Mayor tells Somerville council she’s reorganizing office; council approves small salary transfer for new liaison roles

Mayor Mary Wilson appeared before the Somerville City Council on Jan. 8 to explain a reorganization within the mayor’s office and to request a $4,543.04 transfer from the executive administration salaries account to fund two repurposed liaison positions.

Wilson described the two roles—a mayor’s public liaison (noted in materials as Jesse Moose) to serve as a conduit between the mayor’s office and the public, including certain social-media responsibilities; and a community partnerships liaison (Brenda Broderick) to coordinate work among the city’s nonprofit and partner organizations. She said the change is part of a broader staffing restructuring meant to create parity between three liaison roles in the mayor’s office.

Councilors asked for clarification about pay grades and organizational placement. Wilson said the mayor’s social-media account should be distinct from the city’s communications channels but that the new liaison will coordinate with the Communications Department as needed. Councilors also asked whether the positions reflected reclassifications consistent with the budget book; the mayor and other speakers said the reorganization was designed to align qualifications and pay.

Councilor Scott and others said the explanation answered their questions, and the council approved the transfer that evening. The council did not attach additional conditions or require a staff report beyond typical hiring and budgetary procedures. The mayor said the administration is actively engaged in hiring for related positions, including a director of intergovernmental affairs and an executive administrative assistant.

The transfer is an administrative budget action to fund existing or newly repurposed roles and will be administered through the executive administration budgets and personnel processes.