Finance Committee - Regular Meeting

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Oh, thank you. Sorry.

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Thank you. Good evening, everyone. I am Ben Wheeler. I use hehim pronouns. I am a counselor at large and finance committee chair. It is 06:02PM, and I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, 02/24/2026 meeting of the finance committee of the Summerville City Council. This meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation following chapter two of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' acts of 2025. We will post an audio video recording and a comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City Of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. We are joined by clerk Madeline Latelier. Clerk, could you please call the roll to establish quorum?

This is roll call. Councilor Link?

Here.

Councilor Strezo?

Present.

Councilor Hart? Here. Councilor Scott? Present. Councilor Wheeler?

Present.

With all five councilors present, we have quorum.

Thank you. We will be taking up our 39 item agenda in the order posted. As a general note, if I pronounce your name wrong or I get your title wrong or use the wrong pronouns for you, please do not hesitate to interrupt me. I wanna get it right. Question for you, clerk Watellier. Do you want everyone to introduce themselves now or just when they are speak beginning to speak on an item?

Chair, thank you for the question. As you are speaking, please just introduce yourself for the record.

Okay. Wonderful. Okay. Proceeding with item one, ID 26Dash0142, approval of the January 20, twenty twenty six minutes. Do I hear any discussion, of this item? Seeing none, the item is laid on the table to recommend approval. Alright. Item two, ID twenty six dash zero two six three, approval of the minutes of the finance committee meeting of 02/10/2026. Do I see any discussion of this item? Seeing none, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval.

Alright. Environment related grant requests. Mayor's request, ID twenty six dash zero one one two, requesting approval to accept and expand a $5,000 grant with no new match required from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Public Works for the Sustainable Materials Recovery Program. I believe we have interim, Department of Public Works commissioner Eric Wiseman, here and sanitation and hazardous material program manager Maya Yoshikawa as well. If that is correct, then please, commissioner Wiseman and program manager Yoshikawa, could you please introduce yourselves and tell us about this grant?

Hello. Thank you, chair. Eric Wiseman, interim commissioner of department of public works. This first item is a $5,000 grant with no match for a paint shed where residents can recycle paint. And I have, as you mentioned, sanitation and hazardous material, program manager, Maya Yoshikawa, with me to answer any questions on the program.

Thank you. I see councilor Strezzo.

Thank you. Through you to deputy director I'm sorry, interim director Wiseman. Good evening. Recall I I can't recall if this is an ongoing program or if this is first time. Good evening.

Sure. Through the chair. We have always had recycling of paint through the hazardous waste program, but this is, actually, I I'd like to, invite Maya to talk about what the about the shed and the purpose of it, please.

Thank you, Eric, through the chair. My name is Maya Yoshikawa. I'm the sanitation and hazardous materials program manager. So in the past, to answer that question, in the past, we have had a shed. It was utilized, but it's badly rusted and not suitable for out for use. And as a result, currently, we only accept paints during our city's household hazardous waste collection events, which currently takes place eight times per year. It will be taking place 10 times this year.

Sorry. Can you please repeat that? Did everyone else's computer just I I didn't catch that last part. Can you please repeat the

Yeah. Can you hear me? Or

I can hear you. I can hear you through share through you. I can hear you. Either my computer went spotty and I missed, like, everything you the specific nouns you said, and so didn't capture what you said. So can you please repeat that? The shed is in is is deteriorated?

Yes. So currently, the shed is deteriorated. The and so as a result, we have not been using a shed, and we can only have residents drop off paint during household hazardous waste collection events. And with accepting this grant, we hope to purchase a new paint shed, which would allow residents to drop off paint during our regular yard hours, which would be Monday through Friday, 08:30 to 12PM, and then 1PM to 03:30PM.

Thank you so much for that. I saw a hand before from councilor Link. Any questions from you or any other councilor?

All my questions were answered, Drew. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you so much, director Wiseman and program manager Yoshikawa. If there's no more discussion and seeing sense of approval, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. The next item, item four, mayor's request ID 26Dash0117, requesting approval to accept and expend a $28,000 grant with no new match required for the Mass Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Public Works for the recycling dividends program. Commissioner Wiseman, can you please tell us about this grant?

Sure. So, thank you, chair. This is those of you who have been in finance for a while will recognize this grant. We come forward every year. This is something that we get through MassDEP based on the recycling program that we that we offer to staff. So we we get grant awarded this grant, and we use it for recycling programs. And I will, again, invite, sanitation and hazardous material program manager, Mayoshikawa, to answer any questions about this program and to talk about what what we intend to do with the funds.

Thank you. Are there any questions or discussion from our committee? Councilor Link.

Just because it was asked, chair, or just because it was hinted at, what what do we intend to do with the funds?

Thank you, counselor Link through the chair. So we plan on three main activities with these RDP funds for this year, including household the main one being the household hazardous waste collection events. We're adding we're planning to add two weekday events, one at the beginning in April of we usually hold them April to November. So one is going to be held April, and then one will be held November. We plan on holding these on Thursday since a lot of the city is open later.

A lot of city functions are open at 07:30 in the evening. And so that is the main portion that we're planning on spending the grant money on. The other is 20, the trash and recycling guide for the design mailings and postage costs. And then on top of that, for the leftover funds, recycling carts.

Thank you. I see councilor Hurt.

Thank you so much. Through you, chair Wheeler, I'm just curious as to the holding the the events on Thursdays in terms of, like, how do you see participation differing when I think in the past, there had been some Saturdays as well? So, like, a weekday versus a weekend. Just curious if you could tell us more about that.

That's a great question. Thank you. Through the chair. We plan on still holding our regular second Saturdays of the month. I should have mentioned that previously. So that's eight total Saturdays during from, again, April to November. We wanted to open it up to other residents and constituents that may have Sabbath or other or may work during a Saturday. And so that's why we're adding those two additional weekday or weeknights, rather, events.

Thank you.

Thank you. I see councilor Strezzo.

Thank you. I'd like to go on screen, but my Internet is being stupid right now. So I might just have to be like that. So, mister chair, through you, I I wanna thank you for that recognition that that is true inclusion. So I appreciate the opening up of Wednesdays and off Shabbat or Sabbath days. That's that is very important. So thank you, and thank you for that thoughtfulness. And I'm excited to see another year of this go forward.

Wonderful. Are there any other questions or comments? I appreciate this program very much. I appreciate your efforts and your being here. If there's no more discussion on this item, it is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. If that's the last matter that commissioner Weisman and program manager Yoshikawa intend to speak on, then I thank both of you for appearing before the committee, and I wish you a

good evening. Thank you, chair.

Okay. Infrastructure related contracts and agreements. Item five, mayor's request ID 26Dash0133. Approval of a time only extension until 06/30/2027 for the contract with n Grunizi and Sons Inc for water distribution system maintenance and repair. I believe we have director of engineering, Brian Postelwate, and also, director of finance, sorry, director of infrastructure and asset management, Rich Raesch, here. And oh, and sorry. Now I see you, Michael. And also director of finance for infrastructure and asset management, Michael Richards. And I believe we do not have Jonathan Smith. Is that right?

Okay. Well, director Richards, or any of the other staff that I mentioned, would you please tell us about this contract extension?

Yes. Thank you, chair. Again, my name is Michael Richards. I'm the director of finance and administration for the departments of water and sewer and a dual role with the department of infra infrastructure and asset management. Speaking on behalf of the Department of Water and Sewer, these two contracts are similar in function and that these are three year contracts for on call work assisting the water department in their, day to day maintenance with water main rehab, or water system maintenance, and also the repair and gate valves and the pertinences.

These contracts are, entering the years, year three renewal, beginning in this coming weeks or the next month, and we are looking to align the contract expiration with the fiscal year end, for FY '27. In practice, these have expired in mid fiscal year, and these are annual kind of operating contracts, and that poses a difficulty with budgeting to make sure that these are budgeted for properly where you have a new contract starting, at the end of a budget cycle. So it's to the city's benefit to extend these both by three, three and a half months to get on to the f y twenty seven and, f y twenty eight beginning contract, and fiscal year cycle.

Thank you very much. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? Mister Chair. Sorry. Someone began to speak. Was that counselor Scott?

Yeah. I'm sorry, sir.

Tend counselor Scott.

I tend to wave at you. I can, try to use the emojis. Oh, I did

Waving is funny.

You know, this is these are contracts that I've been, critical of for a long time. I appreciate that we're actually lining these up. Hopefully, they'll align in a way that we can get rid of these kinda outsourcing contracts as we step up in the water department. Since we had folks here, I was wondering if I could maybe get a quick update on, what the hiring in the water department's looking like these days.

Thank you for the question, council. Through the chair, we have, updated the, job descriptions for a number of these, labor positions, and we have recently posted these through our HR department. They are active now and accepting applications. They have been, posted within the last two weeks, so we should be looking to close those soon and and may have an update later on.

Alright. Glad to hear we're moving forward on those. I know it was a long fight to get those laborer positions. So alright. Thank you, mister chair. I'm all set.

If I'm not seeing other comments, I have a follow-up question to what councilor Scott brought up. I'm curious about the relationship between, contracting and staffing, you know, in a case like this, but also in general. Director Richards, you mentioned, you know, the anticipation that there will be another contract, you know, with similar work. Is that something whose scope might depend on what the staffing situation is, you know, come next June of of twenty twenty seven?

Yeah. Thank you for that question. As we are entering the year three of this three year cycle, and moving these into about fifteen or sixteen year sixteen month contracts, it does allow us some time to kind of evaluate the hiring practices that we have here with these available and posted positions, and kind of continue to build that those departments out, with laborers that we have and working with the union and with HR to fill those positions. As we near the end of the expiration of this up these upcoming contracts, that is something that we'll work with the procurement contracting services department to rework that scope and something that we look at our budget as well to make sure that we're budgeting appropriately for the staff that we have versus the staff that we don't have yet and work that we may anticipate for that following year.

Thank you. Do any other counselors on committee have questions or comments? Director Reish, do you have anything to add?

No. Director Reish has covered that one pretty well.

Well, thank you all very much. Seeing no further comments and discussion, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Moving on to item six, ID twenty six dash zero one three two. The mayor requesting approval of a time only extension until 06/30/2027 for the contract with EB Rotundi and Sons Inc. For repairs to water main gate valves and appurtences. Director Richards, could you please speak to this item?

Yes. Thank you. Similar to the last item, the another contract supporting our on call water efforts to, repair and react to, as needed repairs. Same situation. Contract is is expiring. We're entering year three, and we're looking to extend this and continue this, align this with our fiscal year.

Councilor Strezo.

Thank you, mister chair. I am still staying off screen. I am bummed because I I missed what councilor Scott said. I know where he's been on this, and I've been

Apologies, councilor Strazo. I heard part of what you said, and then it dropped out. Are you able to hear me now?

You can't hear me.

Sorry. It it came in and out, but now I can hear you.

Okay. It's still doing the thing? Okay. I'm gonna try my best. Is there so I I missed what counselor Scott said, and I'm bummed about that because it's did you catch any of that, mister chair? Okay. Yeah. We did? Okay. That's a thumbs up suit.

Yes. We did.

Okay. Yes. Okay. Great. We got that covered.

So because I am certainly curious as well with this. And was did in with what I missed, did anyone mention a staffing update with of the numbers? I heard Michael Richards talk about that briefly or that you you're planning on as we are onboarding employees with the new SME I mean, a contract. However, where has there been a commitment to getting staff updates of where we are at, what direction looks like, etcetera. Onboard so we can wean ourselves off from these new contracts and do this in house.

Was any of that captured? Please let with the WiFi issue. There

was a a brief discussion about that. But I I think the questions that you're asking about the the sort of plans for the future, and I'm sorry that we're having these connection interruptions. Clerk, can I ask a a quick, procedure question? Have you found in the past that, if someone is having Internet hiccups that using the Zoom option to call in using the phone is effective?

