issues that that are

2:02:54somewhat we could put a se you could put

2:02:55a separate item in um for that

2:02:57conversation. But uh in the interest of

2:02:59getting these in front of the people who

2:03:00can make the thing happen like traffic

2:03:01and parking space for it.

2:03:02>> Sounds good to me.

2:03:03>> All right. Very good.

2:03:04>> President Councelor Will.

2:03:07>> Oh just on that u Mr. President. Yeah, I

2:03:10would just add that uh we already got

2:03:12our yes for that which is great. Bike

2:03:16racks are happening. Um it's just going

2:03:18to take some time to order them and we

2:03:20don't know exactly how many. Um and um

2:03:24also mobility, they always show up to

2:03:26traffic on parking. So this is another

2:03:28you know this like it's you know we we

2:03:32have a system. But thank you uh

2:03:33councelor Link.

2:03:35>> Councelor Willer.

2:03:37>> Uh thank you Mr. President through you.

2:03:39Um it so with regard to 4.10 the right

2:03:42turn on red signs. Um just a note that

2:03:45>> we're not not quite there yet.

2:03:46>> Oh I'm sorry. I thought that was one of

2:03:47the ones that was taken up. I apologize.

2:03:49>> 47 8 and nine before us right now.

2:03:54>> All right. On those three items. Any

2:03:55further discussion? All right. See none.

2:03:57Those are approved with a copy of

2:03:58traffic and parking.

2:04:00>> Next item. Madam

2:04:01>> 4 uh 4.10. a resolution by councelor Sai

2:04:04that the director of mobility install a

2:04:05no turn on red sign at the intersection

2:04:07of Broadway and Cedar Street.

2:04:09>> Counc

2:04:10>> um yeah through you Mr. President. So I

2:04:12feel very strongly about this

2:04:13intersection as I used to live right at

2:04:16this intersection and something I see

2:04:18all the time uh especially during the

2:04:22baseball season when there are games

2:04:24there's so many uh kids crossing that

2:04:28intersection to get to 7-Eleven to get a

2:04:31drink you know or something a snack uh

2:04:34so this is yeah this is something that I

2:04:37would like mobility staff to look into

2:04:41because Right now you can take a right

2:04:43um yeah on red and

2:04:47I think that needs to change.

2:04:48>> This is off of Broadway on to see

2:04:50>> off Broadway. Correct.

2:04:53>> Councelor Wheeler on that one.

2:04:55>> Thank you Mr. President. Um, it's my

2:04:58understanding that a few years ago,

2:05:00shortly after the Cambridge City Council

2:05:02voted to ban right turns on red, uh, the

2:05:05city of Somerville conducted an

2:05:07evaluation of many intersections and,

2:05:10uh, considering where would it make

2:05:12sense to have signs saying not to turn

2:05:15on red and found that many were good

2:05:17candidates for that signage. Um, and I

2:05:20think since then, a lot of those signs

2:05:21have been rolled out. Uh I don't know if

2:05:24we've received an update since then on

2:05:27how that progress has been going and I'd

2:05:29just be curious as part of this uh visit

2:05:32from the director of mobility to ask

2:05:33about the status of that.

2:05:37>> Very well.

2:05:40Councelor Link would like counselor link

2:05:42would like to sign on. Any further

2:05:44discussion? Seeing none, do you want

2:05:46that to go to committee then for that

2:05:47follow-up discussion?

2:05:48>> So I'd like to send that to traffic and

2:05:50parking.

2:05:50>> All right. approved to copy traffic and

2:05:52parking. Next item.

2:05:54>> Next item is 4.11. A resolution by

2:05:56council say that the director of

2:05:58mobility take the steps necessary to

2:05:59make the intersection of Vernon Street

2:06:01and Patri Patriots Avenue safer.

2:06:04>> Say like to send this traffic and

2:06:06parking.

2:06:07>> Any further discussion? No. That item is

2:06:09approved to the copy traffic and

2:06:11parking. Next item.

