Finance Committee

City Council Chamber and Remote Participation

Agenda — 19 items

1. 1 (Posted online: 3/22/24 at 6:30 AM)
2. 1 This meeting was held in the Council Chambers and via Zoom, was called to order by Chair Wilson at 7:01 pm and adjourned at 9:02 pm with a roll call vote of 7 in favor (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Davis, McLaughlin, Clingan, Burnley, Scott, and Chair Wilson), 2 opposed (Councilor Mbah and Councilor Sait), and 2 absent (Councilor Pineda Neufeld and Councilor Strezo). Others present: Brendan Salisbury – City Clerk’s Office, Stephanie Widzowski – Clerk of Committees. Recesses were taken from 7:46 pm to 7:50 pm and from 8:00 pm to 8:20 pm. Quorum was re-established via roll call after both recesses. Chair Wilson moved to adopt a rule for this meeting that resolutions showing shared support for budget priorities require a two-thirds vote of the membership to be approved. This motion was approved with 10 in favor (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Strezo, Mbah, Davis, McLaughlin, Clingan, Burnley, Sait, Scott and Chair Wilson), none opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Pineda Neufeld). Councilors spoke briefly about their budget priorities. Chair Wilson introduced the survey that councilors would take to express support for priorities (attached to the agenda for the 3/19 Finance Committee of the Whole meeting) and gave instructions. Councilors filled out the survey and then the results were shared. The five most supported categories were: Housing Stabilization, Homeless Services, Alternative Emergency Response, Housing Affordability, and Municipal Composting. After discussion of the most supported items, Chair Wilson moved to adjourn. The motion was not approved with a roll call vote of 3 in favor (Councilor Davis, Councilor McLaughlin, and Councilor Clingan), 6 opposed (Councilors Ewen-Campen, Mbah, Burnley, Sait, Scott, and Chair Wilson), and 2 absent (Councilor Pineda Neufeld and Councilor Strezo).
3. 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_ZvFTI0YyRU2YNUhvIbXhng 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 March 12, 2024. 24-0373 Kept in committee
6. 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of March 19, 2024. 24-0404 Kept in committee
7. 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee of the Whole Meeting of March 19, 2024. 24-0405 Kept in committee
8. 4. Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee of the Whole Meeting of March 26, 2024. 24-0410 Kept in committee
9. 5. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0202 Kept in committee
10. 6. That the Administration fund the creation of an entire unit within the Department of Public Works tasked with battling the city's growing rodent infestation. 24-0204 Kept in committee
11. 7. That the Administration include in the FY 2025 budget, additional funding for rodent mitigation efforts, including an Office of Rodent Prevention similar to the one proposed in Boston, with appropriate staffing. 24-0211 Kept in committee
12. 8. That the Administration include in the FY 2025 budget, funding for a home air filtration pilot program to address air pollution along Interstate 93. 24-0212 Kept in committee
13. 9. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0214 Kept in committee
14. 10. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0327 Kept in committee
15. 11. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0340 Kept in committee
16. 12. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0342 Kept in committee
17. 13. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0377 Kept in committee
18. 14. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0378 Kept in committee
19. 15. Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025. 24-0390 Kept in committee