June 11, 2026

Votes & Decisions

FY2027 Water & Sewer Rates: 15% Increase – Approved 9-2

The council approved a 15% increase in both water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year 2027, with Councilors Strezo and Mbah voting no. Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management Rich Raiche said the increase is lower than the 18% (water) and 20% (sewer) previously projected, thanks to improved billing collections — the department liened over $1.2 million in long-delinquent bills to taxes this year. Major cost drivers include the non-negotiable MWRA wholesale assessment (about 64% of water revenue), debt service, and looming costs from the combined sewer overflow (CSO) program, which Raiche said could otherwise require 15-20% increases annually for the next four to five years, "essentially double the rates in a four year window."

Raiche acknowledged Somerville had the second-highest combined water/sewer rates in the state in FY25 (behind Winthrop) and "fully suspect[s]" it will be first once FY26 data is out. Several councilors pressed on affordability: staff explained that a residential exemption was studied years ago and rejected because landlords generally pass costs to tenants, and state law prevents charging one group more to charge another less. An elderly credit (25% discount) exists through the Assessors office, but Councilor Strezo noted very few residents qualify. Strezo said she would not support the increase "until we can find a way to actually create a program" for relief, citing constituents on fixed incomes and $25/month SNAP benefits. Councilors Ewen-Campen and Clingan both argued rate-setting shouldn't be a council function at all, suggesting an appointed commission instead. A stormwater fee that would shift costs to large surface parking lot owners is still in development; Raiche said he'd be "angry and embarrassed" if it isn't ready by January 2027.

Police Superior Officers Contract with Body-Worn Camera Policy – Approved 10-1

The council approved a $15,015 appropriation ratifying a one-year (FY25) collective bargaining agreement with the Somerville Police Superior Officers Association, with Councilor Scott voting no. The contract includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, detail rate increases, a vacation schedule change, and — most significantly — a substantially rewritten body-worn camera policy. Labor counsel Matt Saragou explained that if the city rolls out body cameras in the coming months, it would be a pilot program involving superior officers only, since the patrol officers' union did not agree to the same contract.

Saragou described the rewrite as covering rights of access, retention timelines, prohibitions on surreptitious use, guidelines around First Amendment-protected activity, and access for police oversight bodies, developed over four executive sessions with the council. President Davis emphasized that approving the contract does not authorize camera use — that requires separate council approval of a Surveillance Technology Impact Report and use policy. Ewen-Campen and Link supported the contract but stressed they are not ready to approve the camera program itself, with Ewen-Campen citing this year's layoffs: "this is not the right year to be asking us to spend money on this." Scott objected that the contract "forms the upper bound ceiling" on what the city can do in any future policy and shouldn't be ratified before the requested public hearing.

Capital Projects from Free Cash: $6.6M Plus Four Building Projects – Approved 10-0

The council approved appropriating $6.6 million from free cash to the Facility Renovation and Reconstruction Stabilization Fund, then immediately approved four time-sensitive projects from that fund:

• $2.5 million to replace the DPW building roof at 1 Franey Road (Director Raiche said the roofs "leak on our union employees")

• $2 million to replace the West Somerville Neighborhood School roof

• $900,000 to convert space at the Healey School into five soundproofed classrooms for breakout and intervention services, targeted for completion near the start of the school year

• $500,000 to replace boilers at the Argenziano School before heating season

Councilor Wheeler and Scott both noted the tension of moving millions in free cash while being told there isn't $600,000 for school staff positions the School Committee requested.

Teen Empowerment Recognition – Approved; Funding Concerns Sent to Finance

The council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Teen Empowerment's 21 years of service, and sent to the Finance Committee a request that the Director of Health and Human Services explain recent changes to youth programming grant RFPs. Councilor McLaughlin explained that Teen Empowerment's single $400,000 grant was split into multiple grants, some of which the organization may not qualify for — a potential $300,000 loss "not because we don't have the money... but just a bureaucratic change." CEO Abigail Forrester, program director Aliyah Ewing, and 18-year-old youth organizer Keira Tipton spoke; Tipton said "I wouldn't be the person I am today with the path I have for my future" without the program. Councilor Link noted the change wasn't reflected in the budget book at all. The topic will come up at Monday's HHS budget hearing.

Police Officer Appointments – Approved

Efecan Yigitpasa and Joshua Nardelli were confirmed as police officers without committee referral, per recent practice.

Other Approvals

• Support for rent control negotiations between the Keep Massachusetts Home campaign and Massachusetts developers – approved, copy to state delegation

• Support for House Bill 3587/Senate Bill 2334 (creative economy space) – approved; Link highlighted it would allow creation of a municipal creative space trust fund

• Commendation for Alex Epstein, safe streets advocate moving abroad – approved; Mayor Wilson called his departure "a big loss for the community," and Davis credited him as the real lead on the truck side guard ordinance

Key Discussions

Ethical Procurement / Divestment Ordinance (Question 3) – Sent to Legislative Matters

Councilors Ewen-Campen and Wheeler introduced an ordinance amending the procurement code to implement November's ballot Question 3, which passed with roughly 60% of the vote and directs the city not to contract with or invest in companies profiting from serious violations of international humanitarian law, with specific reference to Israel and Palestine. Ewen-Campen said the ordinance "looks to organizations like the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the United Nations Human Rights Council" and applies wherever such violations occur worldwide. Wheeler stressed it "is not a boycott of any government, any people, any civil society" and that "all people are welcome in Somerville."

