Recording in property.

All right, we call this meeting to order.

Appreciate the patience.

We're dealing with a few little technical issues.

So we got those all squared away.

Today is Tuesday, March 26th.

I should have my glasses so I can read this.

Bear with me a moment.

Yeah, they're in there.

Good.

Um my name is Lance Davis, uh, City Council President.

I use he him pronouns.

Uh this is a meeting of the city council.

Uh Madam Clerk, would you please call the role?

Counselor Ewan Campin.

Here.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Scott.

Present.

Counselor Klingon?

Present.

Counselor Strezzo?

Here.

Counselor Saeed?

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Here.

Counselor Hart.

Here.

Councillor McLaughlin?

Here.

Counselor Mbaugh.

President.

Counselor Davis.

Here.

With all counselors present, we have a quorum.

All right, thank you.

Uh please note that video and audio of this meeting will be recorded and maybe shown live on local access government channels and on the City of Summerville website and will be available for future review.

Pursuant to our Rule 32, let it be known that the City Council salutes the flag of the United States.

And let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understanding.

We begin our meetings with a moment of silence.

Are there counselors wishing to say a few words about members of our community tonight?

Councilor Baugh.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Marvin's journey reflected resilience, service, and deep devotion to family and community.

Born in humble beginnings in Harrison County, West Virginia.

Marvin's early life was shaped by love, strength, and toughness.

He went on to serve as our country with honor for 20 years in the United States Navy as a proud member of the CBS, traveling the world in service of something greater than himself.

At the center of his life was his beloved wife, Deborah, whom he called the best decision he ever made.

To get out the belt a life grounded in love, sacrifice, and unwavering support for one another and their family.

Want us to remember him this evening.

And then uh with your permission, I have another moment of silence.

We also, you know, we should uh want us to remember uh Phil Revis, a remarkable man, you know, whose life was defined by excellence, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to others.

An Olympian, you know, a teacher, a writer, and a musician.

His accomplishment alone set him apart.

But what made him truly extraordinary was not just what he achieved, but how deeply he gave of himself.

He was a mentor, a guide, and his steady presence in the lives of so many.

He inspired not only true words but true action, true discipline, compassion, and passion that resonated across generations.

His influence stretched far beyond any one classroom or field, from summer to communities across Asia.

Especially in Macau.

He uplifted thousands with his spirit, his charisma, and his belief in the potential of others.

He didn't just teach, he transformed lives.

Yet in Somerville, we are reminded of his enduring legacy every time we pass by the Somerville High High School Soccer field.

That bears his name.

Dalfield is more than just a place for sport.

It is a living tribute to his dedication, his love for the game, and the countless young people he inspired to strive for greatness both on and off the field.

Today, as we honor his life, we also carry forward his legacy.

In the lessons he taught, in the courage he instilled and in the lives he changed.

His spirit remains with us.

Thank you.

I'd like to sign under that one as well.

Um Counselor on any of those two, or okay, on that one, go ahead, Councillor Cl uh, you and Kevin.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, thank you to Councillor Mbaugh.

I actually had not heard that Phil Reeves had died.

His his partner lives around the corner from me, so I saw him all the time.

And just for anyone who hasn't uh go look up the cover of Sports Illustrated that the Phil Revis is on doing the high jump.

Um the the field that is his namesake.

My understanding that is the first thing that was memorialized for a black person in Somerville, and he is a major part of Somerville history and just a class act.

He was such a such a wonderful, wonderful, sweet person, in addition to this remarkable uh life that he lived.

Councilor Klingon.

I have a moment of silence.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, I asked this evening that we remember Joanne Gallo.

Uh Joanne was 85 years old.

She was a lifelong Summer War resident.

She passed away on March 20th of this year.

She was the beloved wife of the late Peter Gallo with whom she shared 63 years of marriage.

Joanne was a devoted mother to John P.

Gallo, Deborah Mahoney and her husband Edward Mahoney Jr.

all residing in Somerville.

She was the cherished grandmother of Thomas Mahoney, Angela Seely Gallo, and Anthony Gallo and loving great grandma to Renata J.

Gallo and Caden Seely.

Joanne is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister Barbara Hanscom.

Joanne found joy in many activities, including visits to Salisbury Beach, dining at Brown's restaurant, playing bingo, going to the casino and playing cards.

Above all, she treasured spending time with her family, especially during Christmas parties.

She said, I don't care what you do over there, I just want to dunk in donuts that I nearby.

And she was just a uh such a firecracker, really always cracking jokes.

And she will be missed in that community, and she'll be missed uh by all that new and loved her ass that we remember her this evening and our thoughts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, would everyone in the chamber please rise as you are able for a moment of silence for the aforementioned individuals?

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, next item.

Agenda item 1.3 approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of February 26, 2026.

See no discussion that item is approved.

Agenda item 2.1, a citation from Counselor Say, commending Somerville carbon free and healthy schools for their advocacy to ensure that our community is more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Counselor Sate Uh, thank you, Mr.

President.

I am uh very excited to be giving this citation to an amazing group, Summerview Carbon Free and Healthy Schools.

Uh thanks to the members uh who are able to uh be here tonight and to the ones who couldn't make it, especially uh parents and educators.

It's a week night, we understand.

Um the members I will be sponsoring shortly will tell you more about their accomplishments, their goals, um, and their what they would like to work on with us and with the administration.

Um healthy and climate resilient school buildings, uh, as you know, is something that I've been advocating for since I got on the council, and before that when it was an educator.

So this group uh means a lot with so much to me and so much to the school community, and I'm very honored to be celebrating their work tonight.

Um this group is incredible on so many levels.

Um the work they're doing is especially important right now, as climate action is facing significant threats uh from the federal government.

And uh some of the carbon-free and healthy school members are school parents, educators, students, community climate activists.

I remember very clearly when uh the group started to come together after realizing that it's more powerful when all the stakeholders have a unified message and when they all speak in one voice as they advocate for climate resilient schools.

Uh personally, uh I met and worked with many of the uh members way back when it was an educator at Summerville High School and a union organizer with some of our educators union.

And today, as I was uh preparing what to say to introduce uh the group, I was trying to remember how this group came to be.

So back in 2021, educators, myself included, uh worked with a group of high school students on climate action in schools from uh climate justice work, climate education to resili uh resilient school buildings.

Uh organizing alongside that small group of students was uh uh who are very passionate and very knowledgeable, uh, was extremely inspiring uh to me.

So 2021 marked the beginning of climate action in some of the public schools, and I'm really glad it was there for it.

Um, some I've said it before, where I think that's like when I think about what got me to run for office.

I always remembered like those students and what they really wanted to see.

Um after that, educators started integrating climate education in their curriculum and through the educator's uh contract uh that was um uh ratified in 2022, an agreement to receive regular updates from the city on actions that are being taken to make the school buildings healthy uh was something that was um uh uh that was part of the contract that you are the very first, I said this before, uh city in the Commonwealth to have that in uh as part of uh an educator's contract.

And uh little by little, school parents and climate activists joined uh the educator and the students in organizing around climate resilient schools.

Uh some of my colleagues here on the council will remember that a few years ago, the council unanimously passed a resolution that it introduced on actions to promote student and community health and resilience in the era of climate change.

Uh, so did our school committee.

Um, both myself and the school committee member uh Bitone worked with some of the carbon free and healthy schools to come up with that resolution.

Um we have immense admiration for this group that's dedication, uh, their mission and their bold advocacy.

Um I want to say thank you for continuing to send the very strong message that healthy schools make healthy students.

Um, and that all students in Somerville, regardless of where they live, receive educational programming in buildings that uh use zero fossil fuels.

I would like to sponsor uh two of the members.

Uh the first one, uh Corey doing it home.

And also the student, uh, Babika Kalia.

All right, Councilor Say would like to go first.

Sponsor these two members of the public, seeing no objection.

Go right ahead.

Just if you wouldn't mind, just introduce yourself for the for the record.

Thank you.

Uh hi, City Council.

