Welcome everyone.

I call this meeting to order.

This is the meeting.

The council meeting on confirmation of appointments and personnel matters.

It's Monday, February 2nd at 6 p.m.

2026.

Persoon to chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025.

This meeting of the City Council committee will be conducted via remote participation.

We'll post an audio recording, audio video recording, and transcript and other comprehensive record of this proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Summer B website and local cable access government channels.

Clark Potter, would you please call the role?

Yes.

Council McGaughlin.

Councillor Hart.

Councillor Link.

Councillor Ewan Campin.

Here.

Chairman Barr.

Present.

We have a quorum with two absent.

Thank you.

Well, I see even our honorable mayor is in attendance today.

So I guess what we will happen is we will proceed by laying item number one, which is the minute of the previous committee meeting.

We'll pick it up at the end for approval with other items.

Next before oh McLaughlin.

Hello.

Yeah.

Are you okay?

Oh I'm here.

I just wanted to remark for attendance.

Yes, okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Clerk, would you?

You know, my council McLaughlin present, please.

So noted.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, so you're saying that we're gonna lay the first item to pick it up at the end.

And uh so what will happen is before we you know proceed.

I just have this general, you know, high level overview again of confirmation of appointments.

You know, that before I want to make sure that we actually you know provide this overview because the city charters, city charter guides are work this evening with respect to confirmation of appointments and promotions.

So under the revised charter, the city council's authority to confirm or reject appointments is clearer, broader, and more structured than under the prior charter.

And the chatter now explicitly covers department heads, members of boards and commissions, police, fire employees, the city attorney, and the chief administrative officer.

Um no, I'm I'm not done yet.

Thank you, Grace.

Sorry about that.

So the chatter also establishes standards for review.

Appointments and promotions are to be evaluated based on fitness demonstrated by examination, past performance and other evidence of competence and suitability, and candidate must have the experience, training, and education necessary to perform the duties of the position.

In addition, the council is directed not to unreasonably reject or withhold approval of an appointment.

And in the event of a rejection, the charter requires a written explanation, particularly for police and fire promotions.

Where review must adhere to applicable merit principles, including civil service law.

And then the revised charter further imposes defined timelines for city council action, establishes higher thresholds to reject certain senior appointments and reinforces the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

So our role is to serve as a meaningful check through the confirmation, not to engage in executive management.

And I also just want to be clear that uh uh I consulted with the city attorney regarding the appropriate scope of our discussion tonight.

So I will ask committee members as we proceed to keep questions focused on the duties of the position, professional qualifications, and job-related experience when we are in open sessions.

Any questions involving confidential personnel information such as performance history, evaluations, or other protected matters should be reserved for executive session consistent with the open meeting law and applicable civil service requirement.

Do members of the committee have any questions before we proceed.

Thank you.

See appreciate that.

Seems like it's gonna be a quick uh fast movie.

So um uh Biden, any any uh members of the council.

I got uh request from the administration to take an item out of order.

Let me make sure.

Clerk, do you were you apprised to that item as well?

Trying to have like double screens here, but I think it's yes.

Uh yes, mean.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair for the record.

Yes, Minerday legislative liaison with the mayor's office.

Um, I I would like to request to take item uh six out of order so that um the mayor can join the school committee meeting later uh this evening.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Um if no members of the committee have an issue, I will move to take item six.

Mayor's request referred requesting confirmation of of the appointment of Kimberly Wells as chief administrative officer.

And I see our honorable mayor here as well.

You know, good to see Mr.

Mayor and I see Claire Wells.

It's somewhere in the audience.

So take take it away, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, for the recognition and for taking this item out of order for the reason you heard earlier.

Uh, through you to the honorable confirmation of appointments and personnel matters committee members.

I'd like to introduce Kimberly Wells as my appointee for chief administrative officer.

Uh, you all know Ms.

Wells from her work with this body as the city clerk of Somerville for the past five years.

Uh from my work as a member of your body in the previous four years, I am utterly convinced Ms.

Wells has the exact set of skills we're looking for in our chief administrative officer.

Her background in municipal government administration and organization is absolutely first rate, and she has an incredibly sharp mind.

I've personally spent countless hours nerding out on municipal government structure and operations with her.

Uh so for all these reasons, I'm delighted to appoint her as the city's next CAO.

And I ask that you all confirm her appointment.

I thank you all for the consideration of this request, and I'm happy to answer any and all questions from the committee.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh let the record indicate that Councillor Hart has joined us.

Welcome, Councillor Hart.

Thank you.

So, Clerg Wells, are you there?

I am indeed, Mr.

Chair, thank you.

Of course, good to see you.

Uh, I just, you know, before I even give you the floor to speak, I want to say, you know, uh thank you on behalf of uh committee for your dedicated service to our city and the professionalism, care, and steadfastness you've brought to the city clerk's office.

No, your work has made a lasting impact on our operations and on those of us who had the pleasure of working with you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Do you have any insight for the new oh counselor you and campen has his hand up?

I'm sorry, uh counselor, I didn't see you.

Oh, that's fine, Mr.

Chair.

No, if if uh if Kim wants to say a few words, that's fine.

Otherwise, I'm I just have my comment.

So, Claire Wells, do you want to provide some insight with because we have some new counselors here, you know, before we you know, so do you do you have anything otherwise?

I we can I can just pass it up to to the good counselor, but I think it will be nice for the newest counselors who don't haven't had the privilege of like being with you for all these years, will be it will be nice to hear from you.

Mr.

Chair, thank you for the opportunity.

Through you to the committee.

Um, as much as I am going to very deeply miss serving as your city clerk, I am enthusiastic about taking on this challenge in the role of your chief administrative officer and really working to build this position into a true operational arm of the city, working cross-departmentally with all of my colleagues and as well with you all on the city council uh to really get at the systems that underlie our city government and help us function in the most efficient and effective way possible so that we can do all the cool things we want to do as the city of Somerville and really live out our values.

And I'm happy to take any questions.

Thank you.

Councilor UN Campa, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Through you, you know, I think the purpose, as you mentioned in the charter of this oversight step, is for us to make sure the candidate is professionally qualified, suitable for the role.

You know, obviously having worked really, really closely with uh with Kim as city clerk for years, um, assistant city clerk before that.

Um I served as president, so I uh in that capacity worked really, really closely with her.

I've just been totally blown away throughout every every professional interaction we've ever had.

Someone with just absolute integrity, um paragon of public servant.

Um I have total confidence, I have no questions, ready to vote.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Yuan Campin.

Uh it's uh it's appreciate those sentiments.

I think I share that's why I mentioned my introductory remarks, just so that we all said it standard.

So, you know, I'll open it up to maybe my colleague, but maybe before I do that, you know, um question that I have, you know, for the clerk, as you can tell.

It's a lot of accolades for you.

I started with one.

Thank you for your service.

I guess, you know, uh one thing, you know, it would be helpful for me to understand is that so the city clerk's role, you know, is fundamentally about process, integrity, neutrality, and compliance, why the chief administrative officer must exercise broad executive judgment, make trades trade-offs across departments, you know.

I guess.

No, no, again, I'm talking when I'm having yes, okay, later, Grace.

Again, can you close it though?

I mean, immediately.

Thank you.

So um, so Club Wells, can you, you know, like just kind of like, you know, describe how you will approach, you know, that shift, you know, kind of like there's the this is like a transition.

