City Council Organizational Meeting

Good morning, everyone, and Happy New Year. My name is Matt McLaughlin. I am the City Councilor for Ward 1. As some of you may remember, it is usually the oldest City Councilor who presides over this meeting until we elect a president. But now, due to our new city charter, we have chosen to have the most handsome person preside over the meeting. which also happens to be the longest tenured councilor which is me. So I'm here to preside over this meeting. New charter now designates the longest serving president to preside. I hereby call this meeting of the 2026 organizational meeting of the City Council to order on this the second day of January 2026 in accordance with Massachusetts open meeting law Please note that video and audio of this meeting was being recorded and may be shown on live local Cable Access Government channels and on the City of Somerville website and local Cable Access Government channels.

Pursuant to our Rule 31, let it be known that the City Council salutes the flag of the United States of America, and let us recall our oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth to the best of our abilities and understand. Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?

This is roll call. Councilor Link. Here. Councilor Mbah.

Present.

Councilor Strezo. Present. Councilor Wheeler. Present. Councilor McLaughlin. Here. Councilor Scott. Ewen-Campen?

Here.

Councilor Clingan?

Present.

Councilor Sait? Here. Councilor Davis? Here. Councilor Hardt? Here. With 10 councillors present and one absent, we have a quorum.

The next business of the City Council will be the election of the President of the City Council for 2026. The floor is now open for nominations. Councilor Bauer. I move to nominate Councilor Davis for President of the City Council. Councilor Mbah moves for Councilor Davis. Second? Second. Councilor Ewen-Campen seconds. Move to close nominations. And my nominations are now closed. Yep, the second. Yeah, Councilor Ewen-Campen seconded and closed.

Councilor Ewen-Campen, will you make the motion to close nominations?

Second. Then we got a second. Thank you. All right. Let's do a roll call vote. All in favor? There we go. All right. Council of Davis, my work is done.

Nominations having been closed let's take a vote to elect your 2026 City Council President. For whom do you vote? Councillor Link.

Councillor Davis.

Councillor Mbah.

Councillor Davis.

Councillor Strezo.

Councillor Lance-Davis.

Councillor Wheeler.

Councillor Lance-Davis.

Councillor McLaughlin.

Councillor Lance-Davis.

Councillor Scott. Ewen-Campen, Councilor Lance-Davis, Councilor Clingan, Councilor Lance-Davis, Councilor Sait, Councilor Lance-Davis, Councilor Davis, Councilor Davis, Councilor Hardt, Davis. With 10 councillors voting for Councillor Lance Davis. Lance Davis is your 2026 City Council President.

Davis is going to find his glasses before we continue. That's a good idea. OK, good news. We've got more fun. We're going to go back to item 2.1, which was erroneously not included on the script that's up here at the podium. So Madam Clerk, if you could please read item 2.1.

Item 2.1. Is the election commissioner submitting the results of the city election held on November 4th, 2025?

Now query, Madam Clerk, since the members haven't yet to be sworn in, do we have to do the other part over too?

Do we have to?

Do the election? We could.

We could just ratify it.

We could ratify that. Yeah, let's do that. Great. That's it, I'm out of here.

And then we will take the oath of office.

Yes, so that item is approved and we will now have the oath of office for everyone.

Thank you and my apologies for that script oversight. If I could have all newly elected officials please stand. Thank you. We will do, you may recall, a three-part oath. All you have to do is repeat. All right, yes. Your meeting hasn't started yet, but you can take it now too, sure.

You're taking the oath, right? Yeah, exactly.

I said that sarcastically, but I did really mean that. The oath does not have to happen within your meeting. Yes, yes. All right, let me have everybody please raise your right hand. and like I said, you'll repeat after me for a three part oath. I, state your name.

I, Lance Davis.

Do solemnly affirm.

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,

Agreedly 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.

I, Lance Davis.

Do solemnly affirm.

that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States under the pains and penalties of perjury under the pains and penalties of perjury.

Congratulations.

McLaughlin now moves to ratify the vote for president that was taken. Madam Clerk, you want folks to come up and sign when it's their turn, right? Okay, so around the horseshoe in order, come up to there and sign the book.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Get up now. Thank you for watching!

Schultz.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for watching!

Thank you.

That's the only one.

and many more.

of the Year Award.

Thank you.

All right, if members could please refine their seats after all the exciting book signing.

You know what? You know what?

You?

Okay, we're still in session, so no need to call the meeting back to order. As I mentioned, I think Councillor McLaughlin would like to make a motion. So moved. MR. To ratify the election of president that happened prior to the oaths. We'll do that on yeas and nays. All in favor say aye. Aye. MR. Any opposed? All right, the ayes have it, so I can stay.