My name is Corey Donahue.

I'm a resident of Ward 2, uh climate justice advocate, uh parent of a future Somerville Public Schools student, and a proud member of the Somerville Carbon Free and Healthy Schools Coalition.

Uh I'm here to talk about the need for healthier and safer school buildings in Somerville, the work of our group, and what the city must do moving forward.

Schools are Somerville's largest public consumers of energy.

According to the city, somewhere between 50 to 60 percent of municipal carbon pollution comes from school buildings.

Over the past few years, we've seen the immediate consequences on students, parents, and staff of deferred maintenance and neglect of the quality of school buildings like the Winter Hill School.

We need to consider how this will affect other school buildings and the long-term consequences on our environments, on the learning conditions for students, and on our budget.

Transitioning schools away from expensive polluting fossil fuels has major positive impacts on our climate goals, on student health, and the city's finances.

It was these goals and the desire to improve the Winter Hill School and all Somerville Public Schools that brought together the Somerville Carbon Free and Healthy Schools Coalition in the fall of 2023.

I was involved due to the community organizing of another group called the Green New Deal for Somerville Public Schools, which was a collection of environmentally foc environmentally focused activists whose mission perfectly overlapped with uh the coalition.

Um the Carbon Free and Healthy Schools Coalition was a cross-cutting group that brought together parents, uh, Somerville Public School students, SEU teachers, climate activists, and representatives from a variety of advocacy groups.

Through this work, we've helped raise awareness of the need for better school buildings in 2024 as part of our advocacy.

Uh the city council and the school committee passed resolutions urging the city to prioritize decarbonization and commit to creating a timeline and a plan.

The April 2024 Climate Forward Plan included for the first time goals related to the decarbonization of municipal buildings.

And members of our group were selected to advise the city on the future Winter Hill School, including its size and placement as well as building specifications, giving us a voice to advocate for carbon-free and healthy schools.

As part of this work, Mayor Wilson has uh also committed to including a ballot initiative in November 2027 for Somerville residents to not only vote on the funding necessary for a new Winter Hill school, but also to vote on a second simultaneous debt exclusion that will fund ADA, safety, health, and approved building quality needs at all of uh Somerville schools in order to benefit families across the district and minimize the likelihood of future unplanned building failures that could displace children and harm the city's schools.

The city has clearly prioritized the improvement of SBS schools in no small part because of our work, and I'm proud to have been a part of this group and to raise the importance of this issue in the community and to city leaders.

And I want to thank the city council, especially Councillor Said for recognizing our work.

However, there's much work remaining.

However, there is still no concrete plan to decarbonize and make more efficient the school buildings of Somerville.

I'll say that again.

There are intentions, there are commitments, and there are goals, and yet there's no clear plan for when or how it will happen.

The children of Somerville deserve ambitious action.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, great.

Thank you so much.

Hi everyone, my name is Balva Cakalia, and I'm a ward for a resident and a junior at Somerville High School.

I wanted to first start off by expressing my gratitude for the Somerville Carbon Free and Healthy Schools Coalition being given this citation.

And I also wanted to just share my perspective today as a high school student and why the work we do is so meaningful to me.

So I was first able to connect with Alex Hershey, who is amazing, who is an amazing amazing educator, sorry, um, who has peerheaded many great initiatives surrounding climate change, my freshman year, which eventually led to me joining this coalition.

And in just a few years, I learned so much about the climate action work occurring in Somerville and how students could get involved firsthand.

And although there were certain aspects I had no knowledge about, and quite frankly, there are still some things that um I don't understand as well.

Um it was just such an amazing experience to be involved and learn about so many different things.

And the coalition welcomed me so kindly, and I'll forever be grateful for that.

I've also been able to connect with so many wonderful people and organizations through this work, and I was even able to support and mentor students younger than myself with their own climate action initiatives.

And that's what really brings me back to why I strive to do this work in the first place.

Somerville is such an amazing and vibrant community, and I want to ensure all of our students here are able to thrive in the city.

And especially now that I'm able to run climate action clubs, educating students and um encouraging them to run their own climate initiatives at the very schools facing these difficult and challenging conditions exacerbated by climate change.

And um I've also seen firsthand the impact one schools built one school building can have on their education, and I believe that every student deserves to learn in healthy and safe environments.

And I also want to emphasize that our coalition doesn't just believe that having we also don't just believe that having climate resilient school buildings is important, but also having school curriculums that reflect the importance of climate education.

So I just wanted to mention that I feel so privileged and honored to be able to be involved in such amazing climate action and climate education initiatives.

And yeah, I just wanted to say thank you so much once again, and I can't wait to see the work that we do in this coalition in the future and the work that we can do in partnership with the um city council.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Councilor Saeed.

You want to read the citation?

Okay, read the citation again.

Um hereby known to all that the Somerville City Council and the mayor offer the sincerest um recommendations to Somerville Carbon-free and healthy schools uh for their tireless advocacy for the highest environmental standards for any new school buildings and a clear timeline and binding commitments for comprehensive retrofits of all schools.

The council is grateful for their commitment to making Somerville a leader in resiliency.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do you want to take a quick picture?

Yes.

All right.

Somebody jump up and do one, everybody?

Alright, we'll have a brief recess while we take a picture.

Thank you so much.

Oh, nice.

Nice to meet you.

Yeah.

Let's do a quick question.

Oh, this one's a good idea.

Am I using this one?

All right, I'm gonna go back.

All right.

Priorities, my friend.

I need to remember that it's a on that side is perfect.

There we go.

Ready?

One, two, three.

Stay there.

I'm gonna come a little closer and I'm gonna go the other way.

All right, perfect.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you so much.

Oh, yeah.

Do you want me to take care of us?

Absolutely.

Okay, we're just particularly done.

Do you want this in the background?

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

Oh, I forgot to give you the time.

Are you sure?

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

All right.

Call this meeting back to order.

Madam Clerk, next item.

Uh we're all here.

Next agenda item is 4.1, a communication by Counselor Davis in his capacity as president conveying this council's updated standing committee assignments and commission appointments for 2026.

That item is placed on file.

Agenda item 4.2, an order by Councillor Wheeler that the Director of Constituent Services update this council in the 311 system, recent and upcoming improvements, open roles, and the approach being taken to directing the wide variety of resident needs to provide answers, solutions, and follow-through.

Councilor Wheeler.

Through the chair.

Okay.

Sounds good.

See no further discussion.

That item is approved with a copy to sustainability and infrastructure.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.3, a resolution by Councillor Wheeler that this city council supports the state legislation known as the Municipal Empowerment Act, which would provide flexibility in setting fees, reduce reliance on home rule petitions, and streamline procurement, enabling more efficient locally responsive municipal operations.

Council Wheeler.

Through the chair.

The Municipal Empowerment Act.

A state proposal to give cities like Somerville more practical control over how we operate.

Right now, we are often constrained by outdated state rules.

We can't easily adjust fees to match actual cost levels.

We can't shift the balance of local meals taxes or short-term rental taxes, as the case may be.

This effort did not pass the legislature last session last year, but it has been refiled and there's renewed momentum to move it forward this year.

I will add that in February, this council was one of the first in the state to pass a resolution in support of the Protect Act, a push for equal production for all regardless of immigration status.

And that bill just passed the Mass State House yesterday.

And a legislator involved in that effort commented that Somerville's early support made a difference.

So I know sometimes it may feel like we're just talking here, but we are part of a growing chorus.

Thank you.

All right, Councilor Hart.

Through you, Chair, I'd like to thank my colleague for bringing this forward, and I'd like to sign on.

And I also just wanted to add another aspect that's included in that act, which is as the license as the chair of licenses and permits.

I've been getting educated about the years-long effort of um city staff and counselors to deal with double polls.

Uh these are double utility polls that um are prohibited by law in Massachusetts, but there is no enforcement mechanism.

Uh this bill does include an enforcement mechanism and um would allow us to be able to make some real progress on that issue.

