i'm.
I'm sure that you.
Good afternoon everyone.
I called to order today's uh,
meeting of the boston city
council.
Viewers can watch the the
council meeting live on
youtube@boston.Gov backslash
city council tv.
At this time I ask my
colleagues and those in the
audience to please silence
their cellphones and electronic
devices including my um also
pursuant to rule 42.
I remind all in the chamber
that no demonstration
of approval or disapproval from
members of the public would be
permitted.
Thank you.
Mr clerk, will you please call
the roll to ascertain the
presence of a quorum?
Councilor breadon here
councilor collette as a further
councilor.
Culpeper.
Councilor.
Durkan.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Yeah.
Councilor louijeune.
Yeah.
Concilor mejia here.
Councilor murphy.
Councilor vipond.
Yeah.
Councilor santana.
Councilor weber.
Thank you.
Councilor worrell.
Yeah.
A quorum.
Thank you.
>> MISTER.
Uh, the truck has informed us
that the quorum is PRESIDENT
Present.
Um, MR. Clerk, uh, if you would
do us the honor of some brief
remarks as an invocation today,
we appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
And following the invoking
following the invocation will,
um, have the pledge
of allegiance.
Good afternoon.
Please stand.
The ringing of bells calls us
to worship.
The pounding of the drum calls
us to war.
The popping of a cork calls us
to celebration.
What is the sound that calls us
to hear one another?
Listen.
Listen carefully.
It is here in the silence.
Listen deeply.
The beating of our own hearts
calls us to ourselves.
Call us to be our true selves.
Calls us to be our best selves.
Calls us to be what we might
become.
Listen.
There is another sound.
The breath of our neighbor
calls us outside ourselves.
Call us to be companions.
Call us to be allies.
Call us to be partners.
Listen.
We must heed the call of our
own hearts where love and
truth, caring and justice are
born.
Listen.
We must heed the call of others
to gather together for some
great purpose with passion for
and fidelity.
compassion and equity are
nourished.
The hammering silence calls us
together that we MAY do the
work we cannot do alone.
Let us heed the calls that come
in the silence.
That we MAY be well and do good
in this world together.
Amen.
>> ladies and gents to the flag
of the united states of america
and to the republic for which
it stands one nation under GOD,
indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
Thank you, MR. Clerk.
We have two presentations
today.
Councilor worrell is
recognizing quality homes for
humankind.
And I will be recognizing, uh,
boston to belfast youth.
Uh, constable.
Well, would you like to come
forward with your guests?
Yes.
And MR. Clerk, could you
please, uh, take note that
councilor collette as a pastor
and councilor culpeper have
joined us?
Thank you.
>> good afternoon.
Um.
>> first I want to begin by
recognizing the students, uh,
who are joining us today.
Uh, we have michael gillen, uh,
brian hodge molina, ander
santos, yassir muhammad and
muhammad abraham and their
advisor doctor bruce potter
graham also known as doctor
peter.
I first met these students
nearly two years ago when take
boston academy was putting
together aspen challenge team.
Then they came here to city
hall and presented their work
to us in the kali room.
Their presentation was around
raising awareness around gun
violence in their community.
The following school year they
got to work at solving some
of the root causes of violence
including the lack of stable
housing and access to
employment.
And that's why they launched
quality homes for humankind
last SEPTEMBER.
Since that time they met with
countless organizations and
research workforce development
programs to learn how to turn
their idea into something real.
Do that work.
They have established models
with action for equity and
netcat to bring vocational
training directly to tech
boston academy.
They held a workforce connector
event at tech boston in the
spring where they partnered
with ibm, ibew local 103, the
carpenters union power corp's
netcat, boston fire cadets,
action for equity level ground,
boston public health commission
and the election department.
They've secured tens
of thousands in funding from
the trevor foundation and the
boston foundation.
And they won the city's aspen
challenge last year, earning a
trip to colorado where they
presented in front of about 100
nonprofits including the bezos
foundation and the mayor
of denver.
And they also won the national
aspen challenge.
Some of the students behind
sheets started this work as
juniors and are now heading to
college, but they're not
walking away from the mission.
The first step is job training
.
The next step is housing.
They've already begun working
on that as well.
Today is about celebrating and
recognizing how far they've
come and marking the beginning
for their next chapter.
We have a resolution which will
be voted on later in the
meeting, but now like to turn
it over to the people to the
students behind sheet for some
brief remarks.
Good morning everyone.
I just want to say it's a huge
honor.
>> to be welcomed by the city
of boston city council today.
And I just wanted to say that
in these past weeks and months
me and my peers entered a
competition and we competed
against almost 20 other schools
in the district.
We won.
We triumphed.
We can win and wants to compete
nationally.
Against other winners.
And we also came out on top.
So I just want to say and give
thanks to brian.
Well he's been our angel
throughout our journey and I
just want to say that I've been
able to meet many people like
mike bezos and the and and the
mayor of denver, mike johnston
and I never thought that in my
life that I'd be able to meet
all these important people or
like come face to face with
them.
But after those encounters i
realized that what we're doing
has actually become a real
thing and this ceremony is
proof of that.
So I thank you guys.
Hello everyone.
I'm brian hodge molina.
And I wanted to take this
opportunity to thank the city
council and brian gray's office
and martin martinelli
especially for all the help
they provided us through our
journeys from freshman from
just junior sorry to now
heading off to college.
And I wanted to make a
commitment to not let the work
end, to continue the work and
to continue.
Pushing up.
Boston's youth.
>> thank you.
Hi, bruce um tech boston
academy and I work for the two
youth leaders here they are the
directors of quality homes
humankind.
The program director and the
outreach director.
And just you know, from my
perspective this started two
years ago with a situation
of violence in order to one,
two, four you know, tech boston
academy we had a shooting we've
had violence in our community
and these young people had had
enough and they did research.
We we hit we hit the road
outside their peers to find out
what's what what's the reason
what's going on?
Um, they discovered a lack
of belonging and a sense of um
not no upward mobility or not
enough upward mobility in
housing that was transitional.
We put they put together a
class.
they came to me and say can we
have a class and put together
an advocacy class?
We did that.
They actually wanted to have a
nonprofit so that we wouldn't
look like a passion project.
They did that.
They entered the aspen
challenge won the city
of boston's aspen challenge.
They did that.
They were invited to the aspen
institute and they were
informed that the aspen
institute and the business
foundation they'll be they'll
be honored in the basis
foundation aspen report is
having the most youth impact in
their 2026 report reflecting us
in boston public school tech,
boston academy, the city
council and the city of boston
they did that.
We are grateful to the boston
foundation for giving us a
planning grant so these
students could work over the
summer every day for 20 plus
meetings from business owners
in 02124 clergy members, banks
,um restaurant owners, um
people that they met in aspen,
the mayor of denver and his
staff I could go on.
>> and on.
And on and I have never seen in
the 23 years that I've been in
boston with so many people from
the community including parents
come in to say this is what we
want in our community and I'm
proud to say and give a shout
out to action for equity.
Our first mou was signed with
action for equity.
These young folks wrote not
only wrote the grant for um the
boston foundation but did the
mou with action for equity and
they.
Will we will be.
Co-sponsoring a hvac
refrigeration certification
course at tech boston meeting
every thursday.
And five of our graduates are
that need a launchpad are going
to be in that program and we
are going to find jobs for them
and we already have potentially
jobs lined up with mass safe
they did that.
I have never in all my years
and I've been at tech boston
for 23 years.
I know why the school was
founded with mayor menino.
I know why the school was
probably with mary skipper and
the and the support of the
community.
I have never seen the
leadership of these young men
have as much impact as I've
seen over the past year.
We should all be very, very
proud because this is the
rising generation of what we
want to see in 02124.
And on behalf of all of us,
just trust us and help us
activate this because we need
to see this happen.
We are we are totally convinced
that this model.
Of transitional housing
belonging, entrepreneurship,
asset building that they came
up with is the solution
of building a safer community
in 01202124 and for the city
of boston.
So I work for these young men
it's their idea and they should
they should just get a shot up
for all this and thank you for
action, for equity, for
believing in us.
you know councilor worrell
you're you are you thought we
were you never thought we were
crazy doing this and he has
been an absolute as a kiss an
angel supporting us from matt
martinelli every single step
of the way when he comes into
tech boston he's brian okay.
And we just we just thank you a
great deal and thank you thank
you for the city
council because this is the
type of civic learning that we
want as a civics teacher.