So once again, Councilor Davis will serve as your president for 2016.

Very good. Thank you. Yes, thank you. More applause. More applause. Please, please, please. All right. Now, back to... Oh, I've got to get someone on for heaven's sake. Sorry. More formalities.

Coming from St. Louis, I'm going to do a comment on the president of the city council.

Thank you for watching!

All right, enough. More important stuff. Now, on to the next item. Okay, so next business of the City Council is the election of a Vice President for the City Council for 2026. The floor is now open for nominations. Councilor McLaughlin? I nominate Councilor Wilma Ba. Is there a second to that nomination?

Second it.

Okay. Any further nominations? Motion to close nominations. Motion to close. And a second. Nominations... I skipped ahead. All in favor of closing, nominations. All right. Nominations having been closed, this council will now vote for vice president. The clerk will call the roll on the election of our vice president.

On the question of the election of a vice president for this council for 2026, for whom do you vote? Councilor Link. 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, Councillor Hardt, Councillor Mbah, with 11 Councillors voting for Councillor Mbah. Councillor Mbah will serve as your Vice President for 2026.

All right, having elected Councillor Baha to be vice president, I will now ask the clerk to administer the oath of office.

Thank you for watching!

I'm going to say that again with a microphone on so anyone who's watching at home can know what I was saying. If you don't read lips, the City Council will now stand in recess for the organizational meeting of the school committee.

Good morning. As the most senior member of the school committee in years of service and age, I hereby call the 2026 inaugural meeting of the school committee to order on this second day of January 2026. In accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, please note that video and audio of this meeting is being recorded and shown live on both local access cable television on the City of Somerville website and will be available online for future review. Will the Superintendent please call the roll?

Through the Chair, Dr. Ackman?

Here.

Ms. Eldridge?

Present.

Ms. Lippens?

Here.

Mr. Green? Here. Ms. Piton?

Here.

Dr. Stellman.

Here.

Mr. Biton. Here. Mayor Wilson. Present. And President and Councilor Davis. Here. With nine members present and zero absent, we have quorum.

Will the superintendent please read the certification of election results from the city clerk, Kimberly Wells.

Through the chair. I hereby certify that the City Council's organizational meeting just resists. Councilor Lance L. Davis was selected President of the 2026 City Council. Pursuant to the City Charter, He will now serve as an ex-official member of the school committee for 2026. Sincerely, Kimberly Wells.

Thank you. The next business for the school committee is the election of the chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026. The floor is now open for nomination.

I nominate Emily Ackman for chair.

Is there a second nomination? Second. Thank you. You have nominated Dr. Emily Ackman for chairperson. Are there any further nominations?

Move to close nominations.

Thank you. Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you. A motion to close the nominations have been made. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it and the nominations are closed. Nominations have closed. The school committee will now vote for chairperson. Superintendent Dr. Carmona, please call the roll.

Through the chair. Dr. Ackman.

Emily Ackman.

Mrs. Eldridge, Dr. Emily Ackman, Ms. Lippens, Dr. Emily Ackman, Mr. Green, Dr. Emily Ackman, Ms. Piton, Dr. Emily Ackman, Dr. Stellman, Dr. Emily Ackman, Mr. Biton, Dr. Emily Ackman, Mayor Wilson, Dr. Emily Ackman, and President City Council, Dr. Ackman. So nine members, Dr. Emily Ackman has been elected as the president.

The city clerk is now going to administer the oath of office for Dr. Emily Ackman as chairperson of school committee.

Aye. Thank you. All right. The next business of the school committee will be the election of a vice chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026. The floor is now open for nominations.

I nominate Liron Biton. Is there a second?

All right. You have nominated Leron Biton for vice chairperson.

Move to close nominations.

If there are... Yep. Is there a second? A motion to close nominations has been made. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. Nominations are closed. Nominations having closed, the members will now vote for vice chairperson. Superintendent Dr. Carmona, please call the roll.

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 of City Council Davis, Leron Biton. Nine members have elected, have chosen Mr. Biton, so he is the chair, the vice chair of the school committee.

You have elected Laurent Biton as the vice chairperson of the school committee for the year 2026. I will now ask the clerk to administer the oath of office. Okay, the next order of business of the school committee is the presentation of the order concerning rules and regulations for the government of the school committee of 2026.

Move to approve.

