Transcript
SOURCE TRANSCRIPT
This transcript is downloaded from the source you provided but we haven't reviewed it for accuracy. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record. You can also request an AI-transcription of the audio file with the button to the left.
[0:41]
district four city
[0:42]
councilor and the chair of the
[0:44]
boston city council committee
[0:45]
on environmental justice,
[0:47]
resilience and parks.
[0:51]
Today, AUGUST 21st 2026 the
[0:53]
exact time is 10:01 A.M..
[0:56]
The quote is the chapter two
[0:59]
of the acts of 2025 modifying
[1:00]
certain requirements in the
[1:02]
open meeting law relieving
[1:03]
public bodies the same
[1:05]
requirements including the
[1:06]
requirement that public bodies
[1:08]
conduct meetings in a public
[1:10]
place that is open and
[1:11]
physically accessible to the
[1:11]
public.
[1:13]
The city council will be.
[1:14]
Conducting this hearing
[1:15]
virtually via zoom.
[1:17]
Hearing is being recorded.
[1:19]
It is also being live
[1:21]
streamed@boston.Gov backslash
[1:24]
city council dash tv and
[1:25]
broadcast on xfinity channel
[1:29]
eight, rcn channel 82 and fios
[1:30]
channel 964.
[1:32]
Reading comments MAY be sent to
[1:36]
the committee email ask
[1:37]
dp@boston.Gov.
[1:39]
It will be made part of the
[1:40]
record and available to all
[1:42]
accounts with public testimony
[1:44]
will be taken at the end
[1:44]
of this hearing.
[1:46]
Individuals be called on in the
[1:47]
order in which they signed up.
[1:50]
You have two minutes to testify
[1:50]
.
[1:51]
You wish to sign up for public
[1:54]
testimony and have not done so
[1:56]
please email I sent you is
[1:57]
definitely a village say pack
[2:01]
at age 80 and e dot pack at
[2:03]
boston up at the zoom link you
[2:04]
name will be added to the list.
[2:08]
We have a few of these here in
[2:09]
order to docket to to read out.
[2:12]
today's hearing is on docket
[2:16]
number 1401 message in order
[2:17]
approving the receipt of a copy
[2:19]
of of a conservation
[2:21]
restriction on land as the
[2:24]
street boston at the 02136
[2:26]
granted title of the land is
[2:27]
located at the suffolk county
[2:33]
registry of the book 70459 page
[2:35]
316 that description of the
[2:36]
land includes all the land in
[2:38]
boston and boston suffolk.
[2:38]
County.
[2:40]
>> massachusetts contains
[2:46]
containing the entirety of a
[2:47]
44,137 square foot parcel
[2:50]
of land which premises premise
[2:52]
is which man is located at
[2:54]
unnumbered hill street in the
[2:55]
high park district of the
[2:57]
of the city of boston of the
[3:04]
assessing department as parcel
[3:06]
1-808-198-0000 and formerly the
[3:08]
property of the former boston
[3:10]
and providence railroad company
[3:12]
,further bounded and described
[3:14]
according to a plan of survey
[3:16]
made by harry hp omen
[3:18]
incorporated subway engineers
[3:21]
and land surveyors joseph out
[3:24]
calabro jr registered land to
[3:31]
be a number 15998 dated JANUARY
[3:33]
18th 1990 93 and recorded at
[3:34]
suffolk county registry and
[3:41]
book 24 or 5 three page 302
[3:43]
docket number 1402 message in
[3:45]
order approving the receipt
[3:46]
of conservation restriction on
[3:50]
land at one 9198 west eighth
[3:52]
street, boston, mass.
[3:56]
02127 granted title of the land
[3:57]
located at suffolk county
[4:02]
registry of the airport 71757
[4:05]
page 35 the description of the
[4:07]
land include all the land in
[4:08]
boston suffolk county,
[4:10]
massachusetts containing the
[4:12]
entirety of the parcel the land
[4:15]
totaling what thousand 655ft2
[4:18]
of land more or less known as a
[4:21]
sister mary veronica park shown
[4:26]
in lot five lot 678 in lot nine
[4:28]
on a survey dated AUGUST 12th,
[4:34]
2025 five titled plat plan 192
[4:36]
198 west eighth street south
[4:38]
boston man the paid by joy
[4:39]
consulting group, braintree,
[4:40]
mass.
