Finance Committee

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 7, 2025 6:00 PM This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wwilson at 6:00 pm and adjourned at 6:57pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Mbah, Burnley,Jr., Clingan, Scott, and Wilson), 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Others present: Emily Wisdom - Director of Finance and Administration, Police, Brad Rawson - Director of Mobility, Danielle Palazzo - Deputy Director of Finance for Public Works, Ben Waldrip - Superintendent, Kimberley Hutter - Legislative Liaison, Cindy Amara - City Solicitor, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager. Roll Call Present: City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Jesse Clingan, City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah 1. Committee Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of September Minutes 23, 2025. (ID # 25-1511) RESULT: ACCEPTED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Contracts and Agreements 2. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to extend and amend a contract with City Hall Systems (ID # 25-1462) for an additional two years until 12/17/2027, for online bill payment services. Councilor Mbah asked if this contract costs more money, without another procurement process being engaged. Liaison Hutter was present and stated she would bring a response from staff at the next meeting. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Personnel Requests Page 1 of 6 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 3. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to use available funds in the Law Department Personal (ID # 25-1494) Services accounts in the amount of $6,296.88 to increase the annual salary of the Municipal Hearing Officer. City Solicitor Amara explained the request comes from the need to keep the previous Municipal Hearing Officer on, who was looking to retire and agreed to stay on for the extended amount of time for additional pay, until a new hire can be onboarded by the end of December. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Prior Year Invoices 4. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $121,818.23 using (ID # 25-1479) available funds in various Department of Public Works Accounts for various services. Deputy Director Palazzo explained the various invoices are to address insufficient funds that were carried into FY 2026 and the invoices have been carried over and the Department of Public Works (DPW) is now looking to close them out. Councilor Scott asked about the amount of the Stanley tree contract, Superintendent Waldrip answered that the contract is about $444,000 per year, DPW has since overspent about $20,000 in Ward 2. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 5. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $159.96 using (ID # 25-1419) available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Recreation Supplies Account for picnic blankets. Chair Wilson noted these items were for small dollar amounts and priority is to pay the vendors as quickly as possible. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 6. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $527 using available (ID # 25-1452) funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Equipment Rental Account for truck rental. This item was discussed with item #25-1419. Page 2 of 6 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 7. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $94.75 using (ID # 25-1453) available funds in the Parks & Recreation Department Recreation Supplies Account for carbon dioxide tank refill at Dilboy Pool. This item was discussed with item #25-1419. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Appropriations 8. Mayor's Request Requesting the appropriation of $240,664.10 from the Transportation (ID # 25-1449) Network Company Special Revenue Fund for FY 2026 Vision Zero safety efforts. Director Rawson was present to speak on the item which is funds for calendar year 2024. He shared that 10cents per ride sharing trips, Lyft and Uber, that begin in Somerville are redistributed as revenue. It is required to use the funds in a way to mitigate the negative impacts of the ride sharing trips. In response to questions from Councilor Mbah Director Rawson clarified these funds are considered additional, complimentary, funds and are not anticipated within the operating budget. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 9. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to appropriate $100,000 from the Encore Artist and (ID # 25-1459) Cultural Support Stabilization Fund to support Local Cultural Council grants to artists, organizations, and schools. Councilor Mbah asked if these were the last payments the city would receive. Liaison Hutter was able to confirm with staff that the $100,000 is an annual allotment for as long as the casino is in operation. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Grant and Gift Acceptances Page 3 of 6 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 10. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $54,400 grant with no new (ID # 25-1447) match required, from the Mass Cultural Council to the Arts Council for the Local Cultural Council grant program. This item was discussed with item #24-1447. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 11. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $10,000 grant with no new (ID # 25-1418) match required, from the Fenway Community Health Center to the Police Department for post-overdose support. Director Wisdom outlined the grant is received every year and is used for outreach and follow up on calls related to behavior health issues and any trainings officers may attend regarding overdose or jail diversion programs. Councilor Burnley asked what other departments deliver similar resources to residents, Director Wisdom clarified that more than just law enforcement can utilize the funds and that is a conversation that could happen in the future. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 12. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $155,271.38 grant with no new (ID # 25-1408) match required, from the Massachusetts State 911 Department to the Police Department for training costs for 911 certification. Director Wisdom shared these funds allow the department to bolster the 911 department and pay for overtime costs that come with staff pursuing additional certification as well as the vendor costs, so these do not need to come out of the Police budget. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 13. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $295,463 grant with no new (ID # 25-1409) match required, from the Massachusetts State 911 Department to the Police Department for enhanced 911 telecommunicator personnel costs. This item was discussed with item #25-1408. Page 4 of 6 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah 14. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $24,500 grant with no new (ID # 25-1410) match required, from the Massachusetts State 911 Department to the Police Department for emergency medical dispatch. This item was discussed with item #25-1408. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE: City Councilor At Large Wilson, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr. and City Councilor At Large Mbah Orders and Resolutions 15. Order By Councilor Mbah (ID # 25-1344) That the Director of Finance provide a comprehensive accounting of all stabilization accounts that have remained unspent for three or more fiscal years and provide a report for each fund. Councilor Mbah asked the process to move around ear marked funds for projects that may no longer be happening. Liaison Hutter expressed that Director Bean has shared information in the submitted memo that discusses a process review that is underway to determine what should happen with earmarked funds and any future appropriations or re-purpose of funds must be approved by the Council so this conversation will be on-going. Chair Wilson discussed the public comment submitted by Bill Valetta and the importance of tracking, reviewing, and identifying accounts that have gone stagnant, or monitoring if accounts can be closed and how to better promote transparency to the accounts. Councilor Clingan echoed Chair Wilsons statements on the need for better transparency on the many accounts and the future of having more information and repurpose money in the future. RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED Public Communications 16. Public Bill Valletta submitting comments re: item #25-1344, an Order that the Communication Director of Finance provide a comprehensive accounting of all stabilization (ID # 25-1514) accounts. This item was discussed with item #25-1344. Page 5 of 6 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes October 7, 2025 RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2025-10-07 Contract Extension Memo (with 25-1462) • Finance - 2025-10-07 Arts Council Memo (with 25-1459, 25-1447) Page 6 of 6