Thank you.

Good evening, everybody.

I call this meeting to order.

This is the council's committee on confirmation of appointment and personnel matters.

It's Monday, April 4th at 6 30 p.m.

Pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025.

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

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

And we'll be at Sister in uh tonight with by Clerk Delaney.

Thank you, Clark.

Clerk, would you please call the role?

Absolutely.

This is Councillor McClellan.

Counselor Hart.

Counselor Link.

Here.

Counselor Ewan Campin.

Here.

Karen Baugh.

Present.

All right.

With that, we do have three presents.

We have Quorum.

Thank you, Clark Delaney.

We will lay item number one on the table to take it at the end for approval.

And so, and the very next item we would do will be to take item five out of order because we have a two VIPs here from HR with the need to go right.

So, Clerk, would you read read item number five, the resolution, please?

Yep, item number five, ID number 26-0239.

That the director of human resources review the hiring for crossing guards, ensuring that the process and requirements are right size and not unnecessarily burdensome, such such that they deter qualified candidates.

Absolutely.

So this is an item that was brought forward by our very own counselor link, you know.

Our let you lead, and then we'll hear from HR, and then we'll determine next step.

Counselor Link.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, through you.

Uh so this came about.

Uh the backstory is that um I I was speaking to uh people over um at the Cervical Community Corporation, and um they were telling me about how uh the the process um seemed like it was really kind of hard just to get the this job.

There they'd been trying to help other people get jobs um with the city uh as crossing guards and and even just that um there was a lot of um it seemed like maybe some a bit the requirements were maybe not properly sized.

I know that the it's um probably difficult to try to make it so like every single um job has different um you know requirements, but uh at the same time uh I I did want to kind of know if we had ways we could um maybe reduce the burden slip, you know, uh especially you know, um in light of the fact that we're we've seen that we don't have uh enough crossing guards if there's a way to maybe um kind of improve that process.

Yeah, through the chair, thank you for the question, uh council link.

Um, and uh I I can assure you that uh in HR here's the difficult part of doing our jobs.

We want to go to people.

Oh, pardon me.

You're my bestie, but you've not been recognized.

You can't sorry.

I appreciate it's okay.

It's okay, you know.

It's like it's just like we gotta it's like a whole, you know, like you know, but again, so you know, put a you know, a thumb pin.

No, don't worry.

I mean, like this is not like you're not you're new to this to this space.

I guess just to put a thumb pin to like counselor link, is just I I think with your input, I'm also interested in just understanding now what specific barriers you know you have identifying the current hiring process and how they may be limiting your ability to recruit and retain crossing guards, you know.

So and and yeah, so now you have the floor, Director Gail.

Okay, thank you.

So through the chair to uh to the to the committee.

Um, as I was beginning to say, is there is a fine line between uh making sure that our hiring processes are having access to everyone and making sure that we're doing our due diligence in hiring people who are uh particularly in sensitive positions, such as working with children, etc.

So there's a uh a whole process that we go through from uh sort of soup to nuts to make sure that we're hiring the right people in the right place.

Um the reason I asked um uh Kristen Hill, our director, our manager of recruitment here tonight is that she is the person responsible for that and has made quite frankly great headway in increasing the number of uh crossing guards that we've hired recently um through some very difficult sort of situations.

Just to remind the uh committee as well that we're working with a demographic uh who are attracted to these positions who are sometimes unfamiliar with the processes that need to happen for uh hiring in any any position at all.

However, we do the best we can.

Krista, I can assure you uh Miss Hill does the best she can to bend over backwards to help people, not only with the application process, but with the onboarding practice as well.

Um, and so she could speak to this in greater length than I can, given that she's the person who actually does the day-to-day hiring for all of the positions, but particularly for the crossing guards.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you.

Manager here.

Oh can you, you know, like share some lights, you know, for us, please.

Yeah, of course.

Uh through the chair, thank you so much for the opportunity to share with you all some uh additional information about our crossing guard hiring.

Um, this is actually like a special project that I took on uh since I joined the city as a recruitment manager.

I was very shocked to hear that we struggle to hire and retain crossing guards because uh when I saw our application numbers, we definitely have the interest in the position.

So my intention over the last two years has been trying to break down some of the barriers.

Uh and as uh director Gill spoke to the populations that are attracted to this position tend to be um folks who are either retired or folks who are new to the Somerville area, potentially uh recent immigrants or refugees.

Um we also have a large uh population of English language learners that are attracted to this opportunity.

And for both of those reasons, um we have I don't want to say like uh softened our standards, but we have made a lot of uh different options.

We provided options to our candidates.

So just today I got off the phone with someone interested in the crossing guard position.

They don't have access to a computer or an email.

So I got their address, and I'm going to uh physically mail them an application that they will mail back to me.

Um, furthermore, we also through the great work of our language access team here at the city, we also have access to translation services.

So on a very regular basis, we will utilize the translation services to work with English language learners who are interested in in the opportunity.

Um, we'll use the translation services to support in explaining the recruiting and hiring process as well as the requirements.

Um the requirements for the position are uh pretty are as low as we can make them for a safety-sensitive position.

So because this is a position that does work around schools, children, a vulnerable population.

Um, we do require drug screening for the position.

Uh however, to try and make drug screening as accessible as possible.

We have added an additional vendor.

Um, so we have a location here in uh it's actually just over the border of Somerville in Medford at CHA.

That is by appointment.

So they do have to schedule an appointment.

So that can be a barrier sometimes, and they do have more rigid hours.

So we also pursued um setting up drug screening with another vendor called Concentra, and they have uh drop-in appointments, so you do not have to schedule appointment and they have uh greater availability in the hours that they offer.

So in doing so, we've tried to really break down barriers to folks actually um going to the drug screen appointments.

On top of that, our crossing guard supervisor uh Salve Cicero is incredible partner in this work.

Uh he will offer our crossing guard candidates uh rides to these appointments if they need it.

Uh, some of them do have uh don't have access to a personal vehicle.

Um another barrier that we can sometimes face with candidates who are interested in the opportunity is that they are only interested in working in the school that is right in their backyard and rightfully so, who would not want to serve their own neighbors.

Um, but unfortunately there are only so many postings at specific schools.

Um, we'll be talking to them about their posting and they'll be like, yeah, it's okay that my posting is further away.

But then once they're actually put in the posting and you know, have to try it out a couple days in a row.

Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the commute to the posting.

It ends up not working out for those folks.

So we do have we work tirelessly to get them to the hired process, which as you've heard, sometimes it takes multiple, multiple touch points, and um myself, the onboarding coordinator, the crossing guard supervisor to get them to that finish line.

And even still once they're actually put into their posting, sometimes it can be difficult for them to fulfill it, depending on where they're placed.

Uh, so yeah, that's just some additional insight.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions you all have about our hiring process uh for crossing guards, and thank you so much for the time.

Thank you, Marinja Hill.

I think that's uh a lot of uh information, especially for me.

I think that the record reflects that Council Hard has joined us.

You know, quite deleny.

Yep, I got it.

Thank you.

So yeah, no, this is a lot of stuff.

And I think everything that you've said also like resonates with some of the I once I tried to address like just an issue with the crossing guard because you know they build relationship with his family, the kids, and so and then they're trying to relocate them, and then they call me.

I'm like, wow, this is not in my wheelhouse.

I don't know what to do.

I don't know what to say, but I just I miss some calls just to say like, hey, I think um this should be taughtful.

I think just to admit that call, but um I appreciate the fact that you're doing everything to you know debacle some of the constraints, you know.

So I would, you know, you do Council Link and then Council, you and Kampan, you know.

Thank you, Chair.

Um so through you to uh Manager Hill.

Um so just so the the some of those I was just trying to look up some of the more specific things because it's been a few minutes since I submitted this order.

Um and the the things that I'd that had been specifically highlighted was like the the requirement of uh of a formal resume and a cover letter.

Um I I can kind of see the resume, but I'm I'm just wondering um I guess like for the it was a cover letter in the other thing that they um highlighted was uh was the requirement of three references.

Um and uh and then the final thing, which was not necessarily um it was just part of the onboarding, not necessarily the actual application, but was and uh this is maybe just something that's unavoidable, but um it seems that our clock crossing guards are maybe also completing the conflict of interest training.

Um I don't know if there's a it's probably there's probably no way around that, but it does it does strike me as a little odd.

Um but yeah, uh so I'm worried if we could speak to any of those if you would.

Thank you.

Certainly.

Uh through the chair.

Uh so as far as the application requirements, when a candidate submits an application via the city website, uh, the only thing they are required to submit.

Uh it does force you to submit a resume, but you have the option to hand type something in uh as opposed to uploading a document.

