[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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],{"_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",6500759,"mediaKeyId","5823314-256dbe6c40db7b06c0e37c6818503387","parentId",5823314,"title","Somerville to use $50,000 state grant for study of zoning incentives tied to fossil-fuel-free ordinance","audioSeconds",177,"startMs",83000,"endMs",260000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823314-256dbe6c40db7b06c0e37c6818503387&start=83&end=260","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823314-256dbe6c40db7b06c0e37c6818503387/thumbnail_83000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500759/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-to-use-50000-state-grant-for-study-of-zoning-incentives-tied-to-fossil-fuel-free-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500759-286419909abf420f30f15df22546d791/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151490&Signature=IXrQ4WhPEubSC9GwpDJYOSoQ-nz8FT9zT9klEE1kC~CXuLG0rnEzoJ1MxSQC0h2X7GUWSrtU5g897pbdS46Mmaf-h9vWtQJEhABg3Yai4g0MvcArZd4vBiow-yIqkmnhZTqdWKYlkiEj1Ohh9s4YCKW4MvLDkuJF0pktwncV3Wvx~Yqrb0fpefpx6DU7Tiv~2lqSyq-SGo9hFFZB7Wf9iyYbOkySXt-OEmkscDM6hwvh8B4aDvoTbghSirwlgqUI6CGGfF9hpsOnz7losorTPJj9S9gkixnJt15TRq2QLelq47iVLo99qd60Gbj-MFxzTwfJJmVsSqVTWe7fyzRgZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-09-24T13:59:00Z","article","The Somerville Finance Committee on Sept. 23 recommended accepting and expanding a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to the Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Environment for a study of zoning incentives to increase compliance with the city's fossil fuel free ordinance.

Director Christine Blaise told the committee the city had originally applied for $75,000 but was awarded $50,000 after the state delayed its response for almost a year. The city used a request-for-proposals process and contracted in February with consultants including VHB and AutoCASE for the project.

Blaise said the study will produce recommendations for zoning amendments and incentives backed by a financial analysis, multiple focus groups, and outreach, including consultations with utilities. The stated aim is to reduce the number of variance requests from the city's fossil fuel free ordinance—adopted by the council in November 2023—and to identify approaches to oversize transformers in new developments and create community benefits in buildings pursuing electrification.

Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions about the grant and laid the item on the table to recommend approval.

The committee recommended the acceptance of the grant; the item will be forwarded for formal acceptance and any required mayoral/council approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Finance - 2025-09-23","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor requested and the Finance Committee recommended accepting a $50,000 EEA grant to fund a zoning-incentives study to support compliance with Somerville's fossil fuel free ordinance; the committee recommended approval for forwarding.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500763,"Finance Committee recommends approval of multiple routine items; several matters kept in committee",0,2801000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823314-256dbe6c40db7b06c0e37c6818503387&start=2801&end=2801","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823314-256dbe6c40db7b06c0e37c6818503387/thumbnail_2801000.jpg","/articles/6500763/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-recommends-approval-of-multiple-routine-items-several-matters-kept-in-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500763-231d6328823e03993eac0563474df292/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151490&Signature=NQBuRTVZ-J~pf1PjTjpVLPEOz1HRv12Zh6YZ9FtZUSnVB~lmp1Hj-NiLKJmX6829YNFt9QapVNJGWjm2nAW8CFh1de~gTVbBwwUF8e79DkvQsQ8p9t8mt8kxH38ICM-Vi177hZ4gENheICEiKr4NTDOaCautht~xKkl1NEk0Z5evkftrUi7qxruHSyvUqhUMipF0X2LVKAo6KMNsDPv8SEMguFew9yphoL53iEO8kyMiOf-SE8Bq6ytrdDwtmrh9tbpB4PM0n1WlxbjLZIRXkanvvJC42pvFClYn6YqOFLOmolJL5SsxgthwDXlIJwqWXdu9A2DetoH54HkslGGoPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council Finance Committee on Sept. 23 voted to recommend approval of a set of routine and substantive items and left several other matters in committee for further review. Committee members present voted unanimously among those present to approve the items that had been laid on the table.

The committee recommended approval of the Sept. 9 minutes (ID 25-1443) and a request from the mayor to accept and expand a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to the Office of Sustainability and Environment for a zoning-incentives study tied to the city's fossil fuel free ordinance (ID 25-1295). The committee also recommended paying prior invoices totaling $10,452.22 for the Department of Infrastructure and Asset Management's strategic asset management plan and approved a requested transfer of $350,048 from IAM ordinary maintenance professional and technical services to IAM capital outlay professional and technical services (IDs 25-1412/13).

Members recommended approval of a $4,300,000 borrowing authorization and appropriation for final design and bid administration of the Morrison Avenue linear storage sewer separation project (ID 25-1411). The committee also recommended approval to extend Eastern Bank's treasury services contract through Aug. 31, 2026 (ID 25-1384) and laid a set of property and easement items related to the 299 Broadway/Old Star Market redevelopment on the table to recommend approval (IDs 25-1399 et seq.). Several small-dollar prior invoices (agenda items 7–12) were also recommended for approval as a batch.

Items left in committee include four police-department items (agenda items 3–6), two orders about Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant conditions and Immigration and Customs Enforcement cooperation (IDs 25-1445 and 25-1446), and a request for a comprehensive accounting of stabilization accounts that have remained unspent for three or more fiscal years (ID 25-1344). Committee members said they wanted more time and documents for those matters before advancing them.

The committee's formal roll-call vote on the motion to approve the items laid on the table recorded affirmative votes from Councilor Burnley (Aye), Councilor Klingen (Yes), Councilor Scott (Yes) and Chair Jake Wilson (Yes); the motion passed and the meeting adjourned at about 7:27 p.m.

Votes at a glance
- Approved (recommended to full council): Minutes (25-1443); Accept/expand $50,000 EEA sustainability grant (25-1295); Prior invoices/items 7–12; Prior-year invoice $10,452.22 for IAM strategic asset management and transfer $350,048 (25-1412/13); Authorization to borrow $4,300,000 for Morrison Ave. sewer design (25-1411); Eastern Bank contract extension to 08/31/2026 (25-1384); 299 Broadway discontinuance/takings/easements related items (17–20). Vote: unanimous among members present (4–0 recorded).
- Kept in committee: Police items 3–6; UASI/ICE cooperation orders (25-1445, 25-1446); Stabilization-account report request (25-1344).","Somerville Finance Committee on Sept. 23 recommended approval of minutes, multiple prior invoices, a $50,000 sustainability grant acceptance, a $4.3 million sewer design bond authorization and other items; police items, UASI/ICE questions and a stabilization-account review were kept in committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Somerville to use $50,000 state grant for study of zoning incentives tied to fossil-fuel-free ordinance

Finance Committee recommends approval of multiple routine items; several matters kept in committee