So wanted to highlight that, but I appreciate all of the things um in the act, and I'm glad to sign on.

Thank you.

All right, sounds good.

I think I've seen the entire council would like to sign on to that one.

Very good, no question.

Send that with some gold plating right up to uh B.

Council Camp uh Council Campbell.

Um through you, Mr.

President, I want to thank you for making me aware of that.

Um let the world know any rep who does not vote for this supports double polls.

Scream it from the rooftops.

This is the election year uh issue.

So thank you.

Counselor Scott, Mr.

President, I thought the expanded property tax exemptions for seniors was my favorite thing about this, but I got a brand new one.

Thank you, Councillor Hart.

All right, very well.

That item is approved.

Uh next item.

Agenda item 4.4, a resolution by Councilor Shrezo requesting that the Somerville Public Schools Chief Financial Officer submit a detailed line-by-line FY27 school department budget to this city council in the same or similar format as the city operating budget for community transparency and considering the current deficit going into this budget cycle.

Councilor Strasbo.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And yes, that is a resolution.

Uh agenda item with a lot of syllables.

And there's a reason for that.

I wanted this agenda item and resolution written exactly as uh to be as clear as possible, the intentions.

Now, full disclosure, of course, city council does not have um the ability or or uh uh any ability to tell the school committee or the or the or SPS what to do, that is the school committee's jurisdiction.

However, um that is why this is a resolution.

However, um, I and some of my colleagues have colleagues have been in numerous budget cycles where when we are presented with the Somerville Public Schools uh budget, it is simply in a lot of times a um PowerPoint presentation of um you know millions of dollars, and we aren't really presented the the down and dirty line by line budget items.

Now I've been in the council since uh 2020, and okay, fine.

We were going through a pandemic and uh everything was oh uh everything was up in the air and what everything was going to be, but we've stabilized since then and we have an opportunity to get back into line with past procedures of thorough and transparent um budget, budget presentations and books, and there is absolutely no reason that I can think we should not.

Uh the the we now of course have a CFO that is in the rhythm of of the budget and has been for a while now.

Uh we don't have any excuses why we can't.

And I've heard from a lot of parents in the district who has have requested um salary uh salaries or information on departments and have um have not received really clear information on that, and I I don't think that's very fair either.

So we need and deserve department breakdowns.

We deserve and our constituents deserve our teachers, our students, our parents deserve uh how many employees each department has, what their salary line items are, of course, names extracted, uh expenditures, projections.

We deserve that.

And colleagues, so here we are uh in the start of a exciting budget cycle, and there's enough time to make this possible.

There isn't a reason why we should not have this, of course, at the end of the day.

We're an up or down vote, and there aren't uh so a lot of in-between set, but we should have this information.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you.

That item is approved.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.5, a resolution by Councillor Shrezo that the administration discuss the process of disposal of cities cities, excuse me, surplus items, and whether those items may be offered to employees or the public through the creation of a free cycle style system.

Council Scho.

Thank you.

Finding ways simply to be green and recycle, free cycle what we have in front of us.

So at City Hall, when items are no longer used or are upgraded, or not necessarily city hall, but within the city departments, etc.

Um a lot of times tables, printers, computers, what have you.

I think we should find ways to uh simple step um sustainability through um making this available.

I mean it it the order of course speaks for itself or the resolution.

All right, it's a resolution, uh it speaks for itself.

However, I think we should really be going here and get really creative about being green.

Yeah, of course, top line items of of being green, but also in our simple routines of how we choose to um consume or not.

That's also really valuable and and has an impact impact on on being green.

So I think we should start simple like this.

And really I'm employing the imploring the uh administration to take this not only into consideration but implementation.

Okay.

Council Clayton.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to sign on and happy to take this at uh uh sustainability and infrastructure to have this discussion.

I know I work for the state of Massachusetts, and I know that what they you know the every piece of equipment, every piece of furniture has sort of a lifespan and um you know they wear everything out until it's you know final end.

Um so I'm curious to see what the city does for a process in terms of inventory and um and uh getting rid of uh of items.

So happy to have that in my discussion.

Okay, I have counselors you and camp and Scott and Bob would like to sign on as well.

And that item is approved with a copy to sustainability and infrastructure.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.6, a communication by Councillor Mbaugh conveying a report of the job creation and retention trust fund.

Council Ba.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The job creation and retention trust met on March 19th to review its ongoing programs and plan for the next round of grants that will be offered by the RAFP to work for us training providers in the fall.

Currently, the trust is funding 13 projects, three of which received their grants in November 2025 and will be starting in the spring and summer.

The these are like the pathways to employment summer internship program conducted by CAS with mass higher than the program of training for building traits conducted by Asian American Civic Association, and then the next class of PESCola English language for jobs training that starts in April.

In addition to this new program, the trust has committed 81,000 to cover the program of development expenses of a new small business entrepreneurial training specialist who work with OSPCD, you know, and to kind of facilitate all those uh processes.

So the city will pay the salary of this new hire, and but looking forward, the trust expect to put out an RFP for about a million dollars in funding in the fall out of his anticipated 2.6 million reserves.

Because there are no new commercial or industrial construction projects in the pipeline, the trust will not receive any additional revenue during this fiscal year.

Okay.

Thank you.

That item is placed on file.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.7, a resolution by Councillor Klingon that the administration explore the creation of a neighborhood cleanup assistance program as detailed within.

Councillor Clinton.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

Through you, um, this isn't uh you know, fleshed out program.

It's more or less floating an idea that I think makes a lot of sense.

We really sort of encourage block parties um every time certain times of the year uh when it's block party season.

And I and in my mind, this would be something where there would be sort of a public-facing calendar where say uh uh a resident could essentially um initiate a cleanup for the area, and it would um I know that some this is happening sometimes with citizens already.

Um uh there's a group that cleans in between the uh Route 93 and Route 38, Mr.

Gav, um, and some cleanup happening in Davis Square, but I think this would really um help facilitate as far as like you know, the city's portion of it would be they would coordinate with DPW to pick up the bags, but also DPW would drop off bags and gloves so that you know the city could provide um for anybody who wants to take that initiative and get a cleanup going.

So um, you know, happy to discuss uh figure out what what the details might be.

Um but this is really on you know the administration to take this idea and run with it and hopefully come out with something that uh could really encourage uh cleanups, um, which I know the administration is already excited about this round of cleanups that are going to be happening this spring in the in the awards.

So um I don't I guess just place on file.

I don't uh uh I would say you could place on a file if you wanted to have the follow-up conversation about those act specific resources sustainability infrastructure would probably be the place to see if DBW.

Yeah, we'll send it to committee.

I mean, I I just I know that's gonna take some bandwidth and time of staff to try to figure out how you know how what that's what this would look like, but happy to send them up.

Housing and community development will send it to.

I think that they can have a conversation there.

Okay.

Uh so before we get to that, then I guess how counselor Link wanted to sign on.

Then I have um Councillor Scott and Councilor Wheeler.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm just really excited about this.

Uh and I also wanted uh uh give a shout out to the very nice folks down at Rococo Floral and Summer Lab who hosted a little Ward II cleanup not too long ago and along with some of the other folks in Union Square Main Streets.

Um this is something that uh absolutely in the same way that we have our block party kits now that the city clerk provides to help folks with getting it going.

You know, hey, here's a here's a basic kit full of stuff, uh full of gear to go do it.

And honestly, we don't even need it sponsored by Comcast.

We don't need to be handing out t-shirts.

We just need to have uh the stuff folks need and an opportunity for folks to come together and take care of the neighborhood.

So I just think this is great, and I'd love to sign on too.

Thank you.

Well, I think whole council wants to sign on, it looks like I'll go to Councilor Wheeler and then Councillor Hart.

Thank you, Chair.

I think this is a great idea, and I was speaking about this item with some residents who frequently give me thoughtful feedback, and they asked what else could we do this with?

Uh, where you know, just as my colleague from Word 4 said, a small amount of city effort, uh a small amount of resources can help support and unlock a lot of community building.