I have not experienced that personally. But if counselor Shoso wants to log off and log back in, she certainly can with the link.

Okay. I do know that Zoom provides these phone numbers that offer you a way to call in as well. And, counselor Strezzo, if if we find that these problems are persisting, you might try taking, quick LaTellier's suggestion to log off and log back in, or you might try looking on the calendar invite invite, and there's a phone number. It says US, and there's a phone number. And I believe it'll ask you then to enter the webinar ID. Could could be that that could solve the problem. Not sure. I see, liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister Scherer. For the record, Yasmin Radasi, legislative liaison with, the mayor's office. Just to address this and councilor Scott's earlier question, just wanna, reiterate that the administration is happy to work in collaboration and, coordination with the city council, and we're hoping, to come back in the future with staffing updates for water and sewer. So just wanted to make sure we didn't get too far off track of the contract discussion, and just wanted to reassure folks that, we will come to the council when we do have, substantive updates on that.

Thank you, liaison Radassi. Am I hearing any other questions or comments from the committee members? And I I do see that councilor Strazo went away. I might ask us to just wait for a moment to see if she's able to reconnect. Thank you all for your patience.

I'm just trying to to strike a little balance here. I don't wanna move on precipitously. Let me see if, a quick text.

Mister chair, I might

Please, counselor Scott.

As chair, we're gonna be laying this item on the table to recommend approval at a later time. If counselor Strazo does return and has further questions, we can easily pick the item back up off the table and just move on right now in the meantime.

Thank you. I appreciate that. And I and I also see councilor Estrada has rejoined. Okay. So seeing no further, discussion or questions on this, the item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Thank you all. Okay. Sewer related bonding. Item seven, mayor's request 26Dash0162 requesting authorization to borrow $1,530,000 in a bond and to appropriate the same amount for the annual fiscal year 2026 sewer system evaluation and infiltration inflow assessment. That is a mouthful.

Let's see. I believe, is this a matter that you, director Reish, are intending to speak on? Correct. Okay. Excellent. Please, director Reich, tell us about this bond.

To the chair and for your record, my name is Richard Reich, director of infrastructure and asset management. For those of you who have been on the finance committee for a while, which I guess is only counselor Scott, you would recognize this as one of our two part annual bond appropriations to do preventative maintenance on our sewer system. Prior to about eight years ago, the only way we would know that there was a problem with the pipe was that it would collapse and interrupt service and require emergency repairs. We started up a proactive, program, about eight years ago, that involves part one, which is tonight's appropriation of, closed circuit television inspection. The fancy title being sewer system evaluation of of of the pipes to identify pipes that are damaged and are ready to to break.

Every year, we'll also have a a knock on appropriation to go out and repair those. We are often able to use trenchless technologies to do that, which leads yields us a significant cost savings because we're able to repair these pipes for pennies on the dollar trenchlessly. We have, for the past several years, been very aggressive on our CCTV program, and we've now inspected almost every pipe in the system, all 165 miles of it, except for some pipes that were very clogged that required additional cleaning to to inspect. So this is that sort of last contract to get eyes on the last sets of pipes that that need inspection so that we can possibly rehabilitate them before they fall apart. The program will continue along, you know, much like our street investigations where we'll loop back around and and inspect pipes that had been inspected five plus years ago.

But, you know, this this program will be ongoing. And that's this one. We are ready to bid, and we just need the appropriation.

Thank you, director Reyesh. Councilor Link.

Thank you. Through the chair, director Reish. So am I having not been on finance committee before, I'm just curious. Did so it sounds like what you're saying is that because we're able to kind of proactively, address these issues, we're actually, and use trenchless. We're able to actually, create cost savings. So overall, this program is actually saving us money. Is that correct?

To the chair,

that is correct. In the grand scheme of things, we're we're not able to forestall all, you know, emergency interruptions, but

Of course.

We're we're doing a much better job of that and getting out ahead of this. And and even the ones that we do have to dig and replace, when we contract it out and plan the work, it's a lot more cost effective than the emergency response. Also a lot less disruptive because we can announce service interruptions and and plan shutting off people's water, rather than have them find out the hard way.

Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you, chair.

Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? I have one question, director Resch. I saw from the capital improvement project request form for this bond. Am I right in reading that it's anticipated that we'll need to borrow similar amounts every year for at least several more years?

Through the chair, that's correct. We're we're keeping this level funded for the next several years. We we may have the opportunity to start scaling this back, you know, because we have finally finished the the whole city. But we wanna keep an eye on the occurrence of failures before we we really scale it back. But we are keeping an eye on it and and evaluating that possibility.

Thank you. Okay. If there's no more discussion, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. And if that's the last matter that you, director Reish, are here to speak on, then I thank you for appearing before the committee and wish you a good evening. Director Richards, not sure if that's also true of you. And, director Postal Wait, not sure if that is also true of you.

Thank you, counselors.

Thank you. Okay. Contracts and agreements. Item eight, mayor's request twenty six dash zero one six six, requesting the appropriation of $154,136 from the receipts reserved for appropriation, settlement of claims account to the school department legal settlement account for an insurance settlement. And pardon my picking back up in my notes. I believe we have director of finance, Edward Bean, and SunRail Public Schools chief financial officer, Robert Baretta here. Director Bean or officer Baretta, could you please tell us about this appropriation?

Ed Bean, finance director. Mister chairman, this is really a school department matter, but, the law requires that the legislative body, the city council, appropriate any insurance settlement received that exceeds a $150,000 $150,000. So when the insurance settlement comes in, it comes into the receipts reserved for appropriation, which is a central account in the city, then needs to be appropriated via your vote, to a a relevant department, in this case, the school department. So mister Baretta is here to talk to you about these specifics and what that money what that settlement, what how that settlement was incurred and, what what it's gonna be expended on.

Thank you so much, officer Baretta.

Good evening, everyone. Yeah. So the school department has a, a $98,000 insurance policy for employee related matters. This is a settlement that came in as a result of an employee matter. And we're the school department is basically just asking us asking the committee to appropriate this to us so that we can pay out the claim from our accounts.

Thank you. Does anyone on the committee have questions or comments about this? Okay. If there's no more discussion, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. And if that's the last matter that director Bean and officer Baretta intend to speak on, then thanks for appearing before the committee, and I wish you a good evening.

Mister chairman, I'll hang out.

Oh, great. Excellent. To still have you. Okay. Communications related. Item nine, mayor's request 26Dash0089. Requesting approval of a transfer of $3,000 from the communications department professional and technical services account to the several public schools professional salaries account for consulting services relating to the inaugural event. I believe we have communications director Denise Taylor, or finance manager for communications Marjorie Rizzo here. Sorry. Liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister chair. My apologies. I just am looking at the participants, and I don't believe either Denise or Marjorie are in the, panelist group. Is there any chance we could, maybe hold off on this item in case they are able to join later on tonight?

That's certainly fine with me. Shall we take this item out of order, later in the meeting or at the end?

Up to you. Just in case they, they are able to join. I just don't see them in the panelist group now.

Got it. Well, I move to take this item out of order at the end of the meeting.

Just lay it on the table, mister chair.

Oh, thank you. Thank you, vice chair Scott. Let's lay this item on the table, and I believe we can move on. Health and human services related appropriations and grants. Item 10, mayor's request 26 Dash zero one seven two, requesting approval to appropriate $324,360 for the medical marijuana stabilization fund for the salary and fringe of four positions related to youth in fiscal year 2027. I believe we have, finance manager of health and human services, Anoop Malik, with us. Is that oh, yes. Excellent. Manager Malik, could you please tell us about this appropriation?

True chair. Anoop Malik, HHS finance manager. I would also like to mention that with me are my two colleagues, acting, at HHS director, Nikki Spencer, as well as, director of summer promise, Chris Hossman. We are bringing this item, to to request approval before the council for four positions. Out of school time coordinator, youth workplace learning coordinator, prevention services coordinator, and then substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist.

Three positions are under the HHS side of the fence, and then the fourth position, substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist. Point five position is on the school side. And so, we're requesting approval for a total of $3,400,360 for FY 2027.

Thank you so much, manager Malik. I see councilor Strezel.

Thank you, mister chair. Okay. Are we doing okay right now?

Hearing you great.

So far?

Yep. Sounds good.

Okay. Just raise your hand immediately if the Wi Fi reception starts to get spotty. Okay?

Agreed.

Okay. Okay. So thank you so much for allowing me to have a moment here. Had a few questions on this. Sorry.

Councilor Estrasso dropped out there. Counselor Strezza, if you can hear us, you might wanna go back to camera ops.

Get right

into it.

So with the out of school time? No? Okay. I'm gonna do this.

Yep. You disconnected. You seem to be back. Yeah. Maybe maybe camera off is better.

Try this. First off, our out of school time coordinator I can't recall. Does this mention if it is full time or part time?

Through chair, councilor. This these positions, all of the four positions are full time. And my colleague, Chris Osman, director of summer promise, happy to answer any position specific questions here.

And please feel free to jump in, director Spencer or director Hosman.

Okay. If not, may I go ahead? Are we cool?

Please, counselor Strazow.

Awesome. Second, I had okay. Thank you.

I'm so sorry, counselor Strezza. It seems like you've dropped off again.

Okay. And preventative services, we're doing okay?

Sorry. We we lost a little bit of what you said there.

Okay. Last, thank you for for keeping me. Let me know right

I'm sorry. We've lost you again. I apologize for the technical glitches. I wanna make sure that we're we're getting your questions, counselor Strazo. If sorry. Please please, try now.

Okay. You know what? If any other colleagues have quest

Okay. I'm, yeah, sorry that these problems are persisting. Counselor Link?

Thank you, chair. Just a real quick question. School time is something is a drum I've been been beating on. Is this, the coordinator position going to, be able to help us improve, the, out of school time program spread so that, there's there's less disparity across the different schools?

Through the chair, I'm happy to speak to that. So this specific out of school time position was created on the city side as the out of school time community coordinator. So the focus of this position is more on supporting the outside agencies that provide out of school time programming in addition to the Somerville public schools. That being said, the position is being currently leveraged to lead the out of school time steering committee, which is a partnership between the Summer Promise Department and Somerville public schools working on looking at we just completed the out of school time survey, looking to increase the systemic capacity, and also looking at the disparities in enrollment data across programs as well.

Phenomenal. I'm really happy to hear that, and that that's an awesome role then. Thank you. Good chair. Thank you.

Councilor Strezzo.

Thank you. Did it work? Am I okay? Can you hear me?

Yes. We can hear you.

Okay. Let's try it this way. Let me put my hand down now. Hey, director Hosman. How are you doing?

Through you, mister chair, my questions aren't for you, but it's nice to see you again. But I do have a question as I was discussing the substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist, and not sure who is is here to speak on that. I assume manager Malik or or if if, interim HHS director is here. But had a question about the what the plan is as we have a, a new year, potentially a new approach to all of this, what, what direction are you going or what, research, what statistics are you going on when we talk about prevention and, addiction going into the new year? What is the approach going into this, fiscal budget year?

And, is there room for shifting of trends of addiction, etcetera? And I can go into detail after you answer that question.

Hi. Nikki Spencer, acting director of Health and Human Services, while our fearless leader Karen Carroll is out on a short leave. She, her, hers. Thank you for the question and through the chair. Both the prevention services coordinator is an HHS position, has been and continues to do great work with both youth of different ages, different age groups, and also adults in sort of conducting both prevention and education activities.