We want to be partnered with
you.
We want to be accessible.
We want you to be able to walk
into the building or pick up
the phone like hey we how do we
do this grant who do we talk
to?
And that's what's been
happening.
It's a whole new view of how
we're working with with with
you folks and let's just
continue this work.
Thank you.
I would like to.
Tax my colleagues to come up to
for a group picture.
Matt matt, I don't know if you
want to.
Join too because you had a big
role in this matt matt matt
matt come on up.
Frequently through each other.
It's about yeah.
Okay I'll show you.
Yeah so.
Thank you thank you so much.
That supports your first matt
appreciate you.
Oh yeah.
Why don't you leave me.
>> yeah this needs to.
Congratulations.
>> what an incredible
achievement.
I think we look forward to a
bright future for all these
young men and the great work
that they've been doing and, uh
,we look forward to seeing
what they're going to do next.
So continued success wish that
wish you that um our next
presentation um is who's my.
Get mine.
>> it's my uh I'm happy to have
the opportunity to introduce
another wonderful group
of young folks here on behalf
of boston to belfast youth
empowerment.
I understand I just learned a
few and an hour ago that
councilor murphy's daughter is
a coach with this incredible
organization.
Um, and there MAY there maybe
have been a lot of buzz this
summer about scotland and the
tartan army and our sister new
sister city edinburgh.
But both boston and belfast
have been sister cities for
over a decade.
The friendship for college
hockey tournament is held every
year in boston and belfast,
featuring american college
hockey teams to celebrate the
bond between boston and belfast
and for the past seven years
boston to belfast youth
empowerment have provided
cultural exchange opportunities
for youth hockey players in
boston.
Every year representatives from
boston travel to belfast to
play with local teams, take in
the culture, build leadership
skills and become very more
civically minded.
Today we joined by members
of allston, brighton youth
hockey and dorchester youth
hockey making this trip making
the trip this year um and I
think from those of you who
know me I've always believed
the sports are a very powerful
tool in shaping young adults
and I want to thank steve and
patrice, um and everyone else
involved in making this
wonderful experience happening
happen this year.
So I'd like to invite you all
up to come up and um, come up
and present your story telling
us tell us a little more about
it and um, wish you all the
best for your trip to belfast.
Thank you so much.
Just hit it around.
So we have youth hockey players
from alton, brighton and
dorchester and sophie and uh,
I'd love to hear more about
your organization and and the
importance of this trip to
belfast.
Yeah, well, thank you very
much.
>> in fact, uh,
council PRESIDENT You stole a
little my thunder there about
what it's all about, but, um.
Yes, uh, this boston of belfast
youth empowerment is a private
nonprofit organization that I
started uh, several years ago,
uh, when mayor walsh
established a sister city
agreement with belfast and our
program uses the sport
of hockey really just as a
link.
To teach kids, um, between the
ages of 13 and 15 about, uh,
leadership, civic engagement,
uh, cultural awareness and
learning for respecting other
cultures.
I've had kids from every
neighborhood in the city
of boston participate in this
year as well as uh, PRESIDENT
Brayden said we have youths
representing the um uh
dorchester in austin bright
neighborhoods.
The local benefit of that is
they get to meet kids from
other part of the city, which
is great.
Uh, the other benefit of course
is meeting peer youth over in
belfast with the differences
there which many of you are
aware well aware of uh, really
on um mostly religious um and
nationalistic grounds.
So our job is to try to help
them have a broader view of um,
building bridges between the
two communities.
We do get the opportunity.
It's great to be here today.
Well, we really appreciate the
opportunity.
We'll have a similar experience
in belfast.
We will go before the city
council as well.
We'll meet the lord mayor.
Uh the system of government
there changes every year.
New mayor comes in every year.
Um, we'll also get to meet the,
uh consul general to the us uh
,from northern ireland as
well.
So civic is a real big part
of what we do.
I think the kids don't always
get the benefit
of understanding how government
works for them.
Uh, quick little side story.
We were at the statehouse last
week uh, last month and, um,
the house leader mentioned, uh,
one inch instance of how state
government works for them.
many of the hockey rinks in
greater boston are still
controlled by dcr.
And he mentioned if the zamboni
breaks down that's a state
government issue, which was
really an interesting way to
put it, but it shows it can
really impact um, youth in ways
that they never would have
imagined.
So um, I want to just end what
I'm saying here with um with a
quote and PRESIDENT Breadon
sort of touched on a little bit
about the power of sport.
Uh, and it's a quote from
nelson mandela which is sport
has the power to change the
world.
It has the power to inspire.
It has the power to unite
people in a way that little
else does.
It speaks to youth and a
language they understand sport
can create hope will once there
was only despair.
So we're not in despair but um
we're thrilled to be able to
represent the city that's
really what we're primarily do
we're representing the city
of boston, uh, in a very
positive way with elected
officials over there and peers
over there as well.
We'll have a new group of kids
next year as well from
different neighborhoods in the
city.
So uh, we really appreciate for
this opportunity to come before
you and talk a little bit about
what we do.
Thank you very much.
I do want to introduce you to.
>> your staff.
Um.
>> you know, I'm just for the
benefit of so you know who they
are might come on it.
Um, I'm going to introduce the
folks who are with me today and
ask them just to give you a
little quick wave so you know
who they are.
So starting with the youth
participants marianne ahern,
eli ching, maggie gianola it's
rory neil finn peterson,
mckenna civic, wyatt young and
also with me I have uh one
of our program leaders and
chaperons patrice girard and
also um, mike crowley who was
uh, served in a similar
capacity on a different year's
program and uh teacher in the
boston public schools as well.
So thanks again for that.
Senator, do you want to take a
picture?
You got us all in with
PRESIDENT.
Colleagues to come up.
Uh, but before they do that I,
uh this is a an official
resolution, uh, from the city
of the boston city council be
it resolved that the city
of boston boston city
council extend this
congratulations to boston to
belfast.
Use of parliament.
Program uh, in recognition
of their innovative use
of sport to instill leadership
skills, civic engagement,
cross-cultural awareness,
community service, friendship
and respect uh, between and
among boston and belfast teams
and be further resolved that
the boston city council extends
its best wishes for continued
success and that this
resolution be duly signed by
the city council PRESIDENT And
attested to and a copy thereof
transmitted by the traffic
of the city of boston.
Congratulations.
And uh, thank you very much.
Yes, we sure will.
Thank you so much.
And if anyone is looking for
any additional information on
the program, matt has my
contact info and I'd be happy
to talk to any one of you or
collectively uh, any time after
this.
So thanks again.
So when I ask my colleagues to
come up for a photograph.
Oh, beautiful.
I'm.
>> sure just saw she's because
she's.
Yes you guys true we're sitting
at the bar.
Yeah thank come in.
Yeah.
Sorry I.
>> but you get that all the
time.
But not all right I can't.
Thank you thank you.
Thank you thank you very much.
Appreciate the opportunity to.
Express.
>> I I mean I had to be.
Saved okay.
Thank you for the opportunity
and for.
All I know I I know.
Thank you everyone.
It's such a pleasure to have
our young people in in the
chamber this afternoon.
We're now on to the first order
of business which is the
approval of the minutes from
the meeting of AUGUST 5th,
2026.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
the minutes of the AUGUST 5th
meeting are approved.
We now on to communications
from her honor the mayor.
Mr chair, could you please read
docket.
1589.1589 message not
authorizing the city of boston
to accept and expend amount
of $40,000 in the form of a
grant the simone foundation
charitable donation grant
awarded by frank r and
elizabeth simone foundation
inc. To be administered by the
police department to grant with
funds supporting the work
of the homicide unit.
Thank you.
>> the chair recognizes the
chair of um public safety.
Uh, councilor santelli, you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
The bureau of investigative
services homicide unit has
received.
Dedicated funding.
>> from a private family
foundation to support
investigative excellence and
enhance operational
effectiveness.
The grant provides resources in
three key areas specialized
training, investigative
overtime and advanced um
investigative technology and
equipment.
This grant will strengthen the
unit unit's ability to solve
homicides, identify.
Um and I hand offenders,
support victims and families
and ultimately improve public
safety.
As chair of the public safety
and criminal justice committee,
I recommend that this docket
number 1589.
brought to.
>> pass.
Thank you.
>> councilor santana
constantine to seek suspension
of the rules and passage
of docket 1589.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Um.
