City Council Organizational Meeting

Executive Summary:

The City Council convened its organizational meeting on January 2, 2026, to elect its leadership and establish operational procedures for the new year. Councilor Lance Davis was elected President of the City Council, and Councilor Will Mbah was elected Vice President. The Council also adopted its 2025 rules, approved the bonds for the City Treasurer and Tax Collector, authorized the appointment of Deputy Tax Collectors, and committed pending business to updated standing committees. The School Committee also held its organizational meeting, electing Dr. Emily Ackman as Chairperson and Leron Biton as Vice Chairperson, adopting its 2025 rules, and making subcommittee assignments.

Meeting Date: January 2, 2026, at 12:00 AM Governing Body: City Council and School Committee Type of Meeting: Organizational Meeting Attendees:

• City Council: John Link, Will Mbah, Kristen Strezo, Ben Wheeler, Matt McLaughlin, J.T. Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Naima Sait, Lance Davis, Emily Hardt.
• School Committee: Emily Ackman, Elizabeth Eldridge, Michele Lippens, Andre Green, Laura Pitone, Emma Stellman, Leiran Biton, Jake Wilson (Mayor), Lance Davis (City Council President).
• City Officials: Rubén Carmona (Superintendent), Kimberly Wells (City Clerk).

1. Call to Order and Roll Call * The meeting was called to order by Councilor Matt McLaughlin, the longest-tenured Councilor, as per the new City Charter. * Roll Call: * Councilor Link: Here * Councilor Mbah: Present * Councilor Strezo: Present * Councilor Wheeler: Present * Councilor McLaughlin: Here * Councilor Scott: Here * Councilor Ewen-Campen: Here * Councilor Clingan: Present * Councilor Sait: Here * Councilor Davis: Here * Councilor Hardt: Here * Outcome: 10 Councilors present, 1 absent. Quorum established.

2. Election of President of the City Council for 2026 * Nomination: Councilor Mbah nominated Councilor Lance Davis. * Second: Councilor Ewen-Campen seconded the nomination. * Motion to Close Nominations: Councilor Ewen-Campen moved to close nominations, seconded. * Vote on Closing Nominations: All in favor. * Vote for President (Roll Call): * Councilor Link: Councilor Davis * Councilor Mbah: Councilor Davis * Councilor Strezo: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Wheeler: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor McLaughlin: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Scott: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Ewen-Campen: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Clingan: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Sait: Councilor Lance Davis * Councilor Davis: Councilor Davis * Councilor Hardt: Davis * Outcome: Councilor Lance Davis was elected President of the City Council for 2026 with 10 votes.

2.1. Election Commissioner Submitting Results of City Election Held on November 4, 2025 * Discussion: This item was initially omitted from the script. The Clerk confirmed that the election results could be ratified. * Outcome: Item approved by ratification.

3. Oath of Office for Newly Elected Officials * All newly elected officials, including City Councilors and School Committee members, took the three-part oath of office. * Key Passage from Oath: "I, [state your name], do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth and will support the Constitution thereof under the pains and penalties of perjury. I, [state your name], do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as [state your office] of the City of Somerville according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth under the pains and penalties of perjury. I, [state your name], do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States under the pains and penalties of perjury." * Motion to Ratify President's Election: Councilor McLaughlin moved to ratify the election of the President that occurred prior to the oaths. * Vote on Ratification: * Ayes: All Councilors present. * Nays: 0 * Outcome: The election of Councilor Davis as President was ratified.

4. Election of Vice President of the City Council for 2026 * Nomination: Councilor McLaughlin nominated Councilor Will Mbah. * Second: Seconded. * Motion to Close Nominations: Moved and seconded. * Vote on Closing Nominations: All in favor. * Vote for Vice President (Roll Call): * Councilor Link: Mbah * Councilor Mbah: Councilor Mbah * Councilor Strezo: Councilor Wilma Mbah * Councilor Wheeler: Wilfred Mbah * Councilor McLaughlin: Councilor Mbah * Councilor Scott: Councilor Will Mbah * Councilor Ewen-Campen: Councilor Mbah * Councilor Clingan: Councilor Will Mbah * Councilor Sait: Councilor Mbah * Councilor Davis: Mbah * Councilor Hardt: Councilor Mbah * Outcome: Councilor Will Mbah was elected Vice President of the City Council for 2026 with 11 votes.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call * The meeting was called to order by the most senior member of the School Committee. * Superintendent Rubén Carmona called the roll: * Dr. Ackman: Here * Ms. Eldridge: Present * Ms. Lippens: Here * Mr. Green: Here * Ms. Pitone: Here * Dr. Stellman: Here * Mr. Biton: Here * Mayor Wilson: Present * President Davis: Here * Outcome: 9 members present, 0 absent. Quorum established.

2. Certification of Election Results * Superintendent Carmona read the certification from City Clerk Kimberly Wells, confirming Councilor Lance L. Davis's selection as President of the 2026 City Council and his ex-officio membership on the School Committee.

3. Election of Chairperson of the School Committee for 2026 * Nomination: Dr. Emily Ackman was nominated. * Second: Seconded. * Motion to Close Nominations: Moved and seconded. * Vote on Closing Nominations: * Ayes: All members present. * Nays: 0 * Vote for Chairperson (Roll Call): * Dr. Ackman: Emily Ackman * Mrs. Eldridge: Dr. Emily Ackman * Ms. Lippens: Dr. Emily Ackman * Mr. Green: Dr. Emily Ackman * Ms. Pitone: Dr. Emily Ackman * Dr. Stellman: Dr. Emily Ackman * Mr. Biton: Dr. Emily Ackman * Mayor Wilson: Dr. Emily Ackman * President Davis: Dr. Ackman * Outcome: Dr. Emily Ackman was elected Chairperson of the School Committee with 9 votes. * The City Clerk administered the oath of office to Dr. Ackman.

