[2:40] and.

[4:13] >>

[4:13] so.

[7:39] Buying this.

[7:41] Good morning everyone.

[7:43] For the record my name is liz

[7:44] breadon, city

[7:45] council PRESIDENT, district

[7:46] nine city councilor and chair

[7:47] of the boston city

[7:49] council committee on rules,

[7:50] ethics and administration.

[7:54] Today is AUGUST 13th 2026 and

[7:57] the exact time is 10:08 A.M..

[8:00] This hearing is being recorded.

[8:03] It is also being live

[8:03] streamed@boston.Gov.

[8:05] Uh backslash.

[8:08] City council dash tv and

[8:10] broadcast on xfinity channel

[8:13] eight rcn uh channel 82.

[8:18] Fios channel 964.

[8:20] Written comments MAY be sent to

[8:23] the committee email uh

[8:25] scarborough uh boston.Gov.

[8:27] And were made a part of the

[8:29] record and available to all

[8:29] councilors.

[8:31] Public testimony will be taken

[8:32] at the end of the hearing.

[8:34] Individuals would be called on

[8:36] in the order in which they

[8:37] signed up and will have two

[8:38] minutes to testify.

[8:40] If you're interested in

[8:42] testifying in person, please

[8:44] add your name to the sign up

[8:45] sheet near the entrance of the

[8:46] chamber and if you're looking

[8:48] to testify virtually, please

[8:51] email our central staff liaison

[8:52] megan at megan.

[9:02] Meg and megan dot c o r u g

[9:06] doma rta and@boston.Gov for the

[9:08] link and your name will be

[9:09] added to the list.

[9:11] Today's hearing is on docket

[9:13] number 0475.

[9:16] Order for a hearing to review

[9:18] the application and intent

[9:19] of rule 15 this matter.

[9:21] It was co-sponsored by

[9:23] councilors aaron flynn and

[9:25] councilmember um erin murphy

[9:27] and councilor flynn and was

[9:30] referred to the committee on

[9:31] MARCH 4th 2026.

[9:34] Uh, today I am joined by my

[9:35] colleagues uh, in order

[9:37] of arrival councilor flynn.

[9:40] Um, councilor murphy and we

[9:42] have a letter of absence, uh,

[9:43] from councilor pepen.

[9:49] Just, uh I'd like to start with

[9:51] some opening remarks.

[9:52] I want to thank, uh, michelle

[9:56] goldberg and alex of the city

[9:58] clerk for being here and and to

[9:59] and bring resources to this

[10:02] process being we began this

[10:05] term with a collaborative rules

[10:07] process, uh, multiple working

[10:08] sessions.

[10:09] And this hearing is a great

[10:10] opportunity to discuss the

[10:12] rules and ensure they're

[10:13] meeting the needs of the

[10:14] council and current practice.

[10:16] This is a chance for us to

[10:16] step.

[10:17] Back.

[10:18] >> look at how the rule is

[10:20] functioning and ask what

[10:21] improvements, if any might help

[10:23] us operate more smoothly.

[10:26] Every councilor has been around

[10:30] rule 15 at some point there's a

[10:30] share.

[10:32] There's a shared desire to make

[10:34] sure our rules are leading to.

[10:35] Excuse me.

[10:40] A councilor has been uh uh

[10:42] every councilor has been rule

[10:43] 15 at some point and there's a

[10:45] shared desire to make sure our

[10:46] rules are leading to a smooth

[10:48] as smooth a council process.

[10:49] >> as possible.

[10:52] Uh, we've also been joined by

[10:53] councilor fitzgerald.

[10:58] Um, we'll start off um I'd like

[11:00] to also introduce today's

[11:00] panelists.

[11:03] Uh, alex karanka's who's our

[11:05] city truck uh, of the city

[11:07] clerk of the city of boston and

[11:09] michelle goldberg, uh, who's

[11:10] the central staff director for

[11:12] the city of boston.

[11:17] Um, we'll open up with, um, two

[11:18] minutes opening statements for

[11:21] the for uh, colleagues, um,

[11:23] councilor my constituents and

[11:24] countryman murphy, since you're

[11:25] the lead sponsor.

[11:27] Uh, if you'd like to start.

[11:28] Thank you.

[11:29] Um.

[11:30] Thank you.

[11:33] It's different to see you,

[11:34] michelle and clark.

[11:35] Um, across.

[11:37] But thank you for being here.

[11:39] Like I said, I know since it's

[11:40] my fifth year on the council we

[11:42] have had and I think it's a

[11:44] productive thing to do.

[11:46] Uh, meet during a term in the

[11:48] crowley room talking through

[11:49] the rules.

[11:50] I know when council of flynn

[11:51] was the PRESIDENT A couple

[11:53] times we just went through all

[11:55] the rules to kind of make sure

[11:58] we were in an understanding

[11:59] of we're using them to the true

[12:01] intent of making sure everyone

[12:02] on the council feels as though

[12:04] the rules they're not supposed

[12:05] to be used against us, they're

[12:06] supposed to support us and help

[12:08] the work that we push forward.

[12:13] I was telling um you clark

[12:14] trent is that when I looked

[12:16] back we filed this over five

[12:17] months ago.

[12:19] So sometimes the you know, the

[12:21] intent then I had to remind

[12:23] myself why I felt the need to

[12:24] put it to a hearing.

[12:28] Um, and there have been times

[12:31] where certain filings have been

[12:33] rule 15 and I do just want to

[12:35] take a couple seconds of my

[12:37] time to make sure those

[12:39] listening in it's clear what

[12:40] rule 15 means and.

[12:41] But um.

[12:43] >> there have been times where

[12:45] I felt even after speaking to

[12:46] the clerk and speaking to you,

[12:49] michelle, that it's still maybe

[12:50] had been pulled or didn't seem

[12:51] as though it was being

[12:52] consistently applied.

[12:53] Across the board.

[12:56] So rule 15 governs the filing

[12:58] of matters that are duplicative

[13:00] or of substantial similar

[13:02] matters already in committee or

[13:04] previously acted upon during

[13:05] that municipal year.

[13:07] It provides that it shall not

[13:09] preclude filings whose content

[13:11] is on a different sub topic or

[13:13] for which a hearing or debate

[13:14] would not result in the same

[13:17] hearing or the same debate as a

[13:18] previous filing.

[13:20] So of course there's open to

[13:21] interpretation.

[13:23] Um the clerk is charged with

[13:24] placing on the agenda only the

[13:26] first file matter when filings

[13:27] are determined.

[13:29] To be duplicative.

[13:31] >> or substantially similar.

[13:32] And in the case that brought

[13:35] me to do this, it was a women's

[13:37] history month resolution and I

[13:40] did get a call at my house, um,

[13:42] on a friday morning, um, from

[13:44] the clerk to say, you know,

[13:46] these are similar and or and

[13:48] then we talked through and

[13:49] changes were made in time.

[13:51] And even though those changes

[13:52] were made it was still rule 15.

[13:55] And you know, other things kind

[13:56] of snowballed after that.

[13:59] But um I think it's important

[14:01] that consistency and flaherty

[14:03] in this conversation I hope

[14:04] will get us to a place where

[14:05] people feel as though.

[14:08] You know, things are being done

[14:10] fairly 100% agree that if

[14:12] something is duplicative rules

[14:14] apply to everyone you can't

[14:14] file it.

[14:17] I also think there's a small

[14:19] right it's a finite it's not an

[14:21] infinite number of filings that

[14:22] we can work on on the

[14:23] council and many times they are

[14:25] very similar in nature,

[14:27] especially when we all care

[14:28] about many of the similar

[14:29] quality of life issues.

[14:31] So maybe it's a different

[14:33] intent or a different outcome

[14:35] we're hoping for and they MAY

[14:37] seem similar, but I do think we

[14:39] should make sure we're using

[14:39] the.

[14:41] Rules to support each other and

[14:42] support the work that

[14:44] ultimately we're always trying

[14:44] to uplift.

[14:45] >> the residents.

[14:46] Not personally ourselves.

[14:48] So looking forward to this

[14:49] conversation and thank you for.

[14:51] Both of you for being here for

[14:51] it.

[14:51] Thank you.

[14:53] Councilor flynn.

[14:56] And thank you, MADAM Chair and

[14:56] .

[14:59] Thank you for your leadership

[14:59] on this issue.

[15:00] MADAM Chair.

[15:03] And I want to say thank you to

[15:05] our city clerk and to the staff

[15:08] director for the important

[15:09] professional work they do every

[15:11] day on behalf of the city

[15:13] council but on behalf of the

[15:15] residents of the city as well.

[15:17] i want to say thank you to

[15:18] councilor murphy for bringing

[15:20] this forward, including me as

[15:23] an original co-sponsor that

[15:24] councilor murphy highlighted

[15:27] the importance of rule 15 one

[15:29] aspect of rule 15.

[15:31] I just want to stress is.

[15:36] Having everybody be consistent

[15:36] .

[15:39] Everybody knows the rules.

[15:40] Everybody knows what to expect

[15:41] .

[15:44] Ensuring that everybody is

[15:44] heard.

[15:46] Everybody has respect even when

[15:47] we disagree.

[15:50] We can give someone an

[15:52] explanation of why fifth rule

[15:56] 15 might be might preclude that

[15:58] matter from moving forward and

[16:01] with an explanation that it's

[16:03] duplicative or very similar.

[16:07] I think that answer with an

[16:09] explanation goes a long way.

[16:11] So I'm just want to encourage

[16:14] my colleagues, um, to continue

[16:16] to work with the chair, work

[16:18] with the city clerk with the

[16:19] with the staff director as

[16:20] well.

[16:23] And this is an important city

[16:24] council hearing one of the most

[16:25] important of of of the year

[16:29] because it gives everybody an

[16:30] important opportunity to ask

[16:32] questions directly to the

[16:34] clerk, directly to the staff

[16:35] director and they know these

[16:38] rules um, extremely well and

[16:40] this is our opportunity to

[16:43] engage with them and want to

[16:45] encourage my colleagues to ask

[16:46] pertinent questions.

[16:50] And this is the time to do it.

[16:53] So we want to welcome all of my

[16:54] colleagues that are here.

[16:55] I know city

[16:56] councilor fitzgerald is here as

[16:56] well.

[16:58] um thank you, MADAM Chair.

[16:59] Thank you.

[17:01] Um councilor fitzgerald.

[17:04] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[17:06] Um, as always at the beginning

[17:08] of this year when I, uh.

[17:09] First blocked.

[17:11] Uh, the first meeting to make

[17:12] sure we understood the rules

[17:13] of starting off the city

[17:13] council here.

[17:15] I always appreciate

[17:16] understanding the rules more

[17:17] and making sure we're all on

[17:17] the same page.

[17:19] Uh, and so I'm here to learn

[17:20] and educate myself more and

[17:22] look to you guys as always and

[17:23] thank you all for the work you

[17:24] do to educate us every day I

[17:25] appreciate it.

[17:26] Uh that's all thank you ma'am.

[17:26] Thank you.

[17:30] >> um.

[17:38] So, um I've introduced our

[17:39] today's panelists.

[17:42] Um, I'd just like to give you

[17:44] councilor um, MR. Clerk and.

[17:45] And.

[17:48] >> um, michelle, uh, director

[17:50] of um central staff if you have

[17:52] any, uh, remarks to opening

[17:55] remarks to make at this point.

[17:55] >> it's okay.

[18:03] Go ahead.

[18:05] Yeah, I think I'm.

[18:06] I think you're good.

[18:10] Um, well, um, happy to be here

[18:11] today for this discussion.

[18:13] Um, really fun to sit on this

[18:14] side.

[18:18] Um, I think, um I didn't really

[18:19] prepare it but, you know, big

[18:20] opening statement or anything

[18:21] like that.

[18:23] Um, but I think all of you

[18:25] covered it in terms of, you

[18:26] know, the city council rules

[18:28] are meant to support the work

[18:28] of the body.

[18:32] um, and I mean, that's the

[18:32] whole point.

[18:35] So, um, important to review

[18:37] them, make sure that they are

[18:38] doing what the body wants them

[18:38] to be doing.

[18:41] Um, and equally important to

[18:43] make sure that councilors staff

[18:45] and the clerk's office are all

[18:45] on the same page.

[18:48] So, um, thank you to the chair.

[18:49] Thank you to the sponsors.

[18:51] Um, thank you for to everyone

[18:53] here for um the opportunity to

[18:56] to talk about rule 15 which is

[18:56] one of our more.

[18:58] Um, you know.

[18:59] I don't wanna say confusing but

[19:00] you know, um.

[19:03] Uh.

[19:04] >> rules that is is sometimes

[19:05] difficult to interpret.

[19:07] So thank you.

[19:08] MISTER Chair.

[19:10] Thank you, council for the

[19:12] invitation to be here today.

[19:12] Uh.

[19:13] Likewise myself.

[19:15] It's it's a great opportunity

[19:16] to review the rules and.

[19:17] Rule 15.

[19:19] For me as the clerk and our

[19:22] staff upstairs we take, uh, um.

