Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 6 PM

Agenda 15 items

1. 1.
   23-1706 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of November 14, 2023.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 Minutes - Finance - 11-14-23 Full
2. 3.
   23-1718 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting the appropriation of $170,000 from the Union Square Community Benefits Stabilization Fund, with $100,000 for workforce development services and $70,000 for small business technical assistance services.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Councilor Kelly asked for clarification from the memo on what the funds will be used for. Dir. Inacio said that the previous service accounts had gone to Union Square Main Streets and the Somerville Community Corporation, and those organizations will most likely be funded again.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye
3. 4.
   23-1721 Mayor's Request Recommended to be discharged with no recommendation

   Requesting the appropriation of $955,000 from the Participatory Budgeting Stabilization Fund for the purpose of implementing the winning projects from Somerville's first Participatory Budgeting cycle.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Liaison Carrillo said that staff will present the full body of work at the upcoming City Council meeting.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 PB Implementation Memo
4. 5.
   23-1723 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to extend a contract with Janeth Moreno from Moreno Law for one year, to June 30, 2024, for the provision of immigration legal services.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Nagel explained that municipal finance law requires that contracts not be extended for over 3 years, but that there is an exception for legal services going directly to constituents through the civilization fund. This contract is such an exception. Dir. Nagel talked about the logistics of billing and setting aside funding, and added that the contract will need to be extended through June of 2024 to be able to fulfill their obligations.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye
5. 6.
   23-1720 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept an in-kind gift valued at $15,000 with no new match required, from the SUGi project to the Parks and Urban Forestry Division for materials and professional services for the Miyawaki forest planting.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 Miyawaki Donation Memo
6. 7.
   23-1732 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval of a transfer of $25,000 from various SomerStat Ordinary Maintenance Accounts to the SomerStat Salaries & Wages Temporary Account to fund additional temporary employee time.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 SomerStat OM - PS transfer request 11-15-2023
7. 8.
   23-1641 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to amend the Community Preservation Act Fund's FY 2023 grant of $425,000 to the Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development, to change the scope of the building renovations without increasing the funds.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 CPC Rec Scope Change SHA4CD
   • 📎 SHA4CD Change of Scope Request 10-20-2023
   • 📎 CPC Final Funding Rec Grace Baptist Church FY23
8. 9.
   23-1722 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend a $116,800 grant that requires a match, from the MA Department of Transportation to the Mobility Division for the West Broadway Vision Zero Implementation project.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Wilson noted that the grant requires a match and that the Finance Committee will be looking for the match to appear before them later.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 SS4A Grant Award Notice
   • 📎 SS4A Grant Certification
9. 10.
   23-1756 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend a $20,000 grant with no new match required, from State Opioids Response to the Police Department for the Post-Overdose Follow-Up with First Responders program.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Councilor Scott recused herself from this item. Dir. Delmonaco explained that Somerville is a subrecipient of the grant and is partnered with Fenway Health. Councilor Kelly reiterated her past question of why the grant must go through SPD instead of HHS. Liaison Carrillo confirmed from Patti Contente that this is a requirement, and said that she could touch base with her again to determine the reason. Councilor Kelly requested a follow up on this information before the City Council meeting.\par \cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 4 aye · 1 absent

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAbsent
   • Charlotte KellyAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

   • 📎 FY24 Sor Grant Sub Contract (002)
   • 📎 FY24 SOR Grant Contract (002)
10. 11.
    23-1752 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting approval to accept and expend a $39,398 grant with no new match required, from the Department of Mental Health to the Police Department for jail diversion.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Delmonaco said that the grant has been renewed since 2011 and that a large part goes to the salary of the jail diversion coordinator. Councilor Kelly noted how the grant application describes the coordinator working directly with officers on-scene. She asked for confirmation that the coordinator goes with officers to respond to service calls. Liaison Carrillo said that she could get the answer to this by the City Council meeting.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    Roll call: 5 aye

    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
    • Charlotte KellyAye
    • Jesse ClinganAye
    • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

