Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-67
Condominium/cooperative review board
Operative Text
(a) There is hereby established a condominium/cooperative conversion review board to consist of five full members and one alternate member, all of whom shall be City of Somerville residents. The failure of a review board member to reside in Somerville shall result in automatic termination of membership. Review board members shall serve staggered terms of three years each. The review board shall include two homeowners, two tenants , and one elderly, disabled, or low- or moderate-income person , who may be either a homeowner or a tenant, and an alternate who may be either a homeowner or a tenant and who shall serve as needed. (b) Review board members shall be appointed by the mayor , subject to confirmation by the city council . For good cause shown, a review board member may be removed by the mayor prior to the expiration of such member’s term of office. Members of the review board shall receive such annual compensation as the mayor shall propose and the city council shall approve. (c) The review board shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this ordinance and shall be responsible for promulgating such rules, policies, and procedures as it may deem advisable in furtherance of its purposes. The review board may adopt such rules, policies, and procedures by majority vote. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the review board shall be responsible for conducting hearings and granting or denying conversion permits. The review board and its staff shall also be responsible for developing administrative forms and procedures. (d) Review board members shall be deemed public employees for purposes of G.L. c. 258. Review board members shall be deemed special municipal employees for purposes of G.L. c. 268A. ( Ord. No. 2019-06 , 3-28-2019; Ord. No. 2023-17 , 7-13-2023 ) Editor's note- Ord. No. 2023-17, adopted July 13, 2023, reorganized §§7-65-7-67. This section 7-67 was previously 7-66.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-67 establishes a five-member condominium and cooperative conversion review board, plus one alternate, all of whom must be Somerville residents. The board is composed of two homeowners, two tenants, and one elderly, disabled, or low- or moderate-income person, with members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council for staggered three-year terms. The board holds the authority to enforce the conversion ordinance, conduct hearings, and grant or deny conversion permits, and it may adopt rules and procedures by majority vote.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers pursuing a condominium or cooperative conversion in Somerville will interact directly with the review board created under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-67, since that body is responsible for granting or denying conversion permits. Operators generally familiarize themselves with the administrative forms and procedures the board develops, and they participate in any hearings the board conducts as part of the permit process. Staying current with rules and policies the board adopts by majority vote helps ensure a conversion application is complete and procedurally compliant.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. IV § 7-67, tenants have a direct stake in the review board's work because the board includes tenant representatives and holds authority over whether a conversion permit is granted or denied. Tenants affected by a proposed condominium or cooperative conversion can participate in the hearings the board conducts and review the administrative procedures the board has established. Those seeking to understand their rights in a conversion proceeding may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or consulting the board's published rules and policies for guidance on how to engage with the process.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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