"We need to compromise a little here. We can't have everything, all of us," Gay said.

Somerville's long history can be vexing, too, as in the case of its aging sewer system, which hasn't been rebuilt for 100 years.

"Parts of Ward 2 still have wooden sewers," Gay said.

But any improvements would require federal funding, because the city does not have a stabilization fund for dealing with such needs, Gay said.

In the area of public safety, Gay said that community policing has been a success and counts it as a factor in falling crime rates.

"I stand behind it and continue to fund it," Gay said. "If we had spare dollars that's where I'd put it."

As for Harvard, Gay said that she hopes the University and Somerville can forge a closer relationship during her term than they have had in the past.