City Council — Minutes, Jun 28, 2023

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM Wednesday, June 28, 2023 NOTICE: This is NOT the official version of the City Council's minutes. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first checking with the City Clerk. 1. OPENING CEREMONIES City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr. City Councilor At Large Charlotte Kelly City Councilor At Large Kristen Strezo City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen Ward Four City Councilor Jesse Clingan Ward Five City Councilor Beatriz Gomez Mouakad Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis Ward Seven City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld Present: Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott Absent: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen. The City Council entered Executive Session at 6:18 PM and returned at 6:42 PM. 1.1. Call of the Roll. Roll Call (ID # 23-1123) PLACED ON FILE RESULT: 1.2. Remembrances. Remembrances (ID # 23-1125) APPROVED RESULT: 1.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting, June 1, 2023. Minutes (ID # 23-1126) APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Page 1 of 6

City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023 Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, and Ward Six City Councilor Davis ABSENT: 2. CITATIONS 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1. By Councilor Wilson That the City Solicitor appear in executive session pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A, Section 21(a)(3) to update this council on the status of collective bargaining negotiations with all municipal bargaining units. Order (ID # 23-0922) LAID ON THE TABLE RESULT: 6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 6.A. FINANCE COMMITTEE 6.A.1. Report of the Committee on Finance, meeting on June 27, 2023. Committee Report (ID # 23-1121) Chair Wilson summarized the actions taken by the Committee. Councilor Davis inquired about the discussion of the salary ordinance, requesting confirmation that the amendment before the Council appears to contain some changes, but the changes to those salaries happened during the previous budget season, and the ordinance is just catching up. Deputy Director of Human Resources Ellen Collins confirmed that all changes happened in the FY 2020 and FY 2022 budgets, and the ordinance was not updated at that time. These revisions reflect the current FY 2024 budget. Councilor Davis expressed concern about this disconnect. APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward Two City Councilor Scott ABSENT: Page 2 of 6

City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023 6.A.2. By Councilor Pineda Neufeld That this City Council discuss data from the FY 2023 budget hearings and assess the budget hearing process for FY 2024. Order (ID # 23-0457) WORK COMPLETED RESULT: 6.A.3. Requesting approval of a multi-year lease agreement for the East Somerville Police Station. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0667) APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward Two City Councilor Scott ABSENT: 6.A.4. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $6,781 Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) grant, with no new match required, from the Department of Fire Services to the Fire Department for fire prevention education for students. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0813) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.5. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $2,677 Senior Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) grant, with no new match required, from the Department of Fire Services to the Fire Department for fire prevention education for older adults. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0814) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.6. By Councilor Scott and Councilor Wilson Amending Section 2-323 of the Code of Ordinances, Salary Ranges, to provide cost-of-living adjustments for School Committee Members and City Councilors. Ordinance (ID # 23-0827) REFERRED FOR RECOMMENDATION RESULT: Finance Committee FOLLOWUP: 6.A.7. Requesting authorization to borrow $6,430,638 in a bond, and to appropriate the same amount for the Assembly Square Fire Station fit-out. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0844) APPROVED RESULT: Page 3 of 6

City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023 City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward Two City Councilor Scott ABSENT: 6.A.8. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $24,117.07 grant that requires a match, from the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition Community Safety Initiative to the Police Department for youth violence prevention. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0846) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.9. Requesting approval of a transfer of $8,039.02 from the Police Department Personal Services Overtime Account to the Police Department Special Items Grant Match Account to fund the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition Community Safety Initiative Shannon Grant match. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0847) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.10. Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Sections 2-322 and 2-323 of the Code of Ordinances, to update categories and associated salaries for non-union positions. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0925) ORDINANCE ORDAINED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward Two City Councilor Scott ABSENT: 6.A.11. Requesting the appropriation of $80,000 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund Undesignated Fund to Vida Real for continued restoration of the bell tower at 404 Broadway. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0947) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.12. Requesting approval to accept the 2023-2024 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership and Emergency Solutions Grant programs, totaling $3,321,097. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-0951) Page 4 of 6

City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023 APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.13. Requesting approval of the First Amendment to Fiber Optic Communications Easement Agreement with TOWARDEX. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-1063) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.14. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $500,000 grant amendment with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services to the Health and Human Services Department for regional youth substance misuse prevention efforts. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-1065) APPROVED RESULT: 6.A.15. Requesting authorization to seek funding and enter into related agreements with the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant, appropriate funding, and dedicate 217 Somerville Avenue as open space and recreational use in perpetuity. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-1088) APPROVED RESULT: 7. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR 7.1. Requesting the transfer of $310,000 from the Health Insurance Account to the Law Department's Damages to Persons and Property Account to fund settlement of John Doe v. City of Somerville & Josh Wairi. Mayor's Request (ID # 23-1119) APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, and Ward Six City Councilor Davis ABSENT: 8. COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS 8.1. City Solicitor requesting to appear in Executive Session with attorneys from Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten, LLP, to discuss John Doe v. City of Somerville & Josh Wairi. Officer's Communication (ID # 23-1120) President Ewen-Campen noted that if there is not sufficient time for all questions to be answered, it can be laid on the table and taken up at the next regular meeting. Deputy City Solicitor Shapiro advised the Council that this Page 5 of 6

City Council Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023 item requires an Executive Session. The Council entered Executive Session at 6:18 PM and returned at 6:42 PM. No votes were taken in Executive Session except the vote to adjourn. APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Kelly, City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld AYE: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, and Ward Two City Councilor Scott ABSENT: 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS 11. LATE ITEMS 12. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was Adjourned at 6:45 PM. Page 6 of 6