[4:44]
Docket number 1403 message in
[4:45]
order for the confirmation
[4:49]
of the reappointment of samir
[4:50]
ahmadi as a member of the
[4:51]
building emissions reduction
[4:53]
disclosure ordinance review
[4:57]
board, the midterm expiring on
[5:00]
MAY 23rd 2029 docket number
[5:02]
1404 message order the
[5:03]
confirmation that the
[5:04]
reappointment of jessica
[5:06]
boatwright as a member of the
[5:07]
building emissions reduction
[5:09]
and disclosure bodies review
[5:11]
board with term expiring on
[5:13]
APRIL 24th, 2029.
[5:15]
Docket number 145 method.
[5:17]
In order for the confirmation
[5:19]
of the reappointment, stephen
[5:21]
atlas as a member of the
[5:22]
building emission reduction
[5:23]
disclosure audience review
[5:26]
board for a term expiring on
[5:29]
MAY 26th, 2029 docket number
[5:31]
1406 that should in order for
[5:32]
confirmation of the
[5:34]
reappointment of a cipher
[5:36]
rookie as a member of the
[5:37]
building emissions reduction
[5:38]
disclosure ordinance review
[5:40]
board for a term expiring on
[5:41]
MARCH 19th, 2029.
[5:45]
Duncan number one for oh seven
[5:46]
nasa's order for the
[5:47]
confirmation of the
[5:50]
reappointment of lori ferris as
[5:51]
a member of the domain
[5:53]
emissions reduction disclosure
[5:54]
ordinance review board for a
[5:57]
term expiring on JULY 13th,
[5:57]
2029.
[6:00]
Docket number 1408 message in
[6:01]
order for the confirmation
[6:03]
of the reappointment of gail
[6:06]
lattimore as a member of the
[6:07]
building emissions reduction
[6:08]
disclosure ordinance review
[6:11]
board, a term expiring on APRIL
[6:14]
24th, 2029 and docket number
[6:14]
1409.
[6:15]
Message.
[6:16]
In order for the confirmation
[6:19]
of the appointment of camille
[6:21]
squire by the potter as a
[6:22]
member of the burford in
[6:23]
emission reduction and
[6:25]
disclosure orders review board
[6:27]
but retiring on JULY 20th, 2029
[6:27]
.
[6:30]
These matters were sponsored by
[6:32]
mayor michelle wu referred to
[6:35]
the committee on JULY 22nd
[6:35]
2026.
[6:37]
Today I'm joined by my
[6:39]
colleagues in order of arrival
[6:40]
councilor flynn and
[6:42]
council murphy I would like to
[6:44]
first do the reappointment to
[6:46]
the burton board.
[6:51]
Um, so first I'd like to turn
[6:52]
it over to my
[6:53]
council colleagues if you have
[6:57]
any questions uh, for the
[6:58]
reappointment council to then
[6:59]
the floor is yours.
[7:05]
Mr chair, I have no.
[7:05]
Question.
[7:07]
>> I'm looking forward to
[7:09]
supporting the nominees.
[7:10]
Thank you.
[7:14]
Thank you councilor.
[7:15]
Thank you, mr chair.
[7:20]
I'll now turn it over to
[7:22]
calcium murphy who is now
[7:22]
yours.
[7:23]
Thank you.
[7:23]
>> chair.
[7:26]
Um, no no questions.
[7:28]
Just want to thank you all.
[7:29]
If it's a reappointment for the
[7:30]
work you've already done and
[7:32]
your willingness to continue on
[7:33]
this important board.
[7:35]
So just thank you, chair for
[7:37]
holding this and looking
[7:38]
forward to supporting when the
[7:39]
vote comes out.
[7:42]
Just thank you again for your
[7:42]
work.
[7:46]
Thank you councilor um I would
[7:49]
like to uh, open the floor to
[7:50]
uh the board current board
[7:52]
members to see if they would
[7:54]
like to share anything before
[7:56]
we excuse them.
[7:58]
Um, anyone like to say anything
[7:59]
?
[8:01]
Raise your hand.
[8:01]
No.
[8:02]
All right.
[8:04]
Seeing no hands.
