CPC ordinance changes — File 25-1652

CITY OF SOMERVILLE ORDINANCE NO. 2025- IN CITY COUNCIL: ________, 2025 Be it ordained by the City Council, in session assembled, that sections 2-309.9, and 2-309.10 of the code of ordinances of the City of Somerville are amended as follows by deleting the struckthrough text and adding the underlined text. Sec. 2-309.9. – Community preservation committee. (a) There is hereby established a community preservation committee ("committee"), consisting of nine voting members pursuant to MGL Chapter 44B. The composition of the committee, the appointment authority and the term of office for the committee members shall be as follows: (1) One member of the planning board as designated by the board for a term of three years; (2) One member of the conservation commission as designated by the commission for a term of three years; (3) One member of the historical commission as designated by the commission for a term of three years; (4) One member of the parks and open space department as designated by the mayor for a term of three years; (5) One member of the housing authority as designated by the housing authority for a term of three years; and (6) Four members of the general public not city employees or currently holding elected or appointed positions, for a term of three years, as appointed by the mayor, subject to city council approval. (b) No member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms. In order to stagger the terms of the members, the initial appointments of the housing authority member, the planning board member and one member of the general public appointed by the mayor shall be for two years; and the initial appointments of the parks and open space department member and two members of the general public appointed by the mayor shall be for one year. A member who serves a partial term may be reappointed to serve up to two additional consecutive terms. (c) Any vacancy on the community preservation committee shall be filled by the commission, authority, board or mayor that designated the member who creates the vacancy by designating another member for the unexpired term. A vacancy in any of the members appointed under subsection 2-309.9(a)(6) shall be filled by the mayor, subject to city council approval. (d) Should any of the commissions, boards, or authorities who have appointment authority under this chapter be no longer in existence for whatever reason, then any other commission, board or authority performing substantially the same duties as those with appointment authority under this chapter shall have the authority to appoint a member of the committee as provided herein. In the event that there is no such commission, board, or authority then the mayor shall have the authority, subject to city council approval, to appoint to the committee a person acting in the capacity of, or performing like duties of the commission, board or authority in question. Sec. 2-309.10. – Announcement of open general public positions. For the four members of the general public, there shall be a public announcement of the open positions, with at least a three-week period for submittal of an application to the mayor. The names and a brief summary describing each candidate's qualifications shall be posted on the city website for at least two weeks before the mayor makes an appointment. The four members of the general public should include citizens who have demonstrated interest in open space, recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing.