Somernova CBA Implementation Committee

The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with Somernova Site developer Rafi Investments-Somerville, LLC (Rafi) requires that the USNC constitute a “CBA Implementation Committee” (CBA-IC) consisting of five (5) members to monitor the progress of all the commitments entered into by Rafi and the USNC under the CBA. A copy of the executed CBA can be found here. 

Description of Committee Tasks:

1. Monitoring progress on‬ all commitments under the Somernova CBA

2. Rafi will meet with the CBA-IC: ‬

   • quarterly during construction of any phase of the Project, and‬  ‬

   • semi-annually in the event that no construction is on-going at the Project site. 

3. Committee members should meet in preparation for each meeting with Rafi. This involves:

   • soliciting questions from the USNC Board to be submitted in writing to Rafi at least two weeks (14 days) in advance of each meeting;

   • reviewing Rafi’s progress reports, to be submitted no fewer than 7 days in advance of each meeting.

4. Members of the committee should expect to invest at least 4 hours every quarter; this includes meeting and preparation times, as well as coordination and emailing.

Candidate Requirements: 

The USNC seeks applications from candidates who are:

1. Aged 16+.

2. We welcome candidates from the following constituencies:

   • Somerville Residents;

   • Abutters to the Project area (persons who live within 1,000 feet of the Somernova campus, including the green area shown as expanded catchment on the USNC boundary map);

   • Artists and Arts Administrators who live or work in Somerville; 

   • Veterans of the Somernova CBA process (either for or against); 

   • Somernova CBA Negotiating Team; USNC Board Members.

3. Expertise in any of the following areas is welcome but not required: 

   • 1. • • Prior experience with CBAs;

          • Familiarity with zoning and planning issues;

          • Community organizing;

          • Architects, Planners, Traffic Engineers;

          • Law and legal services.

Restrictions: Candidates must not be employed by Rafi, its associates or consultants, and not otherwise have a conflict of interest (as defined in the USNC Bylaws §13). 

Interested candidates should submit the following materials as part of their application:

1. Contact info and confirmation of candidate qualification from the Candidate Requirements listed above.

2. A Cover Letter that addresses the following questions:

   • Why do you want to be on the committee? What constituency (or constituencies) do you count yourself as belonging to?

   • Why do you think you’d be an ideal person to be on the committee? Please include any relevant experience you have in this regard.

3. A Curriculum Vitae (optional).

Applicant questions needing response before the submission deadline should be directed to the Somernova Committee by 9 p.m. EST on January 26, 2026. Questions may be directed to usnc-somernova-oversight+managers@googlegroups.com with the subject “Question Somernova CBA-IC” or asked as part of public comment during any USNC General meeting happening on or before January 26, 2026.

Applicant submissions may be transmitted electronically via email to:

usnc-somernova-oversight@googlegroups.com 

with subject “Application Somernova CBA-IC”. 

Or by USPS mail to: 

Union Square Neighborhood Council
Attn: Somernova Committee
337 Somerville Avenue,
Somerville, MA 02143.

The deadline to submit applications is January 30, 2026, 11:59 pm EST. Email or physical submissions must be postmarked on or before this day. 

Interviews for short-listed applicants will be scheduled in the second half of February and/or the first week of March 2026, with the option to attend remotely or in person at a location TBD in Union Square.