2:06:12>> Next item is 4.12. of a resolution by

2:06:15councelor S and councelor link that the

2:06:16administration and relevant department

2:06:18submit a memo to this council showing

2:06:20the cost of staffingville high school to

2:06:22be used as a teen center after school

2:06:24hours

2:06:25>> say through Mr. president. Um yeah, so

2:06:29we had the conversation

2:06:31um about the teen center in uh school

2:06:34building facilities and maintenance and

2:06:36um yeah the yeah so as we know we don't

2:06:41have a building that's available for a

2:06:43teen center and um we got a confirmation

2:06:47or you know the from uh director ra I

2:06:52think almost 100% sure that it's not

2:06:54going to happen in the next five

2:06:56because again we're dealing you know

2:06:59with buildings and um so I think this is

2:07:05uh that's when I asked if staff are

2:07:09looking into summer high

2:07:12the next five years we need something

2:07:15and um yeah so I think I would like to

2:07:19send this to the finance committee

2:07:21because it has to do with staffing

2:07:24um if we can have a memo showing how

2:07:29much it would cost to staff summer high

2:07:32after school hours. Uh this is a big

2:07:35building that we have and um when he was

2:07:39I remember when was a teacher it was

2:07:43the community was told that this

2:07:45building will be used after school hours

2:07:48by the community. um you know as a

2:07:52community engagement you know a place

2:07:55for community engagement

2:07:57uh for classes. So I think we need to go

2:08:01back to delivery to that conversation.

2:08:03Now we understand that we need to have

2:08:06it staffed

2:08:08so that in the morning when school staff

2:08:11show up the building they find the

2:08:13building the way they left it. Um so I

2:08:17think I yeah it's It's worth getting

2:08:21that um information

2:08:24>> on finances.

2:08:26>> Thank you, Mr. President. Through you,

2:08:28I'd also like to thank the my uh

2:08:30colleague from W five for bringing this.

2:08:32Uh I have so the the school the coming

2:08:38school um impossibility that was uh you

2:08:42know one of my dreams um that got

2:08:44shattered. So I really think we do need

2:08:46to consider like any and all uh options

2:08:48that we might have in front of us. Uh

2:08:50especially considering the feasibility

2:08:52of um financially of of a like creating

2:08:55a new space right now doesn't seem to be

2:08:58uh in the realm of possibility. Um but I

2:09:01think that there's still we then have to

2:09:03just we've to buckle down to kind of

2:09:04figure it out. Um as I said in the last

2:09:06one, you know, it's uh anything you know

2:09:09worth doing well is worth doing poorly

2:09:11and like if if this is not going to be

2:09:12the perfect situation. Um, but I think

2:09:15that it's definitely better than a

2:09:17complete absence otherwise. So, I'm uh

2:09:21very excited to see how um what we can

2:09:24learn. I know this will require like

2:09:25anou with the the um high school, I'm

2:09:28sure, but uh or with the the school

2:09:30system, but I I feel like it's it's a

2:09:34great uh opportunity.

2:09:38>> Say, Mr. President, I would just add one

2:09:40more thing. Um I think also when we I

2:09:45heard arguments that all students are

2:09:47already there in the building all day

2:09:49until 2:30. And as a former teacher will

2:09:53say and I heard this especially from

2:09:55students during co uh to a lot of our

2:09:58students high school students that

2:10:00building is everything to them. It is

2:10:02home like literally home. That's where

2:10:05they get their food. That's their

2:10:07community. Um and really remote learning

2:10:11show like confirmed that uh is like they

2:10:15don't have internet at home. That's they

2:10:17rely you know on those spaces to do

2:10:18their homework to be connected to the

2:10:21internet. Uh and again that's literally

2:10:25community to them. It is home. So I

2:10:27think offering a different type of

2:10:30activities to them and to like again to

2:10:32the whole community. This is just like

2:10:34one thing we could be doing. um since we

2:10:38know for sure we do not have a building

2:10:40in the next 5 years at least. So I will

2:10:44just leave it at that for now for now.

2:10:47>> Further discussion.

