Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 6 PM

Agenda 6 items

1. 1.
   24-1679 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Legislative Matters Committee Meeting of November 19, 2024.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Lance L. DavisAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Ben Ewen-CampenAye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye
   • Kristen StrezoAye

   • 📎 Minutes - Leg Matters - 11-19-24 Full
2. 2.
   24-1604 Resolution Recommended to be placed on file

   Reaffirming Somerville’s commitment as a Sanctuary and Trust Act City for justice, equity, and inclusion.

   • 📎 Resolution - Sanctuary Trust Act City
3. 3.
   24-1682 Resolution Kept in committee

   Reaffirming Somerville’s commitment as a Welcoming Community for justice, equity, and inclusion.

   {\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\sl-284\slmult0\tx2640\cf1\f0\fs24 Chair Davis reiterated the spirit for this resolution is to highlight anything that can be done to protect our neighbors. Director Singh shared the law department has been meeting regularly with other communities to see what else can be done to strengthen protections. In response to Councilor Mbah Director Singh further shared there is continuous conversation with other Welcoming communities and organizations to coordinate with what other efforts are currently being made in Massachusetts and will continue to update this committee in further meetings. \par \pard\f1\par }

   • 📎 Sanctuary City Resolution - Revised
4. 4.
   24-1754 Ordinance Kept in committee

   Amending Sections 9-31 through 9-44 of the Code of Ordinances to support the end of wage theft.

   {\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\sl-284\slmult0\tx2640\cf1\f0\fs24 Policy Analyst Salisbury spoke through changes to the ordinance. Including, change to the process of filling committee seats and moving away from the designation of organizations. The committee will now consist of 9 members with designees from the Mayor, Council President, and various organizations. As well as clarifying the role of the committee and outlining specific duties and responsibilities, part of this included shifting enforcement authority to city departments and creating a clear complaint process for the committee to forward to the correct authorities and keep track of final decisions made and communicate to the relevant department. Restructuring also occurred of membership and the goal is to get staff on boarded to assist in the monitoring and managing of the complaint process and sharing knowledge of the rights workers have. Policy Analyst Salisbury shared insight on stricken through sections and that many strike through's are the done with the goal to bring the ordinance in compliance with the drafting manual. Councilor Scott expressed concern about the inefficiency of the enforcement authorities at the State level to which Councilor Davis asked for clarification on Sec. 9-37 regarding Sanctions for violations and if it limits the sanctions available under the ordinance, David Shapiro stated he would research more and come back to the committee with an answer. Policy Analyst Salisbury also provided an answer further clarifying the Department of Labor and the Attorney Generals Office has final authority to make determinations and rather this ordinance lays out the Wage Theft ordinance to streamline the way in which complaints are processed and when final decisions are made they are forwarded to the correct city departments. Policy Analyst continued in response to a question by Chair Davis that all references to MGL are included in 9-31a and each section has a reference to the applied laws.\par Councilor Ewen-Campen asked to confirm that the edits were advised and approved by law and David Shapiro confirmed it is. Councilor Ewen-Campen also asked where in the process the city was on the posting for a lesion for this position and IGA Director Neha Singh, shared Economic Development, is working with Human Resources (HR) to get a job posted soon. Councilor Strezo went on to ask if this position will assist in recruitment efforts, a job description is not currently finalized and the IGA Director echoed previous statements that staff are working with HR to post the position.\par Councilor Strezo asked if the committee could currently meet quorum, Policy Analyst Salisbury stated the body is not currently able to meet quorum and this ordinance will require a new constitution of the body and will need new appointments to fill the seats. The councilor went on to ask if there was consideration to remove the staggering of terms for the Wage theft advisory committee, Policy Analyst Salisbury responded by eliminating staggering it can run into a problem of everyone\rquote s term being up at once and this is a measure in place to maintain quorum.\par Councilor Mbah inquired over the resources available in the city to enforce this ordinance and the scope of violations and will look at or a response from staff in a future meeting.\par \pard\f1\par }

   • 📎 12.12.24 CC Amendment Ch. 9 Art. III Wage Theft
   • 📎 05.22.25 CC Amending Ch. 9 Art. III Wage Theft
5. 5.
   25-0022 Officer's Communication Recommended to be marked work completed

   City Council Legislative and Policy Analyst conveying the City Clerk's Office Manual on Legislative Drafting.

   {\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\sl-284\slmult0\tx720\cf1\f0\fs24 Legislative and Policy Analyst Brendan Salisbury spoke through the importance of the drafting manual to the legislative matters committee and the most important legislative actions taken by this committee are ordinance and home rule petitions. After giving an introduction, he reminded the committee that the he is available to make recommendations to the committee regarding drafting and quality standards. Policy Analyst Salisbury spoke through the five components of effective communication as follows and what questions should be asked during each step: necessity, effectiveness, practicality, legality, and equity. The presentation went on to highlight that nothing can be done without the assistance of staff and the City Attorney is the authority on issues of legality and significant difference. Policy Analyst Salisbury wrapped up the presentation, restating that the process is designed to make it so the questions above have been addressed prior to submission.\par \pard\f1\par }

   • 📎 01.09.25 CC Councilors College Drafting Legislation
   • 📎 01.09.25 CC Drafting Manual Presentation
   • 📎 01.09.25 CC City Clerk's Office Drafting Manual
6. 6.
   24-1603 Resolution Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Administration work to establish a Language Access Ordinance to codify constituents’ right to timely, meaningful, and culturally competent language access 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\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\tx2640\cf1\f0\fs24 Deputy Director Meredith Gamble shared language access priority in the city is making sure timely services are being provided to residents and has begun researching other language access ordinances around mandating, implementation, and compliance and accountability. Collaboration with administration and law is in the works and once there is something to share with the Council the language draft will be brought back to this committee for additional thoughts and input.\par \pard\f1\par }