>> MR. Clerk, could you please
take a roll call?
Vote on docket 1589.
Councilor breadon.
Yes.
Council.
Breadon.
Yes.
Council.
Collette as a partner.
Yes.
Councilor collette as a
partner.
Yes.
Councilor.
Culpeper.
Councilor.
Culpeper.
Yes.
Councilor.
Durkan.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Council.
Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Councilor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Councilor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Councilor.
mejia.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Yes.
Councilor.
Pippin.
Councilor.
Pin.
Yes, councilor.
Santana.
Yes, councilor.
Santana.
Yes.
Councilor weber and councilor.
World.
Yeah.
Council.
World.
Yes I can number 1589 as we
see.
Ten votes in the affirmative.
Thank you.
Docket one five.
Yep.
Nine has passed.
MR. Clerk, can you please read
docket 1590.
Doc number 1590 message nine
for the confirmation of the
reappointment of robin kasper
as a member of the building
emissions reduction and
disclosure.
Ordinance review board for a
term expiring AUGUST 24th, 2029
.
Thank you.
>> docket 1590 will be referred
to the committee on
environmental justice,
resiliency and parks.
Well, you know, on to reports
of public officers and others
uh, as per rule 39 no remarks
or communications from
councilors at this time.
Mr chair, could you please read
docket 1591 through 1596.
ducking number 1591 notice I
received from the mayor uh, the
appointment of anne murray as a
member of the chinatown trust
fund committee.
For a.
Term expiring AUGUST 3rd, 2031
dorking number 1592 notice
received from the mayor of the
appointment of helen chan kwong
is a member of the chinatown
trust fund committee for a term
explain AUGUST 3rd 2031 second
number 1593 notice received
from the mayor of the
appointment of adam c to bomb
as chair of the boston election
commission for a term expiring
MARCH 31st 2030 second of a1594
notice received from the city
clerk in accordance with
chapter six of the ordinances
of 1979 regarding action taken
by the mayor on papers acted
upon by the city council at its
meeting of AUGUST 5th 2026
talking of a1595 communication
was received from renato
costello, director of the
office of participatory
budgeting on the report
entitled uh entitled ideas and
action evaluation and review
of the fiscal year 26 cycle
2025 2026 docket number 1596
communication was received from
the law department regarding
the open meeting law complaint
filed in city council on AUGUST
5th, 2026.
Dog number 1538.
Thank you dockets 159131596
will be placed on file.
Mr chair, could you please read
docket 1597?
I can have a159 saying
communication was received from
the city clerk by the front by
the city clerk from boston
landmarks commission for city
council action on the
designation of the petition
number 305. 26 the folsom house
three four folsom avenue
mission hill in effect after
SEPTEMBER 13th, 2026 if not
acted upon.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes
councilor fitzgerald, the vice
chair of the committee on
planning, development and
transportation.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Uh, as.
Vice chair.
Of the committee, this proposed
designation of the folsom house
was.
Initiated in 2020 2026 after a
petition was submitted by
registered voters to the boston
landmarks commission.
I have spoken with both the
chair of the committee.
Uh.
>> as well as members of the
community and it is supported
throughout and so I'd ask for
passage today.
>> thank you.
Thank you.
Uh, the vice chair of the
committee on planning
development and transportation
seeks, uh, acceptance uh,
passage of docket 1597.
All in favor please say I.
Uh.
>> all opposed.
Say nay.
Um, the ayes have it.
Docket 1597 has passed.
Dunstable councilmember.
Thank you.
Pardon?
MISTER Chair, would you mind,
um, taking a roll call vote on
docket 1597.
councilor breadon.
Yes, councilor breadon.
Yes.
Councilor collette as a
partner.
Yes.
Councilor as a partner.
Yes.
Council.
Culpeper.
Councilor.
Culpeper.
Yes.
Councilor.
Durkan.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Councilor for joe.
Yes.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Council and yes.
Councilor louijeune.
Councilor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Concilor mejia here
councilor murphy.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Yes.
Council.
Pipkin.
Councilor kearney has
councilor santana.
Councilor.
Santana.
Yes.
Council.
Weber councilor.
World.
Talk number 1597 as received
nine goals in the affirmative.
Thank you.
>> docket 1597 has passed.
Mr chair, could you please read
docket 1598.
Docket number 1598 the
constable bonds of darius agnew
,yvonne buchanan,
kevin castagna, roselyn caso
three cote chesterfield daniel
copeland, mark and claudia
these and saint james, william
joyce, manuel mendez, paul.
Morelli, john us.
Morales, robert.
Ryan shannon and joseph segal
singletary junior haven't been
duly approved by the collector
treasurer.
We're received.
Thank you.
>> docket 1598 is approved
under the usual terms and
conditions.
We are now on to reports
of committees.
Mr truck, could you please read
docket 1235.
Talking number 123 for the
committee on government
operations.
Two which was.
Referred on JUNE 24th 2026 and
number 1235 petition for a
special law and knack relative
to pension benefits for
firefighter richard lopez
submits a report recommending
that the order uh to pass and a
new draft.
Thank you mr chair recognizes
consider committees as part
of the chair of the committee
of government operations.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
This matter was originally
sponsored by councilor and we
that pen and referred to the
committee on JUNE 24th 2026.
Uh, a summary of this is pretty
straightforward.
It's seeking to increase
richard lopez's accidental
disability retirement benefits
.
He is a retired city of boston
firefighter and all this homer
petition seeks to do is revise
his original um petition uh
disability benefits by
increasing the annual amount
of pension payable the annual
amount that MAY be earned in
addition to the petitions
petitioners annual pensions
allowance reimbursement
compensation and benefits
allowance and disbursement for
his beneficiaries.
We originally held a hearing on
this back in 2024 and heard
testimony from the petitioner
following the hearing.
The petition was passed by this
council on AUGUST 7th, 2024 and
approved by the mayor on AUGUST
15th, 2024 upon request from
the petitioner to make changes
uh based on feedback from the
state legislature to change it
to 80% which is compliance with
uh, federal law.
Um, this is all uh that this
whole petition is doing is just
amending it by inserting the
words 80% um, as opposed to
100%.
There's details from the
hearing that we held including
uh the information received, uh
details of his incident etc. Um
,but based on all of this as
the chair of the committee and
government operations, I
recommend moving the listed
docket from the committee to
the full council for discussion
before my action.
And at this time my
recommendation is that, uh,
this ought to pass in a new
draft and now I'll pass it over
to the original co-sponsor
council.
Thank you.
>> the chair recognizes
councilor pepen council, you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
And thank you to my colleague.
For giving that amazing
summary.
Yes.
Just I want to repeat anything.
This is very much just a simple
amendment to our home in
petition that we passed back in
2024.
Um well I've been in
conversation with the state
house and representative robin
savo about how we can help this
former firefighter get his
benefits uh, from 72% to 80%.
Given that little has.
Changed with his homework
petition, I simply asking my
colleagues to support this
passage immediately to me so
that it could be sent to the
state house.
So thank you to the chair
of the gov ops committee and to
the PRESIDENT For for this.
So I ask my colleagues to pass
this to me.
Thank you.
The chair of the committee on
government operations seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1235 and a new draft.
All in favor say I all opposed
.
Say nay.
MR. Clerk, could you please
take a roll call?
Vote on docket 1235.
Councilor brie.
Yes.
Councilor breadon.
Yes.
Council colette as a partner.
Counselor color as a yes
counselor.
culpeper.
Counselor.
Culpeper.
Yes.
Counselor.
Durkan.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Counselors.
Yes, counselor.
Flynn.
Yes, counselor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Counselor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Counselors and yes.
Councilor me here.
Counselor murphy.
Yeah.
Counselor.
Murphy.
Yes, counselor pen councilor a
pen.
Yes, counselor.
Santana.
Yeah.
Counselor.
Santana.
Yes.
Counselor weber and counselor
earl talking about 1235 as
received nine votes in the
affirmative.
Thank you.
>> docket 1235 has passed and a
new draft.
Mr drug, could you please read
dockets 1401 uh and 1402
together.
Docket number 1401 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks
which was referred on JULY 22nd
2026 doc and number 1401
message you know approving the
receipt of a conservation
restriction on land at zero
dale street, boston, mass.
So 2136 the grant title of the
land is located at suffolk
county registry of deeds at
book number 70459 page 316.
That description of the land
includes all the land in boston
suffolk county, massachusetts
containing the entirety of a
44,137 square foot parcel
of land which premises is which
land is located is unnumbered.
