Finance Committee
Virtual
Agenda — 56 items
- 1 (Posted online: 6/11/26 at 12:30 PM) Original (Posted online: 6/12/26 at 4:45 PM) Revised
- 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wheeler at 6:02 pm and adjourned at 8:32 pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, Wheeler), and 0 absent. Others present: Alan Inacio – Director of Finance and Administration for Strategy and Development, Anne Gill – Director of Human Resources, Anoop Malik – Finance Manager for Health and Human Services, Ashley Speliotis – Director of the Council on Aging, Cindy Amara – City Solicitor, Courtney Henderson – City Clerk, Ed Bean – Director of Finance, Ellen Shachter – Director of Housing Stability, Kimberly Wells – Chief Administrative Office, Matt Sirigu – Assistant City Solicitor, Richard Daiche – Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Roberta Berretta – Chief Financial Officer, Somerville Public Schools, Shumeane Benford – Chief of Police, Suzanne Rinfret – Director of Traffic and Parking, Linda Duong – Finance Manager of Recreation, Tina Los- Director of Prevention Services, Megan Huckenpahler – Director of Finance for Department of Public Works, Emily Wisdom – Director of Finance for Police, Amanda Nagim-Williams – Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Madalyn Letellier – Assistant City Clerk.
- 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_rvZwVJ4NQziOrZXHvpxwsA 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. Community Preservation Act Appropriations
- 1.1 Requesting the appropriation or reserve of $8,367,344 in estimated Fiscal Year 2027 Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenue for CPA projects and expenses.
- 2. Parking
- 2.1 Requesting approval to execute the Fifth Amendment to the lease agreement with Dana Family Series, LLC, for the Grove Street parking lot, through June 30, 2027.
- 3. Arts
- 3.1 Requesting approval to increase the Special Event Revolving Fund Expenditure Limit for FY 2026.
- 4. People Operations
- 4.1 Requesting the appropriation of $250,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Unemployment Compensation Account to remediate a year-end deficit.
- 5. Health and Human Services
- 5.1 Requesting approval of a transfer of $4,966.16 from various Council on Aging Ordinary Maintenance Accounts and the Health and Human Services Salaries Account to various Council on Aging Personal Services Account to cover an expected year-end deficit.
- 5.2 Requesting approval to accept and expend a $58,642 grant that requires a match, from Metro North Regional Employment Board to the Health and Human Services Department for the YouthWorks Summer Program.
- 5.3 Requesting approval of a transfer of $127,358 from various Office of Housing Stability Ordinary Maintenance Accounts to the Housing Assistance Stabilization Fund for housing assistance programs.
- 5.4 Requesting the appropriation of $144,235 from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Stabilization Fund to support various projects related to opioid initiatives.
- 6. Infrastructure
- 6.1 Requesting approval of a time-only contract extension until 9/5/2028 for the contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for the Mystic River Outfall Sewer Separation design project.
- 6.2 Requesting approval of a time-only contract extension until 12/31/2028 for the contract with Symmes Maini & McKee for Owners Project Manager Services for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Capital Projects.
- 7. Strategy and Development
- 7.1 Requesting approval of a transfer of $2,403.70 from the Planning, Preservation and Zoning Salaries Account to the Department of Public Works Highway Overtime Account for the Davis Square Activation project.
- 8. Mobility
- 8.1 Requesting approval to accept and expend a $222,502 grant that requires a match, from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization to the Mobility Division for Blue Bikes State of Good Repair project.
- 8.2 Requesting approval to accept and expend a $500,000 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to the Mobility Division for the Western Pearl Street construction project.
- 9. Public Space and Urban Forestry
- 9.1 Requesting approval of a transfer of $100,000 from the Public Space and Urban Forestry Capital Account to the Street Tree Stabilization Fund for additional Fiscal Year 2027 tree planting and maintenance.
- 9.2 Requesting approval of a transfer of $2,500 from the Planning, Preservation and Zoning Salaries Account to the Public Space and Urban Forestry Salaries Account to cover a year-end budget deficit.
- 10. Fire Department
- 10.1 Requesting the appropriation of $360,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Judgments & Settlements Account for settlement payments relative to the lease between BRE-BMR, Middlesex LLC and the City of Somerville for the Assembly Square Fire Station at 45 Middlesex Avenue.
- 10.2 Requesting the appropriation of $18,850 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Judgments & Settlements Account for closing costs relative to the purchase of the Assembly Square Fire Station Condominium Unit at 45 Middlesex Avenue.
- 11. Parks and Recreation
- 11.1 Requesting approval to increase the Somertime Revolving Account Expenditure Limit for Fiscal Year 2026.
- 11.2 Requesting approval to repurpose and appropriate $45,000 from the COVID-19 Stabilization fund to continue the Playworks Program at the Winter Hill Community School for the 2026-2027 School Year.
- 11.3 Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $2,500 using available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Professional Services Account for removal and storage of floating docks at the Blessing of the Bay boathouse.
- 12. Financial Management
- 12.1 Requesting the appropriation of $196,086 from the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund to various departmental Other Lump Sum Payment Accounts to fund a collective bargaining agreement with Somerville Municipal Employees Union, Unit D.
- 12.2 Conveying information regarding changes in positions in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
- 12.3 Requesting the approval of the expenditure limitations for departmental Revolving Funds for Fiscal Year 2027.
- 13. Oversight
- 13.1 That the City Clerk inform this Council as to the final status of item #25-0905, a unanimous vote in favor of adopting Chapter 329 of the Acts of 1987 on May 22, 2025.
- 13.2 That the City Attorney advise this Council on the Mayor's compliance with Section 6-4 of the Somerville Charter as it relates to the submission of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, particularly "the school budget, as adopted by the school committee".
- 14. Department of Public Works
- 14.1 Requesting approval of a transfer of $400,000 from the Department of Public Works Sanitation Rubbish Removal Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.2 Requesting approval of a transfer of $300,000 from the Department of Public Works Sanitation Recycling Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.3 Requesting approval of a transfer of $300,000 from the Department of Public Works Custodial Salaries Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.4 Requesting approval of a transfer of $150,000 from the Department of Public Works Grounds Wages Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.5 Requesting approval of a transfer of $110,000 from the Department of Public Works Buildings Wages Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.6 Requesting approval of a transfer of $455,000 from the Department of Public Works Highway Wages Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.7 Requesting approval of a transfer of $125,000 from the Department of Public Works Administration Salaries Account to the Snow Removal Account to cover expenses from the Fiscal Year 2026 winter weather season.
- 14.8 Requesting the appropriation of $1,624,494 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Department of Public Works Snow Removal Account to reduce a year-end deficit.
- 14.9 Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $41,257.05 using available funds in various Department of Public Works accounts for various services.
- 15. Police Department
- 15.1 Requesting approval to accept and expend a $231,635 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for a body-worn camera program.
- 16. Unfinished Business
- 16.1 Resolution By Councilor Strezo 6/9/26 That the collective salaries of Licensing Commissioners be increased to $15,180 with the Chair receiving $5,180 and Licensing Commissioners 2 and 3 receiving $5,000 each annually.