Just kind of give maybe like a a little example of a time when you had to move from a strictly procedural role into making a strategic or operational decision, you know, with competitive priorities.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, happy to share more information on that.

As you may know, the role of the city clerk in the city of Somerville in particular goes a bit beyond the ministerial tasks that you see in a town clerk's office or a smaller city clerk's office, perhaps.

And really in support of the city council has taken on challenges that involve citywide uh uh initiatives, excuse me.

The city clerk also does support some functions of the administration, uh specifically our city archives and our licensing operations in the city.

So I already do have deep background in working with my colleagues across all city departments to move strategic initiatives forward.

I also, from my background working at the Collins Center for Public Management, have about a decade worth of experience working with city governments throughout the commonwealth on things like software implementation, like strategic planning, like document management, um, and a whole host of other operational functions.

So I think all of those things combined uh make it so that I am really ready to take on this challenge working in uh the city as your CAO.

And I think that I've worked for the last four and a half years as city clerk to really build the relationships with colleagues in order to enable me to hit the ground running and to get started on all of the amazing things that we want to do here in the city of Somerville.

Amazing.

Thank you, Claire Wells.

And and one last you know, question that I have for you, and then I'll open up to our newest colleague if they have any you know insights.

So as CEO also, I think you know, you'll be responsible for resolving conflicts, you know, cannot be addressed at the departmental level, including level issues, you know, interdepartmental disputes.

You know, is it can you walk me, you know, like say what maybe through how you will handle a situation where legal compliance, you know, and that kind of stuff.

Like thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, I think you've really sort of targeted the functions of a few different individuals.

Our city solicitor's office, our city attorney's office, pardon me, really is the responsible body for legal compliance.

And any advising of the mayor on legal issues would come from the city attorney.

I am not an attorney, and so I would not ever purport to make a legal recommendation or issue a legal opinion.

But I certainly would work very closely with the city attorney and their team in order to bring the right information to the mayor in order to make decisions.

So that really would be the role of the CAO in a situation like that would be to be serve as the conduit to get the necessary information to synthesize it, to process it, to package it up, and to make sure that the mayor has what he needs in order to make the right decisions on behalf of the city.

Um thinking about labor issues, the CAO does serve on some uh bargaining committees and is involved in some negotiations at that level.

Um, but really the day-to-day management issues, staff management issues are the purview of the chief of staff.

So there would not necessarily be a role for the CAO short of advising and certainly helping as I would with any issue that arose in the office um in managing the the people uh on on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you, Claire Wells.

I think I'm upset with my question to you know the committee members.

Uh Councilor Hart, take it away.

Sure.

Uh I just wanted to add that just having worked with you uh through you, um Mr.

Chair to Kim, um, since November, I have utmost confidence in your leadership and um integrity and abilities, and I'm just super excited for the whole city of Somerville to get to benefit from you in this role.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Hart.

Any member, you know, of the committee, can Councillor Ling, you got any last minute question before the motion is in order.

Uh Mr.

Chair, I do not have any uh problems.

I would I know that.

Mr.

Chair, I have a I have a question.

Oh, oh, sorry, I don't I don't see the hand emoji here.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair, through you.

Uh I'm also supremely confident in Kim's abilities.

I'm very happy this position still exists.

Um, however, though I do have a very real question.

Uh, because this position was up for cut twice, um, because of the dynamic between the council and the mayor's office.

Uh this is gonna be could we we we call it the second mayor or the uh what do we call it?

The CA the city manager that's not a city manager sort of thing.

Uh so very real question though, is as someone who has been the on the city council side for a long time and now you're moving to the executive side.

How do you view that relationship?

Uh and what uh what how do you view your role in relation to the city council?

Through the chair, thank you for the question.

Um you are correct that I will be representing the administration now.

And as it happens, the lead from the administration that I am taking is that the there is a real goal to build better relationships and work more closely and collaboratively with the city council, and I'm excited for that.

There's a lot of things um that Mayor Wilson is looking to sort of put in place as process that I am excited about that make me want to take on this role, and that is one of them.

So I will reinforce that it still remains the role of the intergovernmental affairs director and liaison to work with you all on your initiatives on a day-to-day basis.

But what I look forward to doing is really thinking about how we can bring city councillors to the table for some of the bigger, stickier cross-departmental problems to keep you in the loop about what's happening behind the scenes in the city so that you can better understand the trade-offs that are happening and the decisions that have to be made, um, especially when it comes time to things like the budget and the capital investment plan.

And so I think that just generally the administration is really interested in building a collaborative relationship with the city council, and I'm excited to be part of that.

Final question.

I have some uh side streets that need snow removed.

Can you give me a hand with that?

We'll put a pin in that.

So um I I think if there's no more questions from the committee members, I think I make the motion to approve.

Um do we need a roll call, clerk?

Mr.

Chair through you, yeah, yes, if you're yes.

Okay, we do.

So can you call the role, please?

Yes.

Council McLaughlin.

Yes.

Councillor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Councilor Ewan Camping.

Yes.

Chairman Baugh.

Yes, please.

With all in favor, this is recommended to be approved.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Appreciate your work.

So uh we will now maybe return back to the regular out of business.

So which is requesting the confirmation of the promotion of Sami to the position of police captain.

I think the Chief I see Chief Ben for this year.

I think I see the C Sami is also in there.

So Chief, which you know, the floor is yours.

Mr.

Chair, thank you very much for the opportunity to present uh this dynamic candidate.

Um I do want to just uh put forward a point of clarification uh for all the members and those in the attendance.

Um if it is for the rank of captain, uh that is going to be uh Lieutenant uh Diogo D Oliveira.

And I just want to ensure that that is the uh item that we're uh going to be addressing.

Wait.

What are the agenda am I looking at you you mentioned you mentioned captain, uh, but you mentioned Samar Musaru who is up for lieutenant.

So I just would whatever the order is uh no, no, my bad.

My bad.

Okay, so I was I went to the third item.

So they uh my apologies.

Yeah, so we would take item number two.

Thank you for that, you know, clarification.

So requesting the confirmation of the promotion of Diego Di Olivera to the position of police captain.

Dynamite, uh thank you, Mr.

Chair again, and through you, uh, I'd like to thank uh the uh members of the committee as well as my city colleagues um and most certainly the candidate uh who is here this evening uh that's up uh for promotion.

Um it gives me great pleasure uh to present uh Lieutenant D.

Oliveira uh to this committee uh and the broader city council uh assuming uh and presuming and working to get your support uh this evening uh to the rank of captain.

Uh Lieutenant D.

Oliveiro uh you know really meets uh and checks many of the boxes um that support uh and play to the value set of the city as a person of color.

Uh he will be entering our ranks as executive leadership uh and will help us in our efforts to ensure that we have a police force and a police administration that is diverse uh and represents our respective uh community.

So uh gives me great pleasure uh to present uh Lieutenant D.

Oliveiro uh to this committee.

Uh Lieutenant D Oliveira has uh been with the Somerville Police Department for 20 years uh and has dedicated uh his time uh in service uh to this community.

Uh he was promoted to the rank of sergeant uh in April of 2015, um and again to the rank of lieutenant uh in April of 2016.

Uh Lieutenant D'Olivero uh Sue uh holds a master's degree in criminal justice uh from the University of Massachusetts at low.

Uh he is multilinguistic um in no less than two languages and has been an integral part uh in our efforts uh to combat uh misrepresentations about our department and our community as it relates to supporting our immigrant community.