Also known as zero dale street
in the high park district
of the city of boston and the
in the records of the assessing
department as parcel number
180 819 8000 and in the
informally the property of the
former boston and providence
railroad company for the bond
and in described according to a
plan of survey made by harry
feldman inc civil engineers and
land surveyors joseph l calabro
jr registered land surveyor
number 15998 dated JANUARY
18th, 1993 and recorded at
suffolk county registry at this
book 24453 page 302 submits a
report recommended the order to
pass tucker number 1402 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks to
which was referred on JULY 22nd
2022 and number 1402 message
you note approving the receipt
of a conservation restriction
on land at one 9198 was the
street boston, mass 02127 the
grant is title of.
The land is located at suffolk
county registry deeds at book
number 71757 page 35 that
description of the land
includes all the land in boston
suffolk county, massachusetts
containing the entirety of the
parcels of land totaling
4655ft2 of land more or less
known as the sister mary
veronica park shown as lot five
,lot six seven, flood eight
and lot nine on the survey
dated AUGUST 12th, 2025.
Total plot plan one 9198 west
eight streets of boston, mass.
And prepared by choice
consulting group, braintree,
massachusetts submits a report
recommending that the order are
to pass.
Thank you, mr chair.
Chair recognizes councilor wu,
the chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and.
Parks.
>> you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
On friday, AUGUST 21st we had a
hearing in the committee
of environmental justice was
only seeing parks.
This was in conjunction with
these two land transfer
parcels.
The first is a 44,137 square
foot parcel at zero daly street
that is part of sharon woods
and ron rosendale.
The second is the 4655 square
foot parcel called sister mary
veronica park on west eighth
street in south boston.
We were joined by councilors
finn and murphy and we heard
from parks director of design
and construction kathy baker
eclipse.
She explained that both parcels
were acquired by using cpa
funds by the parks department.
These dockets about approving
the conservation restriction
which will ensure that this
remains as open space.
As chair of the committee on
biomet of justice, resiliency
and parks, my recommendation is
that these matters ought to
pass.
Thank you.
>> the chair of the committee
on environment.
We take these dockets
separately.
We start with docket 1401.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report porch and passage
of docket 1401.
All in favor say I all opposed.
Say nay.
Mr clerk, could you please take
a roll call?
Vote on docket 1401.
Councilor breadon yes.
Council brain.
Yes, counselor.
Color as a partner.
Counselor.
Classify.
Yes, counselor.
Culpeper.
Counselor.
Culpeper.
Yes, counselor.
Durkan.
Counselor.
Fitzgerald.
Counselor.
Show.
Yes, counselor.
Flynn.
Counselor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Counselor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Solution.
Yes.
Councilor me here.
Counselor.
Murphy.
yes.
Council.
Pippin.
Counselor.
Venus.
Councilor.
Santana.
Counselor.
Santana.
Yes.
Counselor.
Weber.
Councilor.
Earl.
Yeah.
Council.
Earl.
Yes.
Talking 1401 has received ten
votes in the affirmative.
Thank you.
The committee report is
accepted and docket 1401 has
passed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1402.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Um, mr trayer, could you please
take a roll call?
Vote on docket 1402.
Counselor brain.
Yes, sabrina has cancer kill as
a purple.
Yes.
Yes, counselor.
Culpeper.
Counselor.
Culpeper.
Yes, counselor.
Durkan.
Counselor.
Fitzgerald.
Yes.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
yes.
Counselor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Counselor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Counselor.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Counselors and yes.
Counselor.
Mejia.
Counselor murphy.
Counselor.
Murphy.
Yes.
Council.
Pippin.
Counselor.
Happiness council.
Santana.
Yes, counselor.
Santana.
Yes, counselor.
Weber.
Counselor a counselor.
Oh yes.
Talking of a1402 has received
ten votes in the affirmative.
Thank you.
>> docket 1402 has passed.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1403831409 together
?
Talking to 1403 the committee
on environmental justice
resiliency and facts which was
referred on JULY 22nd 2026
talks number 1403 message in
order for the confirmation
of the reappointment of sameera
ahmadi as a member of the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board for a term expiring MAY
23rd 2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment ought to be.
Confirmed.
>> talking about 1404 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks.
To which was referred on JULY
22nd 2026 doc number 1404
message in order for the
confirmation of the
reappointment of jessica
beauvais as a member of the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board for a term expiring APRIL
24th, 2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment to be confirmed
doctor number 1405 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks to
which those referred on JULY
22nd 2026 messages on a further
confirmation of the
reappointment of steven ellis
as a member of the building
emissions reduction and
disclosure ordinance review
board a term expiring MAY 26th,
2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment ought to be
confirmed.
Docket number 1406 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks
which was referred on JULY 22nd
2026.
Ducky number 1406 message in
order for the confirmation
of the reappointment of hassan
.
Farooqi as a member of the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board for a term expiring MARCH
19th, 2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment to be.
Confirmed.
>> ducky number 1407 the
committee on environmental
justice resiliency and parks
which was referred JULY 22nd
2026 as a general for the
confirmation of the
reappointment of lori ferris as
a member of the building
emissions reduction and
disclosure ordinance review
board.
For a.
>> term expiring JULY 13th,
2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment are to be
confirmed.
Dorking number 1408 the
committee in environmental
justice, resiliency and parks
which was referred JULY 22nd
2026 message in order for the
confirmation of the
reappointment of gail.
Latimer as a member of the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board for a term expiring APRIL
24th, 2029 submits a report
recommending that the
reappointment ought to be
confirmed.
Ducky number 1409 the committee
on environmental justice
resiliency and parks which was
referred on JULY 22nd 2026
message in order for the
confirmation of the appointment
of camillo as quickly as a
partner as a member of the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board for a term expiring JULY
20th, 2029 submits a report
recommending the appointment to
be confirmed.
Thank you MR.
Chair recognizes
councilor worrell, the chair
of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks.
You have the floor.
thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
On friday, AUGUST 21st the
committee on environmental
justice, resiliency and parks
held a hearing on the seven
dockets pertaining to the
building emissions reduction
and disclosure ordinance review
board.
These dockets include the
reappointments of six current
board members.
It also includes the
appointment of camillo uh as a
supporter.
We testify to a strong
background in environmental
advocacy and sustainable
development.
We have we also heard from
diana vasquez, a senior berto
policy manager on hand from the
council where councilors flynn
and murphy uh the terms of all
these reappointments and new
appointments are three year
terms and will expire in 2029
as chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks, my
recommendation that these
matters ought to pass.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor worrell.
Uh, we're going to vote on
these dockets separately.
The chair of the committee on
uh environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1403.
All in favor say aye.
Aye.
All opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1403 has
passed and the appointment is
confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
uh environmental justice
resilience in park seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and the passage
of docket 1404.
All in favor say I all opposed.
Say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1404 has
passed and the appointment is
confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1405.
All in favor say I all opposed.
Say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1405 has
passed and the appointment is
confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
suspension of the uh seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1406.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1406 has
passed and the appointment is
confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice,
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and and passage
of docket 1407.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Uh thank you.
docket 1407 has passed on the
appointment as confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks six
suspend acceptance of the
committee report and passage
of docket 1408.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted on docket 1408 has
passed.
Um, the appointment is
confirmed.
The chair of the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks seeks
acceptance of the committee
report and passage of docket
1409.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1409 is
passed and the appointment is
confirmed.
Thank you.
Mr clerk, could you please read
docket 1514.
Talking about 1514 the
committee on planning,
development and transportation
to which was referred AUGUST
5th 2026 talking of a1514
message in order to declare a
surplus city owned property
currently under the management
of the mayor's office
of housing and transfer the
care, custody, control and
management thereof to the
public facilities commission.
The property comprised
comprises two unnumbered
parcels located in manila
castle boulevard in the roxbury
district ward nine parcel
number 0222 5000 and 02240000.
The surplus will will allow the
city to lead a transfer of the
land to the boston planning and
development agency pursuant to
a 2002 memorandum of agreement
between the city, epd and
massdot submits a report
recommending that the order to
pass.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes uh
councilor fitzgerald, the vice
chair of the committee on
planning, development and
transportation until you have
the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
The committee received
information from the
administration regarding docket
1514 considered a part of what
is known as the crescent parcel
.
