[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6310938,"mediaKeyId","2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a","parentId",2397244,"title","Committee approves $1,312.50 in prior CART invoices and discusses consolidation of translation contracts","audioSeconds",545,"startMs",383000,"endMs",928000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a&start=383&end=928","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a/thumbnail_383000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310938/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-131250-in-prior-CART-invoices-and-discusses-consolidation-of-translation-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310938-235d9ca7b3bea11da7050b062fc66bd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195695&Signature=nsNgeKizp3NawwdT1uybzfgh8qEEnVl-neBYyHkxvzPU2QuyoLKJ8kQJVCWdPyqVlsZ7wpLSWN6Rgv8fP0SQ25hwHk2xhdUYVkGRCZkrJdv3AXEDkcCmQIEAKaiMHXiz4G0i1imVWZsxQFJwvuzICzw1aly2bL1j67Uxq7CRiLmqvGq7yN38jtQYi0OwAI6rM-~MjUc294PLlZktLcmn3Myg4O~mA3P7qPdWm1qLfN8UkdaGlP7Dy3589vHkLPZajGqUjnv3IoSakP-wH49OX9vTJhK4aHhECx9vYYYLV-ncEaVX7EyXSZvtWkAZxoiud2TxsRMFYMLFhIefyS5Rsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval to pay prior invoices totaling $1,312.50 from the Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) translation services account for communication access real-time translation (CART) services.

Councilor Burnley raised questions about why the invoice was unpaid and whether vendors had been informed when the city consolidated services under a single department. A staff liaison said the city has been moving toward streamlining internal processes so departments request language access services centrally through RSJ or the immigrant-affairs office, but acknowledged there is not a single formalized protocol that guarantees vendors are always notified when internal ownership changes. “There is no set protocol... but we do our best to communicate changes,” the staff liaison said.

Committee members described multiple legacy arrangements in which different departments previously held separate translation contracts; members noted the city is working to consolidate those services under RSJ and the immigrant-affairs office. Councilors discussed the impact on small local vendors that can struggle with delayed payments; staff said the chief administrative officer’s office is working on invoicing and vendor-management improvements, and pledged to follow up with the committee with details about current procedures and outstanding contract ownerships.

The invoice-payment item and several grant items were laid on the table and then approved in a combined roll-call vote at the end of the meeting. The meeting record does not include the vendor name, the original invoice date, or the reason the invoice was sent to the wrong department; those specifics were not specified in the committee discussion but were described generally as vendor mix-ups and internal transitions of service responsibility.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City Finance - 2025-02-25","oneSentenceSummary","The finance committee approved payment of $1,312.50 in prior invoices for CART services and held an extended discussion about consolidating translation and interpretation contracting across city departments.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310943,"Committee recommends acceptance of two Mass Cultural Council grants to Somerville Arts Council",319,397000,716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a&start=397&end=716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a/thumbnail_397000.jpg","/articles/6310943/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Committee-recommends-acceptance-of-two-Mass-Cultural-Council-grants-to-Somerville-Arts-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310943-8ec7bd8ce29ae90984d0618280cd9b75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195695&Signature=OttU8sHxCFfLFJPg6Cf1foi6HqKMpKRXropi9je2BJ4rQHLZrthKXQix5svcZDJ~0YlDmOhqwoRVNTrgSIkg-tJ4dJ1kxt3CoZeLT17oEOkImT0CSj1GF4t~AmDwhzmyUezVmgpLM6AwS4ErXxdrF9vNtAKJAaRnV6RCUrIKV1GZ22QCKuR0caS~YLlS4Z9TDaTivQZj5LxqTsfYMlrL1uX81br7lMG5F3Fg-4pO9iQxL2wC64GnLpPnxidGfCubtRUOjjDi-hi9XGrbjo~ZIl1YRNQ6u~MnscrVUUDPtHvz6zzHMyKTSktXS5Ny7r5ul7OXvNEcurW0ZIu1pVPYGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval to accept two grants from the Mass Cultural Council: $54,400 for the Local Cultural Council grant program and $18,300 in unrestricted operating support for the Somerville Arts Council.

