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Record of Proceedings

Centerville Finance Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025

Meeting Portal — Thursday, November 20, 2025
BodySomerville, Massachusetts
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, November 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:21

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

All right, good evening, everyone.

0:04

I'm Jake Wilson, he him pronouns, Councilor at large, and your finance committee chair.

0:08

It's 6.01 p.m.

0:10

And I'd like to call to order the Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 meeting of the Finance Committee of the Centerville City Council.

0:17

First, it's my pleasure to read you all this language.

0:20

It lets us do this all here on Zoom.

0:22

Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025.

0:25

This meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation.

0:29

We will post an audio video recording and a comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Centerville website and local cable access government channels.

0:39

Clerk, could you please call the role to establish quorum?

0:42

Yep, this is roll call.

0:43

Counselor Mbaugh.

0:45

Present.

0:46

Councillor Burnley.

0:47

Present.

0:48

Council Klingon.

0:51

Councilor Scott.

0:55

All right, I do see Councillor Klingon.

0:57

Counselor Klingon, are you there?

1:02

Oh, I said present.

1:04

I know I had my my speaker, the other thing muted.

1:07

No worries, we got you recorded.

1:08

All right, Counselor Scott.

1:10

Chair Wilson.

1:11

Present.

1:12

All right, with four here, we do have quorum.

1:14

All right.

1:14

And Councilor Scott did let me know.

1:17

Uh that uh well, Councilor Scott might be joining us at some point tonight.

1:20

We will see.

1:21

Um we are going to take up our 16 item agenda uh in the order posted.

1:29

So, Clerk, can we go ahead?

1:30

Uh, we're gonna take up our first agenda item, ID number 25-1711 approval of the minutes of the finance committee meeting of November 10th, 2025 on the minutes.

1:41

Not seeing any discussion, the items laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of tonight's meeting.

1:47

Uh, that's gonna bring us to our second agenda item, ID number 25-141.

1:52

The director of infrastructure and asset management conveying the draft combined sewer overflow plan.

1:58

I see we have director Rich Raish from Infrastructure and Asset Management with us.

2:01

Uh, Director Ray should presented about this previously to the council.

2:05

Uh, director, I'm I'm guessing you don't have anything to add.

2:08

Uh subsequent to that discussion, we're here for a discussion if people have questions about it.

2:13

That is correct, Chair.

2:15

Unless you want me to present the 65 auxiliary slides.

2:19

Um, I'm just here to answer questions.

2:22

Don't threaten me with a good time.

2:24

Um thank you for that.

2:26

All right, colleagues.

2:27

Any questions, any discussion on this item before us?

2:34

Councilor Mabaugh.

2:36

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

2:39

President.

2:40

No, Mr.

2:41

Chair.

2:42

Um, yeah, no, this is on this item, and then also on my own good friend Director Rach's memo.

2:51

And uh, I'm glad that you're here, Director Rage.

2:53

I just want to say, you know, um I appreciate you and I value you as a friend as a neighbour and just your expertise.

3:04

I wanted to say um my comment during the meet the last meeting on this item was an oversight on my part.

3:12

I had met with the bunch of advocates that were all in my head, you know, at the time.

3:18

And uh, so that's it wasn't like very it wasn't intentional.

3:24

So I want to you know clear that out.

3:26

Uh, and I appreciate you know, uh you know, I just wanted to have this opportunity to clear that up, and I wanted to reiterate my respect for the work that you're doing, you know, for our residents and our red payers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture██████████████████18%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████17%
Procedural██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Public Works Budget██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Active Transportation███████7%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Transportation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Centerville Finance Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025

The Finance Committee of the Centerville City Council convened via remote participation on the evening of November 19, 2025, to discuss infrastructure planning, various appropriations, contract agreements, and grant acceptances. The committee addressed the status of the combined sewer overflow plan, moved funds for the Armory revitalization, and approved several prior invoices and staffing grants for public safety departments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the November 10, 2025, meeting was recommended for a single vote at the conclusion of the agenda.
  • Approval of prior invoices for freight charges ($125.43), police computer supplies ($5,285.77), case management services, veterinary services, and police awards was recommended for approval collectively.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Councilor Klingon expressed distress and disappointment regarding the current state of the municipality's infrastructure, noting the inability to afford the tab for historical corners cut in the 70s and 80s.
  • Councilor Mabaugh initially expressed concern regarding the precedent of appropriating funds from the newly created Community Benefits Stabilization Fund for operational gaps, but later expressed full support once assured the expenditure was a one-time startup bridge.
  • Councilor Burnley sought clarification on the exclusion of residential tenants and questioned the timeline for the building to become cash-neutral, later expressing satisfaction with the detailed explanation provided.
  • Councilor Klingon reiterated support for the community's role in the Armory project, provided the rates remain balanced and the city does not bear an unsustainable burden.
  • Councilor Mabaugh later echoed support for police staffing grants, emphasizing the city's need to staff for many public safety events.