[19:25] Great time upstairs to review

[19:26] rule 15.

[19:28] Items when we get them.

[19:28] So.

[19:31] >> uh, the process can be.

[19:33] Difficult and, uh, time

[19:33] consuming.

[19:35] But you know, we do get things

[19:38] done and, uh, determined what

[19:38] that.

[19:41] Choice will be and contact the

[19:43] council as affected and, uh, I

[19:44] look forward to the

[19:45] conversation.

[19:46] Thank you, mr clerk.

[19:48] We've been joined by

[19:49] councilor durkan and

[19:50] councilor weber.

[19:51] Um, I followed my colleagues

[19:52] two minutes of opening

[19:53] comments.

[19:54] Would you, councilor durkan,

[19:55] would you?

[19:57] Thank you so much,

[19:57] council PRESIDENT.

[19:58] Um, I think it's always

[19:59] important to review the rules.

[20:01] They're incredibly important.

[20:03] It's you know, and I also

[20:05] believe in, um, supporting the

[20:06] clerk, um, when he makes

[20:08] certain determinations.

[20:09] Um, there was.

[20:11] >> an instance with rule 15

[20:11] where.

[20:12] I think I had.

[20:15] Three, uh, hearing orders on

[20:17] speed humps at one time in my

[20:17] committee.

[20:19] So I think this role has been

[20:21] incredibly important to me.

[20:23] Um, I you know, back to the

[20:24] women's history month filing.

[20:26] I did think it was duplicative

[20:27] and I did cite rule 15.

[20:30] Um, upon further review I do

[20:34] think rule 15 and um is really

[20:36] intended to be used by the

[20:37] clerk and not by city

[20:38] councilors.

[20:40] But um with that being said, I

[20:41] believe that city councilors

[20:44] have um you know, carte blanche

[20:47] to not pass something on the

[20:48] first day that it's introduced

[20:50] if it is at all controversial

[20:53] um and or if it at all needs

[20:53] more time.

[20:56] Um, so I definitely stand

[20:59] behind my um, initial uh I did

[21:01] think it was pretty similar.

[21:05] Um, and um but I I don't want

[21:06] to be considered someone who

[21:08] just, you know, doing things on

[21:11] the basis of um, personalities

[21:11] or anything.

[21:13] So I appreciate, um, this

[21:16] hearing and I appreciate, um,

[21:17] the chance to talk about it.

[21:21] Um, and I'll just say that, um

[21:24] ,I think that when we get a

[21:25] call from the clerk saying that

[21:26] our filing is too similar.

[21:28] Um, there have been times where

[21:30] I've just withdrawn my filing

[21:31] and said, okay, great.

[21:32] I'll support.

[21:33] >> the work of my colleague

[21:34] that's doing that work.

[21:37] Um, and I you know, I think we

[21:39] actually have to talk to each

[21:40] other to have those

[21:41] conversations and I think as a

[21:44] body uh, we need to have more

[21:46] communication and more

[21:48] collegiality and, um and we do

[21:50] need to work together more.

[21:53] And so, um, I think in the case

[21:54] where someone has filed

[21:56] something super similar to you,

[21:57] it might behoove us to pick up

[21:59] the phone and see if you can be

[22:00] a second or a third rather than

[22:02] filing something very similar.

[22:03] Thank you.

[22:05] >> councilor durkan.

[22:08] Um, chair recognizes councilor.

[22:09] Uh, whether.

[22:10] >> you just got two minutes.

[22:11] Uh, thank you very much.

[22:13] And I think, uh, if you.

[22:13] >> look at.

[22:14] Like the.

[22:15] >> history of the language

[22:17] of rule 15 and why it's there

[22:17] there's.

[22:18] >> good.

[22:19] Policy reasons why.

[22:21] You would have something like

[22:23] that to prevent duplicative

[22:25] filings and to be able to keep

[22:27] the body, uh, moving forward

[22:29] and efficient, uh, and to

[22:31] prevent debate over the same

[22:32] thing over and over again.

[22:34] Uh, and I also appreciate that

[22:35] we have, uh, you know, sort

[22:37] of a nonpartisan clerk who's an

[22:40] umpire calling and strikes and

[22:42] so rule 15 or something I know

[22:44] in our office we talk about a

[22:44] lot.

[22:45] It's one of you know, we're

[22:46] talking about an idea about

[22:47] whether to file something if it

[22:49] would be a rule 15 to we don't

[22:50] file it.

[22:52] Um, and uh, look forward to the

[22:54] conversation to figure out if

[22:56] there's any ways we can improve

[22:58] the function of the rule or how

[22:59] to work with the clerk or how

[23:00] to better work with each other

[23:01] as a body.

[23:02] Uh, I'm all for it.

[23:02] Thank you.

[23:03] Thank you.

[23:06] Um.

[23:08] So we'll move on to.

[23:09] Uh, questions.

[23:11] Um.

[23:15] Councilor murphy, would you

[23:16] like to start and give you and

[23:18] we'll give you seven minutes

[23:18] for.

[23:19] Uh, give our.

[23:20] Colleague seven.

[23:21] >> minutes to see if I can set

[23:22] up the thank you, MADAM Chair.

[23:23] Oh.

[23:24] >> good morning.

[23:25] I beg your pardon?

[23:26] Culpeper.

[23:27] I'd like to recognize the

[23:27] council.

[23:28] Culpeper has joined us.

[23:30] Would you like to take a two

[23:31] minute, uh, opening statement

[23:32] if you'd.

[23:33] Like to use the time.

[23:34] Thank you.

[23:35] >> thank you.

[23:37] Thank you.

[23:38] >> chair I.

[23:40] >> think rule 15 makes sense in

[23:43] principle and, uh, I don't

[23:44] think we need to keep fouling

[23:46] debating the exact same thing

[23:47] over and over again.

[23:49] But in practice I think there

[23:51] were some times when the rule

[23:53] can be confusing, particularly

[23:56] when dealing with issues uh are

[23:58] changing and things have

[24:00] changed outside in real time.

[24:02] I think something and so

[24:05] there's one issue we saw that

[24:05] with that uh.

[24:11] So the issue that.

[24:15] Was voted down by the

[24:16] council but when things changed

[24:19] with the homicide we brought it

[24:22] back and it was approved and so

[24:23] I don't think we should

[24:25] automatically treat a new

[24:27] conversation as the same

[24:28] conversation because it falls

[24:30] on in the same general subject

[24:30] .

[24:34] But I do think we can discuss

[24:36] it and and here's what's really

[24:38] been good for me and exciting

[24:40] for me is the way it's been

[24:44] handled, uh, without any real

[24:47] regimented protocol for how

[24:49] it's been handled in writing.

[24:52] I think the clerk or his office

[24:53] has come to us.

[24:54] We've discussed it.

[24:57] For me it was good discussion

[25:01] but I think in other times it

[25:02] can get out of hand.

[25:04] So I just think we need to talk

[25:06] through this see what makes

[25:06] sense.

[25:10] Um, but I do think there's some

[25:13] things we can clarify uh, maybe

[25:15] even be more flexible making

[25:17] sure rule 15 prevents

[25:18] duplication without preventing

[25:21] this body from responding when

[25:23] an issue is really changing.

[25:25] So yeah, I think the clerk's

[25:26] office has.

[25:29] For me we've got a great

[25:30] relationship.

[25:31] i love when they come to

[25:33] me with something and ask give

[25:34] me their opinion because you

[25:35] know I'm gonna have my opinion

[25:37] and my interpretation.

[25:38] So it's been it's been good.

[25:40] I just think we need to nail

[25:43] down some protocol on how we

[25:45] anticipate the discussion is

[25:46] going to take place.

[25:49] Otherwise I hope it was good to

[25:49] go.

[25:51] Thank you, councilor culpeper.

[25:54] Um, constable murphy, um.

[25:55] Let me see if I can send this

[25:55] to.

[26:01] That so I can start seven

[26:01] minutes.

[26:03] Seven minutes.

[26:04] >> thank you.

[26:08] >> um, and for me, like I said

[26:10] in my opening statement, the

[26:11] filing when I looked back to

[26:14] the timing was I forget it now

[26:15] I've moved on but it was based

[26:18] to that particular filing but

[26:19] has been an ongoing issue.

[26:22] I know we've shall we have many

[26:24] conversations alex I go up to

[26:26] the sixth floor often and thank

[26:28] you to both of you for.

[26:28] You know.

[26:32] ,talking through and you know,

[26:34] trying to come to some

[26:35] understanding on issues related

[26:37] to the rules.

[26:38] And it is.

[26:39] True when you read the.

[26:40] Rule there is a lot of.

[26:42] Words in there that sometimes

[26:45] MAY get lost on the floor when

[26:47] it's like you know, when it's

[26:48] the council meeting and

[26:49] something's blocked on the

[26:50] floor.

[26:51] It's not the same as a

[26:52] conversation beforehand.

[26:57] But in this case I had talked

[26:59] to the clerk's office and I had

[27:03] made substantial changes and

[27:07] when it was blocked on the

[27:09] floor it was after because it

[27:11] even says right in the rule

[27:13] topics for which context has a

[27:15] content has evolved since the

[27:18] previous filing or things have

[27:19] changed or the wording has

[27:21] changed to make it clearer.

[27:23] And in that particular case I

[27:24] already felt as though the

[27:26] intent and my conversation with

[27:27] you we both agreed that the

[27:29] outcome of those two filings

[27:30] were very different.

[27:30] One was.

[27:31] Focusing on.

[27:33] Federal state.

[27:34] Overall rights for women, which

[27:36] is an important hearing.

[27:37] I think we could have voted and

[27:38] supported both easily.

[27:41] Mine was more based on you know

[27:42] as the chair a strong women

[27:44] families and communities

[27:45] supporting and highlighting the

[27:47] work of women here in the city

[27:49] to different outcomes also and

[27:51] tying it to a celebration that

[27:53] most of our colleagues joined

[27:55] in and uplifting women across

[27:56] the city and thanking them for

[27:58] their contributions.

[28:00] But I guess a procedural

[28:02] question would be and I'll tie

[28:03] it to that day at that hearing.

[28:07] If I've already spoken to the

[28:09] clerk's office and changes have

[28:10] been made and then.

[28:13] A block which everyone has the

[28:14] right to do and then when what

[28:16] is the correct procedure

[28:18] because it's been said a couple

[28:20] of times you know you are kind

[28:21] of like the umpire the final

[28:22] say is on.

[28:23] The clerk.

[28:25] But when the chair decides to

[28:27] block it after conversations

[28:29] and I came into a meeting

[28:31] feeling as though the clerk's

[28:32] office agreed it shouldn't be

[28:34] blocked, what procedures is it?

[28:36] Call a recess to make sure that

[28:37] .

[28:37] >> you.

[28:39] Know it gets communicated.

[28:40] >> do you just let it go and

[28:40] try.

[28:41] >> to file again?

[28:42] >> is that what seems.

[28:43] To happen when you're in.

[28:46] The midst of like the meeting

[28:47] and the two minute clerk is

[28:49] going people want to get to the

[28:50] next agenda item, but you're

[28:51] feeling as though.

[28:53] Your filing is not getting the

[28:54] time it needs.

[28:56] But work had been done

[28:57] beforehand to make sure there

[28:58] shouldn't be any.

[29:01] Confusion and there MAY be a

[29:03] miscommunication between the

[29:04] council PRESIDENT And the clerk

[29:05] or your.

[29:07] Communications with your

[29:07] office.

[29:09] So how can you speak to that to

[29:10] make sure going forward?

[29:12] Anyone who feels like at the

[29:14] moment at the hearing, how do

[29:16] you advocate for yourself and.

[29:18] Push to make sure that it's not

[29:18] .

[29:19] Taken off the agenda or

[29:20] blocked?

[29:22] Yeah, I.

[29:23] >> mean I think just um.

[29:26] So that's a really good example

[29:27] of kind of like the interplay

[29:28] of a couple different rules.

[29:32] Um, and for me I don't remember

[29:33] every detail from the from the

[29:36] situation but um, you know,

[29:38] rule 15 is something that takes

[29:40] place before the agenda ever um

[29:42] is published.

[29:44] So rule 15 is really something

[29:46] that lays with the clerk um,

[29:48] and the clerk's office in terms

[29:50] of what makes it onto the

[29:53] agenda um, under those kind of.

[29:53] You know.

[29:54] Um.

[29:57] >> considerations to try to

[29:58] make things not duplicative and

[29:59] things like that.

[30:01] Um, once something is on the

[30:03] agenda and comes before the

[30:06] body um, there's kind of a

[30:08] second catchall for duplicative

[30:10] matters which would be under

[30:10] rule five.

[30:12] So that would be something

[30:13] where then the

[30:14] council PRESIDENT Has the

[30:15] discretion to rule something

[30:18] out of order due to it being

[30:19] substantially similar,

[30:21] duplicative or already taken up

[30:23] in a given municipal year.

[30:27] Um, that is a separate um.

