TheCambridge Record
Agenda Items ▸ Communications from City Officers

COF 2026-77

A memorandum regarding the search process for a permanent City Clerk

What happened
May 18, 2026 · 📁 Placed on file. This was an informative communication; there were no decisions to make. (voice vote, 9 present)

Present and voting at this meeting (9)

  • Ayah Al-Zubi
  • Burhan Azeem
  • Tim Flaherty
  • Marc McGovern
  • Patty Nolan
  • Sumbul Siddiqui
  • E. Denise Simmons
  • Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
  • Cathie Zusy
Filed by voice vote. A voice vote records the outcome, not individual positions. No member's yes or no is on the record (though a member can ask to be recorded in the negative in the minutes). Showing the members who cast recorded votes at this meeting. Rule 6 requires a roll call for spending over $50 or on any member's request; state law requires one for every vote when a member participates remotely. · photos: City of Cambridge · roster: PrimeGov roll calls, May 18, 2026
What’s next
🚪 End of the line.
The document Agenda item attachment · 1 page
🏛 This item on the city's site📄 Download original PDF

Sumbul Siddiqui

Mayor (2020-21, 2022-23, 2026-27) To the Honorable, the City Council, I write to provide an update on the search process for the next City Clerk. Following the Council’s prior extension of the interim appointment, a second recruitment effort was undertaken to identify candidates for consideration by the full City Council.

While the search yielded qualified applicants, several candidates withdrew from consideration throughout the process, resulting in fewer than the two candidates necessary to advance finalists to the full City Council for consideration. As the Council considers next steps regarding the recruitment and appointment process, it is important that the City maintains continuity and stability in the operations of the Clerk’s Office.

Interim City Clerk Paula Crane has continued to provide steady leadership and institutional knowledge during this period of transition. I therefore recommend that the City Council extend Ms. Crane’s interim appointment for an additional period not to exceed six months. Sincerely,

Sumbul Siddiqui

Mayor of Cambridge (2020-21, 2022-23, 2026-27)

🗓 The meeting where this was taken up: May 18, 2026