[8:06]
Uh, thank you for your service.
[8:08]
It's a pleasure to serve
[8:10]
alongside at each and every one
[8:12]
of you and looking forward to,
[8:14]
uh, continue to serve beside
[8:15]
you on the burton board.
[8:16]
Thank you for your service.
[8:19]
Thank you, thank you.
[8:24]
Uh, we will now move to docket
[8:24]
number.
[8:26]
Thank you.
[8:30]
My notes 1401 um, the
[8:31]
conservation restriction on
[8:34]
land at zero dale street and I
[8:38]
believe we have today's
[8:40]
panelist, um, director
[8:42]
of design construction for the
[8:42]
parks department.
[8:45]
Uh, uh, director baker eclipse.
[8:48]
And then I believe that will
[8:50]
be, uh, for the next couple
[8:51]
of dockets.
[8:52]
Yeah.
[8:54]
>> thank you very much, chair.
[8:57]
Um, castro and, uh, thank you
[8:58]
for attending councilor flynn
[9:00]
and, uh, our murphy.
[9:02]
>> I see that, uh, I have a
[9:03]
short presentation.
[9:05]
Very short presentation.
[9:06]
I'm going to deal with both
[9:07]
of these, um, conservation
[9:09]
restrictions in the same
[9:11]
presentation if I can um and
[9:12]
see if I can share my screen.
[9:18]
Okay.
[9:19]
Can everybody see that?
[9:25]
Um, I assume there's a yes.
[9:26]
Um.
[9:27]
Yep.
[9:28]
Yeah, it was loading at the
[9:28]
time but that.
[9:29]
>> would.
[9:29]
Thank you.
[9:32]
>> um, so um, uh, docs number
[9:35]
1401 and 1402 both new with
[9:36]
conservation restrictions uh,
[9:39]
for these newly acquired park
[9:39]
parcels.
[9:43]
Um the sharon woods addition
[9:45]
which is zero dale street in
[9:48]
roslindale, hyde park um is a
[9:50]
just over one acre heavily
[9:51]
wooded site that was acquired
[9:52]
by the boston parks and
[9:54]
recreation department in 2024
[9:56]
through an eminent domain uh
[9:58]
acquisition which was approved
[10:01]
by city council on JUNE 2026,
[10:02]
2024.
[10:05]
Uh it's located at dale street,
[10:07]
uh, at the corner
[10:08]
of metropolitan and dale
[10:08]
street.
[10:12]
Um it is adjacent to the about
[10:15]
67 acre sharon woods urban wild
[10:17]
and wider park which is a dcr
[10:18]
owned park.
[10:21]
Um and on the other side is the
[10:23]
mbta railroad track uh, right
[10:23]
of way.
[10:25]
So this parcel completes the
[10:30]
complete um complete uh, city
[10:32]
block of of conservation land
[10:34]
um of land that is permanently
[10:35]
set aside for for open space
[10:36]
and recreation purposes.
[10:39]
Um and it is kind of the last
[10:41]
uh, privately owned parcel in
[10:42]
that in that whole city block.
[10:47]
Sister mary veronica park is a
[10:49]
small, uh, pocket park in south
[10:49]
boston.
[10:51]
Uh, the site was originally
[10:52]
owned by the city of boston
[10:53]
before it was transferred to
[10:54]
the uh roman catholic
[10:56]
archdiocese of boston in 1955.
[10:58]
It's located at the
[11:00]
intersection of west eighth uh
[11:02]
f street and grimes street and
[11:03]
south boston.
[11:04]
Uh, I know it's on site that,
[11:05]
uh, councilor flynn knows very
[11:08]
well the south boston resident
[11:09]
association has worked to clean
[11:12]
up the parcels, um, since 1968
[11:13]
and create an informal park.
[11:15]
And the park was acquired
[11:16]
through a purchase and sale
[11:18]
agreement, uh, that was
[11:19]
approved by the parks
[11:21]
commission on JULY 28th, 2025.
[11:26]
Both of these acquisitions were
[11:27]
funded by the community
[11:28]
preservation act.
[11:31]
Uh, they're, uh, open space
[11:33]
acquisition funds uh, that they
[11:35]
have uh, set aside for uh for
[11:37]
acquisition of open space in
[11:38]
boston.
