Concejo Municipal, reunión especial – 27 jul 2026

City of Somerville, Massachusetts · City Council · Meeting Minutes

Monday, July 27, 2026 · 6:30 PM · Special Meeting

NOTICE: This is NOT the official version of the City Council's minutes. While reasonable efforts have · been made to assure the accuracy of the data provided, do not rely on this information without first · checking with the City Clerk.

1. OPENING CEREMONIES

• Present: Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen
• City Councilor At Large Jon Link
• Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott
• Ward Four City Councilor Jesse Clingan
• City Councilor At Large Kristen Strezo
• Ward Five City Councilor Naima Sait
• City Councilor At Large Ben Wheeler
• Ward Seven City Councilor Emily Hardt
• Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin
• City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah
• Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis

The meeting was called to order at 6:33 PM by Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis.

1.1. Roll Call

Call of the Roll.

(ID # 26-1230 ) RESULT: PLACED ON FILE

2. CITATIONS

3. PUBLIC HEARINGS

4. ORDERS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS OF MEMBERS

5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

5.1. 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.

Discussed with items #26-1228 and #26-1229.

Councilors expressed both support for body-worn cameras (BWCs) and concerns about the process, cost, and absence of civilian oversight.

• Councilors Ewen-Campen and Link emphasized the city's financial

constraints and the need for civilian oversight, with Councilor Link also citing recent layoffs and school staffing shortages. Councilor Sait supported BWCs but opposed accepting the grant because of the expedited process and lack of oversight. Councilor Wheeler acknowledged the benefits of BWCs

but argued the grant was not essential and that current budget constraints made implementation too costly. Councilor Scott expressed frustration that

civilian oversight has remained stalled since 2020 and said stronger policies should be in place before moving forward.

Councilors Mbah, Clingan, Hardt, and Strezo supported accepting the grant.

Councilor Clingan stated that the city could both accept the funding and establish meaningful civilian oversight. Councilor McLaughlin strongly

supported accepting the grant, citing the long history of delayed BWC implementation and arguing the city had acted in good faith. He questioned

whether some councilors would support BWCs even if civilian oversight were established, given concerns about costs and broader police reform.

Councilor Davis focused on strengthening the surveillance policy, objecting to officers reviewing footage before writing reports and to limited public

access. He said he would support the grant if the administration committed to revising the policy to address those concerns, and Mayor Wilson agreed.

• Mayor Wilson also reaffirmed his commitment to establishing civilian

oversight, noting that funding had been included in the budget, and said he shared Councilor Link's goal of increasing interventionist support in the schools.

RESULT: APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, Ward Four City
• Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large Strezo, Ward
• Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward One City Councilor
• McLaughlin, City Councilor At Large Mbah, and Ward Six
• City Councilor Davis

NAY:

• City Councilor At Large Link, Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott, Ward Five City Councilor Sait, and City Councilor At
• Large Wheeler

6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

7. COMMUNICATIONS OF THE MAYOR

7.1. Mayor's Request Requesting that this City Council hold a public hearing regarding the (ID # 26-1222 ) implementation and use of body worn cameras by the Somerville Police

Department.

Mayor Wilson, Public Safety for All Project Manager John Hillman, Assistant City Solicitor/Labor Counsel Matthew Sirigu, and Police Chief

• Shumeane Benford presented an overview of the City's proposed
• Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Program for the Somerville Police Department.

The presenters stated that the City has been preparing for implementation of a body-worn camera program following more than a decade of community

discussion, research, and collaboration. They noted that work on the program began in 2015 and has involved City Councilors, police unions, community members, civil rights organizations, and two task forces. Public

• feedback, including recommendations from the American Civil Liberties
• Union (ACLU), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People (NAACP), and residents, was incorporated into the development of the proposed policy.

• The presentation outlined the goals of the BWC program, including

increasing transparency, accountability, and public trust while supporting contemporary policing practices. Research cited during the presentation

indicated that body-worn cameras have been associated with reductions in use-of-force incidents and citizen complaints and provide objective evidence during critical incidents. It was noted that neighboring communities, including Cambridge, Arlington, Medford, and Boston, have implemented

• body-worn camera programs.