And many folks will write, do not have formal resume.

Uh, so that is an option there.

Additionally, a cover letter is not required uh through the online application.

However, it is an option if they would like to submit one.

Uh additionally, we also have a paper application that is much more uh streamlined and simplified that folks are able to pick up at City Hall, or if they want to call me and give me their address, I can mail it to them.

Um, and that uh I have actually hired and accepted applications that all that is on that piece of paper is their name, their contact information, and the title of the position they desire.

So we do have very little requirements for application, um, which I mean, in some regards, that makes me sad because I'm like, we we should have high standards for applications, but in another regard, I'm like, we also want to make sure we're limiting the barriers to folks where maybe English is not their first language, maybe they are newer to the job force, maybe they haven't been in the job force in many, many years.

And so they can't remember who their last boss was, right?

So we try to meet each candidate where they are at and accept what they are able to provide.

As far as the professional references go, um, I want to say almost a year ago, we did invest in new reference check software, which has made it a lot easier for the people who are listed as the professional reference to complete their online reference in less than five minutes.

So we've really tried to bring down the barriers for the people completing the references.

And then on the flip side, for our candidates, we've also tried to bring down those barriers.

So because many of our candidates struggle with um what's the word I should use?

Like computers and gaining access to different platforms and things like that.

We also allow our candidates to either over the phone, via text message or email, just send us the name, phone number, and email address of references.

If they don't have a phone number or an email address, we'll accept one or the other.

And additionally, if they're references or struggling to use our software, we also do phone call reference checks.

Um, and at this point, this is really the only position in the whole city that we even have to do that for.

Um, but we still do it for this position to try and expedite these people through the pre-employment process.

Um just last week, I was calling someone's sister's mother's aunt who worked at a place of someone for a crossing guard, and they're like, you have the wrong number.

Here's a different number.

So we really do try to go above and beyond to overcome even those barriers that you discussed.

Um, and in regards to the references as well, if we can get a really strong one reference, two references, we'll accept that as opposed to three full complete references, depending on you know the candidate situation.

Again, maybe they're new to the country, maybe they haven't worked in a long time.

So we really try to meet each candidate where they're at and um while still maintaining, you know, some semblance of like qualifications uh to enter the position.

Was there one more thing I may have forgotten?

The um the conflict of interest.

Conflict of interest.

Um Director Gil can speak more to this if she'd like, but just from my perspective, I believe it is just um while all municipal employees are subject to the conflict of interest law.

So it is in our best practice for all staff members to be aware of that.

Um, I will say that is another thing that we will also make um a little bit of a um workaround for is that if they do not complete the conflict of interest law online, like our hires are supposed to do prior to their onboarding date, they do receive a printed out version of our conflict of interest law at onboarding, uh, which is why we do have that onboarding session in person.

Um, so we can even bypass that if they haven't completed that by their onboarding date, we'll just provide it to them in person instead.

This is all well to the chair, this is all extremely reassuring.

And it sounds like some of this is just uh educating the um some of the people who are helping these um people will apply.

So I'm I'm really excited to share this information.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Of course.

No, thank you.

Uh Council Link.

And thank you, man.

I think we can also like whiz simplify this.

So did you just say that they're they're not doing this conflict of interest?

Is that necessary?

Is just there as a formality.

Yeah, I just want to make sure I got distracted with doing something else.

Uh through you, uh, to you.

Uh, it is a requirement for all city staff to be made aware of and take the conflict of interest law training.

Um, so what I shared was that if a candidate does not take the full, I mean, forgive me, it's been a little bit.

I only had to take my refresher course last year.

I think I have to retrain this year.

Um, if they don't take that hour long training online prior to their start date, which is when they have their onboarding session, we will print out a copy, like a text version of the conflict of interest law that they can review as opposed to taking the hour long training.

So again, we try to kind of bring down that barrier because again, a lot of these folks do not have access to a computer or consistent access.

Um, we have also set folks up in the HR department um on the computer.

If they want to take it online, they can do it um that day as well.

Thank you, Manja.

Yeah, I think yeah, like Councillor Ling said is, you know, uh one of the things we need to work on is outreach and education.

The better methodology that we are using just so that people understand, you know, the process and make sure that we disseminate those information in multiple languages so that people can feel you know comfortable about the process.

Counselor UN Campan, thank you for your patience.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

And through you, thank you to Counselor Link for bringing this.

You know, I will say probably every year I've been on the council.

We have some kind of conversation about how hard it is to hire and retain and recruit crossing guards.

And this was the most amazing conversation I've heard about it.

So I just want to thank you.

This was really, really, really impressive hearing about the lengths that you're going to to recruit people to help them through the application process.

Um it's really impressive.

The the hard work is paying off.

So I just wanted to thank you and Director Gill.

Thank you, Councillor UN Campaign.

And thank you, Manager Hill.

Thank you, Dr.

Gill.

Of course, thank you.

So uh Councillor Link, you know, I think we could mark this as well complete if it's okay.

Good.

So we all set with you guys.

Enjoy the rest of the evening.

Thank you very much.

Have a wonderful evening.

And so um, I think we're supposed to return to regular business, except um Dr.

Nagan.

I gotta call you out.

Yeah, is it it's it's uh I'm sure you know you're from IGA, so you must know what is going on with the next item.

Like, is there somebody is the person here?

Like I know, or should we just keep this item?

Uh, through you, Mr.

Chair.

Amanda Nagin Williams, director of intergovernmental affairs.

Yes, um, Malik Drayton is here to introduce uh the appointees for item.

I think it's two and three for the conservation commission.

Thank you.

So we'll so we'll return to the regular order of business then.

Thank you, Dr.

Naggin.

And manager here, is there anything else that you guys are waiting?

You know, no, I mean you're happy to stay.

Like this is uh through the chair.

I was just checking with my director if she needed me on anything else, but I think I should be good.

So thank you very much and have a good night.

You too, thank you.

I didn't mean to chase you away.

I'm just kind of like we took this thing out of order.

Uh so um plead the learning.

Can you just we are returning to regular order of business?

I think could you read item number two, please?

Yep, item number two, ID number 26-0380 requesting confirmation of the appointment of Logan Brille to the conservation commission.

Amazing.

So it's uh who's here to introduce our candidate Logan Braille.

Director Nagan.

Uh, to you, Mr.

Chair, that would be staffer Malik Drayton.

I'm unsure if he's having difficulty unmuting.

Uh panel.

Uh to you, Chair.

I see him as a panelist.

So Mr.

Malik, are you there?

It's okay.

I mean, honestly, um, do we have the candidates?

Because I mean, this is like these are the commissions where we really, I mean, I've read through the resume this and start still a candidates, you know, it would be just helpful even like sometimes I would tell myself that some of this uh uh commission that we have that we are always it's always like there's a lack of quorum and we're looking for candidates to help, you know, like boost this.

I don't sometimes I feel like I should have it should not have even made it to you know the the committee, but when it comes now, there's always also some in useful conversation so we can put some faces together.

So if Director Drayton is still having difficulty, maybe we can have uh Logan Braille just kind of like you know, if they are here, they can just talk.

That's fine.

Yes, Dr.

Nagan.

To you, Mr.

Chair.

I believe that Mr.

Drayton had just unmuted um to introduce um through you to Malik Drayton.

Are you unable to unmute?

Mr.

Chair, I'm with you.

Let's just hear from the candidates.

Yeah, that's thank you.

Yeah.

Logan Brill, sorry about English.

I'm I was ready to just roll with you guys.

So take it away.

Yeah, through you, Mr.

Chair.

Hopefully everyone can hear me.

I'm Logan.

I'm a resident of Somerville.

I um an environmental engineer.

Um, and I'm hoping to join the conservation commission to help out with sort of all of their wetland and garden and other projects.

Thanks so much.

Thank you.

No, this is great.

Again, we are super happy to have you.

And it's always nice for me.

I think I like the fact that members can come, it's that we can put some faces together.

So and also I looked at your resume, it's really powerful.

So I thought I would maybe just ask you, like, I mean, first we are excited.

You gotta you you you have uh approval in advance.

So this question is just to kind of like it's uh just to get some familiarity about like also your thought process because we are grappling with these issues, you know, trying to balance some of this audience housing, and then there's also the infrastructural needs, you know.

So, how do you balance that with the preservation of open space and our climate resilient goals?

Like it would be just nice to hear your thought process about that.

Yeah, it's that's definitely sorry, through you, Mr.

Chair.

That's um definitely a really tough question.

Um, because there's been a housing crisis, I think as long as I've lived here, if not longer.

