June 17, 2026

Meeting Overview

This was the third night in the Finance Committee's series of departmental hearings on Mayor Jake Wilson's proposed FY27 budget. The committee (Chair Ben Wheeler, Vice Chair JT Scott, and Councilors Jonathan Link, Kristen Strezo, and Emily Hardt) reviewed three departments over four hours: the newly reorganized Strategy and Development department, Public Works, and Infrastructure. No cuts or spending resolutions were proposed; any such motions are reserved for "cut night" on Tuesday, June 23.

Items Recommended for Full Council

No items were voted out of committee. This meeting was a review-and-questions session as part of the ongoing FY27 budget process.

Items Referred to Committee

FY27 Budget Review – In Committee, Continuing to June 23

The full proposed budget remains before the Finance Committee. Chair Wheeler invited motions for cuts or resolutions suggesting additional funding after each department; none were made. Councilor Scott noted that the lack of motions on DPW reflected genuine improvement, not lack of diligence: "Things are looking up at DPW." Councilors making cut motions on June 23 were encouraged to consult the council's financial analyst beforehand.

Committee Discussion

Strategy and Development (formerly OSPCD)

Executive Director Tom Galligani presented the expanded and renamed department, which now consolidates eight divisions: administration, mobility, planning, public space and urban forestry, housing, housing stability, economic development, and—newly added—sustainability and environment. Galligani said the department absorbed three layoffs, two eliminated vacant positions, and shifted 1.5 positions to grant funds. Priorities include the Davis Square neighborhood plan, McGrath Boulevard planning, anti-displacement work, and permitting modernization.

Key discussion points:

• Eliminated positions: Councilor Scott probed the elimination of a partially grant-funded senior accountant (grant funds will be redirected to other positions) and confirmed the "eliminated" executive assistant was actually retitled to operations manager, still filled by the same person. Chair Wheeler asked about the eliminated strategic planning and equity manager; Galligani said that equity work will continue citywide through the equity and inclusion division in the operations and systems department.

• Structural concerns: Councilor Strezo asked how short-term, nimble needs (small business and housing support) would avoid being overshadowed by long-range planning. Councilor Link asked whether sustainability would lose independence inside the larger department; Galligani argued the merger amplifies rather than dilutes that work, citing existing collaboration between sustainability and mobility.

Mobility

Director Brad Rawson reported 70 traffic calming features, four miles of separated bike lanes, and 49 clear-corners treatments installed in 2025, with reported crashes down 15% from 2024 and 35% from 2019. Councilor Link noted Somerville was absent from a new statewide pedestrian fatality report. Councilor Strezo pressed on senior pedestrian safety—citing that people 65+ account for 43% of statewide pedestrian deaths—and said she will ask for specific action items implemented for older residents between now and next year's budget. Councilor Hardt asked about post-project evaluation; Rawson said the division benchmarks speed and volume data before and after traffic calming but lacks staff bandwidth to publish full technical evaluations.

Planning (formerly PPZ)

Director Daniel Bartman reported the division is fully staffed for the first time in years. The Davis Square neighborhood plan launched with a technical advisory committee announced that morning. Councilor Scott confirmed the long-delayed Union Square East planning is folded into the McGrath Boulevard planning study RFP (seven responses received; consultant selection expected within two weeks, launch in FY27). New ArcGIS Urban software will let staff model zoning scenarios in-house, including fiscal, housing, and water/sewer impacts.

Public Space and Urban Forestry

Director Luisa Oliveira described recent park openings and the urban forestry program—at least 350 street trees planted annually, over 1,000 trees treated this year. Councilor Link raised tree canopy equity in Ward 1, which has the least canopy in the city; Oliveira said Ward 1 plantings are prioritized but space is constrained.

Housing

Director Lisa Davidson explained two vacant positions were eliminated, with existing staff absorbing the work. The consolidated rental waitlist is closed, with 4,302 households on it and no way to estimate wait times. Councilor Scott questioned "expedited eligibility screening"; Davidson said the division will reduce documentation requirements (two months of income records down to one) and move to a sampling-based approach for recertifications instead of re-reviewing all ~600 per quarter. Councilor Link asked about permanent supportive housing; Davidson said federal priorities shifting away from housing-first models have stalled expansion efforts, though the Affordable Housing Trust Fund stepped in to fund roughly 9–11 Somerville Homeless Coalition units.

Housing Stability

Director Ellen Shachter said the office serves over 1,100 households annually. In response to Councilor Strezo's questions about post-ARPA funding, Shachter reported: rolled-over funds approved by the committee the prior night will fully fund legal services (three FTEs across De Novo and Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services); the municipal voucher program is funded through early FY28; and the mayor has recommended $1 million in community benefits funding to sustain the rental and mortgage assistance program, which previously relied on ARPA and free cash. That recommendation will come to the council for a vote, likely June 23.

Economic Development

Director Rachel Nadkarni highlighted the 57 Central Street artist studios ribbon-cutting and the TransMedics project, which pulled its first building permit and will add 600 jobs in phases over the coming years. Councilor Scott questioned the drop from six workforce development positions to two; Nadkarni said the ARPA-funded direct-service programs (including the post-secondary success pilot that served over 100 students) are ending, with a working group exploring whether such programming should live in HHS or the schools instead. A newly promoted senior planner will focus on connecting employers to training pipelines. Chair Wheeler asked about small business permitting reform; the division is building navigational guides, starting with temporary food licenses.

