City Council

The meeting was called to order by Council President Lance Davis.

• Attendance:
  • Present: Councilors Ben Ewen-Campen, Jon Link, J.T. Scott, Jesse Clingan, Kristen Strezo, Naima Sait, Ben Wheeler, Emily Hardt, Matt McLaughlin, Will Mbah, Powell, and Lance Davis.
  • Quorum: 12 Councilors present.
• Moment of Silence: Observed for Barbara McEachern, Daniel Matthews (former firefighter and Marine), ICE detainees, and victims of international conflict.

Item 2.1: Kendall Wanderers Football Club 50th Anniversary

• Action: The Council and Mayor Jake Wilson presented a citation commending the club on its 50th anniversary.
• Discussion: Councilor Wheeler and Mayor Wilson highlighted the club's role as a social and athletic outlet for immigrants, particularly from Ireland, and its impact on the Somerville and Cambridge communities.

The Council held public hearings for several utility applications.

• Item 3.1: Comcast to install 20 feet of conduit at 1317 Allen Street. Approved.
• Item 3.2: Daigle Electrical to install 57 feet of conduit for an EV charging station at City Hall concourse. Approved.
• Item 3.3: Eversource to relocate utility pole 60/40 near 3 Chester Avenue for fire truck access. Approved.
• Item 3.4: Eversource to install 164 feet of conduit at 299 Broadway (former Star Market). Approved.
• Item 3.5: Eversource to install 82 feet of conduit at 17 MacArthur Street. Approved.
• Item 3.6: Eversource to install 64 feet of conduit for EV charging at Stone Avenue. Approved.
• Item 3.7: Eversource to install 6 feet of conduit at 53 Chandler Street. Approved.
• Item 3.8: Eversource to install 6 feet of conduit at 62 Line Street. Referred to Licenses and Permits due to concerns regarding a long-standing 'double pole' at 56 Line Street.
• Item 3.9: Eversource to install 5 feet of conduit at 16 Edgar Avenue. Referred to Licenses and Permits to coordinate timing with school-area construction.
• Item 5.1: Eversource to install 75 feet of conduit at 91 Prospect Street. Referred to Committee following concerns that the associated project does not exist.

Item 7.16: 2026 Year of the Neighbor

• Summary: Mayor Jake Wilson proclaimed 2026 as the 'Year of the Neighbor,' emphasizing the need for civil discourse and community connection.
• Key Initiatives:
  • Reinstating neighborhood cleanups with potential corporate sponsorship.
  • 'Best Shovel Block' contests and 'Neighbor Ways' low-cost street design.
• Outcome: Placed on file with Council support.

Item 4.19: Support for Senate Bill 2975 (Protect Access to Justice)

• Summary: A resolution supporting state legislation to restrict civil arrests by ICE in or around Massachusetts courthouses.
• Testimony:
  • State Senator Lydia Edwards: Stated the bill requires a judicial warrant for arrests on courthouse grounds to preserve due process. She noted, 'Due process has nothing to do with your immigration status.'
  • State Representative Christine Barber: Emphasized that fear of ICE prevents domestic violence survivors from seeking protective orders.
• Outcome: Approved unanimously.

Item 4.26: National Social Work Month

• Summary: Recognizing March 2026 as National Social Work Month under the theme 'Social Workers Uplift, Defend, Transform.'
• Outcome: Approved; all Councilors signed on.

Items 4.9, 4.10, 4.11: Disability Access and Snow Removal

• Summary: Councilor Ewen-Campen introduced orders regarding dumpsters blocking handicapped (HP) spaces and the failure to clear snow from HP spots and ADA sidewalk ramps.
• Public Comment: Holly Simione (Disability Commission Chair) noted that snow is often plowed into HP spots on corners, making them unusable for wheelchair lifts.
• Outcome: Referred to Sustainability and Infrastructure.

The Council debated several grants previously reviewed by the Finance Committee on March 10, 2026.

• Item 6A2: Special Response Team (SRT) Equipment ($127,000): Grant for protective armor and cameras. Councilor Scott opposed the 'militarization' of police.
  • Vote: Approved 10-1 (Scott opposed).
• Item 6A3: Police Software Grant ($43,000): Funding for GrayKey (phone forensics) and Blue Voice (AI search tool).
  • Vote: Approved 9-2 (Scott, Mbah opposed).
• Item 6A7: Shannon Grant for Youth Violence Prevention ($22,800.08): Requires participation in the 'CopLink' (Crime Tracer) data-sharing system. Councilors Scott, Link, and Hardt expressed concerns regarding data being accessible to federal agencies like ICE.
  • Vote: Approved 6-5 (Link, Scott, Sait, Hardt, Mbah opposed).
• Other Finance Items:
  • $31,000 DEP grant for hazardous waste facility upgrades. Approved.
  • $56,339.46 from Bike Share Stabilization Fund for Blue Bikes at Boynton Union. Approved.

• Item 4.14: Resolution restricting the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) to protect local wildlife. Approved as amended.
• Item 4.23: Request for a Gilman Square development progress dashboard. Approved.
• Item 4.25: Request for data on the health of the inclusionary housing program, including unit refusal rates and occupancy length. Approved.
• Item 9.13: Tufts University Spring 2026 Accountability Report. Referred to Housing, Community Development, and Equity.