Meetings ▸ Minutes
Finance Committee — Minutes, Feb 6, 2024
City of Somerville, Massachusetts
City Council Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The meeting took place virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Wilson and
adjourned at 6:34 PM on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Burnley, Clingan, Sait, Scott and
Wilson, none against and none absent.
Others present:
Alan Inacio – Director of Finance and Administration - OSPCD, Michael Richards – Director of
Finance – IAM, Hanna Carrillo – Legislative Liaison, Peter Forcellese – Legislative Clerk.
Roll Call
City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson, Ward Two City
Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott, Ward Two City
Councilor Naima Sait, City Councilor At Large Willie
Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Jesse Clingan
Present:
1.
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of January 23,
2024.
Committee
Minutes
(ID # 24-0078)
ACCEPTED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
Grant Acceptances
2.
Requesting acceptance of, and approval to expend, a $35,300 grant with no
new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency
Management to the Police Department for partial payment of the police
storage structure.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 23-1856)
RECOMMENDED TO BE WITHDRAWN
RESULT:
3.
Requesting acceptance of, and approval to expend, a $42,000 grant with no
new match required, from the Boston Mayor's Office of Emergency
Management to the Police Department for partial payment of the police
storage structure.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 23-1857)
RECOMMENDED TO BE WITHDRAWN
RESULT:
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Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2024
4.
Requesting approval to accept and expend a $30,000 grant with no new
match required, from MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental
Affairs to the Economic Development Division for the implementation of a
green jobs training program for nontraditional students.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0079)
Director Inacio explained that staff is working with the School Department
to promote green jobs. Councilor Burnley asked for a clearer definition of
non-traditional students and Director Inacio will have staff follow up with
the councilor. The director explained that the Economic Development Team
has various outreach methods that may be employed to reach this program’s
target audience. Councilor Sait asked if there was a description of the
program that might be accessed and if there was any youth input in the
process of creating the program. The director explained that program
development will begin when the grant is received and a proposal will be
forwarded to committee at that time. Liaison Carrillo stated that the grant
funds will be spent, in part, to develop the program. Councilor Burnley
commented that he feels like the committee is being asked to approve
something before being told what it’s for, adding that, in the future, it would
be helpful for councilors to have information prior to seeking approval.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
Appropriations
5.
Requesting the appropriation of $25,000 from the Community Preservation
Act (CPA) Fund Historic Preservation Reserve to Vida Real for a condition
assessment of the building at 404 Broadway.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0056)
Director Inacio explained that these funds will be used for phase 2 of the
project and he noted that the Community Preservation Committee’s
recommendation is attached to this item.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
6.
Requesting the appropriation of $426,925 from the Community Preservation
Act (CPA) Fund to the Mystic River Watershed Association for
improvements to the Blessing of the Bay Linear Park.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0055)
Director Inacio explained that this is a longer term, multi-phase project for
additional streetscape and parkscape work. The Community Preservation
Committee’s recommendation is attached to this item. Councilor Burnley
questioned what the budgeted reserve of $190,000 was for and the director
replied that it has noting to do with the actual program budget, but was
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Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2024
written that way due to required CPA category allocations.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
7.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,405,962 from the Community
Preservation Act (CPA) Fund Community Housing Reserve to the
Affordable Housing Trust.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0053)
Director Inacio said that the Community Preservation Committee is
allocating 50% of funds to the Affordable Housing Trust yearly.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
Transfers
8.
Requesting the transfer of $75,605 from the Community Preservation Act
(CPA) Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to the Community Housing
Reserve.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0052)
Director Inacio explained that this amount should have been allocated to the
housing reserve and this request is to correct that error and raise the yearly
allocation to the Affordable Housing Trust to 50%.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
Contracts and Easements
9.
Requesting approval of a time-only extension of three years for the contract
with Vida Real for restoration of the bell tower at 404 Broadway.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0057)
Director Inacio explained that this work was delayed due to COVID,
permitting and contractor issues, resulting in the 3-year cap being reached.
This request is to extend the time of the contract.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
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Finance Committee
Meeting Minutes
February 6, 2024
10.
Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 12/31/2024 for the
contract with Warner Larson Landscape Architects, to complete additional
design services and punch list work at the Healey Schoolyard and Athletic
Field.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0038)
Director Inacio said this additional time is needed to wrap up the punch list
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
11.
Requesting approval of a time-only extension until 1/1/2026 for the contract
with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners for design services on the
Building Master Plan.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0067)
Director Richards informed the members that this would be a 3-year time
extension to continue services since the initial building assessment. Asked
by Chair Wilson if school buildings are included, the director replied that a
broader schools master plan will be pursued. Councilor Burnley asked if
additional allocations are expected and the director replied that the initial
bond authorization still has funds available for use, however, as the scope of
the project grows, additional funds will be requested.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
12.
Requesting approval of an extension and amendment to the contract with
Symmes Maini and McKee Associates for an additional three years to
2/28/2027, and a revised amount of $978,649, for Central Hill design and
construction administration.
Mayor's Request
(ID # 24-0080)
Director Inacio explained that the work involves relocating the city’s war
memorials and noted this is for a time only extension. Existing funds are
available and no funds are being added to the contract. The memorials are
securely stored and the city will be advised of the best way to transport
them. Chair Wilson commented that veterans are eager to see the memorials
brought back.
RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED
RESULT:
City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor
Scott, Ward Two City Councilor Sait, City Councilor At
Large Burnley Jr. and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan
AYE:
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