Discussion Items

  • Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Plan: Director Rich Raish reported that the MWRA board has delayed their vote until December due to pressure from watershed associations for a higher level of control. He noted that moving to this higher threshold could increase sewer rates by four to seven times the currently recommended threefold increase.
  • Armory Revitalization Appropriation ($100,000): Director Rachel Ned Carney and the Arts Council Director outlined a plan to use funds for a tenant management staff member ($50,000), modernizing the front door call box system ($30,000), and custodial support ($20,000). They confirmed the plan exclusively targets artist commercial tenants, with no residential leasing intended. The group projected the building to be cash-neutral by June 2027.
  • Police Grant Acceptance ($87,450): Director Emily Wisdom explained the grant would cover overtime for existing staff to address staffing shortfalls and spikes in demand for events like elections, rather than adding new hires. The committee clarified that the grant application marked "no" for diversity supplier requirements because the funds are used for existing staff wages, not outside vendors.
  • Fire Department Grant Acceptance ($109,296): Director James Muchi described this grant as a sister program to the police grant, intended to cover overtime for sick leave, injury leave, and vacation to maintain full staffing on all shifts.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to Approve Minutes: Delayed to the end of the meeting for a single vote.
  • Motion to Approve Appropriations: Approved for the water enterprise loan repayment ($47,090), debt service interest for 90 Washington Street ($403,980), and the Armory startup funds ($100,000).
  • Motion to Approve Transfers: Approved for temporary employee time ($15,500). Item 125-1624 (SHS salaries) was marked as withdrawn pending a corrected re-submission.
  • Motion to Approve Easements: Approved the pedestrian access easement and maintenance license for 495 Columbia Street, where the developer agreed to maintain the unique curb-protected bike lane including snow removal.
  • Motion to Approve Invoices: Approved prior invoices totaling approximately $7,113.98 across police, racial justice, and computer supply accounts.
  • Motion to Accept Grants: Approved a police staffing grant of $87,450 and a fire department staffing grant of $109,296.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m. after a unanimous vote (4 in favor, 1 absent/voting "Aye" as recorded in final count) to approve all items on the table and adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good evening, everyone. I'm Jake Wilson, he him pronouns, Councilor at large, and your finance committee chair. It's 6.01 p.m. And I'd like to call to order the Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 meeting of the Finance Committee of the Centerville City Council. First, it's my pleasure to read you all this language. It lets us do this all here on Zoom. Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025. This meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio video recording and a comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Centerville website and local cable access government channels. Clerk, could you please call the role to establish quorum? Yep, this is roll call. Counselor Mbaugh. Present. Councillor Burnley. Present. Council Klingon. Councilor Scott. All right, I do see Councillor Klingon. Counselor Klingon, are you there? Oh, I said present. I know I had my my speaker, the other thing muted. No worries, we got you recorded. All right, Counselor Scott. Chair Wilson. Present. All right, with four here, we do have quorum. All right. And Councilor Scott did let me know. Uh that uh well, Councilor Scott might be joining us at some point tonight. We will see. Um we are going to take up our 16 item agenda uh in the order posted. So, Clerk, can we go ahead? Uh, we're gonna take up our first agenda item, ID number 25-1711 approval of the minutes of the finance committee meeting of November 10th, 2025 on the minutes. Not seeing any discussion, the items laid on the table to recommend approval with a single vote at the end of tonight's meeting. Uh, that's gonna bring us to our second agenda item, ID number 25-141. The director of infrastructure and asset management conveying the draft combined sewer overflow plan. I see we have director Rich Raish from Infrastructure and Asset Management with us. Uh, Director Ray should presented about this previously to the council. Uh, director, I'm I'm guessing you don't have anything to add. Uh subsequent to that discussion, we're here for a discussion if people have questions about it. That is correct, Chair. Unless you want me to present the 65 auxiliary slides. Um, I'm just here to answer questions. Don't threaten me with a good time. Um thank you for that. All right, colleagues. Any questions, any discussion on this item before us? Councilor Mabaugh. Yeah, thank you, Mr. President.

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