I believe that this group actually just had a community event with the results of our annual survey of our high schoolers around sort of and other ages, I believe, around the both the protect protective factors and also the recent trends that you're speaking to, counselor, so that our activities can be up to date. We don't have our director of prevention here tonight, but if you have certainly have ideas or want more information about that role, we can certainly connect offline. As for the school role, which is the substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist, my understanding is that this used to be a halftime, more of like a counseling position over an SPS. And in conversations between HHS and SPS, there was a sort of acknowledgment of the need to make this a full time role to better support the school population. So we can certainly get you more information about how that role has developed, but this has been a need that we've continued to see grow.

And so between HHS and SPS using these funds to address these concerns across our our students and our families.

Through you, mister chair, to acting director Spencer, thank you very much for that. And, yes, that is a good start to where I'd like to go because I did have concerns about, say, for instance, like, vaping in the high school and where the trends are with vaping. I have walked with the principal or members, walked in the high school during high school days to have students vaping right in front of you right there in regular day old class schedule. So I have a deep concern with this. We know that vaping has been an issue for years.

We know it's highly addictive. We also know it's it's highly carcinogenic and extremely damaging. And we know it's also very, very frequently how common it is and how some students don't even wanna go to certain bathrooms or a bathroom at all because they know that it's just going to be vaping. So I I do have concerns about, like, how we're adjusting and modifying and and what programs are working, where we're amending that to to what we are seeing on the ground. Like I said, walk through the high school, and you're gonna see students vaping just right there with complete confidence of it not being an issue.

So I I'm curious to see how how we do amend that in going into the new fiscal year. Another question and concern I have is online gambling. My son I I am not a sports fan, but my son really, really is. And so I have sat through numerous football games at this moment and am learning more. I have a point to this.

But any any sports fan in any field will see the com complete emergence of of online gambling, of betting, of how casual it's going, how celebrities are stepping in to push this out, and how devastating gambling is as an addiction and being marketed, of course, to 15 year olds, 16 year olds, and anybody who's who loves sports. And so I'm I'm wondering if you're seeing trends or discussions on that yet and if there is an approach to the normalizing of of sports betting and turning on any game, any sports game, anywhere, and seeing constant barrages of advertisements that are definitely going to make our team susceptible to that horrors horrible addiction.

Through the chair, thank you, counselor. I those are very astute observations. I can't recall off the top of my head the level of detail that especially around gambling. However, I think that we can find another opportunity to really understand more of your concerns. And these positions are really key to making sure that in addition to the city and the schools, that our families and our youth are sort of part of the leadership of addressing the concerning behaviors that you're seeing.

And in particular, think our our director of prevention has really noted that there are protective factors that we should be working on as well, and that we have a lot of strengths from our our families and our youth to bring to the table. So these these roles are really important for that work, and I look forward to engaging more with the insights that you're bringing to us.

Mister Chitra, through you to to our acting director, thank you very much for that. Yeah. This is just the the opening of a dialogue and exploration of of where we go from here. But, yeah, definitely just wanted to relay that and thoughts and just how the city is modifying that and how we do modifying our our addiction, services for our youth and and beyond. But thank you very much for that, and I'm very much looking forward to the conversation. Thank you.

Thank you, counselor Strazo. I have a question for assembled staff related to this. Just to to be clear. So first of all, these are roles that would be within health and human services, not within several public schools. Is that correct?

To you, mister chair, the first three, the out of school time coordinator, the youth workplace learning coordinator, and the prevention services coordinator are located in HHS. The final one, substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist, is a role located in the school. I believe half of the funding comes from the school budget, and the other half, we're proposing would come from this fund.

Thank you. And I note the thematic connection of the Medical Marijuana Stabilization Fund, and substance abuse prevention. Is there a legal connection or a sort of planned connection to be using funds that you know? And a related question is, have any of the funds in the medical marijuana stabilization fund come from our cannabis dispensaries in the city or or from other related sources?

Through chair, Anoop Malik, finance manager. This medicinal marijuana bucket accounted for all funds through the various establishments that had previously been opened up within the city of Somerville through the agreements and such. There were certain percentages of amounts that were sort of that that makes up this bucket. And so the this is this is the FY 2027 funding approval. However, in FY 2026, particularly in March 2025 and May 2025, we had, done extensive studies, to see the connection between these positions and how they connect to medicinal marijuana funds.

And so they are all sort of supporting, to to to put into perspective. And, this one bucket is funding these positions.

I understand this this bucket is funding them. I'm just interested in in the question of, is there is there a legal connection? Was this stabilization fund established with that specific intention and and purpose? Director Bean?

Yes, mister chairman. Exactly. We vetted this out legally with the Department of Revenue. So there is an absolute connection, between the the source. In this case, these are community agreements with the dispensaries. I wanna make the distinction. The sales do not flow to the stabilization fund. The sales flow to the general fund. So these were, agreements that were forged early on when the medical dispensaries came into to being. And that's the the bulk that's where the funding is coming from.

And could we, in theory, use these funds on absolutely anything we want, or is there some requirement that we that we use them in in part for substance abuse prevention?

There has to be a nexus. There has to be a nexus for education or prevention. So we can't use it for any and all things.

Thank you. And just generally, I'm curious. Obviously, substance abuse prevention is a hugely important thing. Staffing a position for substance abuse prevention may or may not be as effective as we want it to be. I'm just curious, how are we making sure? How are we checking to to assess whether, the value of having, you know, in this case, two full time staff trying to do intervention around substance abuse with youth, whether that's actually connecting and making a difference or not.

That to you, Mr. Chair. That's an excellent question. I believe both of these positions sort of evolved with time based on the needs that we're seeing, especially with the annual survey that is done, where we can see various trends in how youth are engaging in different protective and risky behaviors, and particularly around substances. In particular, on the prevention services side, a lot of youth are engaged in the actual work of reaching out to their peers.

I don't have evaluation data on hand right now, but certainly we could share sort of the successes that we've seen and sort of how we have altered the programming over time to better meet those needs. So it certainly starts with engaging with youth where they are, making them sort of giving them leadership opportunities to be a part of this, engaging families, and also keeping track of the trends because they do change, as counselor Strazo noted, year to year. And so there's a lot of good work that goes into that, and happy to engage in more detail.

Thank you. Do any any other staff or any other counselors on the committee have any other questions or comments? Okay. Then, seeing no more discussion, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Thank you all.

And I believe, several of our staff are free to go. If that is true for you, then thank you very much, and have a great evening. Item 11, mayor's request 26 Dash zero one six four, requesting approval to accept and expend an $87,008.48 dollar grant with no new match required from the executive office of aging and independence to the council on aging for health, wellness, social, and educational programming. And I believe we have, director Ashley Speliotis of the council on aging here to speak on this item. We and, also, I know, manager Malik, you may be in a position to speak on this item.

So director Speliotis, manager Malik, can you please tell us about this grant?

Sure. Absolutely. Ashley Speliotis, thank you for having me, the director of the council on aging. For those familiar, this is a yearly grant that the city receives from the department of aging and independence.

So sorry, director Speliotis. Sorry to interrupt you. I I see a hand from Liaison Radassi. Liaison, do you have something to to add or ask here?

Thank you, mister chair. A little late now, but I was just gonna let you know that Denise Taylor had joined the meeting. So if you did wanna go back to the comms item, we could. But since director Speliotis has already started, I don't wanna ruin the flow there. So just wanted to give you a heads up about that.

Great. Why don't we, see this item through and then go back to that item? My apologies. Director Speliotis, please continue.

Of course. So as I was saying, this is a yearly grant that we received. This is actually half the grant. The first half we received, in late twenty twenty five. And, this portion of the grant is actually broken up over three installment plans. So we've received two out of

the

three parts of the grants already. The final 30,000 will be receiving in late April. But irregardless, it's split up differently this year how we receive it, but we always use it the same way. We use it for direct programming at our senior center. So we use it for almost all of the exercise classes to defray the cost of meals, to have guest instructors come in, educational events, and really defray the cost of what what people pay to enjoy programming at our senior centers.

So, for example, when we have our special lunches with, rental of the hall, transportation, the lunch, it can be upwards of over $30 per person, and we're charging residents $5 to $10 to come and enjoy a performance and a meal together. So, it really across the board, social work programming, socialization, health and wellness, nutrition are all covered by by this grant that

we

receive. And I'm happy to take any questions.

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Any questions or comments from members of the committee? I just want to informally, commend you on your work. I've had the pleasure of attending some of these events. They're always incredibly well organized. It seems like something that really helps, forge and maintain community. So that that's deeply appreciated.

Thank you.

Okay. If there's no more discussion, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Also, now, manager Malik, are you intending to stay and speak on the Veterans Memorial Cemetery grant? Director, sorry, liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister chair. I just wanted to, take a weight off your plate and just let you know I'm in constant contact with the staff to let them know which items they should stay on for if they're good to leave the meeting. So just wanted to take that off your plate in terms of responsibilities.

Thank you. Well, I wanted to to appreciate everybody, appreciate you, director Speliotis, everybody who's come. Thank you for being in contact with them, Leah Somerdasi. And, for anyone who's all done, have a great rest of your evening. Okay. Shall we go back to item nine and take that item out of order, with, communications director Denise Taylor? Okay. Item nine, ID26Dash0089. The mayor requesting approval of a transfer of $3,000 from the communications department professional and technical services account to the Somerville Public Schools professional salaries account for consulting services related to the inaugural event. Director Taylor.

Yes. To the chair, this is to cover one hundred hours of support for the inaugural event, to pay director Charlie Jabbour, the drama director at the high school, who was a coproducer on the inauguration ceremony and was enormous help to us, in particular with technical stage planning and coordination of youth performers. This represents about twenty hours that went into load in, load out staging and rehearsals as well as a little bit over six hours per week over about thirteen weeks where we plan the ceremony, coordinated the ceremony, and followed up on the necessary steps to produce it. So this is to pay him over time for his contribution to the production.

Thank you. Any comments or discussion from members of the committee? In my opinion, that was an incredibly well organized and delightful event. I appreciate you, and and please extend my appreciation to him as well for his work. Seeing no more discussion, this item's laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Thank you, director Taylor. Moving on to easements. Item 12, mayor's request twenty six dash zero one six zero, requesting approval of a pedestrian access sidewalk easement and maintenance license maintenance license at 16 To 20 Medford Street.

Mister chair.

Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I'm hearing

Councilor Scott.

Counselor Scott, sorry. With with the way Zoom works, you are not on my first screen, in until you begin to speak. So I apologize. I didn't see you waving. Counselor Scott.

That's okay. Just letting you know that this is an easement based on a project that was happening in Ward 2. This is about an expansion of a sidewalk. It's, fairly standard fare. Attorney has done it just great. It's I've reviewed it, and I would recommend approval.

Thank you very much. Special counsel, Kathy Lester Salkert is here from the city's attorney's office. Counsel Sack Salkert, would you please tell us about the season?

Sure. I, thank you, mister chair. I think councilor Scott did a wonderful job already. This is a public access sidewalk easement, which is a stand standard required through the site plan approval for this project. It was in his ward, 50 unit, development, and it's a easement for the part of the land that is owned by the developer, license for the part of the land that's owned by the city. It appears as one sidewalk. And the other standard feature is that the developers are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk and for removing snow and and the, things of that nature going forward. Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, council. Any questions or comments from the committee? Well, echoing what councilor Scott said, this sounds wonderful, and thank you so much for your work, in this.

My pleasure.

Thank you.

Thank you. This item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting.

Very good.

Item 13, veterans related. Sorry, councilor Scott. I heard a a noise. Do you have any other other heads?

No. I was just trying to save his time earlier. Let's keep going.

Thanks. Veterans related. Item 13, mayor's request 26Dash0113. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $15,000 grant that requires a match from the Mass General Court and the State Historical Records Advisory Board to the Veterans Services Department for support of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and the Archival Digitization Project. I believe we have director of veteran services Jerome Thomas or manager Malik here to speak on this item.

