Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee — Minutes, Jun 29, 2026

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM Monday, June 29, 2026 This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Clingan at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:19 p.m. on a Roll Call Vote of 3 in favor (Councilors Scott, Hardt and Clingan), 0 opposed, 0 absent. Roll Call Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott, Ward Seven City Councilor Emily Hardt and Ward Four City Councilor Jesse Clingan Present: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee Meeting of April 29, 2026. Committee Minutes (ID # 26-0856) ACCEPTED RESULT: Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt and Ward Four City Councilor Clingan AYE: 2. By Councilor Hardt That the Director of Water and Sewer provide an overview of the water and sewer metering and billing practices. Resolution (ID # 26-0832) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 3. By Councilor Sait, Councilor Clingan, Councilor Ewen-Campen and Councilor Link That the Director of Public Works place a portable restroom at Hoyt-Sullivan playground. Resolution (ID # 26-0805) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 4. By Councilor Clingan That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management appear before this Council to discuss the decision to implement a tiered residential base rate structure that differentiates between properties served by 5/8-inch pipes and those served by 1-inch pipes. Resolution (ID # 26-0626) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: Page 1 of 3

Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes June 29, 2026 5. By Councilor Clingan That the Director of Water and Sewer appear before the Committee on Sustainability and Infrastructure to discuss the process by which it is determined whether a residential unit requires a 1-inch water meter or a 5/8-inch water meter. Resolution (ID # 26-0482) KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 6. Michael Lenotto submitting comments re: item #26-0650, the draft Combined Sewer Overflow Plan. Public Communication (ID # 26-1084) Michael Lonetto, a Teele Square resident and member of the Save the Alewife Brook Steering Committee, expressed concern about worsening conditions at Alewife Brook and recurring combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Kristin Anderson, also representing Save the Alewife Brook, reviewed the attachment S&I - 2026-06-29 StAB Presentation (with 26-1084) and shared concerns about public health impacts from sewage exposure. Mr. Lonetto and Ms. Anderson stated that climate change and increased rainfall will worsen flooding and noted that full sewer separation, rather than storage infrastructure, is necessary to eliminate CSOs and improve long-term resilience. They noted that the Save the Alewife Brook Steering Committee developed a community proposal that would provide approximately 126 acres of sewer separation and argued that Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has the funding capacity to support a more comprehensive solution. They referenced MWRA estimates and stated that the difference in annual household cost between the current draft approach and full CSO elimination would be approximately $99 per household per year. Chair Clingan asked about project funding and cost impacts. Ms. Anderson stated that MWRA funding is supported through municipal assessments and expressed concern that Somerville is bearing an unfair share of compliance costs. Mr. Lonetto clarified that the estimated $99 annual increase represented the difference between the most ambitious sewer separation option and the least costly alternative. Mr. Lonetto and Ms. Anderson also noted that they had been seeking a response from Richard Raiche, Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, regarding the proposal and encouraged additional City advocacy with MWRA. Ms. Anderson noted that Director Raiche serves as Chair of the MWRA Advisory Board, and Councilor Scott added that Director Raiche would be uniquely positioned to provide public comment on the proposal. In response to a question from Councilor Hardt regarding ongoing litigation related to the Boston Harbor cleanup, Ms. Anderson noted that the legal records are publicly available online. George Laite added that the Boston Harbor cleanup originally anticipated a second phase focused on eliminating CSOs. Councilor Hardt noted that Director Raiche had previously shared Page 2 of 3

Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes June 29, 2026 that the City faces underground capacity limitations and that Somerville has already undertaken substantial related infrastructure work. Ms. Anderson shared that the group has engaged with the state delegation and encouraged additional advocacy from the City and MWRA to pursue full CSO elimination. She also added that the public comment period remains open through September. RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED RESULT: Referenced Documents: • S&I - 2026-06-29 StAB Presentation (with 26-1084) Page 3 of 3