City Council

• Date: April 23, 2026
• Governing Body: Somerville City Council
• Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
• Presiding Officer: Councilor Lance Davis
• Attendees: Councilor Scott, Councilor Clingan, Councilor Strezo, Councilor Sait, Councilor Wheeler, Councilor Hardt, Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Mbah, and Mayor Jake Wilson.
• Absences: Councilors Ewen-Campen, Link, and Sait (traveling).

• Moment of Silence: Observed for Larry Iamello (former Somerville High School teacher) and Charles Lesage Jr. (brother-in-law of Councilor Clingan).
• Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting of March 12, 2026, were approved without discussion.

Citation for Housing Justice

• Item 2.1: Councilor Strezo commended Gary Rogers, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAS), the Office of Housing Stability, and DeNovo Legal Services for their work on housing justice.
• Summary of Remarks: Gary Rogers spoke about his multi-year battle against a corporate landlord to stay in his home in Winter Hill. He stated: "I have now showed them that they can stay and fight and even win on the first try if they learn their tenant rights... Courage is the virtue that leads to all the other virtues."

Arab American Heritage Month

• Item 7.15: Mayor Jake Wilson proclaimed April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month.
• Direct Quote from Proclamation: "The City of Somerville stands against all forms of hate including anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia and is committed to standing with Arab American residents of Somerville and the Commonwealth."
• Speaker: El Mariche, Executive Director of the Center for Arabic Culture, noted that Arab immigrants have been an integral part of the community since the 1880s.

The following grants of location for Eversource were approved:

1. Item 3.1: Install 3,520 feet of conduit and four manholes in Prospect, Charlestown, South, Windsor, and Medford Streets. (Councilor Scott recused).
2. Item 3.2: Install 60 feet of conduit in MacArthur Street.
3. Item 3.3: Install 49 feet of conduit in Somerville Avenue.
4. Item 3.4: Install 28 feet of conduit in Horace Street to service 60 Medford Street. Councilor Scott noted there are no double poles on Horace Street.
5. Item 3.5: Install 25 feet of conduit in Pearl Street.

Harvard Academic Workers Support

• Item 4.6: Resolution in support of Harvard academic workers (UAW).
• Speaker: Allie Stanton, a postdoctoral researcher, described the struggle for fair wages and childcare, noting some workers spend 75% of take-home pay on childcare. The resolution was approved.

SMEU Unit D Settlement

• Item 7.2: Approved the appropriation of $719,817 from the salary and wage stabilization fund to fund the retrospective portion of the collective bargaining settlement with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union, Unit D.

Special Police Officers Home Rule Petition

• Item 10.1: Approved a Home Rule Petition to authorize the appointment of special police officers for the Somerville Housing Authority. The language was narrowly tailored to ensure these officers are under the authority of the Somerville Police Chief and maintain collective bargaining rights.

Councilor Wheeler presented the report from the April 21, 2026, meeting. The following financial items were approved via roll call (8-0):

• Item 6A.8: $46,500 for ash tree treatments to combat invasive pests.
• Item 6A.9: Authorization to borrow $8,284,000 for the FY2026 Water Main Rehabilitation Program.
• Item 6A.10: Authorization to borrow $2,000,000 for sewer system rehabilitation in the McGrath corridor.
• Item 6A.13: Reduction of borrowing authorization for the Kennedy Schoolyard project from $2,000,000 to $1,600,000.
• Item 10.2: Approved a five-year lease with BWB Square LLC for the Nibble Community Kitchen.

Note: A grant for police body-worn cameras ($232,000) was kept in committee due to concerns regarding ongoing annual costs of approximately $430,000 and the need for clearer usage policies.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Update

• Item 8.2: Director of Infrastructure Richard Raish presented the April 2026 draft CSO plan.
• Key Details:
  • The plan is a $1.3 billion regional effort (Somerville, Cambridge, MWRA) to reach zero discharges in a "typical year" by 2050.
  • Financial Impact: Proposed sewer rate increases of 20% in FY27 and 17% for the following three years.
  • Infrastructure: Includes a 9-foot diameter microtunnel at Dilboy Field and a 7.4 million gallon storage tank in Assembly Square.
  • Findings: Raish noted that climate change will cause system failures regardless of CSO mitigation, stating: "The region must invest in local system improvements... before higher levels of CSO control can produce tangible benefits."

Firefighter Equipment Maintenance

• Item 4.3: Resolution requesting an update on the maintenance of fire apparatus.
• Speaker: Mike Jefferson, President of Somerville Fire Local 76, testified that traffic calming devices (speed humps and flex posts) are causing "unprecedented" wear and tear on vehicles. He stated: "One speed bump can delay a fire response by 3 to 10 seconds." The item was referred to Public Health and Safety.

Rodent Control

• Item 4.4: Resolution for DPW to invest in trash barrels with latches. Councilor McLaughlin noted that latches prevent rodents from entering barrels, potentially saving money on replacement costs. Referred to Public Health and Safety.

90 Washington Street Update

• Item 8.4: The city received two proposals for the redevelopment of 90 Washington Street. Technical reviews are ongoing with the Civic Advisory Committee. A full discussion is scheduled for May 11.

Housing Stability Report

• Item 6B: Councilor Strezo reported that the Office of Housing Stability received 505 requests for assistance over five months. Rental assistance disbursements have dropped from $250,000/month to $97,000/month due to funding constraints.

• Thrive Act (Item 4.5): The Council approved a resolution in support of the Thrive Act (Senate Bill 374) to prevent state takeovers of local schools.
• Community Garden (Item 5.1): Approved a resolution to evaluate transforming unused lawn space at the West Branch Library into a community garden.
• Public Events: Approved licenses for "Moms Run 5K" (May 10) and "PorchFest 2026" (May 9).