Executive Summary
The Somerville City Council Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters met on March 30, 2026, to deliberate on several municipal appointments and police promotions. Key actions included recommending the promotions of Detectives Ashley Catato and Courtney Reese to the rank of Police Sergeant and the appointment of James Plotkin as a Municipal Hearing Officer. The committee also recommended appointments for the Public Financing of Campaigns Committee and the newly established Ranked Choice Voting Committee. All recommendations passed via unanimous roll call votes of the members present.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Somerville City Council Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters
- Meeting Type: Committee Meeting
- Date: March 30, 2026
- Time: 6:32 PM
- Location: Remote Participation
- Committee Members Present:
- Councilor Will Mbah (Chair)
- Councilor Matt McLaughlin
- Councilor Emily Hardt
- Councilor Jon Link (Joined during Item 2)
- Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen
- Staff Present:
- Chief of Police Charles Benford
- City Clerk/Chief Administrative Officer Kimberly Wells
- HR Director Nagin
Approval of Minutes
- Action: The committee reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (5-0).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.
Item 5: Appointment of Jessica Smith to the Public Financing of Campaigns Committee
- Description: Referred for recommendation by Councilor Davis, the appointment of Jessica Smith to the Public Financing of Campaigns Committee.
- Discussion: Ms. Smith highlighted her experience as a campaign treasurer and her familiarity with Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) reporting requirements. She stated, "I think it's really reasonable to investigate what we could do with public money to make that barrier to entry lower for people."
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (4-0; Councilor Link absent for this vote).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.
Item 2: Promotion of Ashley Catato to Police Sergeant
- Description: Requesting confirmation of the promotion of Ashley Catato to the position of Police Sergeant.
- Discussion: Chief Benford noted Detective Catato's 15 years of service and her role in the Special Investigations Unit. He highlighted that her appointment represents a "100% increase in female candidates at the supervisory rank." Detective Catato discussed her background as a first-generation Portuguese immigrant, stating, "I treat everyone that I interact with as how I would want to treat someone I would want a family member of mine to be treated by the police."
- Executive Session: The committee entered executive session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21 to discuss professional competence and disciplinary history.
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (5-0).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.
Item 3: Promotion of Courtney Reese to the Position of Police Sergeant
- Description: Requesting confirmation of the promotion of Courtney Reese to the position of Police Sergeant.
- Discussion: Chief Benford cited Detective Reese's 11 years of service and her current assignment as a property crime detective. Detective Reese emphasized her commitment to community policing and mentoring junior officers, stating, "Policing is changing and we need to change with the times."
- Executive Session: The committee entered executive session pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21 to discuss professional competence and disciplinary history.
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (5-0).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.
Item 4: Appointment of James Plotkin as Municipal Hearing Officer
- Description: Requesting confirmation of the appointment of James Plotkin as Municipal Hearing Officer.
- Discussion: CAO Kimberly Wells explained that the Municipal Hearing Officer hears appeals for non-criminal ticket violations (e.g., trash, snow, overgrowth). Mr. Plotkin, who has been a hearing officer since 2001, emphasized the importance of treating residents with "respect, compassion and understanding" as these hearings are often their only interaction with city government.
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (5-0).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.
Items 6 & 7: Appointments to the Ranked Choice Voting Committee
- Description: Appointments of James Leo Bedard (Item 6) and Crystal Huff (Item 7) to the Ranked Choice Voting Committee.
- Discussion: CAO Wells noted that this is a new committee formed under the most recent City Charter. Crystal Huff (they/them) discussed their academic background in group decision-making and solidarity economies. Councilor McLaughlin noted that while he supports the appointments, he prefers ranked choice voting for ward and mayoral races rather than at-large races.
- Vote Outcome: Recommended for approval (5-0).
- In Favor: Councilors McLaughlin, Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen, and Chair Mbah.