The mayor’s requests for both grants were presented together; staff supplied a memo summarizing the annual grant-acceptance items. No councilor sought changes to the requests, and the items were laid on the table to be included in the combined approval vote at the meeting’s end.

Committee members noted the value of the Local Cultural Council program. Chair Jake Lisonbee said, drawing on his own pre-council experience, that he appreciated “that program exists and benefits the arts here in Somerville.” The committee approved the consent package by roll call at the meeting’s close.

The meeting record did not include a detailed breakdown of how the Arts Council will allocate the funds; that information was not specified in the committee discussion but may be available in the Arts Council’s staff memo that accompanied the agenda materials.","The finance committee recommended approval to accept a $54,400 Local Cultural Council grant and an $18,300 unrestricted operating grant from the Mass Cultural Council for the Somerville Arts Council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310947,"Somerville to seek $2.5 million MassWorks award for civic space at 299 Broadway",232,299000,531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a&start=299&end=531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a/thumbnail_299000.jpg","/articles/6310947/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-to-seek-25-million-MassWorks-award-for-civic-space-at-299-Broadway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310947-84fde0aefd7e9274f5fe96e7b31ba487/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195695&Signature=MobJuA2BDn~6u7ESVjuJM5-DghkDxpmo9A3Q9AnASnPIfzmC38qtUWGwKaW2IPL4P37VKf8kxaZdhKqvrM~cW~~kFbz7ASyAFFpUpmzVnDo9PyBYB6hw~rlkX7LQXdtS~B2p2n7TSHH2pJHINRnHM41E4kqh3CwBJzi5l6GSiNcYLG73ZEYEQPjp0Q2HQPfbvBwTBZGP9pqWAQUE17oKCpmqumEnUkpWVQNXcbD5t1GzMOflXxI4eiqPPDHNp-DMm01BVW9gJlUphVkmqK3FSzGO-r9e0vh8cev1kYTwb~crRvsMMIhspcXLk-EmCiPSx~NXPDtNuCCGQCngObT1zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval to accept and expend $2,500,000 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (a MassWorks grant) to support creation of publicly accessible civic spaces at the 299 Broadway redevelopment.

Senior Planner Ben Demers said the funds will be administered by the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development’s economic development division and are intended to support “the creation of public accessible civic spaces at the 299 Broadway project.” When a councilor asked for clarification, Demers confirmed this is a MassWorks grant.

Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the state funding. Councilors characterized it as welcome investment in a project they have discussed previously. The committee placed the item on the table to be included in a combined approval vote at the meeting’s close; no amendments were introduced during the committee discussion.

The meeting record did not include a detailed scope, schedule or construction budget for the civic-space elements; staff noted those specifics are part of ongoing project planning and design work. The combined roll-call vote at the end of the meeting recorded approval of the items on the table, including this MassWorks grant acceptance.","The finance committee recommended accepting a $2.5 million MassWorks grant to support creation of publicly accessible civic space as part of the 299 Broadway redevelopment project.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310952,"Finance committee to recommend $1 million state grant for Somerville Community Land Trust acquisition at Sewell Street",341,180000,521000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a&start=180&end=521","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a/thumbnail_180000.jpg","/articles/6310952/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Finance-committee-to-recommend-1-million-state-grant-for-Somerville-Community-Land-Trust-acquisition-at-Sewell-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310952-2c18dea61c71a57f303d7c7cbd121454/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195695&Signature=eGhTiXphBlwClslAa8JEBF~KPOUkjX6P0yOYHrHliAgvAfUd8I8IAuRHNIoFtY5Y29oHga0TS9BkYu0oXGNVp15EqZjhBMVjiXDJAxmEw6lTSERnthudKyq7XCp59uHaKI1ns1qMWbMzDaSWG5Nxs6DsFCPYBHczE5Jylei2dZ4eGkJHBMBfvUgZJW~DuMzi01pkFThtKn7HRX1cN-tylxbQ7GRUa7HQC6QaKysFucL2dDXEU62hutASE-Epk~P6k6hKNQgBgoivR4j-zEkxqAA-tSczGQryhZbBxJ-wg~BfbkoZP5ZJxKEv2e-RIJf~4nUn1pESxQ1xy~MEm1H-lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval to accept and expend a $1,000,000 grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to support the Somerville Community Land Trust’s project at 14–16 Sewell Street.

