City Council

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 3, 2023 7:00 PM 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 Present: City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr. City Councilor At Large Kristen Strezo City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin 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 Absent: City Councilor At Large Charlotte Kelly Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Ward Seven City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld. 1.1. Roll Call Call of the Roll. (ID # 23-1200) RESULT: PLACED ON FILE 2. CITATIONS 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 4. ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 7. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR 7.1. Mayor's Request Requesting a supplemental appropriation of $108,379 to the Capital - (ID # 23-1199) Building Lease Account to pay for a License Agreement regarding use of space at the Tufts Administration Building (TAB) on Holland Street. Finance Director Ed Bean said that the amount is for a license, which is a Page 1 of 3 City Council Meeting Minutes August 3, 2023 shorter-term agreement than a lease. The appropriation will come from the tax levy, as new growth has been greater than expected. Chief of Staff Nikki Spencer explained that an agreement has been worked out with Tufts to house some displaced departments, as the Edgerly Building is being vacated to make space for Winter Hill students. A lease has yet to be finalized. Solicitor Cindy Amara explained the difference between a lease and license and noted that she doesn’t anticipate that the substantive details will be different under a lease. Councilor Strezo spoke about parking and asked if city employees will have to pay for parking. Chief of Staff Spencer said that the city is working on terms to have the city pay the cost. Director Bean said it would be considered a taxable benefit to the employees. Councilor Strezo called attention to the fact that visitors to the Council on Aging are charged $2.50 per hour. She requested that the cost be absorbed by the city under the lease agreement when it is signed. Councilor Clingan asked if the rental amount was competitive and Director Bean said that it works out to $32 per square foot, with $20 of that going to operational expenses. He went on to say that there aren’t many properties with that amount of rental space. Councilor Clingan wants to be sure that the property is suitable for the city employees. Councilor Gomez Mouakad noted that signage isn’t allowed in the building. She also asked who will be handling the maintenance of the space and Chief of Staff Spencer said that the Department of Public Works will be responsible. Chief of Staff Spencer said that she hopes to have all of the particulars ready for the Council by its meeting on August 24. Councilor McLaughlin noted that the city once owned this building. The item was approved on a roll call vote of 8 in favor (McLaughlin, Davis, Strezo, Clingan, Wilson, Burnley, Gomez Mouakad, Pineda Neufeld), 0 opposed and 3 absent (Scott, Kelly, Ewen-Campen). Councilor Clingan moved for reconsideration in the hope that reconsideration fails. Reconsideration failed on a roll call vote of 0 in favor, 8 opposed (McLaughlin, Davis, Strezo, Clingan, Wilson, Burnley, Gomez Mouakad, Pineda Neufeld) and 3 absent (Scott, Kelly, Ewen-Campen). RESULT: APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, Ward Five City Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Ward Six City Councilor Davis, and Ward Seven City Councilor Pineda Neufeld ABSENT: City Councilor At Large Kelly, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, and Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen 8. COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS 9. NEW BUSINESS Page 2 of 3 City Council Meeting Minutes August 3, 2023 10. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS 11. LATE ITEMS 12. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was Adjourned at 7:24 PM on a roll call vote of 8 in favor (McLaughlin, Davis, Strezo, Clingan, Wilson, Burnley, Gomez Mouakad, Pineda Neufeld), 0 opposed and 3 absent (Scott, Kelly, Ewen-Campen). Page 3 of 3