[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.