The Somerville City Council’s Committee on Confirmation of Appointments and Personnel Matters on Feb. 5 recommended three nominees to fill vacancies on the city’s Human Rights Commission, a body the city says has not met quorum for several years.

The committee recommended confirmation of Jenny Bonham Carter and Lauren Chapman by unanimous roll calls and recommended Brian Sokol by a 4–1 vote. The recommendations will go to the full council for final confirmation at next Thursday’s council meeting.

The action matters because the Human Rights Commission, established in the Somerville Code of Ordinances, is charged with investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination, working with municipal departments and schools to increase compliance with local, state and federal law, and conducting public education on human-rights issues. Committee members repeatedly said filling the commission is intended to restore those functions.

Director Fleith of the city’s Office of Rights, Safety and Justice (RSJ) described the commission’s mission for the committee: "The Human Rights Commission... shall work towards mutual respect and understanding among all individuals and groups in the city of Somerville by improving the quality of public discourse and eliminating unlawful discrimination." Fleith also read functions listed in the municipal code, including outreach, complaint response and the power to obtain information from city departments.

Committee members pressed staff on why the commission has been inactive. Director Fleith said the commission has lacked quorum and staff have pursued an extensive recruitment effort. According to the mayor’s office liaison, the commission seats have a maximum of 12 members; four seats were filled at the time of the meeting. The mayor’s office said it conducts a public call for applicants (a four-week outreach period), panel interviews and then forwards two recommended candidates per open seat to the mayor for nomination to council. The liaison said the most recent call closed Jan. 31 and that staff had interviewed nine people with more initial interviews scheduled.

Language access, diversity of applicants and connections to immigrant communities were recurring themes during candidate questioning. Councilors asked whether applicants or current commissioners speak Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole and what supports the city provides. A mayor’s office staffer said the city is “looking at ways to get language justice” across boards and commissions and to provide translation and interpretation supports for meetings and materials.

Each candidate introduced themselves and answered committee questions about experience, priorities and whether they could serve impartially on complaints that might involve city departments. Jenny Bonham Carter described a background in human-rights study and volunteer work with asylum seekers and arts organizations and said she would be "a hands on person" for debriefs or incidents. Lauren Chapman, who works in affordable-housing compliance and is pursuing a master’s in urban and environmental policy, said she would center community needs and pursue collaboration with local organizations. Brian Sokol, who has worked in public policy on homelessness and data systems, outlined a proposal to organize the commission’s work into committees for administration, promotion of diversity, complaint response, compliance/training and research.

Committee members also raised questions about a public article and prior public comments by one nominee. Councilors asked Brian Sokol about an article and about statements he made in a May 2024 public comment regarding Israel and Palestine; Sokol said he does not consider criticism of the Israeli government inherently antisemitic, that he can hear diverse viewpoints and that he would "be the defender of all people." The committee recorded that those concerns had been brought to its attention by members of the public and that members had sought answers during the hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Jenny Bonham Carter — Roll-call recommendation to confirm: Yes (Councilor Pena Neufeld), Yes (Councilor Klingen), Yes (Councilor Syed), Yes (Councilor McLaughlin), Yes (Councilor Ewen Campan). Outcome: recommended to full council (5–0).

- Lauren Chapman — Roll-call recommendation to confirm: Yes (Pena Neufeld), Yes (Klingen), Yes (Syed), Yes (McLaughlin), Yes (Ewen Campan). Outcome: recommended to full council (5–0).

- Brian Sokol — Roll-call recommendation to confirm: Yes (Pena Neufeld), Yes (Klingen), No (Councilor Syed), Yes (McLaughlin), Yes (Ewen Campan). Outcome: recommended to full council (4–1).

Committee members and city staff emphasized that the appointments are only the first step to restoring commission activity. Director Fleith and mayoral staff encouraged the incoming commissioners to set up committees and an annual work plan so the commission can resume investigations, training and public engagement. The mayor’s liaison said staff will return with additional nominees to fill remaining vacancies and expects to present the recommended confirmations to the full council the following week.

The committee’s recommendations now proceed to the full City Council for final confirmation.