Yeah, big line.

Hello and good evening, everyone.

I am Ben Wheeler.

I use he, him pronouns.

I'm a counselor at large and the finance committee chair.

It is 6.03 p.m.

And I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Finance Committee of the Whole of the Somerville City Council.

This meeting of a city council committee may be conducted via remote participation following chapter two of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' acts of 2025.

We will post an audio video recording and a comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels.

We are joined by Clerk Madeline Latelier.

Clerk, could you please call the role to establish quorum?

This is roll call.

Counselor Ewan Campen.

Counselor Link?

Here.

Counselor Scott?

Present.

Counselor Klingon?

Present.

Counselor Streso?

Present.

Counselor Saeed?

Here.

Counselor Hart.

Here.

Counselor McGaughlin?

Here.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Counselor Davis.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Here.

With nine counselors president, we have quorum.

Thank you.

Well, welcome to Cut Night for the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget.

Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to recognize the work of the entire council and city staff over these past few several weeks.

First of all, counselors submitted over 100 questions for departments in response to the budget book, which the city's budget team and intergovernmental affairs team worked with department and division heads to answer.

Those answers are included in the budget book for the public to view.

And they sat for long hours with the finance committee and the clerks over three nights and one very early morning, answering questions big and small.

The format we used was a continuing evolution of the improvements that the council and budget team have made in the past few years, intended to surface issues early and invite researched answers to communicate to the public about what each department and division does and hopefully to keep the meetings from being interminably long.

How did we do?

Well, it was a mixed bag.

It's a work in progress, and I think it's fair to say that in the future uh there will be further refinements to try to rein in the longest of the meetings.

I'm very grateful to the members of the finance committee and to the many city staff members who ran this marathon with us, as well as the clerks.

And I hope the public agrees that our work was attentive and thorough.

Tonight is what's become known as cut night, though it's also the night when resolutions requesting increased funding are in order.

Motions to reduce from the budget must refer to the specific line item in the budget that they would reduce, whereas resolutions requesting additional funding, since they are non-binding, can use more general language.

When we get to the section of the meeting about uh about motions, then I will call on counselors in the order that hands are raised.

Since we're meeting as a committee of the whole tonight, I ask everyone to please be concise.

Our clerks will be here late after the meeting, packaging whatever comes out of the meeting so it can be sent to the administration as they work to finalize the revised fiscal year 2027 budget over the next 48 hours.

Out of respect for everyone's time, let's please keep our comments brief.

If a member of the administration or department or division head wishes to speak on a motion, uh I will allow brief comments from them with the emphasis on brief.

As a reminder, questions and comments should stay on the topic of the proposed budget before us.

I'll ask that we save broader policy questions or anything not directly related to the budget for another time.

Okay, for agenda item number one, review of the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Uh, I'll just ask: are there any outstanding questions regarding our review of the budget before we move on to submission of orders?

I am seeing none, and so we will move on to the submission of orders.

Before asking counselors for new motions, Councilor Strezow, uh, I'd like to begin with your resolution unless you'd prefer for it to go later.

Uh I'm sorry, can you repeat the last part of the case?

No problem.

Thank you.

I heard the most of it, but uh just item 2.1 this resolution uh from you.

I'd be happy to take that up first unless you would prefer for it to go.

No, I'm happy to talk about it now.

Okay, thanks.

Uh clerk, could you please read this item?

Agenda item 2.1 of the collective salaries of licensing commissioners be increased to $15,180 with the chair receiving $5,180 and licensing commissioners two and three receiving $5,000 each annually.

Counselor Strezzo.

Uh colleagues, uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Colleagues, this is a uh resolution I put forward uh after hearing uh the conversation that the licensing commission again will not receive a salary increase.

Uh last year or possibly two years ago, uh a reassessment of salaries of commissions and uh boards were done by the previous administration and the licensing commission did not receive an increase.

They have not received an increase since 2012.

Colleagues, I am asking for your support to uh put this forward.

As the licensing commission is responsible for, well, as we know, the licenses that come out, and this is a pivotal role in our city and highly specialized.

The three commissioners, two of them have been with the commission for quite some time now.

And um I uh the request I made uh for this amount is equitable to what the condo review board had as an increase.

And I believe even the uh affordable housing trust fund had an increase, or there was uh another uh the board that received an equal bump up.

This one did not, and I'm awfully puzzled.

So I am putting this forward um and asking for your support on it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Strezzo.

And can the record reflect that Counselor Ewan Campan has joined us.

Uh I see budget director, but budget manager.

Uh budget director, Mike.

Budget director, Mike Masterboney.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'll be brief.

Um, I appreciate the the resolution in the spirit with which it's given.

I've discussed with the mayor um the opportunity to go to the municipal compensation advisory board and and look at all boards and commissions.

I think this is something we want to do again across the board with looking at um every board, every commission, whether paid or unpaid.

Um you were all uh actually, no, you weren't all uh here a couple couple years ago um uh where we discussed this.

I think there's an opportunity here um to take a look at this.

So I appreciate the the resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director.

Any comments from colleagues?

Counselor Scott.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

And may I just congratulate you first on correctly recognizing the maker of the motion to speak?

That was awesome.

Uh I I want to say that this is a great sentiment and actually something that's been discussed uh before by uh by colleagues.

It is a very small amount of money.

Um I want to point out that this is a resolution requesting a change.

It is an act of advocacy.

Um, not an actual action that this council can take.

Now, I I believe there is value in advocacy.

I'm frequently an advocate uh in many different parts of my life.

Uh and while some have uncharitably described the making of these resolutions as somewhat akin to uh sitting on Santa's lap at the mall.

Uh I will say that I believe it is actually a value for us as a council to advocate for things.

And so as such, I'm happy to support this, and I'm grateful for my colleague bringing it up.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Scott.

Any other comments?

Okay, seeing none, uh, is the next step to take a roll call on this.

What's that?

Resolution.

Okay, can we just have general affirmation?

Um, okay.

I am seeing general affirmation for the council.

Uh so this resolution is approved.

Uh thank you.

Um moving on, uh, the next resolution that we already have on our agenda is by Counselor Link.

Um Counselor Link, unless you would like this to go later, we could take this up now.

Uh I I think based on what I've heard.

Well, yeah, sure.

Let's let's let's do it.

Clerk, could you please read this?

Agenda item 2.2 that the administration add 400,000 in funding for youth development services grants, so that teen empowerment may have full funding.

Counselor Link.

Thank you, Chair.

Through you.

Um, so this was a result of the kind of general confusion and concern around teen empowerment.

Um and um what was happening with them because we at that point it still wasn't totally clear.

Um I think we've since learned that uh they they are um they're looking like they're they're kind of in a fine position.

So I'm not uh I'm not convinced that this resolution actually needs to uh to go through.

Um so I'll just throw that out there.

I'm I'm I'd love to hear uh other people's opinion uh to know if uh they share what I I'm sure we've all heard at this point.

Kind of we know for for example that uh that two of the RFPs are going um that they're getting some.

I don't know what how much of that's if I could just jump in as as part of your comments, Counselor Lake.

