City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council School Building Facilities and Maintenance Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
6:00 PM
Joint Meeting with the School Committee's School Building Facilities and Maintenance
Committee
- This meeting was held virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:01 pm
by Chair Link and adjourned at 6:49 pm with a roll call vote of 2 in favor (Councilors Sait and Link), none opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Scott).
Others present: Leiran Biton - School Committee Member, Laura Pitone - School Committee Member, Elizabeth Eldridge - School Committee Member, Richard Raiche - Infrastructure and Asset Management Director, Eric Weisman - Department of Public Works Commissioner, Danielle Barry - Facilities, Safety and Transportation Coordinator, Richard Raiche - Director of Infrastructure & Asset Management, Luisa Oliveira - Director of Public Space and Urban Forestry and Delaney Fisher-Cassiol - Clerk of Committees
The committee went into recess at 6:04 pm and returned at 6:06pm on a roll call vote of 2 in favor (Councilors Sait and Link), none opposed, and 1 absent (Councilor Scott).
Roll Call
- Present: Ward Five City Councilor Naima Sait and City Councilor
- At Large Jon Link
Absent:
Ward Two City Councilor Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the School Building Facilities and Maintenance
Minutes
Committee Meeting of September 8, 2026.
(ID # 26-1384 )
- Resolution
By Councilor Link and Councilor Sait
(ID # 26-0842 ) That the Director of Public Space and Urban Forestry consider snow
regarding communication with school families so that all members of the community impacted by storms understand the timeline for snow removal
and how areas are prioritized. IGA Director Amanda Nagim-Williams reviewed the maintenance plan, which includes three phases: phase one
occurs immediately during and after a storm and involves plowing and shoveling snow near schools; phase two focuses on drop-off areas, parking
areas, ADA ramps, and snow piles; and phase three includes schoolyards, parks, additional parking areas, and snow piles. She noted that there is not a way to remove snow from poured-in-place rubber surfaces and that the City
students to continue playing in the snow without requiring all of the snow to be removed. Eric Weisman, Commissioner of the Department of Public
Works (DPW), noted that DPW tries to remove as much snow as possible and is working with schools to clarify which areas snow can be removed
from and which areas cannot be touched. Commissioner Weisman noted that the City is considering options for both snow play and accessibility and that all Somerville schools have an identified space that can be plowed for winter play.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
- Order
By Councilor Link and Councilor McLaughlin
(ID # 26-0841 ) That the Commissioner of Public Works provide an update on the improvements made to the temperature in the Edgerly Education Center
Cafetorium and kitchen following the installation of the air conditioning unit.
- Eric Weisman, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, noted
that on the last hot day, staff were able to put the air conditioning unit to the test and it performed well. The City will transition to heat over the next
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
- Order
By Councilor Davis
(ID # 26-0710 ) That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Director of Infrastructure
- and Asset Management update this Council and the School Committee about
safety improvements to security cameras, enclosed schoolyard fencing, balconies, and other infrastructure at the Argenziano School.
Danielle Barry, Facilities, Safety and Transportation Coordinator, reviewed
the attachment SBFM - 2026-10-06 Memo AFA Balcony (with 26-0710) and
noted that there have been no issues. Principal Soto is happy with the current balcony, which meets all safety and OSHA requirements. At this time, they
do not believe any additional steps need to be taken, but they will continue to monitor it.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
- Resolution
By Councilor Link and Councilor Mbah
(ID # 26-0241 ) That the Administration provide the Committee on School Building
that the Somerville Public Schools administration and the design team met with the Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (FAS) and discussed the ambitious nature of the plan. He noted that the biggest questions were
related to maintenance, particularly for the rooftop areas. The project will go before the full Board on October 28, 2026, and is progressing on schedule.
RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE
- Order
By Councilor Davis
(ID # 26-1452 ) That the Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management present on
- continued concerns related to exterior tiles on the Somerville High School
building, and provide updates on measures to identify and mitigate those concerns.
- Richard Raiche, Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, noted
that staff continue to monitor the issue. A tile was found leaning under the windowsill of the third-floor library. The subcontractors were on site within an hour to secure the tile and returned the following week to remove it. The
tile was chipped at the location where the metal clips hold it in place. Staff shared photos with the manufacturer of the tiles and clips, who noted that
the failure was not consistent with what they typically see. Director Raiche noted that similar issues tend to occur in September, so staff initially
considered whether temperature could have been a factor, but the manufacturer indicated that thermal expansion is accounted for in the system. The contractor, Sunrise, will manufacture new brackets to serve as
restraints for the tiles, which will be installed around the building windowsills. Staff are also looking into using a drone for future inspections and may come before the Council to request permission for its use.
RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE
Referenced Documents:
• SBFM - 2026-10-06 Memo AFA Balcony (with 26-0710)