Um, and then it's not as simple as just build more because there's open space, there's limits to what the infrastructure can handle.

Um, but it's definitely the city has made some progress on a lot of those fronts.

A lot of the um zoning changes that I have seen also, you know, we're really thoughtful about where could support more development.

Um as far as I know, I haven't seen any projects that would ever remove open space or any green infrastructure.

And so I'm looking forward to continuing to find ways to do both.

And hopefully a lot of the city's goals are aligned.

So separating the sewers is I think aligned with also increasing capacity.

Um so hopefully that also um creates a little more room for increasing housing in some of the areas they're getting new sewers for other projects.

Thank you.

Amazing.

Amazing.

Mr.

Braille, you got my enthusiastic approval.

So counselor, you and camping.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I I just wanted to say I reviewed uh both candidates for the commission's resumes.

I am just totally blown away by the caliber of candidates that we get for this commission for all of the commissions in the city.

Um just really really thankful that that people of your um skills and backgrounds are stepping up to serve the city.

So thank you.

I'm more than happy to support your resignation.

Confirmation, don't resign, please.

The resignation.

Anyway, thank you.

Uh uh Counselor UN Campaign.

Any other committee member have any questions for Mr.

Braille?

Councillor Ling.

Uh yeah, I just have one quick one.

I'm just curious.

Like, you know, you um obviously I are I already I've um just to echo um through the chair with this.

Sorry.

Um I I like my uh fellow counselors here have reviewed the the resumes and I mean they're really truly fantastic.

Uh I'm curious, you you know, uh in the the cover letter you had talked a little bit about like the like the rain gardens and and um like bioswalls and stuff like that.

I'm curious, you do you see that like um for example summer street.

We've we've done a lot of work on those, like yeah, how how do you find those?

Do you think that those are our successful examples, or do you think we like you know uh do you think there's there's interesting examples elsewhere?

Um yeah, through you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I yeah, I I passed by the ones on Summer Street quite a lot.

Um and those are interesting because some of them are meant to have water flow into them and some are just green space.

You can sort of tell from the sidewalk side.

Um, you know, whether or not the the plantings are below grade or whether they're sort of mounds of soil.

Um so those would have water flow away from them rather than to them.

Um so I unfortunately have not seen those ones in action.

Um I'm hoping they are working as intended, the ones that are below grade to collect rainwater.

Um I've seen a few others in the city that I think are maybe not working 100% as intended.

Um or places that might be you know space for improvement.

You know, it may not have been intended to um have the water from as large of an area as I was wondering that it might.

So it may actually be handling the water as intended correctly, and then I'm maybe being ambitious in how much more water could be directed towards some of the infrastructure.

Um, I think honestly, one of my favorite examples of rain gardens, there's one um on the Tufts campus that is uh it's like a miniature rotary, so it's surrounded by walking patterns, not roads.

Um, but it water flows into it up until it hits a certain level, and then it flows out a higher uh outflow and into the regular storm drainage system.

So that I think is a good example of uh, you know, controlling for you know, if it's too much for the rain garden, but it I think functions pretty well up until that point.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, uh Mr.

Bill for uh entertaining me on that one.

Uh I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

No, the guy thank you for the work you did for you know, like the Mamas and uh the growing center, you know, like the bike Davis Square Bikeware Community Gardens.

It's like you're pretty involved in the city.

Counselor.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I just wanted to echo the sentiments of my colleagues.

Um through you, Chair to the applicant.

Um I really appreciate that our city has such um qualified and experienced candidates, and I appreciate your dedication and passion.

And especially given you know, climate challenges that we're facing and increasing flooding, you know.

I think that this this the work that of the commission is only gonna become more and more important.

So I'm so grateful.

So thank you.

Thank you.

So I think I can safely say every committee member has asked the question and they got an excellent response.

So I think if we don't have any more questions, which I know we don't, we will thank you, Mr.

Logan.

Can you hear me?

You briefly cut out um when you were just explaining what you would like to do with this item.

Oh, did I did I get cut out?

Just briefly, yes.

Oh, my bad.

No, I just wanted to I was thanking Mr.

Logan for just the time and the interest in serving a community and for all the things that now is done, you know, this far, and said we'll lay this item on the table, you know, for approval at the end of the meeting.

Or should we claim should we just do a roll call at the moment?

Um up to you.

We could do that.

Okay.

So roll call, Claude Delani.

All right, so it says on item number two um for the appointment of Logan Brill to the Conservation Commission.

This is McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Councilor Ewan Campan.

Yes.

Caramba.

Yes.

All right.

That is all members in favor.

You thank you, Mr.

Logan.

So uh, do we have our friend Valerie Loca with us?

I have all these multiple window on my screen.

I think Valerie, I think it's solved.

Yeah, Valerie, I see you.

You know, do you want to introduce the seven, you know, say you know, something to the address the committee members.

Chairma, sorry to um jump in.

We just will need to read this item into the record um before you give Valerie the floor if that's okay.

Oh jeez, I got ahead on myself.

Oh, okay.

So Miss Mr.

Mr.

Drizden is here finally.

Can you hear us, Mr.

Dritton?

Yes.

Um, I've been here for a while, but I haven't been able to turn on my my video.

So there was a little technical difficulties on my side.

My apologies.

No, no worries.

I mean, it happens all the time.

So would you, you know, um club, would you read the next item and then Mr.

Dr.

will be honored for you to you know introduce the candidate to us?

Sounds good.

All right, this is item number three, ID number 26-0381 requesting confirmation of the appointment of Valerie Locker to the Conservation Commission.

The candidate.

Yes.

Um second.

Okay, so Valerie Loker has applied to be on the conservation commission.

Um, she's highly qualified with the background in uh environmental consulting, also in aboraculture.

And as you know, the Sunville Conservation Commission administers and enforces the Massachusetts Wetland Protection and Rivers Act, including reviewing and issuing permits for projects that are in near or has the potential impact wetlands or riverfront areas.

Um Valerie has actually had the experience on being on the other side of the table um before coming before us for a permit application.

So she is um very familiar with this process, and she will be more than an asset to the summer vote conservation commission.

Thank you so much, Dr.

Dritten.

Uh Ms.

Locke, you want to share something with a committee member before we kind of like give our comments and ask questions if we do have any um sure.

Thank you for the introduction and of course for having me.

I have been wanting to find a way to get more involved with the city for a while now and feel really excited about this and what I could bring to the community.

Um my background is environmental science, generally on the wetlands and permitting side, but I personally am very passionate about infrastructure, and I know that our city has a lot of challenges ahead.

So excited to help address them.

Thank you.

No, this is I mean, we're so honored to have you again.

Uh when I read your cover letter.

The board of you is I mean, just the the one that you kind of like just even talk about when you're walking around just periodically pause, you know, and just the pride of the city.

I think is is neat.

So no, thank you for stepping up to serve.

You know, I guess if you're in front of us when we have all this stellar candidate, I mean, I for one, I always have something, you know, not just not because it's like a jailbreaker or something, just for my own kind of like education, because how often do we you know, like meet like formidable candidates like you?

So I always kind of like I would switch gear by saying with your level of like also like very rich background, like how do you see your role like you know on the conservation commission to helping the city advance both environmental protection and then with responsible development?

It's a tough one.

Um I do no no the the anything you say is excellent in my book.

So it's like yeah, and I I like to say that the first you know few months I spend in a position, it's a lot of uh level setting, seeing how things are happening already, how they're already being done, and figuring out what the relationships and what the networks are, and then figuring out from there how to grow it.

Um I think that there's there's so much need for redevelopment that it really opens opportunity for us because development that was done you know 50 years, 100 years ago was just done by different standards.

There's so much pavement that could be not pavement.

Um even I know this isn't owned by Somerville, but draw seven being turned through you know, this combination of open space, passive recreation space, stormwater management when it was a pretty sad mode field for a long time.

You know, there's there's opportunity with what we already have.

So I'm I'm interested to observe for a little bit, see how things are currently running, and then start to build from there.

Wow, you went above and beyond.

I told you.

Any other committee member have any questions?

Let me see.

Oh, Councillor Hat.

Thank you.

Um through you uh to Miss Loker.

I just wanted to uh also appreciate how uh grateful I am that someone with your qualifications um passion is interested in serving the city.

Um one of the things that I really appreciated about your application was your um your experience, you know, dealing with really complex issues and trade-offs and uh navigating um uh the interpersonal dynamics, you know, that always are at play in in these complex issues.

So um I really appreciate the experience that you're bringing and that you're interested in putting it to work for our city.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Hadd.

Any other committee member have any questions?

I don't see any.