[30:29] Inquiry just from an objection

[30:29] to taking.

[30:30] >> a vote.

[30:32] So um, you know, I think

[30:33] there's a distinct you know,

[30:34] there are different distinguish

[30:36] distinguish between like

[30:38] something being on the agenda

[30:39] coming to the floor and then

[30:39] passing.

[30:41] Before the body.

[30:43] Um, so when something is

[30:45] objected to for a vote on the

[30:48] day it's introduced, um, it

[30:49] doesn't have to be because of.

[30:50] >> a rule.

[30:51] It would just be like the

[30:52] objection is just the

[30:52] objection.

[30:53] Um.

[30:55] >> rule five would be.

[30:58] To rule something out of order

[30:59] because it's duplicative on the

[31:00] day of a meeting.

[31:02] And rule 15 would be.

[31:03] To exactly.

[31:04] Yeah.

[31:06] >> so is there conversation at

[31:07] the pre meeting.

[31:09] So there is an understanding

[31:11] when there's a pre meeting on

[31:14] wednesday with the

[31:15] council PRESIDENT And the

[31:17] clerk's office that everything

[31:18] that has made it through has

[31:19] already been checked.

[31:20] Yes.

[31:24] >> and if the PRESIDENT Has no

[31:27] personal questions and feels as

[31:28] though that's right of course

[31:30] they have an opinion maybe it

[31:30] would come.

[31:31] >> up would it come up.

[31:32] >> on wednesday before the.

[31:35] Council meeting start if they

[31:37] had any questions could it.

[31:38] I guess.

[31:40] >> well you know most of the

[31:41] dockets of course they get

[31:43] filed up in the office before

[31:45] ten uh so we have to review

[31:47] each docket and of course if I

[31:49] find a duplicate of docket all

[31:51] the my staff does then we have

[31:51] to review it.

[31:52] Uh.

[31:54] See.

[31:56] >> we have the 10:00 deadline

[31:57] and so.

[31:58] >> I mean the wednesday meeting

[32:00] that happens kind of to check

[32:01] in before the.

[32:03] Council starts like.

[32:05] So all the dockets have been

[32:06] arranged and you know, on the

[32:06] agenda.

[32:07] So we're.

[32:09] Evergreen review all the items

[32:11] that the pre meeting and we go

[32:12] over what committee they should

[32:14] be assigned to and review them.

[32:17] Uh if there was a rule 15 on a

[32:18] particular docket of course

[32:20] that would all been made out

[32:22] and decided before they even

[32:24] got in on onto the agenda.

[32:28] So to me if we uh solve the

[32:29] issue then it's a regular

[32:31] docket that's on the agenda.

[32:32] That any council colleague.

[32:33] Could lock in to.

[32:34] >> be right.

[32:35] So what is the correct

[32:37] procedure especially if after

[32:39] the fact the chair agreed that

[32:41] it probably shouldn't have been

[32:41] blocked but it.

[32:43] Was and I get that when things

[32:46] are happening in real time

[32:47] things don't always.

[32:49] Go the way maybe be wanted but

[32:53] how do you then fix that right?

[32:55] How do you come back properly?

[32:56] I know I know the rules and.

[32:57] Robert's order but.

[33:00] Especially when it's a timely

[33:01] resolution.

[33:03] I that you wanted to.

[33:04] Have a vote on.

[33:05] You don't want a hearing you

[33:06] don't want to block.

[33:07] There's nothing to talk about.

[33:09] >> it's tied to a celebration

[33:10] like a flag raising.

[33:11] Yeah.

[33:12] >> so I.

[33:13] Think the two mechanisms would

[33:15] be if it's during the same

[33:16] meeting it could be a

[33:16] reconsideration.

[33:21] Um if it's stirring um if it's

[33:23] after a meeting um it would be

[33:25] by pulling it from the green

[33:26] sheets at the next meeting.

[33:27] Um, for that vote.

[33:34] Sometimes we do you know, on

[33:35] many occasions we've taken a

[33:37] recess as well to discuss

[33:38] certain things.

[33:38] Yeah.

[33:41] And if there's an issue or

[33:43] there's, uh, some ambiguity on

[33:44] a on a particular docket,

[33:46] of course we would take a a

[33:48] short recess to discuss it as

[33:49] well.

[33:50] And do you.

[33:52] Both feel as though that's

[33:54] reasonable if one of.

[33:54] >> the.

[33:56] Councilors feels as though

[33:59] there isn't enough time, you

[33:59] know, because it's quick, it's.

[34:00] Moving fast and.

[34:04] Procedures are being trumped

[34:05] with another one.

[34:06] And do you feel it's reasonable

[34:10] to call a recess to get

[34:10] flaherty, to.

[34:11] Feel as though.

[34:12] >> it's not being moved on and

[34:13] then pushed aside?

[34:15] Yeah, well if a

[34:16] council believes that you know

[34:18] they need to have.

[34:19] A further explanation.

[34:22] Like to me by for my opinion

[34:24] would be take a short recess

[34:26] and discuss that a little bit

[34:27] more and of course like

[34:29] michelle said you know

[34:30] council can move for

[34:32] reconsideration in the same

[34:32] meeting.

[34:34] Of course once the meeting ends

[34:36] then the next meeting you can

[34:38] have the option of pulling it

[34:38] from committee.

[34:40] All right thank you thank.

[34:42] You chair recognizes

[34:44] councilor flynn construed um.

[34:46] I'll have to reset.

[34:48] Seven minutes.

[34:51] >> well thank you, MADAM Chair.

[34:53] And thank you again to the city

[34:55] clerk and to the city

[34:56] council staff director for the

[35:00] important work you do every day

[35:02] on behalf of the city

[35:04] council and the residents

[35:04] of boston.

[35:09] I believe we have.

[35:17] Rules in place to ensure that

[35:18] the meetings go smoothly.

[35:20] They go effectively,

[35:22] efficiently and so that the

[35:27] public has a sense that this

[35:29] body is a serious body,

[35:31] understands the rules and is

[35:34] doing the people's work, the

[35:36] critical work of the residents

[35:37] of boston whether it's on

[35:39] public safety, whether it's on

[35:41] public education, public health

[35:46] or whatever it is my my main

[35:50] point is as the former city

[35:51] council PRESIDENT Just

[35:55] providing positive leadership

[35:57] to all city councilors

[35:59] regardless if you politically

[36:01] agree with them or politically

[36:04] disagree with them, that should

[36:07] be relevant to the case in

[36:11] deciding how you're going to

[36:14] for several I think as as a

[36:15] body we have to listen to each

[36:16] other.

[36:18] We have to respect each other,

[36:21] put personalities aside, um,

[36:23] put politics aside and do

[36:25] what's best for the residents

[36:27] of boston and that is coming

[36:32] together to solve problems and

[36:33] work with our colleagues,

[36:35] especially when we don't agree

[36:35] with each other.

[36:40] We can be we can we can still

[36:41] support each other.

[36:42] We can still work with each

[36:44] other even if we don't

[36:45] necessarily agree with each

[36:45] other.

[36:46] And that's what I've tried to

[36:49] do as the as the as the city

[36:50] council PRESIDENT And the city

[36:51] council here.

[36:53] I just want us to continue to

[36:56] move forward where as a body we

[36:58] respect each other and the

[37:00] public knows that we come to

[37:02] work every day to do the

[37:03] people's business.

[37:05] The public needs to be

[37:07] comfortable knowing that we

[37:10] show up every single day and on

[37:11] wednesday we know exactly what

[37:14] we're doing and doing our due

[37:16] diligence and providing the

[37:18] critical leadership for the

[37:19] residents of boston.

[37:20] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[37:22] Thank you, councilor flynn.

[37:23] Um.

[37:25] Councilor fitzgerald.

[37:28] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[37:31] Um, let's start with some

[37:31] of the basics.

[37:32] What is the process right now?

[37:35] Oh, okay.

[37:38] The process for the, uh, went

[37:39] for the agenda.

[37:40] All the dockets are due by

[37:41] 10:00 on monday.

[37:44] Um, although council was have

[37:46] the opportunity to file things

[37:47] from the day after the

[37:48] wednesday meaning till that

[37:50] month the next monday.

[37:52] Uh, unfortunately a lot

[37:53] of councils don't file their

[37:56] dockets until 10 minutes or 15

[37:57] minutes before the deadline.

[37:58] So if you can.

[38:00] Imagine like the last meeting

[38:02] we had like I don't know 50

[38:03] dockets on the agenda so that's

[38:06] very time consuming to process

[38:08] each docket to make sure that

[38:11] it's in proper form to get the

[38:12] agenda created.

[38:14] And then when we do get the

[38:17] issues uh, rule 15 then I we

[38:19] have to stop and review those

[38:20] items.

[38:22] So I have to read the uh the

[38:24] order that is currently for the

[38:24] agenda.

[38:26] Then I have to compare.

[38:28] It to the previous order file

[38:29] like a few months before.

[38:31] So that's time consuming.

[38:33] And I also have to meet the

[38:34] requirements of the open

[38:36] meeting law because the agenda

[38:38] has to be posted at 12 noon.

[38:42] So so we do our due diligence,

[38:44] we create our uh the agenda and

[38:47] I do contact the council uh,

[38:49] personally uh regarding a rule

[38:53] 15 issue and either we speak on

[38:55] the phone or I go to the office

[38:57] and uh and that's happened with

[38:59] uh most of the council was here

[39:01] on the council now have gotten

[39:03] phone calls for me regarding

[39:05] rule 15 and a lot and 99%

[39:08] of the time the council is very

[39:09] agreeable.

[39:11] We change a few words here and

[39:12] there we change the title or

[39:14] the it's better or it's pulled

[39:15] and it's reworded and filed at

[39:16] the next meeting.

[39:19] So from that perspective, um,

[39:20] you know the back and forth

[39:22] with the council is usually

[39:23] pretty positive.

[39:25] And at that point who would

[39:25] win.

[39:25] Out on a.

[39:27] >> rule 15 is that the person

[39:28] who files first?

[39:30] Well when you file a document

[39:32] in the granicus it gets time

[39:32] stamped.

[39:35] So whoever gets the timestamp

[39:37] first then that is the doc that

[39:39] will be placed on on the

[39:39] agenda.

[39:41] And I imagine what we look for

[39:43] when looking at rule 15 is that

[39:44] you know, all of us councilors

[39:46] work word things a certain way

[39:50] to try and reflect a message or

[39:51] something button and a certain

[39:52] light.

[39:54] But um I imagine that you look

[39:55] for similar words.

[39:57] Similar yeah very similar

[39:59] message you know I mean that

[40:01] and that's but ultimately the

[40:02] final call is in your hands.

[40:03] Yeah.

[40:05] >> over the uh I would.

[40:05] >> read both.

[40:08] Dockets if they for me I picked

[40:10] uh try to find similar words

[40:12] and similar themes sometimes

[40:14] the titles are exactly the same

[40:14] as well.

[40:16] Uh and then I make a

[40:18] determination if it's a

[40:18] duplicate or not.

[40:21] But I also converse with the

[40:24] essential staff and with uh

[40:26] council uh attorney for the

[40:28] council as well and we all come

[40:31] to a determination sometimes

[40:33] it's easy to determine if it's

[40:34] a real 15 but other times it

[40:35] isn't.

[40:37] So you know I call the

[40:39] counselor and we talk about it

[40:41] and we try to review things and

[40:42] you know last year we had

[40:44] several rule fifteens on white

[40:47] stadium and that those were

[40:48] difficult uh discussions to

[40:50] have because some you know that

[40:53] was a very hot issue and uh

[40:57] back in 2025 so and most of the

[40:59] times the council would have

[41:01] pulled it back and reworded it

[41:02] and filed it at the next

[41:03] meeting.

[41:04] I guess what's difficult to

[41:06] kind of separate too is in an

[41:06] issue.

[41:09] There can be many sub issues

[41:10] and and you could file

[41:11] something on that issue.

[41:13] You could file something on the

[41:14] subset of that issue and a

[41:16] subset of that subset issue and

[41:18] is that in your eyes if you

[41:20] look at subsets of issues does

[41:21] that still ultimately rise

[41:23] under the statewide stadium for

[41:24] example does that all say well,

[41:25] someone else already filed

[41:28] something around a larger

[41:28] purview.

[41:29] Of you.

[41:30] >> know, economic development

[41:32] in white stadium and so there's

[41:34] no need for that specific

[41:35] language of a separate one even

[41:37] if it was time stamped prior.

[41:38] right.

[41:39] >> I don't you know, it.

[41:42] Depends on the uh the closing

[41:44] paragraph for me is what I

[41:47] usually focus on because you

[41:49] know, they MAY be to look it up

[41:50] words at the beginning of the

[41:52] order but at the end the

[41:54] summary tells me exactly what

[41:57] the council is intent is uh,

[41:59] most of the time and uh and if

[42:01] the intent is different than

[42:03] what the original one is I give

[42:04] them the benefit give the

[42:05] council the benefit of the

[42:06] doubt.

