Legislative Matters Committee
Virtual
Agenda — 19 items
- 1 (Posted online: 6/25/26 at 10:45 AM) Original (Posted online: 6/25/26 at 5:00 PM) Revised
- 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Scott at 6:00 pm and adjourned at 9:50 pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Strezo, and Scott), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. The committee entered recess at 7:55 pm and returned at 8:00 pm on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, and Scott), and 1 absent (Councilor Strezo). Councilor Strezo joined the meeting at 8:04 pm. Others present: Emily Wisdom – Director of Finance and Administration Police, Jay Piques – Assistant City Attorney, Matt Sirigu – Assistant City Attorney/Labor Counsel, Sean Sheehan – Police Captain, Vanessa Boulki – Senior Urban Forestry & Landscape Planner, Ellen Schacter – Director of the Office of Housing Stability, Michael Perronne – Police Captain, Amanda Nagim-Williams – Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Joseph Theall – Housing Counsel, Cindy Amara – City Attorney, Madalyn Letellier – Assistant City Clerk, Legislative Services.
- 2 Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YDv3_8HPRbGLf8pBOupTxw Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.
- 3 Roll Call
- 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of May 19, 2026.
- 2. Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to authorize the City of Somerville to regulate leases and tenancy at will agreements.
- 3. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Chapter 7 and Section 1-11(b) of the Code of Ordinances to require property owners provide a notice of building sale to tenants.
- 4. That Chapter 2, Article VIII, Division 1 of the Code of Ordinances be amended as detailed within.
- 5. Conveying the 2025 Surveillance Technology Annual Report.
- 6. Conveying the updated 2025 Surveillance Technology Annual Report.
- 7. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for the Smart Tree Inventory.
- 8. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for CrimeTracer.
- 9. 89 registered voters submitting a petition requesting a public hearing regarding Police Body-Worn Cameras, pursuant to Section 2-11 of the City Charter.
- 10. Chief of Police conveying information regarding item #26-0378, a request of the Mayor for acceptance of a grant for a body-worn camera program.
- 11. Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Body Worn Cameras.
- 12. Requesting approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for Body Worn Cameras.
- 13. Proposing an amendment to Section 2-6 of the Code of Ordinances, the Welcoming Communities Ordinance, to further enhance civil rights protections in Somerville.
- 14. That the Code of Ordinances be amended to prohibit the use of tax-payer funds for self-promotion.
- 18 Referenced Documents: • Legislative Matters - 2026-06-30 Memo NBS Ordinance (with 26-0882) • Legislative Matters - 2026-06-30 Memo HRP Early Leasing (with 26-0797) • Legislative Matters - 2026-06-30 Somerville Tree Inventory Overview Presentation (with 26-0878)