OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Somerville City Council School Building Facilities Committee Meeting - May 1, 2026

Meeting Portal — Friday, May 1, 2026
BodySomerville, Massachusetts
SessionMeeting Portal
DateFriday, May 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:06:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Hello, everyone.

0:04

My name is John Link.

0:06

He, him, I am the chair of the school building facilities and maintenance committee.

0:12

And I'm calling this meeting to order.

0:16

Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025, this meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation.

0:24

We will post an audio recording, audio video reporting, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting of the city on the city of Somerville website and local cable access channels.

0:41

All right.

0:42

So can we please get a roll call to establish?

0:47

Yeah, we can.

0:48

This is roll call.

0:49

Counselor Scott.

0:51

Counselor Sae.

0:52

Here.

0:53

Chair Link.

0:55

Here.

0:56

All right.

0:56

With that, we have all members present, so we do have a quorum.

0:59

All right.

0:59

And now we have to take to do our pony dance where we take a recess so that our uh counterparts can also establish quorum.

1:08

Um I believe we need a roll call on that, even though we just did this.

1:14

So we don't need a roll call to go into recess, we need a roll call to get back.

1:20

Okay.

1:20

Great.

1:21

So let's take a brief recess.

1:23

Thank you, Chair Link.

1:25

Uh this is the school committee portion of the show.

1:29

Uh I am Le Ron Bitone, Chair of this subcommittee uh counterpart of the uh school building facilities and maintenance on the school committee side.

1:41

Um I will establish quorum.

1:43

Uh Liz Eldridge, are you here?

1:45

Present.

1:46

Laura Pitone.

1:51

Uh looks like she's not here yet.

1:53

Um I am here, so we do have quorum.

1:56

Uh and we will pass it back to you, Chair Link.

2:06

You're on mute.

2:10

Thank you, yes.

2:11

Uh let's return from recess in case anyone uh escaped in those brief couple moments.

2:15

Let's do roll call to establish quorum again.

2:18

All right, let's make sure.

2:20

All right, counselor Scott.

2:22

Probably counselor Say here.

2:28

Chair Link.

2:30

Still here.

2:31

Great.

2:31

No one got lost, so we do have a quorum.

2:33

Everyone is here.

2:35

Fantastic.

2:37

Um, all right.

2:38

So uh we start with uh approval of the minutes uh from the March 2023.

2:45

Um so that's uh item one, so 26-0503.

2:50

Um, unless anyone objects, uh I'm gonna lay that on the table for approval.

2:57

Uh and seeing no objections, moving on to item number two, 26-0063.

3:04

At the Commission of Public Works and the Director of Engineering Explore the Feasibility of Establishing a Teen Center at the coming school accessible by a school street, um, considering current building uses and uh provide this council with an analysis on space availability, operational considerations, community impacts, and uh potential next steps.

3:24

Uh hello, Chair.

3:25

Uh Richard Rach, Director of Instruction Asset Management.

3:28

Uh we've brought in a consultant to help us with the evaluation of the building.

3:32

Um they have completed that evaluation, uh, have worked up a couple of different um options as I've reported to this uh committee before.

3:42

Um there's a large number of code and ADA um upgrades that we would need to do to the building to make it functional.

3:50

Um they have you know sort of laid out uh a couple different options for us.

3:54

Their cost estimator uh has estimated the construction cost of that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
School Facilities█████████████████████████████████████████41%
Public Works Budget████████████████████20%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Public Health█████████9%
Procedural███████7%
Public Engagement███████7%
Emergency Management██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Somerville City Council School Building Facilities Committee Meeting - May 1, 2026

This joint meeting of the Somerville City Council and School Committee School Building Facilities and Maintenance Committees was held virtually on May 1, 2026 (though the meeting minutes provided indicate April 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM). The meeting was chaired by Councilor At Large Jon Link and School Committee Member Leiran Biton. It covered updates on school facilities, including a teen center feasibility study, HVAC improvements, mold concerns, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process for the Winter Hill and Brown Schools. The committee reviewed eight agenda items and took several actions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (ID # 26-0503): The minutes from the March 23, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously by Councilors Scott, Sait, and Link.

Discussion Items

  • Item 2 (ID # 26-0063) – Teen Center at Cummings School: Director Richard Raiche reported that a consultant completed a building evaluation. Two concepts were developed: renovating the newer Prescott Street side (approximately $10 million) or renovating both buildings including the older School Street wing (approximately $30 million). The older wing requires significant code and ADA upgrades, including a separating façade and no elevator. A full report is expected by May 2026. Director William Fisher also updated on a continuity of operations plan for the building, noting a weekly planning team and a simulated school disruption exercise, with a completion target of August 2026. Councilor Scott expressed excitement and inquired about the consultant study cost. Councilor Sait praised the collaborative effort. School Committee Member Pitone and Chief of Staff Amara Anosike expressed gratitude. The item was kept in committee.