2:10:50>> All right. So this item is specific to

2:10:52the cost. So I think it's appropriate to

2:10:54and I saw that chair finance nod his

2:10:56head. Um that that happy to take that

2:10:58one up. Certainly if we you know if once

2:11:01that question is sort of resolved or

2:11:03fully discussed then I would anticipate

2:11:05that perhaps a separate item to to move

2:11:08forward with our project and as as the

2:11:10good council at large noted there would

2:11:11be potential other aspects maybe a

2:11:13different committee would be appropriate

2:11:14for that but um that that sounds like

2:11:17the right place to have a talk about

2:11:18money so seeing no further discussion

2:11:20and that item is approved with a copy to

2:11:22finance next item. Next item is 4.13, a

2:11:26resolution by councelor Hart, councelor

2:11:27Strezzo, and councelor link that the

2:11:29director of mobility discuss with this

2:11:30council possible strategies to address

2:11:32safety concerns caused by large trucks

2:11:34using Weston Avenue as a cutthrough from

2:11:37Broadway to Claritan Avenue,

2:11:39particularly the dangerous conditions

2:11:41created when these trucks make a right

2:11:42turn from Weston Avenue onto Claridan

2:11:45Avenue.

2:11:46>> Councelor Hart,

2:11:47>> thank you so much, Mr. President. Um, so

2:11:50I understand that trucks cutting through

2:11:53on residential streets, you know, has

2:11:56been causing problems throughout the

2:11:57city. Um, and this resolution does not

2:12:01um, attempt to solve that problem

2:12:04citywide. But there's this one

2:12:06particular intersection um, that is a

2:12:08very tight turn where trucks get stuck

2:12:11and create dangerous situations. So

2:12:13hoping to have a conversation about um,

2:12:16to rectify that. And so I'd like to send

2:12:20to traffic and parking, please.

2:12:22>> Council Strazzer, did you want to speak

2:12:23on this or councelor Link?

2:12:26>> Oh, thank you, Mr. President. Um, no,

2:12:30I'm hoping we can come to a solution on

2:12:32this. I know it's a tricky

2:12:34um little microcosm of of

2:12:40an area, but

2:12:43I'm I'm hoping some kind of outside of

2:12:47the box solution can come of it

2:12:50somewhere. I I'm not willing to give up

2:12:53on that. We can't yet.

2:12:57>> Okay. Uh that item is approved with a

2:12:59copy to traffic to parking. Next item.

2:13:02Next item is 4.14, a resolution by

2:13:04councelor Lincoln, council Yuan Campen,

2:13:05that the director of parking issue free

2:13:07temporary parking permits for residents

2:13:09who do not have a parking permit and

2:13:11whose driveways are temporarily

2:13:12obstructed by the ongoing city

2:13:14construction projects.

2:13:15>> Councelor Link,

2:13:16>> thank you. Um this was something that uh

2:13:19I caught wind of where there is an

2:13:21unfortunate situation where a uh

2:13:23resident um discovered that they were no

2:13:25longer able to get in they would no

2:13:28longer be able to get into their

2:13:29driveway um and they didn't have a um a

2:13:32city parking pass and there wasn't

2:13:34really a good solution for them. Uh I

2:13:36think in the situation where the city is

2:13:39essentially telling them that their own

2:13:40private parking is no longer available

2:13:42to them um for good reasons. I mean, we

2:13:44we need to uh fix our our sidewalks. Um,

2:13:48but uh we should also make sure that

2:13:50we're doing right by the the resident

2:13:53and and that they've they've got some

2:13:54sort of way to to park without facing,

2:13:57you know, increasing fines.

2:14:02Any other discussion?

2:14:04All right. See, you want to put this on

2:14:05that one, committee?

2:14:07>> Uh, yeah, we could track food and

2:14:08parking.

2:14:08>> Seems like all right, I won't

2:14:10editorialize, but I have views on that

2:14:12as well.

2:14:14Um all right madam chair you're gonna

2:14:17have a full agenda the next traffic and

2:14:19parking meeting. That item is approved

2:14:21with copy traffic and parking. Next

2:14:23item.