So uh I will make the motion from the chair, you know, to approve.

And uh Clerk Delaney, would you you know called it all?

Not I can.

Councilor McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Yes, Counselor Link.

Yes, please.

Council Ewan Campin.

Yes.

Chairman Baugh.

Yes, please.

All right, with that, that is all present members in favor.

So, Ms.

Locker and Mr.

Brill.

So this is congratulations, but it's you're gonna hold your applause until after the city council meeting on next Thursday, March uh May 14.

So that's where it becomes official.

But we are really thrilled that you you know, you step up, you know, and want to serve, you know, in this capacity.

So thank you for your time and thank you for everything you do for the city.

Thank you.

So, Club Delani, what what's the next item on the next up is item number four, ID number 26-0483 requesting confirmation of the appointment of Eric Weisman as commissioner of public works.

Oh, yes.

Commissioner Weisman.

It's is Edit Weisman there.

Hi, yes.

Uh, thank you, Chair Eric Wiseman.

Um TPW commissioner.

Is there anyone from the administration that usually will introduce you, or you just gotta just introduce yourself?

Well, Chief uh Chair, I don't know.

This is my first time.

So Director Naggin, I think, you know, usually it's like, you know, IGH will, you know, present this.

So you well, I don't want to call anybody, but again, the administration will usually present, you know.

Through you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Director Gill is still here.

I think she was raising her hand, physically raising her hand, not using the raise hand function, um, as she will be introducing Commissioner Wiseman.

Director Gill, you're still here.

Yes.

Take it away.

My pleasure.

Uh, it is absolutely my pleasure to uh introduce uh and recommend to the committee, Eric Weisman is the commissioner of DPW.

Eric, I'll just give a short version.

Uh Eric can certainly fill in the blanks here.

But Eric has been with the city since 2017.

He served in the mayor's office as uh in SummerStat as an analyst, uh, was then promoted to director of operations in 2019 in the DPW.

Uh Eric gracefully took over at a moment's known notice as the interim commissioner for DPW uh and served in that capacity until he was put into the position uh very recently.

Um he is a very competent manager, he can speak to his own skills.

I'm certainly I'm certain he'll be happy to answer any questions.

Um the city is quite frankly very lucky to have him.

Uh and I've worked with Eric for five years now, and uh I I can attest to that as well, as well as many of my colleagues.

So with that, I present Eric Wiseman to certainly answer any questions that you have.

You know, Eric Wiseman, do you want to do you have anything to share with members of the committee?

Uh yeah, sure.

Very briefly, thank you, uh Director Kill.

Uh everything she said was true.

Um I joined uh the city in 2017 in Somerstadt.

Uh the key department that I started in those days was TPW, uh, when the opportunity came up for uh director of operations.

Um I was very excited to to get more directly involved in the operations of that department.

Um so I've been there since 2019.

Um I'm a resident of Somerville.

I have a child in the school district.

So uh I love the city.

I love working for the city, and um, I'm looking forward to your questions.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you for your service, you know.

It's always helpful, especially like you know, DPW.

That's it's like the most, you know, like uh, I mean, in my books, like you roll like a lot, and you you also you cut across almost every department, and so uh I would just kind of like just like to see in in and hear from you, like how you plan to improve like responsiveness in communication between department and residents, you know, especially around recording, you know, service concerns.

Like, how do you have what is your approach there?

Yeah.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Um I I pride myself on collaboration with uh other departments, and uh, I think that was one of the key uh things um that I stressed in my candidacy.

Uh as operations director, I chaired the events committee or sorry, events meetings, which is uh a committee of a of various departments that all work on the events uh that the city puts on.

So um we we meet weekly and review uh all the events going on in the next couple of weeks and make sure that we really leave no stone unturned uh when it comes to um these these great events that the city puts on.

So making sure that you know, highway, police, um the fire department, everybody's on the same page.

And uh I think that's the attitude that I take towards uh all city operations.

Uh I believe that DPW doesn't do anything in a vacuum, that everything we do um uh is in like you know, hand in glove with um engineering with water and sewer, um, with the police department, with the fire department, with the school department.

And I really see um the DPW as uh a part of a larger organism and not an organism unto itself.

So that's that's really how I look at things.

And I think you know, as we have that outlook that improves um uh constituent experience by by making sure that they know that we're we're not acting in a silo and we're we're working together.

No, thank you.

And and you touch on some very, you know, like key points.

Thank you for that response.

And I'm glad that you also know like just how important your department is in connecting a lot of the dots.

And just one last, you know, thing for me is like just to you know, figure out like your strategy, you know, uh for modernizing uh public work systems, especially around as you hear we are talking about climate adaptation, you know, street maintenance, waste reduction, like you know, all this, there's all this different, you know, like stuff that they're there is almost like an evolution.

And so I can imagine like just the thick of it, it's all you know, like in your face.

Can you, you know, what is yeah, do you have any strategy around that?

Uh thank you for the question, Chair.

Yeah.

Um of the things that's been really important for us is rolling out technology to our staff.

Uh a lot of systems in DPW were until very recently, very paper-based, uh, involving colored cards, things like that.

Uh, and I think that those systems got us a long way, but there's an opportunity to to take advantage of things like iPads and you start using those into the field.

Uh, have the ability for our staff to like take pictures of work orders as they complete them.

So uh residents won't see, you know, one-word answers done, like they'll see.

Um, oh, this job is finished, and they can see what the job looks like, or they can see um get feedback, like, hey, I went out to check out this thing that you requested, and I don't see it.

Here's a picture, and then like the resident could respond, like, oh, that's not the right location.

Uh so that's one thing.

Um there's uh trying to think other technology stuff.

So we've looked at um things to make people safer, uh, like speed limiters, um, trying to roll those out, but um at the same time, you know, meeting all of our bargaining obligations, making sure that we're working with the unions on rolling out any new technologies.

Uh so I think uh you will start to see more and more of those technologies, but it will take time to get over the finish line some.

Thank you.

Thank you, you know, for your walk.

And I can imagine like it's one of the most challenging department.

I can imagine.

So I think never all day.

Counselor UN Camp, then Councillor Hart, and then Councillor Link.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Through you, thank you, Director.

Um, I'm thrilled to support you tonight.

You know, we've had the opportunity to work together for for years, and just every time that I've worked with you, I've been incredibly impressed.

Um I guess the question that I have um while we have you here, um I think probably city counselors have a relatively specific perspective on, you know, based on what we hear from constituents on kind of what from our perspective might be the biggest issues.

But I'm curious, what do you perceive as kind of the biggest challenges for the department?

Things that maybe we are on the council are not aware of.

Um, or or maybe we are.

Um and how do you plan to address those in the role?

Uh for the chair, thank you for your question.

Yes, it's always been good to work together.

Um, I think that uh there's a long history of maybe um uh things being done one particular way, and like just because this is the way things are done, that they that we just uh there's a certain amount of inertia in how we do things.

So I think one of the like the big sort of big picture challenges is um really like digging in with our staff, um, understanding the work, see if there are opportunities for improvement to see uh better results for constituents um and other stakeholders.

Uh I'm lucky that I have an incredible staff at DPW that that is uh willing to answer um my questions, my silly questions, and explain to me why certain things have to be what one way and why they might be able to be changed.

Um so yeah, I think like that is like one of the the sort of big picture issues that you guys might not see.

Um I'm sure you're aware of our challenges with staffing, uh, filling positions.

Um it's been a tough um environment for several years, but we've uh had some good luck uh filling in some of the trades positions and some of the the positions in some other departments.

We have uh a handful of departments that are very close to being fully staffed.

So um that for a long time was one of our um challenges.

I'm hoping to see that improve.

Uh and I'm hoping to see the fruits of that.

Um so that's a couple examples.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director Weissman, for that response.

Councillor Hadd.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, and through you to Director Weissman, thank you so much for your service to the city and your interest in stepping up into this position.

Um, I'm very excited uh about this.

Um, I just wanted to ask because such a big part of the job is managing a really large staff.

I was um be curious to hear just more of your kind of management philosophy.

Um and how did you um you didn't start out your career as a manager?

You know, how have you grown as a manager over your career and um just kind of what guides you in that role.

Sure.

Uh through the chair, thank you for your question.

Uh yeah, I I came in from an analytical perspective.

Um, my particular interests at the time were about um systems operations.

Uh, so it was very easy to like try to embed myself in the department and learn how things worked that way when I came in as a uh into the director of operations role, I could start.

It was easy to, I wouldn't say easy, but I was able to uh shift into uh starting to manage some uh processes and operations, um, and then uh gradually overseeing staff and like uh work units.

