Finance Committee
Virtual
Agenda — 33 items
- 2 (Posted online: 4/15/26 at 6:00 AM)
- 3 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_X-w3rtn5RoOxSeyodcimUw 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.
- 4 This meeting was held virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chair Wheeler and adjourned at 8:15 pm with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott and Wheeler), 0 absent. Also present: Emily Wisdom - Somerville Police Department Director of Finance and Administration, Yasmine Raddassi - Legislative Liaison, Steven Nutter - Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, Cathy Piantigini - Somerville Public Library Director, Anthony Baum - Arts Program Coordinator, Erica Satin-Hernandez - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Director, Vanessa Boukili - Urban Forestry and Landscape Planner, Denise Taylor - Director of Communications, Roberta Cameron - Preservation Act Manager, Richard Raiche - Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Charles Breen - Somerville Fire Chief, Shumeane Benford - Somerville Police Chief and Delaney Fisher-Cassiol - Clerk of Committees
- 5 Roll Call
- 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of April 7, 2026.
- 8 Grants and Acceptances
- 2. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $125,000 grant that requires a match, from the Department of Energy Resources to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for light retrofitting at Dilboy Field.
- 3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $30,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to the Public Library for library operations.
- 4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $300 gift from James and Linda Hyson to the Public Library for materials for the West Branch Library.
- 12 Contracts and Agreements
- 5. Requesting approval of a five-year extension to the lease with BwB-Square LLC for Nibble Community Kitchen.
- 14 Appropriations
- 6. Requesting approval to appropriate of $46,500 from the Street Tree Stabilization Fund for FY 2026 Ash Tree treatments.
- 16 Transfers
- 7. Requesting approval of a transfer of $31,800 from the Communications and Community Engagement Salaries Account to the Communications and Community Engagement Professional and Technical Services and Printing and Stationary Accounts for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and program signage.
- 18 Community Preservation Act Appropriations
- 8. Requesting the appropriation of $400,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund for improvements to the Kennedy Schoolyard.
- 9. Requesting approval of a transfer of $228,000 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Undesignated Fund Balance to the CPA Open Space Reserve.
- 10. Requesting the approval of a time-only contract extension until 5/31/2029 for the Mystic River Watershed Association for the Community Preservation Act FY 2023 grant for design of the Blessing of the Bay Linear Park improvements.
- 22 Bonds
- 11. Requesting approval to reduce the borrowing authorization for the Kennedy Schoolyard Renovation Project from $2,000,000 to $1,600,000.
- 12. Requesting authorization to borrow $8,284,000 in a bond, and to appropriate the same amount for the recurring FY 2026 Water Main Rehabilitation program.
- 13. Requesting authorization to borrow $2,000,000 in a bond, and to appropriate the same amount for the annual FY 2026 Sewer System Rehabilitation - McGrath Corridor.
- 26 Fire Department Grant and Gift Acceptances and Transfers
- 14. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $48,866.25 grant with no new match required, from the Urban Areas Security Initiative to the Fire Department for the purchase of a vehicle for the Fire Department Auxiliary.
- 15. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $30,380 grant with no new match required, from the Department of Fire Services to the Fire Department for firefighter safety equipment.
- 29 Police Department Grant and Gift Acceptances and Transfers
- 16. Requesting approval of a transfer of $35,000 from the Police Department Salaries Account to the Police Department Animal Control Salaries Account for an expected deficit.
- 17. Requesting approval of a transfer of $325,000 from the Police Department Salaries Account to the Police Department Medical and Dental Services Account for medical procedures for current and retired employees injured in the line of duty.
- 18. 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.
- 32 Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2026-04-21 Memo (with 26-0378) • Finance - 2026-04-21 Memo (with 26-0512) • Finance - 2026-04-21 Memo (with 26-0601)
- 33 Communications
- 19. Alexandra Thorn and Daniel Wong submitting comments re: item #26-0378, grant for body-worn camera program.