Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 6 PM

Agenda 6 items

1. 1.
   26-1211 Committee Minutes Accepted

   Approval of the Minutes of the Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee Meeting of July 1, 2026.

   Roll call: 3 aye

   • Naima SaitAye
   • Jon LinkAye
   • Kristen StrezoAye

   • 📎 Minutes - HCDE - 7-1-26 Full
2. 2.
   26-0870 Mayor's Request Recommended to be placed on file

   Requesting approval of the 2026-2027 Housing and Urban Development One Year Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership, and Emergency Solutions Grant Programs.

   {\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs24 This item was replaced with item #26-0688.\par }

   Roll call: 3 aye

   • Naima SaitAye
   • Jon LinkAye
   • Kristen StrezoAye

   • 📎 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan_Final
3. 3.
   26-0688 Mayor's Request Recommended to be approved

   Requesting approval of the 2026-2027 Housing and Urban Development One Year Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnership, and Emergency Solutions Grant programs.

   {\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\sa160\sl276\slmult1\kerning2\f0\fs24 Miranda Rubin and Thomas Galliagani from Strategy and Development and spoke to the Annual Action Plan and presented on the priorities of the plan, \cf1\ul\i\line\pard\ulnone\f1 HCDE - 20260930 - Public Engagement Presentation (with 26-0688).\kerning0\i0\par }

   Roll call: 3 aye

   • Naima SaitAye
   • Jon LinkAye
   • Kristen StrezoAye

   • 📎 Annual Action Plan Appendices
   • 📎 HOMEARP Allocation Plan FINAL April 2023
   • 📎 Community Participation Plan 3-28-24
4. 4.
   26-1033 Mayor's Communication Kept in committee

   Conveying an update regarding item #26-0825, a Resolution that the Administration submit a written report to this Council regarding the timeline and process for staffing the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator role and update this Council on the plan to process ADA complaints and accessibility coordination when this position is vacant.

   {\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\kerning2\f0\fs24 Councilor Strezo sponsored constituent Holly Simione to speak on behalf of the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities as the Chair. Commissioner Simione provided commentary from the commission regarding the vacancy for the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator. Concerns about the job description and if the appropriate candidates would be attracted to the role and the gap in hiring while meeting the needs of the public were addressed. Commissioner Simione also spoke to the desire for the commission to have access to the ADA complaint emails so they are able to respond appropriately. Councilor Strezo posed the questions of how recruitment efforts are going and what measures are being taken, to which follow up with Human Resources will be necessary. \cf1\kerning0\f1\par }

   • 📎 ADA Coordinator Update
5. 5.
   26-0831 Resolution Kept in committee

   That the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development develop and share with the public, a list of all the spaces that are available for community use, including and especially those that are part of private developments.

   {\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\kerning2\f0\fs24 Thomas Galligani, Executive Director of the Strategy and Development Department, stated a team was hired in 2021 to look at where community spaces existed along with basic details about how the community can use them and the appropriate contact information. Director stated there is funding available from the community preservation act (CPA) to assist current and future spaces to fit the needs of the community. The committee recognized there are mandated community spaces throughout the city that already exist. In response to Councilor Link about the realities of maintaining the list, Director Galligani shared the goal to keep the list up to date and there are more community spaces in planning. Councilor Strezo expressed desire to keep this item in committee until a comprehensive list is shared and more information is included on how residents can sign up for the spaces. \cf1\kerning0\f1\par }

6. 6.
   26-0821 Resolution Recommended to be marked work completed

   That the Administration, the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, the Director of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Office of Housing Stability, engage with leadership of Saint James Church to explore opportunities for partnership between the city and the church to activate underutilized space for community-serving purposes.

   {\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\kerning2\f0\fs24 Brenna Broderick, Community Partnerships Liaison, was present to speak about the attached community space that has gone mostly unused. Councilor Hard, Councilor Mbah, and she went to visit and identified three different spaces with the capacity of 80, 50 and 15. The opportunity to use the space has been circulated to community groups who have expressed a need and coordination continues with other faith organizations. She highlighted the logistical struggles around security and accessibility compliance that still need to be addressed to make it a space to serve all. Questions were raised about utilizing the space as a Teen Center and Liaison Broderick discussed the complications of utilizing the space. The committee discussed the recently displaced Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and while two have been able to relocate one meets during Sunday service hours, so places of worship are not compatible.\cf1\kerning0\f1\par }

   Roll call: 3 aye

   • Naima SaitAye
   • Jon LinkAye
   • Kristen StrezoAye