2:14:23>> Next item is 4.415

2:14:26a resolution by councelor link and

2:14:27councelor umbo in support of the yes in

2:14:28god's backyard legislation.

2:14:30>> Council link. Uh yes in god's backyard

2:14:33is meant to bring um affordable housing

2:14:36into uh places that are uh you know that

2:14:41have churches on. there's oftentimes

2:14:43large inactive spaces um and uh

2:14:46throughout the um throughout the

2:14:49Commonwealth there's uh it would

2:14:51actually create quite a boon and um

2:14:53while I was originally skeptical um that

2:14:56it would make much of a difference here

2:14:58in Somerville. Uh I saw some I was given

2:15:01some numbers that were actually uh quite

2:15:03substantial. Actually, no, I'm not going

2:15:05to be able to find it in a second. I

2:15:06should have looked. Uh so yeah, but it

2:15:09was thousands potentially thousands of

2:15:11uh affordable housing uh units in

2:15:14Somerville. So uh I think that it's

2:15:16something that we should uh support.

2:15:20>> Council B, you want to speak on this

2:15:21one?

2:15:22>> Sure. Thank you, Mr. President. No,

2:15:25thank you, Councelor Link, for including

2:15:27me. You know, just to echo that at a

2:15:32time when communities are facing severe,

2:15:35you know, housing challenges and

2:15:37affordability,

2:15:39we need to use every tool in the

2:15:40toolbox, you know, to

2:15:44um make sure that we are doing all we

2:15:47can to partner with our community

2:15:48institutions to create housing. So I

2:15:52look forward to uh taking this on Beacon

2:15:55Hill and advance these policies, you

2:15:57know, that make it easier to build homes

2:16:00and preserve affordability and ensure

2:16:02that, you know, our families can uh find

2:16:06a safe and a stable home. Thank you. If

2:16:09>> only we knew anyone who was going to be

2:16:10up there and might be able to do

2:16:11something.

2:16:13>> Council you and Kevin,

2:16:15>> thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to

2:16:16sign on to this and I just I wanted to

2:16:18thank the the council for bringing this

2:16:19especially this morning. I got an email

2:16:21from the Mass Municipal Association to

2:16:24all local electeds across the state

2:16:27directing us to contact our legislators

2:16:29to oppose this. Um, so this is a

2:16:32lobbying group that's supposed to

2:16:33represent municipal elected officials

2:16:35like us. Um, in this case, you know,

2:16:37they're certainly not not reflecting the

2:16:38the views of the Somerville City

2:16:39Council. So, I'm glad we're on record

2:16:41saying that.

2:16:43>> Councelor Shz would like to sign on.

2:16:44Councelor Hart like sign on. Councelor

2:16:45say, Council Wheeler.

2:16:49All right. That item is approved.

2:16:52Did that does that requ Does that

2:16:54request a uh communication to

2:16:57delegation?

2:16:58>> Yes, Mr. President does.

2:16:59>> Okay.

2:17:00>> Mr. President, can we request that a

2:17:03copy be sent to councelor UN campaign's

2:17:05desk and councelor

2:17:08and councelbas on deacon hill.

2:17:11>> It shall be done. Next item.

2:17:14>> Next item is 4.16. A resolution by

2:17:16councelor link, councelor say, and

2:17:18councelor Scott in support of an act

2:17:19relative to preventing home insurers

2:17:21from forcing tree removal.

2:17:23>> Got link.

2:17:25>> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, so this

2:17:26one um I I came across so it it's

2:17:30happened here in Somerville um at least

2:17:33once at now um where perfectly healthy

2:17:35trees are required to be removed um in

2:17:39order to maintain home insurance. Uh you

2:17:41know, in Somerville, we don't have tons

2:17:43and tons of trees. Uh we certainly um

2:17:46and a large number of them are on

2:17:48private property. So we certainly don't

2:17:50want to allow um home insurers to just

2:17:53make these kind of um decisions where it

2:17:56doesn't actually relate to safety. Uh so

2:17:59I'm trying to get some some support for

2:18:01that one.

