Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin advocated for a study of improved substance abuse recovery programs at Thursdays General Meeting of the Board of Alderman.

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

Members of the Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting this past Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m.

To begin, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston explained goings on at the Committee on Confirmation of Appointments, including the appointment of two applicants to be sworn into the Somerville Police Department. The two men, Shaun Clark and Alexander Lorenti, were sworn in upon the approval of the BOA, and will now attend the academy.

Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz provided a rundown of matters that were discussed in the last Committee on Legislative Matters, including the approval of an amendment to the city’s Human Rights Policy Ordinance to protect transgender individuals from discrimination. This ordinance would add gender identity and expression to the Human Rights Policy.

Alderman Gewirtz pointed out that there was a strong turnout at that committee meeting for this matter, and many were in attendance for the BOA’s general meeting as well. The BOA accepted the enrollment of the report, and the ordinance was ordained with unanimous approval from the aldermen in attendance that night.

The BOA also approved an agenda item that involved the acceptance of a grant in the amount of $2,940 provided by the Somerville Health Foundation to the Council on Aging that will support the Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Women Fit 4 Life Fitness Program.

The major public hearings that took place May 22 related to the installation of conduit by Lightower Fiber Network from a Metro Media manhole to an existing NStar manhole in New Washington Street. This request was accompanied by two separate similar ones from NStar and Comcast, while the first was approved and the two others were both referred for recommendation.

Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin described an act that was recently passed b the state Senate regarding increased opportunities for long-term substance abuse recovery. He requested the support of the BOA on this matter, which was approved as well.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone had sent communications to the BOA to request to appear before the board in an executive session to further discuss litigation strategy as it relates to an Everett casino license and pending community arbitration with Wynn MA, LLC.

The board approved this and two other items submitted by the mayor’s office, one regarding to litigation strategy for Clear Channel billboard requests and the other collective bargaining. All three items were taken off the table and approved for further discussion.

Several appointments for the Somerville Fire Department were referred to the Committee on Confirmation of Appointments, while licensing and permit requests were also sent to the applicable committees.

The BOA discussed a matter that first sprouted up several months ago, when fossil fuel divestment was discussed by advocacy groups, members of the board and others from the community. City Solicitor Francis Wright had then explained that either the board or individual aldermen taking action in this matter could be viewed as a conflict of interest, and that he would discuss the matter with the state Ethics Commission.

The specific target was the Somerville Retirement Board, which advocacy groups such as Fossil Free Somerville requested divest from fossil fuel related companies in the original meeting in March. After researching more, the city solicitor maintained that any elected official might run into trouble advocating for this type of activity in their official positions because of their direct financial interests in the Retirement Board’s decisions considering pensions and other matters.

Wright added that the members of the board can advocate in their personal and private times, but must remain cautious. Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang stated that he and other members of the board were still concerned about not having a voice in this matter, especially as it is such an important consideration with community impact and financial implications.

At the end, this matter was placed on file.

After a few other approvals on items for rodent-related inspections and public works matters, the BOA adjourned.