OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting for Executive Session - May 27, 2026

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, May 27, 2026
BodySomerville, Massachusetts
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, May 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

I tried to not like the evening everyone.

0:20

This is a meeting of the city council, a special meeting of the city council.

0:22

It is um it's not Thursday, July 10th.

0:25

It is Wednesday, May 20th.

0:27

Uh my name is Lance Davis um presiding.

0:29

I use he, him pronouns.

0:31

Uh Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll to uh establish quorum?

0:36

Uh councillor Ewan Campin.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Counselor Link.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Councillor Scott.

0:43

Present.

0:44

Counselor Klingon.

0:45

Present.

0:46

Counselor Streso?

0:48

Counselor Said.

0:52

Counselor Said.

0:54

Counselor Wheeler?

0:56

Here.

0:57

Councillor Hart?

0:58

Here.

0:58

Counselor McLaughlin.

1:02

Counselor McLaughlin.

1:05

Counselor Umba.

1:07

President.

1:11

And Councilor Davis.

1:13

Here.

1:14

And let the record define Counselor Said just joined us.

1:17

Thank you, Councilor Said.

1:19

We have established quorum.

1:21

All right.

1:21

Thank you very much.

1:22

And I will I will note a a note of welcome to our new City Clerk Courtney Henderson, who's helping clerking for live for the first time.

1:29

So you're here.

1:35

Good to uh get things started with a special meeting.

1:36

We'll go a little soft landing.

1:38

Not that I sure you could I'm sure you could jump right in, but um this will give us a good opportunity to get our feet wet.

1:44

Um we have a short meeting, a short meeting agenda.

1:46

Um before we get started, please note that video and audio of this meeting is being recorded and we'll show will be shown live on local access government channels and on the City of Somerville website and be uh we'll be available for future review.

1:57

Uh pursuant to our rule thirty two rule thirty-two, let it be known that the city council salutes the flag of the United States of America and let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understanding.

2:09

Uh we begin begin our meetings with a moment of silence.

2:11

Are there any counselors wishing to say a few words for members of the community this evening?

2:16

All right, seeing none.

2:26

Unless I've missed something.

2:27

Nope, you did not.

2:28

All right, Mayor's request, item number 26-0865, requesting that this council convene an executive session to receive an update on the status of collective bargaining negotiations pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 38, Section 213.

2:45

All right, I see we are joined by our assistant city attorney.

2:48

Um could you please introduce yourself and uh confirm that this is items appropriate for uh executive session?

2:55

Uh yes, uh assistant city solicitor Syriago.

2:58

Uh we've reviewed the agenda for this evening and the materials to be discussed and can confirm these subjects are appropriate for discussion in executive session.

3:06

All right, very well.

3:06

So we we will take a roll call vote to go into executive session.

3:09

I will note if you're watching this meeting.

3:11

Um it's not gonna be super exciting for you unless you really like the color of the curtains behind me, which you might be one of the the few that actually do.

3:20

I understand we're working on replacing those.

3:22

Uh but we're we're gonna go into executive session to to discuss this collective bargaining matter.

3:26

That's gonna be the only uh the only excitement tonight.

3:30

Uh we will return to open session after the executive session, um, but that will uh effectively be to wave um call of uh in all likelihood um at my expectation is a way of call and adjournment and and move on.

3:42

Um so madam clerk, would you please call the role to go into executive session?

3:46

Yes, counselor Ewan Campen?

3:48

Yes, Councillor Link?

3:50

Yes, Councillor Scott, yes, Councillor Klingan?

3:54

Yes, Councillor Strezow.

3:56

Yes, Councillor Said, yes.

3:58

Counselor Wheeler?

4:00

Yes.

4:01

Councillor Hart?

4:02

Yes.

4:03

Councilor McLoughlin?

4:06

Councilor Umba.

4:08

Yes, the honorable clerk cognitive.

4:12

And Councillor Lance.

4:13

Yes.

4:14

All righty.

4:16

All right, thank you.

4:16

As I said, we will return to open session following executive session.

3:38:01

Okay.

3:38:02

Counselor Ewan Campin.

3:38:04

Counselor Link.

3:38:05

Here.

3:38:06

Counselor Scott.

3:38:08

Present.

3:38:10

I don't know.

3:38:11

Oh, perfect.

3:38:12

Thank you.

3:38:12

Counselor Klingon.

3:38:13

Present.

3:38:14

Councillor Staso.

3:38:15

Present.

3:38:15

Councillor Said.

3:38:17

Here.

3:38:17

Counselor Wheeler.

3:38:18

Here.