• The presenters explained that, if approved, implementation would begin in

August 2026 with Superior Officers and later expand to Patrol Officers upon completion of collective bargaining. The program is expected to equip 119

officers and will be supported by a supervising officer and a civilian program manager.

• The presentation also addressed the City's plans to establish a civilian

oversight authority, which would have access to BWC footage for incident review. The presenters stated that staffing for the oversight body and development of the necessary ordinance are anticipated in 2027.

• Funding for the program was reviewed. The City was awarded a state grant

• in the amount of $231,635 to support equipment purchases and startup costs.

• The presenters stated that salary adjustments associated with BWC

• implementation had been funded in prior budgets and would not affect the

Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Ongoing subscription costs are expected to be incorporated into the City's general operating budget, with efforts to offset future expenses through operational savings.

• The presenters reviewed key provisions of the proposed 2026 Body-Worn

• Camera Policy, including:

• Requirements governing when officers must activate body-worn cameras

• Protections related to First Amendment activities

• Limitations on officers' review of footage following deadly force incidents

• Procedures governing data retention, access logs, and public records

• requests
• Access to footage for authorized civilian oversight entities

The presenters requested that the City Council:

• Discuss the proposed program while grant funding remains available
• Approve the required Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy and the
• Surveillance Technology Impact Report
• Accept the state grant to support implementation of the Body-Worn Camera
• Program.

Councilor Wheeler inquired about the duration of the next police collective bargaining agreement, language related to civilian oversight, projected

operational savings, and data regarding shift differentials. Mayor Wilson stated that he agreed with the Councilor regarding pursuing a longer-term

• collective bargaining agreement. Assistant City Solicitor/Labor Counsel

Matthew Sirigu advised that specific collective bargaining strategy could not be discussed in open session.

President Davis opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m.

Thirty-nine individuals addressed the Council during the public hearing.

• Eleven speakers expressed support for implementation of body-worn
• cameras, while twenty-eight speakers expressed opposition.

Speakers in opposition raised concerns regarding the timing of the proposal, the absence of an established civilian oversight body prior to implementation, policies governing data storage and access to recorded

footage, long-term financial impacts, and the overall public process. Several speakers also questioned the effectiveness of body-worn cameras and expressed concern that funding could be directed toward other public

• priorities.

• Speakers in support stated that body-worn cameras would enhance

transparency and accountability, provide objective documentation of police interactions, and align the Police Department with neighboring communities

that have already implemented similar programs. Supporters also referenced the public engagement process undertaken during policy development and stated that the program reflects recognized policing best practices.

RESULT: APPROVED

7.2. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for

(ID # 26-1228 ) Body Worn Cameras.

Discussed with items #26-0378 and #26-1229.

RESULT: APPROVED

AYE:

• Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large
• Strezo, City Councilor At Large Wheeler, Ward Seven City
• Councilor Hardt, Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin,
• City Councilor At Large Mbah, and Ward Six City
• Councilor Davis

NAY:

• Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City Councilor
• At Large Link, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, and Ward
• Five City Councilor Sait

7.3. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for

(ID # 26-1229 ) Body Worn Cameras.

Discussed with items #26-0378 and #26-1228.

RESULT: APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Four City Councilor Clingan, City Councilor At Large
• Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward One City
• Councilor McLaughlin, City Councilor At Large Mbah, and
• Ward Six City Councilor Davis

NAY:

• Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City Councilor
• At Large Link, Ward Two City Councilor Scott, Ward Five
• City Councilor Sait, and City Councilor At Large Wheeler

8. COMMUNICATIONS OF CITY OFFICERS

8.1. Officer's

Director of Intergovernmental Affairs conveying information on body-worn

Communication cameras.

(ID # 26-1231 ) RESULT: PLACED ON FILE

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.1. Public

Sixteen residents submitting comments re: item #26-1222, requesting that

Communication this City Council hold a public hearing regarding the implementation and (ID # 26-1232 ) use of body worn cameras by the Somerville Police Department.

RESULT: PLACED ON FILE

10. SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was Adjourned at 10:10 PM on a roll call vote of 11 in favor (Ewen-Campen, Link, Scott, Clingan, Strezo, Sait, Wheeler, Hardt, McLaughlin, Mbah, Davis), 0 opposed.