This is after all the year of the neighbor.

And uh this gets my gears turning in my head of what other kinds of neighborhood-based activities and community activities could the city help do a small amount of coordination and support for Councilor Hart?

Sign on, okay.

I love all the year of the neighbor ideas.

I and the year after this is gonna really stink, though.

Cross operation we get to.

Counselor Lake?

Uh so I also just wanted to say one thing that people can do right now, just as like kind of a PSA is uh me and some neighbors did some stuff in Prospect Hill not too long, or I guess a year ago.

And uh you can just 311 if you've got a bunch of trash bags um that are full that you cannot deal with if you 311 is a great resource, you can use them.

They took it away the next day.

Fantastic.

So until this amazing thing, Councillor Clay.

Yeah, no, absolutely.

Three one um the DBW has already been great about if somebody does organize a cleanup getting out there picking up the bags, that's no question.

That they always are responsive to that.

And just on one other um on the point that Councillor Wheeler made.

Um, I remember this constituent of mine, Ian Adelman, who moved away.

Councilor Wheeler.

Through the chair, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful Mamas organization, one of many organizations that are doing that kind of work.

All right.

H E C D.

Did I get it?

Did I get right?

Yeah.

Okay, good.

All right.

That is approved with a copy of the housing equity and community development.

Next item.

Next item agenda item 4.8, a resolution by Councillor Klingon that the director of constituent services appear before the committee on sustainability and infrastructure to discuss the process by which 311 tickets are routed or closed after rerouting.

Counselor Clinton.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Through you, I know a lot of us see postings online or have experiences ourselves where you'll a tick a 311 ticket, you'll open one up.

It'll be closed.

I don't fully understand.

I heard different different things uh at different times, which is that it's an auto close where when say the ticket is forwarded on to uh say ISD, which then generates a work order in um citizen serve, but there's no kickback of any of that information in the in the comments in the 311 uh things um when they close it.

So a lot of people just think their tickets are getting closed.

Um and so I just want to you know have a discussion about if there are what exactly is happening when we see that and if there is a way to you know tweak the system to have it sort of kick back and auto-generate a comment that says, you know, give some sort of information so people aren't just in the dark about what's actually happening with the ticket.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, in solidarity with our constituents, I think we should simply mark this item work completed and make them file it again next week.

I saw Castro Say, yep.

Um Mr.

President.

I just want to thank Council Klingon for putting this order in.

Uh I hear about this all the time from my constituents, not understanding what happened with their ticket.

Um the other one is also when they call by the same issue, like they call a few times a week, and then they it's just like the one ticket instead of creating a new one when the situation usually just gets worse.

Um so I would love for yeah, like this to be entered in that committee where it's like what happens with these tickets.

They know like their procedures change and uh just getting those updates uh as a council would be great so we can better help our uh constituents.

And and did I say that you said you wanted to sign on?

Yeah, okay.

Um any further discussion?

All right, so that items approved.

All right, very good.

Next item.

Agenda item 4.9, a resolution by Counselor Klingon that the director of water and sewer appear before the committee on sustainability and infrastructure to discuss the process by which it is determined whether a residential unit requires a one-inch watermere meter or a five-eighths inch water meter.

Counselor Klingon.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, through you um to colleagues, this might be a little bit in the weeds, but I'll just try to explain a real quick what the situation is.

Um as uh the last water uh rate increase, billing cycle, what have you, um the the they tiered the base rate.

The base rate used to be like somewhere around 40 dollars for uh a residential home, say that had um um a five and eight.

Oh, they didn't they didn't even have a differentiation between the different sizes of the um of the um the meters.

So now that we have this tiered system, I'll just give you uh the an example of how this came up and why is that you know my thought is that maybe uh my or what I've heard is that we haven't gone up in our base rates in a long time, and this is sort of um, you know, we're moving in a uh in a direction that is in line with other cities and towns.

The problem is is that I think what it assumes is that like a one-inch pipe is needs to deliver water.

Say if you have like I don't know, three floors or or so on.

Again, I don't know too much about the sort of like the needs of what pipe uh it requires for what, but I but I'll just use I'll just explain it this way.

There's a six-unit complex over by me.

Each one is individual meet individually metered.

It's not that it's they're splitting the base fee.

So in other words, when the installations were happening, the six units, some of the people were asked, oh, do you want um you don't probably need a whole you know the the all the pipes going to the units were one inch.

Um why I don't know.

I mean it i you don't want to lose pressure, say if you have a sprinkler or something like that, you don't want your shot or lose pressure.

But the point is is that so now this person who's on a fixed income who wasn't afforded that information that they could, you know, the installer would just throw an adapter and put in a five eights on their their one-inch pipe.

So they're now paying over three hundred dollars more a year for the full for the base rates, uh, versus you know, but they used to pay 48, now they're paying a hundred and something per quarter.

So um I just want to know how or why the installer in some cases asked, or just maybe on their own, installed five eighths versus another unit they installed a one-inch pipe.

Because I don't know that our intention was to, you know, hit a s uh a one or two bedroom condo unit that's individually metered.

Like if this was why we tiered the residential in the first place, I'm not sure.

The water you're using is the water you're using, so I'm not really sure where the it definitely feels a little um I don't want to say punitive.

I mean it sounds like we're trying to make more money.

Um and so I just want to understand when the installation happens that in situations like this person's how we could have avoided this.

Like we're pretty much done with the installation program, but it will happen again in the future.

And I think there's still some households that are like this.

And you know, if it's really a matter of if somebody's on a fixed income and you're talking over like I think it's like $350 um more than they would have been paying if they had just been opted to have the right.

Right now, he's getting a new meter.

He's gonna have it.

The city is he has to pay for the meter.

It's like $500 and something dollars, but it's worth it, it's still gonna it's gonna save them $350 every year.

So this is just something that's one of those things that's come up that again, you know, uh I think if people were educated, they would most likely uh if you don't need an entire one-inch pipe, like in other words, if you're not running uh an irrigation system or you know uh you you certainly don't need to be paying that extra three hundred and fifty dollars, especially if you can't if you're on a fixed income.

So I just want to have a conversation in uh sustainability and infrastructure um as to what what led the contractor to in some cases, you know, I've already said in some cases ask the person if they want you know, they oh you don't need this one or whatever, or if they just were doing it on their own, but there's a little inconsistency in in the protocol and in the installation process I want to address.

Thank you.

All right, that item is approved with a copy to sustainability and infrastructure.

Um Barn, any objection, we're gonna take uh legislative matters up out of order, which is item six C.

And the reason for that is there's an item that was recommended out of that committee relating to a uh special education reserve fund.

Uh that has to happen first before a related item in the finance committee.

Um that was also recommended to be approved.

Um I need to recuse myself from that topic for both of those items, so I'm going to pass the uh gavel here to the good vice president and uh I'll see you when we get back next item, Adam Clinton.

Brings us to agenda item six C1, a report of the committee on legislative matters meeting on March 17th, 2026.

Thank you, Mr.

President, Mr.

Vice President.

Uh we met on February 17th.

It was a brick meeting.

It was only a half hour.

Uh and it was some pretty uh detailed thing, uh detailed stuff.

Great.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

So uh there were two main substantive items before the committee, uh three in total.

Uh I'll take the last one first, which was the acceptance of mass general chapter 59, section five, clause 22 J, etc.

etc., etc.

Um and this is uh a tough read, even for state law, which is a lot.

Um but functionally, what this is is this is enabling legislation that was passed by the state to allow us to increase the amount of real estate tax exemptions that we offer to certain classes of people.

Uh we're not allowed as a city to say we're gonna give a tax break to I don't know, uh folks who show up to community cleanup days, right?

Or any other kind of class of person that we want to incentivize, that's governed by state law.

And the amount of the exemptions that cities and towns can offer uh is also governed by state law.

But rather than set that as a universal standard across the commonwealth, they make it an option that cities and towns can adopt.