Sustainability and Environment

Director Steven Nutter presented the division's integration into Strategy and Development. Councilor Scott called this reorganization "the one that makes most sense to me," expressing hope for more direct-impact focus. Nutter said the residential decarbonization position was cut, but a year will be used to develop a broader residential decarbonization strategy leveraging housing and engineering connections. The climate ambassadors program is approaching 175 alumni, and 49 people applied for 13 seats on the reformed climate action commission.

Somerville Redevelopment Authority / CPA

Nadkarni reported 299 Broadway construction is proceeding to vertical construction later this year, and movement is expected on Union Square's D-4.3 parcel in FY27. CPA Manager Roberta Cameron noted the surcharge increase approved by voters in November 2024 enabled larger projects (Kennedy Schoolyard, Blessing of the Bay Linear Park) and an additional ~$2 million annually to the Affordable Housing Trust; the housing allocation rose from 50% to 55% of CPA funds.

Public Works

Commissioner Eric Weisman (his first budget as commissioner) and Operations Director Ben Waldrip reported vacancies down from 33 in FY24 to 24 in FY25 to 16 currently, out of 144 positions, with a goal of zero by next budget. Several divisions were renamed (electrical, streets and sidewalks, recycling and waste, facilities). Other highlights:

• Recycling and waste: The new mattress recycling ticket requirement saved $155,000. Weisman defended the new ~$800 recycling charge for businesses and larger buildings as reasonable and necessary given fiscal constraints; entities can choose private haulers. New, more rodent-resistant curbside carts roll out over the next month.

• Electrical: More streetlight and traffic signal repair work is moving in-house, reducing contractor reliance—a trend Councilor Scott called "extremely positive." Emergency vehicle signal preemption is being installed and tested with police and fire.

• Snow removal: The budget rises modestly to ~$1.8 million; snow spending can legally exceed appropriation. Councilor Scott requested a memo listing snow contractors and payments. Councilor Link raised the loss of snow farm sites (Homans, 90 Washington) to development; Weisman said the city is pursuing agreements with new property owners.

• Street sweeping: Weisman explained why sweeping should stay partly contracted—contractors absorb staffing liability and equipment maintenance for a schedule-critical service.

• School custodians: Contract negotiations were described as "extremely optimistic," and a swing-shift custodian position at the East Somerville School will be posted over the summer.

Infrastructure

Director Richard Raiche described the department's expansion to include water and sewer and inspectional services alongside capital projects and engineering.

• Capital projects — stale CIP: In response to Chair Wheeler's questions about the five-year capital plan, Raiche revealed the published CIP is roughly four years old; the new charter now requires an annually updated capital investment plan submitted to the council by November 1. Notably, the $95 million 1895 former high school building project "never got off the ground"—only make-safe and asset preservation work was done after the roof began failing. The fire station rehabilitation program also stalled for financial reasons; Raiche said that work cannot be deferred much longer.

• Engineering: Director Brian Postlewaite covered costs (two curb cuts ~$20,000; a raised crosswalk ~$35,000 plus possible $25,000–$50,000 drainage). GPS traffic preemption should be operational at 21 intersections by summer's end, with 10–15 more funded in FY27 between Union and Davis; response-time data will be benchmarked before and after. Councilor Hardt asked about green stormwater infrastructure barriers; Raiche explained bump-outs depend on subsurface sewer work and utility conflicts (the Spring Hill project yielded only about 11 of 60 potential sites). Wheeler thanked the division for prioritizing the Winter Hill/Ten Hills sewer separation and Morrison Ave tank work given chronic flooding.

• Inspectional services: Interim Director Kevin Klein fielded questions from Councilor Link about conflicting inspection requirements burdening small businesses. Councilor Scott highlighted workload: roughly 14 inspectors handled about 37,000 calls for service in calendar 2024, calling ISD "the primary law enforcement agency in this city."

• Water and sewer: Finance Director Michael Richards outlined FY27 goals: completing meter replacement to eliminate estimated bills, moving permitting online, delinquency notifications, and reinstituting a full lien program to recover lost revenue. Field staffing remains challenging—three special heavy motor equipment operator positions are vacant on the water side, with candidates declining offers or failing pre-employment screening, though one new laborer was recently hired.

What's Next

• Cut night: Tuesday, June 23 — the committee will take up any proposed cuts or spending resolutions on the FY27 budget.

• Coming to full council: The mayor's recommendation to use $1 million in community benefits funding for rental/mortgage assistance (expected around June 23); year-end appropriations for capital projects on the next agenda.

• Follow-up information requested: DPW memo on snow removal contractors and payments (Councilor Scott); DPW retention data via HR (Councilor Link); cost of sidewalk bump-outs (Councilor Link); ISD calls-for-service data (Councilor Scott); mobility action items for senior pedestrian safety (Councilor Strezo, over the coming year).

• November 1: Under the new charter, the mayor must submit an updated capital investment plan to the council, which will hold its own public hearings and vote in December—the first update in roughly four years.

• Related items elsewhere: Housing stability's notice-of-building-sale ordinance and early leasing home rule petition are expected before the Legislative Matters Committee on June 30.