Uh there are there's a plan for three RFPs to solicit bids uh for this category of services.

Two of them have already been uh published, have solicited bids and have closed for both of those.

Uh the public documents show that there was only one bidder, which was the Center for Teen Empowerment Inc.

Um, my understanding, thanks to IGA is that the awarding of these bids is scheduled to occur tomorrow.

And that the estimated start date uh for these bids going into practice is July 1st.

Thank you.

I was not sure how much of that I was allowed to say allowed.

So I appreciate that.

And can I just add that uh Counselor Mbaugh has joined us for the record?

Sorry, Council, I think you still have the floor.

So uh I I guess I I put it out to my colleagues.

Um what what would we like to do uh here?

Counselor McLaughlin.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So the way I understand it is uh I don't feel like we need to add money because the money does exist.

Uh so then that's what I was trying to get at to begin with.

Definitely appreciate people showing support for teen empowerment.

Uh if I could get any sort of confirmation from the city that uh for the foreseeable um time being no services will be interrupted for teen empowerment depending on this vote, correct?

Tonight's vote.

If I could get any sort of confirmation about that from the city.

Is there anyone from the administration who cares to comment on this?

I see the mayor.

Uh Mr.

Chair, through you uh to Councilor McLaughlin, I appreciate that question.

Uh while we aren't privy to the operations uh of teen empowerment, uh the the July 1 start date, uh, you know, should should these uh uh awarded bids go out tomorrow, uh would indicate that that there should be a significant amount of funding for them at the start of the of the next fiscal year.

That's my that's my impression.

I'm not involved in uh teen empowerment uh financials at all.

Uh but yeah, that's uh that's my understanding.

I would just say for me, uh I'm hoping that we resolve this.

I don't think it is a budget matter per se, because again, the money does exist.

Uh so that's where I'm at on this.

Thank you, Counselor.

Counselor Hart.

Thank you.

I just wanted to ask a follow-up question for you.

Um I know the second RFP was um uh amount that was uh variable.

Um, I believe up to 200,000.

Um so I'm curious if we can find out what amount will be awarded or is being awarded.

Thank you, Counselor Hart.

I'm seeing budget director, Master Boney.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, through you.

Um at this time until the the award is um granted.

We we can't talk about that through the bid process.

Um we expect to expend all the funds that we budget for services.

But in regards to a particular proposal, we can't speak about that yet.

Thank you.

Counselor Scott.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh first of all, I would like to uh thank our director of purchasing who uh when I inquired about these grants, uh immediately responded appropriately with the uh absolutely there it's an open bidding process.

There was only one bid for each of those uh RFPs.

Great.

I'm also very grateful to hear that uh both of those uh bids are being accepted, and hopefully those grants will go out the door, which is roughly $300,000 of the $400,000 that teen empowerment customarily anticipates from the city or has customarily received.

I will say that as an organization that is attempting to, you know, hire employee and work with kids.

It is extraordinarily uh corrosive to have your funding in doubt.

Uh you know, it may be the best uh the desire of the administration to move forward with funding of the last hundred thousand dollars and a similar RFP process at some point next month or next quarter or I don't know, next calendar year.

But without the actual assurance of that funding, it makes it very hard for them to go forward with all the plans and programs that they would customarily do.

It might mean that they cut back the number of kids that they hire.

Or it might mean they go forward in good faith saying, we hope we have confidence that this will come through and we won't have to lay off those kids part way doing during through the year.

Uh I think it's I disagree with how it was done.

I think it's irresponsible, and I think it does impact, even though we can say that eventually all the money will go there.

I think this was a bad call.

But once again, I point out that in this matter, that is an administration choice.

That is an administrative choice in how these grants are administrated, how they're put out.

And uh so when it comes to that, once again, I am but an advocate.

Uh so I appreciate the spirit of the initial resolution, which is to say if we are going to have this funding tied up, can we not allocate an extra amount that is going to just flow directly to the program and ensure that they can have their funding?

Um but I did not want to leave it unsaid that by having this done in dribs and drabs, uh, it does actually put the organization at risk and in a in a period of high uncertainty that is in my opinion, unnecessary.

So uh I in terms of the resolution that is made, once again, while I am sitting in Santa's lap, I will say yes, please.

Uh and as uh as a counselor, as a legislator, I will implore, I will advocate to the administration to please move forward with that last hundred thousand dollars uh with all due haste so that uh the organization can rest assured in their funding stream this year and hopefully find a better way to handle it in future years so that they do not have this kind of stress and uncertainty.

Um thank you, Mr.

Depre.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Counselor Scott.

I'm not seeing other uh hands raised.

Um Clerk, uh, in terms of the options available here, uh, were the sponsor to want to withdraw this item.

Is that something they could do?

Okay.

Counselor Link, uh, do you care to take action on this?

Yeah, I think I'll withdraw the motion.

Okay, thank you.

Um this item 2.2 is withdrawn.

Okay.

That brings us to the invitation for new motions.

Uh so motions either to cut or motions for a resolution for additional funding.

Um and I will entertain counselors and the order that I see, hands raised.

Counselor Scott.

All right, thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I have been uh struggling with which motion to make.

Uh, because as a council, we can take uh two, well, two actions.

We can either uh move to cut the budget in a in an amount that is large enough to require the resubmission of a fresh budget on Thursday.

Um, or we can not cut cut the budget and simply vote to approve it.

I could also, I suppose, make a motion to recommend against approval of the uh general fund appropriation, and we could deliberate on that matter.

But uh as I think about it, uh it is of little utility to go through and attempt to make individual cuts and individual departments to try to make room for uh the money that we wish to see directed in a different place and then make resolutions to make that money move.

Um because as our budget director, Master Raboni uh very well knows, there is uh there is no such thing as cutting a position out of the salaries line.

There's always going to be uh fringe payments.

There's always going to be other balancing factors that have to cascade throughout the entire thing.

So any change of intent actually requires the diligent uh finance staff to implement that in a very detailed way, to do the administration, if you will, of our legislative will.

Uh and in fact, the item before us tonight is a fiction.

Uh well, I anticipate that we will have a resubmission on Thursday, because every year that we have done this, there is a resubmission of a fresh budget on Thursday.

Even if there are no changes made by the council, there are simply drafting errors that were done in the original submission that we got close to a month ago, right?

Uh speaking with Director Mashboney earlier tonight, uh, those are less, those are smaller than we have seen in the past.

In some cases, uh, a couple years ago there was a simple ledger error where we actually came up 160,000 short.

And in the final budget submission, the amount appropriated to one of the stabilization funds was reduced by 170,000 to cover that shortfall.

Easy enough.

In another year, there was, I believe, a million and a half dollars due to some of extra money found because of uh double ledgering in one section.

Um, if you'd like to see Director Masterbone's uh blood pressure increase, ask him about that one.

But uh all of this is to say that uh it is not our role to be the finance department.

It is our role to establish a legislative intent.

And so that's what I want to talk about here, uh, because that's that's our agency.

So we're gonna make a simple motion.

The simple motion is to uh move, I move to recommend against acceptance of the city's budget.

Now you can take that either way you like.

