[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6647902,"mediaKeyId","3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57","parentId",3674334,"title","Councilors press RSJ and Commission for Persons with Disabilities to pursue mediation after meeting breakdown","audioSeconds",1128,"startMs",5496000,"endMs",6624000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57&start=5496&end=6624","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57/thumbnail_5496000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6647902/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Councilors-press-RSJ-and-Commission-for-Persons-with-Disabilities-to-pursue-mediation-after-meeting-breakdown","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647902-32bd3fb97f74b677d7e40c23f32b651f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770557673&Signature=DCeYFqwrVusiKeBKD2dAeUxk~kEHr4~S4uQUT8W~T6nxe2FxiSXG1WIViKnYQ0XP3H8xmuze8kBq4PP2U~5rsXrcRugrRhhjRvbDXLf7kGgxm9k8dvRqDPvM1TpDm~-uMJg-UqyEXd9Gm1U5GemH8qUtzObw2g-ZH4Kfj5dsT3zaNN66AJJwYhmN17QoGFj9pwxkjdbmdtPDYPNBU9~EtX~WWS7AT4e-5uLaPs0OSFaNJv8iFxBeAeRGgNoPNDfBGgtpBQLUZ8T~bHoY2iqs6BdPJY6Pm-SL3QmJcNq7JThS2AuS1RcDLkRKBsChzAb1YcUM9fe4PUs11n-EcmICBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-06-05T08:35:00Z","article","Councilors pressed the Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) and the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) to pursue a path forward after a March meeting in which the commission's meeting was shut down by a staff liaison.

Councilor Strezzo introduced the item and said the dispute stemmed from a meeting in which the staff liaison \"shut down the meeting\" and attempted to override the commission's work. Strezzo said the episode was part of a larger, long-running impasse and stressed the volunteer nature of the commission's work, noting commissioners invest unpaid time in the city.

RSJ representatives told the committee they have repeatedly sought to engage with the SCPD, including sending multiple substantive memos and attempting in-person and virtual attendance at subsequent commission meetings. The department reported it had not received requests for mediation from commissioners and said it had not been invited to discuss March-related concerns at the commission's subsequent meetings; RSJ staff said some commissioners had been instructed to avoid interactions with the department.

The mayor's office confirmed the mayor invited the commission's chair to meet and said the administration shares the goal of restoring a collaborative relationship. City legal staff reminded the committee that personnel or reputation issues must be addressed through executive session when appropriate; however, several councilors said they had been advised the matter could be discussed in open session tonight and urged a mediation or restorative process.

Councilors and RSJ staff described a set of prerequisites they would expect for successful mediation, including voluntary participation, good-faith engagement, and mutual respect. Councilors asked about the legal and procedural status of commission meetings; RSJ and city staff confirmed most city boards and commissions are subject to open meeting law and that chairs call and close meetings. Staff also noted practical reasons the city-provided Zoom and staff liaisons are used (accessibility, protections for non-employee commissioners, and recordkeeping).

No formal action was taken. Councilors marked the item \"work complete\" for the committee and urged parties to pursue mediation or other steps to restore collaboration so the commission can continue its work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters - 2025-06-04 - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors discussed a March meeting in which the Commission for Persons with Disabilities's session was closed by a staff liaison; councilors and the Department of Racial and Social Justice described outreach attempts and urged mediation to restore collaboration.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6647907,"Committee recommends promotion of Sgt. Dylan Lambert and Lt. Eli Kim after executive-session reviews",1648,4165000,5813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57&start=4165&end=5813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57/thumbnail_4165000.jpg","/articles/6647907/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-promotion-of-Sgt-Dylan-Lambert-and-Lt-Eli-Kim-after-executive-session-reviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647907-f9eba2b37a411a0fab8bee49200192d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770557673&Signature=KMYnO5Rc69iHJ2p7pRlrEGAFXdCH2mYDYLtgaY1yQy3jkWYVmGeHZyKVVd-qSBiMxo7JhjQgRSH86A9plfiHGAQxXb3TAOrfcgNNz26hC7j9RUmdmaLxlEU7D3vM6SvB6MUEKkGo6-hnEHxEkPUvITpTXzz4deCG7OxP86adBcKG8PiFaFgOG-~8jku3U-k2MGPeQD2gB9K0hAIIyIdBCfIunMp~GJ2Y6NwhtIku-r~QgwT-bjUlNJ-wQfn6oDSwHjdMP2Ah5CPb0BAwFGHuZME71cP-RZYmv3t9Jd-PNFe05K6HtpzrdWNDL2BnX27WBVrU0F052MJK8JZt6TwJKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council committee recommended approval of two internal promotions in the Somerville Police Department: Dylan Lambert to sergeant and Eli Kim to lieutenant.