Um he has been a starward uh in helping us uh to navigate uh that very uh as we currently do to uh up until this day, that very uh difficult landscape.

Uh Lieutenant D'Oliveira, uh, if confirmed, uh, will be supporting this department and our city as we build out our community police in command uh and helping us to reposition this department, particularly our community policing strategies uh for and into the 21st century.

So, Mr.

Chair, with that I will pause there and uh again humbly uh bring to you uh with enthusiasm, Lieutenant Dial Olivero uh for uh to uh presenting him to this committee for the rank of captain, sir.

Thank you, Chief.

Uh Lieutenant Di Oliveira, welcome.

Uh do you have any you know uh introduction to members of this committee?

Uh Mr.

Chair, thank you very much.

Good evening to you and the members of the committee.

Uh, thank you for your time for this opportunity.

Uh thank you, Chief Manford for the kind words.

Um I I'm humbled by your words.

Um as the chief said, I've been serving this community for 20 years.

Um, and I look forward to continue to serve the police department at this next level.

And I'm glad to answer any questions you may have.

Oh, thank you so much.

Thank you for your service.

Uh, and thank you to the chief also for that generous introduction.

Uh I guess I have maybe I have two questions, but I can make it one.

First, I'm really excited, you know, for your candidacy.

Um, like how do you see this new role contributing to the department's mission, you know, accountability and service to our community.

Mr.

Chair, thank you for the question.

Um I think that accountability uh within the department starts with authentic leadership.

Um self-awareness, leading by example, uh treating everybody fairly and equal.

Um, I think that accountability uh within the department starts with authentic leadership, um self-awareness, leading by example, uh, treating everybody fairly equal, um, understanding the needs of the department, understanding the current environment that we we find ourselves in, where there's a need to re-gain that trust from the community, rebuild that legitimacy, and understanding that the officers that work under our command uh main a main part in this in this um in this movement that this this objective to regain that trust with the community.

I think that we we have the responsibility as executive leaders to uh be a friend and a mentor to our officers, but also uh do our job as supervisors, uh hold everybody accountable, monitor, mentor them, uh reiterate uh our goals, our objectives, uh, policy procedures, regulation.

Um, make sure that they understand what is expected of them, uh, working collaboration with them, right?

I I we have to understand that our officers are humans, they're gonna make mistakes, but we also need to make sure that they understand what's required of them.

I think that if we work in conjunction with them, we can get more out of them, make them better servants for the community.

Um, and it's it will help everybody, not just the the department in general, but also the community when they have a police department that they know that holds their officers accountable, that has rules and regulations, policy and procedures in place, and is not afraid to make tough decisions when it's required.

Well, thank you.

Thank you for the elaborate response.

Appreciate it.

Counselor, you and Kampin.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through you.

Thank you very much for being here.

Thank you for your many years of service to the city.

Um, my questions are really kind of just more for my understanding.

Um I correct.

My memory is that there's three captains in this police department.

Is that correct?

Is that number right?

Maybe that's the chief.

Sorry, counselor, my apologies.

Uh, that is correct.

There are currently three captains uh with this four uh with this captain's position that will be filled that will constitute a fourth uh captain's position in the department.

Gotcha.

Um and is it the four different captains have kind of different purviews?

Do they work on different issues within the department?

And if so, you know, which one is um Lieutenant Delivera considered being considered for?

Sure.

Thank you very much for the question.

Uh yes, you're absolutely correct.

Uh, each captain commands a division um with a very uh specific and distinct uh set of responsibilities.

So we have one captain that oversees our criminal investigations division, we have one captain that oversees our administrative services division, we have one captain that currently oversees our patrol division.

Uh Captain Di Oliveiro, if confirmed, will oversee our community affairs division, and he will be helpful, uh he will be specifically charged with two primary roles.

One helping us to build community police and command, and more importantly, uh as an executive level, executive level uh leader within the department, he will have the responsibility of ensuring that all of our initiatives that we embark upon across the department are in alignment with our values as stated and committed to our community policing our program.

Got it.

Through you, Mr.

Chair, thank you.

That that's very helpful and jogging my memory.

And does that include the co-response model or is that um under patrol?

Thank you very much again for the question.

Uh, our co-response model uh that we are working to build out and pilot will fall under the community affairs uh uh bureau uh division that the good captain uh would oversee.

So, yes, uh, we are looking to rethink that, reimagine that, and put that under the community affairs uh division.

Understood.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, through you, thank you.

Um, so I guess um I really appreciated the answer that you just gave to Mr.

Chair.

And I wonder if you could just speak a little more kind of on your vision, philosophy for that co-response model um in general.

You know, this is something that the the public has had kind of a lot of interest in, and I'm interested to just hear your approach to it.

Lieutenant Deliver.

Yes, thank you, uh, Council New Camp, but through you, Mr.

Chair, uh, counselor, I uh I believe that co-response is the future of policing.

Um it will provide uh partners and resources to better serve our community.

Um it's it's I see it as a very promising addition to the already great level of service we provide to our community.

Uh I think that the best part of co-response is that it provides follow-up care referrals that aim to prevent a need for a further police response.

Um we see we find ourselves repeatedly going to the same addresses to handle the same uh issues.

And we've learned a long time ago that arrests is not always the solution.

And having this co-response, having clinicians and social workers that can work with these uh individuals, these families this address is sometimes it has the possibility of alleviating some of the work uh for the patrol division and coming up with better solutions that will actually solve the problem that that person may be going through.

And the Solomon Police already engage uh clinicians and social workers on a regular basis uh via our core team.

And our officers often opt for a medical hospital disposition as opposed to arrest as it is.

And most officers today, they already practice de-escalation as mandated by law and policy and procedure.

Um so I see I think it's important to keep the police involved, right?

It I that's why it's uh it's called co-response.

I think that the police officers in collaboration in a partnership with uh with the co-response with the clinicians and the social workers, uh, continue to train the officers on CIT, uh helping them see uh people's problems and situations from different lenses from different perspective.

Uh, it will not only make those officers better police officers for regular calls, right?

Because not all we don't always go to a call, knowing it's going to be a mental health crisis or a psych emergency.

Sometimes we respond to a regular call, and later we find out that it is that.

So having that uh collaboration, that partnership with social workers and clinicians will help make our police department better in general.

Through you, Mr.

Chair, thank you very much for that.

I really appreciate it.

I mean, obviously, there's a whole separate kind of policy discussion that the council, the mayor, the community are very invested in.

But you know, from the perspective of considering your your appointment, I really appreciate that that perspective and the way you speak about it.

Um, I'm happy to yield to colleagues.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you, Councilor and Campen.

You know, you answer must you ask you know my last question.

So I appreciate that.

So I'm gonna defer to my colleagues.

Any member just about you have any further question?

Yes, I think uh uh Mr.

Chairf, uh no one else is in mind.

Uh no, I think uh counselor you and Kampin, will you yield to your spoken to Councilor McGuffin?

Of course.

Yeah.

Counselor McLuffin.

Hi, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Through you.

Um so, you know, I've been on this committee for a few years.

I don't always speak up and sing people's praises because I think probably people just want to get to the appointment.

Uh, but I want to say something about Diogo, uh, Diogo and Samir uh as people who I've uh really relied heavily on in the community uh to address problems compassionately and to attend a lot of community meetings.

