Committee pauses Housing Authority police reappointments pending legal review of oversight and indemnification

The Somerville City Council Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters left three Somerville Housing Authority police reappointments and one appointment in committee for further legal review after extended questions about oversight, indemnification and access to disciplinary records. Committee members said they will consult the city solicitor before taking any confirmation votes.

Why it matters: The discussion addressed who carries liability for housing police officers’ actions, what oversight the city can exercise over officers who are not city employees and whether the committee’s confirmation has legal effect. The items involve public safety responsibilities, use-of-force and disciplinary procedures in housing-managed properties across the city.

Councilors, city staff and former Somerville Police Chief (now a public safety consultant to Somerville Housing Authority) debated how housing authority officers are appointed, what training and certification they hold, and where complaint and discipline records reside. Kimberly Hutter of the mayor’s…