September Meeting: Monday Sept 28, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

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Kendra Fox

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Sep 20, 2026, 3:29:48 PMSep 20
to Davis Square Neighborhood Council

Hi Neighbors,


Our regular meeting will be held on September 28 at 6:00 PM, at the Crystal Ballroom, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. 

Please plan to arrive in person at 5:30 PM for check in and new member verification.


As always, our regular meetings are hybrid and also held online via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85220522175?pwd=b92uXx6aRRNXdehZWGFZRQXogheZus.1

Meeting ID: 852 2052 2175

Passcode: 812425

**Additional note for Sept 28th meeting**

This month we will continue to address bylaws amendments, some previously introduced and not addressed at last month's meeting due to time limitations, and some new amendments announced at our August meeting. All bylaw  amendments up for vote are described and individually linked in an updated voter guide

  • You are encouraged to discuss in advance of our meeting using our discussion group. Click here to access the discussion group.

  • We ask that you plan to arrive at 5:30 pm for our 6 pm meeting to allow time for check in. 

    • Verified members will be provided red/green voting cards to hold up in favor or opposition. Non-members are welcome at the meeting, but will not vote. Please bring proof of address if you are unverified or unsure of your status

  • A QR code linking to the voter guide, as well as a few physical copies, and a handout primer on Robert's Rules of Order will be provided at the meeting for reference.



Please reach out to the board at dsnc-...@googlegroups.com with any questions about the upcoming meeting. 



See you at the meeting,

Kendra Fox




Agenda:

5:30 PM - Member sign in and verification

6:00 PM - Welcome & Intros 

6:10 PM - Approve minutes from the last meeting

6:11 PM - Report from the Treasurer - See linked budget spreadsheet

6:12 PM - Update on recognition - Legislative Matters Committee on Sep 15, 2026

  • Committee unanimously voted to recommend recognizing us

  • City Council still needs to vote to recognize DSNC

    • City Solicitor did review compliance with the ordinance in regard to DSNC membership extended to residents living in Cambridge, Medford, and Arlington, and DSNC is in compliance with the current ordinance.

    • Committee members said they may reconsider the geographic boundaries in the neighborhood council ordinance

    • Size and other tweaks to catchment were discussed/of concern, plan to bring discussion to membership in near future.


6:20   PM - Bylaw Amendments 

  • Motion to limit debate (accepted with 2/3ds majority)

    • Maximum 2 minutes per speaker

    • Maximum 12 minutes per amendment

    • Each person can only speak once per amendment

    • Alternate speakers for and against as possible

    • No secondary amendments (changes to the proposed text) except those already announced in the voter guide

    • No referrals to committee or postponements to a later time

  • Bylaw amendments up for vote (Voting order may be adjusted)

    • Bylaws noticed and described in the published voter guide

    • Amendment left open at close of August meeting:

      • Amendments QX bases quorum on attendance at the last three meetings. There are several different variants.

    • New business (noticed at meetings in July and August)


  • 52A5: Members May Add Questions or Candidates to the Agenda for Any Meeting

  • 52B0: Clerical Amendment Separating Article 10 (Amendments) into Numbered Parts

  • 52B1: Bylaw Amendments up to Six Months after Submission

  • 52B2: Bylaw Amendments Require Endorsement by Five Members

  • 52B3: Allowing Online Voting for Bylaw Amendments


  • Amendment Q2 (Ed Woll) changes the threshold to 20% of DSNC members.

  • Community Benefits Agreements 

    • Amendments 18A1.2-4 (Chris Beland, Ashish Shrestha) reduce the threshold to pass a CBA, from the current ⅔ majority to 60%, 55%, or 50%.

    • Amendment 18C1 (Ed Woll) requires at least ⅔ of verified DSNC members to vote (like a quorum requirement) on CBAs.

  • Miscellaneous

    • Amendment D (Derrick Rice) makes clerical changes to section 3.1, primarily labeling the membership eligibility criteria for easier reference. It does not change the membership criteria

    • Amendment 16G (Zachary Yaro; not referred by the Bylaws Working Group) restores direct election of the treasurer and secretary, and simplifies Section 4.6 Voting Method.

    • Amendment 54 (Ashish Shrestha; not referred to by the Bylaws Working Group) requires CBA votes be conducted “consistent” with board elections and specifies certain minimum requirements.


7:25  PM - Updates on Projects and Priorities:

  • Brief remarks for pertinent updates


7:35 PM - Developments (also on website) updates as available

  • Updates on project stalling, seeking feedback

  • See Agenda item below about CBA framework



7:45 PM - Community Benefits framework

  • The board will be releasing a survey in October.

  • General topics for survey planning: Did we miss any?

    • <Hold: Link to list of topic areas to be displayed at meeting>

  • Will be accepting email suggestions for additional topic areas and specific questions.



7:55 PM - Updates on meetings since our last meeting (anyone who attended can provide an update to the rest of the group)



7:58 PM - Upcoming Community Meetings and events

7:59 PM - Motion to adjourn

8:00 PM - General meeting concludes.

Post Meeting Socializing at the Ballroom: Stay for a drink and to socialize with neighbors! 



Community Meeting Reports and New Business: 

Have you attended any recent community meetings that might interest DSNC members?
Are you involved in an organization that operates in the Davis Square area, and would like to provide information or updates to our neighbors about your work?
Anything you’d like to help get the word out to your neighbors about, that’s relevant to the Square?

We invite you to share a brief report at our next meeting. To ensure these updates are informative and efficient:

  • Please prepare a written summary (2-3 paragraphs) in advance

  • Email your summary to the Secretary, Kendra Fox, (kendra...@gmail.com) for inclusion in the agenda.

  • Be ready to present a 2-3 minute overview at the meeting.

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