Finance Committee
Virtual
Agenda — 61 items
- 1 (Posted online: 2/19/26 at 9:30 AM)
- 1 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wheeler at 6:02 pm and adjourned at 8:45 pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, Wheeler), 0 opposed. The committee entered recess at 8:29 PM and returned at 8:34 pm with 5 present (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, Wheeler). Others present: Denise Taylor – Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Robert Berretta – Schools Chief Financial Officer, Eric Weisman – Interim Commissioner of Public Works, Brian Postlewaite – Director of Engineering, Yasmine Raddasssi – Legislative Liaison, Ashley Speliotis – Director of Council on Aging, James Mucci- Director of Finance for Fire, Rich Raiche – Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Nikki Spencer – Interim Director of Health and Human Services , Maya Yoshikawa Sanitation and Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Christopher Hosman – Director of SomerPromise, Garret Anderson – Energy Manager, Michael Richards - Director of Finance and Administration for Infrastructure and Asset Management, Ed Bean – Director of Finance, Anoop Malik Health and Human Services Finance Manager, Cathy Lester Salchert Special Counsel, Jerome Thomas Director of Veterans Services, Alan Inacio - Director of Finance and Administration for the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, Emily Wisdom - Director of Finance and Administration for Police, James Mucci Director of Finance for Fire, 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_3qUYjs9rTseIWpfY2GKYHg Individuals 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 and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
- 3 Roll Call
- 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of January 20, 2026.
- 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of February 10, 2026.
- 6 Environment-related Grant Requests
- 3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $5,000 grant with no new match required, from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Public Works for the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program.
- 4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $28,000 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Public Works for the Recycling Dividends Program.
- 9 Infrastructure-related Contracts and Agreements
- 5. Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 6/30/2027 for the contract with N. Granese & Sons Inc. for water distribution system maintenance and repair.
- 6. Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 6/30/2027 for the contract with EB Rotondi & Sons Inc. for repairs to water main gate valves and appurtenances.
- 12 Sewer-related Bonding
- 7. Requesting authorization to borrow $1,530,000 in a bond, and to appropriate the same amount for the annual FY 2026 Sewer System Evaluation and Infiltration/Inflow Assessment.
- 14 Contracts and Agreements
- 8. Requesting the appropriation of $154,136 from the Receipts Reserved for Appropriation-Settlement of Claims Account to the School Department Legal Settlement Account for an insurance settlement.
- 16 Communications-related
- 9. Requesting approval of a transfer of $3,000 from the Communications Department Professional and Technical Services Account to the Somerville Public Schools Professional Salaries Account for consulting services related to the inaugural event.
- 18 HHS-related Appropriations and Grants
- 10. Requesting approval to appropriate $324,360 from the Medicinal Marijuana Stabilization Fund for the salary and fringe of four positions related to youth in FY 2027.
- 11. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $87,848 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Aging and Independence to the Council on Aging for health, wellness, social, and educational programming.
- 21 Easements
- 12. Requesting approval of a Pedestrian Access Sidewalk Easement and Maintenance License at 16-20 Medford Street.
- 23 Veterans-related
- 13. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $15,000 grant that requires a match from the Massachusetts General Court and the State Historical Records Advisory Board to the Veterans Services Department for support of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the archival digitization project.
- 14. Requesting the appropriation of $306,250 from the Community Preservation Act Historic Preservation Reserve for restoration of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and veterans monuments.
- 26 Energy-related Appropriations
- 15. Requesting approval to appropriate $299,460 from the Energy Stabilization Fund to replace the lighting at Dilboy Field.
- 16. Requesting approval to appropriate $210,525 from the Energy Stabilization Fund to replace lighting at Trum Field.
- 17. Requesting approval to appropriate $179,349 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for the addition of a solar array to the new roof of 133 Holland Street.
- 18. Requesting approval to appropriate $26,759 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for weatherizing the basement and envelope of 133 Holland Street.
- 19. Requesting approval to appropriate $299,910 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for a heat pump replacement project at 133 Holland Street.
- 32 CPA-related
- 20. Requesting an appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,000,000 in a bond for financing a portion of the Kennedy Schoolyard Renovation Project, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee.
- 21. Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Community Preservation Act Open Space Reserve for construction of improvements to the Kennedy Schoolyard.
- 22. Requesting the appropriation of $124,331 from the Community Preservation Act Fund for improvements to Blessing of the Bay Linear Park.
- 23. Requesting the appropriation of $480,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund Budgeted Reserve to the Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development for continued preservation of 59 Cross Street.
- 24. Requesting the appropriation of $74,365 from the Community Preservation Act Historic Preservation Reserve to Nicole Bairos for preservation of Buddy's Diner.
- 25. Requesting the appropriation of $420,566 from the Community Preservation Act Historic Preservation Reserve to the Elizabeth Peabody House for continued restoration of 277 Broadway.
- 26. Requesting the appropriation of $50,000 from the Community Preservation Act Budgeted Reserve to the Somerville Housing Authority for improvements to the open space at the Mystic River/View developments.
- 27. Requesting the appropriation of $150,000 from the Community Preservation Act Historic Preservation Reserve to Vida Real Church for exterior restoration of the building at 404 Broadway.
- 28. Requesting the approval of a transfer of $237,250 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Undesignated Fund Balance to the CPA Historic Preservation Reserve.
- 42 Park-related Contracts and Agreements
- 29. Requesting approval of a time-only contract extension until 12/31/2027 for Crowley Cottrell LLC to complete additional services for re-design and construction administration fees for Junction Park.
- 44 Prior Year Invoices
- 30. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $3,342.05 using available funds in various Police Departments Ordinary Maintenance Accounts for various services.
- 46 Police, Fire Department Grant and Gift Acceptances
- 31. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $43,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for software.
- 32. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $50,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for target hardening at the Police Department headquarters.
- 33. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $618,181.81 grant that requires a match, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Fire Department for the replacement of aging breathing apparatus.
- 34. Requesting approval of a transfer of $6,166.19 from the Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance Other Equipment - Not Capitalized Account to the Fire Department Special Items Grant Match Account to fund the required match for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
- 35. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $48,000 grant with no new match required, from Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) to the Fire Department for the replacement of security cameras at fire headquarters.
- 52 Claim Settlement
- 36. Requesting approval for settlement of a claim for $10,400 pursuant to Section 2-124 of the Code of Ordinances.
- 54 Grant and Gift Acceptances
- 37. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $127,000 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for Special Response Team equipment and training.
- 56 Appropriations
- 38. Requesting the appropriation of $430,965 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Special Education Reserve Fund.
- 58 Communications
- 39. Director of Economic Development conveying the potential use of an Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing Tool (UCH-TIF) to incentivize housing production.
- 60 Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2026-02-24 Memo (with 26-0113) • Finance - 2026-02-24 Memo (with 26-0167) • Finance - 2026-02-24 Memo (with 26-0172) • Finance - 2026-02-24 Amendment (with 26-0055) • Finance - 2026-02-24 Memo (with 26-0199 and 26-0197) • Finance - 2026-02-24 Memo (with 26-0188, 26-0195, and 26-0196)