City Council

• Date: June 25, 2026
• Governing Body: City Council
• Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
• Presiding Officer: Councilor Lance Davis
• Attendees: Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, Councilor Jon 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, Mayor Jake Wilson.

Moments of Silence

• Eleanor "Ellie" Bluth: A lifelong resident and educator known as the "story lady" and Title I coordinator.
• Daniel "Danny" Ryan: A U.S. Army veteran and long-time member of Teamsters Local 122.
• Alicia Miller and Spencer Paul Miller: Alicia Miller and her unborn son passed away unexpectedly.

Commendations

• Item 10.1: The Council commended Regina Bertholdt on her retirement from the Somerville Public Schools. Speakers, including Councilor McLaughlin and Mayor Wilson, praised her decades of service to the immigrant and homeless communities. Bertholdt noted the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on TPS recipients and urged continued advocacy for inclusion.

The following public hearings were held and the items were approved:

1. Item 3.1: Eversource to install 107 feet of conduit in Mount Vernon Street for 46 Mount Vernon Street.
2. Item 3.2: Verizon New England to install 159 feet of conduit in Main Street near 5 Main Street.
3. Item 3.3: Verizon New England to install 88 feet of conduit in Bow Street and Warren Avenue.
4. Item 3.4: Verizon New England to install 164 feet of conduit in Somerville Avenue and Craigie Street.

Pet Store Sales Ban

• Item 4.1: An ordinance to amend Chapter 3, Article 8 of the Code of Ordinances to prohibit the sale of animals in pet stores.
• Discussion: Councilor Link noted the goal is to prevent the sale of animals from "mills." Bethany DeZolt (MSPCA) testified that this protects consumers and animal welfare without impacting licensed breeders or adoptions.
• Action: Referred to the Committee on Legislative Matters.

Residential Dormers

• Item 5.1: A zoning text amendment to facilitate the construction of dormers by reducing regulatory hurdles.
• Action: Approved and Ordained by a roll call vote of 11-0.

General Fund Operating Budget

• Item 10.2: Request for the appropriation of $376,778,493 for the FY2027 General Fund Operating Budget.
• Discussion: Councilor Scott opposed the budget, citing cuts to general government employees and police raises. Councilor Strezo opposed the budget due to a $645,000 funding gap for special education and interventionist positions requested by the School Committee.
• Outcome: Approved 9-2 (Councilors Scott and Strezo voting No).

Other Financial Actions

• Item 6.D.28: Appropriated $144,235 from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Stabilization Fund.
• Item 6.F.16: Transferred $1,000,000 from the Community Benefit Stabilization Fund to the Housing Assistance Stabilization Fund.
• Item 7.4: Approved funding for the purchase of the fire station in Assembly Square.
• Item 8.1: Approved the elimination of the Assistant City Clerk (Vital Records and Licensing) position due to budget constraints.

• Item 10.4: Accepted a $14,974.64 grant from the MA Department of Public Health for public health supplies (sunscreen, bug spray) for FIFA 2026 World Cup community events.
• Item 10.5: Approved a public event license for the Somerville Chamber of Commerce for a World Cup Watch Party on July 7, 2026.
• Item 4.4: Councilor Strezo raised concerns regarding the $15 per child cost for public skating at the Veterans Memorial Rink (managed by FMC), which acts as a barrier for low-income youth. Referred to the Committee on Housing, Equity, and Community Development.

• Item 7.1: The Council convened an executive session to discuss legal settlements.
• Item 7.5: Following the session, the Council approved an appropriation of $120,000 from the unreserved fund balance to the judgments and settlements account to settle an employment case.