City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
6:00 PM
This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wheelr at 6:00 pm and adjourned at 6:30 pm on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, Wheeler), 0 absent.
Others present: Amanda Nagim-Williams – Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Madalyn Letellier – Assistant City Clerk.
Roll Call
- Present: City Councilor At Large Jon Link, City Councilor At Large
- Kristen Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Emily Hardt,
Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott and City Councilor At Large Ben Wheeler
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of May 26, Minutes
2026.
(ID # 26-0943 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of June 9, 2026.
Minutes
(ID # 26-1142 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of June 10, Minutes
2026.
(ID # 26-1143 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of June 15, Minutes
2026.
(ID # 26-1144 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of June 16, Minutes
2026.
(ID # 26-1145 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of June 17, Minutes
2026.
(ID # 26-1146 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee of the Whole Meeting of Minutes
June 23, 2026.
(ID # 26-1149 )
- Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $231,635 grant with no new
(ID # 26-0378 ) match required, from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety
and Security to the Police Department for a body-worn camera program.
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) Nagim-Williams restated the request that the item be discharged from the finance committee meeting to be discussed in front of the whole council. IGA Director also added the administration’s willingness to have another meeting for discussion as
requested by Councilor’s. In response to Chair Wheeler’s suggestion to discharge the item without a recommendation Councilor Link shared
- opposition to the motion and the desire for more information. Councilor
Scott agreed with Councilor Link that it is the committee’s responsibility to make a recommendation on the item. Councilor Hardt spoke to the financial
burden of the item and did not want to recommend this item for approval at the rate of on-going costs.
Councilor Link moved for the previous question. The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, Wheeler), 0 opposed.
- RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE NOT APPROVED
- AYE:
City Councilor At Large Strezo
NAY:
- City Councilor At Large Link, Ward Seven City Councilor
- Hardt, Ward Two City Councilor Scott and City Councilor
- At Large Wheeler