Yeah. How are you doing? This is Jerome Thomas, director of veteran services, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you guys today. So here just to request approval of, accepting this grant on this project that we're trying to accomplish. We'll, document. Both I will digitize documentations and preservation for some of our veterans memorials, monuments, commanded the sites, and related historical materials. The goal is basically to create a centralized public publicly accessible digital archive that honors veterans, here in Somerville and strengthens the historical understanding across the community. Open to questions if you happen.

Thank you so much, director Thomas. I see councilor Strezzo.

Hi. Okay. Thank you, mister chair. Through you to our director, doctor Thomas, what does the digitization project look like? And, how long do you anticipate it taking?

Okay. So the project will focus on, archiving and digitizing, preservation activities. So photography or documenting through photos of all of our our veteran memorials and sites, developing a GIS mapping system for all the memorials and sites as well, digitizing of the historical records and materials, and creating a searchable online archive for public and educational use, engagement with schools, museums, libraries, and local historical organizations. Just and this we're expecting this to go out until the end of this year, December 2026, to gather all that information and kinda put it into a nice database. One of the reasons why we are looking at doing this is basically it is I mean, we have over 60 veteran squares, monuments, and and and memorials throughout the city, you know, with the lack of of many of them lack, basically, to complete documentations of of their meetings, you know, at risk of a long term informational loss.

You know? So if we have don't do this now, we don't want to lose all the history that we have here in Somerville as time goes on. So we're looking to preserve all that information.

Director Thomas, through you, chair, to director Thomas, thank you for that. That's great. So you anticipate this being completed by the end of the year?

Yes, ma'am.

Cool. And how so I I appreciate you mentioning the how the digital digitalization process will look like. So you anticipate it being like a website. Is there any way to consider I this is you know, you don't have to answer me now, but one thing that we may know some of our veterans will not or may not, and some people just they won't they won't go online necessarily. And for the past couple years, as we've as you have heard and and you have fought for the veterans of our community that have been really pushing over the past years to to make, the return and the restoration of our monuments more present or accessible in the community and and returned in certain locations.

Right? Some of the pushback, from previous conversations, not by you, but, or or a point that was made was, well, it's some of it's online. They can just look online, but we and I'm sure that you know this too that some of our veterans, and they just they won't go online. They won't look online. They're not going to find it, or or or it might not be as accessible to them to just intrinsically expect to go online to look for it.

So as this project wraps up and you are preparing to onboard it in onto the into the general public, I make I'm happy to talk about this further, but I just make the suggestion or idea that the VFW Hall and even just Dill Boy has a computer or some kind of way that right then and there, they can they can get to it, to the website or some kind of database right then and there in those spaces to where we're bringing it to them instead of expecting us sometimes as a city, we just expect people to find the information and anticipate that they just know to, but but some of our residents just may not so that we we figure out a process to bring that to them as well, like, as a a long term standing way that they can access the database in their spaces. Thank you.

Welcome. Thank you for that suggestion.

Thank you, director Thomas. Any other questions or comments from the committee? Seeing none, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Mister chair? Next yes. Councilor Scott.

Thank you, mister chair. I see, item number 14 is a recommendation of the CPA, committee, as are items number 21 through 28. Those or 21 through 27. I my apologies. These are recommendations that were made from the community preservation committee, a a very dedicated group of residents, and, all of their, ports and explanations have been attached. With your leave, I'd like to take those up together so that we can recommend approval and move on.

Counselor, I I hear this motion. The reason why I did not group them together with this one was this is the only CPA related veterans related item, And, I wanna let director Thomas, log off after this item. So I I would be happy to take up the the other items starting with item 21 once we get to that chunk. I'm not quite sure how we negotiate if there's a motion and a discussion on the motion.

Sir, this was just a request of a member to the presiding officer. There's no motion on the floor. You can just say, no. Thank you, sir, and move on as you Okay. As you can.

Alright. No no thanks to the whole idea, but but I'm happy to do, to chunk them when we get to item 21. Councilor Strezza.

Thank you, mister chair. I do have a few questions, on a few

of the

independent items recommended for approval on CPA. So I I

Let's let's talk about those when we get to those.

Right. What I'm saying is is that, yeah, I don't wanna lump them. Not saying we have to go go through everyone with a fine tooth comb, but, some of the items, I I do have questions. Others, I don't. So

Thank you. I appreciate that clarification. Let's move on to item 14, mayor's request 26 Dash0152, requesting the appropriation of $306,250 from the community preservation attack Community Preservation Act Historic Preservation Reserve for restoration of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery and Veterans Monuments. Director Thomas.

Appreciate it. So this project here that we're talking about now, so this project represents the critical investment in the preservation of Summerville's historic veterans Memorials and ensures that these sites receive professional conservation treatment that's required to protect them for future generations. So this this grant that we're trying to get accepted now will be is to procure the qualified qualified historical conservation contractor, to perform preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation, work over at the Summerville Veterans Memorial Cemetery, located at 1330 Broadway. Yeah. So we are focusing right now over at that cemetery to get the work done.

Thank you so much. Any questions or comments from the committee? Alright. Seeing none, this site oh, I'm sorry. Councilor Hart.

No problem. Thank you, chair Wheeler, and through you to director Thomas. Thank you so much for work in the city and particularly at the Memorial Cemetery. Can you just tell us briefly a little bit more about what the work specifically the work that needs to be done is?

Sure. Thank you for the question. So the core project elements will basically excuse me, will include the conservation of 69 bronze flat grave markers that are there, restoration of major bronze features that are located at the cemetery, including the World War two plaque and lieutenant Logan plaque I'm sorry, statue that is there as well, cleaning and and repairing of the granite memorials, including those honored in World War one again or World War two and the Korean and Vietnam veterans. Full restoration of the historical well, the historic iron fence in the entrance post. That's there at the cemetery and very limited, preservation driven landscape rehabilitating the improved safety and protection of memorial functions or functionality.

Thank you. I appreciate it. You're welcome.

Councilor Strezzo.

Thank you. Lowering hand. Hi. Okay. Thank you, mister chair. Through you to, doctor Thomas. What is the timeline you're you're anticipating, on this?

So the timeline on this is we're trying to be aggressive with it. We do have the memorial ceremony coming up on Memorial Day this year, so we're gonna try to put the RFP out now, get the contract in by the April 1, hopefully, and the work to start very soon after that. So our goal our goal would be to have at least the majority of the work done by Memorial Day. After that, then, I mean, we're we're push we may have to push it out until the June. But, again, we're we're really gonna be trying to push for that Memorial Day time frame.

Thank you. That's very great. But No. That's that's wonderful. And if I may to thank you, director Thomas.

If I may, mister Throw, through you to the administration. One thing that I I think is important is that transparency and visibility. And as many of us have seen over the past years of of veterans feeling kind of neglected and not and and invisible, especially with the memorials. As we do this, would it be possible through some kind of allocation or sign created, through, I don't know, the communications department or what have you, placed just communicating, that this is this this restoration is happening. If there I I think typically you do, right, put up a sign when a CPA, project goes up.

There's usually something, isn't there? But, specifically, if there is not, that we are very much relaying that this is happening. We see you. We're validating. This is important. Look at us modernizing it, updating it, making it beautiful for you, for the veterans. I I think they'll really appreciate it. I know director Thomas is gonna do everything on his end, and I I'm sure that, the veterans already know. But just if we have any other visitors coming to the community that they're very well aware of this as well. Would that be possible?

Someone from the mayor's office, if they may.

I see liaison Razasi.

Thank you, mister chair. Through you, I'm happy to work with comms and veteran services on this and see what the usual process is and and, if we can incorporate any of your suggestions.

Thank you. Happy to talk further about it if you wish as well. Thank you.

Well, thank you, director Thomas. If there

are no more

if there are no more comments or questions from the committee, then, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Thanks, and have

a good day.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Item 15, energy related appropriations. This is mayor's request ID 26Dash0199 requesting approval to appropriate $299,460 from the energy stabilization fund to replace the lighting at Dilbois Field. And I believe we have, energy manager for the office of sustainability and environment, Garrett Anderson, here to speak on this matter. Would you please tell us about this appropriation?

Sure. Thank you.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry to interrupt. I saw hands from counselor Scott and counselor Link. Are these, comments now about this matter before we hear from mister Anderson?

Mister chair, for the sake of expediency, I would encourage us to take up items number 15 through 19, which are all appropriations from the energy stabilization fund. Just so if anybody has any questions about any of those, they can be asked now, and we can dispose of all the items together.

Thank you. I think that's a great suggestion. Can I ask one question? In this kind of situation, is it considered fine to waive the readings of these items and take them up together, or shall I read them into the record? Okay. That is that is within my choices? Okay. Well, I am going to waive the readings of these items. We refer anybody curious about the the particulars to the agenda and minutes. Say that we are taking up items 15 through 19 together, and then return the floor to manager Anderson. Please continue.

Oh, thank you. And, glad to talk about all of them separately or together and however we like. So thank you. Happy to be here this evening. I'm excited and glad to be talking about, really kind of two batches of projects.

The first is lighting replacements at Dillboy Field and Trum Field. These are energy saving measures of highly efficient LED lights and replacing older metal halide lights, about a two third savings in the energy use. So they're just good projects, tremendous money and energy savers, usually pay themselves back in just a few years. The other batch of projects are a series of treatments to the Tropic And Parking Building between Ball Square and Davis Square to substantially decarbonize that building and offset a good portion of the anticipated electrical use of that building with a new city owned solar array on the roof. So, those three projects together will remove the gas fired boiler plants and replace it with two kinds of heat pumps and do some treatments of the basement to reduce air infiltration and add some insulation and then also adding the solar ramp top.

So collectively, these are both money savers over the next few years and also help advance our decarbonization goals broadly. Thank you, and glad to be here.

Thank you. I see councilor Link.

Yes. Chair, through you. Thank you. Just really quick just wanna applaud and say thank you so much for for this this project. I really, I'm excited

to

see that we're taking, you know, the decarbonization seriously, and it looks like it's gonna, pay dividends. So awesome. Thank you so much.

If there are any other, comments or discussion from committee members? Seeing none, these items are all laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Thank you for joining us. Okay. Moving on to item 20, if the clerk would scroll down.

Thank you. Mayor's request twenty six dash zero zero eight two eight four, requesting an appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,000,000 in a bond for financing a portion of the Kennedy Schoolyard renovation project as recommended by the community preservation committee. Now I believe we have, director of finance and administration for the office of strategic planning and community development, Ellen Inacio, here. Liaison Rodasi.

Through the chair, I might just repeat, counselor Scott's suggestion that we take up the CPA items together just since Alan will be speaking to all those items and can speak to the process of how the funds are determined to be allocated for certain projects, and then he can answer any specific questions about particular projects that, counselors may have.

Thank you. I wasn't sure if the bond item was substantially different than the appropriations from the, CPC. But if not, why don't we take that suggestion and take up these items altogether? This is item 20 through right. 26 is also 27 is also, what is the last of these? Oh, I see. 28, I believe.

28, mister chair.

Thank you. Thank you, councilor Scott. Why don't we take up items 20 through 28, together? Councilor Scott, do you have anything else on this matter?

Thank you. The your to your point, the bond is, substantively different. However, it is related to the very first recommendation of the CPA, committee. I'd just for folks who are curious about these grants at home, perhaps a quick summary that will help us get through these. These are, recommendations of the, CDC.

The projects have been spec ed and presented to them and conditioned by them. The city council doesn't have a role here other than, just the oversight. And if there was a a project that was, had a great deal of outcry from the community, that we should not fund that with CDC funds. But, customarily, this is, simply adopting the recommendations of the CDC. That said, of course, colleagues have questions, go for it. But, thank you, miss

Thank you. I appreciate that context. Director Anasio, would you like to resume?