2:18:04Other discussion council will like to

2:18:06sign on.

2:18:08All right. Uh that item is approved.

2:18:13Next item.

2:18:15>> Next item is 6A. Uh a report of the

2:18:20committee on finance meeting on

2:18:21September 22, 2026.

2:18:23>> Councelor Wheeler. Thank you, Mr.

2:18:25President. Through you, the finance

2:18:27committee met on th on Tuesday,

2:18:30September 22nd, 2026 via remote

2:18:32participation with all members present

2:18:34and with the help of clerk of

2:18:36committees, Delaney Fisher Casio, we

2:18:37took up a 10 item agenda. We approved an

2:18:40appropriation of $350,000 from the

2:18:42city's immigrant legal services

2:18:44stabilization fund for legal services

2:18:46for immigrants and asylum seekers

2:18:47seeking permanent residency. This was a

2:18:50specific budget ask for much of the city

2:18:52council in the spring. Money was put

2:18:54aside in this purpose specific

2:18:55stabilization fund and now it will be

2:18:58used. We approved a grant for

2:19:00approximately 216,000

2:19:02for a salary and personnel costs of two

2:19:04health and human services staff members,

2:19:06a shared services coordinator and a

2:19:08clinical community health worker

2:19:10supporting their crucial public health

2:19:11work. We approved three grant approvals,

2:19:15all related to 911 dispatch, which

2:19:17together accounted for approximately

2:19:19$480,000.

2:19:21These pay for salaries and certification

2:19:23training overtime and they are a

2:19:24significant part of why the E911

2:19:27division, the E stands for enhanced,

2:19:29tends to come in under the amount

2:19:31budgeted in each of the uh several most

2:19:34recent fiscal years. Also related to

2:19:36policing, we accepted an approximately

2:19:38$10,000 grant for body armor vests from

2:19:41the US Bureau of Justice Assistance,

2:19:43which will have a state match.

2:19:46Approximately $255,000 of money that

2:19:48comes from Somerville's cut of ride

2:19:50share payments was approved for the

2:19:52mobility division's various projects,

2:19:54part of its ongoing work that has

2:19:55resulted in a four-year streak without a

2:19:58single traffic death.

2:20:00The Department of Public Works requested

2:20:02to pay a large set of prior year

2:20:04invoices totaling approximately $81,000

2:20:07out of its own accounts. There were

2:20:09various reasons for these, from clerical

2:20:11errors to difficulty budgeting for a new

2:20:13electric provider. But DPW staff seem to

2:20:16be making progress working out these

2:20:17kinks on the literally hundreds of

2:20:20utility accounts that they manage, and

2:20:22they intend to end this fiscal year with

2:20:24fewer surprises.

2:20:26Finally, the committee spent quite a

2:20:28while discussing and approving five

2:20:30Armory leases that are signed and ready

2:20:32to go as part of the long process of the

2:20:34city making armory space available to

2:20:36Somerville's many artists, performers,

2:20:38troops, and arts related businesses.

2:20:41Note that these leases do not yet

2:20:43include the largest tenant of all, Arts

2:20:45at the Armory, and committee members

2:20:47expressed hope that Arts at the Armory

2:20:48will soon see a lease that truly works

2:20:50for them, perhaps even one that

2:20:52encompasses the considerable other space

2:20:54at the Armory that is yet to be leased.

2:20:57We met newly hired property and tenant

2:20:59relations manager Josh Mccoral, and the

2:21:01committee encouraged him and the city's

2:21:03community development team to minimize

2:21:04the paperwork and obstacles keeping the

2:21:06armory from being fully used by artists.

2:21:10Chair, I ask that this committee report

2:21:11be accepted as submitted.

2:21:14>> Any discussion on the report?

2:21:18All right. See none. That puts two items

2:21:20before us for roll call votes. Is that

2:21:22correct, Madam Chair? Madam Clerk,

2:21:24that's correct. 688 is the first, I

2:21:26believe.

2:21:26>> Yes. This is a roll call on item 68A.

2:21:30Uh, councelor Yuan.

