Citizens and public servants alike expressed strong opinions and concerns as the Board of Aldermen draws near to a final conclusion of its real estate transfer fee Home Rule Petition efforts.

By Jim Clark

On Monday, May 7, the Legislative Matters Committee of the Whole of the City of Somerville Board of Aldermen held a public meeting to provide both city officials and concerned residents the opportunity to share their thoughts and wishes regarding the proposed Home Rule Petition that would impose a 1% transfer fee on certain property transactions within the city.

It was the second such meeting held by the Committee, and will be the last one before a final draft of the Home Rule Petition is finalized and prepared for presentation to state legislators for consideration.

The meeting commenced with the Committee Chairman, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, updating the attendees on the steps the Board has taken to refine the proposed measure. “The administration introduced an initial version in January, and we’ve had nine meetings since then, where we discussed this for many hours,” Niedergang said. “The Board has made many significant changes over the past four months.”

Niedergang explained that in order for a Home Rule Petition to have a chance to be seriously considered by the state legislature this year, the city would need to submit it this month.

He went on to say that the Legislative Matters Committee will meet twice next week, on Wednesday, May 16, at 6:00 p.m., and Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. The meetings will be open to the public, but there will not be any public testimony.

Niedergang said that his hope and expectations for the meeting is that the Committee will make revisions to and take a vote on the Home Rule Petition, but if necessary, the matter could be taken up again at another meeting of the Committee scheduled for May 21.

“Any vote by the Legislative Matters Committee would then have to be approved at a full meeting of the Board of Aldermen, Niedergang said. “My hope is that this would happen on Thursday, May 24.”

Mayor Joseph Curtatone was the first to address the Board, explaining to those assembled why his administration is in favor of the proposed fee.

“We all know that Somerville, and in fact the entire region is in the midst of a significant housing crisis,” the mayor said. “To be more clear, the Greater Boston Metro region needs 435,000 new units of housing by 2040 to catch supply up to demand.”

The mayor went on in detail, explaining his view that the proposed Home Rule Petition would provide a valuable tool in helping to alleviate the overwhelming demand for more housing.

Several former and current city officials, along with representatives from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund also made presentations to the Board, effectively echoing the mayor’s central message that the housing crisis is real and that the proposed transfer fee will help regulate and fend off speculative investment in local properties while providing needed revenue to fund affordable housing construction in the short and long term in the city.

Members of the public spoke almost evenly both in favor of and in opposition to the Home rule petition. Advocates cited the dire need for affordable housing funding, while opponents questioned the fairness of the fee to property owners, as well as citing concerns over the use of such revenues generated.

Anyone wishing to view an online video of this meeting can go to http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=2694&Format=Agenda.