Good morning, everyone, and happy new year.

My name is Matt McLaughlin.

I am the city councilor for Ward 1.

As some of you may remember, uh, it is usually the oldest city councillor who presides over this meeting until we elect a president.

Uh but now, due to our new city charter, we have chosen to have the most handsome person preside over the meeting.

Which also happens to be the longest tenured counselor, which is me.

So I'm here to uh preside over this meeting.

Uh new charter now designates the longest serving president to preside.

Um I hereby call this meeting of the 2026 organizational meeting of the city council to order on this the second day of January 2026.

In accordance with Massachusetts open meeting law, please note that video and audio of this meeting was being recorded and may be shown on live local cable access government channels and on the City Assemble website and local cable access government channels.

Pursuant to our Rule 31.

Let it be known that the City Council salutes the flag of the United States of America and let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understand.

Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?

This is roll call.

Councillor Link.

Councilor Mbaugh.

President.

Counselor Streso.

Present.

Counselor Wheeler.

Present.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Here.

Councillor Scott.

Council Ewan Campen.

Here.

Councillor Klingon.

Present.

Counselor Said.

Here.

Counselor Davis.

Here.

Counselor Hart.

Here.

With 10 counselors present and one absent, we have a quorum.

The next business of the city council will be the election of the president of the city council for 2026.

The floor is now open for nominations.

Council Bow.

And move to nominate Councillor Davies for President of the City Council.

Council Baum moves for Councillor Davis.

Second.

Second.

Council Ewan Campbell seconds.

Move to close nominations.

And nominations are now closed.

Yep.

The second.

Yeah.

Uh council camp in seconded and closed.

Councillor Cameron made the motion to close nominations.

Second.

There we go.

Second, thank you.

All right.

Let's take a vote on that.

Let's do a roll call vote.

All in favor?

There we go.

All right.

Counselor Davis, my work is done.

Nominations having been closed.

Let's take a vote to elect your 2026 City Council President.

For whom do you vote?

Counselor Link.

Counselor Davis.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Counselor Davis.

Counselor Streso.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor Wheeler.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor Scott.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor Klingon.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor Said.

Counselor Lance Davis.

Counselor Davis.

Counselor Davis.

Counselor Hart.

Counselor Davis.

With 10 counselors voting for Counselor Lance Davis.

Lance Davis is your 2026 City Council President.

This is the one.

Councilor Davis is going to find his glasses before we continue.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

That's a good idea.

Okay.

Good news.

We've got more fun.

We're gonna go back to item 2.1, which uh was erroneously not included on the uh on the script that's up here at the podium.

So uh we'll Madam Clerk, if you could please read item 2.1.

Item 2.1 is the election commissioner submitting the results of the city election held on November 4th, 2025.

No, query, madam clerk, since the members haven't yet to be sworn in.

Do we have to do the other part over it too?

Do we have to do the election?

Um we could just ratify it.

We can ratify that, yeah.

Let's do that.

Great.

All right.

That's it.

I'm out of here.

Let's um uh approve that item, or and then we will take the oath of office.

Yes, so that item is approved, and we will now have the oath of office for everyone.

Thank you, and my apologies for that script oversight.

If I could have all newly elected officials please stand.

Thank you.

We will do, you may recall, a three-part oath.

All you have to do is repeat.

All right.

Yes.

Your meeting hasn't started yet, but you can take it now, too.

Sure.

It's not me to make it more.

Exactly.

Yeah, yeah.

I I said that sarcastically, but I did really mean that.

The oath does not have to happen within your meeting.

So yes, yes.

All right, let me have everybody please raise your right hand.

And like I said, you'll repeat after me for a three-part oath.

I state your name.

I Lance Davis.

Do solemnly affirmly affirm her.

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth.

And we'll support the Constitution thereof.

Under the pains and penalties of perjury.

I state your name.

I Lance Davis.

Do solemnly affirm.

You solemnly affirm.

That I will faithfully and impartially.

Discharge and perform.

Discharge and perform.

All the duties incumbent on me.

All duties incumbent on me.

As state your office.

Of the city of Somerville.

According to the best of my abilities and understanding.

Agreeably to the rules and regulations.

Of the Constitution.

And the laws of the Commonwealth.

Under the pains and penalties of perjury.

I state your name.

I Lance Davis.

Do solemnly affirmly affirm.

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

Under the pains and penalties of perjury.

Congratulations.

Okay, so around the around the horseshoe in order, come up to there and sign the book.

All right, if members could please refine their seats after all the exciting books signing.

You know what?

You know what?

You're not going to get the okay.

Um we're still in session, so uh no need to call the meeting back to order.

Um as I mentioned, I think Matt uh Councilor McLaughlin would like to make a motion.

So moved to ratif to rati to ratify the uh the election to president that happened prior to the oaths.

Um I will do that on yeahs and nays.

All in favor any opposed?

All right, the eyes have it, so I can stay.

So once again, Counselor Davis will serve as your president for twenty minutes.

Yes, thank you.