2:21:32>> Yes.

2:21:33>> Councelor Link.

2:21:34>> Yes.

2:21:34>> Councelor Scott.

2:21:36>> Councelor Klingan.

2:21:36>> Yes.

2:21:37>> Councelor Strazzo.

2:21:38>> Yes. Councelor say,

2:21:39>> yes.

2:21:40>> Councelor Wheeler,

2:21:41>> yes.

2:21:41>> Councelor Hart,

2:21:42>> yes.

2:21:42>> Councelor Mclofflin,

2:21:43>> yes.

2:21:43>> Councelor Umba,

2:21:44>> yes.

2:21:45>> And councelor Davis,

2:21:46>> yes.

2:21:46>> That item is passed with 10 in favor.

2:21:49>> Next one.

2:21:50>> And the next one is on item 6 A10.

2:21:54Councelor Yuan Campen.

2:21:56>> Yes.

2:21:56>> Councelor Link,

2:21:57>> yes.

2:21:58>> Councelor Scott.

2:21:59>> Councelor Klingan,

2:22:00>> yes.

2:22:00>> Councelor Strezo,

2:22:01>> yes.

2:22:02>> Councelor Sed,

2:22:02>> yes.

2:22:03>> Councelor Wheeler,

2:22:04>> yes.

2:22:04>> Councelor Hart,

2:22:05>> yes.

2:22:05>> Councelor Mclofflin,

2:22:06>> yes. Council and councelor Davis.

2:22:08>> Yes,

2:22:08>> that item has been approved.

2:22:11>> All right. Very good. Um, next item is

2:22:146D, I believe.

2:22:20>> Sound right.

2:22:24>> 61, a committee uh report a report of

2:22:27the committee on license and permits

2:22:28meeting on September 23, 2026.

2:22:30>> Councelor Hart,

2:22:32>> thank you. So, the licenses and permits

2:22:34committee met yesterday evening uh with

2:22:37all three members present. Um we had a

2:22:39short agenda with one public hearing for

2:22:42an application for new extended

2:22:45operating hours for license for Wings

2:22:48over Somerville on Somerville A. Um this

2:22:51was for Friday and Saturday nights to

2:22:54stay open until 2 am. Um the committee

2:22:57unanimously recommended for this to be

2:22:59approved. Any discussion?

2:23:03All right. Seeing none, that item is

2:23:04approved. Next item.

2:23:07>> Next item is 7.1. A mayor's request

2:23:09requesting ordainment of an amendment to

2:23:11chapter 15, article 3 of the code of

2:23:13ordinances.

2:23:14>> That is referred to legislative matters.

2:23:17>> Next item is 7.2. to a mayor's request

2:23:20requesting authorization to borrow

2:23:222,82,498

2:23:24in a bond and to appropriate 2,882,498

2:23:29for the purchases of aerial ladder truck

2:23:30and a rescue truck for the fire

2:23:32department.

2:23:32>> Councelor Wheeler.

2:23:33>> Uh, Mr. President, I move to wave the

2:23:36readings and refer to the finance

2:23:38committee the following items. Uh, 7.2,

2:23:417.4, 7.5,

2:23:447.7,

2:23:457.8, 8 7.12 7.13

2:23:50and 7.15.

2:23:52>> All right. So, councelor will moves to

2:23:54take up together with the item that was

2:23:55just read the rest of that list and wave

2:23:57the readings of the le rest of that

2:23:59lists and refer them to finance. Any

2:24:01discussion?

2:24:02>> All right. Very well. Those are referred

2:24:04to finance.

2:24:06>> And then uh Mr. President, I also move

2:24:09to take up 7.9, 7.10, and 7.11 together.

2:24:14Um I assume they need to be read.

2:24:18>> So uh councelor Wheeler um like to weigh

2:24:23the rules to take up 79 710 7-Eleven

2:24:26together. See no objection. Madam clerk,

2:24:27would you read those?