[11:40]
The community preservation act
[11:42]
statute requires that um for
[11:44]
any parcel that's acquired with
[11:46]
community preservation funds
[11:48]
have a conservation restriction
[11:49]
placed upon it.
[11:51]
This is in addition to the
[11:52]
permanent protection that's
[11:54]
provided, uh, by the
[11:56]
massachusetts constitution, uh
[11:57]
,in article 97.
[11:59]
So these are um have both
[12:01]
article 97 protection and a
[12:03]
conservation restriction placed
[12:03]
upon them.
[12:06]
Um, the the conservation
[12:08]
restriction will be held by
[12:09]
local community organizations
[12:10]
for dale street.
[12:11]
It will be held by the
[12:12]
southwest boston.
[12:14]
Community development
[12:16]
corporation and the sister mary
[12:17]
veronica park conservation
[12:19]
restriction will be held by the
[12:20]
south boston neighborhood
[12:21]
development corporation.
[12:24]
Both of these conservation
[12:25]
restrictions, when fully
[12:26]
executed, will be filed at the
[12:29]
registry of deeds um and become
[12:31]
permanently uh a permanent part
[12:33]
of the of the site history um
[12:35]
and public record and and deed
[12:35]
um.
[12:43]
Data protection um the there
[12:43]
was something else I was going
[12:44]
to say about the conservation
[12:45]
restrictions but the
[12:46]
conservation purpose of the
[12:47]
conservation restriction that
[12:49]
basically document the existing
[12:51]
conditions and to say that uh
[12:53]
outlined what is and isn't
[12:55]
permissible um, specifically on
[12:58]
those sites a lot of it is um
[13:00]
is related to the conservation
[13:02]
of property, uh of the land for
[13:05]
for natural purposes for dale
[13:06]
street, for the sister mary
[13:07]
veronica it's a little bit
[13:08]
different because that site is
[13:10]
not strictly a passive open
[13:11]
space of woodland area.
[13:13]
So documenting the community
[13:16]
uses that will be used there um
[13:18]
but that will be happening
[13:20]
there but so it provides an
[13:21]
extra level of protection for
[13:22]
these sites.
[13:24]
Um in addition to article 97.
[13:28]
Um, so that is basically
[13:31]
everything that I um I want to
[13:32]
share um I'm happy to answer
[13:35]
any questions that the, uh,
[13:35]
councilors have.
[13:37]
Thank you.
[13:39]
I would like to turn it over to
[13:41]
my catholic colleagues, uh,
[13:41]
councilor flynn.
[13:42]
that's good.
[13:42]
Now yours.
[13:46]
Thank you, mr chair.
[13:48]
Thank you, commissioner, and to
[13:52]
the parks team for working with
[13:55]
the residents of south park and
[13:56]
,uh, for city officials as
[13:58]
well working with the residents
[13:59]
of south boston.
[14:01]
Community leaders greatly
[14:02]
appreciate the work we did
[14:03]
together.
[14:06]
I also want to recognize, uh,
[14:09]
congressman lynch, senator
[14:11]
collins and representative bell
[14:15]
for working as well, um, with
[14:15]
with city officials.
[14:17]
Uh, mr chair, I.
[14:19]
I did feel too neglected.
[14:21]
Thank the uh, nominees
[14:23]
previously I know they they
[14:26]
didn't leave the the meeting
[14:27]
already but I do want to
[14:29]
acknowledge and say thank you
[14:30]
to them for their service as
[14:32]
well to the residents of boston
[14:34]
for their willingness to
[14:35]
continue continue the important
[14:36]
work they're doing.
[14:37]
Um.
[14:39]
But I don't necessarily.
[14:40]
Have any questions.
[14:42]
I just want to say thank you to
[14:42]
the parks commissioner.
[14:45]
Um, that that's all I that's
[14:46]
all I have, mr chair.
[14:48]
Thank you, councilor the chair
[14:50]
now I just councilor.
[14:51]
Murphy council.
[14:52]
It was.
[14:53]
Thank you.
[14:57]
Um thank you kathy for that
[14:57]
presentation.
[14:59]
I've been, I believe at all
[15:01]
these sites and I know the one
[15:04]
in south boston we've had
[15:05]
celebrations that and the
[15:08]
transfer over to the community
[15:09]
was um, you know.