Now, for some reason, rather than simply increase the limit of the uh deductions that can be offered uh for these categories, they added more clauses that allow us to double the current levels of exemption.

Now, in this case, these are exemptions for uh disabled veterans, uh veterans who uh had injuries uh in the line of service, and also for surviving spouses of uh military veterans who died in line uh in action.

So this is uh pretty straightforward, but for those wondering why this whole mouthful of two items is on our agenda, that's what it is, and so hopefully um have have adopted these, we'll be able to uh provide a greater tax break to uh folks who are injured and in our military services.

So uh going on from there, our other large item is uh also an acceptance of mass general law.

This is chapter 40, section 13e, establishing a special education reserve fund.

So uh when money is that finance is very complicated.

Uh, and our school's budget is very separate from our general fund budget, although it certainly is uh you know approved by the city council.

It's not something that we get into the weeds on.

Uh, but it is very fixed.

There is not so much ability.

We can't necessarily slide money from say DPW into schools as easily.

And one of the hardest to forecast uh items in the school's budget is uh is the outside placement of uh special education students, special education students whose needs are maybe not getting met by the district, who need transportation to other districts and placement in other districts, and that costs our district money, and it's uh impossible to tell in any given year how many of these cases are gonna come up, and it uh makes for a very uh lumpy process and one that can sometimes really put a pinch on the school's budget.

So this is a new enabling legislation that allows us to create a separate fund, uh, like a stabilization fund for the schools that uh has a pool of money that would that can only be used uh with appropriation from the school committee and the city council to absorb those kind of impacts.

If we have extra students who need extra help, this is a way we can make sure that it goes in there without having to cut the whiteboard marker budget.

Um the other nice thing about it is that it will allow us to uh for money that it goes into it that is appropriated into it in any given budget year to stay in that stabilization fund and kind of build up a rainy day account for those special education placements.

Again, without the creation of this particular vehicle, this uh special education reserve fund, we wouldn't be able to do that.

It would just roll back into the general fund every year, and we'd face ourselves in a similar kind of budgeting uh situation for the next year.

So this item is simply us adopting that uh general laws uh enabling legislation to create the fund, and then hopefully in our next finance committee report uh having been created, we will be able to deposit money in it and get started.

So thank you for allowing me a few minutes here to explain the very, very dry nature of legislative matters.

But uh I ask that the committee report be accepted as submitted.

Any discussion on the committee reports, seeing none, the committee report is uh approved.

So I believe there are three roll call votes.

Madam Clerk?

Correct.

That puts three items for a roll call vote in front of us, the first being 6C2, a request of the mayor requesting acceptance of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22i to authorize an annual cost of living adjustment increase in the exemption amount granted under Chapter 59, Section 5, clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22E, and 22 F.

Counselor Ewan Campin?

Yes.

Counselor Link?

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Clay and is recused, Counselor Strezzo.

Counselor Sae?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbas?

Yes.

Counselor Davis is recused with eight counselors in favor.

That is approved.

Next agenda item is 6C3, a request of the mayor requesting acceptance of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J to authorize an increase in the exemption amount granted under Chapter 59.

Section 5, clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22 C, 22E, and 22 F.

Councilor UN Campin?

Yes.

Counselor Link?

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Clean is recused.

Counselor Strazzo?

Counselor Saeed?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh?

Yes.

Counselor Davis is recused with eight counselors in favor.

That is approved.

The last item.

Agenda item 64, a request of the mayor requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 13E to establish a special education reserve fund.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Clang is recused.

Counselor Streso.

Counselor Said?

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler?

Yes.

Counselor Hart?

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Yes.

With eight counselors in favor, that item is approved.

Thank you.

Yeah, no, we um, we can just take the finance items since you know they're also recused before we bring them back.

So let's just I think there's a related item to the same issue why they're recused in the finance.

Yeah.

So okay.

So next item, Madam Clerk.

That brings us back to the order of business.

Agenda item 6A1, a report of the committee, report of the committee on finance meeting as a committee of the whole on March 24th, 2026.

And may the records also reflect that both uh Councilor Davies and I would assume Councillor Klingon to us was recused for this item.

So both Councillor Klingon and Councillor David is recused.

So counselor Wheeler.

Through the chair.

The finance committee met on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, in person in this chambers and via remote participation.

As a committee of the whole with all counselors participating.

And with the help of Clerk Delaney Fisher Cassial and a number of city staff.

We took up an 18-item agenda.

We approved the minutes of our March 10 meeting.

We recommended approval of a $15,000 internal transfer to establish a grant match account for veteran services so we could pay the local match for a state grant on preserving the many veterans' monuments in the city.

We recommended approval of a $75,000 appropriation from the bike share stabilization fund for a blue bike station at the 16 to 20 Medford Street Development very near Twin City Plaza.

As with another recent blue bike appropriation, these funds were provided to the city by a developer, and then the city buys the equipment and bikes.

We also recommended approval of an approximately 431,000 dollar appropriation from free cash to the newly created special education reserve fund.

This action effectively restores an earlier earmark that this funding is intended for special education and places the funds into a reserve designed to cushion the year-to-year variation in special education costs as has been discussed.

We then recommended approval of a set of five community preservation act appropriations.

These included funding for historic preservation at the Somerville Museum, open space acquisition, support for the Affordable Housing Trust, a transfer to the community housing reserve, and improvements to open space at the Mystic River and Mystic View homes.

These items reflect both this year's funding round and adjustments following the finalization of prior year revenues.

Finally, we held a committee of the whole discussion of council budget priorities for fiscal year 2027.

This was not a voting session, but an opportunity to surface priorities and begin framing the choices ahead in a constrained fiscal year.

Across the discussion, there was broad alignment on the need to protect core services in the face of a projected shortfall.

Counselors emphasized many priorities, including but not limited to housing stabilization and production programs, public school funding, including special education after school and programs to reduce disparities, immigrant legal services, and transportation infrastructure.

It was a lively discussion, and I encourage all members of the public to take a watch.

These communications were recommended to be marked work completed.

Chair, I ask that this committee report be accepted as submitted.

Of the two items in legislative matters from which these two counselors are not in fact recused.

Okay.

And then we'll revote those.

Gotcha.

So I think I'm sounding high.

You are good.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Yeah, sure.

But we have to be recorded.

Right.

That's fine.

Okay.

Thanks, sir.

Sure.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Vice President.

Uh so we have now two items before us from that uh for the finance committee report for roll call.

Is that correct?

One item.

Two items from the legends.

One item for so okay.

So we have the one item from finance, and then we're gonna re-vote on the two items for which that did not relate to the special ed cast because Councilor Klingon and I did not need to be recused from that.

And so the city clerk advises that we take that vote again.

Sure.

So we're gonna do what she says.

Right now the finance roll call.

Yes, please.

The item in front of us for a roll call vote right now is 6A3, a request of the mayor requesting your approval to appropriate 75,000 from the bike share stabilization fund for installation and startup costs of a blue bike station at the 16 to 20 Medford Street Development Site.

Counselor Ew and Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott?

Yes.

Counselor Klingon?

Yes.

Counselor Streso.

Counselor Say.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

Yes.

With ten counselors in favor, the item is approved.

Okay.

Mr.

President, if procedurally necessary, I'm happy to move to reconsider on the items from the finance or from the legislative matters report so that y'all can vote on them.

I I that I'm inclined to uh accept that motion to for reconsideration, because that to my mind sounds like the right thing to do.

So let's do that.

I'm seeing nodding, even though that was okay.

Um Council Scott moves to reconsider.

Um and uh does anyone uh anyone any objections to reconsideration, any discussion?

Um those two items are now back before us.

Yeah and we can do them together in a single roll call vote.

And and uh these are items 26-0144 and 26-0145.

Anyone need the items reread again?

This is the two okay.

I'm seeing shaking hands.

All right, madam clerk.

And on those items six C2 and six C3, Counselor Ew and Campen.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Scott.

Yes.

Counselor Clean.

Yes.

Counselor Strazo.

