Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 6 PM

Agenda 3 items

1. 1.
   24-0182 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of February 13, 2024.

   Roll call: 4 aye · 1 absent

   • Lance L. DavisAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAbsent
   • Ben Ewen-CampenAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye

   • 📎 Minutes - Leg Matters - 2-13-24 Full
2. 2.
   24-0145 Mayor's Communication Kept in committee

   Conveying the 2023 Surveillance Technology Annual Report.

   {\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\nowidctlpar\qj\f0\fs24 Councilor Ewen-Campen gave background on the necessity of the Surveillance Technology ordinance and reports. He said that the City Clerk\rquote s Office offered to work on an online hub for access to all surveillance technology links and reports, but asked if the Administration had been working on it as well. Dir. Singh said that the Administration could coordinate with City Clerk on implementation. Councilor Ewen-Campen referenced written comment received from an organization called Digital Fourth, who raised questions over the location of GLX cameras, the disposition of incidental information that is collected through Grey Key, and whether there are plans to expand or modify the ShotSpotter program.\par \par Councilor Ewen-Campen sponsored Emiliano Falcon-Morano of ACLU, who shared ACLU\rquote s perspective on the report. He said that the answers about costs and maintenance should be more detailed, citing DHS cameras as an example, and shared concerns about the use of ShotSpotter. Mr. Falcon-Morano said that ACLU is urging municipalities to drop ShotSpotter completely. Chair Davis had questions about shells found at sites and whether there is a system to audit ShotSpotter. He also said that some sections of the report did not address which legal standard was used to disclose information.\par \par Councilor Burnley shared concerns about the public\rquote s ability to file complaints about surveillance technology and reminded the committee that there must be an \ldblquote easily accessible\rdblquote place to submit complaints online. Councilor Mbah asked about Homeland Security cameras and how to audit them; Chair Davis referred to the impact report.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   • 📎 Surveillance Technology Annual Report 2023
3. 3.
   24-0144 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Section 6-59 of the Code of Ordinances, to amend the definition of guidelines.

   {\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\nowidctlpar\qj\f0\fs24 Environmental Health Manager Colin Zeigler explained that the amendment is to ensure that Biosafety Level 3 (BSL 3) labs meet safety standards. There are no existing or proposed BSL 3 facilities in Somerville yet. He said that applicants should meet both National Design and BMBL requirements when applying, but the end of the section now reads: \ldblquote In the event that there is a conflict between the NIH Guidelines and the BMBL, the Committee shall require the more restrictive of the two.\rdblquote\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Lance L. DavisAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye
   • Ben Ewen-CampenAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye

   • 📎 Sec 6-59 Amended
   • 📎 03.14.24 CC Amendment Section 6-59 Biotechnology Guidelines Definition