Somerville City Council elects Judy Pena Neufeld president, Lance Davis vice president; council adopts routine organizational orders
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Summary
At its Jan. 6, 2025, organizational meeting, the Somerville City Council elected Councilor Judy Pena Neufeld president and Councilor Lance Davis vice president, approved procedural orders including the council rules and several administrative appointments, and completed seat drawings for the 2025 year.
Judy Pena Neufeld was elected president of the Somerville City Council at the council's Jan. 6 organizational meeting, and Councilor Lance Davis was elected vice president.
The vote for president concluded with the clerk announcing, “With 7 votes, councilor Pena Neufeld has been elected president of this city council.” The later roll call for vice president produced the announcement that “With 10 votes, councilor Lance Davis has been elected vice president of this city council.”
The meeting began with Councilor Lance Davis calling the session to order and noting the meeting was held in accordance with the Massachusetts open meeting law and that audio and video were being recorded. After nominations and roll-call votes, the council recessed briefly while the newly elected officers were sworn and signed the oath of office.
Following the elections, the council considered routine organizational business. Item 5.1, an order to adopt the city council rules for 2025 as approved May 9, 2024, passed on a voice vote. The council also approved an order to revive and recommit business pending at the end of 2024 (Item 5.2); accepted the bonds of the city treasurer and tax collector (Item 5.3); and authorized the city treasurer to appoint deputy tax collectors (Item 5.4). A communication listing standing and special committee assignments and commission appointments (Item 5.5) was placed on file.
Councilors completed the drawing of seat assignments for 2025 during the meeting. The clerk and councilors conducted the drawing publicly; the announced seat numbers were recorded by the clerk and read into the record.
All of the routine orders listed above were approved without recorded objection during the meeting. The formal procedural actions closed with the president declaring the meeting adjourned and wishing the city a healthy 2025.
Ending: The organizational meeting established the council leadership and procedural framework for its 2025 work. Several administrative housekeeping orders were adopted by voice vote; no contested policy decisions were taken at this session.