If you'd like to move as uh as a motion to approval and simply move forward to the vote where a negative vote is uh is against that uh approval, I would like to put the question of it before us and then to have us deliberate on it, because that's what we're here to discuss.

The question that I get asked all the time is who will act, who will do something.

You know, it we've talked about, I have already talked about how the administration, including the executive, whose duty it is to faithfully execute the laws, uh, has broad authority to execute as they see fit.

We have uh various items before us tonight of concern, let's say, that have been discussed.

We colleagues are the legislature.

At this point, with a question before us, we are not advocates, we are actors.

We can say yes or we can say no.

We are called together for the purpose of a single action, the approval or rejection of the mayor's proposed budget.

Now, as we consider that action, I want to bring up a few things that have been of concern.

The teen empowerment funding process was something that was of great concern.

It seems to be resolving.

I'm happy about that.

The layoffs of 4% of the general government staff and how that was done is definitely a big part of the backdrop of the decision.

Uh the increase in funding for the Somerville Police Department this year against those layoffs, certainly something that we've all discussed.

Uh, and most specifically, the school committee's request for an extra $600,000 in extra positions.

So in the matter of the layoffs, we are advocates, right?

I I certainly used my calls, my soft power, my persuasion to attempt to guide that process to a better outcome.

I don't believe I succeeded.

Certainly the outcome isn't what I had hoped for, but that's actually something I'm used to as an advocate.

You stand outside, you attempt to move those who actually make the decisions.

Uh in the teen empowerment funding process, hey, our advocacy seems to have succeeded.

They are going to get their funds, maybe not as soon as we would like, but great.

But the those teens will never know what person inside the administration chose to draft the RFP that way.

What person made that decision to break up the funding and to change the way that funding happened?

They'll they'll never see that.

And that's and that's fine.

That's actually appropriate because we have a lot of hardworking folks, and they should not be to individually blame for those.

Ultimately, the only person to blame for any of that is the mayor, right?

Because the buck stops here.

And I really appreciate that.

But the beauty, you might even say the magic of this chamber, of this deliberative body, is that our work is done in public.

Uh the teens would see tonight who among us would choose to act and who would choose to acquiesce.

Now, fortunately, we don't have to act on their behalf.

But when it comes to the matter of the school committee's amendment, directing additional funding for more teachers and staff, they, as a legislature, acted.

They voted.

They said, this is the thing.

Now, unfortunately, due to that one crazy trick, our solicitor is determined that the mayor can simply ignore that.

And therefore, it would fall to us, the city council.

But we are also told that that one crazy trick means that we cannot actually just make it happen.

We can't just force that to happen.

There's no vote that the city council can take to direct that $600,000 in funding.

And so we are left with only one authority, which is unchallenged.

We are left with only one action that we can take, which is on the question of approval of the city's annual budget.

When our fellow legislative body has taken that vote, they have acted, but that action has been to no effect.

So with that, I in conclusion make the motion to for approval of the city's annual budget, with the understanding that I intend to vote no.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Scott.

Just uh sort of point of order.

Item 6.1 is not before us right now.

So there's no way to call the question on that item at this point.

Is that correct, Clerk?

No.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Then I would I would request that we take up 6.1 and then uh move for approval on that.

Anyone opposed to taking up item 6.1 Counselor Strazzown.

If I may, really quick.

I I'm I hear what you through you to Counselor Scott.

I hear what you're saying.

Totally, totally want your conversation and the the dialogue to have a hearty conversation uh if if the council wishes.

I did want to put forward a couple of quick um resolutions.

Can we can we can we serve the the big dinner as the as uh the the final meal perhaps and I just put in a quick uh couple of resolutions?

Uh Mr.

Chair, I will uh I will friendly lay my motion on the table to allow for the appetizers to be served.

Thank you, Counselor.

Mr.

Chair, through you to Councilor Scott, thank you so much.

Um if I may, really quick.

Uh I wanted to put forward a quick resolution quick.

It is what it is.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh I I would like to put in a resolution to reinstate uh the summer baby program and support for uh uh our our new uh families in Somerville and our new uh parents in Somerville and uh including support for postpartum.

Uh this I assume would go through the HHS department.

Um, but uh supporting our families on this end.

I don't that is as I'm wordsmithing it as I'm talking it, that of course is it's all chopped up.

But um, so let's see.

Resolution to support our um our newest Somerville residents and a newest Somerville uh parents through the recently cut summer baby program, and that support includes uh postpartum support we'll start there.

And I would just uh counsel that um I believe the summer baby program is still in effect.

Um but uh I believe one summer baby supervisors position was cut.

That's right, and one summer baby home visitors position was cut.

That's right.

Thank you, Mr.

Um, Mr.

Chair.

Uh that's right.

Uh so I wanted to reinstate the home visitor.

So to reinstate the home visitor or the funding for the home visitor of the summer uh summer baby program and including in that postpartum support.

Thank you.

Clerk, do you have uh I know version of that?

Jumped to kind of glued together.

We'll give the clerk a moment to massage this language.

And thanks for um remembering that, Mr.

Chair.

I I it's a good it's a good thing.

They're still out there.

Yes.

And there are other home visitors currently, so the you could specify the the previously cut home visitor position if you wanted to be specific.

Okay.

Sorry.

Um Councillor Stresso, through the chair through to you that the funding for the previously cut cut home visitor position within the Somerville baby program be reinstated through health and human services.

Is that is that what you were trying to capture in your resolution?

And I this may be a quibble, but it's summer baby in that catchy way that so many programs are branded.

Okay.

Thank you, Counselor Straso.

So that motion is before us.

Any discussion on this motion?

Counselor Hart.

Um thank you to my colleague, Counselor Strezzo.

Uh this was something, this was a position, a cut that I also noticed in the summer baby program, I think is hugely important and vital.

Um my memory is that um this the answer I got about a question about this was that there were still enough home visitors to meet the demand.

Um so I would ask um just for more clarification on that from the administration.

Thank you, Counselor Hart.

Is there anyone who would speak to this?

I see Health and Human Services Director Karen Carroll.

Through the chair.

Um thank you for the question.

Yes, we believe there we have enough staff, whether it be using across the divisions that can assist as well as the language capacity through the supervisor and the other home uh baby visitor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And just to check, Clerk, am I in order?

I I have a habit of calling people's names as a way of greeting them.

Do they have to say their name as well?

Or is it they should state their name?

Director Carroll, if you wouldn't mind uh correcting my mistake here.

Thank you.

Apologies through the chair.

Um, Director Karen Carroll, HHS Health and Human Services.

Thank you.

Any other comments or discussion on this motion?

Councillor Strezzo?

Sure.

I think that uh typically women's services and issues, especially when it comes to reproductive health and supporting other women is vitally important.

And usually even if the number of what is claimed is suitable, we know that the need is far greater than that.

So I'm going to hold on to that.

And also if I if that was lapsed in the resolution, please include that um proper and adequate postpartum support is included in that because postpartum support is usually not considered.

Thank you, counselor.

Uh okay, trying to figure out what the right way is of handling something like this.

Shall I just follow general acclamation for this?

Okay.

