Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters Committee – Jul 6, 2026

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters Committee Meeting Minutes

Monday, July 6, 2026

6:00 PM

The meeting took place remotely via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Mbah and adjourned at 7:17 PM on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen and Mbah), none against and 1 absent (Councilor McLaughlin).

Councilor McLaughlin left the meeting at 7:04 PM.

Others present:

Housing Director Lisa Davidson, Housing Coordinator Sheniqua Roper, Environmental Policy Manager Kate Bossingham, Director of Sustainability & Environment Steven Nutter, City Clerk Courtney Henderson, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Amanda Nagim-Williams, Peter Forcellese – Legislative Clerk.

Roll Call

• Present: Ward One City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, Ward
• Seven City Councilor Emily Hardt, City Councilor At Large

Jon Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah

1. Committee

Approval of the Minutes of the Confirmation of Appointments and Minutes

Personnel Matters Committee Meeting of May 4, 2026.

(ID # 26-0858 )

• RESULT: ACCEPTED

• AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large

• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

2. Order

By Councilor Mbah

(ID # 25-1423 ) That the City Clerk implement the hiring practices detailed within for

positions in the City Council and City Clerk Departments.

Chair Mbah reported that this matter is being discussed with the City Clerk and HR.

RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

3. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Taylor Perkins to the Fair

(ID # 26-0655 ) Housing Commission.

Housing Director Lisa Davidson introduced the candidate and spoke of his deep knowledge of fair housing policy. Mr. Taylor spoke about his desire to expand outreach by making use of social and alternate media platforms to equip people with information that could be shared with their neighbors.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

4. Order

By Councilor Davis

(ID # 26-1013 ) That this City Council appoints Rodrigo Badaro, Bea Gomez-Mouakad, Marianne Walles, Martin Sanchez, Yesenia Alfaro, and Marcy

• Goldstein-Gelb to the Wage Theft Advisory Committee.

• City Clerk Courtney Henderson explained that these candidates were

submitted by Councilor Davis on behalf of the City Council and she believes that his intent was to have the committee decide the term of office for each of them. Councilor Link commented that it might be easier to decide term lengths if the committee heard from each of the candidates. Chair Mbah

noted that this new advisory committee will have 9 members (with 6 being put forth here) and that the terms of office are to be staggered, adding that he is open to suggestions. Councilor Ewen-Campen asked if there was any

thought given on the terms and City Clerk Henderson stated that all of the candidates can be approved and then they (the candidates) could decide the terms among themselves.

Councilor Ewen-Campen, saying that the term assignments should be

random, made a motion to assign the first two names listed to a one-year

terms, the next two names listed to two-year term and the last two names

listed to three-year terms . The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 4

• in favor (Councilors Hardt, Link, Ewen-Campen and Mbah), none against
• and 1 absent (Councilor McLaughlin)

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

5. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Jurett Mooltrey-Weathers to (ID # 26-1083 ) the Affordable Housing Trust.

Housing Coordinator Sheniqua Roper informed the committee that the candidate was unable to attend this meeting. Ms. Roper asked for

consideration of this appointment, tonight, due to the number of vacancies on the Trust. The position in question is reserved for a Somerville resident and Ms. Roper noted that this candidate, who has both professional and lived experience, has served as an advocate for the city’s residents for many years.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

6. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Calli Masters to the Fair

(ID # 26-1085 ) Housing Commission.

• Housing Director Lisa Davidson introduced the candidate and noted her

knowledge and professional experience with fair housing law. Ms. Masters spoke about ensuring that all tenants have rights and feels that additional outreach is necessary to meet that goal. She suggested leveraging social media, going to college campuses, meeting people where they are, involving the Council on Aging. etc., as ways to increase outreach. She also sees her job at the state level as an opportunity to engage with state lawmakers on fair housing issues.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

7. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Alexis Washburn to the (ID # 26-1086 ) Climate Action Commission.

Director of Sustainability & Environment Steven Nutter reported that the candidates presented this evening represent an exceptional, multigenerational blended group. Forty-nine applications were received for thirteen vacancies and the candidates before the committee this evening are already doing climate work in the city in some fashion. Mr. Nutter

explained that the Climate Action Commission (CAC) is a reiteration of a previous commission and is being built from scratch.