The crescent parcel is an
approximately 70 70 72,905
square foot site composed
of eight parcels of vacant
land.
The various parcels are owned
by the bpd, massdot and the
city of boston.
Located on a prominent corner
at the intersection of melania
castle boulevard and tremont
street.
The property abuts the madison
park housing development to the
west and saint catherine drexel
parish church to the southwest.
The property is located in both
the campus high school and the
south in urban renewal areas
and within a boulevard planning
district with overlays to
underlying subdistricts.
The bpd, massdot and city
of boston are parties to a
certain memorandum of agreement
executed in MARCH of 2002,
under which the parties agreed
to designate the bpd to
establish and implement a
development and disposition
plan for the property.
Since the original tentative
designation, the bpd has
acquired the parcel owned by
massdot at this location.
The parties agreed that prior
to awarding final designation
of the property, the bpd will
acquire the city of boston
properties, all of which are
part of the rfp prior to a
ground lease.
These properties MAY be
consolidated once under the
ownership of the bre in order
to define better property lines
and for legal, regulatory and
permitting processes.
Having eight different parcels
creates additional
complications that can cause an
undue burden on the developer.
The bpa will enter into a long
term 70 year ground lease for
the crescent parcel on NOVEMBER
18th, 2021.
The bre awarded tentative
designation to drexel village
llc is the developer of the
crescent parcel and extended
their tentative designation
status on JUNE 16th, 2020 to
DECEMBER 15th, 2020 to JUNE
15th, 2023 DECEMBER 14th, 2023
JUNE 13th, 2024 and DECEMBER
12th 2024.
The developer's proposal was
designed with input from the
roxbury strategic master plan
oversight committee and
includes the development of 217
affordable rental units, retail
and cafe space on tremont
street and community space
located in a building on an
abutting parcel.
all eight parcels must be
transferred to the bpa so they
can officially designate this
property to the developer.
The bpa has since acquired the
parcels from massdot but these
two parcels remain.
As vice chair of the committee
on planning development
transportation, I recommend
moving the listed docket from
the committee to the full
council for discussion and
formal action.
At this time my recommendation
to the full council will be
that this matter ought to pass.
Thank you.
Thank you,
councilor fitzgerald.
The chair recognizes
councilor culpepper.
Councilor, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I am supportive of declaring
these two city owned parcels on
mill near cash surplus and
taking the necessary steps to
move the crescent parcel
project forward at a time when
boston continues to face an
affordable housing crisis.
We should be looking at every
opportunity to use publicly
owned land to to create housing
that roxbury residents can
afford.
This project would create 217
affordable rental units in
roxbury along with retail, cafe
and community space.
This is the kind of development
I want to see on public land
when the city has property that
can be transformed from vacant
land into hundreds
of affordable homes, we should
be doing everything we can to
responsibly move those projects
forward.
the crescent party has gone
through a community planning
process that included input
from the roxbury to master plan
oversight committee.
We talk frequently in this
chamber about the need to build
more affordable housing and
create opportunities for
residents to remain in the
communities they serve.
This is an opportunity to
translate that commitment into
more than 200 new affordable
homes in roxbury, where those
residents can call home.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor culpeper.
Um, the vice chair of the
committee on planning
development and transportation
seeks acceptance of the
committee report and passage
of docket 1514.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed, say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1514 has
passed.
We're now on to matters
recently heard.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1391.
Dog number 1391 message in
order authorizing the city
of boston to accept and expend
the amount of $12,855,000 in
the form of a grant awarded by
the bloomberg philanthropies.
Be administered by the office
of workforce development.
The grant will fund the skilled
trades initiative which aims to
enhance vocational training,
expand pre apprenticeship
opportunities and support
students participation in
registered apprenticeship
programs.
the initiative focuses focuses
on student persistence and
completion, employer engagement
and program coordination to
build pathways in the
construction industry, water
utility management and others
skilled trades.
This will be administered in
collaboration with the boston
public schools.
Thank you mr track.
The chair recognizes um the
vice chair of the committee on
labor and economic development
councilor.
Well, councilor, you have the
floor.
Uh, thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
The committee on labor and
economic development held a
hearing on tuesday, AUGUST 25th
to discuss a grant awarded from
bloomberg philanthropies
following a panelist testifying
on behalf of the administration
chief of worker empowerment
chen wen deputy chief of work
permit jody sugarman, frozen
assistant superintendent,
office of college career and
life readiness for brett
dickens boston public schools
and madison park technical
vocational high school leader
paul neal and on hand from the
council were cassius flynn,
murphy, fitzgerald and
culpeper.
The administration presented
the committee with a detailed
breakdown and overview of how
the funds will be allocated
across city departments.
Bloomberg philanthropies works
to ensure that students gain
the skills and opportunities
needed to thrive in the 21st
century by centering students
needs and expanded pathways for
young people to greater access
to college and universities or
stronger career and technical
training.
The organization is committed
to giving more students the
chance to.
>> reach.
Their full potential.
The investment will support
four strategies.
The first is building a
pipeline toward the skilled
trades by embedding a built in
pathways pre apprenticeship
program at madison part
vocational tech high school.
The second is expanding the
pipeline to grow from 50 to at
least 100 registered
apprenticeship seats each year.
The third is expanding the
program to provide for pre
apprenticeship and
apprenticeship seats to
students across beeps for an
after hours program at madison
park.
And a fourth is introducing 400
to 500 and eighth graders to
opportunities in the building
trades at madison park through
targeted recruitment.
The 2026 cohort will include 19
students, 15 of whom
participated in the building
pathways bootcamp program, 14
of whom completed the program.
And the grant period runs from
2020 APRIL 2026 to.
JUNE of 2029 and funds will be
allocated as follows.
90% will go directly toward
program costs and 6% will go
toward program coordination.
We have public testimony for
the need to have some of these
apprenticeship programs closer
to where students live or go to
school rather than being
centralized at madison.
We also heard a desire for more
work to be done to reach young
adults between the ages of 18
and 25.
At this time my recommendation
to the full council will be
that this matter ought to pass.
Thank you.
Council will adjourn.
Recognizes councilor murphy.
Councilor, you have the floor.
Um thank you, MADAM Chair.
And thank you to the chair for
holding this important hearing.
And the panelists gave us some
great information.
We're in the first of what I
believe three years of this
important grant.
But I do just want to uplift
the voices of the students.
So I'm not sure if you
advocated for that chair, but
it was good to hear from the
students directly, especially
students who don't attend
madison park and just trying to
figure out how we as a city can
make sure that we're giving
these opportunities to students
all across the city.
But I participated in this
hearing to learn more about the
$12.85 million bloomberg
philanthropy grant.
I've always been a strong
supporter of vocational
education because I know
firsthand how important it is
to advocate for different types
of education and training so
that our students need to
succeed.
A traditional four year college
education is not the only path
to a rewarding and financially
secure future.
This grant will expand pre
apprenticeship and registered
apprenticeship opportunities in
construction, water utility
management and other skilled
trades providing our students
with direct pathways to
well-paying careers.
So I am supporting this um
grant and this important
investment and look forward to
following it through.
I know I um asked questions
about what are the guardrails
and how do we check and what
types of supports are there to
make sure our students are not
just getting these
opportunities, but we're seeing
them through that.
They're actually landing the
jobs that this training will
provide for them.
So looking forward to working
alongside cultural and the
office of workforce development
to ensure that our students get
what they need.
Thank you.
>> councilor murphy.
The chair recognizes
councilor culpeper
councilor you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I support accepting this grant
from bloomberg philanthropies.
This is a significant
investment in vocational
education, free apprenticeship
opportunities and pathways into
registered apprenticeships in
the skilled trades.
As mentioned by
councilor liberal.
We realize that this grant is
not just a medicine part
vocational training under
objective three it will include
the ruth batson school, the
boston collaborative, the
fenway school and tech boston
and boston international who
all participate in this grant
under objective three.
Madison park needs and deserves
this investment.
For too long we've talked about
the potential of madison park
while the school has operated
in a facility that does not
reflect the quality
of vocational education that we
should be providing our young
people as we work toward a new
madison park through the msba
process.
We also need to invest in the
programs and that's exactly
what this $12 million will do
to invest in the programs,
equipment, partnerships and
career opportunities available
to the students who are there
today.
We also need to recognize that
success at the high school does
not have one definition.
College is an important pathway
but it is not the only pathway
.