Okay, no one is calling for a roll call vote on this.

So uh this item is approved.

Thank you.

Please, the clerk will read the item one more time.

Apologies to the chair through you, Counselor Scizor, so make sure I have your postpartum correct here for the minutes.

Yes.

That the funding for the previously cut home visitor position within the summer baby program be reinstated through health and human services and be inclusive of postpartum care.

Yes, thank you.

One more.

Go for it.

Thank you.

You okay with that, colleagues?

We cool.

We cool?

All right.

Uh I'd also like to uh put forward a resolution uh requesting um additional funding.

I would say 20,000 to support uh the teen uh well not necessarily teen time, but uh uh when schools are uh I'm I'm sharing the idea and we can we can draft the resolution after that.

I'm telling you what I'm going to but I'm what the the crux of what I'm trying to get at.

Um on Wednesdays when schools get out during the school year.

Um when when kids are re-arranged and out in the community, well, some of the things I'm hearing is that uh they are uh financially barred from being in certain spaces because they don't have enough money to get in.

And so uh I am requesting, and we can talk more about that on Thursday.

Spoiler alert, we'll be talking about that on Thursday.

Um's rank.

Um so I'm going to propose 20,000 to go into a budget line to support um spaces for kids and uh it's funding for additional programs when Wednesdays are half days during the school year.

I think 20,000 sounds acceptable.

Thank you, counselor.

Let's give the clerk a minute to work on this.

That the administration allocate 20,000 to support teens through after school programming.

Um specifically, uh Mr.

Chat through you to uh our clerk uh specifically on Wednesday half days as it included as have uh uh teens or spaces uh on when when school is out.

This is I I understand we have a school committee and we have school budget line items that are separate.

This is different.

This is when our children are out in the community and uh we need more spaces for kids, the end.

And there is general fund that's right funding for out of school time.

OST.

Apologies if I'm not interpreting this correctly.

So the administration allocate $20,000 to support teens on early release Wednesday with additional after school programming and out of school time.

Would you prefer me to change after school to just out of school time?

Yes.

Um okay specifically on Wednesdays.

Thanks, Maddie.

Um, Mr.

Chair, through you to uh clerk.

Thank you for being fabulous editor.

Um the administration allocate $20,000 to support teens on early release Wednesday with additional out-of-school time programming.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Clerk.

Any discussion on this motion.

Seeing none, this item is approved.

Any other motions for resolutions or for cuts?

Councillor Link.

Thank you, Chair.

Through you, um so one um perennial problem that we've had uh since I've been paying attention um the last few years has been uh crossing guards uh and uh in learning more about the crossing guards salaries are well especially considering the number of hours are quite low.

Um so I'd like to um put a resolution to uh you know give the crossing guards a um so one minute.

Let me do some math.

Sorry.

Do you have a comment on this?

Uh please.

Uh well, he's uh oh excuse me.

Yes.

Yeah, I didn't know if we were with a number for you.

Oh sorry, sorry, please continue counseling.

Uh so to give the crossing guards a a 10% raise.

A 10% raise.

And if I may.

I'm just gonna give the clerk one moment to put this motion together.

You think you got it?

Okay, please, Councilor Stretho.

Uh welcome to the uh uh through you to uh counseling.

Welcome to the conversation on this.

We've been talking about this for numerous years.

Um I don't know uh if you have assessed uh how that looks with uh union contracts and uh uh if if that has been in the conversation or how in addition to that, another conversation with this.

Of course, we want our crossing guards to uh receive and again years of conversations on this.

So glad counselor link is joining in on this.

But some of the issues has been uh the recruiting that has been the problem, uh, is the full or part-time staff with this.

So there's always the route of of getting into the discussion of um converting some of the positions from that part-time two times uh um two times a day shift to full-time position conversations that we had.

We can always revisit it.

And again, we have to talk about uh where the the union contract is on that as well.

Additionally, um we have to talk about how uh or willing to have the conversation of of where recruiting is on this and if if uh in addition a budget line item if you've discussed with HR of of what kind of recruiting processes are going on uh through the uh through the the police budget in the crossing guards budget line item.

So where does that come in?

So I guess to that, uh if Councillor Link would like to answer some of those questions now.

Thank you, Councillor Satell.

I would not like to answer those questions right now.

Okay.

So the motion is before us.

Um uh clerk, would you please read the motion?

The crossing guards receive a 10% raise in the FY 2027 budget.

So Mr.

Chair, uh, does that include union contracts or not?

Or uh the the counselor put this forward doesn't want to go into details about that or any additional I mean about I can't speak for any other counselor, but no one has chosen to speak on that at this moment.

Any other comments or discussion on this item?

Seeing none, this item is approved.

Councilor Mba.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you for the work that uh Mr.

Chair.

Thank you for the work that you did, you know, in finance with the finance committee.

It's really remarkable.

And so one thing for me that I've spent a lot of time thinking about.

I mean, two things, but the first one is equity and belonging.

So this is a small unit, you know, that contains four out of ten jobs title that previously were part of the executive office of racial and social justice.

Five positions were eliminated.

You have deputy director, public information officer, ration's social justice investigator, community engagement specialist, commission's coordinator.

That's in addition to ADA coordinator that has been transferred to health and human services.

And the text in the book seems to say that the previous work of this unit, you know, was primarily to carry out studies and formulate policies, methods, and standards.

So now the work is largely largely finished, and the next stage is to implement the goals and programs.

But by putting the unit within operations, its staff will also interact with all other agencies, often training, you know, and ensure that equity and inclusionary considerations are part of every department's actions, such as hiring, designing programs, giving grants, procuring services, and writing contracts.

But if you look at the previous name of this unit was racial and social justice, you know, which was specific to my understanding, both the terms racial justice and social justice are defined in professional literature and research.

In the name, in the new name, the word equity implies a much broader scope, not just race, but all social and economic categories of you know all groups.

And the word belonging is also kind of like warm, codly, you know, and pop psychological, you know, in a term I'm still kind of you know, like get the point.

And so, for example, if you say DPW is issuing RFP and wants to ensure that the bidders will avoid racial bias in the hiring.

The staff of this unit can help them by finding in the literature some legal clause that have met the decisions of the Massachusetts courts over the years, because this like so, but if we now expect the equity and belonging coordinator to help DPW find companies and hire and promote people who grew up in public housing, you know, who attended bad schools or some you know, other school who are lonely or who are immigrant children that experience trauma in their home countries, etc.

The standards and clarity of what they will advise the agency to write in an RFP will be very loose.

So and I have no substantiation, like they might also don't have any substantiation in in legal terms, like in the law as you write it.

So there were intention justice would either be an obstacle to getting anything practically done or will simply be meaningless.

And I'm realizing that when I looked at the stabilization, you know, sheet, they see, you know, there's like a million dollar day on that racial and social justice.

So I would just simply move to reinstate that department so that it can actually continue to do the work that you know it was meant to do.

Thank you, Councilor Mba.

I'm not sure if a motion to restore or to create a department is in order in the scope of discussions that we're doing.

Counselor Scott?

