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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)

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City Council during a 2022 meeting held via Zoom.

Above: Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City Council during a 2022 meeting held via Zoom.

Look up your ward number and Councilor with MySomerville.

Councilor

Position

Ben Ewen-Campen President and Ward 3 Councilor
Judy Pineda Neufeld Vice President and Ward 7 Councilor
Kristen Strezo At-Large
Willie Burnley, Jr. At-Large
Charlotte Kelly At-Large
Jake Wilson At-Large
Matthew McLaughlin Ward 1
Jefferson Thomas (“J.T.”) Scott Ward 2
Ben Ewen-Campen Ward 3
Jesse Clingan Ward 4
Beatriz Gomez Mouakad Ward 5
Lance Davis Ward 6
Judy Pineda Neufeld Ward 7

 

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are written laws adopted by the City of Somerville that serve as permanent, enforceable laws (unless amended or repealed through the adoption of a new ordinance).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

The Somerville Charter Review Committee presented its final recommendations in 2022. You can get an overview of Somerville City Ordinances in the committee's handbook, "Your Somerville Charter, A Handbook for Somerville Residents."

Final Recommendations of the Charter Review Committee

Charter & Ordinance Handbook for Somerville Residents



 

 

Committees & Commissions

Standing Committees Special Committees Commissions

 

Standing Committees

Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters Judy Pineda Neufeld (Chair), Jesse Clingan (Vice Chair), Willie Burnley, Jr., Kristen Strezo, Jake Wilson
Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families, and Vulnerable Populations Beatriz Gomez Mouakad (Chair), Judy Pineda Neufeld (Vice Chair), Kristen Strezo
Finance Jake Wilson (Chair), J.T. Scott (Vice Chair), Charlotte Kelly, Jesse Clingan, Judy Pineda Neufeld
Housing and Community Development Kristen Strezo (Chair), Judy Pineda Neufeld (Vice Chair), Jesse Clingan
Land Use Matthew McLaughlin (Chair), Lance Davis (Vice Chair), Ben Ewen-Campen, Beatriz Gomez Mouakad, Jake Wilson
Legislative Matters Lance Davis (Chair), Charlotte Kelly (Vice Chair), Willie Burnley, Jr., Matthew McLaughlin, J.T. Scott
Licenses and Permits Willie Burnley, Jr. (Chair), Jesse Clingan (Vice Chair), Ben Ewen-Campen
Open Space, Environment, and Energy Willie Burnley, Jr. (Chair), J.T. Scott (Vice Chair), Beatriz Gomez Mouakad, Jake Wilson, Judy Pineda Neufeld
Public Health and Public Safety Charlotte Kelly (Chair), Lance Davis (Vice Chair), Matthew McLaughlin
Public Utilities and Public Works Jesse Clingan (Chair), Beatriz Gomez Mouakad (Vice Chair), Charlotte Kelly
Traffic and Parking Beatriz Gomez Mouakad (Chair), Jake Wilson (Vice Chair), Ben Ewen-Campen

Special Committees

Charter Review J.T. Scott (Chair), Kristen Strezo (Vice Chair), Willie Burnley, Jr.
Rodent Issues Charlotte Kelly (Chair), Jake Wilson (Vice Chair), Matthew McLaughlin
Rules Willie Burnley, Jr (Chair), Lance Davis (Vice Chair), Ben Ewen-Campen
School Building Facilities and Maintenance Special Committee Beatriz Gomez Mouakad (Chair), Jesse Clingan (Vice Chair), Lance Davis

Commissions and Committees

Affordable Housing Trust Charlotte Kelly
ARPA Advisory Committee Judy Pineda Neufeld
Bicycle Advisory Committee Willie Burnley, Jr.
Community Cabinet Kristen Strezo
High School Building Committee Lance Davis
Memorialization Committee Willie Burnley, Jr.
Municipal Job Creation and Retention Trust Matthew McLaughlin
Parking study task force and working group Judy Pineda Neufeld
Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee Beatriz Gomez Mouakad
PILOT Advisory Task Force Kristen Strezo
Police Chief Selection Committee Jesse Clingan
Public Safety Building Committee Matthew McLaughlin
Safe Consumption Site Task Force Willie Burnley, Jr.
Somerville Redevelopment Authority Ben Ewen-Campen
Traffic Commission Beatriz Gomez Mouakad
Wage Theft Advisory Committee Beatriz Gomez Mouakad

 

 

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.

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