We should be exposing our young
people to careers that MAY not
always be the most traditional
path after high school, but
they can provide good paying
jobs, rewarding careers and
opportunities for economic
mobility without requiring a
four year degree.
Chapter 74 programs can provide
students with extensive
technical training, industry
credentials, cooperative
education and pathways into
employment and apprenticeships.
So I strongly support accepting
these funds, but I also want to
make sure that this investment
strengthens the institution
that's at the center
of vocational and technical
education in the city of boston
.
If we are serious about the
future, if we're serious about
madison park, that commitment
has to extend beyond rebuilding
the building.
It also means investing in
students, investing in programs
and investing in careers
pathways inside the school.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
>> councilor culpepper.
The chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
Councilor, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I just want to acknowledge the
hearing that councilor worrell
conducted was very informative.
An hour and 45 minutes, almost
two hours.
But we learned a great deal
about.
How this grant.
Can help people access skills
such as.
Hvac or culinary arts or in the
building trades.
It was very informative and I
am here to support.
The the recommended amount and
want to acknowledge the
critical questioning important
questioning from
council culpeper asking as many
questions relevant questions
about what the grant will do
and how will impact students
and young people across across
the city and I agree I believe
this is about social economic,
racial justice.
We want to ensure every child
especially children and young
adults uh, communities of color
have access to good careers and
the only way you get a good
career is through education and
training.
This will lead us to a path, um
,to provide that for
residents.
But I also want to continue to
work on ensuring that we have
exceptional programing at
madison park.
We build a state of the art
high school madison park high
school.
I think it's desperately needed
um and will support so many
young people that need to get
into the trades or want to get
into.
Great trades.
I should say I attended a
technical high school in boston
that is closed now it's called
don bosco high school.
Um, but many of the fellow
students that I studied with um
studied electronics, carpentry,
printing, woodworking and so
many other trades but they were
able to get a significant
career.
I talked yesterday for a while
as as did my colleagues about
how important it is to learn
about.
Hvac training and that's really
a field for young people to
master so that they can be
exceptional on that.
That's going to be a major a
major career field uh, for so
many young people.
But I do want to acknowledge
councilor wirral council,
culpeper um council murphy and
fitzgerald and the others um
but especially the the
questioning from
councilor councilor um.
Culpeper because.
The questioning he was asking
really provided him with so
much knowledge, information
that he's able to learn and use
that information to help his
constituents.
So I would I would encourage my
colleagues if they if they want
to watch the video and learn as
much as they can about
vocational training in the city
of boston.
Um, yes.
We'll all vote in support
of the grant.
It'll be a ten nothing vote but
it is important to listen and
watch that video from yesterday
because it is very
knowledgeable and it will make
us better city councilors thank
you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
The chair of the committee on
labor and economic development
seeks acceptance of the
committee report and passage
of docket 1391.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
The committee report has been
accepted and docket 1391 has
passed.
We are now on to motions,
orders and resolutions a
reminder that under rule 39
remarks on new matters not up
for a vote today should be
limited to three minutes uh,
for the lead sponsor and two
minutes for the co-sponsors.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 11599.
Talking of a1599
councilor colette as a third
off of the following ordinance
amending the city of boston
code section 5-5.20 parental
paid parental leave for the
city of boston employees.
Thank you.
chair recognizes
councilor collette as a
partner.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Um, today is my first, uh,
official day back in this
chamber.
Besides, uh, the budget votes
after welcoming my son joaquin.
And taking maternity leave, I
come back with a new
perspective as a new mom, um,
and with an even deeper
appreciation for what it takes
to support a family in the
city.
Today I'm introducing an
ordinance to strengthen paid
parental leave for city
of boston employees.
Boston currently provides
eligible employees with 12
weeks of parental leave, but
only the first four weeks are
paid at 100%.
The next four are paid at 75%
and the final four at just 50%.
If employees need their full
paycheck and most families in
boston do, they must surrender
separately earned sick or
vacation time to make
themselves and their families
whole.
This ordinance is simple 12
weeks of parental leave should
mean 12 weeks at 100% of base
pay it it preserves the
existing 12 week benefit and it
applies to birth, adoption,
surrogacy and pregnancy loss.
It preserves equal leave for
both parents, including when
both work for the city and it
modernizes gendered language in
our existing code.
This is fundamentally an
economic issue having a baby is
expensive.
childcare is expensive.
Housing in the city of boston
is expensive diapers, formula,
groceries, medical expenses all
of it adds up at precisely the
moment when we are telling a
city employee your paycheck is
going down and we should ask
ourselves what message that
sends to the people we are
trying to recruit and retain to
work in the city of boston.
The city of boston competes
every day with major
corporations and institutions
for talented workers.
We cannot always compete dollar
for dollar on salary salary but
we can compete on values and
benefits if we want our best
and brightest to choose public
service and stay in public
service, we need to make the
city of boston a model employer
chicago, seattle, san francisco
all pay 12 weeks at 100%
of their pay.
New york also 100% of their pay
at 12 weeks with a separate
agreement for unions research
estimates replacing employee
can cost roughly 21% of their
annual salary at boston's
median salary that's
approximately $17,000 every
time we lose an employee.
Research has found that for
first time mothers who take
paid leave, they were
substantially less likely to
also leave their jobs.
And this is a fairness issue
for moms and dads.
We want fathers and non
birthing parents home bonding
with their babies and
supporting their partners.
We should not create an
economic incentive for one
parent, often the higher earner
to return to work earlier
because the family cannot
afford a reduced paycheck and
we also cannot separate
economic security from the
conversation happening
nationally right now about
parental mental health.
Recent events have forced
difficult conversations about
postpartum mental health and
whether families have enough
support during an incredibly
vulnerable period.
This legislation is not a
substitute for mental health
care, but research tells us
that access to paid leave and
economic security are
associated with better maternal
mental health outcomes.
No new mother recovering from
childbirth should spend those
first few weeks calculating
whether or not she should
afford to remain home.
And I'm getting emotional
because I know so many of my
friends that have had this
conversation with me that feel
like they are not supported,
especially during this
vulnerable time uh, after
giving birth and unfortunately
they have to pinch pennies
during one of the most
vulnerable times of their lives
and so I'm open to having
conversations about a separate
legislative mechanism to
identify um, cost offsets.
Let's not beat around the bush
here.
This is going to cost money.
But I do want to look at the
data.
I want to open it up what it
costs when somebody leaves the
workforce, what it means to buy
back uh, vacation and sick time
.
And just a note on this to
three quarters of the folks
that took paid parental leave
over the last five years have
been in both fire and police.
And so there's something to be
said here about collective
bargaining and uh, working with
our unions so I know my time is
up so I will cut it short.
But I just want to thank
everybody from the bottom of my
heart for their support during
these tough few months.
I love my son, my queen.
He's out here right now.
He's with nana and papa.
Um but I think that this is
such an important conversation
to have right now again, based
on all the conversation that
we're having nationally about
postpartum care and postpartum
support and I think if we're
serious about supporting
parents this is the right thing
to do.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor collette.
As a partner would anyone like
to add their name
councilor culpeper.
Councilor fitzgerald.
Councilor flynn.
Country louijeune contra murphy
contra pepen conscious santana
councilor worrell and please
add the chair thank you.
Docket 1599 will be referred to
the committee on government
operations.
Mr clerk, could you please read
docket 1600.
So ia1600 councilor culpeper
offer the following ordinance
to amend the boston human
rights commission.
Chair recognizes
councilor culpeper
councilor you have the floor.
Thank you.
>> MADAM PRESIDENT.
I would like to add
councilor flynn as a second
original co-sponsor and request
suspension of the rules to add
council as well as a third
original co-sponsor.
Councilor uh flynn is added as
a second and seeing and hearing
no objections
councilor williams added a
third.
Thank you MADAM PRESIDENT.
When I learned that the boston
human rights commission had
been inactive for more than two
years, I felt compelled to use
this moment not to simply bring
the commission back but to ask
what could we do to rebuild it
into a stronger institution
than it was before?
The need for this commission
has not diminished during his
absence.
Residents continue to
experience discrimination in
housing, employment, public
accommodations and other areas
of everyday life and they
deserve an independent local
adjudicatory body they no exist
can easily access and can trust
to fairly investigate and
resolve complaints when their
rights have been violated.
I also want to recognize the
work the administration and the
equity cabinet have continued
to do during the commission's
absence.
