MAYOR, ALDERMEN Connolly, Cuff-Bastardi, Desmond, Heuston, O’Keefe, Sullivan, Trane PROPOSE ORDINANCE REGULATING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN CITY OF SOMERVILLE

SOMERVILLE – At

the regular Board of Aldermen meeting on Thursday, May 23, Mayor Joseph A.

Curtatone and Aldermen Connolly, Cuff-Bastardi, Desmond, Heuston, O’Keefe,

Sullivan and Trane introduced an ordinance that would set limits for campaign

contributions made to any candidate or incumbent for public office in the City

of Somerville by developers, contractors, lobbyists or individuals and

organizations seeking to do business with the City including, financial

assistance such as grants, loans or tax incentives from the City, or City

contracts not awarded to the lowest bidder.

The ordinance

proposes that applicants who made contributions in excess of $250 in the

calendar year of an application or year prior would be ineligible for any such

contract or financial assistance unless contributions were refunded in full.

Any applicant, anyone attributed to the applicant, and any subcontractor used

on any contract—with the exception of lowest bidder contracts—shall not make

any contribution to any incumbent or to any candidate in excess of $250 per

year for the following four calendar years or for the duration of the term of

any contract, whichever is longer. Those found to be in violation of the

ordinance would be subject to a $300 fine.

The ordinance

also addresses the direct solicitation of contributions by any candidate to

municipal employees, in addition to existing state campaign finance laws.  Lobbyists and municipal agents would now be

required to file annual disclosure statements and give notice as to any matter

pending before the city.

“The City of

Somerville, particularly under this administration, holds a firm commitment to

transparency, through government management and through public processes.

Campaign finances and contributions, especially as they relate to potential

municipal partners or employees, should be subject to the same careful scrutiny

by members of the general public,” said Mayor Curtatone. “This proposal allows

for more accountability and more reassurance for community members that we are

fulfilling the duties incumbent on us as elected officials fully in the public

interest.”

The ordinance

applies to any person and their family members, and to a corporation,

partnership or limited liability corporation, including officers, directors,

members, managers, principles and shareholders in excess of 10% or any of its

employees who have filed an application with the City of Somerville or any

City-related agency in any of the following situations: (i) seeking to enter

into a Contract, except where that contract is required by law to be awarded to

the lowest bidder; (ii) seeking to acquire real estate from the City or any

City-related agency; (iii) seeking financial assistance from the City; or (iv)

seeking employment with the City, by contract or otherwise, union or non-union,

civil service or non-civil service, as well as those currently employed by the

City.

The

ordinance was referred to the committee on legislative matters for further

discussion.