[42:08] But in other instances it's it

[42:10] brings the same to me and I.

[42:13] After conversing with uh, the

[42:17] central staff and and reviewing

[42:18] it again and then we make a

[42:19] determination from there.

[42:21] And how long has this current

[42:23] rule 15 been operating as it

[42:24] currently does?

[42:26] Uh, well.

[42:28] In 2020 the 26.

[42:29] Rules it's just the clerk makes

[42:33] the determination in 24 it was

[42:35] the uh the PRESIDENT.

[42:38] And the clerk and then in 22 it

[42:39] was just the clerk.

[42:40] Okay.

[42:42] >> so it's gone back and it was

[42:42] now reverted back.

[42:44] To the clerk.

[42:44] Um.

[42:46] ,okay.

[42:48] Um and in those in going back

[42:50] and forth and back and forth

[42:51] which were I mean personally I

[42:53] see the checks and balances

[42:55] of you making being defined

[42:57] elaborated on that I would.

[42:59] Yeah well in I was with.

[42:59] >> the.

[43:00] Council PRESIDENT.

[43:01] >> I would I would go down to

[43:03] the office and discuss it with

[43:06] her and and review the points

[43:08] that I thought were similar in

[43:10] nature and and you know, nine

[43:12] times out of ten the the

[43:13] PRESIDENT Would have agreed

[43:14] with me and then I would go to

[43:16] the council to the counselor

[43:19] and discuss it further and then

[43:19] we would go from there.

[43:20] All right.

[43:23] >> uh and that I think you've

[43:25] done a great job at that clerk

[43:26] and I can as long as we trust

[43:28] the person in your position to

[43:30] ,uh, arbitrarily and fairly

[43:31] make those decisions, I think

[43:32] it's a good check and balance

[43:33] on the council.

[43:33] Um.

[43:35] >> and I appreciate all your

[43:36] work and time that you put into

[43:38] that and we'll try and get it a

[43:39] little bit in before ten

[43:40] minutes to the deadline.

[43:41] It out.

[43:42] >> thank you council.

[43:42] Great thank you.

[43:43] That is all MADAM PRESIDENT.

[43:45] Thank you councilor fitzgerald

[43:47] chair recognizes I know just.

[43:47] Recently pete.

[43:49] Chair recognizes

[43:50] councilor durkan country you

[43:50] have the floor.

[43:51] Thank you so much chair

[43:52] bratton.

[43:53] Um and actually clark I

[43:55] recognize that at the last, um

[43:57] ,I filed something pretty late

[43:58] and it was one of the first

[43:59] things on the agenda.

[44:01] So I was my first inkling that

[44:02] people were filing things

[44:03] pretty late.

[44:05] So, um, so not an easy job that

[44:07] you have putting an agenda

[44:08] together in two hours.

[44:10] Um, and also not an easy job

[44:13] that, um, you rely on us to re

[44:15] approve you for your job so

[44:16] you're often trying to be the

[44:19] most fair and do a great job

[44:20] and a great balancing act.

[44:21] So clark, thank you for all

[44:22] that you do.

[44:25] Um, and, um, I know when it's

[44:26] time for you to retire we're

[44:27] going to we're going to have to

[44:28] give you so many flowers

[44:29] because we put you through a

[44:30] lot in the past few years.

[44:33] Um, so I definitely think

[44:34] there's a difference between

[44:36] rule 15 and rule 33.

[44:38] Um, so I just wanted to ask a

[44:41] question about um obviously um

[44:46] I think in the specific um

[44:48] anecdote that's was the cause

[44:50] of this hearing.

[44:53] Um, I objected to a filing on

[44:56] the basis of rule 15, but rule

[44:57] 33 is actually.

[44:58] >> the.

[45:01] Rule that allows for a city

[45:03] councilor to, um, you know,

[45:04] object to a filing.

[45:06] Can you speak a little more to

[45:06] that?

[45:10] Um, to rule 33 and uh,

[45:14] obviously um, rule 33 is where

[45:15] it is derived that city

[45:17] councilors can object on the

[45:20] first day um, like on you know,

[45:21] on the first day that it's

[45:22] introduced before the council.

[45:25] But well, usually the uh on the

[45:26] um.

[45:28] One step back we're going to

[45:31] move 15 of the rule 15 uh

[45:33] issues take place before the

[45:34] agenda is even published.

[45:36] So when the agenda when we come

[45:38] to our meeting and the agenda

[45:40] is all there and ready to go,

[45:43] uh, and if a docket doesn't get

[45:45] unanimous consent to pass and

[45:46] then there's an objection

[45:47] of course it goes to committee.

[45:49] So like there were two

[45:50] objections in the last meeting.

[45:50] Yes.

[45:54] so that that whatever happens

[45:55] in the meeting I think it

[45:58] doesn't really reflect back to

[45:59] rule 15 because that was

[46:01] already you know, the issue was

[46:03] reviewed prior to the meeting.

[46:06] So it's kind of it's improper

[46:08] you know, taking the women's

[46:09] history month as the anecdote

[46:11] here, um, it's improper to cite

[46:13] rule 15 because rule 15 the

[46:16] powers with the clerk wear rule

[46:18] 33 the powers with the council.

[46:18] Okay.

[46:24] >> um and I guess um, I know

[46:25] when I want to pass something

[46:27] the same day there's a number

[46:28] of people I usually need to

[46:30] talk to to ensure that it's not

[46:31] going to be blocked.

[46:33] Otherwise I might be surprised

[46:35] on the day that I file

[46:35] something.

[46:37] Um, particularly there's a

[46:38] couple of landmarks that I

[46:40] tried to suspend in past that

[46:41] were objected to.

[46:44] Um, so I know that if I want to

[46:46] bring something to the floor on

[46:49] the same day for passage that

[46:51] often I need to check with my

[46:52] colleagues to make sure that

[46:53] they're okay with suspension

[46:56] and passage on on the day and

[46:58] that is because of rule 33

[47:01] knowing that, um, you know,

[47:02] someone might want a hearing

[47:04] for a specific docket, they

[47:06] might want more information um,

[47:09] at least for me for rule 15

[47:10] given all everything that

[47:11] you've, you know, already

[47:14] spoken to and given the

[47:15] verbiage um, and given that the

[47:17] city council um unanimously

[47:19] approved the rules um, I don't

[47:20] have any questions about rule

[47:21] 15 in particular.

[47:25] Um, I will say that um, now

[47:27] having this hearing um and

[47:28] hearing from my colleagues uh,

[47:30] on this issue, I think it's

[47:32] improper to cite rule 15 as a

[47:33] reason that you're objecting to

[47:33] a docket.

[47:36] So, um, given that that gives

[47:37] power to the clerk and not to

[47:38] the.

[47:38] Council.

[47:42] >> um, I'll say that I haven't

[47:44] always been completely

[47:46] satisfied with um, rule 15,

[47:47] particularly when it comes to

[47:48] my committee.

[47:51] Um, because often there are

[47:52] duplicative dockets that I end

[47:53] up combining to have one

[47:56] hearing on the subject because

[47:57] it's the same stakeholders that

[48:00] are interested in the multiple

[48:01] subject matter.

[48:04] I think my uh, charge for our

[48:06] colleagues is that if you

[48:08] jointly care about an issue, we

[48:09] should work on those issues

[48:09] together.

[48:11] And I think it actually creates

[48:14] for a more robust hearing when

[48:16] especially just um, with

[48:17] planning, development and

[48:18] transportation I think it

[48:19] creates for a more robust

[48:22] hearing when all of the people

[48:23] who care about a specific

[48:24] subject matter are working on

[48:26] the same docket and working on

[48:27] the same issue.

[48:31] Um, and I think that if

[48:31] colleagues.

[48:33] Were willing to talk to each

[48:34] other, a lot of these issues

[48:35] would not exist.

[48:38] Um, because we know baseline

[48:39] what our colleagues were

[48:39] working on.

[48:41] Um, so we would yeah.

[48:44] And there have been times where

[48:46] I call it being scooped you get

[48:48] scooped on an issue, you care

[48:49] deeply about it.

[48:50] you've already you MAY have

[48:51] already written the filing.

[48:53] It might be sitting in your

[48:56] drive and it gets filed before

[48:59] um one of those examples was um

[49:02] single stare uh, reform um, my

[49:04] office had been part of a

[49:06] statewide working group for

[49:07] literally six months.

[49:08] We were joining meetings for

[49:09] six months on single stair

[49:10] reform and the

[49:11] council PRESIDENT And her team

[49:13] had been working on the same

[49:13] thing.

[49:16] She filed it and I went

[49:17] directly to her office and

[49:19] said, you know, hey, I'd really

[49:20] love to be on this.

[49:21] I've actually been working on

[49:21] this statewide.

[49:25] Um, so um that's the kind

[49:26] of collaboration that should

[49:27] exist in the council and

[49:28] doesn't always exist in the

[49:28] council.

[49:31] Um, and I think um it makes it

[49:32] harder to collaborate with

[49:33] colleagues when they are

[49:34] calling you things in the news.

[49:36] And I think that's something

[49:39] that we need to think about is

[49:42] um, if we're going to hurl

[49:43] things at people in the

[49:44] news and then not respond to

[49:47] their emails um, I think that

[49:51] is really important, um, that

[49:52] we have that level

[49:53] of collaboration where if we

[49:54] asked to meet they'll meet with

[49:57] us and um, I think that to be

[50:00] honest like that's where all

[50:01] this is coming from, we

[50:02] wouldn't need to have an entire

[50:03] hearing on roles if we just

[50:05] talked to each other and had

[50:06] more collaboration.

[50:07] Thank you.

[50:08] Thank you, councilor durkan.

[50:11] Uh, the chair recognizes, uh,

[50:12] councilor weber.

[50:13] Councilor, you have the floor.

[50:13] Uh.

[50:14] >> thank you.

[50:16] Uh, I guess for uh for the

[50:16] clerk.

[50:19] Um, so it's a sub topic you can

[50:21] file something on a sub topic.

[50:24] How do you define sub topic or

[50:24] what do you.

[50:26] Look at to.

[50:28] Is that just like you know when

[50:28] you see.

[50:28] >> it.

[50:29] For us.

[50:31] As well I would read it over

[50:33] and uh you know it depends on

[50:34] what the outcome is of that

[50:36] order in the in the summary

[50:37] of the last paragraph.

[50:40] That certainly determines for

[50:42] me if it would be a duplicate

[50:44] uh, docket or not here.

[50:46] And even if there was uh like

[50:48] white stating is a good issue

[50:49] because then there was a lot

[50:50] of different orders filed for

[50:53] white stadium on many different

[50:55] areas of like construction and

[50:57] financing and budgeting and

[50:58] community input and all that.

[51:02] So you know, those those those

[51:03] orders were somewhat you know,

[51:05] a little bit more tedious to

[51:07] review because I had to

[51:09] determine what the outcome

[51:11] of that particular ward or what

[51:12] the intention of it is.

[51:16] So nine times out of ten I we

[51:18] would determine that it is a

[51:21] separate distinct order and it

[51:22] doesn't really conflict with

[51:24] the others even though it

[51:25] seemed duplicate.

[51:26] To be to uh.

[51:27] Duplicate but.

[51:29] The outcome is different.

[51:32] So that would be probably the

[51:35] best example I could give in

[51:37] terms of a sub a sub topic uh

[51:39] on an order uh again.

[51:41] We review it with michelle and

[51:42] with the council's central

[51:46] staff and and we come to a

[51:48] consensus and we go from there.

[51:51] So uh, I guess is it fair to.

[51:51] Say that you.

[51:53] You're you're trying to get.

[51:54] >> the the, uh, filing.

[51:57] Onto the agenda like, you know,

[51:58] you said nine times out of ten

[51:59] you you can find a sub.

[52:01] Topic like we.

[52:03] Just you're for you

[52:03] individually.

[52:04] Are you?

[52:04] Yeah.

[52:05] >> do you do you.

[52:06] Are you just.

[52:09] Looking at this and calling

[52:10] and strikes on that or are you

[52:11] trying to find a way to get the

[52:14] filing you know not you're not

[52:15] have to invoke rule 15.

[52:15] Well when we.

[52:16] Uh get.

[52:17] >> all.

[52:17] The.

[52:18] Dockets by 10:00, you know.

[52:19] It's like a.

[52:19] Race for.

[52:21] >> 12 because the open meeting

[52:22] while we have to.

[52:25] Post everything at 12:00 and so

[52:29] in in in in 2026 I've had 16

[52:32] rule 15 items so those uh they

[52:33] take up a lot of time.

[52:35] To review to.

[52:36] Read the order.

[52:37] Sometimes an order is like one

[52:40] page of orders are like 3 or 4

[52:42] pages so I have to read the

[52:43] current order than.

[52:44] Review the previous.

[52:45] >> one that's a duplicate.

