July 9, 2026

Votes & Decisions

$130.4 Million Bond for Morrison Avenue Flood Control – Approved 10-0

The Council authorized borrowing $130,392,395 to participate in the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the Morrison Avenue "linear storage" project — a massive underground box culvert designed to relieve chronic flooding in the greater Davis Square area, particularly around Morrison Ave, plus related work on Jay Street and Powder House Boulevard. Infrastructure Director Rich Raiche explained the project would reduce flooding in a 10-year storm from about 1.33 million gallons to 170,000 gallons, cut combined sewer overflow volume by roughly 24%, and replace a failing sewer pipe under the community path that "is going to fail" and already failed once in 2017.

The unusual mid-summer timing was driven by a state deadline: the city applied for the SRF program last year based on a $130M estimate, and paperwork is due July 15. The program offers a 2% interest rate over 30 years (versus roughly 4.3% commercially) plus likely partial loan forgiveness because Somerville qualifies as a disadvantaged community. Raiche stressed the program is funded by a Biden-era appropriation that "Trump has cut" — delay would mean losing the city's place in line. Design is at 60% with costs already trimmed to $111M; Raiche expects to return in December to rescind whatever savings are achieved. He confirmed the borrowing is already baked into approved water/sewer rates. Construction would start next summer and run roughly four years. Councilor Sait, who lives in the affected area, noted basements on these streets flood with sewer water and called it "a really important project."

Body-Worn Camera Grant – Laid on the Table (8-2)

The Council declined to act on a $231,635 state grant to the Police Department for body-worn cameras, instead severing it from the Finance Committee report and laying it on the table pending a public hearing. The Finance Committee had voted 4-1 to recommend not accepting the grant. Chair Ben Wheeler explained the concern: the grant covers only initial costs, while implementation would create ongoing costs he calculated at roughly $446,000/year — $96,000 recurring for equipment, $18,000 for batteries, $215,000 in salary increases tied to a prior agreement linking officer pay to camera adoption, and $117,000 for a technical administrator. Councilors also cited a budget year that "just required difficult cuts" and unresolved questions about civilian oversight and footage policies.

Councilor Ewen-Campen argued for tabling rather than voting the grant down outright, which would bar reconsideration for six months: "I don't wanna shut down conversation about body worn cameras for good... If there is a way to make this happen that doesn't cost a lot of money, I'm certainly open to that." Councilors Link and Scott voted against both severing and tabling; Scott said he was "prepared to vote on it tonight." Scott also clarified for the record that the related public hearing is scheduled by the Council for early September.

Relatedly, the Council voted 9-1 (Strezo opposed) to send the earlier body-camera Surveillance Technology Impact Report and Use Policy back to Legislative Matters, and referred the administration's newly revised versions of those documents there as well — meaning all body-camera policy items remain in committee.

Home Rule Petition on Lease Timing – Approved 10-0

The Council approved a home rule petition asking the state to let Somerville regulate leases and tenancy-at-will agreements. Councilor Scott explained this "early leasing" petition would stop landlords from demanding tenants sign a new lease nine months in advance or face apartment showings — setting three months as the earliest renewal deadline, "providing more stability and privacy for tenants." The petition now goes to the state delegation.

Tenant Notification of Building Sale – Ordinance Ordained

The Council ordained an ordinance requiring property owners to notify tenants before listing their building for sale. Scott noted that because it operates purely on notification, the city believes it can enact this locally without state approval.

Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotion – Ordinance Ordained

An ordinance sponsored by Councilor Davis prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for self-promotion was enrolled and ordained. Scott noted it had clearance from the Communications department.

School Custodians Union Contract – Approved 10-0

The Council appropriated $204,400 to fund a three-year agreement with SEIU Chapter 3 school custodians. The contract moves custodians to a new salary scale achieving parity with SMEA building custodians in FY26, provides 2% COLAs in FY27 and FY28, converts vacation accrual, and adds staffing flexibility including a new swing shift and more floaters. Councilor Link praised the swing shift addition as something the school facilities committee had repeatedly discussed. The item was approved immediately so workers get raises as soon as possible.