So uh like because I came up as the operations director, it was it was um a good opportunity to sort of gradually work my way uh into uh managing a uh very quickly, but a very large workforce.

And um, in terms of my management style, uh I see my um team as really partners and us as teammates.

So I like to have a lot of touch points, uh frequent check-ins with my staff, uh clear communications of what our what my expectations are, what I'm looking for, and I'm really uh privileged to have a really good team of uh superintendents and directors that uh that help support.

So you all good.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

Thank you, Chair.

Um through you uh to Director Weissman.

Um so uh I guess just to echo what others have already said, um, thrilled that you're you're uh you're up for this uh and that that you accepted this position.

Uh, because it's um it's been in my short time um uh on the the city council, it has been um very very good um to to work with you.

Um you know we get to see you a lot on the school buildings facilities and maintenance committee.

Uh and uh yeah, so I've got maybe just a couple quick questions.

First one's about snow.

No, I'm just kidding.

I'm save you from that.

Uh but for real, um, so a lot of my questions are actually been answered, but I think one that I still have is kind of um what your approach is like um in terms of kind of problem solving around uh constitu like specifically not in with the lens of constituent services, um, because I know like you know there's people have problems with things, and sometimes there's you know there's not there's no easy solution, um, and we have to identify that like oh, like you know, this is a bad problem, but maybe it has to be this way, versus like this is a bad problem, and it's only this way.

I think you know, kind of you hinted at it before because we've always done it this way, and we're not solving it because we've always done it this way, and it doesn't actually take it.

Yeah.

Uh through the chair, thank you.

Uh thank you for the question.

Thank you for not having a question about snow.

Um but I'm just kidding, I was expecting a snow question.

So I'm a little disappointed.

Um I I think there's so there's there's a few things like there's the constituent services issue that is simple, it's solved by the like the state the standard response.

And that's like probably the biggest chunk of constituent service requests.

Um, and then there are the ones like as you said, that uh we've always done it this way, but it's um that it but it's not like satisfactory uh for a small group.

Um and then there's like even maybe a third where where it's something where it's a very individual problem and uh the the uh the standard uh answers don't apply uh necessarily.

And I think it's like when you get to that point, so or sorry, to back back up a little bit.

And I think I think the way we provide good customer service is to have uh clear policies and procedures for how we handle the work.

And we work very closely with the constituent constituent services team on uh sort of defining and agreeing on a set of standard operating procedures and answers and processes for dealing with requests.

I think I talked a little bit about this at um at the building facilities maintenance last week.

Um I think when something doesn't fit into the process or the procedure, like that's when it's time that like sometimes um our uh superintendents have to reach out to a constituent and really understand the issue, or uh I have to reach out to really understand the issue.

And sometimes it's a miscommunication, we're not sure we're talking about the right thing.

Uh sometimes we have different language for how we talk about stuff, but I think it's really important for us to listen uh to understand and then look back at our processes and our procedures and make sure that they are working for everybody.

Wonderful directors, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

Director Weisman, as you can see, you know, this uh you have so much support from the council for your for you and your work.

So we appreciate that.

Um I don't see any further question from my colleagues, so I will move here to recommend approval.

You know, thank you, Chair.

Any questions?

Can you please call the role?

That I can.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Councilor Ewan Campin.

Yes.

Teremba.

Yes.

All right.

With that, that is all votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Clect Delani.

Congratulations, Dr.

Wiseman.

And uh it will be official, you know, uh at the city council meeting next week.

Next agenda item, Clerk DeLenny.

Yep.

Next up is item number six, ID number 26-0698 requesting confirmation of the promotion of Dennis Sullivan to the position of fire district's chief.

Wow.

So the the fat cats.

Chief Breen here to introduce.

Right here, right here, counsel.

Oh, okay.

Hey, Chief Breen, sorry.

Like my computer, it's like this.

I have all this divided screen, and then I still have another.

So sorry, I didn't see you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Would you like to introduce you know the candidate to us?

I would be happy to.

Uh I'm happy to introduce Captain Dennis Sullivan for the for the position of uh district fire chief tonight.

Dennis was appointed to the Summer Fire Department in 2011.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 2015 and uh promoted to the rank of captain in 2020.

He holds a bachelor's in chemistry from Boston College as well as a master's in chemistry from Northeastern University.

In addition, he has a bachelor's degree in fire administration from Sion State.

Uh Dennis is an EMT.

He has certifications in fire officer one and two, fire instructor one and two, among others.

And I'm pleased to introduce Dennis tonight uh for the position and the promotion to district chief.

Thank you for that general introduction, Chief.

Uh uh is Captain Sullivan with us.

Captain Sullivan, do you want to you know address members of the this body?

Do you like me to introduce myself?

Hello, Captain Sullivan.

Good to see you.

How are you doing?

Not too bad.

You do you want to say a few words to members of the committee?

Sure, yeah.

Um, I've been with the department for a little over 15 years.

I've held various roles in suppression, administration, and fire prevention.

Um, as the chief of the department mentioned, I do hold several degrees in fire science and also in chemistry.

I'm looking forward to the new opportunity.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Uh we're happy to have you.

Uh I think yeah, it's for yourself.

I guess you know, uh, for me at this level that you're you're standing in the ranks, you know.

Uh to you know, know your approach, you know, uh regarding mentoring, you know, and developing the next generation of leadership within the fire department.

Can you speak to that?

Yeah, definitely.

Um mentoring training people that will then be the next leaders in the department.

It's huge.

Then in terms of what I would do in my position, I would do that same thing for that next wave of lieutenant sentence as they're moving their way up.

Anytime I have an opportunity to uh to teach or train someone, I I take that opportunity.

Captain Sullivan, I think your network is party.

I think you probably said some things that make sense, but uh I wasn't sure if that's it was on my end.

But I guess um I was supposed to end with that question, but now that your network was party, and I'm you're not I'm not letting you off the hook, you know.

So I would like to understand also like you know how you've prepared to lead across multiple units, you know, and manage complex emergency operation at the district wide level.

Yeah, and I and I think the first thing would be is um training.

I've taken various training certificates at different levels, and then also the degree programs that I'm in, um, especially the the Salem State one and fire science administration.

It really focuses on kind of higher level um officer type uh issues, and you know, kind of how to work on the administration side at more of that chief level.

Nice, very succinct.

You see, and the second question came because your first the first one, your network was party.

If you had a spotty second network, I would have asked another third question in different you know, variations, so you don't have to repeat yourself.

So, but thank you for that response.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, through you, thank you so much for being here.

Um, I I have two questions, and I I think these will just reveal my ignorance.

The first is it common for firefighters to have backgrounds in chemistry.

No, uh well, I I can only speak for myself, but I I think I might possibly be an N of one.

I do not know of any others.

So it's very interesting.

Um, and through the chair, I I think it's very relevant.

You know, we we have companies in the city that have huge amounts of reactive chemicals, battery companies, things like that.

I think it's really relevant expertise.

And the other question um that I have, Mr.

Chair, uh it's not to your qualifications or anything.

I'm pleased to support you.

It's more just for my own information.

Um, in this role as district chief, are you are do you have like a subject matter expertise?

Can you just explain to me like how this are there different kind of parts of the department and you'll be overseeing one of them in particular, or how does it work?

Yeah, so in the position, um the the city is separated into essentially two districts.

Okay, and then I would be responsible in that half of the city for any uh major emergency events that happen on that side.

Okay, so Mr.

Chair, it's uh geographic separation, it's not yes, yes, but it but if we did have um an incident that was large enough, you would get both the chiefs and director working at the same time, respond to that call and work together.

Uh understood, Mr.

Share.

I know sorry, uh, with having a rough internet connection, but I think I I've heard enough to to um answer my questions.

So I'm I'm pleased to support you tonight.

Thank you very much for your service to the city.

Thank you.

Wow, Captain Sullivan, this is your lucky day.

I know it was working fine up until it was my turn to go, apparently.

It's okay, don't worry.

No, no, I mean we're happy to have you.

It's just we gotta do what we gotta do.

Um so do members of the committee have any further questions for Captain Sullivan.

I don't see any, so I will move from the chair to recommend approval if there's body any objection.

Clerk, would you please call?

Yep.

On recommending approval for item number four, excuse me.

Item number six.

Council McLaughlin, Councilor Hart, yes, Councilor Link.

Yes, Councillor Ewan Campin.

Yes, Chair Mba.

Yes.

All right, with that, then is all votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Clerk Delani.

Counselor Ewan Camping, you're talking about chemistry.

Just wait until you see the next one for CPA and then the next one, MBA, and then I myself, I was like, wow, I could not even imagine like the various, you know, like calibre of people that are in the fire department.