Chief Benford presented both candidates, describing Lambert's seven years as a patrol officer and leadership training and noting Lambert is pursuing additional academic credentials. Lambert told the committee he sees the transition to supervisor as shifting to mentoring and managing a diverse group of coworkers and members of the public. Lambert described a past on-scene life-saving action for which he received departmental recognition, including rescuing a submerged motorist during a flash flood.

Benford also presented Sergeant Eli Kim for promotion to lieutenant, describing Kim's more than 14 years of service and supervisory experience; Benford said there are 11 lieutenant positions in the department. Kim said he expects the lieutenant role will require managing multiple operational responsibilities and working across several internal units.

For both promotion items, the committee entered executive session to review personnel records as allowed by state law and returned to open session to record recommendation votes. Councilors posed a small number of questions about on-scene experience and leadership approach; Lambert recounted breaking a car window and rescuing a drowning motorist. The committee voted by roll call to recommend both promotions; recorded votes were unanimous in favor.

Each recommendation will be forwarded to the full City Council for formal confirmation.","The committee recommended promotion of Dylan Lambert to sergeant and Eli Kim to lieutenant in the Somerville Police Department after candidate presentations and executive-session personnel reviews.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6647913,"Committee recommends reappointments to Somerville Housing Authority police and confirms hires after executive-session reviews",2473,1906000,4379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57&start=1906&end=4379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57/thumbnail_1906000.jpg","/articles/6647913/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-reappointments-to-Somerville-Housing-Authority-police-and-confirms-hires-after-executive-session-reviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647913-281bb5586317ff8e93e73e221325048e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770557673&Signature=ZYCoL9uzwZ3Cao4IvIzNClXiRLk7fhcYl5n3j0lCn2R5vW4oJwXD8h7X0ZEDkYeMotUdKtviGd9FPQDy83leG0a3~kDEt8xW0d6VGhzDAG3g5~qks4UvbgoxhmuHUlhB-SarJ01TnoVABQylE2~OyN2X1hV-5Hy8gKPYviN-UyMbMIxiKwOjrR11Gpn9udnwSlJn03aup1PB7hcL9ZTUGdgtRtAeUmp7AYB3M3GWTbNxGHeyO43M3QW19y-lzDwFMx0SXrfFnej0rBAtcanbcVqPFpUwliCwKxq-IGyNDua-qq5R4LRLKM8osLx8rxQlGh3QHVQRA4uCjPQqyyHakA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council'Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters recommended approval of several Somerville Housing Authority (SHA) police appointments after the committee moved into executive session to review personnel and reputational matters.

Item 4 on the agenda was the reappointment of Sean Brown to the Somerville Housing Authority police. The committee described consultations with the city solicitor and a former police chief to confirm the appropriate process for reviewing candidate employment histories. After an executive-session review under Massachusetts General Law referencing personnel matters, the committee returned to open session and moved to recommend approval. The roll call showed four votes in favor of the recommendation.

The committee proceeded with the reappointment of Michael de Bethancourt (item 5) and the appointment of Alfred William Bridal III (item 6). Each of those candidates was handled individually, with the committee entering executive session to review personnel matters as allowed under state law before resuming open session and taking a recorded recommendation vote. All three candidates were recommended by the committee by recorded roll-call votes; the clerk recorded the outcome as votes in favor for each item.

Chief Benford and former Chief Charles Feminaud spoke in support of the process and thanked the committee for its \"due diligence\" in reviewing the candidates. Several councilors praised the increased transparency of the appointment-review process and said publicly available documents now explain how complaints to the SHA police are handled and how the force is organized. Councilor McLaughlin and others described specific positive interactions with officers named in the process and noted the importance of accountability for a professional housing police force.