    • 📎 DMH Jail Diversion $39,398
11. 12.
    23-1751 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting approval to accept and expend a $298,280 grant with no new match required, from the Department of Mental Health to the Police Department for the Crisis Intervention Team Training and Technical Assistance Center (CITT-TAC) jail diversion program.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Delmonaco said that the grant provides training for professional development. Currently, 83% of trained officers are in a 40-hour CIT class. This number is not 100% because of vacancies and new hires. Councilor Kelly asked if officers are repeating the training. She also requested a list of officers in the CIT training. Liaison Carrillo clarified that there are multiple trainings under the grant and that no officers are repeating trainings, to her knowledge. Councilor Kelly also asked about the backfill for officers in the attached table (document titled \ldblquote DMH CITT TAC Jail Diversion FY24renewal\rdblquote ) and whether it is more expensive to have the shift backfilled. She ended with a question about the $15,000 honoraria, which Liaison Carrillo said she would look into.\par \par Councilor Scott asked if the Co-Director MB CIT TTAC position is in SPD. Ms. D\rquote Angeli said that three positions in the table are not shown on the SPD budget because their entire salaries are paid by the grant. Councilor Scott mentioned an agreement made several years ago to list such positions on the budget regardless, for recordkeeping.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    • 📎 DMH CITT TAC Jail Diversion FY24renewal
12. 13.
    23-1755 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting approval to accept and expend a $295,463 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department to the Police Department for enhanced 911 Telecommunicator personnel costs.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Delmonaco said that the grant is mainly used to offset salaries for 911 operators.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    Roll call: 5 aye

    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
    • Charlotte KellyAye
    • Jesse ClinganAye
    • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

    • 📎 FY24 Support Incentive Grant
13. 14.
    23-1754 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting approval to accept and expend a $120,420.65 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department to the Police Department for Emergency Medical Dispatch training.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Delmonaco said that there are 16 hours of state-mandated training for 911 operators, and there have also been wage increases since the last request. Councilor Kelly asked who is backfilling the dispatchers. Ms. D\rquote Angeli said that they are officers, but are certified along with the 911 staff. Councilor Kelly asked for confirmation that it is the 16-hour training that backfill officers take.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    Roll call: 5 aye

    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
    • Charlotte KellyAye
    • Jesse ClinganAye
    • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

    • 📎 FY24 911 Training Grant - SOMERVILLE (002)
14. 15.
    23-1753 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

    Requesting approval to accept and expend a $24,500 grant with no new match required, from the State 911 Department of Emergency Medical Dispatch to the Police Department for Emergency Medical Dispatch work with Cataldo Ambulance Service of Massachusetts.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Dir. Delmonaco said that the whole grant goes to the contract for ambulance services.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    Roll call: 5 aye

    • Jake WilsonAye
    • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
    • Charlotte KellyAye
    • Jesse ClinganAye
    • Judy Pineda NeufeldAye

    • 📎 FY24 EMD - SOMERVILLE
15. 16.
    23-0827 Ordinance Kept in committee

    Amending Section 2-323 of the Code of Ordinances, Salary Ranges, to provide cost-of-living adjustments for School Committee Members and City Councilors.

    {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs24 Chair Wilson noted that the School Committee position descriptions have changed in the past few years, which informs the adjustments for those positions. He suggested setting up a process, either by charter or by ordinance, where an elected compensation study is done periodically to determine whether an increase in elected compensation is warranted, with that recommendation informing any change to elected salaries. Elected pay would then automatically increase by the rate of inflation as measured by either the Consumer Price Index or Social Security COLA. Multiple councilors supported using the Council's authority as currently written in the charter to raise pay in the meantime. Councilor Kelly also advocated for closing the gap between the salaries of the City Council and the School Committee.\par \par Councilor Scott asked about the staffing study, and Liaison Carrillo said that there will be an executive session for that item during the 12/14 City Council meeting.\par \cf1\f1\par }

    • 📎 05.11.23 Amend Sec 2-323
    • 📎 05.25.23 CC Amend Sec 2-323 Salary ranges