City Council

January 8, 2026
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Executive Summary

The Somerville City Council meeting on January 8, 2026, focused on administrative transitions under the new mayoral administration, infrastructure improvements, and community safety. Significant actions included the approval of a $50,000 grant for the Somerville Mobile Farmers Market and a $4,543.04 funding request to support a restructuring of the Mayor’s office, including new liaison roles for public engagement and community partnerships. The Council also addressed numerous resolutions concerning affordable housing, pedestrian safety on McGrath Highway, and environmental initiatives, while clarifying the city's stance on surveillance technology.

Meeting Information

  • Date: January 8, 2026
  • Governing Body: City Council
  • Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
  • Attendees:
    • Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen
    • Councilor John Link
    • Councilor J.T. Scott
    • Councilor Jesse Clingan
    • Councilor Kristen Strezo
    • Councilor Naima Sait
    • Councilor Ben Wheeler
    • Councilor Emily Hardt
    • Councilor Matt McLaughlin
    • Councilor Will Mbah
    • Councilor Lance Davis (President)
    • Mayor Jake Wilson
    • Assistant City Clerk Maddie Cloutelier

Remembrances and Minutes

  • Remembrances:
    • Mary Houghton: A lifelong Ward 3 resident and disability advocate who attended the Walnut Street Center. Councilor Ewen-Campen noted her active community involvement and recent meeting with the Mayor-elect.
    • Renee Nicole Good: A U.S. citizen killed by a federal ICE agent in Minneapolis. The Council collectively signed on to a remembrance for her.
  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting of November 25, 2025, were approved (Item 1.3).

Public Hearings - Grants of Location

  • Item 3.1: Eversource application to install approximately 2.7 feet of conduit in Highland Avenue from manhole 18944 to 185 Highland Avenue.
    • Action: Approved following a public hearing with testimony from Jackie Duffy of Eversource.
  • Item 3.2: Eversource application to install approximately 110 feet of conduit in Jacques Street from utility pole 182/4 to 146 Jacques Street.
    • Action: Approved following a public hearing with testimony from Jackie Duffy of Eversource.

Mayor's Requests and Financial Matters

  • Item 7.4: Request to accept and expend a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources for the Somerville Mobile Farmers Market.
    • Action: Approved.
  • Item 7.1: Request to use $4,543.04 from the executive administration salaries account to fund restructured liaison positions.
    • Discussion: Mayor Wilson explained the roles:
      • Mayor's Public Liaison (Jesse Moose): Acts as a conduit between the office and the public, including managing the Mayor's social media.
      • Community Partnerships Liaison (Brenna Broderick): Coordinates efforts with community partners, including organizations serving the unhoused and Main Streets groups.
    • Action: Approved.
  • Item 10.3: Request for a transfer of $103,421 from the salary contingency account to fund a memorandum of agreement with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU) Unit B.
    • Action: Referred to the Finance Committee.
  • Item 7.2: Time-only contract extension for Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for the Spring Hill sewer separation design (new expiration March 31, 2026).
    • Action: Referred to the Finance Committee.

Ordinances and Legislative Matters

  • Item 4.1: Ordinance by Councilor Davis amending Chapter 2, Article 3 of the Code of Ordinances to establish the time and place of regular City Council meetings.
    • Discussion: The proposal suggests moving meetings to Tuesdays at a different time in two years.
    • Action: Referred to Legislative Matters.
  • Item 8.1: Acceptance of M.G.L. Chapter 41, Section 91 regarding the appointment and removal of constables.
    • Action: Referred to Legislative Matters.

Housing, Community Development, and Equity

  • Item 4.2: Order for a report on new housing units approved since Summer Vision 2040, including permanent affordability data.
    • Action: Referred to Housing, Community Development, and Equity (HCDE).
  • Item 4.6: Update on the Kensington Connector beautification and safety project.
    • Discussion: Councilor McLaughlin noted the area under I-93 is dangerous and poorly lit. Councilor Strezo noted safety concerns and damage to existing artwork.
    • Action: Referred to HCDE.
  • Item 4.10: Resolution to draft zoning amendments for transit-oriented height and density bonuses for affordable housing.
    • Action: Referred to Land Use.
  • Item 4.12: Order to clarify rules for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and potential impacts on inclusionary zoning thresholds.
    • Action: Referred to Land Use.

Public Health and Safety

  • Item 4.7: Resolution to provide crossing guards on McGrath Highway.
    • Discussion: Councilor McLaughlin and Councilor Strezo emphasized the need for city action despite jurisdictional disputes with the state, calling the corridor the "corridor of death."
    • Action: Referred to Public Health and Safety.
  • Item 4.8: Resolution to collaborate with East Somerville Main Streets to promote "Eat Out in East" to support immigrant-owned businesses.
    • Action: Referred to Public Health and Safety.
  • Item 5.1: Discussion on the safety of the Summer Street bike lane design near Putnam Street.
    • Action: Referred to Public Health and Safety.

Traffic and Parking

  • Item 4.11: Discussion on the MassDOT McGrath Boulevard redesign project (25% design documents).
    • Discussion: Councilors expressed concerns regarding the use of "Hawk signals" versus full signalized crossings, particularly at Otis Street near playgrounds.
    • Action: Referred to Traffic and Parking.
  • Item 4.16: Resolution to install a "No Turn on Red" sign at Bow Street and Warren Avenue.
    • Action: Referred to Traffic and Parking.

Sustainability and Infrastructure

  • Item 4.18: Resolution to develop a standardized "green score" for public parks to identify benchmarks for parkland quality.
    • Action: Referred to Sustainability and Infrastructure.
  • Item 4.19: Resolution to explore the feasibility of a "year with no swag" to reduce plastic waste and prioritize spending.
    • Action: Referred to Sustainability and Infrastructure.

Appointments and Confirmations

  • Reappointments: The Council approved the reappointments of various department heads (Items 7.6-7.9, 7.11-7.14, 7.16-7.17, 7.19-7.21) as they were currently serving and submitted in good faith by Mayor Wilson.
  • New Appointments: Three new appointments and two police promotions (Items 7.10, 7.15, 7.18, 7.22, 7.23) were referred to the Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters.

Public Communications

  • Item 9.10: Communication regarding Flock surveillance cameras.
    • Summary of Discussion: Councilor Ewen-Campen clarified that the City of Somerville does not use Flock cameras. He noted that while the city's parking solution provider (MPS) has a partnership with Flock, they are contractually prohibited from sharing Somerville data with third parties. Any surveillance technology must be approved by the Council under the surveillance oversight ordinance.

Last updated: Jan 12, 2026

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