Infrastructure Continuing-Services Appropriations – Approved 10-0

Two routine year-end bookkeeping appropriations were approved together: $834,595 from the Facility Renovation Stabilization Fund (ongoing school building work including Argenziano boilers and the West roof) and $185,358 from the Street Reconstruction Stabilization Fund (design and oversight for street/sidewalk projects). These continue existing purchase orders across the fiscal year boundary.

Police Detail Revolving Fund – Approved 10-0

$50,000 from the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund establishes a revolving fund so superior officers are paid faster for detail work, mirroring an existing fund for patrol officers. The city solicitor confirmed this is not new spending — the fund is replenished when vendors pay the city, and it's capped at $50,000 by contract.

Support for MGB Nurses and Home Care Workers – Approved (All Councilors Signed On)

A resolution supporting striking nurses and clinicians at Mass General Brigham Home Care and Brigham and Women's Hospital passed with the entire Council signed on. Two striking workers spoke: nurse Shannon Vieira described bargaining since March 2025 for basic protections — caseload limits, workable productivity metrics, and competitive wages (clinicians cap out about $35 less per hour than hospital counterparts and often take home 2–4 hours of extra work nightly). Councilor McLaughlin tied his support to the city's history with the company at Assembly Row: "They're operating as a Fortune 500 company with a nonprofit status." Multiple councilors reported walking the picket line, and the Council recessed for a solidarity photo.

Disability Pride Month – Approved

The Council approved a resolution reaffirming July as Disability Pride Month in light of a Department of Justice legal memorandum seeking to narrow the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, which for 25 years has been understood to prohibit unnecessary segregation and institutionalization of people with disabilities. The Mayor's parallel proclamation was placed on file. (See Notable Moments for commission chair Holly Simione's remarks.)

Board and Commission Appointments – Approved

The Council confirmed Rachael Drew and Duncan Stuard to the Affordable Housing Trust and Danielle O'Hearn, Jessica Resendes, Katie Andalcio, Phoenix Stoddard, and Jessie Gerson-Nieder to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. The confirmation committee's report — covering additional appointments to the Fair Housing Commission, Wage Theft Advisory Committee, Affordable Housing Trust, and a large slate for the Climate Action Commission — was also approved.

Other Items

• Support for State Auditor Diana DiZoglio's legislative audit – Approved, with McLaughlin quipping, "Where the hell is my audit?"

• Economic analysis of proposed procurement ordinance – Approved. Councilor Strezo's order directs the Strategy and Development Department to analyze the financial impact of a proposed ordinance amendment, including service providers, bond rating impact, and enforcement costs, with a report requested over the summer.

• Summer recess – Regular meetings of July 23 and August 13 are cancelled.

Key Discussions

90 Washington Street: Down to One Developer

Senior planner Ben Demers delivered a significant update on the city-owned 90 Washington Street site: North River Leerink withdrew its proposal at the end of the best-and-final-offer period, citing difficulty meeting both programmatic goals and investor returns — leaving Wood Partners as the sole remaining bidder.

Wood Partners' revised proposal is substantially changed: three buildings instead of one (two seven-story buildings plus a five-story "tail" building), 418 rental units (up from 324), including roughly 85 income-restricted units under standard inclusionary zoning with a higher share of affordable three-bedrooms; parking cut from 398 to 244 spaces and moved underground; ~15,000 sq ft of retail grouped around a northwest plaza, including an 11,000 sq ft space sized for a neighborhood grocer; and a 7,000 sq ft community space proposed as a senior center that could potentially replace the aging Ralph & Jenny Center. The developer offered an option to drop the third building, reducing units to 374 and cutting the land offer by about 10%.

Councilors were divided. McLaughlin, whose ward includes the site, objected to a new access road cutting into the green berm separating the site from Cobble Hill Apartments and called Building 2 a "shoehorn," though he acknowledged the proposal "is better than the previous proposal." Scott delivered the sharpest critique, saying the density was inadequate for the location: "this is an absolutely excellent project that would really enhance Dedham... but this is in the heart of Somerville," urging the SRA to "walk away" rather than conduct "a fire sale," and suggesting the city pursue a social housing model instead. Wheeler pushed back: "with apologies to my colleague from Ward 2, I don't think that's happening in Milford," noting 85 income-restricted units near the Green Line and that the withdrawn tower proposal had a similar total unit count. Clingan said he "struggles" with being down to one developer but worried the lot could sit empty for years.