Sponsored speakers were sharply divided. Somerville for Palestine members Amina Awad and Erin Axelman urged the council to strengthen the ordinance by adding the American Friends Service Committee list and tightening procurement loopholes. Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, urged the council to place the item on file, saying the campaign "has made members of Somerville's Jewish community feel unsafe and unwelcome." Ward 7 resident Liron Biton, an Israeli American, called it "an act of hate and discrimination targeted at the only Jewish state in the world."

Councilor Mbah signed on, saying he'd promised to implement the will of voters: "our word matters." Councilors Sait and Link also voiced support. Councilor Strezo delivered an extended objection, calling the ordinance "discriminatory" as drafted, warning it "will be challenged in court," questioning why a measure promoted as non-binding is now being enforced as binding law, and arguing litigation costs would drain resources needed for schools, food security, and housing. The item was referred to Legislative Matters by voice vote; Chair Scott noted the next meeting is scheduled for June 30 due to budget season.

Body-Worn Camera Public Hearing Petition and Related Items

Eighty-nine registered voters petitioned under Section 2-11 of the City Charter for a public hearing on police body-worn cameras before the council takes final action. Lead organizer Derrick Rice noted that council discussions have occurred in executive session, creating "a bit of a conundrum from a democratic principles and values perspective," and asked the council not to take hard-to-undo actions before hearing from constituents. The petition was placed on file with a copy to Legislative Matters, where a public hearing will be scheduled (requiring two weeks' notice).

The Surveillance Technology Impact Report and Technology-Specific Use Policy for body cameras were both referred to Legislative Matters, along with the police chief's communication about the related state grant. Public Safety for All project manager John Hillman traced the program's history to the city's 2020 declaration of systemic racism as a public safety emergency, and said the state awarded 93% of the maximum grant value in March. Councilor Wheeler noted the grant item in Finance is expected to be replaced with a smaller one covering a superior-officers-only pilot. Davis clarified that the eventual use policy can expand beyond, but not contradict, the collective bargaining agreement.

Water/Sewer Billing Modernization

Alongside the rate vote, staff reported major billing improvements: the transition to quarterly billing is complete, over 915 meters were replaced this year, roughly 350-450 old non-transmitting meters remain (flagged with a "W" code on bills), and residents catching up on years of underestimated bills are credited at older, lower rates. Staff encouraged residents to sign up for the free WaterScope leak-monitoring tool — though Councilor Clingan quipped, "Nobody needs to know how many times I'm flushing the toilet."

Notable Moments

• Item ruled out of order: President Davis ruled Councilor Scott's resolution opposing armed police officers in Somerville schools out of order as a School Committee matter, placing it on file. Scott said he'd waited an hour at the School Committee meeting and "was not welcomed into public comment, which I gotta say, I was pretty damn furious about."

• Packed chambers: The meeting opened at capacity with no standing room, largely for the Teen Empowerment and divestment ordinance items. Davis warned during the ordinance debate, "if there are more interruptions, I'll clear the chambers."

• Personal testimony on the ordinance: Ewen-Campen framed the item with a story about his father's disillusionment during the Vietnam War, and said he has been told at public events "that I'm not a real Jew," calling it "a small sign of the divisions that have been caused by our country's ongoing support for this genocide."

• Remembrances: Councilor Clingan memorialized Ward 4 residents Michael Ciparini Jr. and former DPW Commissioner Steve McEachern; Councilor Mbah recalled that when McEachern left the DPW, staff were so upset that "three quarters of the employees were sick during a snowstorm... and no one cared" because he was so beloved.

• Consultant fatigue: Councilor Scott skewered past water-affordability studies, including a $90,000 report and another recommending the city "diversify revenue sources, formulate new policies and practices, and enhance communication" — "I think we're really getting our money's worth with these consultants." Raiche noted the stormwater fee work is now being done in-house.

What's Next

• Legislative Matters (next meeting June 30) will take up the divestment/ethical procurement ordinance, the body-worn camera impact report and use policy, the citizen-petitioned public hearing on body cameras, the Smart Tree Inventory surveillance report, and the 2025 Surveillance Technology Annual Report.

• Finance Committee receives a large batch of items: FY27 Water and Sewer Enterprise budgets ($39.6M and $24.7M), multiple free cash appropriations (including $7.15M for street reconstruction, $1.2M for OPEB, $549K for traffic safety, $1M for housing assistance from Community Benefits), opioid settlement fund projects ($144K), the Playworks program renewal ($45K), Assembly Square fire station settlement payments, the Teen Empowerment grant question, and Scott's inquiries on the mayor's charter compliance regarding the school budget and the fate of last year's unanimous Chapter 329 vote.

• Monday's departmental budget hearing will cover Health and Human Services, where Teen Empowerment funding is expected to come up.

• Both Eversource grant-of-location hearings were sent to committee to give members of the public (including one who couldn't unmute on Zoom) another chance to speak.

• Wage Theft Advisory Committee appointments (six nominees Davis called "a positive murderer's row of awesome people") go to Confirmation of Appointments to sort out staggered terms.

• Traffic and Parking will discuss Teele Square enforcement, Whitfield Road one-way compliance, the reduced-price driveway-owner parking permit concept, construction parking permits, and Highland Avenue paving.