City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Legislative Matters Committee Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
6:00 PM
This meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Scott at 6:02pm and adjourned at 8:07pm on a roll call vote of 5 in favor (Councilors Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Strezo, and Scott), 0 opposed, and 0 absent.
Others present: Others Present: Colin Ziegler – Director of Public Health, Matt Zaino – Deputy Director of Inspectional Services, Cindy Amara – City Solicitor, Amanda Nagim-Williams – Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Jon Hillman – Public Safety for All Project Manager, Ed Bean – Director of Finance, Madalyn Letellier – Assistant City Clerk, Legislative Services.
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
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of Minutes
September 8, 2026.
(ID # 26-1385 )
- Committee
Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of Minutes
September 15, 2026.
(ID # 26-1449 )
Conveying an update on the Civilian Oversight policy development process.
Communication
(ID # 26-1407 )
Chair Scott opened the public hearing at 6:05 PM.
There being no speakers, Chair Scott closed the public hearing at 6:07 PM.
The public comment period will remain open until Friday October 16th, 2026, and can be submitted to publiccomments@somervillema.gov.
RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE
- Ordinances
4.1. Mayor's Request Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Chapter 7 of the Code of (ID # 25-1822 ) Ordinances to establish a Rental Registry and Energy Disclosure.
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) Nagim-Williams shared the administration’s plan to solidify the short-term rental and vacant properties
- ordinance before providing a substantive update. IGA Director
Nagim-Williams spoke to the goal to ensure the scope and enforcement of the ordinances are well defined before bringing them before the Council.
- Councilor Ewen-Campen requested a more defined timeline, IGA Director
Nagim-Williams did not have a concrete timeline but will follow-up. In response to Chair Scott IGA Director Nagim-Williams confirmed the working group that was engaged in the spring has not been re-activated but
- internal conversations continue.
RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE
4.2. Resolution
By Councilor Link
(ID # 26-0240 ) That the Director of Inspectional Services review the rules for short-term
rentals and inform this Council what enforcement tools are available and how the city may take action against known violations.
Deputy Director Ziegler spoke about the challenges and loopholes in the current short-term rental (STR) regulations, stating that the city is demoing
enforcement tools and preparing to start a procurement bidding process. To improve tracking and reporting, the city has collaborated with 311
constituent services and the web team to track reported illegal listings. In response to Councilor Ewen-Campen, when an illegal STR is discovered, the city can revoke its operating license and issue fines, which can escalate
to a property lien if the owner fails to register. Currently, the city tracks 113 active licenses through the CitizenServe platform, and operators are required
to post these licenses on-site. The city has previously implemented STR identification software in 2021, the system became ineffective as hosts
- began hiding addresses and images to lie to inspectors. Deputy Director
Ziegler shared potential plans to integrate police reports into the 311 system, while also looking for more accurate and up to date software continues to get explored.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
4.3. Ordinance
By Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Wheeler, Councilor Mbah and (ID # 26-1023 ) Councilor Link
- That Chapter 2, Article VIII, Division 1 of the Code of Ordinances be
- amended as detailed within.
Councilor Ewen-Campen introduced an amendment to item #26-1023, which was revised after receiving public and staff feedback to prevent city
funds from being spent on companies with direct, ongoing, and knowing involvement in specified objectionable conduct, while providing an
- exemption for sole proprietors.
Chair Scott moved to replace the document Ethical Procurement
Ordinance attached to item #26-1023 with the document Legislative
Matters - 2026-10-13 Amendment (with 26-1023 ) attached to tonight’s
agenda. The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilor Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Scott). 1 opposed (Councilor Strezo).
- Throughout the discussion, Councilor Davis asked clarifying questions
regarding how the amendments aligned with public comments, leading to a long discussion about which companies should be restricted, where to draw
the line, and how implementation would work. The conversation also focused heavily on legal and financial implementation, particularly
regarding subsection f's impact on city procurement. Councilor Strezo raised concerns about the ordinance and questioned Solicitor Amara regarding the legality of including lists produced by religious groups and asked if there
than specific, objective criteria, warning of future challenges regarding their accuracy, maintenance, and legitimacy. In response to Chair Scott Solicitor
Amara did say the language in front of the committee does not change any previous opinions given by the law department. The discussion concluded
- with a financial review, a request regarding economic impacts from Director
Bean, and questions directed at the Law Department concerning the verification process in subsection f and the interpretation of single-member
RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE
4.4. Mayor's Request Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Section 1-11(b) of the Code of (ID # 26-1274 ) Ordinances to update enforcement personnel.
- Chair Scott restated the request to clean up the zoning violations and clean
-
up text on enforcement fines.
-
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
- Body Camera Policies
5.1. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for
(ID # 26-1272 ) Body Worn Cameras.
- This item was discussed with item #26-1273. Public Safety Manager
Hillman confirmed Councilor Davis’s recap that revisions were approved from the meeting in July with additional feedback from the community. The
administration’s plan is to hear any additional thoughts, finalize updates from Councilor Hardt, and submit finalized items at the next City Council
5.2. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-1273 ) Body Worn Cameras.
This item was discussed with item #26-1272.
- To be marked Work Complete
6.1. Public
Urban Forestry Committee submitting comments re: anti-coagulant
Communication rodenticides.
(ID # 26-0478 )
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
6.2. Public
Digital Fourth submitting comments re: Surveillance Technology Annual
Communication Report.
(ID # 26-0475 )
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
6.3. Public
89 registered voters submitting a petition requesting a public hearing
Communication regarding Police Body-Worn Cameras, pursuant to Section 2-11 of the City (ID # 26-1006 ) Charter.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
6.4. Order
By Councilor Scott
(ID # 26-1027 ) That the City Clerk provide the procedure followed upon a Mayoral veto of any measure approved by this Council.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
6.5. Officer's
Chief of Police conveying information regarding item #26-0378, a request of Communication the Mayor for acceptance of a grant for a body-worn camera program.
(ID # 26-1034 )
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
6.6. Public
74 registered voters submitting a petition requesting a public hearing
Communication regarding the proposed ethical procurement ordinance, pursuant to Section (ID # 26-1185 ) 2-11 of the City Charter.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK
COMPLETED
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
- To be Placed on File: (old STIR submissions)
7.1. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-0485 ) Crime Tracer.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.2. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-0484 ) Body Worn Cameras.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.3. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-0830 ) CrimeTracer.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.4. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for
(ID # 26-1000 ) Body Worn Cameras.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.5. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-0999 ) Body Worn Cameras.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.6. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for
(ID # 26-1189 ) Body Worn Cameras.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
7.7. Mayor's Request Requesting approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for
(ID # 26-1192 ) Body Worn Cameras.
Chair Scott stated revised versions were submitted to the Council and approved.
Referenced Documents:
- • Legislative Matters - 2026-10-13 Amendment (with 26-1023)
- • Legislative Matters - 2026-10-13 Revised BWC STIR EH (with 26-1273)
- • Legislative Matters - 2026-10-13 Revised BWC Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy EH
(with 26-1272)