Andre Green moves to approve that for the conduct of the School Committee of 2026, the rules and regulations of the School Committee of 2025 be adopted. Member Pitone seconded. A motion has been made to adopt the rules and regulations of the School Committee of 2025 for all conduct of the School Committee for 2026. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The motion carries. The next order of business for school committee will be the selection of seats for the 2026 calendar year. I ask members Pitone and Biton To assist with that process, the boxes should be right over there. This is a fun part. This is, for those who don't know, this is deciding who's going to sit around the horseshoe in which order. So seating assignments are chosen by pulling a member's name and number from two respective boxes. Seat eight and nine belong to the chairperson and vice chairperson, so they will be left out.

All right.

Elizabeth Eldridge Four Lance Davis One.

Andrea Green.

Five.

Laura Pitone.

Two.

Emma Stellman.

Nine.

Mayor Wilson.

Seven.

Michelle Lippens.

Three.

All right. Thank you.

All right, thank you both for that. We're on to assignments, right? All right, great. The next business of the school committee is the assignment of subcommittees. The educational programs and instruction subcommittee will include Laura Pitone, Michelle Lippens, and Liz Eldridge, with Ms. Pitone as chair and Ms. Lippens as vice chair. The Finance and Facilities Subcommittee will include Andre Green, Leron Biton, and Emma Stellman, with Mr. Green as Chair and Mr. Biton as Vice Chair. The Rules Management Subcommittee will include Leron Biton, Emma Stellman, and Michelle Lippens, with Mr. Biton as Chair and Dr. Stellman as Vice Chair. The Joint Building Subcommittee will include Leron Bitone, Laura Pitone, and Liz Eldridge, with Mr. Bitone as Chair and Ms. Pitone as Vice Chair. and the long range planning subcommittee will include Laura Pitone and Liz Eldridge as chair and vice chair, but that is a subcommittee of the whole, so everyone else will be participating.

Is there any further business before the school committee? Seeing none, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second. All right. Motion to adjourn has been made. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. We are adjourned.

All right, so call this meeting of the City Council back into session. All members are present. The addresses of elected officials will be delivered tomorrow evening during the inaugural ceremonies at 6 p.m. So please join us at the high school for a program of speeches and performances followed by a celebration at the armory. The next business to come before the City Council will be the consideration of further items on the agenda. Will the Clerk please read the first item?

Item 6.1 is an order by Councillor Davis that this City Council adopts for 2026 the rules of the City Council as approved on December 11th, 2025.

Is there a second? All right, all those in favor say aye. Those opposed? All right, the ayes have it. The order is approved. The clerk, please read the next item.

Item 6.2 is an order by Councilor McLaughlin that the bonds of the city treasurer and tax collector be hereby accepted and approved.

Seeing no objection, that item is approved.

Item 6.3 is an order by Councilor Scott that the City Treasurer is hereby authorized to appoint Deputy Tax Collectors.

Seeing no objection, that item is approved.

Item 6.4 is 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.

So with the changes to the committees made at our last regular meeting in 2025, an item that was pending recommendations, so requiring action of the committee, a committee that no longer exists, has been moved into the proper committee to address it. and so forth. So that's sort of based on the alignment that we discussed at the meeting. Obviously if there's any concerns with any of that, that can be raised and we can go through the process to move things to different committees as needed. Any discussion on that? All right, so seeing no objection, that item is approved.

Item 6.5 is a communication by Councilor Davis in his capacity as president, conveying this council's standing committee assignments and commission appointments for 2026.

and I have forwarded the committee assignments to the clerk and I direct her to update and post them online as soon as possible. I assume I have to tell you that I directed things because that feels very, okay. I see no objection, that is placed on file.

The next item is the drawing of seats.

All right, I hereby appoint Councillor Hardt to draw a councillor's name while Councillor Drake, uh Drake, Link draws a seat number. Link and draws together. It was too much for me. Councillor Link draws a seat number. I made it almost out of the way to the last page without screwing up.

Will Maboff Jesse Clingan Seat 4

Ben Ewen-Campen.

Seat one.

John Link.

Seat two.

Kristen Strezo.

Seat 5.

Ben Wheeler.

Seat 7.

Naeema Sait.

Seat 10.

J.T. Scott.

I can't be right either. Sorry. Let me take 10 back and pick another seat.

Seat six.

J.T. Scott.

Seat 3.

Matt McLaughlin.

Seat 9.

And Emily Hardt.

Seat 8.

Thank you.

I appreciate that Councillor Link rigged that so he can just stay exactly where he is. Well done, sir, well done. All right, seats have been drawn. Is there any further business before the City Council?

There is no further business before this Council.

Alright, there being no further business, we are now adjourned. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2026.