Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee

Date: July 01, 2026. Time: 6:02 PM. Governing Body: Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee. Meeting Type: Committee Meeting. Attendees: Councilor Kristen Strezo (Chair), Councilor Jon Link. Absent: Councilor Naima Sait.

The committee reviewed the minutes from the meeting held on April 15, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Roll Call Vote: 2-0. Councilor Link: Yes; Councilor Strezo: Yes.

DPW Commissioner Eric Wiseman reported that Founders Rink has been without ice for several years. A plan is in place to install ice over the summer, with a target completion date of September 1, 2026. The process includes deep cleaning, repairs, and layering ice. Recreation Director Tramontagne noted that an RFP is being conducted to select a vendor for scheduling non-profits and public use. Off-season programming will include street hockey, self-defense training, and pickleball. Action: Work completed.

Chair Strezo introduced this item to address reports of local youth being turned away from the rink on early dismissal days due to an inability to pay. The Recreation Director stated that the upcoming RFP will require the vendor to provide resources for low-income youth. Communications Director Denise Taylor committed to coordinating with schools to ensure students and staff are aware of these opportunities. Action: Work completed.

Chair Strezo highlighted the success of communication boards installed at city playgrounds to assist non-verbal and autistic children. Strezo noted: 'This can take the place of that so the kids can put the technology aside and use their hands to run and play and point and jump and climb.' The Recreation Director confirmed that these boards have become a standard feature for all city playground programs. Action: Work completed.

The committee discussed the Kensington Connector underpass. The city has applied for a $1.3 million 'One Stop for Growth' infrastructure grant to fund improvements, including lighting and safety features. Officials noted that the space is physically unsuitable for a skate park due to size constraints and potential pedestrian conflicts. Action: Work completed.

The city has broken ground on the Kennedy Inclusive Playground. Phase 1 involves parking lot renovations and stormwater management. The project will remove 12 to 16 parking spaces to increase the schoolyard area by 30%. Project managers are working with the traffic department to mitigate the impact on teacher parking, potentially through reserved street spots. Action: Work completed.

Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Amanda Najee Williams provided an update on the vacant ADA Coordinator position (Ref: 260825). The role was posted in May 2026, and the city is currently conducting first-round phone screens. In the interim, ADA complaints are being handled via the standard email (ADA@SomervilleMA.gov) and phone extension (2059). Action: Kept in committee.

Communications Director Denise Taylor reported that the city has reached approximately 93% compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards. Taylor stated: 'The mayor has said repeatedly that he means that the ADA is the floor, not the ceiling.' A new tool, 'Doc Access,' has been implemented to convert PDFs into accessible HTML. The Somerville Public Schools are separately overhauling their website to meet these standards. Action: Kept in committee.

Chair Strezo raised concerns regarding inconsistent volunteer requirements across city departments, such as the Council on Aging versus the Recreation Department. Amanda Najee Williams noted that the administration is working to standardize these processes over the summer. Action: Kept in committee.