Comité de Asuntos Legislativos – 15 sep 2026

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Legislative Matters Committee Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

6:00 PM

This meeting was held virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:03 pm by Chair Scott and adjourned at 7:48 pm with a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Strezo and Scott), none opposed, and none absent.

Also present: Anne Gill - Director of People Operations, James Donovan - Deputy Police Chief, Colin Zeigler - Director of Public Health, Amanda Nagim-Williams - Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Delaney Fisher-Cassiol - Clerk of Committees

Roll Call

• Present: Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis, City Councilor At
• Large Wilfred N. Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ben
• Ewen-Campen, City Councilor At Large Kristen Strezo and
• Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott

1. Committee

Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of Minutes

September 8, 2026.

(ID # 26-1385 )

• RESULT: ACCEPTED

• AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large

• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

Davis Square Neighborhood Recognition

2. Public

Davis Square Neighborhood Council submitting comments re: formal

Communication recognition by this Council as a neighborhood council under Chapter 7, (ID # 26-1165 ) Article IX of the Code of Ordinances.

Chair Scott introduced the items and highlighted the previous public hearing as well as additional community outreach. He noted that the Union Square

Neighborhood Council had raised a concern regarding the language governing the formation and structure of the Davis Square Neighborhood

• Council’s bylaws. Councilor Davis reviewed the attachment 2026-09-15

Legislative Matters - Memo from Law Dept (with 26-1165) from the City

• Attorney and noted that the ordinance allows for membership by individuals

outside the neighborhood’s geographic boundaries, with membership criteria determined by the neighborhood council within the requirements of the ordinance. Councilor Davis also reviewed the Union Square Neighborhood

• Council’s comments in the attachment, 2026-09-15 Legislative Matters -

USNC Comment (with 26-1165) which noted that the Davis Square

• Neighborhood Council’s catchment area may be too large and includes areas
• that would not generally be considered part of Davis Square. Councilor

Davis also discussed the ordinance’s provisions regarding neighborhood councils negotiating community benefits agreements (CBA’s) with

developers and noted that any resulting community benefits must directly benefit Somerville residents. Councilor Ewen-Campen explained that

• neighborhood councils are independent organizations and are not part of the

• City government. He noted that the purpose of the recognition ordinance is

to ensure that organizations seeking City Council recognition have bylaws, elections, transparent meetings and geographic boundaries that they take

seriously. Councilor Ewen-Campen also raised the broader question of whether the Council should review and amend the ordinance. Councilor

Davis noted that the ordinance allows recognized neighborhood councils to negotiate community benefits agreements with developers when a project

significantly impacts their neighborhood. Councilor Davis also highlighted the support the Union Square Neighborhood Council has provided to the Davis Square Neighborhood Council.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large
• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

3. Public

Davis Square Neighborhood Council submitting information re: item

Communication #26-1165, a request for formal recognition as a neighborhood council.

(ID # 26-1218 )

This item was discussed with item #26-1165.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK

COMPLETED

4. Public

6 residents submitting comments re: item #26-1165, Davis Square

Communication Neighborhood Council recognition.

(ID # 26-1262 )

This item was discussed with item #26-1165.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK

COMPLETED

Other Ordinances

5. Ordinance

By Councilor Link, Councilor Hardt, Councilor Clingan, Councilor Strezo, (ID # 26-1111 ) Councilor Mbah and Councilor Sait

• That Chapter 3, Article VIII, Division 1 of the Code of Ordinances be
• amended as detailed within.

Chair Scott introduced the item and noted that the only retail animal store in Somerville recently closed, so this is looking ahead. Deputy Chief James

Donovan noted that the ordinance gives the police an enforcement mechanism and said he had no concerns with it. Chair Scott reviewed the attachment Retail Animal Sales Ordinance-v4 . Amanda Nagim-Williams, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, noted that Inspectional Services

• (ISD) should not be listed as an enforcing department. Councilor Davis and

Chair Scott spoke in support of keeping the language as written, noting that it does not mandate ISD to enforce the ordinance but instead allows for the possibility.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large
• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

6. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of a Home Rule Petition to regulate anticoagulant

(ID # 26-1257 ) rodenticides.

Director of Public Health Colin Zeigler discussed the home rule petition and ordinance regarding rodent control. Councilor Mbah introduced the item and noted that the data is clear that rodenticides have negative consequences, emphasizing the need for pest control methods that protect public health and the environment. Director Zeigler explained that the state regulates

pesticides and pest control and licenses pest control technicians to use these chemicals as part of their work. Because the City cannot ban the use of these chemicals under current state regulations, the home rule petition would

allow the City to regulate their use. The ordinance would codify a ban on anticoagulant rodenticides on City-owned properties and as part of City

programs. Councilor Ewen-Campen spoke in support of the items and asked for clarification on how anticoagulants are used, their efficacy, and alternatives. Director Zeigler noted that these products contain a high

amount of poison in a small amount of bait and said pest control can be addressed through education and enforcement efforts. He said the City is

developing community-based responses to rodent control and also uses a vitamin D-based concentrate as an alternative, which has resulted in

reductions in rodent activity. Councilor Ewen-Campen noted that the ordinance includes a waiver provision allowing anticoagulants to be used if other methods are not working. Director Zeigler clarified that the bait boxes will remain the same, but the bait used in them will change.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large
• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

7. Ordinance

By Councilor Hardt, Councilor Link, Councilor Clingan and Councilor

(ID # 26-1310 ) Mbah

That Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances be amended as detailed within.

This item was discussed with item #26-1257.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large
• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

8. Mayor's Request Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Section 2-323 of the Code of (ID # 26-0956 ) Ordinances to update categories and associated salaries for non-union

positions.

• Chair Scott noted that this item was submitted after the annual budget

process to update salaries in alignment with the approved budget. Director of People Operations Anne Gill reviewed the attachment FY27 SCO Section

2-323 and noted that there were no major changes, with most changes

relating to titles and departments. Councilor Ewen-Campen asked about the change to the Director of Water and Sewer Operations position. Director

Gill explained that the position oversees operations and does not require the engineering expertise or credentials needed to perform the actual

engineering work. Councilor Mbah asked how the salary categories were determined, and Director Gill explained that the City conducted a

consultant-led market study to compare compensation for similar positions, which informed the grades and salaries.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Six City Councilor Davis, City Councilor At Large
• Mbah, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen, City
• Councilor At Large Strezo and Ward Two City Councilor
• Scott

Referenced Documents:

• • 2026-09-15 Legislative Matters - USNC Comment (with 26-1165)
• • 2026-09-15 Legislative Matters - Memo from Law Dept (with 26-1165)