[15:10]
The.
[15:15]
open when it rains seekers,
[15:17]
residents and public housing
[15:18]
and you know, just all
[15:21]
different movements coming out
[15:22]
the support and advocate to
[15:26]
keep open space especially in
[15:27]
the neighborhood of south
[15:28]
boston that doesn't have much.
[15:29]
It's great.
[15:31]
So just happy to support this
[15:34]
and the other parcels that
[15:35]
we're just protecting right.
[15:36]
This is what I've heard right
[15:38]
that we're just making sure the
[15:39]
use is going forward are
[15:40]
protected and clear and
[15:42]
obviously the community who's
[15:43]
advocated for these agree.
[15:45]
So happy to support this and
[15:47]
just thank you for being on and
[15:49]
explaining so that we can get
[15:49]
to a vote.
[15:51]
Thank you thank you chair.
[15:55]
Thank you.
[15:57]
Thank you councilor um.
[16:00]
I think any other council is on
[16:00]
and I.
[16:01]
>> think it was a.
[16:04]
Very informative and
[16:05]
covered all the questions that
[16:08]
I have um regarding uh the the
[16:08]
.
[16:09]
Couple of dockets.
[16:10]
So that.
[16:13]
Director baker clips I just
[16:13]
want to say thank.
[16:16]
You um and look forward to
[16:16]
voting on this.
[16:17]
Next council meeting.
[16:19]
Thank thank.
[16:20]
>> you for your time and, uh,
[16:22]
and thanks for for allowing
[16:25]
me to explain what the purpose
[16:25]
of these are.
[16:25]
There will be more of them
[16:25]
coming.
[16:26]
So thank you.
[16:28]
And um.
[16:29]
To my council colleagues.
[16:30]
I know we have.
[16:32]
the first set of.
[16:36]
,um, uh, board members a
[16:37]
reappointment and.
[16:40]
See that um, camillo or camillo
[16:41]
so I can.
[16:43]
Put you in your name is still
[16:43]
here.
[16:44]
Um.
[16:46]
>> that is a new appointment.
[16:49]
So I'm not sure councilor flynn
[16:52]
or castle murphy, you have any
[16:52]
questions for the new
[16:53]
appointment to the voter board?
[16:56]
No, I'm just not sure if
[16:58]
camilla is going to just share
[16:59]
the reasons why.
[17:01]
But if they've been appointed
[17:01]
and.
[17:03]
Um, just.
[17:06]
Happy to be on to hear the
[17:07]
important work that you're
[17:08]
looking forward to doing.
[17:10]
So if that's going to happen
[17:11]
anyway councilor worrell I'm
[17:12]
just here to listen and support
[17:13]
when the vote comes out so
[17:14]
thank you.
[17:15]
Yes.
[17:16]
>> um camillo if you would.
[17:19]
Like to share um your
[17:21]
background um why.
[17:24]
Uh you're so excited to be part
[17:24]
of uh.
[17:25]
>> the battle board?
[17:27]
Um, that'll be great.
[17:27]
Thank you.
[17:37]
>> yeah.
[17:37]
>> hello.
[17:38]
Uh.
[17:38]
Good morning.
[17:39]
Uh, councilors.
[17:41]
Thank you for having mejia.
[17:44]
So just to share a little bit
[17:45]
of my background, um, I'm
[17:47]
camille and I.
[17:48]
I have been in the boston area
[17:50]
for, um, or 14 years now.
[17:53]
I live in the dorchester area
[17:55]
and near coughlin square with
[17:57]
my husband and, uh, I am a part
[17:58]
i live now from my circle black
[17:58]
college.
[18:00]
I hold two masters.
[18:01]
Uh, one is sustainable
[18:03]
development, another one in
[18:05]
conflict resolution walking uh,
[18:07]
focusing on resources and
[18:07]
environmental conflict
[18:08]
resolution.
[18:10]
Um, throughout my career I work
[18:13]
I have worked in advocacy and
[18:14]
in community organizing.