[52:47] Uh so that involves a lot

[52:50] of time and and for me I have

[52:52] to abide by the open meeting

[52:54] law so I call the

[52:55] council directly or I come down

[52:56] to the office I review

[52:59] everything, we talk with the

[53:01] central staff and we try to

[53:03] come to a decision to to see if

[53:07] it is truly a duplicate for and

[53:08] nine times out of ten we do

[53:10] that pretty quickly and and

[53:12] then if it isn't then it will

[53:13] go on to the agenda and be part

[53:15] of the meeting at the next

[53:16] meeting okay.

[53:18] And I guess with all of your

[53:20] experience with this rule is

[53:22] there is there any additional

[53:23] guidance or anything that you

[53:24] know in the rule that you.

[53:26] Think the council.

[53:28] Could help you out on uh, with

[53:30] the language in the rule or do

[53:30] you feel like yeah.

[53:32] This this well I think.

[53:33] >> for me for for me and my

[53:36] staff especially we uh there's

[53:39] like a race for 12 noon and you

[53:42] know, I my hope is that the

[53:44] council has could submit items

[53:46] sooner than ten minutes before

[53:46] 10:00.

[53:49] Uh, and we have discussed the

[53:51] possibility of changing that,

[53:52] but we you know, that's still

[53:54] like an idea that we could.

[53:58] Introduce but the.

[54:00] The dockets the filing

[54:01] of dockets actually has

[54:01] increased.

[54:02] A great.

[54:03] Deal in the last few years like

[54:07] in 2025 there was 2114 dockets

[54:07] filed.

[54:12] Where in 19 2019 it was 1700.

[54:14] So so far in.

[54:18] 2026 we've had uh 1588 dockets

[54:18] file.

[54:21] So each meeting that we have

[54:21] there's a.

[54:23] Great amount of dockets on the

[54:23] end.

[54:25] Those dockets all have to be

[54:27] reviewed by myself and my staff

[54:28] .

[54:30] So that takes uh quite a bit

[54:33] of time to to get the agenda

[54:35] created, assign docket numbers

[54:35] to them.

[54:38] Uh, if there are all 15 items

[54:40] then we have to contact the

[54:42] council or come down and talk

[54:43] to the counselor.

[54:45] Uh, so all that takes time and

[54:48] then hopefully by there was one

[54:50] instance where we posted the

[54:53] agenda at like 1201 because we

[54:55] had to review.

[54:55] >> certain.

[54:56] Certain things on that

[54:57] particular order with the

[54:58] council.

[55:00] So you know, we try to do.

[55:02] >> our due diligence and I try

[55:05] to process everything as

[55:06] quickly as I can to meet the

[55:08] open meeting deadline.

[55:09] Okay.

[55:11] >> so you know I'm I'm writing

[55:12] down make sure everything filed

[55:14] at least 11 minutes before.

[55:15] The deadline so you won't blame

[55:15] me.

[55:18] Um uh, but uh, so it sounds

[55:20] like that that that's that's an

[55:23] issue uh, and the number

[55:25] of filings makes it, uh,

[55:28] stressful uh, to get through

[55:29] everything but in terms of the

[55:31] rule itself, like when you're

[55:34] applying rule 15, um, have you

[55:35] is there some something in

[55:36] there that you keep going?

[55:39] Um, I wish they had not done

[55:39] that or.

[55:40] Clarified something.

[55:41] The language for rule 15.

[55:43] Has pretty much been

[55:44] consistent.

[55:45] Sure for the last few years.

[55:48] So I don't think that's the

[55:48] issue.

[55:50] I think the issue is uh to

[55:51] review the dockets did making

[55:54] the determination uh, working

[55:57] with the counselor um I think

[55:58] another.

[56:00] Uh aspect of all this is we

[56:02] have the green sheet so all the

[56:03] counselors have that

[56:03] information.

[56:06] Yeah, the tip of their hands to

[56:08] before they file any dockets.

[56:08] They could.

[56:09] >> review the.

[56:09] Green sheets.

[56:11] And say, oh.

[56:14] There's a similar sounding

[56:15] docket on the green sheets

[56:16] already.

[56:18] So that could be a step that a.

[56:20] Council could take to avoid any

[56:21] rule 15.

[56:23] Issues okay.

[56:24] Yeah yeah.

[56:26] Sorry I just um because we did

[56:27] go back to kind of review the

[56:29] history of rule 15 before the

[56:31] um before this hearing I just

[56:32] wanted to share because it's

[56:34] interesting also but um, you

[56:35] know, rule 15 comes up for the

[56:36] first time in our council rules

[56:40] and like the 1980s um, and then

[56:43] um it was expanded slightly in

[56:45] the early 90s.

[56:47] Um, we're making an assumption

[56:48] because there were duplicate

[56:49] matters in the previous year

[56:51] that um, you know, the team was

[56:53] able to go back and find um and

[56:54] then it remained largely

[56:58] unchanged until um the past few

[57:01] terms um when it became

[57:03] something that was coming up in

[57:04] conversations with the clerk,

[57:06] with myself and at our rules

[57:08] committee meetings, um, to

[57:08] review.

[57:09] The rules.

[57:11] So the current iteration

[57:14] of rule 15, um, tried to

[57:16] address some of the concerns

[57:19] that people had in the um the

[57:21] end of 2025 at the last rules

[57:21] meeting.

[57:23] So at that last rules meeting

[57:25] people talked about, you know,

[57:26] how things you know should be

[57:28] allowed if they do evolve or

[57:28] subtopics should.

[57:29] Be evolved.

[57:30] Um or some topics should be

[57:31] allowed.

[57:33] So all of that language was

[57:36] added in in as a response to

[57:37] what councilors had indicated

[57:40] they were hoping to see um

[57:43] change about that rule from

[57:43] 2025 to 2026.

[57:48] Um, so I think you can kind

[57:49] of see us continuing to

[57:51] struggle about how to implement

[57:51] that.

[57:54] Um, because um.

[57:56] You know it.

[57:59] You know it we add more

[58:00] language but it's not

[58:01] necessarily more clear.

[58:03] So okay.

[58:04] Thank you very much.

[58:04] Thank you chair.

[58:05] Thank you.

[58:07] Um, chair recognizes constable

[58:09] culpeper councilor you have the

[58:09] floor.

[58:10] Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

[58:13] Thank you, mr clerk.

[58:15] Turn.

[58:18] Michelle, is there any written

[58:21] um, objective standard that you

[58:26] use when you begin to review

[58:27] two dockets that have been

[58:28] filed that seem like a similar.

[58:30] I just.

[58:32] Uh, whatever whatever is in the

[58:34] order I read the order I read

[58:36] the previous order that seems

[58:39] to be the duplicate and I just

[58:41] make it that way if I see I

[58:44] read enough duplicate uh

[58:45] duplication in the wording and

[58:47] the intent in the theme of the

[58:50] order that's how I determine if

[58:51] it's a duplicate or not.

[58:53] So the there's no written

[58:54] objective criteria.

[58:54] No.

[58:54] Okay.

[58:56] I think I would just say beyond

[58:57] what's in the rules.

[58:58] So the difference for this year

[59:00] is that we've um the clerk you

[59:01] know or the rule has changed to

[59:03] focus more on whether something

[59:05] would result in the same kind

[59:06] of hearing.

[59:09] Um, so I think that's been the

[59:10] kind of like written standard

[59:11] that's changed a little bit.

[59:14] I think what I'm probably more

[59:16] concerned about is when there's

[59:19] a disagreement with the clerk,

[59:20] then what happens?

[59:23] Um, and I'm wondering whether

[59:26] the council should have uh.

[59:31] Some appeal mechanism whether

[59:34] to the PRESIDENT Or whether

[59:36] it's, uh, to the council or

[59:41] another process where um, the

[59:44] council that has a disagreement

[59:48] can appeal to uh or whether

[59:51] there's there should be a

[59:53] mechanism for reconsideration

[59:55] just to give a councilors an

[59:57] opportunity to state their case

[59:57] .

[1:00:02] Um, in case they disagree with

[1:00:03] the final decision.

[1:00:11] And uh, and you know, because

[1:00:12] it's going to happen there's

[1:00:14] going to be situations where

[1:00:15] council is going to say um I

[1:00:15] don't.

[1:00:19] Should we have some kind

[1:00:20] of appeal mechanism?

[1:00:22] And in that case whether it's

[1:00:23] to the PRESIDENT Or whether

[1:00:26] it's to the PRESIDENT To bring

[1:00:29] to the council itself so the

[1:00:33] council rules on it, uh,

[1:00:35] because I can't see where there

[1:00:37] MAY be situations in the

[1:00:40] future, uh, where council will

[1:00:43] disagree and get uh again and

[1:00:44] not me now.

[1:00:49] But I think we should think

[1:00:49] about that.

[1:00:50] Yeah.

[1:00:53] Um, MR. Clerk, just so it

[1:00:56] relieves you of always having

[1:01:01] to be the final arbiter um, and

[1:01:05] to give a counselor, uh, some

[1:01:09] option in case you want a

[1:01:11] reconsideration or to appeal to

[1:01:11] the body.

[1:01:13] The reason why I say appeal to

[1:01:16] the PRESIDENT Or to the body

[1:01:17] because I know you've got that

[1:01:18] file and you've got that

[1:01:19] deadline.

[1:01:21] There wouldn't be time really?

[1:01:26] Because I think in some

[1:01:28] of these rule 15 matters they

[1:01:32] come up so quickly when someone

[1:01:34] file something you look at it

[1:01:36] say oh my GOD got something

[1:01:39] filed already it's 11:45.

[1:01:41] Uh so you're trying to.

[1:01:48] Review it, come to the

[1:01:50] PRESIDENT Then get to the

[1:01:50] counselor.

[1:01:55] Um and this probably not enough

[1:01:58] time and some situations.

[1:02:00] So I'm wondering if we should

[1:02:03] think about some kind of appeal

[1:02:06] procedure where if some of the

[1:02:07] disagrees with and not MAY now

[1:02:08] .

[1:02:10] Well, there have been occasions

[1:02:12] when it at one here at one

[1:02:14] particular meeting we've had

[1:02:17] you know 3 to 15 items and

[1:02:19] that's where I my opinion is

[1:02:22] that is there's not enough time

[1:02:23] for me to review right.

[1:02:25] Um those three if I going to

[1:02:28] post the agenda at 12 noon and

[1:02:30] and then reviewing a rule 15

[1:02:33] item is becomes tedious because

[1:02:34] you have to read the the

[1:02:36] current one you have to read

[1:02:37] the uh the previous one you

[1:02:39] have to contact the counselor

[1:02:41] night then I you know, I've

[1:02:43] been upstairs for 20 years and

[1:02:46] uh, my experience has been most

[1:02:48] the council is that I've dealt

[1:02:50] with over the years have been

[1:02:53] very agreeable to my, um,

[1:02:55] observation and opinion of what

[1:02:57] the duplication is.

[1:02:58] But there have been occasions

[1:03:00] when yes, you you're right a

[1:03:01] council that digs in and says

[1:03:03] no it's not the same.

[1:03:06] It's uh it this the outcome

[1:03:07] of this is going to be

[1:03:08] different and I don't agree

[1:03:11] with you so but I you know

[1:03:13] there was I think one occasion

[1:03:15] many years ago that that did

[1:03:16] happen.

[1:03:17] I was there probably the there

[1:03:18] was the assistant clerk back

[1:03:21] then but I think we allowed

[1:03:22] something to go on the agenda

[1:03:25] and then whatever the

[1:03:26] council wanted to do with that

[1:03:28] item then that would be voted

[1:03:28] on during the meeting.

[1:03:31] So I think that goes back to.

[1:03:32] The interplay with rule five.

[1:03:34] So I mean I don't want to know

[1:03:35] if it my understanding is that,

[1:03:37] you know, if that disagreement

[1:03:39] does happen you would tend to

[1:03:40] allow the filing to move

[1:03:41] forward.

[1:03:43] Um, and then once it's on the

[1:03:45] agenda, if the PRESIDENT Or

[1:03:47] another councilor feels that it

[1:03:49] is duplicative and should have

[1:03:51] been brought 15, they would

[1:03:53] make a case under rule five

[1:03:55] because rule five is within the

[1:03:56] council to rule that out

[1:03:58] of order for the same reasons.

[1:04:00] Was that something that came to

[1:04:00] the full council?

[1:04:03] So the way rule five works is

[1:04:04] that it's technically the

[1:04:05] PRESIDENT Who rules it out

[1:04:06] of order.

[1:04:07] no, I understand it's subject

[1:04:09] to appeal so it would be up for

[1:04:10] a vote okay.

[1:04:13] Yeah but it has to come to the

[1:04:15] PRESIDENT By way of the clerk

[1:04:17] bringing it to the PRESIDENT Or

[1:04:19] just hit the floor because it

[1:04:20] was on the agenda.

[1:04:20] Right.

[1:04:22] And what I'm saying is maybe

[1:04:26] there's something where it

[1:04:29] doesn't go to the floor at that

[1:04:32] point, uh, without using rule

[1:04:34] five whether we could seriously

[1:04:37] think about having some kind

[1:04:38] of procedure without using rule

[1:04:42] five where if someone really

[1:04:44] dug in with the clerk it could

[1:04:49] then go to the PRESIDENT Or to

[1:04:49] the body.

