Skip to main content

About the City Council

The City Council is the City’s legislative branch. Members are elected every two years on the odd-numbered years. Four members serve at large, and seven members represent individual wards. The Council passes ordinances on a broad range of issues, from setting zoning laws to creating boards and commissions. It also has the power to approve or disapprove the Mayor's budget appropriations. 

Contact Information

Message the Council via the City Clerk:
publiccomments@somervillema.gov

Message All Councilors Directly:
citycouncil@somervillema.gov

Address

93 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
United States

Employee Directory

Members

(Scroll down for member list)

Look up your ward number and Councilor with MySomerville.

Councilor

Position

Willie Burnley Jr.City Councilor At Large
Wilfred N. MbahCity Councilor At Large
Kristen StrezoCity Councilor At Large
Jake WilsonCity Councilor At Large
Matthew McLaughlinWard One City Councilor
Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) ScottWard Two City Councilor
Ben Ewen-Campen, PresidentWard Three City Councilor
Jesse ClinganWard Four City Councilor
Naima SaitWard Five City Councilor
Lance L. DavisWard Six City Councilor
Judy Pineda Neufeld, Vice PresidentWard Seven City Councilor

 

Meeting Schedules & Streaming

Visit the City's Legistar Meeting Portal to:

  • See a calendar of City Council and committee meetings
  • Download meeting agendas and minutes
  • Stream meetings live or from our archives
  • And more

somervillema.legistar.com

City Codes & Ordinances
 

Ordinances are written laws adopted by the City of Somerville that serve as permanent, enforceable laws (unless amended or repealed through the adoption of a new ordinance). 

Visit Municode.com to:

  • Browse City codes
  • View City ordinances
  • And more

Somerville Code of Ordinances ― Municode  
 

A zoning ordinance is a rule that defines how property in specific geographic zones can be used. Zoning ordinances detail whether specific geographic zones are acceptable for residential, commercial or industrial purposes.

Visit Municode.com to:

  • Browse City codes
  • View City ordinances
  • And more

Somerville Zoning Ordinance on Municode 

 

Committees & Commissions

Standing CommitteesSpecial CommitteesCommissions

 

Standing Committees

(Chair listed first, Vice Chair second)

Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel MattersJudy Pineda Neufeld, Matthew McLaughlin, Willie Burnley, Jr., Naima Sait, Wilfred Mbah
Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families, and Vulnerable PopulationsKristen Strezo, Judy Pineda Neufeld, Jesse Clingan
FinanceJake Wilson, J.T. Scott, Naima Sait, Willie Burnley, Jr., Jesse Clingan
Housing and Community DevelopmentKristen Strezo, Wilfred Mbah, Jesse Clingan
Land UseMatthew McLaughlin, Lance Davis, Ben Ewen-Campen, Judy Pineda Neufeld, Jake Wilson
Legislative MattersLance Davis, Willie Burnley, Jr., Wilfred N. Mbah, Ben Ewen-Campen, J.T. Scott
Licenses and PermitsWillie Burnley, Jr., Wilfred Mbah, Ewen-Campen
Open Space, Environment, and EnergyWilfred Mbah, Naima Sait, Kristen Strezo, Jake Wilson, J.T. Scott
Public Health and Public SafetyMatthew McLaughlin, Lance Davis, Naima Sait
Public Utilities and Public WorksJesse Clingan, Matthew McLaughlin, Kristen Strezo
Traffic and ParkingNaima Sait, Judy Pineda Neufeld, Jake Wilson

Special Committees

(Chair listed first, vice chair second)

Charter ReviewJ.T. Scott, Jake Wilson, Matthew McLaughlin
Rodent IssuesJesse Clingan, Jake Wilson, Matthew McLaughlin
RulesWillie Burnley, Jr, Lance Davis, Ben Ewen-Campen
School Building Facilities and Maintenance Special CommitteeLance Davis, Jesse Clingan, Naima Sait

Commissions and Committees

Affordable Housing TrustWilfred Mbah
Anti-Diplacement Task ForceKristen Strezo
ARPA Advisory CommitteeJudy Pineda Neufeld
Bicycle Advisory Committee Willie Burnley, Jr.
Community CabinetKristen Strezo
High School Building CommitteeLance Davis
Memorialization CommitteeJesse Clingan
Municipal Job Creation and Retention TrustWilfred Mbah
Parking Study Task Force and Working GroupKristen Strezo 
Participatory Budgeting Working GroupNaima Sait
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory CommitteeWilfred Mbah
PILOT Advisory Task ForceJesse Clingan
Police Chief Selection CommitteeJake Wilson
Public Safety Building CommitteeMatthew McLaughlin
Safe Consumption Site Task ForceWillie Burnley, Jr.
Somerville Redevelopment AuthorityBen Ewen-Campen
Traffic CommissionNaima Sait
Wage Theft Advisory CommitteeWillie Burnley, Jr.

 

 

Meeting Minutes

July 2022–Present

View City Councilor and Committee meeting minutes from July 2022 to present day on the City's Legistar Meeting Portal.

July 2022–Present


2010–July 2022

View City Councilor and Committee meeting minutes from 2010 to July 2022 on the City's IQM2 Meeting Portal.

2010–July 2022


1872–2021

View City Council (formerly the Board of Aldermen) meeting minutes from 1872 to 2021 as annual PDFs in our archive.

1872–2021

Forms & Information

Programs & Initiatives

Reporting Airplane Noise
The City of Somerville urges residents to report airplane noise to both Massport and the City.

Please submit website feedback using this form. Be sure to include:

A description of the issue (if any)
A link to the affected pages

Thank you for your feedback!