4. Election of Vice Chairperson of the School Committee for 2026 * Nomination: Leron Biton was nominated. * Second: Seconded. * Motion to Close Nominations: Moved and seconded. * Vote on Closing Nominations: * Ayes: All members present. * Nays: 0 * Vote for Vice Chairperson (Roll Call): * Dr. Altman: Leron Biton * Ms. Eldridge: Leron Biton * Ms. Lippens: Leron Biton * Mr. Green: Leron Biton * Ms. Piton: Leron Biton * Dr. Stellman: Leron Biton * Mr. Biton: Leron Biton * Mayor Wilson: Leron Biton * President Davis: Leron Biton * Outcome: Leron Biton was elected Vice Chairperson of the School Committee with 9 votes. * The Clerk administered the oath of office to Mr. Biton.

5. Presentation of the Order Concerning Rules and Regulations for the Government of the School Committee of 2026 * Motion: Andre Green moved to approve that the rules and regulations of the School Committee of 2025 be adopted for the conduct of the School Committee of 2026. * Second: Member Pitone seconded. * Vote: * Ayes: All members present. * Nays: 0 * Outcome: Motion carried. The 2025 rules and regulations were adopted.

6. Selection of Seats for the 2026 Calendar Year * Members Pitone and Biton assisted with the seat selection process. Seats 8 and 9 are reserved for the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. * Seat Assignments (by drawing): * Elizabeth Eldridge: Seat 4 * Lance Davis: Seat 1 * Andrea Green: Seat 5 * Laura Pitone: Seat 2 * Emma Stellman: Seat 9 * Mayor Wilson: Seat 7 * Michelle Lippens: Seat 3

7. Assignment of Subcommittees * Educational Programs and Instruction Subcommittee: * Members: Laura Pitone (Chair), Michelle Lippens (Vice Chair), Liz Eldridge. * Finance and Facilities Subcommittee: * Members: Andre Green (Chair), Leron Biton (Vice Chair), Emma Stellman. * Rules Management Subcommittee: * Members: Leron Biton (Chair), Dr. Stellman (Vice Chair), Michelle Lippens. * Joint Building Subcommittee: * Members: Leron Bitone (Chair), Laura Pitone (Vice Chair), Liz Eldridge. * Long Range Planning Subcommittee: * Members: Laura Pitone (Chair), Liz Eldridge (Vice Chair). This is a subcommittee of the whole.

8. Adjournment of School Committee Meeting * Motion to Adjourn: Moved and seconded. * Vote: * Ayes: All members present. * Nays: 0 * Outcome: Motion carried. The School Committee meeting was adjourned.

1. Addresses of Elected Officials * The addresses of elected officials will be delivered tomorrow evening during the inaugural ceremonies at 6 p.m. at the high school, followed by a celebration at the armory.

2. Consideration of Further Items on the Agenda

2.1. Item 6.1: Order by Councilor Davis regarding the adoption of City Council Rules * Order: "An order by Councilor Davis that this City Council adopts for 2026 the rules of the City Council as approved on December 11th, 2025." * Second: Seconded. * Vote: * Ayes: All Councilors present. * Nays: 0 * Outcome: The order was approved.

2.2. Item 6.2: Order by Councilor McLaughlin regarding the bonds of the City Treasurer and Tax Collector * Order: "An order by Councilor McLaughlin that the bonds of the city treasurer and tax collector be hereby accepted and approved." * Outcome: Approved by no objection.

2.3. Item 6.3: Order by Councilor Scott regarding the authorization of Deputy Tax Collectors * Order: "An order by Councilor Scott that the City Treasurer is hereby authorized to appoint Deputy Tax Collectors." * Outcome: Approved by no objection.

2.4. Item 6.4: Order by Councilor Clingan regarding committing pending business to updated standing committees * Order: "An order by Councilor Clingan that this City Council hereby commits pending business in committees that have been eliminated by the amendments to the rules of December 11, 2025 to updated standing committees as attached." * Discussion: This order addresses the reallocation of pending items from committees that were eliminated or restructured by the December 11, 2025 rule amendments to the appropriate new standing committees. * Outcome: Approved by no objection.

2.5. Item 6.5: Communication by Councilor Davis conveying standing committee assignments and commission appointments for 2026 * Communication: Councilor Davis, in his capacity as President, conveyed the Council's standing committee assignments and commission appointments for 2026. He directed the Clerk to update and post them online. * Outcome: Placed on file by no objection.

3. Drawing of Seats for City Council * Councilor Hardt drew Councilors' names, and Councilor Link drew seat numbers. * Seat Assignments: * Jesse Clingan: Seat 4 * Ben Ewen-Campen: Seat 1 * John Link: Seat 2 * Kristen Strezo: Seat 5 * Ben Wheeler: Seat 7 * Naeema Sait: Seat 10 * J.T. Scott: Seat 6 * Matt McLaughlin: Seat 3 * Emily Hardt: Seat 8

4. Adjournment of City Council Meeting * Outcome: No further business. The meeting was adjourned.