I was like, wow, like anyway.

Um would you read the next item, please?

Yes, I can.

Item number seven, ID number 26-0701, requesting confirmation of the promotion of Sean Marquis to the position of fire lieutenant.

Chief Brin.

Thank you, Council Mpa.

Yes, we have uh many varied backgrounds tonight.

Uh I'm pleased to introduce firefighter Sean Marquee.

Sean's been a member of the department since 2021.

As you mentioned, he has a bachelor's degree in accounting from UMass Amherst, and he's a certified CPA.

Uh, he's also an EMT, and uh pleased he's been uh an acting lieutenant now for a bit, uh Pet Heal Square on ladder three, and I'm pleased to uh introduce him tonight for promotion to lieutenant.

Is the Sean there with us?

Yes.

Uh thank you, Chief.

Good to see you, sir.

Thank you very much.

Good to see you too, counselor.

So um, would you want to say a few words to the members of this body?

Sure.

Uh I would just like to say I've gone for uh five years now, obviously.

Uh you you discussed my background uh before that, but uh coming to the department.

Uh I lived in Somerville uh 10 years leading up to my time on the department.

Uh loved the city and uh really wanted to give back to the community that I lived in for so long.

So uh I got in the department, been here for about five years now.

Uh I've loved my time on the department, and I think the best way for me to grow in my career uh and to help the city of Somerville is to take the next step into the position of lieutenant and uh and try and lead from the front.

So that's kind of where I'm at now.

Thank you, acting Lieutenant Mackies.

We appreciate you.

We are always we're all here because we want to give back.

Exactly.

So I appreciate you know your time and your service to the city.

But I just want to see how you know uh that demonstration for readiness to take on frontline supervisory responsibilities, particularly like uh can you share that with us?

Sorry, can you just repeat the last part of the question?

I just missed the last part there.

Oh, yeah, uh, thank you.

Just to say, like how you know, can you share how you know you've demonstrated readiness to take on frontline supervisory responsibilities, particularly in high pressure emergency situations?

Yep.

Uh so uh having the background as an emt uh going through the process being on the department for the last five years.

I've kind of collected and uh learned as much as I could from the senior firefighters, uh great lieutenants and uh captains that I've had in the past and uh other line firefighters who who have that experience.

Uh additionally, as Chief Green mentioned, I've been acting in the position of lieutenant now uh since about September of last year.

So uh I've been lucky enough to kind of be able to get boots on the ground training uh in the lieutenant position and really kind of learn uh the process uh as well as kind of doing the taking the test and and realizing kind of what the different steps are um outside of just the the uh on the line uh firefighter skills, uh getting into the books and really learning the the tactics behind uh taking commands and and thinking of uh the larger picture instead of uh kind of just a task base uh orientation uh at the firefighter level.

So that's kind of where I stand at this point.

Excellent.

Excellent.

Do members of the committee have any questions for acting Lieutenant Councillor Hart Thank you.

Um just to build on that um because I am this is this is pretty new to me, and so I'm trying to uh understand it.

We have the job description um uh fire lieutenant, but um could you help me understand a little bit better, like a more high-level view of what you just described in terms of what will the new what are the duties of a fire lieutenant?

Um that will be I understand you've already been in the position.

Um, but uh what are the new duties involved with that?

Thank you.

Uh first first and foremost, that would be uh the safety of the public as well as the members of the the crew uh that I'm working with.

Uh that's that's paramount.

Uh the next step would be kind of acting as a liaison between the firefighters and the administration.

So uh communicating up and down the chain of command, uh filling out reports, making sure to document things appropriately to cover the city as well as the the individuals on the fire department uh and the individuals that were serving in the community.

Um and then it it would just be um uh being responsible at the scene uh for uh kind of having the the overall scope of the incident instead of being more task-oriented, like I described.

So uh kind of seeing things from the 10,000 foot view uh and being able to make decisions that uh would are going to affect not only myself and my crew but also the public.

Uh so kind of taking it outside of that that task base orientation and kind of growing that to a larger scale.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Hart.

The members of the committee have any other questions for acting Lieutenant Mackey.

I don't see any, so I will move from the chair to recommend approval.

Clerk, would you please make call the role?

And again, this is for reckoning approval for item number seven.

Councillor McLaughlin, Counselor Hart.

Yes, Counselor Link.

Yes, indeed.

Councilor Ewan Campen.

Yes, Chairman Baugh.

Yes.

All right, once again, that is all votes in the affirmative.

Congratulations.

Uh so final time for the fire department, Claire.

Yep.

Item number eight, ID number 26-0702 requesting confirmation of the promotion of Michael J.

Marino to the position of fire captain.

Chief Council Mabad, thank you.

Uh I'm pleased to uh introduce Lieutenant Michael Marino for the position of fire captain.

Uh Mike is a U.S.

Navy veteran, he has a bachelor's in nursing from UMass Boston, a master's in business administration from Pittsburgh State.

He's a registered nurse.

He has numerous commendations from the Sun Will Fire Department, and he is the Son Fire Department's infection control officer.

And uh I I can attest that I personally leaned heavily on Mike uh during the COVID pandemic.

Uh I I am extremely thankful for him.

He he he saved me uh so many times.

Things were going things were absolutely crazy during those times, and his medical knowledge absolutely really saved the day for me in the department.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chief Brain.

But again, we have better supportive of him already, but we still gotta ask him.

So Lieutenant Marino, can you do you can you please address the members of this body?

Thank you for your service.

Yes, counselor, thank you.

Uh, and through you.

Um, so Michael Marino, like uh Chief mentioned, um, I'm going on my 20th year here, uh, obviously with the fire department.

It's been great.

Um, I feel like it's gone too fast.

I'm hoping to try to slow it down.

Um, but uh yes, I'm looking to uh looking forward to kind of making it the next step um at the fire department and uh you know um being able to serve the citizens uh you know in a different role um and and kind of pour my knowledge more onto the the newer class.

We're definitely getting to be a younger department, which is exciting.

Wow.

No, thank you, Lieutenant.

It's uh it's really amazing, also like just to see the kind of people that you know I hear today, just to hear that you said the chief's life.

It's almost like we should not even have any questions.

We just said, thank you, thank you.

So I guess, you know, one thing I want to uh um understand you is just to hear more about the you've developed that prepare you to effectively manage both personnel and operations, you know, at the district level.

Sure.

Um so yeah, uh I I do have a pretty um extensive background in terms of managing people and situations.

Um just from the military, uh, right after 9-11, I went into the Navy, um, where I uh rose to the rank of E5.

So I was able to be in charge, and I I was part of uh um uh an anti-kind of terrorism uh situation and bomb disposal.

So it was uh as well as I've also worked in an ER as a nurse and now now my 20 years on the fire department um at different levels learning from obviously great chiefs.

I think uh a couple of the big things that really stick out are um I really am um a stickler for communication and making sure I understand who I'm working with, what the best way to communicate with them and how they learn um as to not just take how I teach, but to try to to try to encompass uh ways for the folks and take into consideration how they how they learn and how they react.

For example, you can't you can't deal with uh you know a newer firefighter or a newer nurse um in in a in a hospital setting or a fire ground setting um by yelling if that's not the way they they handle things.

Um I also like um to to train a lot with folks.

I feel like uh if you do something over and over and over when it does become really difficult, you don't necessarily have to think it does it on its on its own.

Um because you've you've trained and and you've gone over that uh multiple times.

So I think uh just my my background um in kind of being what I call career OCD uh a little bit.

Um it really does lend um uh the ability to work with all sorts of uh types of folks and um and people and from all different backgrounds.

I like that.

I never had that word cut out OCD.

Thank you, Chair Through you.

Um I mean, I'm I'm thrilled that we've got all these amazing um comments.

I'm just curious.

Um so uh you've got this really kind of um impressive background, and I'm curious how you you can get how you'd like to leverage some of that in this new role.

Sure.

Um I think just moving forward, like the chief mentioned.

Um I try and you know, one of the big things you know, we see is all different sorts of infectious disease and certain things.

I feel like one of the things I've been able to do is um collaborate with other departments in the city.

Uh, I've been able to collaborate with DPW and help them kind of get their safety program off um and their bloodborne pathogen program off the off the ground and kind of solidify some of the policies.

Um, in terms of NARCAN and medications, I was able to kind of start that program, which has kind of grown and worked with the police and other departments throughout the city.

So um I think it's one of those things that uh where I can lend expertise and where the city needs it.

Um it it helps where we have gaps that I can fill it.

Um it helps that I also um you know, in those specific things, non-fire related, you're you're exposed in terms of uh consistently being up with the literature.

