Finance Committee
Virtual
Agenda — 24 items
- 1 (Posted online: 3/19/25 at 2:45 PM)
- 2 Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, 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_WrYRpTQjQueUumtASPwJdg 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 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wilson at 6:00pm and adjourned at 7:37pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Mbah, Burnley, Clingan, Scott, Wilson), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Others present: Ashley Speliotis - Director of Council on Aging, Emily Wisdom - Director of Police Finance, Shumeane Benford - Police Chief, Alan Inacio - Planning Board Senior Accountant, Jill Lathan - DPW Commissioner, Kimberley Hutter - Legislative Liaison, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager.
- 4 Roll Call
- 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of March 11, 2025.
- 7 Transfers
- 2. Requesting approval of a transfer of $35,000 from the Health and Human Services Professional and Technical Services Account to the Council on Aging Transportation (Non-School) Account for the Senior Taxi Transportation program.
- 11 Grant and Gift Acceptances
- 3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $42,000 grant with no new match required from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency Management to the Police Department for safety equipment.
- 13 Contracts and Easements
- 4. Requesting approval of a time-only extension for an additional two years until 12/31/2026 for the contract with Warner Larson Landscape Architects, to complete additional structural and design services at the Healey Schoolyard and Athletic Field.
- 15 Prior Year Invoices
- 5. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $72.24 using available funds in the Department of Racial and Social Justice Rental Water Cooler Account for the purchase of four cases of bottled water.
- 6. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $3,090 using available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department DCR-Boat House account.
- 18 Appropriations
- 7. Requesting the appropriation of $160,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Department of Public Works Repairs to Buildings Account for fabrication and installation of courts at Founders Rink.
- 8. Requesting the appropriation of $922,609 from the Salary Contingency account to various departmental Salaries Accounts to fund an update to the non-union salary ordinance.
- 21 Ordinances
- 9. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2-322 and 2-323 of the Code of Ordinances, to update categories and associated salaries for non-union positions.
- 10. Amending the Code of Ordinances by adding Section 2-325 to Chapter 2, Article VI, Division 3 related to compensation for elected officials.
- 24 Orders and Resolutions
- 11. That the City Auditor provide in writing to this Council, the revenue generated by the short-term rental tax and an estimate of how much additional revenue would be generated if a 3% community impact fee was adopted.
- 25 Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2025-03-25 PYI Memo Park Rec (with 25-0400) • Finance - 2025-03-25 Response regarding short term rentals (with 25-0252) • Finance - 2025-03-25 Law Memo re short term rental fees (with 25-0255)
- 12. That the City Solicitor provide an assessment of whether a trust could be created for funds from a short-term rental program, half of which would be allocated for grants to local artists for beautification projects, as proposed by the Creative Displacement Task Force.