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Somerville to accept state grants worth roughly $196,000 for police and fire overtime
Summary
The finance committee recommended acceptance of two no‑match state grants: $87,450 for police overtime and $109,296 for fire department staffing; the police grant was recommended on a 3–1 roll call and the fire grant was laid on the table for recommendation as part of the final consent vote.
Somerville’s finance committee on Nov. 19 reviewed two state grants aimed at supporting public safety staffing and recommended approval of the police grant by roll call and laid the fire grant on the table.
Director Emily Wisdom (Police) described a predesignated $87,450 award from the Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing program intended to cover overtime for staffing shortfalls. "This is to help municipalities maintain public safety, and helping to address any police staffing shortfalls," Wisdom said. She said the award is typically used to cover overtime for events, promotions and turnover and does not add new positions.
The committee called the roll on recommending approval of the police grant and recorded three votes in favor and one dissenting vote (Clerk record: Counsellor Bah yes; Counsellor Brantley no; Counsellor Klayan yes; Chair Wilson yes). The Fire Department described a sister $109,296 grant for overtime and shift coverage; Director James Mucci said the money will be used to provide overtime to cover sick, injury and vacation leave so shifts remain staffed.
Both grants carry no local match requirement; the committee recommended approval of laid‑on‑the‑table items at the end of the meeting, which included the fire grant.