You're uh just like um, you know, district chief now um Sullivan and and uh Lieutenant Um Marquee, I can lean on them.

Those specific folks are always consistently getting the most up-to-date in fields of subject matter expert that they don't that you know you wouldn't quite have.

So um I also look to just continue to make sure the department with all the things that are changing.

We're an ever-changing city with all different types of folks moving in, all different types like you mentioned.

I think, counselor, both the different um uh, you know, businesses and and and laboratories and things that move in here.

Um, I do reach out and do speak with uh, you know, the hospitals and businesses around, so I have an idea on how to um you know best advise the employees of the city, specifically the fire department on you know best practices to stay safe during those specific things.

Uh just one follow-up question here on the so uh uh did I hear right?

You you you said you helped start the the Narcare program in the city?

Correct.

So this is back in uh I believe it's 2013 in that um the state of Massachusetts.

It was a it was a kind of a infancy program, if you want to call it, um, where there was you had to be a certain you had to have a certain amount of uh quote unquote incidences or overdoses to qualify to be inside the program.

Um so then Chief uh Kelleher, we we found that we had a need uh in the city, and um, you know, as as things started to evolve, we didn't have enough to qualify, quote unquote, to have that program be a state-funded program.

So we were able to use my nursing background and license to get the medications.

We partnered with Cambridge Health Alliance, who's our partner and bring it to the city.

And ever since then, we've had it as an independent um uh us and the police department have worked underneath that uh license.

That has saved a lot of lives.

So um thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome.

It's been great.

That's all I have.

Thank you, Chair.

Yeah.

Um, usually I never say response is great, but this is a great response.

Thank you, you know, for your service.

And we are really thrilled to have you and enthusiastically support your tendency.

Any other question from members of the spotted?

Yeah, I really hope not, but it's your prerogative.

So I'm I the chair would recommend, you know, approval.

Clark, would you please call the role?

That I can.

So recommending approval for item number eight.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor Link.

Yes.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Yes.

Chair and Baugh.

Yes, please.

All right.

That is all votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Uh congratulations.

It will be official next next Thursday city council meeting.

Uh so thank you for being here.

Thank you, Chief.

And thank you.

Appreciate you and your good night.

Yeah.

Thanks.

So now we have a final item.

The moment.

Clev, would you read the final item, please?

Yes, I can.

All right.

Final item on the agenda, item number nine, ID number 26-0713.

In his capacity, as president recommending the appointment of Courtney Henderson to the position of city clerk.

So at this point, I think uh uh the chief administrative officers.

I'm not sure, Club, uh the chief administrators officer S.

I know I heard from all the idea.

Is CO yeah.

Oh, I don't know.

How come I oh is it's the city clerk?

So you pull a fast one on us, Claire Wells.

I'm looking for like a CAO in level, anyway.

Uh so thank you for being here.

Would you please, you know, uh introduce uh Miss Henderson to us.

Yes, thank you so much, Mr.

Chair Kimberly Wells here in my capacity as city clerk.

And through you, it is with the incredible excitement that I announced to you um the appointment of Courtney Henderson to the position of city clerk.

So I will start with just a little bit about the process.

Um we went through several rounds of interview process with the president, the vice president and chair of confirmation of appointments and personnel matters, uh, myself and our HR director, all serving on the interview panel.

Um, and we met with a number of incredibly qualified candidates.

We really were um in such a fortunate position, I think, to have a lot of great options before us.

And Courtney Henderson rolls to the top of the list for several reasons.

So you might see on her resume that she's got background working for Somerville.

In fact, as the city's inaugural multilingual public information officer, and then went on to the city of Brockton, where she was their inaugural director of immigrant affairs.

I'm probably mangling some of these titles, but you'll get the gist.

Um, and then went on to the sheriff's office as their inaugural something or other about a certain program.

Um sorry for that as well.

Um, so really what I want to do to tie this together is sort of uh highlight that um Courtney has the ability to operationalize to take systems and build them from the ground up to manage teams in order to accomplish these goals.

And I say a lot of times that we have a lot of folks in the city who are really incredible at their roles at the jobs that they do, but sometimes they struggle with administration.

A lot of people can be great at a lot of things and not in fact great at being a city clerk because the attention to detail in some of these ministerial tasks and the administrative capabilities really are just not a good fit for everybody.

But Courtney demonstrated that she was able to also bring that side of the equation.

Um coupled together, I think these things will make her an incredible asset to lead the city council into its sort of next generation, if you will, um, and to lead the the city clerk's team in the work that they are doing to really take the work of the city to the next level.

So with that, I am very happy to introduce Courtney Henderson to the committee.

Are you there?

Yes, good evening, Mr.

Chair, and good evening to the members of the committee.

So great to be here.

And thank you, Kim.

You did an amazing job reading off my bio.

You very uh remarkable.

Thank you.

Uh thank you.

And you know, before I even also let just say a few words, I just want to reiterate, you know, just for the record that I was involved, you know, in the process, again, alongside with President Davis with him as a chief administrative officer director Gill.

And yes, it was a thorough process.

And Ms.

Henderson, you know, had a unanimous approval from the entire uh uh uh uh panel because once she really demonstrated a strong understanding of the critical role that the clerk's office plays in ensuring integrity of our legislative process, maintaining accurate public records, you know, she also brought forward a thoughtful vision for modernizing the office while preserving the rigor and transparency that you know our residents expect.

So um I will let you know address the members of this body, and after that, I will leave it to the members, you know, of the committee to ask any additional question as a CIF.

So Ms.

Henderson, take it away.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and through you.

I would like to say uh again, thank you for the opportunity to meet before you all.

I had a wonderful conversation with you, uh, Councilor Imba and Counselor Davis, um, along with the other members of the panel.

Um, as you all have probably read through my resume and and read through my cover letter, I am uh someone who is very passionate about civic engagement.

Uh it's been a passion of mine since senior year of high school, where I started my work uh and then worked all the way up to now, uh working in municipal government.

I am a proud uh co-president of the League of Women Voters, where most of my uh legislative work really comes from uh not only as being uh the president of the state board, but also doing the work at the state level, um, whether it be following a bill or writing testimonies for our legislative action committee members to read um on our behalf.

Um I do want to add that I'm super excited to return, potentially return to the city of Somerville.

Um, that Somerville uh in my role as the multilingual coordinator for uh Summer Viva was actually my first job after graduating from Harvard.

So it has a lot of sentimental value to me because you all gave me my start, and I am super excited to for the opportunity to go come back in a different capacity and continue the work uh in the city clerk's office.

Um I'm I don't want to steal your shine, uh Councilor Umba, but I think that is where I will leave it, and I'm happy to answer any and all questions that you have.

Thank you, Ms.

Henderson again.

Uh, we're thrilled to have you.

And uh leave it to members of my committee to ask any additional question as you see it fit.

So, colleagues, counselor you and camping, counselor, and then counselor link.

Counselor you and the flow.

Uh thank you so much for for stepping up.

You know, I I feel after the incredibly impressive search process.

There's I'm honestly struggling to come up with questions.

It feels like the the city clerk is like the water, we're the fish and you're the water we swim in.

You know, we we can't really do anything without the city clerk's office.

I've uh I worked with with John Long and with Kim, and they were just set an unbelievably high standard and made our lives easier and every single thing that we wanted to accomplish.

They helped facilitate that.

Um so I guess I I'm honestly kind of struggling to come up with good questions here because it's very clear that you're the right person for this job, and I'm thrilled to have you.

Um I guess I'm just kind of interested.

I don't I don't know you very well, you know, just to hear you speak a little bit more about your experience working with legislative bodies, you know, it can get funky.

Um just to hear your your you know big picture thoughts on it.

Thank you.

And through you, Mr.

Chair, um, to counselor Ewan Campen.

Um it might have been a long time ago, but I remember speaking before you and the rest of the council when we were talking about Civic Day.

Um, I don't know if you you remember that, but it's been been a quite a few years.

But to to your question about working with city council, I worked very closely with the city council uh in the city of Brockt during my time as a director of immigrant affairs.

Um I presented before them several times, uh one to justify my job.

Uh, and then the second time to give updates about the state of uh the immigration um enforcement that were in the city at the time.

Um, in addition to working with the city council, I worked very, very closely with the school committee and actually brought in uh meetings with not only the city councillors but school committees for the first time within the mayor's office to kind of pull them together to talk about how to combat some of the issues that we were experiencing.

Um as uh Kimberly Wells has mentioned earlier, I was the inaugural director.