You see them at everything, uh a lot of community events that show up when uh they really don't have to, and they're very welcoming and warm in presence in the community.

And I'm very excited.

I saw these appointments and thought this is a perfect leadership positions for people uh to hopefully get the next generation on board with the style of policing we want in this community.

The only downside is that we'll lose two good people off the street.

Um so my question for both candidates uh through you to um officer to Oliveira is what are your thoughts about preparing the next generation for the expectations for some of us specifically.

Thank you, Councilman McGolfman.

Uh through you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I I my plan, my vision for this position, counselor, is to be uh very involved, hands-on.

Uh I know that as an executive, uh you there's a lot of meetings, there's a lot of other things that uh are priority, but I I hope that I will have, and I know I I will have the chief support on this, I'll have the ability to get involved in as many and as much as I as I possibly can.

I by envision going to community events, um, meetings, uh, try to get involved with the school again, uh council of agent, uh, officer in immigrant affair, uh, teen empowerment.

These are things that I already do now as a lieutenant uh supervisor for the detective bureau, but obviously I have a job, so I'm limited on how much time uh I'm able to do this, uh, and hopefully now with this position, that will be my full-time job.

I I I can't can't wait.

I love to just ride my bicycle up and down the city, going to these meetings, uh having breakfast with the elderly, with the veterans, going to school.

Uh I I really hope that I'm able to accomplish everything that I have envisioned for this position.

And I think that that also speaks to the second part uh of your question, that is leading by example, right?

I think that if the officers, the young officers see that we have at the executive level, the chief, the deputy chief captain, getting involved with the community, um, collaborating with the community, um, reaching out to the community to obtain input and feedback on problems uh that they're going on in in their community, right?

Um, going to these festivals to these meetings, just talking to people, right?

Shifting the focus from law enforcement only to uh customer service, service providers, right?

Because that's that's what we are.

We are uh customer service provider.

We provide the service that we should be providing the service that the community wants and needs, um, be reactive.

While it's great to be proactive police, um, we also want to be reactive.

We want to find out from the community what's going on in their community and then see how we can best help them.

So I think it starts by leading by example, right?

So once the officers see that the work is coming from the top, uh I I believe that you you can have buy-in.

And you're able to influence officers in different ways, right?

Uh mentoring these officers, I've been mentoring these some of these young officers since I was a sergeant, as a sergeant as a lieutenant.

Now I see you see these officers coming up, stepping up to positions, some even positions of supervision.

And now they understand, they know that this is not just something that came out of nowhere.

They see that I as a as a patrol officer, as a sergeant as a lieutenant, I've always tried to help uh I immigrant community using my language skills to reach out to that community that sometimes don't have a voice and don't feel comfortable talking with people, uh, going to schools, doing some of these community, going to the some of these community events.

Uh, so they see that they see that it's it's it's sincere and genuine.

And I I believe that I through that, through being a role model, leading by example, you were able to influence officers and get the buy-in.

And the hope is to at some point get everybody involved, right?

I think that in terms of um increasing further increasing the morale of the department, um, getting officers out of their cruisers and more involved in the community, going to community events and all of these things.

They they love doing this.

We we have several events, uh, events with the children, basketball games.

There's so many other things that we do, right?

Uh the council on aging, uh veterans breakfast.

Our officers love going to these things.

If if if they could choose, I I guarantee you that they would choose to do this instead of the patrol function.

Unfortunately, obviously, we can't have the whole department doing community policing exclusively, but the goal is to get more officers involved in the community so that they this becomes first nature to them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm thinking I'm more satisfied than you that asked the question.

So I'm very satisfied.

Thank you.

Yeah, no, and and thank you for even uh mentioning the fact that yes, I see these two offices everywhere.

That is for sure.

It's just uh and I think this is this is a huge addition to this city, you know, having leadership that reflects the community.

So thank you.

Uh, counselor you and camping.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, so with this being obviously the first time the committee is meeting, we've got new members.

Um in the past, um, when we're looking at promotions within the police department, the the only way that members of the committee can review like disciplinary history, right?

We often get members' questions of the public.

Like, how do you know that you know, XYZ officer hasn't committed some horrible act in the past, um, obviously not speaking about the candidates tonight.

And we say, well, we can go into executive session, we review their files and we make sure.

Um, alternatively, obviously, members of the committee could meet with the chief and the solicitor outside of a meeting and discuss this.

But I just wonder um if you have come up with a strategy for how you'd like to proceed with these tonight.

It's obviously up to the will of the committee and you, Mr.

Chair.

So I just wanted to uh have that discussion.

Thank, thank, thank you, Counselor Yuan Campen.

Uh, I was waiting, you know, to make sure that they're not for that question, and then I will you know, proceed, you know, by pursuing to, you know, Maginal Law, chapter 38, section, you know, to I spoke with the city attorney.

We will this committee will enter into executive session to discuss confidential matters like you mentioned, related, you know, to the candidates, promotion, you know, including professional competence and this just exactly how you mentioned.

question and then I will you know proceed you know by pursuing to you know marginal law chapter 38 section you know to I spoke with the city attorney we will this committee will enter into executive session to discuss confidential matters like you mentioned related you know to the candidates promotion you know including professional competence and this just exactly how you mentioned I spoke you know with the city attorney at the chief you know I think it's as a matter of best practice we will you know instead of delaboring each person including myself to always have to go you know have this conversation it will it's it's it's uh it's it's it's it which my my my role is to make it a custom we'll enter into executive session discuss this matter no vote will be taken and just to also make it clear that this is just customarily this it's not should not be a call for consent so as if there's no if there's no further question you know I think we will enter into executive session on entering into an executive session and leaving the real quick real quick Mr.

Chair so I got a number of links for executive session of this all one executive session.

Oh thank you good question uh counselor McLaughlin so yeah so to the members of the public no no no no vote will be taken in executive session and to my committee each candidate will have a separate we we we are entering executive session for just you know Captain D Oliveira and then after that we're gonna exit executive session and then we'll now come now and take the roll call vote in in open session is it is it listed as uh Officer D Olivera uh I think the clerk should be able to answer that question.

Mr.

Chair through you there is one executive session link that we will use for each session.

Okay nice multiple emails were sent just to make sure that they came to the top of your inbox okay very good thank you.

Okay Mr.

Club would you you know take a roll call for us into executive session please session on the table uh Mr.

Chair through you just a point of clarification it might make sense from a street logistical um perspective to lay the items you would like to take up in executive session on the table enter into an executive session um on one occasion and then return back to the regular meeting after all the items are taken up in executive session of course we do defer to the discretion of the chair uh no clip but uh what happens is the current item we are debating in this is the sole item we are taking into executive session so we're not gonna it's already it's still we're not it's there's no this we it's already it's so we're not like laying into combat yes I don't know it we have not uh uh we don't consider it as laying on the table because it's a whole act that is actively we are still actively having a conversation about it so we're just gonna go to executive session for this sole item number two you know and then after that we'll exit executive session come back so we don't lay it on the table and then come back and then take it back on the tick off the table to discuss it but I think counselor you and campen do you want to chime in um well Mr.

Chair in the past we have done it the way you're describing where we take up each one one at a time it's really annoying to do if if the clerk is saying that it it is technically and legally possible for us to go into executive session once and have the two sequential conversations after we've had our open session that would be logistically great avoid jump around obviously it's up to you Mr.

