July 21, 2025 Cambridge City Council Special meeting
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICERS
1. A communication was received from Mayor E. Denise Simmons, transmitting Call for Emergency Special Meeting on July 21, 2025. (COF25#102)
Placed on File 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zusy – Absent)
July 18, 2025
Paula Crane, Interim City Clerk
Cambridge City Hall
Re: Call for Emergency Special Meeting on July 21, 2025Dear Interim Clerk Crane,
I am calling the City Council to convene for an emergency Special Meeting on July 21, 2025. The call of the meeting is as follows:“The City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Monday July 21, 2025, at 10:00am. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss litigation known as Said S. Abuzahra, Trustee of Equity Realty Trust, et al. v. City of Cambridge related to the litigation. In addition, the City Council may move to executive session in order to discuss strategy with respect to the litigation known as Said S. Abuzahra, Trustee of Equity Realty Trust, et al. v. City of Cambridge (Mdsx. Super. Ct. Docket No. 2017- cv-2459), executive session being necessary as discussion of this matter in open session may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City.”
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Mayor E. Denise Simmons
CITY MANAGER’S AGENDA
1.Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Four-Million-Three-Hundred-Thousand dollars and no cents ($4,300,000), from the General Fund Employee Benefits Department Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Law Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account for the settlement payment relating to Said S. Abuzahra, Trustee of Equity Realty Trust, et al. v. City of Cambridge (Mdsx. Super. Ct. Docket No. 2017- cv2459/J). (CM25#188)
Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zusy – Absent)
CM25#188 July 21, 2025
To the Honorable, the City Council:
I hereby request a transfer in the amount of Four-Million-Three-Hundred-Thousand dollars and no cents ($4,300,000), from the General Fund Employee Benefits Department Salary and Wages account to the General Fund Law Department Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account for the settlement payment relating to Said S. Abuzahra, Trustee of Equity Realty Trust, et al. v. City of Cambridge (Mdsx. Super. Ct. Docket No. 2017- cv-2459/J).I am recommending that the Council appropriate these funds as part of a settlement to resolve the above litigation.
Once the City’s FY26 Free Cash amount is certified by the state, I anticipate submitting a recommendation to the City Council for a Free Cash appropriation to replenish the Employee Benefits Department Salary and Wages account.
Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager
2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request to move to Executive Session (if necessary) to discuss the litigation Said S. Abuzahra, Trustee of Equity Realty Trust, et al. v. City of Cambridge (Mdsx. Super. Ct. Docket No. 2017- cv-2459) because discussing this in an open session may have a detrimental effect on the City’s litigating position. (CM25#189)
Placed on File 7-0-2 (Siddiqui, Zusy – Absent)