Downtown Somerville Alliance presents $994,728 budget as council and residents press for sidewalk repairs

Dana Kessle, director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance, told the Borough Council on Oct. 20 that the DSA’s 2026 program will focus on “innovation, inclusion and revitalization,” including new events, a digital‑first marketing strategy and partnerships such as a Candlelight Concert series hosted in Somerville.

Kessle said the DSA expects $994,728 in revenue and $994,014 in expenses next year, with $865,000 from assessment revenue and a $25,000 projected revenue increase from new businesses. She said roughly 30% of the DSA’s budget is for salaries and that the organization is pursuing county and private placemaking grants and sponsorships to support events and streetscape projects.

“ We’re not just a place to visit. We’re a place to belong,” Kessle said, describing the DSA’s effort to increase year‑round foot traffic through events and data‑driven marketing.

Council members used the DSA presentation to press for clarity on long‑running sidewalk and streetscape maintenance. Councilwoman Gina Stravik and others said they have repeatedly heard complaints about uneven pavers, missing bricks and planters that create tripping hazards. Residents at the public comment period reinforced those complaints: Rich O’Neal of Westcliff Street said the original agreement around the downtown streetscape promised ongoing maintenance and warned, “Government cuts a ribbon, walks away, and smiles.”

Kessle and the mayor said the maintenance picture is mixed: some sidewalks were created under earlier Special Improvement District (SID) projects and have varying maintenance arrangements. Kessle said the DSA has historically allocated funds to sidewalk repairs and can apply for grants to address specific segments but that larger, recurring maintenance would require a formal partnership and predictable funding from the borough.

Mayor Brian Gallagher and councilmembers suggested a multi‑year, rolling maintenance plan that would carve out recurring capital dollars — an approach modeled on earlier joint efforts that pooled municipal and DSA monies for blocks of work. Councilmembers discussed figures in the range of past allocations (DSA previously allocated rounds of money such as $50,000 in prior years) and sketched a concept for a multi‑year program to take sections of Main Street each year for routine maintenance.

The council and DSA acknowledged limits: grant awards typically require municipal “skin in the game,” and some repair authority rests with private property owners under borough ordinance. The mayor urged a joint plan to balance property‑owner responsibility with targeted public investment to improve accessibility and reduce the hazard risks that citizens described.

The public comment period included two other neighborhood concerns: John Hadley urged the borough to commission or consider independent analyses when reviewing developer‑commissioned economic studies; Michael Blair asked about long‑running trash and dumpster problems at Brookside Apartments and said borough staff had contacted the property owner to seek remediation.

The council did not adopt the DSA budget tonight; Kessle said the DSA board has approved its proposed budget and the council must formally affirm the DSA budget at a later vote after the public hearing requirement.

What’s next: Councilmembers asked staff to return with a clearer capital plan and suggested they would revisit the DSA budget affirmation with targeted infrastructure adjustments to reflect tonight’s comments.