Chair but that if we're allowed to do that that would be great instead of jumping back and forth multiple times.

No thank you counselor you a camp and I this I asked this same question and uh IgH told me otherwise so uh uh liaison radar can you provide input to this conversation I literally suggested that and the IGA said it has to be you know one executive session per candidate so that was my initial thinking just that you uh counselor you and camp and so I will want to hear what they what they are thinking was when they said each candidate should appear you know for one one session and then we come back and take another candidate so uh uh um counselor ling would you want to yield to IGH and then we'll I'll come back to you please okay liaison or that the chair yeah it sounds like it's up to your discretion what I was clarifying earlier is that the two police candidates should not be in the same executive session at the same time so if it's easier for you I can just hop back to the main session and let them know when it's the turn for the next person um that's that's the only thing I was saying.

Okay no I think that will be honestly that will also be great for me I didn't know that this was I just thought maybe like procedurally you know I you prefer it the other way around so okay so we will lay this item on the table and then take the next police promotion which is requesting you know the confirmation of Simi Ms Audi to the promotion position of police lieutenant.

So okay, so we will lay this item on the table and then take the next police promotion, which is requesting you know the confirmation of Simi Ms.

Saudi to the promo position of police lieutenant.

So Chief, you have the floor.

Mr.

Chair, through the chair, thank you very much again.

Um again uh acknowledging and thanking uh uh the members of the committee as well as city colleagues as well as the candidate.

Uh it gives me great pleasure uh to uh present to the committee uh for the rank of lieutenant uh sergeant uh Same Musaudi.

Uh Sergeant Busoudi uh is an integral part uh of the police department and uh very similar to uh Lieutenant Di Oliveiro.

Uh he is linguistic uh linguistic linguistically uh uh uh blessed uh in speaking multiple languages, uh, which really helps us in our mandate in our very diverse city.

Uh the good sergeant um was promoted.

Uh he's been with the police department for 13 years now.

Uh he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023.

Uh he has a graduate uh and advanced degree uh in criminal justice from UMass Low, uh a uh bachelor's degree uh in public affairs from Northeastern University, and as with uh the good lieutenant, uh both of these candidates have served our country and our armed services, for which we are extremely grateful.

For the rank of lieutenant, um it's extremely important to knowing that uh the rank of lieutenant um is a central rank in being the buffer between frontline supervision and our sergeants and that conduit to executive level management.

Uh they often uh are the first line in pushing down uh mandates uh in policy decisions from uh the police administration down to the operational level uh in the supervisor.

So it's a critical position.

Again, uh, as I mentioned with uh the prior promotion, um, his promotion will speak to our commitment to diversity and reflecting our community um and being a man of color uh going into uh this rank will help us and our value set in meeting our mandates around reflecting our community.

So we're extremely proud of what he brings to the table.

I appreciate uh the comments by uh uh by counselor McLaughlin uh around uh these two individuals uh and their commitment to our work.

They have stepped forward in each and every instance uh instance, voluntarily taking on a difficult task, and we feel confident uh that they are going to be uh helpful stewards um extremely invaluable again in helping us meet our mandate uh in the 21st century and moving our department uh forward on behalf of our city.

So uh Mr.

Chair gives me great pleasure uh to present to you, Sergeant Same Musaudi uh being presented for the rank of lieutenant.

Thank you, Chief.

Uh Sergeant Saudi, you know, when I call you captain, it means I was speaking into existence.

So I'm pretty sure you're gonna work hard for that neuro.

But anyway, do you have anything to say to the members of this body before we begin our questioning?

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Chief Banford, for the introduction.

Uh thanks to everybody here for the opportunity.

Uh as Chief Bentford said 13 years with the police department, uh, working patrol and the compliance office uh the last year.

Um I'm happy to answer any questions you need on.

Thank you, Sergeant Saudi, and I appreciate your service to our community.

I guess, you know, I will start by just asking, you know, what are some of the you know immediate because this is I'm so appreciative of your growth within the department and what leadership, you know, transformation like do you see that is needed to be able to like you know change, you know, how people think about policing in the 21st century.

Uh as a lieutenant of the ship commander, I'll be responsible for the entire ship, making sure the policies and uh procedures being followed.

Um holding everybody accountable.

Um constant supervision will uh very important as a lieutenant to make sure everything is uh being followed.

Um but also changing the culture of the police department uh the whole um uh making sure that yes to uh the escalation and emphasize the role something that will not be at the police department prioritizing uh services over arrests and uh making sure that all the policemen procedures are being involved.

Yeah, thank you.

And when my colleagues ask your question, maybe maybe increase your voice a little bit, uh to make so um the members of my colleague have any question.

Councillor UN Campin.

Thank you, Mr.

Sherr.

Through you.

Um, thank you very much for for your service to the city and to the country.

Um I sorry if I missed this.

So um you've been working um in for the department um overseeing a lot of internal compliance, I know, and I'm curious.

In in this new role following the promotion, will that continue?

No, I will most likely uh go back to uh patrol and uh be working as a shift community.

Got it.

And through the chair, can I ask um is that something that you were looking for?

Um is that something that you know in your career is important and could you just speak about kind of what you're hoping to bring to that?

Uh yes, I would prefer to go back to patrol.

Uh obviously every time we get promoted, we want to go back to the poll to uh you know, learn again learn the skills and and being a compliance sergeant, I would bring back everything that I have to learn here as a compliance sergeant, bring it back to patrol, all the policies that I've got um everything that I'll work on in the for the last year.

And uh maybe sometimes down the road again come back to me as well.

Through the chair, thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Council Ewan Camping.

Any any other member of the committee have any question?

Uh yes, Mr.

Chair.

Absolutely, Councillor McLaughlin.

Thank you.

Through you, um, same question that I previously asked.

Uh how do you picture your role in mentoring the next generation and preparing them to uh be sumable officers?

Yes.

Uh again, constant supervision being out there with the police officers, uh prioritize uh services over uh over arrests, uh using discretions when possible.

Uh making sure that uh everybody's a community police officer that it's it's gonna be it's not a it's not an option.

Everyone will participate in community police.

Uh and it also comes with the training since officers get on the minute they get here uh through the FTO program, which really uh emphasize the importance of community policing and uh you know, set clear expectations for them and uh make sure that we coach them and guide them and provide them with the tools they need to be successful police officers and provide the best service for our community.

Thank you.

Thank you, my councillor McLaughlin.

Any of other members of the committee have any question?

See none.

You know, anti-executive session person to you know marginal law chapter 38, section 21, you know, to discuss confidential personnel's matter related to you know the two candidates' promotion including professional competence and disciplinary history as allow on the marginal law.

So any vote will caught in open session.

So Clerk, would you call the road to get into for us to go into executive session?

On recessing the regular session and entering into executive session, Councillor McLaughlin.

Yes, Councillor Hart.

Yes, Councillor Link.

Yes, Councillor Ewan Campan.

Yes, Chairman Ba.

We are recessed and we will be entering executive session.

And I will be starting that meeting shortly.

Mr.

Club.

Mr.

Chair.

Just giving folks once.

Absolutely.

Mr.

Chair, through you, I do see we have everyone in the panelist list.

On resuming the regular session of this committee meeting, Councillor McLaughlin.

Councillor Hart.

Yeah.

Councillor Link.

Here.

Councillor Ewan Campin.

Here.

Chair Mbaugh.

Present.