Thank you for the, introduction. I'll just briefly Alan Innacio, director of finance and community of SPCD for the record. Yes. So, twenty and twenty one, items number twenty and twenty one, absolutely go together and are essential to move the project forward. Quick recap for the new counselors.

We run, the CPA program runs an annual RFP, open, primarily in the summer months, to which in the fall, the CPC committee evaluates all of those applications. And then the, recommendations you are seeing now are essentially this fall's set of applicants and awarded projects. So with that, Kennedy School was has been a highly anticipated project that's gone to, extensive community, outreach and planning. There will be a bonding component. So the CPC has authorized a $2,000,000 borrowing.

And, for anyone that wants to understand functionally, what that will mean is, it will not be an immediate $2,000,000 hit to the the CPC, Sort of the the beauty or the flexibility that it allows the CPC is we will get the authorization tonight. And then, annually, the the c p the CPA fund will only be charged the annual debt service on the bonding. And so that is the Kennedy School, and then happy to take any other questions on any of the other awarded projects, that you may have tonight.

Thank you, director Ignacio. Any questions or comments from the committee? I guess, first about these Kennedy schoolyard related items. Councilor Strezza.

Thank you. Yes. I guess we could start with the Kennedy School. And, no, we do not have a question on every single agenda item. I wanna be clear about that, colleagues.

Anyhow, with the Kennedy School thanks, mister chair. With the Kennedy School project, was the where is it in the design process? Was it already they've been keeping track of what Kennedy School, PTA have said, and and disability and and playground accessibility conversations that have been had, and we've discussed this in the HCDE committee as well. So do you have any updates on on that, where they are in the the process?

So through you, chair Wheeler, to, councilor Streiso, unfortunately, both, director Oliveira and project manager Bronenkamp are not available, tonight. But, the the process is, essentially wrapping up design, and we are hoping with these, votes, we will be able to go out to bid fairly shortly. I believe the goal is still to at least, get one phase of the project bid out and completed, during the school recess period, which is a key period for getting any school, open space projects done. Obviously, we'll not be able to tackle the full phase of this probably in the in the upcoming summer months, but hoping to get at least one partial phase out to bid and, get the project much longer weighted project, out and move in.

Thank you very much, director. Mister Chair, do you prefer if I just ask my questions now or hop back in line?

Thanks. Well, I see a hand from liaison Radasi. Why don't I call on her, and we can come back to you? That's okay.

Liaison mister O'Shea. I just wanted to flag that, actually, the director Oliveira from PSEF did submit a communication that will be on the agenda for this week that outlines all the community engagement processes that PSEF has taken up as part of the design process for this project. So would encourage counselors to take a look at that.

Thank you, liaison. Counselor Strazo, why don't you continue? Counselor Strazo, if you're you're ready with more questions or comments, please go ahead.

You're right. Thank you. Because I'm talking to the but I'm not unmuting. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, director. I look forward to that and the discussion and of the update from PISOF. Quick question. I I I looked over the blessing, of the bay, CPA, award, and it's it's kind of vague. So, doctor, could you possibly just update give, like, a couple of, sentence summary on this?

Yes. Sure. So, this is actually a, through you chair to councilor Strezzo. This is actually a great bang for your buck project, leveraging CPA money. So, we've invested 500,000 in the previous round.

We're asking for an additional 100,000 to round up the project budget. There's a couple of much larger grants, and a foundation grant that will hopefully wrap this up. This is gonna be adding point six of an acre of additional open space. There will be some, right of way, easement work that will, add to the add to the open space. We're, gonna be adding some, urban forestry elements, some shade tree elements, making it a more pedestrian, friendly and, walkable community path.

And I'm happy to, contact you with, project manager on this is Meg Copeland. And it's we'll be working very, closely with Myra, who was actually the, I believe we needed a a private applicant for one of the grants. So, they are the grantor on one of the matching grants. And so, PSOF will be work be working very closely with, MIRA, Mystic River Watershed Association, on the design and implementation of this project.

Mister chair, through you to director, thank you very much. One request, we have a resident in the neighborhood that makes those pretty planters right by the bench. Please leave it alone. Let her have her free creative expression on that. She brightens the neighborhood with it. So only only small request, but excited to hear about this because I think that, whole area is not always right. It's it's not always, remembered and when we come in update. So I'm I'm really grateful for that. Mister chair, may I just ask one I just quick yeah. Thank you.

Thank you, mister chair. Number 23, item on the agenda about the the continued preservation of 59 Cross Street. Can you give me a quick update on that?

Yes. Thank you, again, through you, chair, to councilor Strezo. This is hopefully, for the time being, one of the final phases of the, several rounds of projects we have done at the Hispanic Association. Obviously, a great historic building along with tons of community work that goes out of there. The elevator is essentially wrapping up, and we're hoping to have a ribbon cutting on that. So, yep, we'll by the reaction, we'll be happy to send you an invite to the ribbon cutting. And then, this will be for the final exterior masonry and foundation work that is needed to bring it up to its historical state.

Thank you, director. I'm so excited through you, mister chair. Thank you. Oh, boy. And and last, really quick, the, item number 26, the SHA improvements of open space.

And I I saw that there was a on on the application, it talks about open space specifically and then, of course, by the by the basketball courts and also is is I recall the garden. It's it's winter. So the garden, is it still going to stay in the location it is? And if this is too detailed and you're like, I'm if I I don't wanna throw you a curveball question on this. If you may not know it offhand, but I I know in the past, I believe the garden was last modernized by Groundwork Somerville.

Is there still a continued partnership on that, or what the status is on that, or how do you wish to proceed or how this with the CPA grant?

Thank you. Through the chair, councilor Strazo. A little bit out of my wheelhouse since this is a joint project with both, PSUP and the housing authority. Not as familiar. I'm sure both, we work very closely together, and I'm sure we'll be very involved. And knowing, PSOFT's affinity for, gardens, I'm sure that will be, noted, and I can certainly have, not remember the project manager for this offhand, but I can certainly have the PSOF, member in charge get back to you with additional, details on that.

Director, I mister chair, through you to director. I I I appreciate that. In the past, there have been some questions and concerns brought up by residents about the the garden's location. Okay. Is that it? Okay. Good. Happy to talk offline about that. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you, councilor Strezo. If, that's the end of those questions, I see councilor Link.

Yes. Thank you, Jared. Just one quick question. Oh, quick question. On item 24, the, 75 almost thousand dollars for for Buddy's, and I would be excited to see Buddy's come back. I do understand, though, that they need quite a bit more money to actually viably reopen. Last I saw it was only, like, $200,000. So I'm just curious. Is there what would happen, you know, if it just it sounds like there's a potential that we would send $75,000 and then maybe nothing would actually happen. So if you could just answer that concern, I appreciate that. Thank you.

Thank you. Through you, chair, to counselor Link. Absolutely excellent and on point question. This was discussed by the CPC committee. And, couple things of note on the conditions, which I believe should also be laid out in the recommendation and award.

Two things to note on that. So from a CPC CPA eligibility standpoint, what we've done is, Buddy's cart, the dining cart, is actually going to be the historically significant, asset or property. So the condition is that in the events that they are not able to, bring their establishment back in working order, the dining cart will remain, needs to remain in Summerville, as a historic asset. And then furthermore, to your exact point, the committee also debated this at length, and, there is a clawback provision, related to their other ongoing legal action that should they recover everything that they need to recover through any other legal means, there is a clawback provision written in.

Thank you very much.

I have a a comment, and I'll try to keep this brief. I I had the pleasure of, reading through those minutes, around these discussions in the community preservation committee and also seeing some of, what you, director Innacio, talked about with the, the funding in particular of the $2,000,000 bond for the Kennedy Schoolyard project. One thing I noted, and and tell me if I'm not phrasing this right, is that the, the full bond wouldn't be issued until costs are actually incurred so that if the project were able to finish under the budget, the entire bond might not be borrowed. Is that the case?

Through the chair. Yes. To spare a whole, to spare you the boredom of municipal finance. As a city, we only go out to bond, a couple times a year, and and we collectively and I see mister Bean jumping in director Bean jumping in. We assess our our bonding needs holistically and kinda try to efficiently go out for our our our bonding. So we there there is a opportunity to, resend and return, if the project is to come, under budget.

Thank you, doctor Drabin, please.

Mister chairman, brief brief discussion here is that once you authorize to borrow, then we set up a bond account, and the city can begin spending on the project. We float the cash, basically. And whatever we have expended between now and June 30, we would borrow. We borrow annually in May only what we have expended, and that's what'll happen throughout the so you may be looking at, authorizing 2,000,000, but you might spend a half 1,000,000 this year. But we will only borrow a half 1,000,000, and then the rest will be borrowed in subsequent years. That's how it works.

Thank you.

Through the chair and, to sorta also provide some comfort on this from the CPC, perspective. We only take on debt service, we only take on the debt service payment as we accumulate it. So, you know, it'll probably start off as a smaller debt service payment and then grow.

Thank you. And then also just on the the question of the overall size of this project, I just wanted to share that I was, I was initially surprised to see, this amount of $3,000,000, for a playground renovation whose footprint is relatively small. But I had the pleasure of speaking with, senior planner for public space and urban forestry, John Bronenkant, who explained the scope of the project to me. What I didn't realize is this is not only a playground renovation. It's also a major renovation of the parking lot and driveway areas to install a stormwater holding container below ground and to expand the footprint of the play area, as well as to make, the the whole surface of the play area, permeable, and to to make it accessible, especially for the the many students with disabilities, who attend the Kennedy.

So I'm I'm excited to see that project, and I was excited to learn about the full scope of it. Are there any other comments or questions about any of these CPA related items? Okay. Well, echoing, counselor Strezzo's enthusiasm about these. Each one is exciting for different reasons.

Thank you all for for your help, staff, and for your commitment to this. If there's more no more discussion, these items are laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Okay. Moving on to item 29. Mayor's request 26Dash0085 requesting approval of a time only contract extension until 12/31/2027 for Crawley Cottrell LLC to complete additional services for redesign and construction administrative administration fees for Junction Park. Is this one that you are going to speak on, director Anasio?

Yes. Correct. Thank you through the chair. This is a very routine item. It's a time only, no additional cost contract extension.

I believe some counselors, this project actually had its ribbon cutting, and it's open, very significantly late in the fall in 2025. As such, it's open. It's available. There are some punch list, sort of, like, last minute, details that we are going to address in the spring, early summertime for which we have to, retain the the designer designer on record to kinda, like, sign off and finalize and button up the project. For efficiency sake and to not keep coming back, we put a very conservative extension date, hoping to wrap up way before this 12/3127. But for efficiency's sake, figured no need to bore anyone with this one again.

Thank you. Any questions or discussion? Okay. Seeing none, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Item 3020 mayor's request 26Dash0097, requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $3,342.05 using available funds in various police department ordinary maintenance accounts for various services. So I believe this is one that, do we have, Emily Wisdom? Excellent. We have director of finance and administration at Summerville Police Department, Emily Wisdom. Director Wisdom, could you please tell us about this invoice?

Good evening, chair. Thank you so much. So these are there are a couple invoices that the main one is the bill for Verizon. Unfortunately, Verizon mails out the bills, and when they print it, it's quite large. And when we we never received it at the end of the at the end of the fiscal year '25, and it's taken several months for them to be able to reprint a copy and send out to us.

So we still have a a little bit of a prior year purchase order open, but it doesn't cover the entirety. So we're asking to pay that to pay that bill. And there is some CareWorks, which is our vendor who handles our one eleven f, injuries case management. They do not bill, timely, so we just kind of get those whenever we get them. And sometimes they're from it's like they've noticed one that was never paid in 2023, and they'll just send them to us.

