Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 7 PM
Online only Committee of the Whole
This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.
What happened
1 items of legislation were taken up.
- 1 recommended to be marked work completed
Agenda 1 items
Notices from the agenda
Referenced Documents: • Finance - 2024-03-19 Public Comments (with 24-0178) • Finance - 2024-03-19 City Council FY25 Budget Priorities Survey
This meeting was held via Zoom, was called to order by Chair Wilson at 7:07 pm and adjourned at 8:34 pm with a roll call vote of 10 in favor (Councilor Davis, Councilor Mbah, Councilor Strezo, Councilor Pineda Neufeld, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Clingan, Councilor Burnley, Councilor Sait, Councilor Scott and Chair Wilson), none opposed, and one absent (Councilor McLaughlin). Others present: Stephanie Widzowski – Clerk of Committees.
(Posted online: 3/14/24 at 8:15 AM)
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GEAOGmOATjKjBvWOniE4_Q Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
Roll Call
- 1. Public Hearing
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1.1.
That this City Council hold a public hearing in the Committee on Finance on the community’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget priorities.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Calibri;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue255;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs22 Chair Wilson opened the public hearing at 7:10 pm and closed it at 8:31 pm. He explained how the Budget Priorities survey attached to the agenda (\ldblquote Finance - 202-03-19 City Council FY25 Budget Priorities Survey\rdblquote ) will be used to determine councilor support for priorities at the next Finance Committee of the Whole meeting on 3/26 and encouraged people to reach out to Brendan Salisbury (\cf1\ul bsalisbury@somervillema.gov <mailto:bsalisbury@somervillema.gov>\cf0\ulnone ) or Mohammed Uddin (\cf1\ul muddin@somervillema.gov <mailto:muddin@somervillema.gov>\cf0\ulnone ) with questions about the process.\par \par Thirty-seven members of the public gave testimony. A few represented organizations such as the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) and Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS). Many voiced support for affordable housing and ensuring the continuation of ARPA-funded programs such as municipal vouchers, tenant organizing, rental assistance and legal services for residents. Many also urged the Council and the Mayor to keep the Winter Hill community together by improving the Edgerly School and offering safe public transportation for all students - using the city\rquote s budget, not the schools\rquote . Other pressing issues included a Green New Deal for public schools, paid family/medical leave and fair contracts for SMEA workers, reallocating SPD funding to an unarmed, alternate emergency response, invasive plant removal, medical debt forgiveness, a composting pilot program, supervised consumption sites, free MBTA passes, and increased staff. Some people stressed that the Council needs to use its power to get the Mayor to follow through on these priorities.\par \par }