The equity cabinet and its
offices play a critical role in
advancing equity addressing
discrimination, connecting
residents with resources and
improving how the city serves
as communities.
but that work and an
independent human rights
commission serve different and
complementary purposes.
There MAY be circumstances
where the city itself a city
department or city policy is
the subject of a complaint in
those circumstances especially
,residents need an independent
body with the authority to hear
the facts, make determinations
and provide meaningful recourse
during the fiscal year 27
budget process, the
council successfully secured
$200,000 to preserve funding
for the human rights commission
in JULY.
The civil rights committee then
held a hearing on the future
of the commission.
When we heard from the
administration, former human
rights commissioners, civil
rights advocates and leaders
of other human rights agencies
about what worked in the past,
where gaps existed and what
have we established a
commission that should look
like one of the questions at
the center of that conversation
was how we create the
commission that is not simply
advisory but that has a
meaningful and independent role
in civil rights enforcement.
I took the feedback and
recommendations we received at
that hearing and use them to
further develop the ordinance I
am filing today.
Ultimately, I believe that the
city has this large and diverse
as boston is should have an
independent local institution
where residents can bring a
discrimination complaint and
know there is a fair process
for determining what happened,
what recourse is appropriate
and I look forward to working
with my colleagues, the
administration, civil rights
advocates and community members
as we continue refining this
ordinance and move forward to
restoring the human rights
commission that is independent,
accessible and equipped with
the judicial authorities
necessary to meaningfully
protect residents civil rights.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
Councilor culpepper.
The chair recognizes
councilor flynn council you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I do want to say thank you to
councilor culpeper for adding
me as an original co-sponsor on
this important ordinance.
We must always strive to live
in a city and country with
civil rights and human rights
are protected and respected.
This commission provides a
critical and important voice
for those who were
discriminated against or a
victim of a hate crime.
I've worked with the human
rights commission since I
started almost nine years ago.
I'm committed to working with
city colleagues to ensure we
remain a city that always
treats.
People with respect and
dignity.
The human rights commission was
established under mayor flynn
and one of my constituents was
a former was the first director
a well-respected woman in the
um lgbtq plus community and
sanders the commission works to
ensure full and equal access to
public services in
accommodations it receives and
investigates complaints,
resolves cases through
mediation hearings, advocates
in support of human rights and
partners with state and federal
agencies.
I also want to recognize the
former commissioners on the
human rights commission for the
exceptional work that they did
for many years.
I worked, as I mentioned with
the human rights commission,
especially after or during the
pandemic when we saw a large
anti-asian discrimination,
anti-asian racism not just here
in boston but across the
country and also in support
of lgbtq plus residents.
I'm looking forward to a
future.
Hearing.
,um, a working session to
discuss this proposal and uh
again want to say thank you to
councilor culpepper for the
critical lead he has provided
not just on this issue but as a
civil rights lawyer for many
years.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you.
>> councilor flynn.
Chair recognizes
councilor worrell contrary you
have the floor.
Uh, thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I want to thank
councilor culpeper, uh, for
filing this.
And I also want to thank, uh,
councilor flynn face continue
advocacy on this issue.
Uh, this ordinance responds to
the advocacy during budget
season but also to what we
heard, uh, during that JUNE uh
,hearing around uh, the civil
rights, uh, human rights
commission um, this ordinance
gives it to staff in a
structured need it to meet
today's challenges and creates
a more effective process for
resolving issues at a time when
civil rights and human rights
are under attack across this
country.
Boston human rights department
these are tools to protect the
people right here in our city.
If someone believe their rights
have been violated they should
know where to turn, have
confidence that their complaint
will be taken seriously.
It is time to get this
department running at full
strength and living up to its
full potential.
Boston cannot sit on the
sidelines when it comes to
protecting human and civil
rights.
Thank you.
Thank you thank you
councilor brown.
Would anyone like to add their
name?
If it's councilor fitzgerald
cantrell murphy,
councilor pepen,
councilor santana, uh, please
add the chair.
Thank you.
Docket 1600 will be referred to
the committee on government
operations.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1601.
So I can have a1601
councilor worrell uh, for the
following order for.
>> a hearing to explore raising
the percentage of community
preservation act funds
dedicated to affordable
housing.
Thank you.
The chair recognizes constable
country.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I like to, uh, suspend the
rules and add
councilor culpeper as an
original co-sponsor.
Uh, councilor culpeper so added
.
Uh community.
Thank you.
The community preservation
committee has established a
goal of 50% of funds to be
devoted to affordable housing
and 20% each to historical
preservation and open space and
recreation, leaving 10% that
could be directed to any
category.
We know that other cities like
cambridge have opted into using
the max amount a cpa funding
allow that translate to 80% for
the affordable housing bucket
in 2025 boston using a formula
that allocated 50% about 19
million of a total of 40
million of our cpa funds went
to affordable housing, leading
to the creation or preservation
of approximately 309 unit.
If we had elected to allocate
80% then we could you then we
could have increased our
subsidy for affordable housing
projects by $12 million through
arpa funding we directed 236
million to housing supports and
services.
Now that arpa money is gone and
there are no capital funds that
go directly to affordable
housing in the city, this
conversation is about exploring
how we are allocating our
funding.
I do think that amid our
ongoing housing crunch, it is
worth considering what it would
mean to raise raise our
threshold above the 50%.
So I'm looking forward to
discussion and I want to thank
the boston municipal research
bureau for the report this
summer highlighting this issue.
Thank you.
Thank you councilor worrell and
chair recognizes
councilor culpeper
councilor you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you councilor wu for
adding me as a co-sponsor as
federal resources expire in the
course of doing affordable
housing continues to challenge
our ability to meet the demand
.
We should be examining every
sustainable source of funding
available to us.
I look forward to this hearing
and to hearing from the
community preservation
committee, the administration,
housing advocates and other
stakeholders about what a
greater commitment of cpa
resources to offer affordable
housing could accomplish.
The community preservation act
is one tool we already have
available.
Boston currently sets a goal
of directing 50% of the cpa
funding toward affordable
housing, but that allocation is
not set in stone.
The boston municipal research
bureau has estimated that
directing 80% toward housing
between 2018 and 2025 would
have generated an additional
$65.8 million for housing
related investments.
Increasing the housing
allocation would necessarily
involve choices about the other
important purposes supported by
cpa does so.
This hearing gives us an
opportunity to understand those
tradeoffs and determine whether
the current allocation reflects
the urgency of boston's housing
needs.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor culpepper
.
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Councilor flynn,
councilor fitzgerald
council louijeune
councilor clever sir patrick
murphy contra pepen
councilor santana um, please
add the chair.
Thank you.
Docket 1601 will be referred to
the committee on housing and
community development.
MR.
Please read docket 1602 but beg
your pardon?
Uh, councilor pepen, I see you
have your letter.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Point of clarification.
I'm the chair of both the.
Of the committee on housing and
community preservation.
Where this.
>> be more fitting for the
community.
Preservation committee.
I actually think under these
circumstances it should go to
um cpa so yes we will um.
And again I'm the charitable so
I'm more than glad to host.
>> this.
I think.
>> it's one of those things uh
the the can I took a brief
recess to just consider this
brief recess.
>> yeah, yeah, I really yeah.
Yes.
>> I think uh, since the the
entire discussion is around
cpa, I think and you're the
chair of both I think we'll put
it to the, uh, community
preservation committee.
Thank you.
So docket um, docket 1601 will
be referred to the the
committee on community
preservation act cpa thank you.
Mr chair.
Could you please read docket
1602.
Doc number.
1602 council will offer the
following order for a hearing
to explore codifying the office
of violence prevention and
establishing a biennial
violence prevention strategy
plan in the city of boston.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes constable
worrell country.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
The public is asking for a
clear process around how the
city creates a safety plan.
Residents should have an
opportunity to help shape that
plan and understand what
resources are being deployed
and know how success will be
measured.
We know violence is both the
public safety and public health
issue.
That means our strategy has to
bring together law enforcement,
violence prevention, housing,
health care, youth programing
and economic opportunity.
We also need a real focus, a
real process for evaluating the
programs we fund and you
understand what is working, how
effective this program is and
whether it is actually helping
us reduce violence and make our
neighborhood safer.
That requires clear goals,
consistent data, community
feedback and regular public
reporting.
This ordinance is about
creating a clear process,
building the plan with the
community, evaluating the
effectiveness of our programs
and making sure we continue
investing in what works.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Um um are you are you sponsors
?