More applause, more applause.

Please, please, please.

All right, now back to my oh I gotta guess what for heaven's sake, sorry.

More formalities.

Enough.

More important stuff.

Now on to the next item.

Uh next bus uh next business city council is the election of a vice president for the city council for two thousand twenty-six.

The floor is now open for nominations.

Councilor McLaughlin.

I nominate Council Will Ma.

Is there a second to that nomination?

Second it.

Okay.

Uh any further nominations?

Motion to close nominations.

Motion to close.

And a second.

Nominations uh I skipped, I skipped ahead.

All in favor of closing, nominations.

All right.

Nominations having been closed, is Council will now vote for vice president.

The clerk will call the roll on the election of our vice president.

On the question of the election of a vice president for this council for twenty twenty-six, for whom do you vote?

Counselor Link.

Councillor Ba.

Counselor Mbah.

Councilor.

Councillor Strezzo.

Councilor Wilmabah.

Counselor Wheeler.

Councillor Wilfred Mbaugh.

Councillor McLaughlin.

Council Mabah.

Counselor Scott.

Counselor Willembah.

Council Ewan Campen.

Counselor Mbah.

Counselor Klingon.

Counselor Willembah.

Counselor Said.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Counselor Davis.

Counselor Mbah.

Counselor Hart.

Councillor Maba.

With eleven counselors voting for Counselor Mbaugh.

Counselor Mbaugh will serve as your vice president for 2026.

All right, having elected Council Baugh to be vice president.

I will now ask the clerk to administer the oath of office.

Do you solemnly affirm to pay for my duties?

I'm going to say that again with a microphone on, so any who's watching at home can know what I was saying.

If you don't read lips, um the city council will now stand in recess for the organizational meeting of the school committee.

Good morning.

As the most senior member of the school committee in years of service and age, I hereby call the 2026 inaugural meeting of the school committee to order on this second day of January 2026.

In accordance with Massachusetts open meeting law, please note that video and audio of this meeting is being recorded and shown live on both local access cable television on the city of Somerville website and will be available online for future review.

Will the superintendent please call the roll?

Through the chair.

Dr.

Ackman?

Here.

Ms.

Eldridge.

Present.

Ms.

Lippins?

Here.

Mr.

Green.

Here.

Ms.

Bitone.

Here.

Dr.

Stillman.

Here.

Mr.

Bitone.

Here.

Mayor Wilson.

Present.

And President Council Davis.

Here.

With nine members present and zero absent, we have quorum.

Will the superintendent please read the certification of election results from the city clerk, Kimberly Wells?

Through the Chair.

I hereby certified that the City Council's organizational meeting just recessed.

Councilor Lance L.

Davies was selected president of the 2026 City Council.

Pursuant to the city charter.

He will now serve as an ex-official member of the school committee for 2026.

Sincerely, Kimberly Wills.

Thank you.

The next business for the school committee is the election of the chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026.

The floor is now open for nomination.

I nominate Emily Ackman for chair.

Is there a second nomination?

Second.

Thank you.

You have nominated Dr.

Emily Ackman for chairperson.

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Move to close nominations.

Thank you.

Is there a um second?

Second.

Thank you.

A motion to comment close the nominations have been made.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

The ayes have it, and the nominations are closed.

Nominations have closed.

The school committee will now vote for chairperson, superintendent Dr.

Cormona, please call the roll.

Through the chair.

Dr.

Ackman.

Emily Ackman.

Mrs.

Eldridge.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Ms.

Lippins.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Mr.

Green.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Ms.

Piton.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Dr.

Stillman.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Mr.

Bitone.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

Mayor Wilson.

Dr.

Emily Ackman.

I'm President of City Council.

Dr.

Ackman.

So nine members.

Dr.

Emily Ellman has been elected as the president.

The city clerk is now going to administer the oath of office for Dr.

Emily Ackman as chairperson of school committee.

Thank you.

All right.

The next business of the school committee will be the election of a vice chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026.

The floor is now open for nominations.

I nominate Liron Pitone.

Is there a second?

All right.

You have nominated Leron Bitone for vice chairperson.

Moves to close nominations.

A motion to close nominations has been made.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

The ayes have it.

Nominations are closed.

Nominations having closed.

The members will now vote for vice chairperson.

Superintendent Dr.

Carmona, please call the roll.

Dr.

Ottman.

Ms.

Eldridge.

Ms.

Lipens.

Lauron Baton.

Mr.

Green.

Ms.

Pitone.

LaRon Pitone.

Dr.

Stellman.

Lauron Bitone.

Mr.

Biton.

Liron Pitone.

Mayor Wilson.

Liran Pitone.

President City Council Davis.

Iran Baton.

Nine members have elected.

Have chosen Mr.

Biton, so he is the chair, the vice chair of the school committee.

You have elected Leron Bitone as the vice chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026.

I will now ask the clerk to administer the oath of office.

Okay.

The next order of business of the school committee is the presentation of the order concerning rules and regulations for the government of the school committee of 2026.