So, we check and make sure that they they've not been paid in the past, and that they are mat they match to a an injury and do all our due diligence, but we do receive some of these that are a couple dollars here and there that are outstanding bills from them that they've just never collected. And then I believe that there is one that came a couple that came right at the end of the fiscal year billed around June 30, and so they just didn't make it in the fiscal year. So we had to open p o we'll have to open a PO and pay for those in in the f y twenty six, but just a just a handful there.

Thank you, director Wisdom. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? Councilor Mike?

Yeah. Thank you, chair. Just a real quick one. I'm just curious how how late can someone, if someone forgets to bill us, how late can they bill us that we would still

So, I mean it. So when I you know, there were there had been some some staff turnover when I arrived last year. So we've been we've been do paying some bills from the '23, '24 that we finally have almost gotten caught up on all of the bills that were outstanding. It could be that they sent that bill and it never got paid, or it could be that they never sent it. There it the process is a little messy on on their side.

So we we've just been working through to pay for those, but the the latest we've seen is 23 so far that we've had to go back to and pay. But we have set up a process. You know, it's our hope and our goal not to have to pay bills in the past. We we work we've worked really hard to set up a general inbox so that no, you know, no staff changeover allows things like that slip through the cracks, you know, just what we can do to be a solution on our side as well as work with the vendors to try to help be a solution for them as well. So, unfortunately, sometimes it does happen, but it doesn't it's happening less and less, and we're really excited about that, as we are cleaning up those bills.

Thank you. Of course.

Thank you, director Wisdom. Are there any other questions or comments about this item? Seeing none, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Moving on to item 31. So this list is, police and fire department grant and gift acceptances. 31 is mayor's request 26Dash0169, requesting approval to accept and expend a $43,000 grant with no new match required from the Boston office of emergency management to the police department for software. Director Wisdom, would you please, speak on this item?

Yes. Thank you. So I wanted to kinda start off. I know that many of you are new to the finance committee. I know, councilor Scott has probably heard this spiel from me before, so if he'll bear with me.

UOSI funds are the urban area security initiative, and they come from the homeland security grant program. And they are, when during the application process, the state applies for these grant funds on behalf of the Boston region. So the state applies for these grants. And then once once the state has received an award, they the city of Boston is the fiduciary. Office emergency management is the, fiduciary that helps manage the grant, from that purpose.

So, essentially, they form a contract and accept the grant award from, from the state much like I'm doing here tonight for our little ward. So the city of Boston, is responsible for the for the management of the grant, and they handle, they actually front all of the money for the for the USC grant and then, get reimbursed by the state as as it's spent. So within that, there is something called the MHBSR, which is the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region. Each of the each of the municipalities in the region, I believe there's eight, has a representative that kind of, acts as a, point of contact, a jurisdictional point of contact, if you will, is what they call it, to kind of decide how the money gets spent. A lot of the money is spent by Boston office of emergency or emergency management on behalf of the, on behalf of the region, on, on behalf of many, municipalities because we share the resources.

So, you know, they they do a lot of the procurement. However, there are some items that they do not procure, and this these items will be one of them. In the past, so in the past, a lot of the software, especially, a surveillance software or anything that has to do with the brick would have been bought through the intelligence and info sharing line of the grant. However, as the funds are kinda dwindling down with no kind of vision for FY 2025, There's a lot there's a lot more conservativeness going around this. So we had asked for some of our money from a prior year, which I this is f y twenty three to be reallocated to a different project so that we could continue using a software that we have previously used on a regional level.

So the the two items, the soft software that we would like to purchase with the $43,000 grant, is the first one is called GrayKey, and it is a, a technology for, investigation. And the second item is BlueKey. So we will use

Sorry, director. I I believe it's BlueVoice. Right?

BlueVoice. Yes. I'm sorry. I think I just combined GreyKey with BlueVoice. I apologize. Blue Voice. You're correct. So the so the majority of the 43,000 will be spent on the Gray Key software. That's about $37,000 and some change. Like I said, this is a software that has been previously paid for for the entire region.

However, there are no regional funds this year to be able to purchase them to be able to purchase the software. And so we have elected to request an allocation of the of the money to be able to pay for that, and it was approved. And they gave us this award letter. When we receive a award letter, we don't actually sign individual contracts for each grant award that we receive from UWASI through the office of emergency management. We have an underlying MOA that says we will follow kind of the rules of the protocols for purchasing as in 30 b procurement law from the state of Massachusetts and and some of those things that, you know, they require some, sometimes some forms for things.

And and so we have an MOA, you know, a standard contract that we agreed to do this the proper steps to spend the money. However, we do not sign a contract, or anything like that directly with, the UOSI for the UOSI grant. So we are actually a sub subrecipient. So, so in this, we've asked for 37,000 of the 43 for the Great Key license. And the remaining six that is changed, we will use towards, a partial purchase of the BlueVoice.

We will be be paying for the remainder of the BlueVoice out of our, operating funds. BlueVoice is a, it it is an AI software, but it is a closed AI software. So the BlueVoice allows for police officers who are in the field to be able to reference poll state law, city ordinances, you know, internal police policies. So the this, BlueVoice is it's a controlled, app, and it only it only works off of what we put into it. So, basically, we get it.

It's a blank slate. We upload the policies we want our police officers to u utilize, and then this gives them a tool at their hand where they can use do quick searches for state law, like I said, state law, ordinances, policy so that they can answer questions and make better choices.

So that's director.

Of course.

I'm seeing councilor Scott.

Thank you, mister chair. Through you, this is, I I heard something there. I I heard that the acquisition of the Blue Voice is only partially funded here. You wouldn't happen to know what the total acquisition cost is projected to be.

I am so sorry. I don't have that right now, but I can absolutely, give you a memo with that with that amount as a follow-up. It will be coming out of our operating budget.

Sure. Mister Chair, this is this is one of those where, again, free money. However, the Great Key, the Great Key surveillance cracker, it's it's a phone cracker. It just lets, the police department crack open a phone and and read it. You know, this is a it's a it's we've been told it was a regional resource, and I personally am not comfortable, with it being inside the Summerville Police Department.

When added to that, this BlueVoice AI tool for for police, that be happy to have a longer conversation about that. But for both of those reasons, I'll be voting no on this item tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, counselor. Counselor Link.

I I would just thank you, Jared. I wanna echo, counselor Scott's, I guess, hesitance on this one. I understand BreakKey is a tool that's been used, and, I'm I'm happy to to to look more at that and and understand better what what important benefits it's it's created. I'm I you know, I tried to do my own research on BlueVoice, and I was unable to find really any information. The the attached the included attachments for this where it was just a screenshot of looked like the screenshot of the website, like, landing page.

And, you know, I see things like, it it helps with de escalation and first aid, and I'm not really comfortable with either of those things being, rendered by AI. And I also, I I would I would really wanna understand better what our contracts look like on there and, understanding what kind of data goes in, where it lives, what the large language models, how they're trained, where they're trained. And I just I don't see any of that. I I have real hesitations, around, you know, letting our our city data and, potentially, private citizens' data go into this this system. That looks to be also relatively new and created by a retired police officer in Newton.

So I'm not I I just I don't wanna jump on the AI bandwagon here and say that it's gonna be a good thing. Also don't wanna jump on it and say it's necessarily a bad thing, but I I don't have enough information about it.

Thank you, counselor. Director Wisdom, do you wanna respond to those

So, so as as the finance direct, director of finance, I, have basic information about the kind of the softwares that I was presenting tonight. I am happy to go back to the office tomorrow and, have a memo, written up with more of the information that you're seeking. I, however, do not have that tonight.

Thank you, director. I wanna share, just, an excerpt or two from the surveillance technology annual report for Great Key. As you mentioned, it's software that the police department has been using for a while now.

Mhmm.

So this I'm just just reading from that, sorry. Not the impact report. It there's also an annual report entry, but this is for the impact report. The technology would only be used in cases in which a search warrant has been obtained in conjunction with the investigation, allowing access to the device in question or with the owner's consent. The gray key hardware, including the laptop computer used to analyze the data, will be housed in a secure room, digital forensic forensics room, with access limited to three individuals in the SPD.

The two gray key trained detectives and their supervisor, their criminal investigation division commander. Access to the room will be limited by key card access and hard copy key to these three individuals' officers. In addition, the digital forensics room is located in an area of the SPD where access is limited to authorized individuals with key card authority. Elsewhere, it says SPD utilizes write blocking software that's also password protected, prohibits copying of any files from the terminal. And then separately, says, this device is used specifically in conjunction with a criminal investigation.

Authority to use this technology would be granted by a valid search warrant or consent, and it could not be used indiscriminately. So those were were things that were at least partially reassuring to me to read. And, I was glad to see that that care is being taken that that these, this immense power, would be used, hopefully, very narrowly. Is it your understanding that, that there is a, you know, a a serious degree to which the police department takes these concerns?

Absolutely. Prior to prior to this, the technology report was was reviewed to make sure that the language was accurate. I don't know. I know that if I'm not mistaken in this that, they're usually updated every year or so, with with any changes. So at this time, I do not know of any changes.

As I as I said, we they were the chief did review the the report prior to me coming here to speak with you all about the software, and he he did not raise any issues with the current report. Just wanted me to reassure you that the the entirety of the GradeKey software would be purchased with the with the grant and then, to to, kinda tell you guys what I know about the the BlueVoice software.

Thank you. Councilor Scott, if you don't mind, I'm gonna take Councilor Hart, and then come back to you. Councilor Hart?

Thank you, chair Wheeler. And through you to director Wisdom, this may be, you know, you may not be able to answer this question, but I'm just curious if you or perhaps someone else here knows the answer. When a warrant is obtained for the use of the gray key software, does that specify, like, a particular part of the phone? Like, given that our phones are basically our computers with with so much information on them, I'm just curious if if the warrant specifies, like, only call history or, you know, certain things like that, if anyone has any more information. Thank you.

Through the chair. I sorry. I do not have that information.

Councilor Scott?

Thank you, mister chair. I sorry. I I I think I might have cut myself off a little bit too early there. I I appreciate these questions. I think they're fine, policy questions here.

I just wanna be clear that the question for the city council here in this finance committee meeting is, whether or not to accept the money from the state, to be put towards these purposes. Of course, the police department has a a very extensive budget, and they can use money inside the department as they've already indicated to to complete the purchase of these. And that's a policy matter that's, up to the chief and mayor. And while I may, take issue, with that direction, ultimately, it's just a question of whether or not, the only power we have as city council is whether or not to accept this particular $43,000 grant or not. So as a result, my stance as a legislator is to say, I I don't want to provide more money to fuel those surveillance uses.

And, of course, if the police department would like to pursue that, they have budget that can be used for that. They can divert it from other purposes, or the mayor can increase their appropriation in the next year's fiscal budget. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Councilor Strezo?

Thank you, mister. I cloned I cloned myself. Did you see that? Okay. I'm back. Just what some of you want, but that's okay. So thank you, mister Chair. I yes. I I've reviewed with the administration this, and one of them is is is one of the requests because I'm talking thirty one and thirty two, one of them is, ongoing. So it's already implemented, and, I've reviewed it.

And and I and the second, is a pilot, as I recall. It seems after extensive conversation on it, that conversation on this with the administration that this has been thought out and and and deeply considered. So that that this would be an and I I'm willing to vote on it, mister chair. If you wish to have individual votes for these two items, let's just go ahead and do it.

Thanks. The only question in my mind is director Wisdom mentioned possibly coming up with a memo providing additional information. Is that something that we would like to to wait on? It another possibility could be that that we we either lay this on the table, to vote in a future finance meeting or discharge without a recommendation, so it can be voted on at the council meeting on Thursday.

