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