Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 6 PM

Agenda 7 items

1. 1.
   25-0209 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of February 11, 2025.

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 Minutes - Finance - 2-11-25 Full
2. 2.
   25-0170 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund Open Space Reserve for the renovation of Quincy Street Park.

   {\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\tx2760\f0\fs24 Mr. Inacio explained this is one of the final projects for CPA funding.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 CPC Funding Rec Quincy Street Park
3. 3.
   25-0173 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend a $1,000,000 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Economic Development Division for 14-16 Sewall Street acquisition.

   {\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\tx2760\f0\fs24 Mr. Demers explained the funds would be used for land acquisition and to support the Land Trust. Councilor Clingan expressed his pleasure in seeing a program for home ownership being brought forward.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 FY25 EA Catalyst Fund Award Letter - Somerville
4. 4.
   25-0174 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend a $2,500,000 grant with no new match required, from MA Executive Office of Economic Development to the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Economic Development Division for the 299 Broadway redevelopment 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\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\tx2760\f0\fs24 Planner Demers explained the funds will be used to create civic spaces.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 MassWorks 299 Broadway Contract_Signed
5. 5.
   25-0158 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend a $54,400 grant with no new match required, from the Mass Cultural Council to the Arts Council for the Local Cultural Council grant 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\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\tx2760\f0\fs24 Discussed with ID# 25-0159\par The Administration has submitted a memo explaining this item. (See Referenced Documents)\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 MCC LCC Notification Letter
6. 6.
   25-0159 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to accept and expend an $18,300 grant with no new match required, from the Mass Cultural Council to the Arts Council for unrestricted operating support.

   {\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\tx2760\f0\fs24 Discussed with ID# 25-0158\par The Administration has submitted a memo explaining this item. (See Referenced Documents)\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 Mass Cultural Council Notification for Cultural Investment Portfolio
7. 7.
   25-0169 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval to pay prior year invoices totaling $1,312.50 using available funds in the Department of Racial and Social Justice Translation Services Account for Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) 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\qj\f0\fs24 The Administration has submitted a memo explaining this item. (See Referenced Documents)\par Councilor Burnley asked if there is a protocol to consolidate purchases from a vendor and Liaison Hutter clarified that vendors are notified of changes through RSJ for consistency and that there are internal and external procedures in place, however there is no set protocol. Chair Wilson inquired about a policy to deal with invoices that are misbilled to the wrong department and Liaison Hutter replied that she didn\rquote t have an answer but would follow up with staff. Councilor Mbah questioned whether every department has its own translation service contract and Liaison Hutter explained that services are primarily streamlined through SOIA, although RSJ also has a contract She acknowledged that some departments may still have contracts, but differences among them are unclear.\par \par Councilor Burnley mentioned that SomerViva has been used as a consolidated space for translation services and he believes that a separate contract exist, as well. Chair Wilson noted that the Office of Housing Stability also has a separate contract for translation services and noted that the translation services budget line in several departments was reduced, possibly suggesting a centralization of the service. \par \pard\cf1\f1\par }

   Roll call: 5 aye

   • Jake WilsonAye
   • Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottAye
   • Jesse ClinganAye
   • Willie Burnley Jr.Aye
   • Wilfred N. MbahAye

   • 📎 HRI Invoice 3243 $562.50
   • 📎 HRI Invoice 3131 $750