← Somerville City Council

Somerville Former City Councilor

Mark Niedergang

Ward 5 · 2 terms in this record

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Council terms

2020–2021 Council2018–2019 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Council

47 of 48meetings attended (98%) · whole council 99%
2,049votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
7no votes (<1% of votes cast) · whole council <1%
3 of 27split votes where Niedergang was in the minority (11%) · whole council 18%
0abstained
2terms in this record

On split votes, Niedergang voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2020–2021 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Niedergang as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 47 of 48 City Council meetings in 2020–2021 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (48)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2020–2021 Council

Dec 9Veto - Requesting approval of proposed amendments to the…Failed 0–10 · Niedergang: No

December 9, 2021: Veto - Requesting approval of proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinances at Article 8.2 - Small Business Overlay District, and to the Zoning Map

ApproveFailed · 0–10

Voted: No

No: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, StrezoThe minutes list William White as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: NOT APPROVED. [0 TO 10] NAYS: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen- Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne ABSENT: White Jr..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Dec 9Requesting approval to pay a prior year invoice totaling…Failed 0–10 · Niedergang: No

December 9, 2021: Requesting approval to pay a prior year invoice totaling $63,474.53 using available funds in the DPW Department from various Admin, Fleet, Buildings, Sanitation, and Highway accounts

ApproveFailed · 0–10

Voted: No

No: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, StrezoThe minutes list William White as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: NOT APPROVED. [0 TO 10] NAYS: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen- Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne ABSENT: White Jr..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

Dec 9Requesting approval of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for…Passed 10–0 · Niedergang: Yes

December 9, 2021: Requesting approval of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for MPD + Boynton Sub Area

ApprovePassed · 10–0

Voted: Yes

Yes: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, StrezoThe minutes list William White as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen- Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne ABSENT: White Jr..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Dec 918 registered voters requesting the adoption of a Zoning…Motion: 18 registered voters requesting the adoption of a Zoning Map amendment…Passed 10–0 · Niedergang: Yes

December 9, 2021: 18 registered voters requesting the adoption of a Zoning Map amendment to change the zoning district of 51 McGrath Highway (MBL 115-B-1 and 115-B- 4) from HR to MR5 and…

ApprovePassed · 10–0

18 registered voters requesting the adoption of a Zoning Map amendment to change the zoning district of 51 McGrath Highway (MBL 115-B-1 and 115-B- 4) from HR to MR5 and 35 McGrath Highway (MBL 115-B-5, 115-B-11, and 115-B-12) from MR5 to MR4.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, Strezo, WhiteBen Ewen-Campen recused and is left out of this vote.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED. [10 TO 0] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, White Jr., McLaughlin, Scott, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne RECUSED: Ewen-Campen.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

Dec 9That the Zoning Ordinances be amended by striking all…Passed 10–1 · Niedergang: Yes

December 9, 2021: That the Zoning Ordinances be amended by striking all language from section 8.3.1.10.c to prevent parking maximums in Master Planned Development areas being exceeded by Special Permit

ApprovePassed · 10–1

Voted: Yes

Yes: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Strezo, WhiteNo: Scott

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED. [10 TO 1] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, White Jr., McLaughlin, Ewen- Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne NAYS: Scott.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

Dec 9Requesting approval to appropriate $100,000 for Workforce Development Services…Passed 10–0 · Niedergang: Yes

December 9, 2021: Requesting approval to appropriate $100,000 for Workforce Development Services and $70,000 for Small Business Technical Assistance Services from the Union Square Community Benefits Stabilization fund

ApprovePassed · 10–0

Voted: Yes

Yes: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, StrezoThe minutes list William White as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen- Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne ABSENT: White Jr..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 24 (PDF)

Nov 23AP Davis Square Plaza, LP requesting the adoption of…Passed 10–0 · Niedergang: Yes

November 23, 2021: AP Davis Square Plaza, LP requesting the adoption of an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Map to re-zone four parcels in Davis Square Plaza from MR-4 to Civic and CC-4

ApprovePassed · 10–0

Voted: Yes

Yes: Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, Strezo, WhiteThe minutes list Katjana Ballantyne as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: ORDINANCE ORDAINED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, White Jr., McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis ABSENT: Ballantyne.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Nov 23That the City Council approve four amendments to the…Passed 10–0 · Niedergang: Yes

November 23, 2021: That the City Council approve four amendments to the Rules of the City Council, as written herein and as recommended by the Special Committee on Rules

ApprovePassed · 10–0

Voted: Yes

Yes: Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, Mbah, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, Scott, Strezo, WhiteThe minutes list Katjana Ballantyne as absent for this vote; left out of it.

From the minutes

“RESULT: APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, White Jr., McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis ABSENT: Ballantyne.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Oct 28Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Stephanos Axios to…Failed 11–0 · Niedergang: Not recorded

October 28, 2021: Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Stephanos Axios to the Zoning Board of Appeals as an Alternate Member

Confirm appointmentFailed · 11–0

The minutes record the result as “Not approved” but list every councilor voting under AYES (11 to 0). This may mean the council voted for a committee recommendation not to approve; the minutes do not say, so MassVoter shows the count only and will ask the City Clerk.

From the minutes

“RESULT: NOT APPROVED. [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Mbah, Rossetti, Strezo, White Jr., McLaughlin, Scott, Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

Oct 28Requesting approval of a 30-year lease for the new…Passed 8–3 · Niedergang: Yes

October 28, 2021: Requesting approval of a 30-year lease for the new Assembly Square Fire Station

ApprovePassed · 8–3

Voted: Yes

Yes: Ballantyne, Clingan, Davis, Ewen-Campen, McLaughlin, Niedergang, Rossetti, StrezoNo: Mbah, Scott, White

From the minutes

“RESULT: APPROVED. [8 TO 3] AYES: Rossetti, Strezo, McLaughlin, Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Niedergang, Davis, Ballantyne NAYS: Mbah, White Jr., Scott.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (1826)

    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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