The committee noted no votes were taken during executive sessions; each executive session was described as a personnel-review discussion permitted under state law. The committee recorded recommendations to be forwarded to the full council for formal confirmation.

No disciplinary decisions against applicants were reported to the committee during the public session.

Votes at a glance: the committee recorded favorable recommendations for Sean Brown, Michael de Bethancourt and Alfred William Bridal III; each recommendation will be forwarded to the full City Council for final confirmation.","The committee recommended approval for reappointments and confirmations for Somerville Housing Authority police officers after executive-session background reviews; members emphasized transparency and accountability in the process.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6647915,"Somerville committee recommends approval of two Human Rights Commission candidates",1917,57000,1974000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57&start=57&end=1974","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3674334-23e72c85e582d3dcdd59011e84f84d57/thumbnail_57000.jpg","/articles/6647915/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-recommends-approval-of-two-Human-Rights-Commission-candidates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6647915-d6a2de5220bd9e06ec62f1662fd9fe7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770557673&Signature=KFh8UR2u~trUpOOHVD9Ir2nPRXNF-ZRx4cLCUzSPOo8EDyhqbZomdQ3XX-mPCK2WZCJG-CBTPg0YOrmqV0KV2ZHDCp~zug1Tprs7NvMTzpFHFLrkHF~yqHigy13YBJBUoz-RlA3aXwHXUlbvAce-CGqP4dUpf8fOqtL4k4kc3ErXMR8xiU~ruJCNcKAvxl2LgndC~OzRkvIx32THfgKUmwJr2459sdE7s-QhirrHDZ8FMVNQgLUlVpLWVNsQQ2M~IBR7KLysFkMTue5HTFOg0OKizzGY46dA4WewS65RfHS2a9Aj-6RleVbbVN4FmA7uzwlRjy6vYBKhoPe2pC8QDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council'Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters recommended approval Wednesday for two nominees to the Somerville Human Rights Commission: Salma Kasmi and Giovanna Calvillo.

Both candidates appeared remotely and answered questions from councilors about their experience, priorities for the commission and how they would handle complaints alleging bias. Director Williams introduced the nominees and described the commission's mandate to work \"towards mutual respect and understanding among all individuals and groups in the city of Somerville by improving the quality of public discourse and eliminating unlawful discrimination.\"

Kasmi told the committee she has been a Somerville resident for nearly two years and said she attended a Human Rights Commission event focused on challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. \"I'm excited to have the opportunity to be here,\" Kasmi said. Council members asked how she would respond if the commission needed to take adversarial positions versus the administration; Kasmi said she did not foresee an issue and that \"that's part of the mandate of the commission.\" After questions, Chair Young Campan moved to recommend approval; the clerk called the roll, and the motion carried with three members recorded in favor.

Giovanna Calvillo, a therapist who said she specializes in trauma and substance-use treatment and has worked with homeless youth and LGBTQ people, told the committee immigrant rights, substance use and homelessness were among the pressing human-rights issues in Somerville. Calvillo also acknowledged attending prior commission meetings and community events and said she would \"hold space\" for constituents with different views. Councilors asked both nominees whether they would elevate issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Kasmi and Calvillo both said they would seek to create space for discussion rather than use the commission primarily to advance those issues.

After discussion, the committee moved to recommend Calvillo for approval; the roll call recorded four votes in favor. Director Williams confirmed that, with these appointments, the commission will be fully seated.

No formal complaints or disciplinary actions were taken during the meeting on these items. The committee recorded the recommendations and will forward them to the full City Council for final confirmation.

Details on next steps: the committee's recommendations will be noted in the minutes and transmitted to the full council for the council's confirmation vote at a subsequent meeting.","The City of Somerville committee on confirmation recommended approval of Salma Kasmi and Giovanna Calvillo to the Human Rights Commission after candidate interviews and questions about neutrality and community engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Councilors press RSJ and Commission for Persons with Disabilities to pursue mediation after meeting breakdown

Committee recommends promotion of Sgt. Dylan Lambert and Lt. Eli Kim after executive-session reviews

Committee recommends reappointments to Somerville Housing Authority police and confirms hires after executive-session reviews

Somerville committee recommends approval of two Human Rights Commission candidates