  • Item 3 (ID # 26-0491) – Electrical and AC Upgrades at Edgerly School: Director Raiche noted that a bid package for other projects (Healy room 208, West Somerville roof) is taking priority, and electrical upgrades at Edgerly will not be addressed until fall or spring. Commissioner Eric Weisman reported that a 5-ton industrial air conditioning unit has been procured to cool the kitchen and cafeteria area, with installation expected in four weeks. Chief of Staff Anosike highlighted the importance for the A.I.M. summer program, as high temperatures previously made food service difficult. School Committee Member Biton requested a future agenda item to track the temperature differential after installation. The item was recommended to be marked work completed, with a follow-up planned.

  • Item 4 (ID # 26-0521) – Radiator Dysfunction at Kennedy School: Commissioner Weisman reported that the issue in Classroom 209 involved two separate systems—a valve issue on one side and a control issue on the other—both now addressed. Councilor Sait noted that a parent had reached out and that the issue was resolved promptly. Commissioner Weisman confirmed that the issue had been reported multiple times through 311. The item was recommended to be marked work completed.

  • Item 5 (ID # 26-0709) – Indoor Air Quality (Mold/Humidity) at Kennedy School: Commissioner Weisman stated he was not previously familiar with the issue and could not locate 311 reports, but his department is meeting with the school department. He emphasized the importance of rapid response to leaks and moisture. Chair Link asked about measurement tools; Weisman explained humidity can be measured directly, but mold testing requires an outside vendor. School Committee Member Pitone noted moisture and potential mold in a PTA room (formerly a closet). Member Biton shared that the Kennedy PTA raised concerns about health and safety and requested an action plan. Weisman suggested creating a formalized reporting and follow-up process, and stated the next step is an investigation. The item was kept in committee.

  • Item 6 (ID # 26-0241) – MSBA Process for Winter Hill and Brown Schools: Director Raiche reported that preliminary designs were submitted and are under review. The MSBA requested additional information, including a condition assessment of the Brown School, which IAM had anticipated and provided immediately, avoiding months of delay. Raiche also noted a test fit for a 925-student population at the Willow Avenue site (which would require a very tall building, described as 23 stories). Community outreach continues, including a sustainability workshop and a children's Lego workshop. A school building committee meeting is scheduled for May 4. Councilor Scott praised the proactive preparation. The item was kept in committee.

  • Item 7 (ID # 26-0266) – Strategic Asset Management Plan Report: This officer's communication was previously held for additional review. After discussion, it was recommended to be marked work completed.

  • Item 8 (ID # 26-0135) – School Buildings Maintenance Project Website: Director Raiche reported no update due to competing priorities (including the combined sewer overflow plan). Councilor Sait expressed disappointment, noting the importance of the website for family communication. Chair Link agreed. The item was kept in committee.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes and Decisions: All items were handled by unanimous consent of the committee members present (Councilors Scott, Sait, Link).
    • Item 1 (Minutes): Approved.
    • Item 2 (Teen Center): Kept in committee.
    • Item 3 (Edgerly AC): Recommended to be marked work completed, with a follow-up to track temperature differential.
    • Item 4 (Kennedy Radiator): Recommended to be marked work completed.
    • Item 5 (Kennedy Air Quality): Kept in committee.
    • Item 6 (MSBA Process): Kept in committee.
    • Item 7 (Strategic Asset Management Plan): Recommended to be marked work completed.
    • Item 8 (Maintenance Website): Kept in committee.
  • Directives: Commissioner Weisman will work with the school department to establish a formalized process for reporting and investigating mold and humidity concerns. A future agenda item will track the effectiveness of the Edgerly School AC unit.
  • Next Steps: The consultant report on the Cummings School teen center is expected by May 2026. The continuity of operations plan is tentatively due in August 2026. The MSBA schematic design and community outreach continue. The maintenance project website remains on hold due to staffing constraints.

Meeting Transcript

Hello, everyone. My name is John Link. He, him, I am the chair of the school building facilities and maintenance committee. And I'm calling this meeting to order. Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025, this meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio video reporting, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting of the city on the city of Somerville website and local cable access channels. All right. So can we please get a roll call to establish? Yeah, we can. This is roll call. Counselor Scott. Counselor Sae. Here. Chair Link. Here. All right. With that, we have all members present, so we do have a quorum. All right. And now we have to take to do our pony dance where we take a recess so that our uh counterparts can also establish quorum. Um I believe we need a roll call on that, even though we just did this. So we don't need a roll call to go into recess, we need a roll call to get back. Okay. Great. So let's take a brief recess. Thank you, Chair Link. Uh this is the school committee portion of the show. Uh I am Le Ron Bitone, Chair of this subcommittee uh counterpart of the uh school building facilities and maintenance on the school committee side. Um I will establish quorum. Uh Liz Eldridge, are you here? Present. Laura Pitone. Uh looks like she's not here yet. Um I am here, so we do have quorum. Uh and we will pass it back to you, Chair Link. You're on mute. Thank you, yes. Uh let's return from recess in case anyone uh escaped in those brief couple moments. Let's do roll call to establish quorum again. All right, let's make sure. All right, counselor Scott. Probably counselor Say here. Chair Link. Still here. Great. No one got lost, so we do have a quorum. Everyone is here. Fantastic. Um, all right. So uh we start with uh approval of the minutes uh from the March 2023. Um so that's uh item one, so 26-0503.

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