Cambridge City Council moves into executive session to prepare for city manager negotiations

Mayor Simmons called a special meeting of the Cambridge City Council on Feb. 3, 2025, to hold a strategy session in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel, specifically the city manager.

Under a motion by Councilor S. Siddiqui, the council voted to enter executive session for that purpose. The roll call vote recorded six members present and voting yes; three members were recorded as absent. The council noted it would not reconvene in open session after the executive session.

The council opened by confirming remote participation under Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, as authorized by the Massachusetts General Court and the governor, and noted the meeting audio and video were being recorded and made available through the city's open meeting portal and cable channel. The clerk reported no one had signed up for public comment; the public-comment period was closed before the motion to enter executive session.

Attendees for the executive session as announced included members of the City Council (present both in person and remotely), outside counsel Attorney Elizabeth Valero, the city clerk and deputy clerk, and Naomi Stefan, special assistant to the City Council. The motion was moved by Councilor Siddiqui; a second was not specified in the public record.

Roll call as recorded: Councilor Azim — present/yes; Vice Mayor McGovern — absent; Councilor Nolan — present/yes; Councilor Siddiqui — present/yes; Councilor Sabrina Wheeler — absent; Councilor Toner — present/yes; Councilor Wilson — absent; Councilor Zusi — present/yes; Mayor Simmons — present/yes. The clerk reported six yes votes and three absences.

Because the council entered executive session for personnel-negotiation strategy, no further details of the discussion were disclosed on the public record at the meeting. The council also stated it would not return to open session after the executive session concluded.