Counselor Say.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McGaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Yes.

Counselor Davis.

Yes.

All right, very good.

Thank you for your patience with that, everyone.

Uh next item, Madam Clerk.

Brings us to agenda item six B1, a report of the committee on land use meeting in joint session with the planning board on March 19th, 2026.

Council U and Campen.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The land use committee uh held public hearings on two proposed amendments.

Uh the first one is a series of changes to the affordable housing overlay district that represent a combination of input from Counselor McLaughlin and myself, having to do with allowing affordable buildings to go to eight stories instead of seven, um, as well as some recommendations from the administration based on their work with our nonprofit partners.

Um these changes are described in uh the attached materials, the video, and they will be discussed at our next land use meeting.

The other item was uh series of proposed changes to backyard cottages, otherwise known as accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as ADUs, um submitted by Councilor Streso.

Um so this one we're not going to put on an agenda again until May at the request of uh Councilor Streso.

And this may ultimately be taken up alongside a number of other proposed ADU related ideas from we have a number of it uh proposed amendments from members of the public as well as some from city staff, so so stay tuned.

Um and then we had a long and very detailed presentation about potential conflict between our local regulations of backyard cottages and this state law, which passed more recently that requires cities to allow ADUs.

Um and the the state law, just to speak frankly, has just created this incredibly dumb conflicts that no one supports or intended, and that i we're still working out how we're gonna get through this.

Um ISD and planning is working on it, but just to give you one specific example, the state law says um an ADU can only be 900 square feet, so it's a small building.

Um, but you cannot have special standards just for the the backyard cottage.

You have to, whatever the standards are for that zoning district have to apply to this.

And it's a way of kind of finger wagging at more restrictive communities to say like you can't, you know, allow them but then not really allow them by having all these impossible standards.

But what that means for Somerville, our most restrictive zone, neighborhood residence, allows triple deckers.

So, you know, at face value, a developer, I think the fear is could come in and say, hey, this state law says I can build a three-story ADU.

Um it can only be 900 square feet, so it's like this big, but uh and i it's just not the outcome that was intended.

Um it's quite frustrating to be honest, and I think we're gonna have to spend some time working it out.

Uh staff is still, you know, is working basically on a set of recommendations, but that's where we are.

It's not the end of the world.

Um, but it but it's a frustrating situation.

Uh I ask that the committee report be accepted.

Any discussion on the committee report?

Councilor Strasso.

Thank you.

Yes, uh quick uh addition to that, and as stated numerous times and want to make sure that there's not conflating between what some of the ADU lawsuits um are putting forward and the actual intentions on what my uh what my uh draft ordinance and and what is before uh there are good intentions in the hope that this expands affordability within the city, and yeah, I want to make sure that we do it right.

Um but the two separate birds, and we want to make sure that uh what is of course best for Somerville and residents here in the preservation of Somerville residents here.

Um so very much looking forward to that discussion and um convers and all the things that go from that.

Thank you.

Councilor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to express my appreciation for the chair for that explainer.

Uh I will say it is not an uncommon site in Ward 2 these days, and I get a fair number of constituent questions of why behind the new triple decker there is another triple decker.

And so this is a uh great explanation.

So thank you for that.

Oh, also I kind of miss when we used to do land use as committee of the whole all the time.

Not for nothing.

You might be the only one.

Any further discussion?

All right, seeing now the uh the report is accepted.

Next item.

Agenda item 61, a report of the committee on license and permits meeting on March 25th, 2026.

Council Hart.

Thank you.

Um so I believe that first I would like to sever um 63 from the committee report.

Council Hart would like to sever that item.

See no objection.

All right.

Thank you.

Um so I'll give the committee report first and then come back to that item.

Um so we had a short meeting yesterday.

Um and approv you'll hear about the severed item shortly.

Um, but the we also approved a uh recommended to be approved with the condition uh grant of location on Heath Street um at Edgar Avenue.

And the condition that um Miss Duffy thought would uh be acceptable was to um have work start after 9 a.m.

Um, which was the condition because it's a major route to school for the Healy School.

And I would like this committee report to be accepted.

Any discussion on the committee report?

All right, seeing none that has approved, uh that leaves items item 26-0311 before us, Councillor Hart.

Thank you.

Okay, um I would like to amend the condition.

Do I need to read it first or does it need to be read?

Yeah, if you want to go ahead, you can read it in, give us some context.

Okay.

So um this is EverSource applying for a grant of location to install six feet of conduit in Line Street from utility bowl to 11 over 7 to a point of pickup at 62 Line Street.

Um so we had discussed the possibility of conditioning this um the uh uh fixing of a double poll uh at utility poll to 11 over six.

Um but I would like to amend that condition by striking it in full.

And then Council Hart moves to uh amend the uh let's see, yeah, because we voted to add the condition.

So the the item before us has a condition with it, Councillor Hart moves to amend the item before us to remove that condition.

Any discussion?

Any questions?

I believe I'm amending the condition and not the item at this point.

I think you're amending the item to remove the condition, right?

Because the item is what's before us.

Very good.

All right, so the uh counselor Scott question.

So on the motion, uh I'm sorry.

Hit me again with the so we're removing the conditions on it with the intention of approving the item tonight.

That's correct, yes.

After consulting with uh the law department, um I believe that it's too being that it's a separate utility poll, that that would not be a wise use of a condition.

Uh okay, got it.

Well, I guess I'll have to go vigilante justice for double polls on this one.

Thank you.

Councilor Hart, you do you want to note the conversation that that we did have regarding that second poll and and the uh promises that were yes, so yes, thank you.

Uh President Davis.

Um so I did um have a lot of back and forth with Jackie Duppy and RCN.

So RCN has moved their wires.

Um so now it's back to Eversource, and Ms.

Duppy did say that she would um work on getting it fixed immediately.

So it just won't be a condition of the Scott.

You know, I don't want to muck up the works here.

My inclination would be to uh condition this on the completion of that Eversource move of their lines, but you know what?

Let's extend a little grace tonight and we'll see.

My my recollection, and can and uh Council Councillor uh Hart, correct me if I'm wrong.

My recollection was that um Ms.

Duffy believed that there was yet a different third party utility that would be next in line to remove their stuff and and so on and so forth, as it's you know the the the list has uh uh you know an order of operations.

Um I believe that's what she told us on that regarding that poll.

Counselor Scott on that.

Uh yeah, have we confirmed if the poll in question is in the engines uh state database?

Councilor Hart on that um I believe it I believe she my memory is that she said it was.

Okay, great.

And Councilor Hart, do you want to recount the request that you made regarding the uh engine database?

Um yes, so we uh Ms.

Duffy is looking into if we have access as a city to the engines database as well.

Let us take a look so maybe we can answer some of these questions ourselves.

So we're working on that.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you very much.

Uh any further discussion or questions?

Yeah, all right.

Councillor Hart moves to approve the item as amended.

Yes.

Any discussion on the motion?

Seeing none.

All right, that item is approved.

Next item, Adam Clark.

Agenda item six E1, a report of the Committee on School Building Facilities and Maintenance meeting on March 23rd, 2026.

So link.

All right.

Uh thank you through you, Mr.

President.

Uh on Monday night, the school building facilities and maintenance committee held a joint meeting with the school committee's counterpart committee uh for one hour and thirty minutes.

It was a very collaborative meeting.

Um we covered eight items.

Uh the highlights being uh we got a custodial staffing report from DPW uh and we raised our concerns uh about um some of the coverage, particularly at our largest school, East Somerville.

Uh and uh at that time uh Commissioner uh Weissman uh uh let us know that he doesn't think we need uh more staff, but we did talk about um different ways we might potentially um uh spread out the staff.

Uh we also talked about um building maintenance.

We got updates on the East Somerville, Capuano and Azure Le schools uh and the great news that the Cappawano school finally, after what was described as a game of whack-a-mole, um they've got hot water fully restored to all of the classrooms, um, which is pretty amazing.

