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.

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

The new name will officially take effect Jan. 31.

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.