Um it is however it is framed, it is simply a request uh uh imploring the mayor to direct additional funding, whether it takes the form of rehiring the positions.

It's an it's another, it's another resolution just like any other tonight, sorry.

Thank you, Councillor Scott.

Um there is uh a limited scope of what is in order tonight.

I think we're not entertaining uh just any motions at all, but I take the context that my colleague from Word 2 is speaking about that that this uh could be a motion for a resolution for reinstating funding and um for reinstating the the funding with with the purpose of the racial and social justice mission that was previously.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Maybe uh probably yeah, I mean, like with however, you know, it's uh the administration, you know, chose this to, it's just to because again, this work has been they've done so many, they've done work, even done studies on policing.

This is a whole, you know, so I just want it to have that clarity because equity and belonging, I've been thinking about, oh, this is like so broad, you know, it's kind of like a little, so we want some really clarity in terms of like how we want to execute, and there's like a legal terminology behind, you know, the creation of when we initiated the creation of this office, you know.

So I was one of those people that, you know, after George Floyd was killed, we were like saying, hey, let's we need a new office like this.

But now this is easier to be able to like blend in.

But it's good that the administration kind of like re focus that in initial intention is of this office so it can actually push, you know, to be able to create a just you know community that you know, people can look back and say, okay, this is this one, there was like this bidding process or this person who understood the law and the context and they guided the department on this particular direction.

But an equity and belonging person, I don't think that they would actually quote cite any law behind, you know, put the teeth behind like a policy to be able to like have an impact.

Thank you, Councilor Mbaugh.

So uh knowing that the clerk is working on some language here, would you be amenable to something along the lines of um that the administration restore the funding for cut positions from the racial and social justice department and uh yeah, rein reinstate funding towards the purpose of the racial and social justice department?

Yes, Mr.

Chair.

Um based upon Councillor Mbaugh, and that's a resolution that the administration reinstate the Racial and Social Justice Department.

Is that what you're looking to say?

Because you both said two.

I mean, we got the intent is to take that fund back in the stabilization.

Okay, say it one more time, what you would like, and I'll write it word for word in the in the minutes for you, so it's correct.

Sure, you said it like if if you don't mind my attempting to paraphrase, counselor.

Um, that the administration uh restore the funding for cut positions in the racial and social justice department.

And uh restore funding towards the mission of the racial and social justice department.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

That was that was good.

And and do I still have the floor for something else?

Please.

So there's something that we you know, we all know.

Uh is when this is like for me, I've been thinking about this also a lot.

I've looked at the various departments, how they are using the funding.

It's a follow the money.

When you talk about economic justice, economic department, I was even asking my colleague here in what one.

There's so many small businesses in what one, Union Square.

But I've been wondering when I went through the budget book, something picked my interest.

I was following to see where, you know, like, for example, the the planning department had Home Depot purchase order of 1500.

I'm like, why are we buying products from Home Depot and not a local hardware store?

You know, and then I went back and then I saw there was another department that bought big low nursery, $2,000.

$2,000.

You know, purchase orders.

I'm like, wow.

And when I did research, this is in North Boro, Massachusetts.

Why are we not contracting with local, you know, garden stores?

Can somebody even just answer that question for me?

Like, how like how come we are not purchasing, you know, empowering a small businesses?

There's money, professional and technical services to help.

Let's say and songs.

I have a business in the city.

I move here, I'm selling stuff.

How do I even know that the city can buy for me?

Like I'm just looking at the chat.

Counselor, these are good points.

Um maybe we should pause for one sec, address the motion that you brought, and then and then come back and I'll ask if you have a motion on this.

Absolutely.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, thank you.

Uh Clerk, would you read the text of that?

So the resolution that the administration restore the funding for the cut positions in the racial and social justice department and restore funding towards the mission of the racial and social justice department.

Thank you.

Any discussion on this motion?

Or on this resolution.

Thank you.

I get a little confused about when a motion for a resolution becomes a resolution.

Uh I am seeing none.

Uh is this something that anyone would like to call for a roll call vote on?

Or is there a preference for resolution?

Um, okay.

Uh any objection.

Seeing none, this item is approved.

Counselor Mba.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I guess let me just ask a simple question.

How is the administration helping local businesses, you know, uh uh navigate procurement law and earn city contracts and purchasing.

I'm sure if you if if you if you guys handed that during finance, that's fine.

You can answer.

Otherwise, I want to hear a response here.

Counselor, it's a large question.

I see someone coming up.

Uh budget director.

Uh, Ms.

Chair, through you.

Thank you for the question.

Budget director, I don't know if you may need to state your name and title.

I mean Bike Master Buddy budget director.

Um, thank you.

I think it's a it's a long question, but um a lot of departments work towards ensuring we're spending our money as locally as possible, right?

They do that.

We do that through a number of ways, sharing what we're going to be purchasing as early as possible.

Um, procurement uh and contracting services is you know, really fired up to continue doing that.

That's called a buying plan.

Second one is uh making our procurement processes as simple as possible to make sure that there's no additional burden on any vendor being able to contract with the city, right?

Um, we are bound by the procurement laws um as promulgated by the Office of the Inspector General.

Um, but there's a lot of great work happening in ensuring that we're getting uh women in minority owned businesses, local businesses into our buying pool.

Um, I think that'll be a great conversation as we go throughout the year, uh, an opportunity to get feedback and share that with the council.

Thank you, budget director.

Uh thank you, uh budget director.

I understand that we bound by procurement law.

That is and my point is we have a million dollars in business, uh uh a small business assistance stabilization fund.

How is the city helping educate this small businesses so that they can have contract with the city?

That's all I want to know.

They say follow the money.

This is where we are trying to follow this money and see where is this being spent, either Home Depot, North Boro, or yeah, in Somerville.

Director H.

Director Galligani, but thank you.

Sorry.

We get that all the time.

Um, thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh, the question about how do we uh increase the amount of business that we do with our local businesses is an important one, and it's one that we've been studying.

Um we conducted a disparity study a couple of years ago, which helped us understand it helped us do a couple different things.

It gave us a survey of matched up where we're spending our money, what we're spending our money on, and what the market is for those types of services.

Um, your example of hardware.

I mean, Home Depot is a local business, it's a multinational company.

Um currently we don't have any other hardware store in Somerville.

We have a paint and decor store, but not a full service hardware store.

The closest one is right over the border in uh tags hardware in Porter Square.

So it's not as simple as deciding, hey, we should do all business in the city because we could not buy everything we needed within the confines of Somerville, Massachusetts.

A lot of the work that we do is with consultants and with other um large operators that requires us to um to spend our money outside the city.

But we we did uh um a study, um, our disparity study to try to match up and see what the landscape looks like.

Because if we did that study, it could be a precursor and help lay the groundwork for us to uh institute what's called a sheltered market program, so that we can, for lack of a better technical term, um identify some set-asides and some goals where we could um um weigh our decision making for purchasing in a way that benefited small and local businesses to the extent that we could we can.

But it's a it's a work that requires a lot of research, and we've done the first stage of that with this disparity study that uh a couple of years ago.