Senior Planner Ben Demers of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development told the committee the grant will fund land acquisition by the community land trust and may also cover overhead and design costs for the project. “A portion of the funds here will go towards the land trust’s land acquisition, and then the remainder of the funding is able to go, towards supporting the land trust overhead and design costs for the project,” Demers said.

Councilors expressed support. Councilor Klinge, the ward councilor, said she was “really excited about this,” noting the opportunity for homeownership options on the parcel and thanking staff for bringing the funding forward. The item was laid on the table to be included in a combined approval vote at the meeting’s end. No council member proposed amendments or conditions during the committee discussion.

The grant was described in the agenda as carrying no new match requirement. Demers acknowledged that the agenda title identified the item as acquisition and that staff would work with the city’s CPA manager and other project stakeholders on next steps. The meeting record did not include a detailed acquisition price, timeline, or final project design; those specifics were not specified during the committee’s on-the-record discussion.

The combined roll-call vote at the end of the meeting recorded approval of the items on the table, including this grant acceptance.","Committee recommended accepting a $1,000,000 grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to support the Somerville Community Land Trust’s acquisition and project costs at 14–16 Sewell Street.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310957,"Somerville finance committee backs $500,000 CPA request for Quincy Street Park renovation",180,98000,278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a&start=98&end=278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397244-32e667d8ddeb76b29f02375cf86bf28a/thumbnail_98000.jpg","/articles/6310957/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-finance-committee-backs-500000-CPA-request-for-Quincy-Street-Park-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310957-905e5172c3346b9af0b394b4c5a55317/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195695&Signature=T32D3lVpZFZT9KRCPx5WXRHjvLPODaiCV~s8DTeON4IR0H1HwYkyrgbFzO-850hxpQ44Zytl6XYm3cxx~pQLe2JAN2HcPdAiXTj69KpG0TdZWYa38QBpAdj1Kh5cnPyv6ZquONHDx6Q21CLrhi-T96N31mMOXvOT5MOC8K0mzS6bb2zFXLmqAmr35XMtAtdKF9hexPHOGR-Qi4YxuVEuRjZ3YC9qtNcyy4nApdTShL9QucxMqh5DhlzuaPqFKPKObQsc-Y0vVPwLwirTIX6lE7UXPn7zeF0p2JmoKU9Nybk7q0RPGyj7YZg0fAK8dpesKCqCrma83qNofifbz7r33g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville Finance Committee on Feb. 25 recommended approval of a $500,000 appropriation from the Community Preservation Act open-space reserve for renovation of Quincy Street Park.

The funding request was presented by Director Alan Inacio of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, who said the project emerged from this year’s CPA application round and carries a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee. The item was laid on the table for a single, combined approval vote at the end of the meeting.

Quincy Street Park was described during the meeting as located near Union Square, close to School Street and Market Basket. Committee members offered brief support; Councilor Klinge, the ward councilor, called the item “pretty straightforward” and said the committee should follow the CPC recommendation. No substantive objections or amendments were raised.

The committee combined this item with other grant-acceptance items and approved them together by roll-call vote at the meeting’s close.

The committee did not provide a detailed project scope, timeline or contractor information in the meeting record; those specifics were not specified in the materials discussed. Director Inacio indicated staff and the CPA manager are available to answer follow-up questions on the project.

The vote to recommend approval of the items on the table, which included this CPA appropriation, was taken by roll call near the end of the meeting and recorded as approved by all members present.","The Somerville Finance Committee voted to recommend approval of a $500,000 appropriation from the Community Preservation Act open-space reserve for renovations at Quincy Street Park in the Union Square area.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves $1,312.50 in prior CART invoices and discusses consolidation of translation contracts

Committee recommends acceptance of two Mass Cultural Council grants to Somerville Arts Council

Somerville to seek $2.5 million MassWorks award for civic space at 299 Broadway

Finance committee to recommend $1 million state grant for Somerville Community Land Trust acquisition at Sewell Street

Somerville finance committee backs $500,000 CPA request for Quincy Street Park renovation