The regular session of this meeting is resumed.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Thank you, colleagues, and to members of the public.

So we are back from executive session.

No vote was taken.

At this point, you know, I think we've conducted our interview thoroughly.

And uh at this point, I feel comfortable to make a motion as chair, you know, to recommend recommend the confirmation of Diego de Oliveira to the position of police captain.

Yes.

Councillor Hart.

Yes.

Councillor Link.

Yes.

Councillor Ewan Campin.

Yes.

Chairman Ba.

Yes.

This item is recommended to be approved.

Did you hear I actually call your chair?

Would you please call the role?

So I don't.

So I actually call your chair.

So you can you can take the position of the chair.

Anyway, thank you.

Uh so the next item is also I still feel comfortable as chair, you know, to recommend you know uh the confirmation of the promotion of semi misery to the position of police lieutenant.

Mr.

Chair on item three, Councillor McLaughlin.

Yes.

Councillor Hart.

Yes.

Councillor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Ewan Campin.

Yes.

Chair Mbaugh.

Yes, please.

This item is recommended to be approved.

So congratulations.

And so it's not official until the next city council meeting.

So in uh, yeah, so appreciate your time, Chief and colleagues.

Thank you for your indulgence.

Uh the uh committee members.

Greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, community members.

Appreciate your trust and your support.

Of course.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for your trust and confidence.

Uh looking forward to continue to serve the city of Somerville and the residents.

And uh appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you.

Thank you for your service.

So we'll move to item number four.

Uh requesting the confirmation of the appointment of James Blocking as municipal hearing officer.

Clever Wells.

Oh, no, no, no, no, Chief.

Oh, well, okay.

Yes, Clegg Wells.

I cannot on to the next council meeting before we can actually give you your official title.

So Claire Wells, take it away.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I am here in that capacity, so I'm going to use it anyway.

Kim Wells, Chief Administrative Officer.

And I am here to introduce our municipal hearing officer, Jim Plotkin, who is not with us this evening.

So I will actually leave it to you and the committee to determine if you would prefer to move forward with the introduction and take up the item.

You are welcome to do that, of course, in the absence of the candidate, or if you would prefer that I save that and we can lay the excuse me, keep the item in committee until the next uh confirmation of appointments meeting.

Hmm.

I guess, you know, uh one question I will ask is why is the you know the municipal year in an officer now here?

Because when I met with the city attorney, this is also a very significant, you know, like position.

This this role, actually, you know, I was mostly interested to knowing, you know, I actually didn't know that it was actually in the law office because I was like, I was speaking with the city attorney today.

I thought this was like a parking officer or ISD, because it requires strict adherence to ordinances with fairness and public trust.

So it would be nice to just have somebody in that role, like you know, come describe, you know how they will apply some of this technicality.

That is my opinion.

I don't know why, you know, I guess I would defer to you why did why the municipal year officer isn't here.

Mr.

Chair, I don't have the answer to that question, but I certainly am happy to speak to the role.

It is one that works actually most closely with the city clerk's office, uh, although it does sit in the law department.

Um, so I do have a good understanding of the specifics of what the role requires.

Um, although of course, I am not in fact the candidate, so I can't speak to their uh their particular approach.

Okay, no, I think we'll I think you know we'll keep this in committee.

It's good if if it's before us, it is you know, it's just the custom that the person, you know, that we do not get any memo, no call, no show.

We can sit here and think, you know, if it's like so we'll keep if no member of you know, I will make I will recommend keeping this in committee.

Yeah, unless any member of this body thinks that it's okay to just move, you know, with uh without questioning.

Councillor Ewan Campen.

I saw Councillor Link and Councillor Hart already nodding, but anyway, I'll defer to my colleague.

Yes, take it away, Council.

No, no, mm.

Mr.

Chair, I think that that's right.

This is an important role, and you know, but don't want to vote for someone without information.

Uh I guess I just have a is there some time sensitivity that we need to be aware of.

Through the chair, uh, no, there is not.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you, Councillor Ewan Camp.

And I will also would have thought that if there's a time sensitivity, the individual will be will be here maybe 15 minutes earlier.

You know, so but I appreciate that, you know, line of questioning.

So we will lay this, we will keep this item back in committee.

So we'll move to the next one, which is requesting the confirmation of the appointment of Stramatin as director of PAX.

Did I pronounce that correctly?

Yes, yes, you're yes, you did.

Thank you, Ms.

Chair.

Thank you.

Actually, I spoke with IGH.

I learned how to pronounce it.

So spoiler alert.

So Clev, would you please introduce the director?

Mr.

Chair, thank you so much.

Kim Wells, Chief Administrative Officer, and I am here to enthusiastically introduce to you, Ohem Trematang, who comes to us from the city of Hartford with a very deep background in recreation and in community services.

Um, most recently serving as the deputy director of recreation for the city of Hartford, but has been involved in a whole host of things throughout his career, including strategic planning, budgeting, capital improvements, grant funding, um, all of the things that we love to do on a day-to-day basis that keep our city running.

So we are incredibly excited to have him on board leading our parks and recreation team.

And with that, I will turn it over to the committee.

Thank you, Chief Administrative Officer Wells.

Thank you, Director Shomartin.

You have any you know intro to the members of this body?

Through you, the chair, you know, it's a uh pleasure to be here.

Um, like I like um Kim has said before, I've been in recreation um for a very long time.

I've actually don't remember a summer where I have not had to run a summer camp.

So um, you know, it's it's the only field I've ever been in, the only field I've ever wanted to be in.

Um I went to school for it.

I got my uh MBA in rec in and specialized in recreation as much as I could.

Um so this is just a dream job for me, and I'm very happy I can be here and you know, help support the community that's Somerville.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh I'm really also thrilled to see, you know, your your candidates candidacy or resume is very rich, rich background, like you mentioned.

I guess I just have like one question, um, a bit two, but let me just go with this one.

Because like somebody has like limited recreational space, very high demands across neighborhoods, age groups, programs, you know.

So, how would you decide which programs, facilities or capital investment get prioritized?

And how will you ensure that these decisions, you know, are equitable and transparent to the public?

Thank you.

And through you, the chair, you know, I really um value the community service.

I understand I'm not someone who's grown up in Somerville.

I'm not someone who is not yet at least familiar with the um ins and outs of the locations and where our people or where the people really need the most help.

Um so I'm really gonna rely on your help as on the committee's help first and foremost, and then my staff as well, who've who are majority of individuals who've grown up in Somerville, I'm really gonna rely on your uh expertise and your knowledge there to help guide me through this process.

Um, in terms of the programming, you know, that's something that's a lot easier for me, you know.

Um collaborating with other departments, collaborating with other nonprofits.

It seems as though everyone has their own variation of recreation going along.

It's just a matter of how we can put all of our um how all of our programming together to make it more efficient and more equitable and more accessible for everyone.

So uh the programming piece of it, it should not be a problem.

It's just more so, you know, how can I get how can I reach those who really need to be reached?

Yeah, just remate.

You can see me nodding my head.

I'm like, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Okay.

So thank you.

Thank you for that response.

Um yeah, so uh counselor Link.

I don't know, we'll put your hand up first, but Counselor Link, you haven't spoken.

So you can come in, give me some slack.

Let me yeah, from Counselor Link.

Councillor Earn Camp did did have his hand up before me.

Um, so I'm happy to defer.

Uh no, no, no.

I I yield, please.

Okay.