I think we coincidentally spent uh large amount of money, 300,000 to hire consultants outside of the state who are experts in this um um the this process to do that study for us.

The city of Brookline also did a similar study.

The city of Boston did a similar study.

Um and that allows us to um uh to provide more incentive for local cup to do business more locally.

I also know that our director of procurement and PCS is um has been building their databases so that they we understand in a on a more dynamic level um where we're doing our spending so that we can line up and identify local vendors whenever possible.

But it's not a perfect process, and it's not one that we can simply snap our fingers and make happen so that we can do all our business or more and more of our business locally.

We have to operate within the confines of Mass General Laws and all the procurement rules, and we really can't stray from that.

So that our approach is to increase the number of suppliers and identify suppliers and our small business team in economic development, as we meet and walk the streets and talk to businesses and get to know businesses better, we let them know that doing business with the city is an opportunity that we'd like you to take advantage of.

Some of them take advantage of that, some of them um don't feel like it's worth the the hassle, frankly, the hassle of going through our public procurement process in order to um consider doing business with the city.

It's just simply not worth the extra red tape that the state laws put upon us.

So there's that disconnect too.

But we're always looking to add the number of suppliers to our roster.

And we're also strategically looking at where we're going to be spending money over the next um 12 months or so uh so that we can do more, be in a position to do more proactive recruiting for potential customers.

Our procurement office, and I don't want to steal Angela's Thunder, but they in the last two years have instituted a more proactive process so that they meet with each and I certainly know in my world in each and every one of our eight divisions and works with us and develops a procurement plan.

This is helpful for the uh the procurement and and contracting services division because if they can anticipate what we're gonna need in the next 12 months, they can start lining up and building their business list of folks that we can proactively reach out to and make them aware of what kind of uh opportunities for selling to the city exist.

So that's been a huge process improvement just over the last two, two and a half years that PCS has instituted uh procurement and contracting services, so that we can hopefully increase the opportunities for doing business more locally.

And also if we increase the opportunities, increases opportunities for us too, not only to keep the money in the city, but to hopefully get better pricing if we have more competition from more local companies.

I said a lot of different things.

I hope that answers at least some of your concerns.

Yeah, no, thank you, Dr.

Gardenani.

And true chair, you know, my main point.

I'm glad you brought the home.

And this is like chicken change.

They're sitting, you know, like uh, I think last week when you go, I think below like 10,000 or so that you have discretion.

Small businesses are struggling.

That's my point, you know.

And you have the responsibility to help them navigate this complex process, especially people that don't even speak English, and they have a business in the city.

It is your job to be able to like, you know, have a staff go and kind of like say, hey, we can buy stuff from you.

Like we do like, you know, we have this food, we have ordering food.

You just I mean, it's just a way to kind of like empower show that you're doing big you're supporting your own economic engine.

They say follow the money.

That is all.

I'm not trying to, I just I was just looking through those spreadsheets, and then I said, let me look at this other men, and then look, and I'm like, wow, like why is this?

Why is that?

And then I have to Charlie went and did research, big blue nursery.

It's like in Old Borough.

I'm like, don't we have nurseries in Somerville?

Like so it is again, it's just to say we should be more conscious in terms of like how we spend our money, where we spend it, how do we, you know, like focus on our local business and personally go and our methodology of outreach and education shouldn't be the same anymore about like, hey, yes, the process, and then they say, Oh, it's too much, and then they move on, and then you two move on.

No, you gotta say, like, hey, we will help you.

I just want to ask, uh, is there a motion for a resolution that you'd like to bring?

Uh, to your chair, I I mean, I don't know if yeah, I I guess.

You know, it's it's not necessary.

Um, we could also come back to the resolution for the city to you know really use that million dollar in stabilization business, small business stabilism fund, and infuse that into the community to you know become like an economic engine to local businesses.

Does that sound like uh a modest resolution?

Uh to use the uh million dollar small business stabilization fund um in the coming fiscal year to infuse uh spending into local small businesses.

Yeah, but kind of like educating them, bringing them to like really, you know, uh uh teaching them about like a procurement process and just use the money back in the community, maybe adding to the end of that um and uh and educating local small businesses in how to access the spending.

Exactly in multiple languages so that they all understand exactly you know how the city you know walks and you know, and they can benefit from the city as well.

Thank you, counselor.

Thank you.

That the administration utilize a small business stabilization fund in FY2027 to infuse spending to local small businesses and educate them on how to use these funds.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Any discussion on this resolution?

Seeing none, this is approved.

Any other motions, Mr.

Chair, Councillor Scott.

Thank you.

If uh I I just I really appreciate all the advocacy from my colleagues uh this evening, uh, many of which I support wholeheartedly.

Um but yeah, unless there are further motions or unless there are further resolutions, uh, I would like to return us to 6.1 and the one action that we have before us this evening.

That sounds good, Counselor Scott.

Uh one last call on motions that are not related to the overall budget approval.

Seeing none, please proceed.

Thank you.

Um Ms.

Bear.

I'm sorry, let us be taking up item 6.1 and picking up that motion up off the table uh on the approval of that uh that budget.

Thank you very much.

Uh having set the table earlier, I guess I would just return to address it one more time.

Can we read the item in place?

Oh, the item, please.

Thank you, Counselor Davis.

Uh, can we read the item and then thank you, Clerk?

Agenda item 6.1, a request of the mayor requesting the appropriation of 376, 778,493 to fund the fiscal year 2027 general fund operating budget.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So, having uh set the table for why I wanted to bring this one resolution, uh, it is the one action that we have before us, and uh to explain why I will be voting new on it.

Uh it is simply because uh this is uh there was an act taken by our newly elected school committee, had the acts of 1987 been approved in the prior year as a unanimous vote of this council, uh approved them.

Uh then we would not be in this position, and we would simply be able to authorize that change that the school committee made.

That was not done.

Here we are.

The choice to not implement that change is one that the mayor can't make because legally it's his right.

But the only choice I have is whether or not to allow that to move forward as it stands, to acquiesce or to act.

And I have been requested by my neighbors, by colleagues on the school committee.

Uh certainly by many constituent emails to take action.

And when we are in a world where people look around and say, who will do something?

Mr.

Chair, I choose to act.

Thank you.

Council Scott, and uh to understand, are you um moving to call the question?

Uh and call for a roll.

The motion is before us uh and it is open for deliberation from colleagues until somebody moves for the previous question.

Okay.

Thank you for clarifying.

Mr.

Chair, can we get clarification on what motion it is that's before us, please?

Motion to approve 6.1.

So there's a motion to approve item 6.1.

Um, to be clear, uh, it was my intention to move for this item to be discharged without a recommendation so that it could be taken up at the Thursday uh meeting of the city council.

Um Scott, do you have a comment on that?

Mr.

Chair, procedurally, it does not matter.

This is a recommendation of the committee.

It does not actually take effect until the report is read out and the council on Thursday.

At that point, uh it is our anticipation that this item will be withdrawn and replaced by a fresh budget.

This is simply a roll call vote on whether or not we support the budget as it stands.

The piece that I still remain confused about is that there are more than just two binary options here.