[1:04:51] I just think there has to be

[1:04:54] some kind of kill mechanism

[1:04:57] that allows that council to

[1:05:01] take their um argument or their

[1:05:05] position uh, that differs with

[1:05:07] the clerks to the PRESIDENT Or

[1:05:08] the council or something.

[1:05:12] I just think that's something

[1:05:13] we might want to think about

[1:05:16] and um, save you a little

[1:05:19] aggravation of questioning and

[1:05:19] uh.

[1:05:23] Well, usually the uh if that uh

[1:05:25] ,issue occurs, uh, like

[1:05:26] michelle said, you know, we

[1:05:28] would allow it to be filed as

[1:05:30] part of the agenda and be a

[1:05:32] part of the regular meeting and

[1:05:34] then at the meeting the

[1:05:35] council could get up and say,

[1:05:36] well, this is the reason why I

[1:05:37] think this is different.

[1:05:39] And if his colleagues agree

[1:05:41] with that then it could be

[1:05:42] passed or referred to

[1:05:43] committee.

[1:05:45] It could be objected to but

[1:05:46] that would be on the floor

[1:05:47] of the of the meeting and the

[1:05:48] council meeting.

[1:05:51] can we put that in writing or

[1:05:53] some way formalize that so the

[1:05:56] councilors will know uh, that's

[1:05:59] uh protocol procedure that

[1:05:59] could be.

[1:06:01] >> we could create something.

[1:06:01] >> yes.

[1:06:02] So yeah yeah.

[1:06:04] Thank you.

[1:06:07] Appreciate how uh and and I can

[1:06:09] only talk for about the eight

[1:06:11] months that I've been here and

[1:06:14] how we've had real good

[1:06:16] discussion sometimes sometimes

[1:06:17] intense discussion.

[1:06:17] Yes.

[1:06:20] Uh, with megan and, uh and meg

[1:06:21] is not here.

[1:06:24] She's, uh, been very helpful.

[1:06:25] All of you have been very

[1:06:25] helpful.

[1:06:28] I think the relationship lends

[1:06:29] itself to even if there is a

[1:06:31] proper procedure, it will still

[1:06:33] be as smooth as things have

[1:06:34] been.

[1:06:37] And, uh, just appreciate work

[1:06:37] with you.

[1:06:40] I think part probably what

[1:06:41] happens is when you do that

[1:06:42] prayer.

[1:06:45] I've been doing a lot of press.

[1:06:47] >> I know you write.

[1:06:49] Pretty good.

[1:06:50] .

[1:06:52] >> uh well thank you

[1:06:54] councilor I think um being here

[1:06:56] and uh, for in the clerk's

[1:06:58] office for 20 years I have a

[1:07:00] like a very unique perspective

[1:07:03] on the what the

[1:07:04] responsibilities are and the

[1:07:07] doing the agendas and uh,

[1:07:08] reviewing the dockets but I

[1:07:10] think in the with with what you

[1:07:13] just said I, I agree with that

[1:07:16] because that will release any

[1:07:18] tensions between the our

[1:07:20] offices you know the 13

[1:07:21] council is you know I have 13

[1:07:24] bosses so over the years and I

[1:07:26] come to this job as an open as

[1:07:28] with an open mind every single

[1:07:29] day because at the end of the

[1:07:31] day it's we like

[1:07:32] councilor flynn said you know

[1:07:34] we're here to to move the

[1:07:36] people's business forward and

[1:07:37] and work for the citizens

[1:07:39] of boston and for me it doesn't

[1:07:41] matter what side of the

[1:07:43] political spectrum a

[1:07:45] councilor is for me it's

[1:07:47] reading the order determining

[1:07:49] if it's a duplicate,

[1:07:52] determining what the outcome uh

[1:07:53] ,is the intended outcome

[1:07:54] of the order is.

[1:07:57] So I've always taken that open

[1:07:59] mind approach and will continue

[1:07:59] to do that.

[1:08:00] And I think that.

[1:08:06] Thank you.

[1:08:09] >> because you.

[1:08:14] >> thank you thank you,

[1:08:15] councilor culpepper.

[1:08:20] Um, let me see I I know that we

[1:08:22] we changed the rules back to

[1:08:23] having you mean the sole

[1:08:25] arbiter um, when we did the

[1:08:27] changes for 20 2627

[1:08:29] council session, uh, we

[1:08:31] rephrased for flaherty, uh, and

[1:08:34] how specify the intent of the

[1:08:36] rule and to clarify that you

[1:08:38] were, uh, the decision maker

[1:08:40] and I did also attempted to

[1:08:42] clarify what should and should

[1:08:43] not be considered duplicative.

[1:08:46] I think also the the decision

[1:08:48] that we made as a as a body

[1:08:51] when we changed the rules uh,

[1:08:53] in in at the beginning of the

[1:08:56] year adding the sentence um

[1:08:57] prescribing that when rule 15

[1:08:59] should not be invoked filings

[1:09:02] whose content is on a different

[1:09:04] sub target topic or a sub topic

[1:09:07] not specified or that that

[1:09:10] should not have reasonably been

[1:09:11] expected to be covered by the

[1:09:13] previous filing or topics on

[1:09:15] topic finding some topics for

[1:09:18] which content has evolved since

[1:09:19] the previous filing because

[1:09:21] things change in the world um

[1:09:23] so long as the hearing or

[1:09:25] debate on the new filing would

[1:09:26] not result in the same hearing

[1:09:28] or same debate that would

[1:09:30] otherwise have been under the

[1:09:32] previous filing, I think it's

[1:09:34] the sole purpose of um you

[1:09:35] know, we should try and keep it

[1:09:36] streamlined that we're not

[1:09:37] having duplicative hearings.

[1:09:41] Um, and to um, you know, so a

[1:09:43] hearing order for an update on

[1:09:45] a topic matter or a matter that

[1:09:46] has already had a hearing is

[1:09:48] now no longer considered

[1:09:51] duplicate if if the landscape

[1:09:52] was changed and there's a

[1:09:54] timely reason to have an update

[1:09:55] on that topic.

[1:09:57] So I think those are good

[1:09:58] improvements I think and in

[1:10:00] terms of are there other

[1:10:02] categories of filings laguna we

[1:10:03] have hearing orders.

[1:10:05] We have uh resolutions are

[1:10:08] there categories where the rule

[1:10:11] 15 rule should be the 15 should

[1:10:13] be applied differently like is

[1:10:14] this a different weight to it

[1:10:16] if it's a hearing versus a

[1:10:17] resolution or whatever?

[1:10:19] Uh I've always treated them

[1:10:21] both the same in terms

[1:10:23] of reading them and determining

[1:10:24] if they are duplicative or not.

[1:10:27] Uh, if enough words come out

[1:10:29] that are the same or similar

[1:10:30] and the outcome is the same,

[1:10:32] then I would consider that a

[1:10:32] duplicate.

[1:10:35] But however there could be

[1:10:38] instances where there are

[1:10:40] situations where it differs a

[1:10:41] bit and the outcome is

[1:10:42] different.

[1:10:44] So if it's an order or if it's

[1:10:46] a resolution uh, if it's an

[1:10:48] order for one uh issue and the

[1:10:50] resolution is on the same issue

[1:10:51] then that's those are two

[1:10:53] different things one's an auto

[1:10:54] one's a resolution.

[1:10:57] So I wouldn't rule 15 those.

[1:10:59] Okay thank you.

[1:11:02] And does the current language

[1:11:03] give you enough flaherty and

[1:11:05] enough guidance like it's it's

[1:11:06] I think it's trying to fight I

[1:11:07] think it has improved but

[1:11:09] doesn't give you enough enough

[1:11:10] flaherty and enough guidance to

[1:11:12] to make consistent

[1:11:12] determinations.

[1:11:14] I know I think what I'm hearing

[1:11:15] from you is the biggest factor

[1:11:17] is actually the time time I'd

[1:11:19] like to review the prop um.

[1:11:20] The timing is the issue for

[1:11:24] me and you know if I I have to

[1:11:25] go through these things quickly

[1:11:27] and sometimes doing by doing

[1:11:31] that you know, I could MISS The

[1:11:31] interpretation by doing it

[1:11:33] quickly uh, of a particular

[1:11:34] order.

[1:11:36] But again I have to follow the

[1:11:38] uh, open meeting law and I have

[1:11:39] to post everything by 12.

[1:11:42] Uh, so when everything gets

[1:11:46] posted uh, the the amount

[1:11:49] of filings has significantly

[1:11:50] increased in the last couple

[1:11:51] of years.

[1:11:53] So that makes our jobs a little

[1:11:55] bit more difficult and tedious

[1:11:57] and processing everything.

[1:11:59] But I mean we get it done and

[1:12:01] it's uh posted at 12 noon.

[1:12:04] Uh, like I said, there was a

[1:12:05] meeting where I had like 3 or 4

[1:12:08] rule 15 possible rule 15 items.

[1:12:10] So we have to review each one

[1:12:12] and then contact the counselor

[1:12:15] for each for each order so that

[1:12:17] we try to do that as quickly as

[1:12:17] possible.

[1:12:19] So you don't have a lot of time

[1:12:20] for a turnaround.

[1:12:22] Now the other question I had is

[1:12:24] and this is generally in the

[1:12:25] rules, it used to be that you

[1:12:27] had to make your filings on

[1:12:27] friday afternoon.

[1:12:29] The deadline for filings was

[1:12:31] friday afternoon and I would

[1:12:32] please.

[1:12:32] Change the.

[1:12:33] >> what is it?

[1:12:34] I don't even remember if we

[1:12:35] ever had done that.

[1:12:36] Yeah.

[1:12:38] >> um but I have suggested that

[1:12:40] we do that in a memo that I

[1:12:42] sent out last year regarding

[1:12:44] filings because a lot of them

[1:12:46] like I said, a lot

[1:12:47] of counselors file everything

[1:12:50] like a quarter or ten on monday

[1:12:50] morning.

[1:12:52] I did have made the suggestion

[1:12:54] that we could councils could

[1:12:57] file things starting at 4:00 on

[1:12:57] friday.

[1:12:59] Because we did that.

[1:13:01] >> but during covid yeah we did

[1:13:03] that and during covid but if we

[1:13:05] if council file things on

[1:13:08] friday at least uh we have some

[1:13:08] time in.

[1:13:11] On monday morning not it

[1:13:14] starting at ten but when staff

[1:13:16] gets in at 830 they have access

[1:13:18] to all the dockets earlier than

[1:13:20] at 10:00.

[1:13:21] So that would make life.

[1:13:23] Easier and make life easier in

[1:13:25] terms of rule 15 yes.

[1:13:25] Yeah.

[1:13:27] >> especially given the

[1:13:27] increased volume.

[1:13:27] Yeah.

[1:13:28] >> okay.

[1:13:29] >> um.

[1:13:33] >> that's all I know my time

[1:13:34] i'm just watching watching it

[1:13:36] but um, councilor murphy, would

[1:13:36] you.

[1:13:38] Yeah I'm going to give you

[1:13:39] another um another four

[1:13:40] minutes.

[1:13:40] Thank you.

[1:13:41] Um.

[1:13:45] >> thank you to my colleagues

[1:13:47] who are here in the state.

[1:13:49] I don't think it's productive

[1:13:51] if we make accusations and walk

[1:13:52] away, especially because these

[1:13:54] are filings we're referring to

[1:13:56] that were about women's history

[1:13:57] and I don't think there ever

[1:13:59] can be too many filings where

[1:14:00] we're advocating and uplifting

[1:14:02] women, especially in 2026.

[1:14:05] I do just want to be clear and

[1:14:06] then ask for your opinion again

[1:14:08] even though I know I got it way

[1:14:10] back in FEBRUARY when you made

[1:14:11] a call to me.

[1:14:15] So I filed a resolution

[1:14:17] recognizing MARCH as women's

[1:14:19] history month and as the chair

[1:14:21] of strong women families in

[1:14:21] community.

[1:14:24] Um was also tying it into a

[1:14:25] celebration we were going to

[1:14:26] have and my title was

[1:14:28] resolution recognizing MARCH is

[1:14:30] women's history month talked

[1:14:32] about the contributions women

[1:14:34] have made in the city of boston

[1:14:36] and meanwhile meaningful

[1:14:38] progress has been made blah

[1:14:38] blah blah.

[1:14:39] We should continue to support

[1:14:42] and advocate in my now there be

[1:14:44] for it which is what you say

[1:14:45] you go to that clause said that

[1:14:48] the boston city council hereby

[1:14:49] recognize MARCH is women's

[1:14:51] history month and honors the

[1:14:52] contributions, leadership and

[1:14:54] achievements of women in boston

[1:14:54] .

