force disclosure of all parties with a financial stake in developments and for the city to conduct planning studies using contractors that haven't held contracts with the city for seven years.

SomeSense also wants the Board of Aldermen to take on responsibility for issuing special permits, with the group charging that the Zoning Board of Appeals acts as a "rubber stamp" for both the mayor and developers. The board's five voting and two alternate members are appointed by the mayor for five-year terms.

"We envision that (the ordinances) will be used to strengthen the zoning process," SomeSense leader Teri Swartzel told the Planning Board at a public hearing last month. "We feel these are reasonable ordinances that are no less than what we deserve in Somerville."

Two of the five proposed ordinances relate directly to the group's frustration at the city for not being up front about possible conflicts of interest and other issues relating to a senior housing development proposed for 44 Park St.

At the board's April 1 meeting, George Proakis, planning director at the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, laid out the case against each of the ordinances.

Limiting development around Park Street, Proakis said, would leave the area without options for cleaning out unused buildings. He added that using contractors without any ties to the city for seven years would require going as far as Springfield looking for them, and that removing special permit authority would be going back on a century of sound policy.

Proakis also reiterated the city's stance that while disclosure of the parties involved is required, the information can't be used to judge a project.

An application for a controversial hotel and restaurant project at 371 Beacon St. recently went through both the Planning Board and Zoning Board without any contact information or signature from the applicant until the night of the final vote. The ZBA is now being sued by an abutter.

Previously, OSCPD had denied that anything was amiss with the application process.

"There is some need to clarify (the application)," Proakis said. "The portion of concerns we do believe need to be addressed, can be addressed administratively."

Before the board voted not to recommend each of the SomeSense ordinances, board member Elizabeth Moroney said she understood the residents' concerns.

"There's never a perfect way to do these things," Moroney said. "I understand what the 10 citizens are trying to do, but it's the perfect being the enemy of the good."

The ordinances are currently before the Board of Aldermen, who Swartzel said are not likely to approve any of the measures without the Planning Board's recommendation.

"It's disappointing," Swartzel said, "but this is just one way of effecting change. We'll continue to try to hold people accountable for the decisions they make."