Aldermen No More? Somerville Officials Propose Name Change

SOMERVILLE, MA – Officials in Somerville are proposing to change the name "Board of Aldermen" to "City Council" in an effort to be more inclusive to its female members. The proposal, suggested by Alderman-at-large William White, Jr. at a board meeting in early February, now has eight more aldermen on board and has been referred to the Committee of Legislative Matters, according to the Boston Globe.

White said "aldermen" means "board of wise old men" or "board of patriarchs," which he referred to as an "outdated" term. To change the name, the board must seek an amendment to the city charter through home rule petition, which requires approval from the state legislature.

Three women – President and Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne and Aldermen-at-large Stephanie Hirsch and Mary Jo Rossetti – currently serve on the board. Ballantyne told the Globe she believes the term "city councilor" is also more recognizable in today's vernacular.

Other nearby communities have passed similar measures in recent years.

>>>Read more from the Boston Globe

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