• Environmental Policy Manager Kate Bossingham explained that the CAC
• was created in 2025 to replace the Commission on Energy Use and Climate

Change (CEUCC) that was created in 2001. This new commission will have an expanded scope and an increased membership body.

• Alexis Washburn introduced herself to the committee and said that she

served of the CEUCC and is proud of the city for its efforts relating to composting and the community choice energy program.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

8. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Corey Donahue to the (ID # 26-1087 ) Climate Action Commission.

Environmental Policy Manager Kate Bossingham explained that Mr.

Donahue was unable to attend this meeting. She then spoke of his work and dedication to the community through school decarbonization efforts and the climate ambassador program.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

9. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Courtney Koslow to the (ID # 26-1088 ) Climate Action Commission.

Ms. Koslow currently works as an affordable housing developer focusing on multi-family affordable housing and is passionate about Somerville and would like to harness her energy around decarbonization.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

10. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Kenzie Ballard to the (ID # 26-1089 ) Climate Action Commission.

Ms. Ballard is the co-chair of Groundwork Somerville and enjoys teaching the city’s youth how to be climate justice advocates. Her work also involves collecting and analyzing local climate data prior to providing

recommendations to city partners to make land use changes for climate justice.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

11. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Zahra Atti to the Climate

(ID # 26-1091 ) Action Commission.

• Ms. Atti is a senior at Somerville High School and she wanted to get

involved in things that can make people feel more comfortable here. She has participated in climate club to teach middle schoolers about climate change and what they can do to make a change.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

12. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Lauren Gunther to the (ID # 26-1092 ) Climate Action Commission.

Ms. Gunther is an architect and the Director of Sustainability at a Boston architectural firm and focuses on energy codes. She also has a background in passive house and would like the issue of resiliency brought to the forefront of climate issues. Additionally, she would like to see education and outreach in environmental justice.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

13. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Ritika Philip to the Climate

(ID # 26-1093 ) Action Commission.

• Spoke about her experience and would like to focus on school
• decarbonization efforts and education around sustainability.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

14. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Paxti Martinez to the (ID # 26-1094 ) Climate Action Commission.

• Mr. Martinez’s undergrad education was in urban planning and he has a

graduate degree from Harvard University. He is primarily interested in social infrastructure and systems and economics. He currently works for the non-profit Culture House.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

15. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Larry Yu to the Climate

(ID # 26-1095 ) Action Commission.

Active in community orgs, some climate related, some not. Served on the board of the MA Climate Action Network and currently serves on the Charles River Watershed Association. He wants to listen to, engage with

and activate as many residents as possible to be a part of the climate action and sustainability culture.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

16. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Monte Allen to the Climate

(ID # 26-1096 ) Action Commission.

Mr. Allen told the committee that he is familiar with the workings of local government. He previously worked with the poverty elimination group

CARE for 15 years where he persuaded them to view climate change as a driver of poverty. He feels that climate induced human migration is a huge issue. Mr. Allen said that he admires Somerville’s approach to decarbonization and would like to help the city to get building owners on board to retrofit their buildings.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

17. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Sierra Moll to the Climate

(ID # 26-1097 ) Action Commission.

• Ms. Moll works for the Commonwealth of MA doing outreach in the areas

of clean energy and energy affordability and energy justice. She is excited to begin work to expand assets, education, pollinator gardens, native plant species.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

18. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Bhavika Kalia to the Climate

(ID # 26-1098 ) Action Commission.

Ms. Kalia is a Senior at Somerville High School and has been involved in a variety of climate initiatives at the local and state levels. She would like to bridge the gap between what the city is doing vs. what is being done in the schools.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin

19. Mayor's Request Requesting confirmation of the appointment of Rio Hunter Black to the (ID # 26-1099 ) Climate Action Commission.

• Ms. Black experienced technical difficulties connecting to Zoom so she

participated by audio. A recent graduate of Tufts University, she is dedicated to climate and health science. Her primary goal is to invest

time/resources in collaborating between the city and local mutual aid organizations and to promote advocacy in young people. She also has an

• interest in city and community member policies with various hospitals.

RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED AYE:

• Ward Seven City Councilor Hardt, City Councilor At Large
• Link, Ward Three City Councilor Ewen-Campen and City
• Councilor At Large Mbah
• ABSENT: Ward One City Councilor McLaughlin