The Somerville Redevelopment Authority meets Monday to decide whether to designate Wood Partners or reject all proposals. If designated, a land disposition agreement would be negotiated and must return to the Council for final approval. The Council also met in executive session to discuss the financial terms.

Davis Square Neighborhood Council Seeks Formal Recognition – Sent for Discussion

The Davis Square Neighborhood Council presented its formal request for city recognition, which was referred to Legislative Matters with a public hearing anticipated in early September. Board members described growth from 11 people in 2023 to 642 verified voting members (567 Somerville residents), two board elections including secure online voting, 501(c) nonprofit status, public bylaws, and active committees on development, greening, and the Davis Square neighborhood plan. The group is tracking seven development projects, including the proposed 26-story Copper Mill tower.

Councilors showered the group with praise. Ewen-Campen, a founder of the Union Square Neighborhood Council, called it "beyond our wildest dreams" that additional councils would form at this level of transparency, while clarifying that recognition "does not confer any magical or legal powers" — it's the Council certifying the group is democratic and open. McLaughlin noted the effort "got a little expedited because of the Copper Mill development" and that "Davis Square has been long overdue for a neighborhood council." Member Hector Ball spoke about ongoing internal debates over quorum rules — currently just eight members — that the group wants to resolve for a 600-plus membership before recognition.

ICE Access to Arrest Records

On the Police Chief's bi-annual Welcoming Communities report, Scott flagged that ICE issued five detainer requests for people in Somerville police custody. While the city did not cooperate and the individuals were released before ICE arrived, Scott raised a pointed concern in the context of the Council's ongoing surveillance debates: "ICE knew who we had arrested, and they could only find that out if they had access to our arrest records" — a concern relevant to the Crime Tracer data-sharing system still under committee review.

Notable Moments

• Holly Simione's testimony on disability rights: The Commission for Persons with Disabilities chair, speaking as a resident, gave an extended and pointed account of the Willowbrook institution scandal and the stakes of the DOJ's move on Olmstead: families like hers could see home services cut and loved ones institutionalized. She also called out accessibility failures in the Council chamber itself in real time — broken closed captions during the meeting, a podium wheelchair users can't access, and blocked access aisles: "If all the microphones went off, would you stop the meeting? But you didn't stop the meeting when I couldn't hear what was being said."

• Striking nurses on day two of a seven-day strike received a standing show of solidarity, with the Council recessing for a photo. Clingan shared how a speech-language pathologist helped his father swallow food during dementia care, and Strezo cited executive compensation at MGB reaching millions while nurses received "cookies and thank yous."

• Scott's "Dedham" broadside on 90 Washington — "top notch for Norwood... but this is in the heart of Somerville" — drew a direct rebuttal from Wheeler and framed the sharpest policy disagreement of the night.

• Procedural sparring over body cameras: Wheeler's suggestion that "the administration intends to schedule a public hearing" drew an immediate correction from Scott: "Public hearings are matters of the city council... This public hearing is scheduled to be held in early September. That has not changed."

What's Next

• SRA vote Monday on whether to designate Wood Partners for 90 Washington Street; any land disposition agreement returns to the Council.

• Public hearing on Davis Square Neighborhood Council recognition anticipated in early September in Legislative Matters.

• Body-worn camera items: the grant sits on the table; impact reports and use policies are in Legislative Matters ahead of the early-September public hearing.

• Morrison Ave project: Raiche expects to return in December to rescind cost savings; construction bids over winter, groundbreaking next summer. A stormwater fee with incentives for on-site retention is targeted for January rollout.

• Non-union salary ordinance amendment (7.2) referred to Legislative Matters; the ethical procurement ordinance remains in committee, with a 74-voter petition for a public hearing forwarded there.

• The Council enters its six-week summer recess; the next regular meeting is August 27.