MassVoter.com← Somerville City CouncilSomerville City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
June 20, 2024
51 recorded votes, 49 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Meeting video · City meeting page
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Note on these minutes: Called to order by Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen.
Present: Willie Burnley, Wilfred Mbah, Kristen Strezo, Jake Wilson, Matthew McLaughlin, J.T. Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Naima Sait, Lance Davis, Judy Pineda Neufeld
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Committee Report #24-0927
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on May 30, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on May 30, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0928
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 4, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 4, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0929
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 5, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 5, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0930
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 6, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 6, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0931
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 10, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 10, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0932
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 12, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 12, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0933
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 17, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 17, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Committee Report #24-0934
Accept the report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 18, 2024
Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting as a Committee of the Whole on June 18, 2024.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0816 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $31,947,141 to fund the FY 2025 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0817 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $21,398,392 to fund the FY 2025 Water Enterprise Fund budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0818 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $736,255 to fund the FY 2025 Kennedy School Pool Enterprise Fund budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0819 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $237,000 to fund the FY 2025 Dilboy Fields Enterprise Fund budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0820 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation or reserve of $3,436,205 in estimated FY 2025 Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenue for CPA projects and expenses
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0821 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval of the expenditure limitations for departmental Revolving Funds for FY 2025
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0822 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $2,584,976 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Rainy Day Stabilization Fund
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0823 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0824 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Compensated Absence Liability Fund
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0825 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $1,200,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0828 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $943,392 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Parks Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0829 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $2,589,087 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0830 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $403,187 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Energy Stabilization Fund for projects that reduce carbon emissions and energy costs
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0831 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $2,089,659 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Street Reconstruction and Renovation Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0832 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $7,635,022 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Facility Renovation and Reconstruction Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0833 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Traffic Safety Stabilization Fund for traffic safety improvements
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0834 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval of a transfer of $2,110,472 from the Salary Contingency Account-Salaries to the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0835 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $2,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support flexible rental assistance programs
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0836 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $270,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Immigrant Legal Services Stabilization Fund for immigration legal services
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0837 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund to fund the Somerville Public School Parent/Guardian Transit Pass Program
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0838 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval to appropriate $500,000 from the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund for funding for the SPS Parent/Guardian Transit Pass Program
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, Strezo, WilsonThe minutes list Matthew McLaughlin as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin.”
Mayor's Request #24-0839 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval to create the Community Composting Program Stabilization Fund
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, Strezo, WilsonThe minutes list Matthew McLaughlin as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin.”
Mayor's Request #24-0840 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $1,432,778 from the Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings Account to the FY 2025 Water Enterprise Fund budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0841 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to supplement a prior appropriation to purchase and install...
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to supplement a prior appropriation to purchase and install prefabricated standalone public toilets.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0842 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval to appropriate $149,051 from the Racial & Social Justice Fund to hire a Project Manager for the development of an Alternative Emergency Response Program
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, Strezo, WilsonThe minutes list Matthew McLaughlin as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin.”
Mayor's Request #24-0843 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $700,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund for a Fire Alarm Alerting System
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0845 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Participatory Budgeting Stabilization Fund for the Participatory Budgeting Program
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0846 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $350,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Community Composting Stabilization Fund for a pilot community composting program
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0847 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $266,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Emergency Stabilization Fund to provide funding for the Warming Center
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0848 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval to appropriate $270,000 from the Immigrant Legal Services Stabilization Fund for legal services to immigrants
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, Strezo, WilsonThe minutes list Matthew McLaughlin as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin.”
Mayor's Request #24-0849 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting the appropriation of $850,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Open Space Acquisition Stabilization Fund to acquire new publicly accessible open space
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0851 (report of the Finance Committee)
Requesting approval to appropriate $725,000 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to fund the Fire Alarm Alerting System
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, Strezo, WilsonThe minutes list Matthew McLaughlin as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin.”
Order #24-0945 (report of the Finance Committee)
That line 0115251-511000, Human Resources Personal Services Salaries, be reduced by $30,778 to $1,508,672 in the FY 2025 budget
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Resolution #24-0946 (report of the Finance Committee)
That the Administration allocate an additional $67,840 to line 0151251-511000, Health & Human Services Personal Services Salaries, to fund an additional Case Manager position in Health & Human...
That the Administration allocate an additional $67,840 to line 0151251-511000, Health & Human Services Personal Services Salaries, to fund an additional Case Manager position in Health & Human Services in the FY 2025 budget.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Order #24-0947 (report of the Finance Committee)
That the Administration - Executive Office, Personal Services Salaries line be reduced by $185,466 in the FY 2025 budget, reflecting the salary of the Chief Administrative Officer
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Resolution #24-0948 (report of the Finance Committee)
That the Administration allocate $185,466 to the Health and Human Services Department in the FY 2025 budget to continue to serve residents through a transit equity program run through the Office...
That the Administration allocate $185,466 to the Health and Human Services Department in the FY 2025 budget to continue to serve residents through a transit equity program run through the Office of Food Access and Healthy Communities.
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Resolution #24-0949 (report of the Finance Committee)
That the Administration re-submit the FY 2025 water and sewer rates as follows: no change in base charges, 9.5% increase in the water rate and 0% increase in the sewer rate
The minutes give the result only, with no count, so MassVoter does not show how each councilor voted.
Mayor's Request #24-0815
Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2-322 and 2-323 of the Code of Ordinances, to update categories and associated salaries for non-union positions
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Neufeld, Sait, Strezo, WilsonNo: Scott
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen NAY: Ward Two City Councilor Scott.”
Mayor's Request #24-0943
Requesting the rescission of $2,478,271 of authorized but un-issued borrowings
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen.”
Mayor's Request #24-0952
Requesting that this Council convene in Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiation strategy in FY 2025 based upon updated budget and staffing projections
Yes: Burnley, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Neufeld, Sait, Scott, WilsonThe minutes list Kristen Strezo as absent for this vote; left out of it.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen ABSENT: City Councilor At Large Strezo.”
Mayor's Request #24-0954
Requesting the appropriation of $342,878,129 to fund the FY 2025 General Fund Operating Budget
Yes: Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Neufeld, Sait, Strezo, WilsonNo: Burnley, Scott
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At Large Mbah, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen NAY: Ward Two City Councilor Scott, and City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr..”
Mayor's Request #24-0950
Requesting the appropriation of $1,407,458 from the Sewer Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings Account to subsidize the FY 2025 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen.”
Mayor's Communication #24-0951
Conveying the FY 2025 Water & Sewer Rate proposal
Yes: Davis, Ewen-Campen, Neufeld, Sait, WilsonNo: Burnley, Clingan, Mbah, McLaughlin, Scott, Strezo
From the minutes
“RESULT: NOT APPROVED AYE: Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen NAY: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, City Councilor At Large Mbah, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, and City Councilor At Large Strezo.”
From the Somerville City Council’s official minutes, posted on the city’s Legistar meeting calendar (July 2022 on) and its older meeting portal (2010 to mid-2022), both linked from the City Council page on somervillema.gov. We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Somerville (somervillema.gov) official headshots for Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Lance Davis, Wilfred Mbah, Naima Sait, J.T. Scott and Kristen Strezo; The Somerville Times (thesomervilletimes.com) for Emily Hardt, Jon Link, Matthew McLaughlin and Ben Wheeler. Former councilors show initials.
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