Executive Summary
The Somerville Finance Committee met on January 20, 2026, to deliberate on several grant acceptances, a contract extension, and a labor agreement. Key actions included the approval of a $65,000 Municipal Road Safety Grant for the Police Department, which sparked discussion regarding the balance between traffic enforcement and safety education. The committee also approved $220,000 in grant funding for the Housing Bridge Pilot for Seniors to prevent homelessness among older adults. Additionally, a time-only contract extension for the Spring Hill Sewer Separation project and a $103,421 transfer to fund a memorandum of agreement with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU) Unit B regarding vacation accruals were authorized. The meeting concluded with an announcement regarding the upcoming Community Budget Hearing scheduled for February 10, 2026.
Meeting Information
- Date: January 20, 2026
- Governing Body: Finance Committee of the Somerville City Council
- Meeting Type: Committee Meeting
- Chair: Councilor Ben Wheeler
- Committee Members Present:
- Councilor Jon Link
- Councilor Kristen Strezo
- Councilor Emily Hardt
- Councilor J.T. Scott
- Chair Ben Wheeler
- Staff and Guests:
- Delaney Fisher-Cassiol, Clerk
- Emily Wisdom, Director
- Lieutenant Michael Holland, Somerville Police Department
- Ellen Schachter, Director of Housing Stability
- Yasmin Radassi, Intergovernmental Affairs
- Brian Postlewaite, Director of Engineering
- Matt Sirigu, Labor Counsel
Item 1: Approval of Minutes (ID 25-1881)
- Subject: Approval of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of December 9, 2025.
- Action: The item was laid on the table and approved as part of a single vote for multiple items at the end of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0.
Item 2: Municipal Road Safety Grant (ID 25-1801)
- Request: The Mayor requested approval to accept and expend a $65,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the Municipal Road Safety Program.
- Financial Breakdown:
- Community awareness and education materials: $8,112
- Safety items (helmets, lights, etc.): $5,642
- Traffic safety enforcement overtime (April–September): $33,930
- Pedestrian and bicycle enforcement overtime (January–May, August–September): $17,316
- Discussion:
- Director Emily Wisdom and Lieutenant Michael Holland explained that the grant emphasizes safety education over enforcement.
- Councilor Scott expressed concerns regarding past "stakeouts" at intersections and the targeting of cyclists for "Idaho stops."
- Lieutenant Holland provided citation statistics: In 2024, there were 7,924 citations (243 to cyclists); in 2025, there were 6,101 citations (147 to cyclists). He noted that over 95% of enforcement targets motor vehicles.
- Councilor Strezo and Councilor Hardt requested increased enforcement at specific dangerous intersections, including Vinyl and Highland Avenue and Teal Square.
- Action: Motion to approve.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0 via roll call.
- Yes: Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, and Chair Wheeler.
Items 3 & 4: Housing Bridge Pilot for Seniors (ID 26-0054 & 26-0053)
- Request: Approval to accept and expend two grants from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for the Housing Bridge Pilot Program for Seniors:
- ID 26-0054: $20,000 for administrative costs.
- ID 26-0053: $200,000 for rental assistance.
- Program Details: Director Ellen Schachter explained this is a pilot program providing temporary rental assistance to seniors (older adults) transitioning to permanent affordable housing.
- Key Statistics:
- Homelessness among older adults increased 13% between 2023 and 2024.
- Last year, the program assisted 8 households with $100,000 in funding.
- Discussion: Councilor Scott noted the program acts as a "diving catch" to support residents losing subsidies due to federal Continuum of Care grant reductions.
- Action: The items were laid on the table and approved as part of a block vote at the end of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0.
Item 5: Spring Hill Sewer Separation Contract Extension (ID 26-0011)
- Request: Approval of a time-only contract extension for three months (new expiration: March 31, 2026) for Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
- Purpose: To allow the consultant to complete final "as-built" drawings for the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project.
- Financial Impact: No change in budget; the extension only provides time to utilize existing contracted funds.
- Action: The item was laid on the table and approved as part of a block vote at the end of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0.
Item 6: SMEU Unit B Memorandum of Agreement (ID 26-0088)
- Request: Approval of a transfer of $103,421 from the salary contingency account to various departmental personal services accounts.
- Purpose: To fund a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU) Unit B regarding vacation time accrual and carry-over caps.
- Details: Labor Counsel Matt Sirigu explained the MOA resolves interpretations of the contract to ensure no employee loses vacation time while establishing a future carry-over cap of three weeks to simplify accounting.
- Action: The item was laid on the table and approved as part of a block vote at the end of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0.
Item 7: Community Budget Hearing Logistics
- Announcement: Chair Wheeler announced the Community Budget Hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
- Details:
- The hearing is required by the new City Charter.
- It will be a virtual meeting.
- Live simultaneous translation will be provided in Spanish and Portuguese.
- Additional languages can be requested via
languageaccess@somervillema.govor by calling 311 at least seven days in advance.