Um so uh through the chair, uh uh thank you so much for being here.

Um I'm really excited to see uh you know a new face in our parks and rec.

And I'm curious, uh, you know, do you understand that you're only just kind of uh getting a view of what's happening?

Do you see any low-hanging fruit in terms of um areas where the you know um we can maybe uh improve services or or initiatives that you want to start um or the improve?

Thank you.

And uh through the chair, there there are a um a lot of areas of improvement that we that I've been talking to my team about.

Um we actually have a team meeting tomorrow to kind of hammer out what our goals and objectives as a unit should be for the next year.

Um I don't really want to spoil any of those uh topics just yet, but um there has been a lot of conversation as like you know, in terms of location and where we do our programming and who was in those spaces of where we do the programming and um how can we reach again, like I said before, how can we reach those who need to be reached, you know, with the individuals without um cell phones and internet access and um we have language barriers, you know, how can we really diversify what we do and be able to really connect with those people who need us the most?

Um, you know, that's that's my biggest goal here, you know.

Uh recreation is near and dear to my heart.

It should be um something that everyone has the ability to participate in.

And uh it's just a matter of how do we have those people trust us first and foremost to come out to our programs and then how can we properly provide them with the service that they need to to have a to have an overall well-being, better well-being.

Counselor Link, I just satisfy uh Do you have any follow-up?

Yeah, um, I guess yes, I'm I I guess my one follow-up in that.

Um, do you in envision uh I guess talking about access and equity?

Um you know, I I know that um both personally and through what I've heard from other people, there, you know, there's definitely uh like the um the website uh and like the the way that people are able to connect is is not ideal.

So I'm I'm curious, are are you aware of that?

Um and uh yeah, are you aware of that at this point?

Thank you for your question.

Uh through the chair, I I understand um my rec isn't the most optimal solution for getting the message out to our constituents.

Um however, there are very limited um recreation-based websites out there.

I uh we that is one of the top touching points that uh me and my team have gone over.

We are looking into um you know to see if there's any additional changes, maybe something more modern or uh find different ways to communicate with just the community as a whole.

Um so it's definitely on our to-do list on depth.

That's something that we're 100% looking into.

Through the chair, thank you very much.

Thank you, Counselor Link.

Counselor Yuan Camping.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I I'm a yes, definitely voting yet.

Extremely excited to have you come into the city, really, really impressed by by your background and your answers tonight.

Um, but I just want to take this opportunity to um do some advocacy.

Um I I have a five-year-old, so I'm around a lot of parents of five-year-old.

And one thing I regularly hear is especially compared to some of our neighboring cities.

Somerville doesn't have a lot of kind of regularly scheduled indoor rec activities on weekends, on Friday nights, whatever.

Um you are new to this role.

I'm not asking for you to give me some brilliant answer tonight, but I do want to kind of put this out as I think it's a really high priority for a lot of families in the city.

If you do have a response you want to give, that's great.

Otherwise, I'm happy to just kind of get on my soapbox.

Um, yeah, I do uh through you, the chair.

You know, that's definitely another great point that we were uh me and my team looking at.

Um I have found out that you know facility space is very tight here.

Um and we're gonna have to play nice in order to get more facility space and see if there's any additional options or alternative options.

You know, ultimately when the weather is nicer, we can definitely incorporate more outdoor programming and make use of some of the natural resources that we have in the playgrounds.

Um so whereas we might not have an immediate response for the winter time.

Um that's definitely something we can look forward to in the spring and summer.

Thank you.

Uh Council Ewan Company have any follow-ups.

Uh just to say I'm I'm sure that you do need to play nice, but you will have a lot of allies, allies on the city council.

Appreciate it.

Uh, you know, if it comes to when we don't have to play nice, just take that space for the kids.

I'm all set.

Thank you, Council Ewing Cabin.

You know, and so director Sher Martin, the same.

I just didn't want to, you know, uh speaking from the position of the chair, I have to say my advocacy for afterward.

But yeah, it's your department is uh, you know, severity it's an integral part of uh city government because you know, one thing you have to know, you know, just as a comment, the success uh department is dependent on multiple departments.

So DPW, schools, you know, all this, you know, but so you know, um, yeah, and like the good counselor said, you know, we are here to support you, you know, like soxeed.

So that is a job and whatever you need, let us know.

Absolutely.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, counsel.

Thank you.

Uh any other question from this body.

See none.

Mr.

Chair, I have a oh sorry, counselor.

Counselor McGluffin, you gotta come off camera.

I know, I'm sorry.

I um uh slow with the button present.

Um yes, quick question through you.

Uh well, first a statement that um it's okay to not be from Somerville.

No one is anymore.

No one but me, of course.

Um, but you'll find I'm sure a lot of the same experiences uh in your past work where yes, there are times where the squeaky wheel gets the oil, and that doesn't mean that the wheel needs oil more than other people.

Uh so there will be a lot of demands from people to prioritize their events, their group.

Um and I'm not even gonna ask a question because I feel like you already know how to answer it, but just keep that in mind as counselor you and Cameron said, is please just put the kids first always.

Uh a real question uh could you speak to your experience with pools?

Uh we have a number of pools in this area, and we want to make sure that they're well maintained.

We had an issue, ongoing issue with a pool that we want to make sure uh continues to have the full use of all city members.

Thank you for your question.

And uh through you, the chair, I do have uh plenty of experience with uh pools.

Um I was formerly not currently, but I was formerly a certified pool operator.

So I understand the mechanical processes of how a pool operates in terms of and also um you know being able to balance the chemicals and making sure the um the safety of the body of water is proper for our constituents.

Um in terms of the actual maintenance of the pool, I understand that that is a gray area between uh recreation and DPW.

Um, you know, we are primarily focused on the programming of the pools, um, whereas DPW does more of the heavy maintenance, we can do small repairs, but um, to my knowledge, I'm not sure the extent of the conditions of our pool just yet.

So um, as long as it's nothing drastic or major words outside the scope of recreations um purview.

Oh, you know, we'll we'll we're gonna try and stay on top of as much as we can.

Wow.

Thank thank you, Council McLaughlin.

Do you have any follow-up?

That's it.

Thank you very much.

No, I just want to say thank you also for asking that.

You know, you guys are just speaking on my behalf because I can go on and on, you know, about the pools.

And uh yeah, again, as you can uh uh uh director, you know, Stramatin, like you can hear these questions that are coming from parents.

So just better than mine, like just for what for what is what uh you know, I'm a parent, Council McGloven is a parent, counselor UN Camp is a parent, counselor is a parent.

So please prioritize families.

Because absolutely we've come to realize that we are the minority voting bloc in the city.

So please, you know, do not forget us.

Mr.

Chair.

Yes, if I if I may, uh I am not do not prioritize the parents, prioritize the kids.

Families, you said families, but uh oftentimes it's the parents.

Um focus on the kids, that's all I'm saying.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilor McLaughlin.

So uh I was, you know, seeing no it's standing.

I don't want to like rush anybody, like I know you know, our formidable counselor for myself hasn't said anywhere.

I don't want to like you know make a motion when you know, Councillor Hart, do you got any insight, any thoughts?

No, I really appreciate the discussion and all the questions.

I'm trying to hold my questions because we'd be here all night.

But I know okay.

Thank you, thank you.

No, it's you know even myself.

I just flew in from out of state today, and I I my intention is not to, you know, uh uh to go past the certain, you know, like uh I'm I'm just gonna leave it there.