2:24:28>> Yes. 7.9. A mayor's request requesting

2:24:30approval to pay a prior year invoice and

2:24:32totaling 2500 using available funds and

2:24:35the people operations employee training

2:24:36account for manager training. Item 7.10.

2:24:40and a mayor's request requesting

2:24:41approval to pay prior invoice totaling

2:24:432,000 using available funds in the

2:24:45people operations professional and

2:24:46technical account for pre-employment

2:24:48drug testing and physicals. And 7.11 a

2:24:51mayor's request requesting approval to

2:24:52pay a prior year invoice totaling

2:24:54$1,912.50

2:24:57using available funds in the people

2:24:58operations professional and technical

2:25:00account for 111F record review.

2:25:03>> Councelor Willer.

2:25:05>> Uh Mr. President, I move to approve

2:25:07these items. Uh $2,500 is not a small

2:25:11amount in anybody's personal budget. In

2:25:13the scheme of the city's budget, uh I

2:25:15think it's small enough that it

2:25:16justifies just approving this tonight.

2:25:19Any discussion?

2:25:23All right. Seeing none, then those three

2:25:25items are approved. We don't need a roll

2:25:26call for any of those. Small little

2:25:28dollars, right? All right. Very well.

2:25:31And the next item,

2:25:35>> did he wave? Did you wave? Miss um

2:25:37councelor will 7.15

2:25:39>> 15 I think you said right?

2:25:40>> Yes that was in my list earlier of the

2:25:42ones that was waved and

2:25:44>> referred to finance 7.16 a mayor's

2:25:47request requesting confirmation of the

2:25:49appointment of Ashley uh Tenken of to

2:25:51the affordable housing trust.

2:25:55>> All right see no discussion that'll be

2:25:57referred to confirmation of

2:25:58appointments.

2:26:01Next item

2:26:03>> next item is 8.2 two, director of office

2:26:05of housing stability conveying the 2025

2:26:08office of housing stability annual

2:26:10report and accompanying executive

2:26:11summary forformational purposes. That

2:26:14item is placed on file with a copy to

2:26:17housing equity community development.

2:26:20>> Next item is 8.3 city clerk conveying

2:26:23block party licenses issued.

2:26:25>> So many block parties getting rained out

2:26:26this weekend. It's very sad. However,

2:26:30there are rain dates. I know the clerk's

2:26:32office has worked hard to help folks

2:26:33move them to different weekends and

2:26:35everyone else in the administration has

2:26:36worked hard to get those approvals

2:26:37through. So, thank you for all that.

2:26:39Block parties are awesome. Go to your

2:26:41block parties. If you don't have a block

2:26:42party, call the clerk's office, find out

2:26:44how you can sign up for a block party

2:26:45because they're fun.

2:26:47>> All right, that item is placed on file.

2:26:50>> Next item is 9.1.

2:26:54>> Thank you. I move to wave the readings

2:26:56of 9.1 and 9.2 two and approve

2:27:00um this evening.

2:27:01>> All right, councelor heart like to w the

2:27:02readings of 9.1 9.2 take them together

2:27:05and uh moves for approval of both.

2:27:08Seeing no discussion, those items are

2:27:09approved.

2:27:11>> Next item is 9.4 mayor's office applying

2:27:14for a public event license for Italian

2:27:16Heritage Month flag raising on October

2:27:1815th from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

2:27:21>> Right, that item is approved.

2:27:24>> Item,

2:27:24>> next item is 9.5. Uh, three residents

2:27:27submitting comments regarding item

2:27:28number 26-10006.89

2:27:32registered voters submitting a petition

2:27:33requesting a public hearing regarding

2:27:35police bodywn cameras pursuant to

2:27:37section 2-11 of the city charter.

2:27:39>> That item is placed on file.

2:27:41>> Next item is 9.6. Nine residents

2:27:43submitting comments regarding agenda

2:27:45item number 26-1165.

2:27:48Davis Square Neighborhood Council

2:27:49submitting comments regarding formal

2:27:51recognition.

2:27:52>> That item is placed on file. Next item

2:27:54is 9.7 29 individuals including 26

2:27:57residents submitting comments regarding

2:27:59agenda item number 26-1185.

