Somerville Drops Board Of Aldermen Name

SOMERVILLE, MA – The city's legislative body will no longer be called the board of alderman, officials announced Friday. Gov. Charlie Baker signed a home rule petition Jan. 1 approving the switch to city council.

The new name will officially take effect Jan. 31.

"I am very happy not to be called an elder man anymore," City Council President Katjana Ballantyne said in a statement.

The process of switching names began early last year when Councilor-at-Large Bill white submitted a request that the city get permission from the state to change the name of the legislative body in the city charter.

"Our work certainly won't change, but I thought it was important that we adopt a modern and inclusive name for the legislative body of our city," White said in a statement.

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