So uh seeing no member, you know, mentioning any more questions, I move, you know, to our proof director, you know, Omen Strahmartin as director of Paxon Rex.

On item five, Councilor McLaughlin.

Yes, counselor Hart.

Yes, Councillor Link.

Yes, Counselor Ewan Campin.

Yes, Chairman Baugh.

Yes, please.

This item is recommended to be approved.

Wow, seems that we we are going really fast.

So we we have a last item, you know, that the that it's this uh by by you know was sponsored by the by the chair that the city club implement the hiring practices, you know, did uh within for for positions in the city council and city clerk's department.

Chief administrative officer.

Do you want to, you know, I know this is not but I also want to thank the good chair for even you know, like respecting, you know, by keeping this in community.

Thank you, Councillor U and Camping, because usually we have like a hundred things going on.

I probably uh, you know, when when I saw that I held my chest, I said thank you.

You know, even though I didn't quite just say thank you, I want to officially appreciate you.

So uh Chief Administrative Officer, can you speak to this?

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, Kim Wells speaking in my capacity as city clerk, as this is directed to the city clerk regarding the city clerk and city council departments.

So as you know, there are a number of um components of this order.

Starting with um some looking for some information about the uh uh about the um hiring practices for these departments.

So I want to start by sharing a little bit about how we go about doing that, um, which is that for all positions that have a component where they engage with the city council, the city council president names either themselves or a designee, sometimes more than one from the city council to serve as a part of that hiring panel.

So the city clerk works behind the scenes with the HR team in order to go through all of the resumes and figure out who the candidates are going to be that are put forward.

But there is no instance where we've hired a position that works with the city council where there hasn't been at least one city council serving as part of that panel.

And then, of course, as you know, many of them do come before you for confirmation, though certainly not all, depending on the level of the position.

Um so I think that addresses some of sort of the first component of the order.

Um related to the request, I think around having outside uh residents serve as part of the panel.

I think it's great when the one candidate who gets put forward can say, oh, everybody in the community loved me, they signed off on my appointment.

But what it does for all of the candidates who don't get selected is difficult.

Um, whereas when a panel is comprised of city staff and folks who are um more professionally trained to be doing this work, we can it we can really enforce that confidentiality a bit more.

Um so I'll pause there to see if there are any questions before I sort of take the next piece um in the order.

Uh Chief Administrative Officer, in fact, I want to say uh I appreciate you.

You've really regained my confidence to you're the chief administrative officer.

I'm even happy for to have this conversation with the next city clerk, you know.

And so I appreciate you.

You've you've you've made my day to stay and to just even add, you know, have this conversation.

I think you know, not to belabel this, my my colleagues.

I just want to say, you know, I think um I'm grateful that you even started sharing light on this.

I will wanna have this conversation, you know, uh with the next city clerk just to save us time and energy, but I appreciate you, Chief Administrative Officer Wells.

Sure, Mr.

Chair, thank you.

I will say I don't envision that the process uh would change too much because we really do try to keep the process in line and consistent with the hiring practices throughout the city.

Um we don't have specific rules that apply just for the city clerk's office, for example.

Um so just if if I may briefly kind of touch upon some of the other elements of the order.

Um where did we leave off?

Um thinking through the candidates that are put forward uh as finalists.

So one of the things that we work with the HR team on, specifically our recruitment team, is to think about how we evaluate the resumes without actually knowing a lot of demographic data, because we want similarly to not put forward people for specific demographic reasons.

Um it's difficult to say that we would include at least one qualified candidate of color, because that means that we would have to be uh collecting that information and assessing people based on those demographics, and we prefer not to ask them.

And we don't want to make assumptions based on what we read in particular resumes.

So I do just want to put that forward as something that the city as a whole considers a best practice is not collecting demographic data from every applicant, um, which ties in, in fact, to the last piece of the order um about reporting on some of that information.

Um again, sort of concerns about collecting that information and transmitting it publicly, because I really do think that that would have a chilling effect on the candidates that apply if they were forced to uh to give their demographic information up front, even just to submit uh a resume to the city.

Um so that is something that I want the council to really uh think a lot about before we would consider moving forward with any policies in that arena.

Um, but then really what I want to say overall is that I hope that it's clear that both the city clerk and the city as a whole are really committed to equity in our hiring processes and to diversity in our workforce.

Um, we really do go out of our way, especially on the front end where we're recruiting to cast a wide net to capture the largest pool of candidates that we possibly can, because that is a great way to build out diverse workforces when we know that we have a whole host of candidates who are qualified.

Um, then really it's gonna help us move forward in a much more effective and efficient way to hire candidates who really represent all manner of walks of life.

Um, and we think a lot about what goes into the interview processes to developing interview questions, to how we prepare for interviews, to the format of those interviews, to who's asking certain questions in order to really make sure, like I said, that we are um providing what we would consider a universally equitable hiring process.

So that applies in the city clerk and city council departments, but truly, I think universally across the city.

Thank you, uh CEO.

I I guess you know, I'm still doing some homework about Boston and Cambridge.

So this usually when I post something, I'm talking to various cities, you know.

I haven't completed our work.

So and I don't want to belabel you again on this, you know.

So I just when you know, I appreciate you know, like all the input.

I don't expect you to kind of like uh when I will have that data, and then we can see compare and contrast what the city of Somerville is doing.

We have like Boston, we have Cambridge, we have even our own little cities around, so we can actually make an informed policy decision in which direction you know we should take to kind of like create the structure that I'm envisioning.

Uh Councillor Link.

Yeah, thank you, Chair.

Um, so I I would think through the chair to um Kirk Wells.

Uh is I'm just thinking back to our uh um lessons just recently about uh the differences between orders and resolutions.

And I'm I'm curious, is would this be an does this council have the power to to make these orders or is this a resolution?

Through the chair, thank you, counselor, for that question.

You may notice that this was submitted in 2025 based on the item number.

If submitted today, it would in fact be a resolution.

The council does have some oversights as to how it hires for its own positions, though.

So certainly the council and the council president has been involved in that decision making.

Um, but we would not want to implement an entirely different practice exclusively for the city council.

I think that would be something that we would roundly caution against.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

I'll just say I'm very happy that we are in a place where we're having a discussion about the city council hiring people.

That did not used to be the case.

And uh it's a good problem to have.

Um having been on a hiring committee before some of this stuff was set up, I'm really, really, really glad that HR is very involved in the process.

It's really legalistic and complicated to do it right.

Um, and I'm I'm glad that we are you know utilizing all the resources we have on the city council to make sure we're doing it right.

So happy to continue this conversation in the future with our new city clerk.

Exactly.

That's why we've got to step ourselves some time, Councillor Young.

That is so true.

So but again, again, Chief Amizer, I appreciate you again staying back to address this, you know, uh uh uh this item.

Thank you, Captain for your input.

So um seeing no other item, we will keep this item in committee and then with the other one of the municipal year and officer.

And then uh Mr.

Clerk, can you take everything off and you know uh councillor Link, you know, move, you know, to uh join so moved, Mr.

Chair Three on the items on the table, which in this case is item one and on adjournment.

Councillor McLaughlin.

Yes, counselor Hart.

Yes, Councillor Link.

Yes, Councillor Ewan Campen.

Yes, Chairman Baugh.

Yes, please.

We are adjourned.

Thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, everyone.