[18:16]
I spent a few years working in
[18:18]
civil society in colombia uh,
[18:19]
working with human rights
[18:20]
supporting black and indigenous
[18:22]
communities and in the us so
[18:24]
hard work and advising on
[18:25]
compliance with epa and also
[18:27]
regulations uh, in my time in
[18:29]
boston in the boston area I
[18:30]
work with the um I currently
[18:31]
work with the union
[18:32]
of concerned scientists.
[18:34]
This is a national nonprofit
[18:35]
that uses independent talents
[18:38]
to influence policy and as a
[18:40]
campaign organizer I work, uh,
[18:41]
to lead the campaign in our on
[18:43]
our energy work with the goal
[18:45]
to support the, uh, good um and
[18:47]
I'm working for a transition to
[18:49]
clean energy in massachusetts.
[18:51]
Um, in this role I have
[18:53]
supported for sort of community
[18:54]
starting to fight the need to
[18:54]
support.
[18:56]
Uh.
[19:03]
>> protest at hunting I think
[19:04]
for structure.
[19:06]
Uh, that's a positive
[19:06]
well-being.
[19:09]
Uh, one of these examples was
[19:11]
working with grand rapids, um,
[19:13]
to support their advocacy to,
[19:16]
um to stop the build up of uh,
[19:19]
substation in their community
[19:21]
and uh, as part of that we
[19:22]
identify that they can meet
[19:23]
their could meet their enemies
[19:25]
energy needs with, uh, rooftop
[19:26]
solar energy storage.
[19:29]
Um and in doing so reduce co2
[19:30]
emissions and provide
[19:33]
resiliency for, uh, their
[19:33]
community.
[19:37]
Um, and uh again as part of my
[19:39]
work I focus on translating
[19:41]
technical information into a
[19:43]
language that people and
[19:44]
communities can understand.
[19:46]
Um, I.
[19:49]
Have created documents and uh,
[19:51]
tools to understand regulatory
[19:52]
processes, uh, that have been
[19:55]
used by people to advocate and
[19:58]
to see proceedings and um and
[20:00]
throughout the state for clean
[20:00]
energy.
[20:02]
Uh, those are the skills that I
[20:03]
bring uh.
[20:04]
Knowledge on technical issues
[20:07]
that I can help translate into
[20:10]
um, everyday language and um,
[20:10]
I'm.
[20:12]
Excited to be part of this
[20:12]
board.
[20:12]
Um.
[20:14]
>> it's a way for me to support
[20:15]
the community and part of.
[20:19]
Um with my background in my
[20:21]
identity bringing uh, being a
[20:23]
latino afro-latino in the city.
[20:25]
Um, I'm hoping that I can.
[20:27]
Win those perspectives and
[20:28]
support the.
[20:29]
Board and implementation of the
[20:30]
beardo ordinance.
[20:31]
Thank you.
[20:34]
>> thank you.
[20:34]
Camille.
[20:36]
Um, councilor murphy.
[20:39]
Any questions for me?
[20:39]
Well.
[20:44]
Right here.
[20:46]
Seeing and hearing none.
[20:48]
Uh, camille.
[20:50]
The report to serve uh, with
[20:51]
you on the board.
[20:53]
Uh, thank you for stepping up.
[20:55]
um, and.
[20:57]
Your background and your resume
[20:57]
.
[20:59]
Um, it's.
[21:00]
>> definitely going to be a.
[21:00]
Value add.
[21:02]
To the city of boston and to
[21:03]
the board.
[21:05]
Uh, high chair.
[21:06]
Um, I didn't have any
[21:06]
questions.
[21:08]
Just thank you, camila.
[21:10]
And as a neighbor to you near
[21:11]
codman square in your
[21:12]
background, I'm looking forward
[21:15]
to what you bring.
[21:15]
So thank you.
[21:16]
You'll be a wonderful addition.
[21:17]
Thank you chair.
[21:19]
Thank you councilor.
[21:19]
.
[21:20]
>> thank you I appreciate you.
[21:28]
And I do not see anyone signed
[21:29]
up for public testimony.
[21:34]
So seeing.
[21:37]
No body signed up for public.
[21:40]
Testimony this hearing on
[21:43]
dockets number.
[21:52]
14011402140314041405140614071408
[21:54]
and 1409.
[21:57]
Interject thank you to send to.
[21:58]
Staff and thank you to.
[21:59]
Everyone who attended.