So I was starting off with a pretty uh empty slate in in terms of protocols and how to move in in very delicate situations, but I was actually very lucky to have some experience with the city of Somerville under uh director Teresa uh Maria Teresa Nagel.

Um she was uh kind of a guiding light in how to navigate that.

So it's my my experience in my past has been very collaborative with city councils because I know they're the individuals in the community.

They know firsthand what their constituents are experiencing, um, and they are able to bring back that information to me, especially when I'm not always able to hit every ward or speak to every resident.

They really are uh a great sounding board and a great uh filter of information.

Excellent.

Councilor UN Campen.

You have any foot on the code.

I'm all set, Mr.

Chair.

Through you, thank you very much.

Really excited to work with you.

Same.

Thank you.

Counselor Hutt.

Thank you.

Um through you, Ms.

Henderson, it's a delight to meet you for the first time.

Um and I'm very very excited to meet you.

It's great to learn more about your background and experience and skills.

Um I'm just wondering if, you know, I really appreciate your commitment to uh local government and civic engagement.

Um and I'm wondering if you could just uh tell us a little bit more about that, flesh that out a little bit more and um including like what's your your vision for yourself in this role, like where do you see yourself um wanting to grow?

Um and as as clerk wells mentioned, you know, one of the things that um is just seems really challenging about this role is is kind of having to have the big picture and the attention to detail, like at all times.

Um so if you could just um speak to that as well a little bit.

I'd love to hear.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Through you, Mr.

Chair to Councillor Hart.

Yes, I am happy to flesh that out a little bit more.

So a lot of my work has been in the consultant role.

Um well, I will say it started off as a consultant role.

I worked with the um mayor of Nashville during my undergraduate years, um, where I consulted on reaching more uh minority voters in that in their uh city and developing a plan on how to strategically mobilize those group of voters.

So that was my first real experience in municipal government.

Um from there, I moved here to Massachusetts, uh, where I um officially became a resident, and I started working with a lot of organizations that um partnered with certain certain municipalities.

Uh one notably as the Massachusetts Women of Political Caucus.

I um helped them develop uh a training for people that just were elected to elected office, um, where they may not have had the uh experience or knowledge to kind of go in uh with a strategic plan.

So I think of eMERGE in a way, but a little uh more um detailed.

I and there's nothing wrong with the merge, but sometimes I think we can get in the one size fits all, and we kind of categorize you know different elected officials into these boxes.

And I've saw that there was a need to kind of expand out of that, which is why I partnered up with the Massachusetts women political caucus.

Um, of course, you all know um I spoke a little bit briefly about my my time in City of Brockton, but before I was even uh in the mayor's office, I worked very closely with um Mayor Carpenter uh right up until his passing, um, helping him get younger people involved in in local government.

Um, we saw that there was a trend of people, younger people getting close to voting age, not really caring about what's going on and thinking about the things that could affect them as they become um early voters.

So a lot of that has been consulting.

And then um from that, I have worked with the city of Somerville, um, City of Brockton in an official capacity.

Um, but I've always consulted.

I'm actually getting ready to, and I'm uh not trying to brag here, but I am looking forward to doing a secession planning.

Um it's gonna be at the National Convention for the League of Women Voters to talk about how elected officials um in some capacity help prep for the next future leaders.

Um, so that it's a more warm handoff rather than that staggered uh chopped transition, more continuity, I would say.

Um I hope that answers your question.

Now, in terms for envision, I uh I don't know if Counselor Umba had shared with you all, but I actually came to my interview with the 90 day 90-day plan already drafted out.

Um and I actually have it here in front of me because I wanted to be prepared this evening.

Um the vision that I have is really to use the first 30 days to gain a comprehensive understanding of office operations and culture and then the immediate needs of both the council and the office.

Um I'm very um very privileged and lucky to have met with um Clerk uh Wells last week to kind of start doing that work ahead of time.

Um it was a long evening, so I appreciate her for for her guidance and her conversations in that.

Um so that would be understanding um the team and listening to them, kind of going on a listening tour, um, thinking about workflow workflow mapping, um, resource audit and a compliance baseline.

And then the next 30 days would be an analysis and alignment.

So that would be the time that I would meet with you all, um members of the council to align priorities and make sure that I'm on um the same page as you all.

And then also developing uh relationships because you're right, Counselor Hart.

We have not had the privilege to meet.

I have met uh maybe half of the council during my time in Summerville, but I think you're a little newer.

Uh so I am looking forward to that opportunity.

But that would be during the next 30 days.

And then the last uh leg of that would be to start implementation in that long-term vision that you speak of.

So being able to execute and establish proactive service rather than reactive.

That's my philosophy.

That's how I like to move in every parts of my life is to be um proactive rather than waiting for a problem um to arise.

And then to set clear, measurable goals.

I am one who also loves smart goals.

I want to be able to um draft those by the last leg and then be able to share with you all what has been accomplished based off these timelines and due dates that I've given myself.

Um I hope that answers.

I don't know if there was a third part.

Okay.

No, that's great.

Thank you.

Very much.

Uh thank you, Chair.

My question is about the 91st day now.

Um what I would like to know.

Um, so you you talked a bunch about uh in your uh resumes, all that in the cover letter uh about you know transparency.

Um and then obviously also like you the um so kind of relatedly the so I'm interested in kind of how you see transparency and how you how you you could potentially improve it or like you know, if there's things that you think we're doing particularly well um or not.

And then um how that might also relate to your um your pastorals, you know, talking about like uh language accessibility.

Awesome.

Thank you.

And through you, Mr.

Chair to Counselor Link.

Um that great question.

I I really love that question a lot.

Um and I would never say that there are anything that you all need to improve, not yet.

I still need to get the votes tonight.

Um, but but with transparency, I believe in always sharing the good, bad, and the ugly.

Um I've I don't like to sugarcoat, and I think that by that's how you build trust is by sharing what you're seeing firsthand, uh, what the challenges are going to be so that we can all collectively work to solve that problem.

Um I've always been that way in every role that I've held.

Um, even recently now, um, I'm working with the sheriff's office in Barnesville County, and there are some challenges that we're facing with getting um certain services provided.

And there's a couple of colleagues that say, I don't think you should tell the sheriff that's gonna upset her.

And I'm like, no, I think she needs to know because um I rather her know now than when it when the problem balloons, she asks why wasn't this brought to her attention?

Um, and I think that when I am able to tell people when things are not looking as great, they will appreciate and respect when I say that things are looking amazing.

Um, in terms of expanding uh that transparency, um and this is not to say that I'm gonna just inudate your calendars, but I would love to kind of establish relationships with you all individually, um, because I know that each of you all have your own uh particular goals and vision.

Of course, you know, you all are a collective body, but I do know that there are certain things that you all would love to push for your uh respective uh wards or as as a whole.

So I would love to also be able to help you in any capacity that I can.

So that's another way that I plan to um provide transparency and open communication.

Um while I have been criticized for my uh lack of work life balance, uh I am accessible via email, phone call, text.

Um, and I usually respond pretty quickly.

Um, and so I want to just quickly share that so that you all know that I'm accessible to you pretty much at any time um so that we can create that trust and bond.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councillor Link.

Ms.

Henderson, you said that I texted you like two days ago.

You haven't even hey, I'm kidding.

You know, um bad service.

That was a good one.

Nicely played.

Um, no, I see as a college, you can tell, like that's why I never I didn't have any question.

I just thought, you know, I was involved throughout the entire process.

I just wanted, you know.

Um, I'm glad you guys asked all this very thoughtful question.

So I think at this point, if there's no further question, you know, I will make a motion from the chair recommending you know, approval.

So Clerk, would you please call the role to the cam?

All right, on recommending proof approval, excuse me for item number nine.

Counselor McLaughlin.

Counselor Hart.

Yes, Counselor Link.

Yeah, Counselor Ewan Campan.

Yes, Chair and Ba.

Yes, please.

All right, that is all votes in the affirmative.

So now we take everything.

Thank congratulations, Ms.

Henderson.

Thank you very much.

We are thrilled to have you.

And uh yeah, so it will be so the vice chair will be the one presenting this report next week.

Spoiler alert.

I'll be in Miami.

So uh, but I think at this point, we'll it's not official until next does it.

And um we can take everything uh we did not approve the minutes, so we can take everything off the table.

I know we kept that minute on the table to approve at the end, so we can take it off the table and move to approve and move to our join.

You know, can you please call the role, Clerk?

Counselor McLaughlin, Counselor Hart, yes, counselor link.

Yes, please.

Council you and Campen.

Yes, Chair and Baugh.

Yes, please.

Thank you, Colin.

It is 8 13 p.m.

Thank you, Clark Delaney for your for your support, and bye guys.