I am I oh, it it am I still in it'll

Yes, please. In

my opinion, I think if you wish it we can do a a vote on 31 and or and then a vote on 32. Yeah. I believe that director our director offered information on 32, the pilot, but the the 32 would be a renewal. Right? So it's already in action. And and so

Sorry. We're I mean 32 is a separate

Right. Matter. Wait. No. There are

It's confusing. There's two pieces of software in both in item

31. Oh, my my apologies. Got it. I mean, if if we wanna hold on to it and keep it in committee until or I suggest if we keep it in committee for after the memo is released. Director Wisdom, is there any timeline on this to where that would be a barrier? Because I'm fine waiting for an agenda I'm sorry, a response.

So this money does expire. We're supposed to use the money prior to May 31. So, you you know, we are hoping to to move the money, fairly quickly so that we can get it set up in, through the accounting process and such. But if you would like, you know, if you want a memo to have some more information, for it would be this Thursday. At this point, it's only two days. I could turn around a memo to to you for the for the council meeting on Thursday night if that that would help.

Mister chair, on that, if we could and and interested in my colleague's input. Like, I'm I've like I said, I already researched. I've thought about it. I'm going to vote yes on this, but I'm I'm also fine listening to the what my my fellow colleagues for that memo, and I respect that. So I I'm fine to wait on that.

It so, mister chair, if if you'd like to if or count, mister Chiara through you to councilor Scott, if you'd prefer that we sever the item, like, we just move it out of committee and then separate the item, on Thursday. I

That's what Scott

fine with that.

Mister chair, it's you're the presiding officer, so you can, make that decision. I'm happy to vote on this tonight. A memo isn't gonna change my perspective on these items. I'm very familiar with them. That said, if it is your intention to leave this as a matter for the entire council, I would, I'm I would not love discharging this without a recommendation. If your desire is to leave more time for counselors to do homework and have conversations with administration, I'd recommend leaving any committee until our next meeting. But, like I said, I'm happy to vote tonight. Thank you, sir.

Mister chair?

Sorry, councilor Streisand. I'm gonna call in councilor Langford.

Thank you, mister chair. So, yeah, I would really I would like the memo, if for no other reason than because we've got, you know, some edification for the public, as well as myself. And I think that, I I I think that it would be nice to know that we we've done as much of the homework and that our, you know, constituents can all see the homework as well.

Thank you. Councilor Strezzo?

Thank you. The homework that was to be done was to be done before this meeting, so we'll just lay down, present that. And, mister chair, thank you for that. And to council Scott, yes, I I'm well aware that the chair has the, upper say on on what where this agenda item goes. I wanted to hear your thoughts on it. That's why I asked. But, yeah, I'm fine voting on this and then and then still seeing that agenda item or agenda item or either way. I I if everyone wants to take a vote on that, but, of course, it's at the will of the chair. So thoughts on that? Pick one.

Councilor Link?

Thank you, chair. I'm not gonna go tit for tat through you, but, the homework, is, what I would like the police to do. So, I am perfectly happy to continue on. I don't think that, we need to make comments to each other. Thank you.

Thank you, councilor Lake. And and just echoing what you said before, the attachment to this item about BlueVoice, really was, in my memory, a screenshot of the front page of their website, Not a not a lot of information to go on. I'm inclined to keep this in committee, to look forward to this memo and to to some more information about BlueVoice, and voting on it, at the next finance meeting. I'm seeing, liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister chair. I just wanted to do make a clarifying point that, Emily Wisdom was saying that she could prepare the memo for Thursday if it was gonna be before the city council for a vote. So if it's staying in committee, just wanted to make sure that everyone's expectation was that she could have a little bit more time to work on gathering that information to submit it for the next finance committee meeting.

Thank you. Agreed. Yes. I I do think having a bit more time would make sense, and I'm I'm taking, counselor Scott's point about, the the scope of of dealing with this. If that's something that the the committee feels generally okay with, then let's lay this on item on the table to to keep in committee, to be taken up, at a future meeting, with with thanks for this information, director Wisdom.

Sure. Happy to.

Okay. Moving on to item 32, mayor's request 26 Dash zero one six eight, requesting approval to accept and expend a $50,000 grant with no new match required from the Boston office of emergency management to the police department for target hardening at the police department headquarters. Director Wisdom.

Yes. So this is, an additional award. We've already received, a 128,500, for this project to to to basically what they refer to in the grant as target hardening, which will be using a a gate to secure the back lot, where the police equipment is stored. It will not affect any public any public entrances. The the front public entrance will remain untouched.

This is just a preventative measure for the for the back lot where they store cruisers and other equipment. So this would be an additional 50,000. Once the kind of the quote came back from capital investments, they determined that the 128,000 would not be enough. So we were able to request from UOSI that we reallocate it an additional $50,000, and they were kind enough to approve that reallocation. And so we would like to add this to the funds that we already have approved by the the previous finance committee to con to be able to complete this work.

Thank you, director Wisdom. Sort of a clarifying question. So Mhmm. I'm aware as as you said that the, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Area Security Initiative, the WASI Mhmm. Defines these national project areas in connection with its grants. They do. You've you've, already said on the previous item, you clarified hopefully that, the signatory, to those agreements is not the city of Summerville. Is that correct?

That is correct. We have a a memorandum of understanding with the city of Boston that we will we will follow the guidelines of the grant. However, I do know that a lot of people are kind of watching the f y twenty five notice of funding for UOSI and that there's been some discussion on some changes that have been made. Those changes are not retroactive. A contract has already been formed between the state and the federal government.

And then same, a contract has been formed for these, this is f y twenty three money. So, f y twenty three, contract was formed between the state and Boston, and similarly, that was, encapsulated in our memorandum of understanding. So, I I I do not believe that they can just change any, you know, any of the notification of funding. They they can't change those guidelines retroactively. They've all been signed.

They've had contracts that would require extensive discussion and acceptance by multiple parties. That that that's not what's happening. So far, the f y twenty five money, as it is still up in the air completely with the state. As my understanding, there's been no movement on that. And those are the the that that that notice of funding is the one that kind of had the verbiage that has a lot of people talking about it.

And, again, it's not even anywhere close to the city of Summerville being kind of involved in a decision at this point. It still would have to go through the state and the city of Boston long before it makes it to us. So that's kind of where we are with agreeing to past terms and conditions.

Thank you, director. Councilor Link?

Just to thank chair chair. Thank you. So just to reiterate, that means that we are for for members of the public, this is 2023 money, and 2023 grants, and, there's nothing, that would have been Biden error money.

Exactly. The this money, it came out in f y twenty three. These grants have a two and a half year spend cycle, for the the region. So we're kind, because we asked to kind of reallocate it from projects that weren't completed, we're kind of at the end of that cycle. But, yes, this is, for a lack of better words, older money, older funds, different different guidelines.

Thank you.

Of course.

Do any other committee members have questions or comments on this? And, seeing no further discussion, this item's laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting, which brings us to item 33, mayor's request 26Dash0055, requesting approval to accept and expend a $618,181.81 grant that requires a match from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the fire department for the replacement of aging breathing apparatus. I believe we have director of finance and administration for the Somerville fire department, James Mucci, with us. Director Mucci, could you please tell us about this grant?

Yes. Through you, chair. I'm Jim Mucci. I'm the director of finance for the fire department. Chief Breen is sorry that he couldn't be here tonight. He had a previous commitment for fire chiefs convention. So I'll try and give a give his presentation here. Basically, what this grant will allow us to do is to replace 68 sets of self contained breathing apparatus, which allow our firefighters to be able to go into hazardous situations and, you know, do what they have to do and then get out and be able to, like I said, green to go there as opposed to what might be in the situations that they're in. Some

of

the stuff that we have now is very old. What this grant will allow us to do is to bring up our inventory to current standards in compliance with the 2025 standards. Some of the stuff we have goes back to 2007 standards. So this would help us a lot to get everything up to snuff and give firefighters the best equipment that that we can.

Thank you so much, director. I just wanted to briefly comment on this. This is one of, a set of grants that I know, there's been a a look that our, our legal team has taken, and they've, they've clarified the understanding. This is focused entirely just on this, this replacement of aging breathing apparatus and no other no other areas. Just stating what what I've learned from from inquiring.

Do any members of the committee have any questions or comments on this? I'm sure none. Oh, sorry. I heard a comment. Is that, sorry. Councilor Scott.

I just wanted to acknowledge, this this also has terms that some folks might be concerned about, but given the current, ruling in state of Illinois at all versus federal emergency management agency, I'm comfortable moving forward this evening. Thank you.

Thank you, counselor. Any other comments or questions? Seeing none, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. And that brings us to item 34, ID 26Dash0056. The mayor requesting approval of a transfer of $6,166.19 from the fire department ordinary maintenance other equipment not capitalized account to the fire department special items grant match account to fund the required match for the Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to firefighters grant. Mister Mucci, can you please tell us about this?

Yeah. Basically, you pretty much spelled it out. This is a requirement for the grant. We had appropriated money, but, during last spring's budget cutting, some of, the cuts came out of that line. So we now have to come to you to, you know, to move money in there so we can match this.

Thank you. Seeing no discussion on this item, this item is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Brings us to item 35, ID 26Dash0156. The mayor requesting approval to accept and expand a $48,000 grant with no new match required from urban area security initiative to the fire department for the replacement of security cameras at fire headquarters. Director Mucci, could you please tell us about this grant?

Yeah. Basically, what we're trying to do is replace a very ancient system. Basically, what it does is provides perimeter security coverage for basically the entrances to the to the headquarters. The equipment, I don't even have an age. I have many, many years is what they told me how long this has been there. A lot of the stuff is not working well. What this system will do will bring us up to date. It's no new cameras. We're replacing one for one, so there's no new capabilities. The cameras do not record sound, which I guess was an issue.

So I wanted to make sure we we said that that does not happen. And so, basically, like I said, we, it would, help us secure the buildings.

Thank you, director. Do any committee members have questions or comments on this? Councilor Link.

Yes. Thank you, chair. So it's my understanding that the, the server for that that the videos are all stored on as a shared server, in in as part of the the, BOEM. Is what sure are we that given that it is video footage facing outward that that nobody else can access it?

My understanding, it's a it's a closed system. It, is only within our building. It's not connected to any network. So, I mean, that's, just security. I I don't believe anybody can access it.

Thank you, director. I'm seeing liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister chair. I just wanted to flag, Emily Wisdom was kind enough to stay on for this item to answer this question, so she's happy to jump in here.

Hey. Sorry.

Thank you, liaison, director of wisdom.

Of course. Through the chair. So, UOSI cameras are part of a network, and they are on what's called the PSNet server. However, they, and I actually called up our, representative prior to the meeting to confirm because my understanding, so each each location is given credentialed log in ons that are only able to allow them access to cameras that they're they're allowed to see. So, in the instance, SPD can see SPD cameras and the fire department cameras, but cannot see any of the, any of the other cameras that are in the city.

So there are very strong, delegations of authority within this system. You cannot go from municipality to municipality. It is like like he said, it is a closed system in that there are strong protections in place. There is a formal a more formal process if you, and I just know this from my experience with you, Aussie. If one jurisdiction, has a question for another jurisdiction, maybe, hey.

Was this seen on your camera? Or, you know, do you have footage of something like this that might have happened? It's a it's a request process. So no one jurisdiction can allow another jurisdiction access. It it it the credentials and assignments start with the kind of with the vendor and the and the actual server system being broken down into categories.

Thank you, director.

Thank you very much. So sorry. Just to to to to clarify, the director Wisdom to director Wisdom through the chair. That means that Newton couldn't get in, but does that also mean that, you know, I guess, the the state of Massachusetts or the United States federal government could not also get in, would they have to would they be asking us, or would they be asking someone else?

So they I would say that they would have to ask, the contract for so the contract is signed on behalf of the Boston office of of emergency management for the MBHSR. So they are acting on behalf of the region, not as a single entity. So, so when when we used to go out so I used to work at the Boston office of emergency management, so that's how I know. When we would go out to bid for these items, we would specify that we are executing a contract with this contractor, on behalf of the region, not just any one jurisdiction. There are only eight jurisdictions in in the group.