And uh after having consulted with the the chief clerk uh on the question of how to navigate those motions uh in the finance committee.

My understanding is that uh in some cases there are sort of two layers of votes.

There is a vote that can be called that is not subject to deliberation uh on calling the question and and calling for a roll call vote immediately.

Uh and then there are uh motions to discharge an item with a particular recommendation.

Clerk, is that your understanding as well?

Unless he decides to withdraw, I would like to just chart without a recommendation, but he is correct in that this will be discharged in front of the full council.

And have a discussion and vote.

Thank you for that explanation.

What doesn't seem to be his intended.

I will say that I remain confused about how to navigate the more than two choices of approval and disapproval in that case.

Okay, we have to do that first.

All right.

So we are still deliberating on the question of Councilor Scott's motion.

And Counselor Scott, uh there are comments from colleagues if you are counselor Stresso.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, through you to Councilor Scott.

Okay.

I hear you're very eager, and I respect and honor your thoughts and feelings on this, but the conversation is still to happen on Thursday night as well.

And that's what I was getting all excited about having as well.

Now the school budget, uh, to your point, I want to clarify the school budget will be on the Thursday agenda.

So whether or not we vote yay or nay on this very on the motion before us, counselor Scott, we still have another conversation, as I recall on the school budget on Thursday.

So am I comfortable voting collectively against this budget?

Not necessarily when we talk Thursday.

Oh, well, that's uh, and and different uh discussions before us on different budgets on Thursday.

That's a whole other conversation.

I'm all ready to have right now.

That's where I am.

Thank you, Counselor Stresso.

I saw Counselor Ewan Campbell.

Um, Mr.

Chair, I don't mean to put you on the spot.

I have a question for you, please.

So typically on a cut night, people would go around, propose cuts.

We've made space for that to happen.

It didn't happen.

And now a motion is before us to take the take the vote, and we're deliberating on that.

But then you said there are more options.

Can you just expound on what you mean by these other options?

I'm ready to, you know, deliberate on the motion and then take the vote, but I'm interested to hear what you're talking about.

Thank you for asking for clarification.

Uh with uh discharging items from a committee back to the general city council, there are multiple different uh recommendations that can be made.

There can be a recommendation for approval, as you know, a recommendation uh to not approve an item.

And uh cavity may also discharge an item without a recommendation.

What I'm confused about is um if there is a call for a roll call vote on just approving or not approving an item say.

Uh I'm confused about if there were a majority vote to not approve an item.

Is that item then discharged with a recommendation to not approve?

If there's a majority to approve, is it right?

So that's my understanding.

Just taking that vote implicitly denies the possibility of other uh other ways of discharging the item, say without a recommendation.

Um thank you.

Uh I'm I am just trying to understand that.

And I was trying to work recently with the chief clerk to uh to understand these questions as well.

Okay.

Well, Mr.

Chair, if there are no further motions, I'm happy to share my thoughts and how I'm approaching this.

Um first of all, I want to give a huge thank you to the committee, to you, Mr.

Chair.

This is an enormous amount of work to all the staff.

Uh obviously, this is just an enormous amount of work.

Um and I will just say, um gone are the days of the budget process of my youth.

I I remembered, you know, my first couple of years on the council.

It was really go cuts each department, right?

Small cuts from from each department.

And my sense, you know, maybe Director Bean will say this is not true.

My sense at the time was it almost seemed like there was money put in there for us to find and cut.

It was it seemed like an act almost.

Um I I will say, and my my I I really think it is thanks to this council, taking this process extremely seriously.

I want to commend my counselor uh Scott and others.

Um that that really doesn't happen anymore.

You know, I I I'm not saying there's literally zero money that could be cut from the budget, but I really don't think it happens like it used to, and I think that is a credit to this process and to this council stepping off to take this process seriously.

Um, despite the fact that many people say this process, you know, we don't have any power, et cetera, et cetera.

I I think we do, and I think we we have shown and continue to show that as a body by making it clear that if you tried to mess around, we would find it.

And thankfully we have an administration that knows we would find it, and they're not really messing around, in my opinion.

Um so I'm in support of passing this budget.

Um I I do want to take a moment just to talk about the clearly the biggest issue, which counselor Scott raised, the six positions that were recommended by the school committee.

Um and just to be clear for for me, it was one counselor, I would feel the same whether or not this was future wicked.

Mr.

Chair, so I I gotta recuse myself as many discussion about the school committee budget specifically, even though we don't have a vote on that specifically.

Um but since it's coming up again, I'm gonna recuse myself while anyone's talking about that.

Thank you, Counselor Davis.

Let the record show, Counselor Davis is leaving the chamber.

Mr.

Chair, I'll also accuse myself.

Thank you.

Let the record show Counselor Clangan is also leaving the chamber.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, so just to be clear for for me, I I know there's a very live procedural question about how to get to budgets before us.

I I voted in the past to support, you know, the school committee being able to submit a different budget.

I continue to support that.

Regardless, this year, I I don't see how I could possibly support these six additional positions.

And I just want to explain this because it's not something that I relish saying.

Um I have enormous respect for the school committee.

I served with the school committee for two years as president.

Um I know how seriously they take their jobs um and what a great job they do.

Um I obviously want to fund these positions.

Um, but I I don't view my job on the city council as to take whatever recommendation is brought to us and just approve it.

Like I I think my job is to review it in the context of the year's budget and the finance decision.

Um and the context here, uh you know, my understanding is it's somewhere close to a million dollars all told, including the city side.

Um and it's a year as I see it, we don't have an extra million dollars.

Um so I I will admit I'm a little bit befuddled.

Um we just took the first series of layoffs in my time on the city council.

Um that I could not possibly look at those folks in the face and say, well, it turns out actually we do have an extra million dollars lying around.

Um that that's not something I'm not prepared to say.

I don't believe that.

Um, so that's why for me, I would absolutely love to fund these positions.

Um I think the schools would be better for them.

Um I just don't think the money exists in this budget without very serious changes that I don't understand and I don't know if I could support.

So I'm not gonna vote against the budget to accomplish that.

And I just wanted to explain that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Ewan Campen.

Any other comments?

Counselor McLaughlin.

I guess I'll follow up.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh yes, thank you to everyone on the committee, particularly all the newer counselors who uh got exposed to this.

We're talking recent a moment ago, uh, someone was like, you know, I've been here two years, one year, never had to do this.

I've been here 14 years, first time I've ever seen uh people lose their jobs uh due to budget cuts and to have a really tough budget process.

So thank you all for sharpening this too, uh, Mr.

Chair.

Uh getting through a tough time.

It's not a good time for the city, it's not a good time for the country right now.

Uh so it's a difficult situation.

Was not looking forward to this budget season.

Never am, but uh, this one was bad.

But I'm gonna be voting to approve the budget, of course.

Uh, because I don't see how voting against the budget is gonna lead to anything.

I mean are we voting against it to fund the schools, to fund the 13 positions that we lost.

That's what I don't understand too.

Like if I had a magic wand, I'd be reinstated the 13 positions before I was creating new positions.

Uh teen empowerment, crossing guards, these are all important things, all things that I care about.