2:28:0274 residents v uh voters submitting a

2:28:05petition requesting a public hearing

2:28:06regarding the proposed ethical

2:28:08procurement ordinance pursuance to

2:28:10section 2-11 of the city charter.

2:28:12>> That item is placed on file.

2:28:14>> Next item is 9.8. Stephanie Lee from

2:28:16Verizon submitting comments regarding

2:28:18Verizon uh copper network retirement.

2:28:21>> Councelor Klingan. Thank you, Mr.

2:28:23President. Through you, I bcced all of

2:28:26you on some communications between

2:28:28myself and Verizon. Um, this is really

2:28:31about um our senior population. They

2:28:35some people have gotten letters from

2:28:37Verizon that they're they're retiring

2:28:39their copper service. They first have to

2:28:41get approval from the FCC, but that's

2:28:43probably a foregone conclusion. But so

2:28:45there's still time, but people are

2:28:47getting these notices. And um I believe

2:28:50they said there was there's 500 um

2:28:54residential pots as they call them which

2:28:57is pole to to line basically an old you

2:28:59know old landline uh and 400 commercial

2:29:02uh places. So uh they gave a good

2:29:06response as a letter attached and

2:29:07everything and I'm I'm still um I may

2:29:10put something in for the next meeting

2:29:11but I just wanted to flag that like I

2:29:12said people you know get scared. I have

2:29:14this, you know, some 85y old woman

2:29:16calling me saying that they I'm not

2:29:18going to have a phone. I'll have no way

2:29:20to call an emergency and I've been

2:29:23working with her to let her know that

2:29:24that's, you know, we'll we'll we'll get

2:29:26her squared away so that she'll have a

2:29:28phone. But so I just wanted to flag that

2:29:29for everybody. Thank you.

2:29:31>> All right, that item is placed on file.

2:29:33Next item.

2:29:37Next item is 10.1, an order by councelor

2:29:40Davis that the director of

2:29:41infrastructure and asset management

2:29:43present on continued concerns related to

2:29:45exterior tiles on the Somerville High

2:29:47School building and provide updates on

2:29:48measures to identify and mitigate those

2:29:50concerns.

2:29:51>> This was submitted to me um

2:29:54late for the last meeting and so I asked

2:29:57that it be that we wait for the meeting

2:30:00for the this agenda and then I neglected

2:30:02to put it on this agenda. So, because I

2:30:04am the presiding officer and I knew

2:30:05about it, I was obligated to put it on

2:30:06the agenda. So, we're not going to talk

2:30:07about the item other than that timing

2:30:09and why it's here. It'll be referred to

2:30:11uh school building facilities and

2:30:13maintenance with a reminder that because

2:30:15we're not taking any action, it's

2:30:16referred. So, we'll have to send it back

2:30:17with some other action. Next item.

2:30:21>> Next item is 10.2 La Corsa Club applying

2:30:24for a public.

2:30:25>> Sorry, councelor.

2:30:26>> Um I move to wave the readings of 10.2,

2:30:2810.3, and 10.4 and approve.

2:30:32Council Hart would like to uh suspend

2:30:34the rules to wave the readings of those

2:30:36three items. And while they look very

2:30:38fun and people should go to them, um we

2:30:40don't have to have any further

2:30:41discussion on them and they are all

2:30:43approved.

2:30:45>> Next item is 10.5 pedestrian and transit

2:30:49advisory committee submitting com

2:30:50comments regarding uh Squire's bridge.

2:30:53>> That it is approved and I move to

2:30:55councelor Bob moves to wave the readings

2:30:56of items 10, six, seven, and eight.

2:30:59There's no objection. and we'll wave the

2:31:01readings of those items and they will be

2:31:02placed on file. Is there any other

2:31:04items?

2:31:05>> That is it, Mr. President.

2:31:06>> Items. All right. There being no further

2:31:09business before the council, councilin

2:31:11moves to adjourn. We are adjourned.

2:31:13Thanks, folks. Good job.

2:31:20>> Wow.