3:38:19

Councillor Hart?

3:38:20

Here.

3:38:21

Councillor McLaughlin.

3:38:23

Councillor Umba.

3:38:25

President.

3:38:25

And Councillor Davis.

3:38:26

Here.

3:38:27

We have quorum.

3:38:29

All right.

3:38:29

Thank you.

3:38:29

Uh, no meetings were taken in executive session other no meaning means.

3:38:33

I did the same thing.

3:38:34

I feel like I did the same thing last time, didn't I?

3:38:36

No votes were taken in an executive session other than the vote to go into a brief recess and then come back and then adjourn from executive session.

3:38:44

Um, are there any further items on the agenda, Madame Park?

3:38:48

All right.

3:38:49

See no further business before us.

3:38:51

Council and Campan moves to adjourn.

3:38:54

We need to have a roll call on adjournment.

3:38:57

Counselor Ewan Campen.

3:38:59

Yes.

3:38:59

Counselor Link.

3:39:00

Yep.

3:39:01

Counselor Scott.

3:39:02

Yes.

3:39:03

Councillor Klingon?

3:39:04

Yes.

3:39:04

Councillor Shazo.

3:39:05

Yes.

3:39:06

Counselor Said?

3:39:07

Yes.

3:39:07

Counselor Wheeler.

3:39:08

Yes.

3:39:08

Counselor Hart.

3:39:09

Yes.

3:39:10

Councillor McLaughlin.

3:39:12

Councillor Umbo.

3:39:13

Yes, and that problem is it's not always right here.

3:39:17

And Councillor Davis.

3:39:18

Yes.

3:39:19

All right, meeting in Sitter.

3:39:20

Thanks, everyone.

3:39:22

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting for Executive Session - May 27, 2026

The Somerville City Council held a special meeting on May 27, 2026, primarily to convene an executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations. The meeting was brief, with the council voting unanimously to enter executive session and later returning to open session to adjourn. (Note: the transcript records the meeting as occurring on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, conflicting with the scheduled date of May 27, 2026.)

Executive Session

  • Agenda Item 26-0865: A request from the Mayor to convene an executive session to receive an update on the status of collective bargaining negotiations pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 38, Section 213.
  • Assistant City Attorney Syriago confirmed the subject was appropriate for discussion in executive session.
  • The council voted unanimously (10-0, with all councillors present voting yes) to enter executive session.
  • After the executive session, the council returned to open session; no votes were taken in the executive session aside from the vote to enter.

Key Outcomes

  • The council entered executive session for collective bargaining negotiations.
  • Upon return to open session, Councillor Ewan Campin moved to adjourn, and the council voted unanimously (10-0) to adjourn the meeting.
  • No further business was conducted.

Meeting Transcript

I tried to not like the evening everyone. This is a meeting of the city council, a special meeting of the city council. It is um it's not Thursday, July 10th. It is Wednesday, May 20th. Uh my name is Lance Davis um presiding. I use he, him pronouns. Uh Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll to uh establish quorum? Uh councillor Ewan Campin. Here. Counselor Link. Here. Councillor Scott. Present. Counselor Klingon. Present. Counselor Streso? Counselor Said. Counselor Said. Counselor Wheeler? Here. Councillor Hart? Here. Counselor McLaughlin. Counselor McLaughlin. Counselor Umba. President. And Councilor Davis. Here. And let the record define Counselor Said just joined us. Thank you, Councilor Said. We have established quorum. All right. Thank you very much. And I will I will note a a note of welcome to our new City Clerk Courtney Henderson, who's helping clerking for live for the first time. So you're here. Good to uh get things started with a special meeting. We'll go a little soft landing. Not that I sure you could I'm sure you could jump right in, but um this will give us a good opportunity to get our feet wet. Um we have a short meeting, a short meeting agenda. Um before we get started, please note that video and audio of this meeting is being recorded and we'll show will be shown live on local access government channels and on the City of Somerville website and be uh we'll be available for future review. Uh pursuant to our rule thirty two rule thirty-two, let it be known that the city council salutes the flag of the United States of America and let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understanding. Uh we begin begin our meetings with a moment of silence. Are there any counselors wishing to say a few words for members of the community this evening? All right, seeing none. Unless I've missed something. Nope, you did not. All right, Mayor's request, item number 26-0865, requesting that this council convene an executive session to receive an update on the status of collective bargaining negotiations pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 38, Section 213. All right, I see we are joined by our assistant city attorney. Um could you please introduce yourself and uh confirm that this is items appropriate for uh executive session? Uh yes, uh assistant city solicitor Syriago.

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