[1:14:57] The other hearing that was

[1:14:58] filed which I was supporting

[1:15:00] and signing on and thought both

[1:15:02] should be brought forward had a

[1:15:05] different focus which I know

[1:15:06] when we talked to agreed is why

[1:15:09] you kept both on a resolution

[1:15:10] recognizing women's history and

[1:15:11] reaffirming boston's commitment

[1:15:13] to women's rights.

[1:15:15] One of the whereas is was

[1:15:17] focusing on recent federal

[1:15:19] actions and judicial decisions

[1:15:20] have weakened protections

[1:15:22] related to reproductive health

[1:15:23] care, workplace rights, civil

[1:15:25] rights enforcement and gender

[1:15:27] based discrimination, placing

[1:15:28] women's health autonomy and

[1:15:29] safety at risk.

[1:15:31] These federal rollbacks

[1:15:33] disproportionately harm women

[1:15:34] of color low income women,

[1:15:36] immigrant women, lgbtq plus

[1:15:37] women and women with

[1:15:39] disabilities compounding

[1:15:41] existing inequities within our

[1:15:43] communities all agree with that

[1:15:44] this moment demands renewed

[1:15:45] local leadership to affirm that

[1:15:48] women's rights are human rights

[1:15:49] and that we as a city will

[1:15:52] remain strong to defend the

[1:15:54] dignity and equity and that the

[1:15:55] boston city council hereby

[1:15:57] recognizes marches women's

[1:15:58] history month and reaffirms

[1:16:00] boston's commitment to

[1:16:01] advancing gender equity and

[1:16:03] protecting women's rights,

[1:16:04] particularly at a time when

[1:16:05] federal actions threaten long

[1:16:07] standing civil and human rights

[1:16:09] protection at the federal level

[1:16:09] .

[1:16:11] Do you still agree?

[1:16:13] And I know I spoke to you,

[1:16:15] michelle about this and as

[1:16:16] panelists I would like your

[1:16:16] opinion.

[1:16:18] Now do you agree that those are

[1:16:20] two separate resolutions that

[1:16:23] should have stayed on the

[1:16:25] agenda and voted both on at

[1:16:27] that hearing based on their

[1:16:30] content after kind of re going

[1:16:33] through what would constitute

[1:16:34] and it wasn't pulled you kept

[1:16:35] it on because you.

[1:16:35] Agreed that.

[1:16:38] >> do you still well when uh

[1:16:40] the the rule 15 issue I

[1:16:42] contacted you and uh but you

[1:16:44] and you did change the the the

[1:16:48] language so for me you know I

[1:16:49] reread it afterwards and

[1:16:51] determined that it wasn't an

[1:16:52] exact duplicate and.

[1:16:54] >> just to be clear to the

[1:16:56] public to when we change the

[1:16:57] language it's before anyone

[1:16:58] even sees it and my colleagues

[1:16:58] either.

[1:17:00] So no one had seen the original

[1:17:02] even though the original was

[1:17:03] pretty similar and I did think

[1:17:05] that that one which was a

[1:17:06] strong important resolution and

[1:17:08] I was wholeheartedly supporting

[1:17:11] that one also that I did make a

[1:17:12] few tweaks just to be very

[1:17:14] clear, but mine was in no way

[1:17:16] referencing federal or other

[1:17:16] issues.

[1:17:16] >> right.

[1:17:18] You know well, you know.

[1:17:19] >> just to be safe like you

[1:17:19] said working.

[1:17:21] Collegiately together to just

[1:17:22] make sure that there.

[1:17:23] Was no well this is another

[1:17:25] example of, you know, uh,

[1:17:28] calling the counselor and

[1:17:29] describing what the duplication

[1:17:31] is and then the counselor

[1:17:34] agreed to, you know, uh, edit

[1:17:35] her original version.

[1:17:38] So once that happens and the

[1:17:40] the determination of the right.

[1:17:43] But then at the meeting it was

[1:17:43] then.

[1:17:44] thrown out.

[1:17:45] >> yeah.

[1:17:47] So and I also remember going to

[1:17:50] you michelle it was upsetting

[1:17:53] after lots of other things like

[1:17:55] blocking um late files which I

[1:17:57] do think I need a few more

[1:17:59] seconds to address that because

[1:18:01] if we do have a deadline

[1:18:03] of friday a floor so much does

[1:18:04] happen on friday night

[1:18:05] saturday, sunday, monday I know

[1:18:07] I've spoken at length with you

[1:18:08] about that michelle that yes we

[1:18:09] should get in the habit

[1:18:11] of things that can get in as

[1:18:12] early as they can.

[1:18:14] We should get them in but if

[1:18:16] we're putting a friday deadline

[1:18:18] then there will be more late

[1:18:19] files because lots of important

[1:18:20] things do come up.

[1:18:22] Over the weekend that will need

[1:18:23] to be on the agenda.

[1:18:26] But at that hearing at that

[1:18:28] meeting also when we talk about

[1:18:30] what are our supports and

[1:18:33] abilities in the time there was

[1:18:35] the council attorneys were not

[1:18:36] in the chamber.

[1:18:37] Do you remember that

[1:18:37] conversation michelle?

[1:18:39] And when I asked for a recess

[1:18:40] it was denied.

[1:18:42] Then it was pushed and then

[1:18:43] colleagues voted to just shoot

[1:18:44] it down.

[1:18:47] I did say well if we're not

[1:18:48] referring to the clerk and

[1:18:49] using the rule that says he has

[1:18:51] the final power and I didn't

[1:18:52] agree with the PRESIDENT, I

[1:18:54] didn't have access to what I

[1:18:56] read and if you could just

[1:18:58] speak through what the

[1:19:00] council attorney during the

[1:19:01] council meeting support and

[1:19:03] role is just so that we're

[1:19:03] clear.

[1:19:03] Yeah.

[1:19:04] what that is for us.

[1:19:05] No definitely.

[1:19:07] And you know, um I did.

[1:19:09] You know.

[1:19:10] >> we've talked about this

[1:19:11] multiple times and I appreciate

[1:19:12] you having brought that to

[1:19:14] me and I hope it's noticeable

[1:19:16] that we have been absolutely

[1:19:17] making sure to have more

[1:19:18] coverage in the chamber during

[1:19:19] meetings for that exact reason.

[1:19:21] Um, so that if councilors have

[1:19:24] a question during the meeting

[1:19:26] that's on procedure or anything

[1:19:27] else, it doesn't necessarily

[1:19:29] have to be something that they

[1:19:30] have to bring up as a point

[1:19:31] of order point of information

[1:19:31] or you know.

[1:19:33] A question that they raise to

[1:19:35] the PRESIDENT Or to the clerk

[1:19:36] through a formal channel.

[1:19:38] They can come to us on the side

[1:19:40] and we can help advise what the

[1:19:41] best next steps would be to

[1:19:43] address whatever the procedural

[1:19:43] issue is.

[1:19:45] Thank you.

[1:19:47] >> my time is up again but not

[1:19:48] thank you.

[1:19:50] Thank you, councilor murphy.

[1:19:50] Okay sir.

[1:19:51] Sorry you he's one.

[1:19:54] We're both irish.

[1:19:57] >> this is not culinary.

[1:19:59] Councilor flynn.

[1:20:00] Off you go.

[1:20:01] Um, that.

[1:20:03] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:20:06] Again want to say thank you to

[1:20:08] alex and to michelle?

[1:20:09] I had an opportunity to.

[1:20:11] >> work with both for.

[1:20:13] Almost nine years and both.

[1:20:17] Outstanding and dedicated city

[1:20:17] employees.

[1:20:21] What I what I wanted to

[1:20:22] highlight I.

[1:20:23] Referenced it somewhat.

[1:20:24] >> in my comments.

[1:20:25] And questioning.

[1:20:28] I do think we are able to move

[1:20:28] .

[1:20:30] Forward on this issue.

[1:20:31] In other issues.

[1:20:34] I do think it's about

[1:20:35] respecting each other.

[1:20:37] And listening to each other.

[1:20:40] And understanding.

[1:20:42] Each other or compromising

[1:20:45] especially when you disagree

[1:20:48] with the person on policy but

[1:20:50] you know the person is right.

[1:20:51] In terms of the role.

[1:20:53] I think that's.

[1:20:55] Where we have to be.

[1:20:58] More understanding, more

[1:21:00] considerate, more compassionate

[1:21:01] is.

[1:21:04] Try to be a better colleague.

[1:21:05] I think if we're a better

[1:21:07] colleague we can make

[1:21:07] significant.

[1:21:10] Progress in roles and I think

[1:21:11] at times.

[1:21:13] Without being.

[1:21:14] Negative because I because I

[1:21:15] don't want to be negative

[1:21:16] during this meeting.

[1:21:16] But I.

[1:21:18] Do think if we work together

[1:21:21] and respect each other we can

[1:21:22] accomplish a lot.

[1:21:24] We can follow the rules.

[1:21:24] We can.

[1:21:27] Do the people's work.

[1:21:33] But even when we disagree and

[1:21:34] we respect each other we still

[1:21:35] can get.

[1:21:36] >> a lot of work done.

[1:21:38] And that's really my point.

[1:21:41] As it relates to the city

[1:21:41] council.

[1:21:42] Rules is.

[1:21:44] Ensuring that city councils

[1:21:47] treat each other cordially,

[1:21:48] respectfully.

[1:21:52] Understand each other and

[1:21:52] sometimes.

[1:21:55] including myself withholding.

[1:21:55] Comments about.

[1:21:58] Colleagues that you do want to

[1:21:59] criticize.

[1:22:02] But sometimes the criticism

[1:22:02] doesn't.

[1:22:04] Help the.

[1:22:07] Body and it doesn't help the

[1:22:07] city.

[1:22:08] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:22:10] Thank you, councilor flynn.

[1:22:12] Um councilor fitzgerald.

[1:22:14] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:22:15] No, I don't have any further

[1:22:16] questions here to learn.

[1:22:17] Thank you so much and again

[1:22:18] thank you.

[1:22:19] Um the staff thank.

[1:22:20] You, councilor weber.

[1:22:21] Yeah.

[1:22:23] >> uh, thank you very much.

[1:22:25] Uh, I'm just happy to, uh,

[1:22:26] attend and hear what my

[1:22:27] colleagues have to say and

[1:22:29] thank you for the panel for

[1:22:30] their thoughtful answers.

[1:22:30] Thanks, chair.

[1:22:31] Thank you.

[1:22:34] Um, councilor cope everett.

[1:22:36] Yeah, I did have an additional

[1:22:39] question regarding the

[1:22:39] decision.

[1:22:42] And so when you make a decision

[1:22:45] ,mr clare, it is somewhere

[1:22:47] where you record that decision

[1:22:50] or document that decision just

[1:22:51] in case it's something that

[1:22:54] comes up in the future.

[1:22:57] Well, uh, actually.

[1:22:57] >> I.

[1:22:59] Do we I created a folder this.

[1:23:01] >> year for 2026 because.

[1:23:01] >> we've.

[1:23:04] Had you know, 16 rule 15 items.

[1:23:08] So now we keep I keep uh the

[1:23:11] dockets in this folder to to go

[1:23:12] back and review them if I need

[1:23:13] them in and to.

[1:23:17] To document the reason why or

[1:23:19] provide an explanation

[1:23:19] of writing.

[1:23:22] So if you need to go back or if

[1:23:24] a councilor had a question

[1:23:26] about why uh, you made a

[1:23:27] certain decision.

[1:23:31] Uh, we keep copies of each

[1:23:34] docket and um, they do make

[1:23:36] like little notes and saying,

[1:23:37] you know why I thought it was a

[1:23:40] duplicate and then I just put

[1:23:41] them in these by in this folder

[1:23:43] and I keep them for reference.

[1:23:43] Good.

[1:23:44] >> because I think that's

[1:23:44] important.

[1:23:45] Yeah.

[1:23:46] It's like the congressional

[1:23:48] record you can go back to the

[1:23:49] congressional record and you

[1:23:53] look back 50 years of why a

[1:23:55] congress person did something

[1:23:55] on why.

[1:23:58] So I just think it's helpful in

[1:24:00] the future, especially when you

[1:24:02] have similar dockets that MAY

[1:24:03] come up in the future.

[1:24:05] You can at least go back and

[1:24:07] look at the explanation and the

[1:24:09] decision and provide that to

[1:24:11] the council of what you did in

[1:24:14] the past, the sitting

[1:24:14] precedent, MR. Clerk.

[1:24:15] Yes we are.

[1:24:16] Thank you.

[1:24:19] >> thank you.

[1:24:21] Um.

[1:24:27] >> I think one of the issues

[1:24:30] um, that you mentioned is that

[1:24:34] if you're faced with um, uh, a

[1:24:37] rule 15 docket uh, that you

[1:24:39] can't you often approach the

[1:24:43] sponsor and you ask them to uh,

[1:24:44] give them the opportunity.

[1:24:45] The member is offered an

[1:24:47] amendment um, uh, an

[1:24:49] opportunity to make an

[1:24:50] amendment to the docket so that

[1:24:52] it doesn't, uh, trigger a rule

[1:24:52] 15.