Uh and uh on environments and schools, um we uh had um Councillor Sait's order um which uh got us a report on some of the decarbonization and climate goals.

Uh and while we were very happy to have that initial data, we also did discuss that we probably needed some better data uh and uh some maybe more specific data.

Uh and then uh the last was uh the last few was the MSBCA um process for the Winter Hill and Brown schools, where we learned the next big milestone is the preferred schematic report, which is due in August.

Um and then uh we got uh a look at um the asset management um plans uh and learned that open uh the um I am is going to be using open gov, which is very exciting for me because uh it finally opens up the potential for us to have a public-facing uh dashboard for projects that are ongoing uh in the city.

Uh and that I think is huge, so I'm gonna keep on um you know banging a drum for that one.

And then finally, uh there was the Kennedy School uh inclusive schoolyard renovation, um, which everyone was really excited about.

Uh school committee chair baton um had a great slogan uh that kind of encapsulated, I think how things went with this process, which was nothing about us without us.

Um which you know obviously he didn't say it was his, but he shared it with us.

Uh and it was uh I think just really uh a great way to uh express how this was done and uh the community input that was involved.

Uh and that's my report.

I uh request that be uh accepted.

Any discussion on the report?

All right, seeing none, that item is approved.

Next item.

Agenda item six F1, a report of the committee on sustainability and infrastructure meeting on March 18th, 2026.

Councilor Klingon.

Mr.

President, before I go with my report, I'd like to uh make a motion to sever items five and six from that agenda and send them back to committee.

So those that would be 26037 and 26038.

Yes.

Okay.

Councilor Klingon moves to sever those two items.

Any discussion?

All right, seeing none of those two items are severed.

Council McClane.

All right, thank you.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, you know, before that meeting, I had mentioned at the last council meeting that we were gonna have a big sort of snow discussion, and uh DPW commissioner current now commissioner uh Eric Weissman did not disappoint.

He came with a great presentation.

We essentially took up all the items together and we covered what was essentially Councilor Ewan Campin's sort of post-mortem uh item number four, which was that uh the commissioner of public works discussed with the council lessons learned from the recent big snowfall about resources and policies needed to improve snow clearance, including MBTA bus stops, business districts, sidewalks, and parking, private ways dead ends, uh accessible ramps and bike lanes.

And um, you know, it was a really great discussion.

Uh there were uh the commissioner uh mentioned that they they made some mistakes and they're retooling and they're they recognize some of the shortfalls and some of the things that uh didn't happen.

Obviously, it's a unique situation where we had two major storms back to back, so it's a little bit of a unique situation, but nonetheless, um he is earnestly working on you know plans for next year.

I mean, if we hopefully we don't get any snow.

Um but yeah, so that was so there was a discussion that pretty much covered all of uh the snow related items, and it was a two-hour conversation, and what I I I left that meeting feeling like we fell short a little bit on the ADA uh the accessible ramps and the uh handicap spots.

Um and I just felt like we you know we kind of got to the end of the road and then we kind of had a little bit of a rush conversation about it, but really didn't do do it justice.

And you know, before we can we can kick it down the can but uh the can down the road, but before you know it, it's gonna be next winter.

And we I just think I know there's no easy solution.

We're talking about serious you know, we're talking about labor, uh a serious amount of labor that would take place or whether or enforcing, which was my you know, the the whole discussion we had last year about Council Clink.

Let me interrupt you for a minute.

So this is now on the two items that are severed.

Is there anything I thought I was giving you just my report?

Handicap ramp and then I thought I I thought that was settled.

I send that back to the committee.

Yeah, but so that those two those two are severed.

The report is on all the other items.

Correct.

If we're done with that, we can reset the report and then talk about the two items that are for us and send those back.

Yeah, this is just the report.

And report, okay.

Carry on.

You broke my rhythm.

Um, anyway, that's pretty much it.

The the the video, you can go watch the video.

There's a presentation attached to the to the um agenda item uh that the commissioner gave.

Um, you know, I I really do appreciate and respect staff time when they come and give two hours, you know, and give a presentation, but I feel strongly that uh there needs to be more discussion about how we come up with a plan to better serve our most vulnerable folks in the community.

I've seen pictures since then uh of different areas where you know it's clear that we can do better.

I don't again, I know there's no easy solution.

Um, but I think that we it it deserves further discussion.

Uh so um with that I ask that you uh you all accept the report as submitted.

Any discussion on the report?

All right, seeing none.

The report is approved.

And now the two items before us 2603 seven and twenty-six zero three three eight.

Uh any further discussion on those items?

Yeah, I I those would be I guess I kind of covered my feelings on I I kind of pre-jump the gun on that one, but essentially uh feelings have been noted and uh we're sending those back.

Duly noted.

See above.

All right, so those two items are uh referred back to committee.

Actually, referred uh copy sent back to committee, right?

Okay.

Back to sustainability and infrastructure.

There.

Next item.

Brings us to agenda item 7.1.

A request of the mayor.

I think we have one more committee.

Oh, my fault, sorry.

Agenda item 6G1, report of the committee on traffic and parking meeting on March 16th, 2026.

Council site.

Um Thank you, Mr.

President.

The traffic and parking committee met with all three members present.

Uh, I was uh Councillor Wheeler, Councilor Mbad's first meeting.

Um items were marked as completed.

Uh we had a really great meeting um regarding the item on installing a no turn on red sign at the intersection of both street and warren av to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Um director of uh director Rossin reported that the team has reviewed the order and completed the technical evaluation, determining that a new sign should be installed.

He added that installation is being scheduled, likely in the spring when the weather improves.

We had uh a great discussion on the recommendations of the pedestrian and transit advisory committee regarding the 25% design document of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, McGrath Boulevard project.

Uh Director uh Rossin shared uh his own thusiasm for the progress of the Mass DOT project, noting that it reflects more than 20 years of work.

Uh Director Rossin stated that he feels confident in the current direction and appreciates input from community members and advisory groups, adding that Mass DOT continues to meet regularly with advisory committees and the McGrath coalition.

Uh he reported that the project is approaching the 25 design milestone with construction anticipated to take approximately four years with the goal of improving neighborhood connectivity and enhancing pedestrian and commuter safety.

As the project advances, the next phase will focus on advancing utility coordination and uh drainage design, building on the framework in which street connections and crosswalk locations have generally been identified.

Mass duty expect expects to begin construction in uh 2027 with projected annual expenditures of 20 to 30 million.

Director Rossin noted that the next design milestone is anticipated in about one year, and that there will be meaningful opportunities for community engagement.

He also shared that the project team meets regularly, including weekly and bi-weekly meetings and design sessions, and that city staff have been invited into the process as uh collaborative partners describing this as the most collaborative approach he has experienced.

So that was really great to hear that.

Um and uh committee members and um director Rossin expressed appreciation for the contributions of advocacy groups and um the broader community.

He also noted that the city has not completed uh its technical review.

Um yeah, so this is the last item of the proposed uh Aldridge Virginia Street intersection change and suggest a wait and see approach until after the McGrath project is implemented.

We took up uh items together.

So this is um yeah, so something that's still we'll we'll wait um and see.

Uh and it will submit this um report as uh the sentence.

Council State moves to further report to be accepted as submitted.

Uh any discussion on the report.

Councillor Link.

Uh I just want to I I was in the audience uh and I uh there was a very great conversation about the hawks.

Um, and I just want to continue beating on that drum just today.

I was going into uh Assembly Square and I was nearly hit um by a car running the red solid red light up the hawk.

Um that for the the Kensington or Besser.

So it's yeah.

Yeah, uh thank you, uh Councillor Link.

It was I highly recommend watching the meeting.

It was a very informative meeting.

Um just be a reef really uh it was a long, but again, informative meeting.

Um we discussed all the concerns that were that were raised by PTAC from reinstating the full signalization of auto street, reconsidering the target speed, continuing working to shorten the distance between crossing segments across street, considering further uh reductions in median width to support wider sidewalks, ensuring that the design is flexible enough to support future north-south bus service.

