Finance Committee

Virtual

Agenda — 28 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 5/2/25 at 7:30 AM)
2. 1 The meeting took place remotely via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Wilson and adjourned at 7:29 PM on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Burnley, Clingan, Scott and Wilson), none against and 1 absent (Councilor Mbah). Others present: Senior Accountant Alan Inacio – Planning, Director Rich Raiche - Infrastructure and Asset Management, Catherine Lester Salchert – Special Counsel, Director Emily Wisdom – SPD Finance and Administration, Yasmine Raddassi – Legislative Liaison, Peter Forcellese – Legislative Clerk.
3. 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_dPkIG7zLRl-cWSWUtRhCxw 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.
4. 3 Roll Call
5. 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of April 8, 2025. 25-0758 Accepted Pass
6. 5 Prior Year Invoices
7. 2. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $12,430.19 using available funds in the Police Department In Service Training, Professional & Technical Services, Repairs to Radio Alarm, and Public Safety Supplies accounts. 25-0686 Recommended to be approved Pass
8. 7 Grant & Gift Acceptances
9. 3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $35,300 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for upgrades to the Emergency Operation Center. 25-0674 Recommended to be approved Pass
10. 4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $61,301.89 grant with no new match required, from the Boston Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for replacement of cameras. 25-0683 Recommended to be approved Pass
11. 10 Contracts & Easements
12. 5. Requesting approval of a Deed, Maintenance License, and Maintenance Easement for 808 Windsor Street. 25-0523 Recommended to be approved Pass
13. 6. City Solicitor requesting approval to retain Verrill Dana, LLP, as outside legal counsel with respect to Combined Sewer Overflow Control matters. 25-0824 Recommended to be approved Pass
14. 13 Funds & Accounts
15. 7. Requesting approval to create the Chestnut Street Multimodal Safety Stabilization Fund and accept a payment of $99,127 from the developer of 100 Chestnut Street to implement multimodal safety and access improvements. 25-0524 Recommended to be approved Pass
16. 15 Transfers
17. 8. Requesting the transfer of $55,631 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Undesignated Fund Balance to the CPA Open Space Reserve. 25-0398 Recommended to be approved Pass
18. 17 Appropriations
19. 9. Requesting the appropriation of $300,000 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund to the CPA Open Space Land Acquisition Fund. 25-0652 Recommended to be approved Pass
20. 10. Requesting the appropriation of $100,000 from the Community Preservation Act Budgeted Reserve and Open Space Reserve for improvements to Dilboy Auxiliary Fields. 25-0399 Recommended to be approved Pass
21. 11. Requesting the appropriation of $1,468,693 from the Community Preservation Act Affordable Housing Reserve to the Affordable Housing Trust. 25-0651 Recommended to be approved Pass
22. 21 Orders and Resolutions
23. 12. That the Chief of Police present to this Council the financial implications of the Public Safety for All recommendations, specifically the costs to fund additional officers, acquire and utilize body cameras, and implement a co-response model. 25-0254 Kept in committee
24. 13. That the Director of Housing include a line item contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust’s FY 2026 ordinary maintenance budget in order to sustain its funding for affordable housing development and assistance to households facing rent or mortgage arrears. 25-0568 Kept in committee
25. 14. That the Director of Housing Stability calculate and present a budget proposal for sufficient funding that will enable it to continue its programs of municipal flex funding, legal assistance and related housing search services for residents facing displacement and homeless families and individuals in FY 2026. 25-0569 Kept in committee
26. 15. That the Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment clarify the situation regarding the federal grant application for composting and, depending on its likely fulfillment, calculate a budget line item to insure that the small-scale pilot program can continue into FY 2026 and expand to more households. 25-0570 Kept in committee
27. 16. That the Chief Assessor and the City Treasurer discuss with this Council the issue of residents not receiving initial motor vehicle excise tax bills, resulting in demand fees. 25-0745 Recommended to be marked work completed
28. 26 Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2025-05-06 Memo (with 25-0568) • Finance - 2025-05-06 Memo (with 25-0569) • Finance - 2025-05-06 Memo (with 25-0570) • Finance - 2025-05-06 Memo (with 25-0745) • Finance - 2025-05-06 Motor Vehicle Excise Manual (with 25-0745)