Finance Committee

Virtual

Agenda — 32 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 1/16/25 at 9:30 AM)
2. 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__rKGwddKQBaFuSTQxjZREg 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. 3 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wilson at 6:00 pm and adjourned at 8:44 pm on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Mbah, Burnley, Jr, Scott, Wilson), 0 opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Sait). The committee went into recess from 8:06pm-8:12pm and readjourned with a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Mbah, Burnley, Jr, Scott, Wilson and 1 absent (Councilor Sait). Others present: Fire Chief - Charles Breen, Director of Human Resources - Anne Gill, Director of Arts Council - Gregory Jenkins, Sustainability and Resiliency Planner - Elyse Belarge, Director of Economic Development - Rachel Nadkarni, Director of Police Finance - Anthony Delmonaco, Deputy IT Director - David Slonina, Director of Housing Stability - Ellen Shachter, Director of Administration and Finance of OSPCD - Alan Inacio, Program Manager - Jeremy Vallesio, Sargent - Michael McCarey, Legislative Liaison - Kimberley Hutter, Legislative Services Manager - Madalyn Letellier.
4. 4 Roll Call
5. 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of December 10, 2024. 24-1769 Accepted Pass
6. 7 Grant and Gift Acceptances
7. 2. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $100,000 grant with no new match required, from Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to the Office of Housing Stability for a Senior Housing Bridge pilot program. 25-0021 Recommended to be approved Pass
8. 3. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $100,000 grant with no new match required, from the Barr Foundation to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for a Community Heat Resilience Pilot Grant Program. 25-0018 Recommended to be approved Pass
9. 4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $60,000 grant with no new match required, from Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for traffic safety enforcement. 24-1659 Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation Pass
10. 5. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $40,021 grant with no new match required, from Department of Mental Health to the Police Department for the continuation of partial funding for the Jail Diversion Coordinator position. 24-1660 Recommended to be approved Pass
11. 6. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $295,463 grant with no new match required, from Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for 911 personnel costs. 24-1727 Recommended to be approved Pass
12. 7. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $133,427.11 grant with no new match required, from Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for training and recertification and additional staffing support. 24-1728 Recommended to be approved Pass
13. 8. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $24,500 grant with no new match required, from Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for ambulance service. 24-1729 Recommended to be approved Pass
14. 9. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $109,296 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Fire Department for staffing costs. 25-0016 Recommended to be approved Pass
15. 10. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $100,000 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Economic Development to the Economic Development Division for a Small Business Success Technical Assistance program. 25-0020 Recommended to be approved Pass
16. 17 Communications and Discussions
17. 11. Director of Economic Development and Director of the Arts Council conveying an updated draft Armory Master Plan. 25-0019 Recommended to be marked work completed Pass
18. 19 Transfers
19. 12. Requesting approval of a transfer of $60,159 from the Public Space and Urban Forestry Capital Account to the Public Space and Urban Forestry Ordinary Maintenance Account for Tree Keeper/311 Integration expenses. 24-1718 Recommended to be approved Pass
20. 21 Appropriations
21. 13. Requesting the appropriation of $110,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the 90 Washington Demonstration Project Account for ongoing litigation costs. 24-1713 Recommended to be approved Pass
22. 14. Requesting the appropriation of $100,000 from Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to satisfy a court judgment. 25-0047 Kept in committee Pass
23. 24 Bonding
24. 15. Requesting authorization to borrow $4,757,000 in a bond, and to appropriate the same amount for the recurring FY 2025 Sewer Improvements program. 24-1694 Recommended to be approved Pass
25. 26 Prior Year Invoices
26. 16. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $1,725.65 using available funds in the Department of Public Works Administration In State Travel Account for EZ pass. 24-1642 Recommended to be approved Pass
27. 17. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $2,063.40 using available funds in the Department of Public Works Buildings Fire Alarm R&M Account for fire alarm equipment programming. 24-1643 Recommended to be approved Pass
28. 18. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $545.03 using available funds in the Human Resources Professional & Technical Services for reimbursement of expenses relating to the Chief of Police interview process. 24-1725 Recommended to be approved Pass
29. 19. Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $15,764.40 using available funds in the Information Technology Maintenance Software Account for voice maintenance, and in the Information Technology Computer Hardware Account for laptop accessories. 25-0017 Recommended to be withdrawn Pass
30. 31 Orders and Resolutions
31. 31 Referenced Documents: • Finance 2025-01-21 Updated Armory Draft Master Plan (with 25-0091).pdf • Finance 2025-01-21 Updated Armory Draft Master Plan Slides (with 25-0091) • Finance - 2025-01-21 Memo - Sewer Improvement Bond, IAM (with 24-1694) • Finance - 2025-01-21 Memo Prior Year Invoices, DPW (with 24-1642, 24-1643)
32. 20. That the Director of Parks and Recreation and the Commissioner of Public Works update this Council on short- and long-term plans for the Founders Memorial Skating Rink. 25-0068 Kept in committee Pass