Move to approve.

A motion has been made to adopt the rules and regulations of the school committee of 2025 for all conduct of the school committee for 2026.

All in favor.

All opposed.

The motion carries.

This is for those who don't know.

This is deciding who's going to sit around the horseshoe in which order.

We have the one phase.

We do everything.

So seating assignments are chosen by pulling a member's name and number from two respective boxes.

Seat eight and nine belong to the chairperson and vice chairperson, so they will be left out.

All right.

Elizabeth Eldridge.

Four.

Lance Davis.

One.

Andrea Green.

Five.

Laura Pattone.

Two.

Emma Stellman.

Nine.

Mayor Wilson.

Seven.

Okay.

Michelle Lippens.

Three.

All right.

Thank you.

Um, all right.

Thank you both for that.

We're on to assignments, right?

All right.

Great.

Um the next business of the school committee is the assignment of subcommittees.

The educational programs and instruction subcommittee will include Laura Petone, Michelle Lippins, and Liz Eldridge, with Ms.

Pitone as chair and Ms.

Lippens as vice chair.

The finance and facilities subcommittee will include Andre Green, Lera Ron Buton, and Emma Stelman with Mr.

Green as chair and Mr.

Betone is vice chair.

The rules management subcommittee will include Le Ron Bittone, Emma Stelman, and Michelle Lippins with Mr.

Bitone as chair, and Dr.

Stellman is vice chair.

The joint building subcommittee will include Le Ron Bittone, Laura Petone, and Liz Eldridge, with Mr.

Beetone as chair and Ms.

Pettone's vice chair.

And the long-range planning subcommittee will include Laura Pitone and Liz Eldridge as chair and vice chair, but that is a subcommittee of the whole, so everyone else will be participating.

Is there any further business before the school committee?

Seeing none, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Motion to adjourn has been made.

All in favor?

Aye.

All opposed.

The ayes have it.

We are adjourned.

All right, so call this meeting of the city council back into session.

All members are present.

The addresses of elected officials will be delivered tomorrow evening during the inaugural ceremonies at 6 p.m.

So please join us at the high school for a program of speeches and performances, followed by a celebration at the armory.

Will the clerk re please read the first item?

Item 6.1 is an order by Councillor Davis that this city council adopts for 2026 the rules of the city council as approved on December 11th, 2025.

Is there a second?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Those opposed?

All right.

The ayes have it.

The order is approved.

The clerk, please read the next item.

Item 6.2 is an order by Councillor McLaughlin.

That the bonds of the city treasurer and tax collector be hereby accepted and approved.

See no item.

See no objection, that item is approved.

Item 6.3 is an order by Councillor Scott that the city treasurer is hereby authorized to appoint deputy tax collectors.

See no objection that item is approved.

Item 6.4 is an order by Councillor Klingon that this city council hereby commits pending business in committees that have been eliminated by the amendments to the rules of December 11th, 2025 to updated standing committees as attached.

So with the changes to the committees made at our last regular meeting in 2025, um an item that was pending uh pending a recommendation, so requiring action of the committee that no committee that no longer exists has been moved into the proper committee to address it.

Um sort of based on the alignment that we discussed at the meeting.

Um obviously, if there's any concerns with any of that, uh that can be raised, and we can go through the process to move things to different committees as as needed.

Um discussion on that?

All right, so seeing no objection, that item is approved.

Item 6.5 is a communication by counselor Davis in his capacity as president, conveying this council's standing committee assignments and commission appointments for 2026.

And I have a forward I forwarded the committee assignments to the clerk, and I direct her to update and post them online as soon as possible.

I still may have to tell you that I directed things because that feels very I okay.

Um see no objection, that is placed on file.

The next item is the drawing of seats.

All right, I hereby appoint Councillor Hart to draw a counselor's name while Councillor Drake uh Drake Link draws a seat number.

Lincoln draws together.

It was too much for me.

Counselor Link draws a seat number.

I made it all almost all the way to the last page without screwing up.

So you can speak into that member on.

This is this is it.

It doesn't matter what order you can do name and the number.

Okay.

Councilor Will Mabaugh.

Oh no, that's all right.

Sorry, I don't know how he got in there.

Controversy.

Jesse Klingon.

Seat four.

Ben Ewan Campen.

Seat one.

John Link.

Seat two.

Kristen Strezzo.

Seat five.

Ben Wheeler.

Seat seven.

Naima seat.

Seat ten.

JT Scott.

I can't be right either.

Sorry.

Uh let me take ten back and pick another seat.

For the councillor site.

Seat six.

Seat six.

JT Scott.

Seat three.

Matt McLaughlin.

Seat nine.

And Emily Hart.

Seat eight.

Excellent.

Thank you.

I appreciate the councillor uh Link rigged that so he can just stay exactly where he is.

Well done, sir.

Well done.

All right, the seats have been drawn.

Is there any further business before the city council?

There is no further business before this council.

All right, there being no further business, we are now adjourned to wish you all a happy and healthy 2026.