[1:24:55] Um, and you said we've had 16

[1:24:58] rule 15 issues this this year

[1:24:58] so far.

[1:25:00] So that's two but two a month.

[1:25:02] So like averaging two a month.

[1:25:05] Um, how many of those were

[1:25:07] successfully resolved by, you

[1:25:10] know, making an amendment or um

[1:25:11] the person withdrew the docket

[1:25:11] or.

[1:25:14] A majority of them uh, were

[1:25:16] they were amended the language

[1:25:17] was changed to make it not to

[1:25:18] be a duplicate.

[1:25:20] Uh, there were a few occasions

[1:25:22] where the docket was withdrawn

[1:25:24] and uh, the counselor would

[1:25:27] contact the the council of the

[1:25:29] original the first filing to

[1:25:30] become a sponsor to that.

[1:25:33] Um and I know I myself was a

[1:25:35] little 15 uh, no, I had a

[1:25:38] docket and my colleague um had

[1:25:40] she she came in five minutes

[1:25:41] after I did with the same

[1:25:42] pretty much a very similar

[1:25:44] docket and we we.

[1:25:46] Amended we we amended the

[1:25:47] language and we did a joint

[1:25:48] filing in that case.

[1:25:51] So there are remedies available

[1:25:52] to colleagues if we work

[1:25:55] collaboratively together to

[1:25:55] address this and.

[1:25:56] >> all of this happens before

[1:25:57] we even.

[1:25:59] Publish the uh the agenda.

[1:25:59] Yeah.

[1:26:00] >> um.

[1:26:02] >> I really want to thank you

[1:26:03] for your diligence.

[1:26:06] I appreciate I have a lot

[1:26:07] of concern about the fact that

[1:26:09] you are faced with a lot

[1:26:10] of dockets sometimes we have a

[1:26:11] huge number of dockets that you

[1:26:14] have to review and put into um

[1:26:18] ,the system a bit of between

[1:26:23] 10 and 12 on a uh a um monday.

[1:26:26] Um I think one thing that I

[1:26:28] will ask my colleagues to

[1:26:30] consider is that if there are

[1:26:31] dockets that are ready to go on

[1:26:33] thursday or friday that to at

[1:26:35] least send them over to your

[1:26:37] office so that, uh, your staff

[1:26:39] can start uh, reviewing and

[1:26:41] entering those dockets 830 on a

[1:26:42] on a monday.

[1:26:45] Uh, I think if you get all

[1:26:46] of our docket set at quarter

[1:26:48] of ten on a on a on a monday

[1:26:50] and expect everything to be

[1:26:52] done for 12 is an unreasonable

[1:26:53] expectation.

[1:26:56] So I think it's on us as as

[1:26:57] counselors uh, and to be

[1:26:59] respectful of your, uh, office

[1:27:01] to try and, uh if we have

[1:27:03] dockets ready to go then let's

[1:27:04] let's get them going.

[1:27:06] Um, I know we did that during

[1:27:07] covid and that was an

[1:27:09] extraordinary moment in time.

[1:27:12] So um and also just given the

[1:27:14] sheer number of dockets like as

[1:27:17] you mentioned we are 1500 an

[1:27:20] idiot docket so far this year

[1:27:21] and only in AUGUST.

[1:27:24] Um, we've still got three four

[1:27:25] months to go.

[1:27:29] Um and we um it's a huge amount

[1:27:30] of work for your office and I

[1:27:31] appreciate that.

[1:27:31] Thank you.

[1:27:32] >> council.

[1:27:34] Um.

[1:27:35] >> last call.

[1:27:36] Uh, I just want to thank you

[1:27:37] both for your incredible work.

[1:27:39] Um, and just to offer you

[1:27:40] everyone, uh, closing

[1:27:42] statements, if any would like

[1:27:43] councilor murphy.

[1:27:43] Thank you.

[1:27:45] >> I just want to thank you for

[1:27:45] being.

[1:27:48] Here and talking through and

[1:27:50] answering some questions.

[1:27:51] I think flaherty is always

[1:27:51] important.

[1:27:54] i have always been a rule

[1:27:56] follower maybe to a fault.

[1:27:57] So I do think following the

[1:27:59] rules are important but as

[1:28:01] important I think is it has to

[1:28:02] be consistent and people have

[1:28:04] to feel as though the rules are

[1:28:05] being applied um.

[1:28:06] You know.

[1:28:07] >> consistently across the

[1:28:09] board despite personalities or

[1:28:10] any other thing.

[1:28:12] So that is many times the

[1:28:14] concerns I've had right if lay

[1:28:15] files are blocked and said

[1:28:17] because of a concern of open

[1:28:19] meeting law but then all of a

[1:28:20] sudden if it's not a certain

[1:28:21] person following them they're

[1:28:22] not block.

[1:28:23] So those concerns I guess no

[1:28:24] longer exist.

[1:28:25] So I do think.

[1:28:26] We do.

[1:28:28] Need to work together.

[1:28:29] But what you said proves that

[1:28:31] we already are because most of.

[1:28:35] These real 15 cases that you

[1:28:38] see are fixed before they ever

[1:28:39] make it to the agenda.

[1:28:40] The call is what fixes it

[1:28:40] right?

[1:28:41] And it's what I.

[1:28:42] Thought fixed mine in.

[1:28:44] My case in many times I've

[1:28:45] signed on with other colleagues

[1:28:47] also like hey we're both filing

[1:28:48] something, let's work together.

[1:28:50] All of that is happening behind

[1:28:51] the scenes so that number is

[1:28:53] high and thank you for the work

[1:28:53] you.

[1:28:56] Do in your office um to catch

[1:28:57] it.

[1:28:59] But I do want to be clear to

[1:29:00] the public in the body that

[1:29:02] nine times if not more out

[1:29:04] of ten we are addressing it and

[1:29:05] fixing it before it ever comes

[1:29:06] to the floor.

[1:29:08] so we are working together to

[1:29:09] make sure that we're not just

[1:29:10] bickering and we're not.

[1:29:12] And for me at least I can say

[1:29:14] I'm not filing things just to

[1:29:15] file them to me they're very

[1:29:17] important issues that need to

[1:29:19] be addressed and so looking

[1:29:22] forward to hopefully continuing

[1:29:24] to get consistency across the

[1:29:25] board.

[1:29:26] And thank you for being

[1:29:28] available to make some

[1:29:29] clarifications today.

[1:29:29] Thank you.

[1:29:31] Councilor flynn.

[1:29:34] >> thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:29:35] >> thank you to the.

[1:29:36] City clerk.

[1:29:38] Thank you to the.

[1:29:40] City council staff director for

[1:29:41] the important.

[1:29:42] Work you were doing.

[1:29:44] For the city council and for

[1:29:46] the residents of boston.

[1:29:49] Let's continue as a body to

[1:29:51] work together, respect each

[1:29:54] other, communicate effectively

[1:29:54] with each other.

[1:29:55] And do the work of.

[1:29:56] >> the people.

[1:29:58] That's critical, especially

[1:30:00] during these challenging times

[1:30:00] .

[1:30:01] We all know that boston works.

[1:30:03] Best when we when we work

[1:30:03] together.

[1:30:04] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[1:30:06] Thank you, councilor flynn.

[1:30:07] Councilor fitzgerald closing

[1:30:08] remarks.

[1:30:08] Thank you.

[1:30:10] Good.

[1:30:13] >> um, councilor weber closing

[1:30:13] remarks.

[1:30:14] Sure.

[1:30:15] >> uh, thank you very much.

[1:30:15] Yeah.

[1:30:17] I mean I feel like, uh you know

[1:30:18] ,again, thank you to the

[1:30:21] panelists and uh, I think

[1:30:23] issues around rule 15 and

[1:30:24] issues that we talked about

[1:30:25] today I think it's more

[1:30:28] indicative of issues on the

[1:30:30] council and with with

[1:30:32] councilors, uh, effectively

[1:30:33] working together.

[1:30:35] So I agree with my colleagues

[1:30:37] there, uh, that you know so I'd

[1:30:38] say it's more of this

[1:30:39] highlights more of that issue

[1:30:41] than any issues um, with the

[1:30:43] clerk's office or legal

[1:30:44] councilor or even the language

[1:30:45] of the rule.

[1:30:48] So again, I hope we use this as

[1:30:50] uh as a way to work better

[1:30:50] together.

[1:30:53] So thank you to I've just echo

[1:30:54] councilor flynn sentiment.

[1:30:54] Thank you.

[1:30:55] Thank you.

[1:30:56] Um.

[1:30:57] Councilor culpeper.

[1:30:59] Sounds like that organization

[1:31:00] went better together.

[1:31:01] Yeah.

[1:31:02] Uh, just a couple.

[1:31:06] Of comments and and you MAY

[1:31:08] want to respond and MAY not we

[1:31:09] try and have all of our

[1:31:13] filings, uh, prepared friday so

[1:31:15] I can review them with the

[1:31:17] start friday, but we MAY not

[1:31:18] file them friday.

[1:31:20] And my question is would you

[1:31:25] rather us file on friday and if

[1:31:26] monday morning I'll review them

[1:31:29] again monday morning and if we

[1:31:30] have amendments would you

[1:31:32] prefer that we pull that and

[1:31:36] file the and how the change or

[1:31:38] just leave it there and amend

[1:31:38] it.

[1:31:39] What's your preference.

[1:31:43] Uh well you know if you file

[1:31:45] something on friday then you

[1:31:45] want.

[1:31:47] To change it on monday that

[1:31:49] that creates more work too for

[1:31:49] us.

[1:31:52] But uh I mean it can be done.

[1:31:54] So would you rather we just

[1:31:56] wait and file.

[1:31:58] Until you have the final

[1:31:58] version?

[1:31:58] Yeah.

[1:32:01] >> and then, um, you can we can

[1:32:04] review it and then hopefully

[1:32:06] it'll be fine and okay if you

[1:32:07] want to substitute of course

[1:32:09] you can do that during the

[1:32:09] meeting as well.

[1:32:11] Right and and where we can

[1:32:14] we'll try and get them into you

[1:32:15] by friday because usually

[1:32:16] they're ready on friday.

[1:32:19] But you know that weekend you

[1:32:20] know going to the weekend

[1:32:21] thinking about that file and

[1:32:24] waking up monday morning that's

[1:32:26] fine thank you thank you MR.

[1:32:26] Thank you council.

[1:32:29] Thank you, councilor culpepper

[1:32:29] .

[1:32:32] Um I want to thank you both for

[1:32:32] being here today.

[1:32:34] I think this has been a very

[1:32:35] valuable and informative

[1:32:35] conversation.

[1:32:36] I want to thank my colleagues

[1:32:38] for participating in the

[1:32:38] conversation.

[1:32:42] Um, our goal as a as a body and

[1:32:46] as as a um staff and

[1:32:48] council and your trucks office

[1:32:50] is to have an efficient,

[1:32:53] well-run council and I

[1:32:54] appreciate all the great work

[1:32:54] you do.

[1:32:57] Um, I think we can make some

[1:32:58] tweaks and and encourage people

[1:32:59] to file if there's something

[1:33:00] ready to go when it's in good

[1:33:01] shape and it doesn't need

[1:33:03] changing, send it to your

[1:33:04] office in a timely way so that

[1:33:06] it doesn't get into the the the

[1:33:08] bottom the bottleneck on on

[1:33:11] monday mornings and uh I just

[1:33:12] want to encourage thank you for

[1:33:14] your professionalism and your

[1:33:16] daily commitment to helping us,

[1:33:19] uh, do our work for the people

[1:33:20] of boston every day.

[1:33:21] And thanks to my colleagues.

[1:33:22] Thank you.

[1:33:26] >> he might not realize it, but

[1:33:28] I take down notes of your

[1:33:31] prayers so that I take them

[1:33:33] with me when I leave here this

[1:33:33] council.

[1:33:35] So when I look at some of my

[1:33:37] files I've got certain portions

[1:33:39] of your prayers in those files.

[1:33:41] So thank you for those prayers

[1:33:41] .

[1:33:43] That's the other role of the

[1:33:44] clerk is to stand in for clergy

[1:33:46] when we don't have clergy and

[1:33:46] to set.

[1:33:47] >> the prayers to.

[1:33:49] >> set us to set a peaceful.

[1:33:51] And collaborative tone at the

[1:33:51] beginning of a meeting.

[1:33:52] So I thank you for that.

[1:33:53] MADAM PRESIDENT.

[1:33:55] MADAM PRESIDENT, if he uses

[1:33:56] that in his sermons is that

[1:33:57] plagiarism?

[1:33:57] Yes.

[1:33:59] >> I leave this up to that.

[1:34:01] Is that where you get your

[1:34:02] inspiration?

[1:34:02] Credit?

[1:34:03] >> yeah.

[1:34:05] >> oh come on.

[1:34:06] I give him credit I said

[1:34:07] before.

[1:34:09] Thank you everyone.

[1:34:11] This hearing on docket.

[1:34:13] 1475 is adjourned.

City Council on 2026-08-13 10:00 AM

Agenda

Transcript