Newton isn't one of them. So no Newton, but I'm just teasing. So there are, like I said, there are eight jurisdictions, and they are solidified. So I if someone were to axe you know, want to challenge this, I believe that it would involve a petitioning process and most likely some type of involvement with attorneys, you know, to bypass a contract like that. Good.

To the chair, thank you very much, doctor Wilson.

Thanks. And and just to to clarify and sort of follow-up on, counselor Link's question, Is the request process I'm just trying to understand a little bit more clearly. There's a vendor who, their servers are are not located in Summerville, I'm assuming. They've they've got the data somewhere else. And is it is it only a matter of sort of, legal conventions that we hope hold that requests would would have to be approved by Summerville?

No. So the vent so the region actually owns the server. The region is the owner of the PSNET server on which the camera op camera network operates. So it is owned by the region. It's a regional asset as they call it, and the the vendor is, like I said, under contract. They help us do the maintenance and the repair. They help us with setting up the credentials and maintaining the system, but they they are not, the sole they don't own the the data or, you know, maintain the data outside of our network. It is part of the PSNet server.

Thank you. Councilor Scott?

Thank you, mister chair. Just two clarifications. Direct wisdom

Mhmm.

That con that's Lantel is

our contractor for that. Is that correct? Correct.

Yeah. And the PSNET system that you're talking about, that is a centralized piece of that that is centralized in the Boston Regional, Intelligence Center, correct, in the BRIC?

I don't know that it's centralized in the BRIC. I'm sorry. I don't know that information. I've nobody's ever said that directly to me that that's where it's at. I believe that it is a network of servers built together in the in the in the region.

So, like, I think that Summerville has servers, and and they're connected as a network because of the way that they have to flow with fiber and be connected to a system that can maintain them. I certainly know that I am sure that there are servers at the Boston Police headquarters where the brick is as well. There's no doubt in my mind that there is likely servers there as well just because I know that there are servers throughout the their Genitech servers. I know that. That's about all I know.

That's the name of the brand because we had to buy some new ones not too long ago before I left Boston. And they are maintained with licenses, and it is very complex. I I I don't think that any certain part of the server is necessarily housed at any one location, but rather is held together by networks such as because IPS network is basically public safety network is my understanding. So PSNet is what they call it. And, yes, and it is it's been around for a very, very long time.

It predates most of the networks. I know that they've been doing extensive fiber replacement and server replacement because a lot of the equipment had started to reach the end of life, and they have been maintaining it and and doing some replacement work with that. But it is it it it even involves yeah. It involves many locations from my experience with it, not just any one particular location.

Thank you. I I think I phrased my question in a in a way that sent that off the rails, and that's

I'm sorry.

My fault, director. I mostly, it's just, ensure making clear that this is funded through the DHS grant, through the Boston Emergency Management Office, and so it is integrated with the regional intelligence center, and the fusion center. So that's, the they may say we're not gonna use that data now, but it's there. So, mister chair, I I just for myself, I'm I love the fire department. I would love to get them some new cameras, outside the building to keep it safe, and I would like those to not be connected, to Department of Homeland Security.

So, if we're gonna move on this one tonight, I'd just request a separate roll call vote so I can register my objection. Thank you, sir.

I'd be happy to make that, to have us do a separate roll call vote. Are there any other questions or comments about this item? Liaison Radasi.

Thank you, mister Scher. I just wanted to flag, I think we've lost the city clerk.

I wasn't sure who we lost. I saw that the format changed.

I I just wanted to maybe we should wait until she rejoins for procedural reasons.

That's probably wise.

I will. Mister chair, we could stand at recess for a few moments, give folks some time two and a half hours into this meeting to compose themselves, and then return in five minutes while you communicate with the clerk.

That seems eminently reasonable. Why don't we recess for five minutes?

Alright. Thank you, mister Chick.

Okay. How does one end a recess?

Just you call the committee back to order. And, if you'd like to assure that we have a quorum, you can ask the clerk to take a quick roll call to establish quorum since we're operating online. So

Okay. I call the the meeting back to session. Is that the phrase?

Back to order.

Thank you. I call this meeting back to order. Clerk, I'm hopeful that these, technical, glitches are worked out. Would you please call the roll to reestablish quorum?

Yes. Chair, apologies about the Wi Fi. I do typically try to take these from the office, but city buildings were closed today. Okay. So on a roll call to reestablish quorum, councilor Link?

Here.

Councilor Strazo? Present. Councilor Hart? Present. Councilor Scott? Present. Councilor Wheeler?

Here.

With all five councilors present, we have quorum.

Okay. Thank you. So, just jumping back into the status where we were with item 35. Councilor Scott, you had suggested that we take a separate roll call vote. That sounds very reasonable to me on this item. Before we do that, are there any other comments or questions that members of the committee have about this item? Councilor Link?

Yep. Thank you, chair. I'll just say I I I believe I share, counselor Scott's perspective. I would like to get fire door cameras that will not be part of Brick's system.

Yeah. I This is a tough one for me. There's a degree to which I think we used to be able to count on some professional norms holding so that even if there was a technical ability for some boundary to be crossed, that it wouldn't be crossed without clear legal permission. And I think those no longer hold, so reliably. That doesn't mean I think that we throw out everything where there's the slightest shadow of a doubt, but, it does make me wonder, you know, if we have another situation, like we've experienced, in the past where, access is happening, contrary to what, judges are saying should happen, then, I'm concerned about where that leaves us as well.

Councilor Strazo.

Thank you, mister chair. I I spoke to the administration about this thoroughly, and I I feel okay voting on this. Of course, what you're bringing up is important. However, right now, I feel I I feel okay voting on this, and I'm just calling for it to move for a vote.

Okay. With, no further discussion happening on this, why don't we move forward with a roll call vote on this one, please, clerk?

Just to clarify, we're roll calling for approval?

Sorry. Yes. Roll calling for approval of item 35.

Alright. Councilor Link?

No.

Councilor Strezo? Yes. Councilor Hart? Yes. Councilor Scott?

No.

Councilor Wheeler? No. Alright. So that item is recommended to be not approved.

Thank you. Moving on to item 36, mayor's request ID 26Dash0167. Requesting approval for settlement of a claim for $10,400 pursuant to section two dash one two four of the code of ordinances. Right. I wasn't sure offhand if there was anyone here here to speak on this item. Councilor Scott?

Thank you, mister chair. Just historically, these are settlements of claims, that people have made to the city. Sometimes their injury claims are just damage to a car. The or our ordinance allows department heads to, settle claims with the mayor's approval of $5,000 or less. Larger claims come to the city council for approval. So somebody in the mayor's office, if there's questions about what this settlement elates to, somebody from the mayor's office could, of course, address that to the extent that it's public information, but just explaining what's happening procedurally. So

Thank you. Liaison Rodessi?

Thank you, mister chair. I did submit a memo on behalf of the law department as a handout for this item explaining the, sorry, the circumstances behind the settlement. And just wanted to clarify this is in the memo, but this is not a request for an appropriation for the settlement like counselor Scott said. It's just requesting approval to settle for this amount.

Thank you. I saw another hand, but is there not another comment? Just quickly summarizing that memo, a tree fell on a car. The tree was known to be in poor condition and had been recommended, for removal a year before the accident. I think there's some questions this raises. We don't have, staff here to discuss this. So there's not really much reason to get into some of the questions. Councilor Stretto.

Thank you. Actually, I was gonna move to approve or if you wanna take a vote.

Thank you.

I see no more discussion on this item. It is laid on the table to recommend approval at the end of the meeting. Okay. So for items 37 through 39, liaison Radasi, would you like to discuss these items?

Thank you, mister chair. Do they sorry. I should know this. Do they need to be read into the record, or can I just speak to them together?

Clerk Latelier, do these need to be read into the record?

They do because we did not read them at the city council meeting.

Thank you. Okay. Shall I read these into the record and then discuss? Okay. Item 37, mayor's request 25Dash0849. Requesting approval to accept and expend a $127,000 grant with no new match required for the Boston Office Of Emergency Management to the police department for special response team equipment and training. Shall we just quickly discuss the the relevance of this item, Aliyah Szemeredasi?

Thank you, mister chair. Just really quickly, administration is not ready to discuss this item. There's a pending surveillance tech impact report for this item that will be up for a vote in front of the city council Thursday night. So until the STIRR is, is approved, we can't move forward with approval for acceptance and expenditure of this grant.

Thank you. I think then we should lay this item on the table to be taken up at a future finance committee meeting. Moving on to item 38, mayor's request 26 Dash zero one six three, requesting the appropriation of $430,965 from the unreserved fund balance free cash to the special education reserve fund. Liaison Liaison Razasi?

Thank you, mister chair. Also, not ready to discuss this item. The appropriation is pending the approval of an establishment of the establishment of the special education fund, which is currently, in legislative matters. So until that item is passed and the fund is created, we can't do the appropriation for this.

Oh, mute went on a little bit early, but I think we got what you were saying. Then, let's lay this item on the table to be taken up at a future finance committee meeting as well. Item 39, the last item, officers communication ID 26Dash0201, the director of economic development conveying the potential use of an urban center housing tax increment finance tool, Octif, to incentivize housing production. Thank

you, mister chair. I'm guessing this is not the right time to make a joke about how I'm gonna have Rachel join the meeting. But, no. We're gonna hold off on this discussion given that it'll probably be a lengthy one, and it's already quite late, and it was a long agenda, tonight. So, happy to have that conversation at a future finance committee meeting.

Okay. Thank you. And, that brings us to the end of tonight's agenda. Do I hear a motion to recommend approval of items on the table and then to adjourn?

So moved.

K. Mister mister chair, I just wanted to

clarify Scott.

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify for the clerk. There was one item that you wanted to leave in committee, but at the time you had said we'll lay that on the table. I would just wanna clarify with the clerk if, she has that one marked to be remaining committee as opposed to coming into this vote.

Counselor, thank you. Just to run through, I have recommended to not approve agenda item 35. I have keeping committee agenda items 31, 37, 38, 39, and then move to approval on agenda items one through thirty, thirty two, 33, 34, and 36. Does that match? Perfect.

Thank you.

Perfect.

And just to clarify, is there a distinction between leaving in committee and, laying on the table separate from the ones we lay on the table for approval?

Yeah. Lay on the table means we'll take it up at some other point during that meeting. Keeping committee just clarifies that there's no decision that has been made, and we'll take up the discussion at the next one. Lay on the table is sort of just a term used throughout the meeting. And then in a city council meeting, you may have here that we've, like, tabled an item, and then we'll we'll take that one up at a different it's just slight variations in the terminology.

Thank you. Appreciate the lesson.

And and, mister chair, it does have a different context when laying things on the table is used at the city council level. Those items because they're not you can't keep anything committee up there. They'll show up on the next city council agenda as unfinished business. Yep.

Thank you. Okay. So councilor Link, moved to recommend approval of the items on the table and then to adjourn. The clerk already did read the agenda items of the the item numbers of the items up for recommendation to approve. Clerk, do you need to read those again, before calling the roll and recommending approval of those items in adjournment?

I'll just do

it all again just for good measure. Okay. So on adjournment and recommend for so for the items for approval, agenda items one through thirty, thirty two, 33, 34, and 36, and on adjournment. Counselor Link?

Yes.

Councilor Strezzo? Yes. Councilor Hart? Yes. Councilor Scott? Yes, please. Councilor Wheeler? Yes. Those items are recommended to be approved, and we are adjourned.

Thank you, everyone. Thanks for the the marathon session. I appreciate all the staff who spoke and and all the discussion. I hope everyone has a good night.

Thank you.