City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6:00 PM
This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Wheeler at 6:00 pm and adjourned at 6:53 pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Link, Strezo, Hardt, Scott, and Wheeler), 0 opposed, and 0 absent.
Councilor Link joined the meeting at 6:50 pm.
Others Present: Charles Breen – Fire Chief, Ed Bean – Director of Financ, Megan Huckenpahler – Director of Finance and Administration for Department of Public Works, Alan Inacio – Director of Finance and Community Development for Strategy and Development, Emily Wisdom – Director of Finance and Administration for Police, Madalyn Letellier – Assistant City Clerk, Legislative Services.
Roll Call
- Present: 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
Absent:
City Councilor At Large Jon Link
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of September
Minutes
22, 2026.
(ID # 26-1450 )
- Office of Housing Stability
2.1. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $10,224.39 using
(ID # 26-1396 ) available funds in the Office of Housing Stability Ordinary Maintenance
Account for legal services.
Director Bean shared this was a billing at the end of the fiscal year that the original purchase order did not cover the full cost of the attorneys. In
response to Councilor Strezo, Director Inacio shared these payments are for legal services which are provided to residents with housing related
instability and there was a discrepancy in what was projected over what was billed.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
- Community Preservation Act
3.1. Mayor's Request Requesting the transfer of $153,987 from the Community Preservation Act
(ID # 26-1393 ) (CPA) Community Housing Debt Service account to the CPA Community
Housing Reserve.
Director Inacio stated the allocated amount for debt service was over and the funds can be transferred back to the Community Preservation Account to be
put towards projects. In response to Chair Wheeler, Director Inacio spoke to being conservative and over budgeted and now that there is a better idea of what the debt service will be the funds can be allocated back.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
3.2. Mayor's Request Requesting the transfer of $22,596.24 from the Community Preservation Act
(ID # 26-1392 ) (CPA) Historic Preservation Debt Service account to the CPA Historic
Preservation Reserve.
Director Inacio stated the allocated amount for debt service was over and the funds can be transferred back to the Community Preservation Account to be
- put towards other projects.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
- Strategy and Planning
4.1. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of a time-only contract extension until 2/15/2027 for
(ID # 26-1391 ) Utile Inc to complete any outstanding task related to our up zoning and five
year zoning review efforts.
- Director Inacio stated this is related to a contract extension related to up
- zoning, five year review, and other ongoing zoning work.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
- DPW
5.1. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $169,000 grant with no new
(ID # 26-1340 ) match required, from Urban Areas Security Initiative to the Department of Public Works for equipment to strengthen school security systems.
- Director Huckenpahler shared the funds will cover updating equipment
related to public address systems and made note in the body of the text it should read the Edgerly School not Winter Hill. Director Huckenpahler
confirmed there is no concern to completing the work before the grant times out in May.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
- Fire Department
6.1. Mayor's Request Requesting authorization to borrow $2,082,498 in a bond, and to appropriate
(ID # 26-1397 ) $2,082,498 for the purchases of an Aerial Ladder Truck and a Rescue Truck
for the Fire Department.
Director Bean stated progress payments have been made to the manufacturers, but the vehicle cannot be delivered before expiration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the plan is to borrow the money
- to complete the purchases. Remaining funds would be moved over to
Capital Projects so the funds would not be lost. Chief Breen highlighted the need for vehicles and the delay in service fulfillment due to the scarcity of vendors. In response to Councilor Scott this exchange will reduce the borrowing for the Poplar Street project but will still require an appropriation to complete the project.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
(ID # 26-1413 ) match required, from the Mass Department of Mental Health to the Police
- Department for operational funding for the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention
- Training and Technical Assistance Center.
This item was discussed with item #26-1412.
- Director Wisdom stated the funds include salary, training, and operation
costs. Director Wisdom highlighted she came before the committee earlier in the year for request funds for a quarter of the year and these requests will
cover the costs of the entire year. Councilor Scott inquired about the allocated costs for salaries and Director Wisdom shared three roles as a part of Community Outreach, Help, and Recovery Unit (COHR) are fully funded
by the grant. These funds are in addition to what is covered in the budget, if the grants were not accepted the Police Department would have to come
- back in front of the Council after finding funds somewhere else.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler
7.2. Mayor's Request Requesting approval to accept and expend a $57,925 grant with no new
(ID # 26-1412 ) match required, from the Mass Department of Mental Health to the Police
- Department to fund the operation of the jail/arrest diversion program for
- Fiscal Year 2027.
This item was discussed with item #26-1413.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:
- City Councilor At Large Link, City Councilor At Large
- Strezo, Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, Ward Two City
- Councilor Scott and City Councilor At Large Wheeler