SomervilleMeetings

25-1762 Ordinance Approved

That the Code of Ordinances be amended to prohibit the use of tax-payer funds for self-promotion.

Sponsors
Jake Wilson, Lance L. Davis
Introduced
Nov 21, 2025
Assigned to
City Council
Enactment #
221046
View on Legistar

History

  1. Jul 16, 2026
    City Council Mayoral Approval
  2. Jul 9, 2026
    City Council Ordinance ordained · roll call: pass Meeting agenda, item 6.D.2.
  3. Jun 30, 2026
    Legislative Matters Committee Recommended to be approved · roll call: pass Meeting agenda, item 14.
  4. May 5, 2026
    Legislative Matters Committee Kept in committee · roll call: pass Meeting agenda, item 5.
  5. Nov 25, 2025
    City Council Referred for recommendation Meeting agenda, item 4.1.

Official text

That the Code of Ordinances be amended by adding the following: CITY OF SOMERVILLE ORDINANCE NO. 2025- IN CITY COUNCIL: ________, 2025 Be it ordained by the City Council, in session assembled, that Chapter 15, Article I of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville is amended as follows by inserting the following section. Sec. 15-1. - Use of tax-payer funds for self-promotion prohibited. (a) The name of an elected official may not be included on city owned property, including signs, plaques, buildings, or banners, or official city communication, including press releases, social media posts, or newsletters, when inclusion of the name is not necessary to accomplish a specific government function. (1) A specific government function includes a permanent memorialization, quotation of a municipal elected official in a press release, or description of an action taken by a municipal elected official as part of their role. Approved: President Approved: Mayor