So if you're interested in any of these things, I highly recommend watching the meetings um because we definitely learned a lot from that discussion.

All right, very good.

Uh see no further discussion.

That item is approved.

Councilor Wheeler.

Oh, sorry.

Next item 7.1.

Uh yes.

Thank you, Chair.

I move to waive the readings of items 7.1 through 7.5 and refer them to finance for recommendation.

Seeing no objection.

Uh councilor Scott on that motion.

No, not on that motion.

I have another motion made.

Seeing no objection, those items are uh referred to finance.

Next item.

On items 7.6 and 7.7, sir.

I move to waive the readings and refer those to legislative matters.

See no objection, those items are referred to legislative matters.

On the motion itself, I just want to let folks know that we will not be having the meeting of legislative matters uh this coming Tuesday.

Uh none of the major items are ready for it, but these items that are going into committee, I anticipate pulling up uh coming before uh the committee in the later meeting in April.

Uh and I will be giving uh members of the committee uh a heads up on when those will be on the agenda.

I encourage any colleagues to uh submit questions or concerns uh in advance of that meeting.

I want to make sure I give everybody two weeks to get those in.

I know we're already getting a great many constituent communications about these items, and I assure uh my colleagues and members of the public that there will be a thorough discussion in commission and committee.

Thank you.

All right, very good.

Those items are referred to legislative matters.

Next item Agenda item 7.8, a request of the mayor requesting confirmation of the appointment of Eric Wiseman as Commissioner of Public Works.

So a little bit of a gray area here.

Uh our our our practice has been, at least with regard to directory positions that were uh in place prior to our new charter.

Um we didn't send folks who are already doing the job and into committee and folks who were uh newly appointed, we did.

Technically, this is a new appointment, even though we all know uh acting commissioner wiseman quite well.

Um I'm inclined to send this committee just to stay consistent with that uh with that approach.

However, I would not object at all if folks wanted to just take it up uh this evening for approval.

Council Klingon?

I just have a question on the item.

Have so are we still calling this commissioner or have we officially chart changed it in the charter or elsewhere that it's director of DPW or that's an excellent question, and I don't remember the answer.

I'm looking at our uh acting city clerk who's approaching the microphone.

Thanks, Mr.

President Kimwell.

City clerk through you.

The titles are actually mostly not spelled out in the charter, and according to the city budget, which would be what dictates that, it is still the Commissioner of Public Works.

You have a other different suggestion, Councillor Clinton?

Um, no, no, but just another on the item thing.

I mean, I'm I'm fine with moving forward this evening.

Um discussion, I don't see our well, I see our chair of uh confirmation appointments, but he's not in the in the room.

Um any discussion, any opinions on that council clinging, you want to make a motion?

I don't care.

I'm not on the committee.

Uh no, we'll go through the process send it to committee.

Um I'm not gonna make it a motion.

I don't see or hear any.

So that that item is referred to confirmation of appointments and personnel matters.

Next item.

Agenda item 7.9 of communication from the mayor conveying the appointment of Kloss Schultz to the ranked choice voting committee.

Okay.

That item is placed on file.

Agenda item 7.10.

A communication of the mayor conveying the appointment of Barry Rafkine to the ranked choice voting committee.

That item is placed on file.

Agenda item 7.11, a communication of the mayor conveying the appointment of Kat Rutkin to the public financing of campaigns committee.

That item is placed on file.

Agenda item 9.1.

Council Hart.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would like to move to waive the reading of items 9.1 through 9.65 and also 9.67 to 9.72 and 9.74 and approve them this evening.

And Councilor Hart, that that that doesn't align with the list I have.

So I want to make sure we're on the same page here.

So I've got 9.1 through 938 with 939 going to committee.

Is that not the your intent?

She's right.

Okay.

So did you get those numbers?

So it's 9.1 through 965.

Go right ahead, yep.

Just repeating to confirm with you, Council Hart.

9.1 through 9.65, 9.67 through 9.72, and 9.74.

You'd like to waive the readings and approve this evening.

That's correct.

Okay.

All right.

Yes.

Any discussion on the motion?

All right.

Seeing none, those items are approved.

Council Hart.

Then I would like to uh move to waive the reading of item 9.73 and refer that to licenses and permits.

All right.

Seeing no objection, that item is referred to license and permits.

And then Councilor Wheeler.

Well, first, can I um then I'll note for the record that I'm recused from item 9.66 as an abutter to the applicant.

Very well, Councilor Wheeler.

Ah, I move that we wave the reading of 9.66 and refer it to committee.

No.

Uh to approve it immediately.

Counselor Councillor Wheeler would like to wave the reading of 966.

I wasn't sure which one I wanted to do, but now I feel very clear.

I would like us to approve that immediately.

Excellent job reviewing the issues, considering them and making up your mind.

I appreciate that thoughtful deliberation.

See no objection, uh 966 is approved.

Next item.

Okay, and that brings us to agenda item 9.75, a public communication from Digital Fourth submitting comments about surveillance technology annual report.

That item is placed on file with a copy of legislative matters.

Agenda item 9.76, a public communication from Harvard University conveying its spring 2026 accountability report.

That item is placed on file with a copy to HECD.

Agenda item 9.77, a public communication from Adam Steiner submitting comments about the YMCA redevelopment.

That item is placed on file.

Agenda item 9.78, a public communication from Urban Forestry Committee submitting comments about anti-coagulant rodenticides.

Giving our chair of legislative matters a moment to run in the room if he would like to.

Let's let's uh place on a file with a copy to legislative matters just in case there's something there he wants to talk about.

And if not, we'll dispense of it that in that committee.

Agenda item 10.1, a resolution by Councilor Link that the Commissioner of Public Works conduct a citywide sweep to remove large debris from the community path and bike lanes now that the snow sneeze and snow season has concluded.

That item is that on sent to a committee or should we lay on the table for next meeting?

Uh so just as a reminder, these are supplemental items, so we we won't deliberate that on them this evening because they haven't been properly noticed, but we can send them to committee where they will be properly noticed.

Yeah, if that's your preference.

Which committee on that one?

Um sustainability infrastructure probably.

Yeah.

All right.

That uh that item is referred to sustainability infrastructure.

Councilor campen, no deliberation.

Question, Mr.

President.

Am I allowed to mention something that I hope is discussed at that meeting or no?

I think let's let's keep our deliberation until it's been properly noticed.

Uh next item.

Agenda item 10.2, a resolution by counselor Davis that the Commissioner of Public Works discuss with this council practical solutions to clearing snow from schoolyards without damaging play services to allow students to access outdoor play areas.

Can you read the next item as well, please?

And agenda item 10.3, a resolution by Councillor Davis that the administration update this council and plans to upgrade electrical and air conditioning equipment for the gym and cafeteria at the Edge Release School.

Those items are referred to school buildings facilities and maintenance.

Next item.

Agenda items 10.4, a public event from St.

Benedict Parish applying for a public event license for Easter Vigil on April 4th from 730 p.m.

to 830 p.m.

Given the date, there is some a timely nature of this item.

So any to any discussion?

All right.

Seeing none, that item is approved.

Agenda item 10.5, a public communication from Gilman Square Neighborhood Council submitting comments about McGrath Boulevard.

That item is laid on the table.

It's never it hasn't shown up on an agenda, so 10.6 of public communication from HALA Jadala submitting comments about surveillance.

Agenda item 10.7, public communication.

Three residents submitting comments about item number 260485, surveillance technology impact report for crime tracer.

And we'll we will refer that item to legislative matters as well.

Any additional items?

Any late items?

That brings us to the end of the agenda.

There are no further items before the voice.

Uh yeah, okay.

So the one that we laid on the table.

Well that's so that's item 10.5.

Um we'll send that to public health and public safety where it will be duly noticed and can be deliberated at that time.

Got that, madam clerk?

Yes.

Excellent.

All right.

Uh with that, Councilman Laffin moves to adjourn.

And we are adjourned.

Thanks, everyone.