Uh, you can't bleed a rock.

We've got a five million dollar deficit right now.

Um, and I feel it's important to tell people that.

I've heard a few times tonight say we have to act, you have to be an actor.

I'm not an actor, I'm a public servant.

Just like every person in this room uh who serves the public every day, and I don't see how cut not approving the budget is gonna help anybody in this room or anyone in the city.

I feel I have a responsibility as a public servant to tell people the truth.

And the truth is there's five million dollars missing.

Good people lost their jobs, and good jobs that could be created just can't be created right now.

So I'll be voting to approve the budget.

And thank you all to the city uh and all the people here for getting through this tough time and keeping the city moving.

Thank you, Councilor McLaughlin.

I see Councilor Mbah.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'm telling you, it's hard to follow these two folks, you know, and uh just to, you know, I mean when I saw the the school committee summit that they you know additional positions, I quickly called the mayor, and it's like, hey, this is like valuable stuff, like you know, and then graciously the mayor said, Well, I cannot, where do I like it means that I'll have to lay out more people.

I said, No, no, no, no, no.

I just stop, you know.

I just understood that this is something that you know it's not I don't know like why.

And then I spoke to some folks also in the schools, you know, and they said they the schools submitted uh a budget based on the constraint.

And so this, I mean, there's always room for more.

Like if you keep we so again, it's just to say thank you, Councillor Ewan Campin Denk.

Because of you guys are the voice of reason in behind, you know, like my my decision to support this budget because first of all, the mayor's already clarified.

I don't see the mayor trying to hide something or pull it fast one.

I I just don't have time for that kind of uh analysis.

I think you know, as it stands, I'm supporting the budget.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Mbau.

Counselor Link.

Thank you, Chair.

Through you.

Um I just want to say that I I share everyone's consternation um or around the I what I believe is everyone's consternation.

I would I'll speak for myself.

My consternation, I'll share my consternation um about this budget um and the fact that uh, you know, I do I I want um I want for um for everyone's kids.

Um I mean, I have students my kids are in the school.

Um, and if they need interventionists, I want them to have that.

Um I I appreciate all of the the things that that everyone has set up to this point.

Um, you know, we are in in a position where there's just there's I don't think that there's I feel like we've we've looked under all the couch cushions, we've you know picked up all the the rugs, and we've uh you know, I think we I don't I don't know how to make it work.

Uh and that to me is is sad.

Um I I also have to at the same time acknowledge that you know we have all around us cities have uh had um minor to pretty catastrophic cuts in the schools, um, and and we haven't done that.

Um I I also have to at the same time acknowledge that you know we have all around us cities have uh had um minor to pretty catastrophic cuts in the schools um and and we haven't done that um and i really i do really appreciate that um but i uh yeah uh it is impossible to also ignore the fact that our our kids just uh continue to to need um more help and that that that's going to improve things so I've said everything all at once.

Um I really appreciate Counselor Scott.

Um I I really appreciate um you know countering camping uh counselor golf and counselor bottle for all they said counselor Shazo for you know the um it's it's a we're in a really hard place um so uh I yeah I uh I wish there was a better way I wish there were more real like I I wish there was more options in front of us um and I wish also that um to counselor uh to the good counselor from from Ward One's um of Ward One Ward Two sorry for moving you towards uh that we do have more options uh as a city council um to to kind of um to try to make our point that's all say thank you counselor Link Counselor Hart and then Counselor Said Thank you so much Chair um I also uh really regret the position that we're in with the shortfall and um the cuts that have already been made um in the city and I um also just want to express my appreciation for the advocates for the school committee um for my colleagues for everyone who has been uh drawing attention to the needs in our schools and I really believe that those are real needs that we need to take seriously and so I think we need to be working you know if we're not able to fund it this year we need to be working towards that um in next year's budget um so um I you know uh I do understand that there are limits we do not like my colleagues said I I don't have a magic wand and I don't I know that no one else does um either um but just wanted to uh recognize that this is something that we can work towards and figure out I believe we can figure it out with uh with time in the coming year thank you thank you counselor Hart and Counselor Said uh thank you um yeah first I would like to thank everyone who worked on the budget my colleagues on the finance committee you chair wheeler uh and all city staff the mayor um school committee uh thank you all for the time you put in uh especially this year it's really hard with the five million deficit um and I just want to add that um I'm devastated that we cannot find the money the one million to um include the six positions in the schools um and I don't see that the solution is voting down the boat the proposed budget um so we're not be um voting no to the proposed budget thank you counselor site I'm seeing no other hands um in preparation for taking a roll call vote on this uh just for clarity are counselors Davis and Klingon recused on the roll call vote on the just from the discussion okay oh the button there comes um I never heard of this thing there's a oh whoa learn something new every day thank you counselor Scott Councillor Davis has pointed out that counselor Davis and Counselor Clangen did not participate in the discussion on the item and so they cannot vote on the item so with that um I believe we are ready to take a roll call vote and on the roll call or approval for agenda item 6.1 requesting the appropriation of 376 million seven hundred and seventy eight thousand four hundred and ninety three dollars to fund the fiscal year 2027 general fund operating budget counselor you and campen yes counselor link yes counselor scott no counselor clinging is recused counselor stresso yes counselor say yes counselor wheeler yes counselor heart yes counselor mcoughlin yes counselor yes eight counselors in favor that item is approved thank you uh are there any other motions no saying none okay uh we are going to move on to the agenda

Yes.

Counselor Sain.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Counselor Hart.

Yes.

Counselor McGaughlin?

Yes.

Counselor Mbaugh.

Yes.

Eight counselors in favor of that item is approved.

Thank you.

Are there any other motions?

No, seeing none.

Okay.

Uh we are going to move on to the agenda items.

So we have items.

Oh, and thank you.

Uh let the record show.

We have Counselor Davis and Counselor Klangan returning.

Items 3.1 through 5.4 are appropriation requests that I believe we should discharge so that they can be taken up at Thursday's council meeting.

The simplest thing for us to do from the perspective of the finance committee is to discharge these without a recommendation.

Discharging them as recommended or approval is also an option.

As others have mentioned, we can always change that at the Thursday meeting if there is a desire to do so.

But if they were uh discharged at recommended to be approved, then they could be accepted just as part of the finance committee report.

So with that said, Counselor Davis.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I move to uh discharge items 5.1 through 5.4.

Uh 3.1 through 5.4 the wrong section.

3.1 through 3.9 all the way through 5.4.

All the way through.

That's what I meant to say.

Through 5.4 and discharge them without recommendation.

Okay, thank you.

Uh Clerk, could you please read these items into the record?

Oh, you don't think we need to do that?

Okay, beautiful.

Excellent.

Um I meant to say waive the readings and discharge them without recommendation.

Thank you for reminding me that I said that so so silently under my breath that literally nobody heard me.

I appreciate that, Counselor Davis.

Uh okay.

So seeing no objection to that, these items are uh discharged without a recommendation.

And that brings us to the end of our agenda for tonight.

Do I hear I heard a movement to adjourn from Counselor Scott?

Uh and with that, we are adjourned.

Thank you all, and see you on Thursday.