Thank you.
Pardon I think.
I like to uh, council code
pepper as a original co-sponsor
.
Cancer called pepper.
So at council you have the
floor.
And PRESIDENT Thank you
council for well for having
me as an original co-sponsor
even though a little late I
still thank you.
As I have said before, public
safety cannot begin and end
with law enforcement.
Some of the most important
violence prevention work in
boston happens long before
police response through
outreach workers violence
interpreters, community
organizations, faith leaders,
mentors and residents who have
spent years building trust in
neighborhoods most impacted by
violence.
The city has already taken
steps towards recognizing
violence as both a public
safety and a public health
issue involving moving the
mayor's community safety safety
team into boston public health
commission's office of violence
prevention in 2025.
What this hearing asks us to
consider is how do we make that
work more permanent,
coordinated and accountable
through a codified office and a
comprehensive violence
prevention strategy that is
revisited on a regular basis?
I am particularly interested in
how community organizations fit
into that structure.
We should not develop a city
strategy and then ask the
people doing this work on the
ground to react to it.
Their experience should help
shape the strategy itself and
we should also be having a
serious conversation about the
sustained funding necessary for
them to carry it out by any
strategy could give us an
opportunity to establish clear
goals, identify
responsibilities across
agencies measures whether our
investments are working and
make sure prevention and
intervention remain priorities
from one budget cycle in one
administration to the next.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor culpepper
.
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Councilor flynn.
Council fitzgerald.
Councilor louijeune
councilor murphy.
pepen.
Councilor santana and please
add the chair.
Um, docket 1602 will be
referred to the committee on
public safety and criminal
justice.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket.
1603.1603 council we're all off
of the following order for a
hearing on high energy costs
and pathways to an equitable
and environmentally resilient
energy transition in boston.
Chair recognizes
councilor wirral council you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
The cost of energy is only
getting higher longer.
We continue to depend on an
energy system run by gas
pipeline networks.
The worst these costs will get
they will get worse I
exponential rate and speaking
with advocates we learned that
by some estimates the cost
of replace a gas pipeline is
about $7,000,007 million per
mile.
It's increasing year over year
and it's showing up in
residents utility bills
disproportionately impacting
small businesses and residents
with lower incomes and fueling
displacement the majority
of what customers now pay each
month no longer go towards fuel
but toward rebuilding and
maintaining a gas network that
is larger than necessary to
meet future needs.
The problem is right now energy
providers are incentivized to
address our system in the most
costly fashion through the gas
system enhancement program.
although otherwise known as uh
,gsa providers receive
subsidies to replace gas
pipelines even when it would be
more cost effective to repair
or retire pipes.
Oftentimes pipes are replaced
even when a replacement is not
needed as we work to
decarbonize the city in line
with our vision zero goals if
we do not work to downsize our
gas networks, residents will
continue to face higher bills
in the years ahead as a network
utility diminishes while the
cost of this replacement rises.
If boston wants to be net zero
by 2050, we cannot continue
using the current gas system we
have in 24 years and we need to
support neighborhood
electrification that is
affordable to all our residents
,not just a wealthy few.
That is why I want to use this
hearing to dive deeper into the
city's upcoming gas pipeline
projects to compare potential
cost and impact on
infrastructure and and
residents livelihood
of replacement versus repair
and retirement and to develop
an energy transition plan that
prioritizes saving on cost and
improving the health and
financial well-being of boston
residents.
I want to give a special thanks
to the team at mothers our
front advocates who have been
leading in this space and
sounding the alarm for some
time.
The dedication and expertise
has been crucial and look
forward to continuing to work
alongside them and all my
colleagues to make our city
more energy efficient and
affordable for all.
Thank you.
>> thank you councilor worrell
would anyone like to add their
name?
Councilor culpeper
councilor fitzgerald
councilor flynn
councilor louijeune murphy
councilor pepen concha santana
and please of the chair.
Thank you.
Docket one uh 603 would refer
to the committee on
environmental justice
resiliency and parks.
Mr truck, could you please read
docket 1604.
Ducking number 1604
councilor worrell uh, for the
following order for a hearing
to examine the challenges
facing independent restaurant
operators in boston.
Chair recognizes council rail
councilor, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
It's been a tough summer for
many of our independent
restaurants.
We saw a lot of economic uptick
around the world cup and tall
ships to be very centralized in
certain neighborhoods of boston
and once a lot and once a lot
of the summer buzz ended, a
number of excellent restaurants
and bars have announced their
closing or have closed almost
reads like a who's who's a
boston best local
establishment.
This is obviously a
multifactorial situation driven
in part by our PRESIDENT
Starting wars and driving up
the price of gas that then
spikes runaway inflation.
But whether or not the city is
in the main driver behind the
economic issues, we should be
trying to do everything we can
to ensure local independent
restaurants can survive in this
environment we are left with
private equity backed chains
across the city and we're
lacking a main cultural
touchpoint and so I'm hoping we
can happen here to discuss what
more can the city do?
We have made great strides with
new liquor licenses but there
are still areas for improvement
including streamlining the
permit process, expanding
commercial acquisition program,
increasing our culinary
vocational education and
expanding the mta's night hours
service.
One other possibility that I
want to call out is creating
more cultural districts the
state has restored is cultural
district program.
My office is now working with
carnegie square businesses to
get one in common square, but
it leads me to thinking why
don't we have an arts district?
Why don't we have a music
district and what could the
city do to help those districts
that already are established to
improve and activate them even
more?
And I think in our theater
district we should be allowing
more street performers.
Can we allow more um their uh
music can we add more
activation in our music
district?
And so I love to ensure that
we're thinking beyond simply
social districts and beyond the
status quo here in the city.
We need to be thinking a lot
more creatively to increase
foot traffic which ultimately
will help our restaurant
restaurants.
Thank you and I look forward to
this hearing.
Thank you councilor worrell
would anyone like to add their
name councilor color as a part
of country uh council culpeper
councilor uh fitzgerald
councilor offline cultural
region patrick murphy country
pepen contra santana and please
add the chair.
Thank you.
Docket 1604 will be referred to
the committee on labor and
economic development.
Mr chair, could you please read
docket 1605.
Talking number 1605
councilor bray now for the
following requesting or
requesting certain information
under section 17 f relative to
speed humps installed as part
of.
>> the safety surge initiative
.
Thank you.
>> PRESIDENT Council PRESIDENT
Brennan seeks suspension of the
rules and passage of docket
1605.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
The ayes have a docket 1605 is
passed.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1606.
So I can have a1606
council thing off of the phone
resolution in support of the
continuing use of shotspotter
in the city of boston.
Chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
So you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
and 20 zero seven the boston
police department first
implemented shotspotter, which
is a collection of sensors that
detect and locate gunshots in
seconds using.
Acoustic gunfire detection
systems, sending an immediate
signal and precise location to
the shots of the shots the
police.
Dispatcher recently, many
massachusetts.
Cities um have been considering
banning this technology due to
concerns um about government
surveillance.
A la a live study conducted in
pittsburgh found that when six
more senses participate in
locating a shot, 96% of shots
could be located within 15m.
Boston police have reported
that on average, shotspotter
alerts arrive 1 to 2 minutes
before 911 calls.
This increases the response
time in MAY, potentially save
life um through ambulances
coming helping the victims um
as well as evidence collection
in MAY 18th the cambridge city
council voted to end the use
of shotspotter against the
advocacy of the cambridge
police.
On JULY 4th, the cambridge
police department of public
works employees was fatally
shot.
Officials believe if he had
been shot.
Shortly before 430 in 9 one one
had not been called until 5:30
A.M..
The cambridge city
council subsequently voted to.
Reactivate shotspotter for 90
days while they reevaluate.
Reevaluate the implications
of their policy.
They know that the system works
want to acknowledge the
cambridge city council for, um
making this change?
Shotspotter has assisted
officers in responding to
shootings, recovering illegal
firearms ballistic evidence
including a MAY 9th it MAY 2026
incident in dorchester
dorchester in which responding
officers located ballistic
evidence.
Within minutes the boston
police stopped a vehicle
matching a suspect description
,recovered a loaded firearm
resulting in an arrest.
This is a public safety tool
that gives boston police
information on potential
shootings.
It has historically.
>> had.
Offices directly to shootings.
Victims suspect ballistic
evidence illegal firearms
survivors um with boston
roughly 600 police officers
shot we are facing significant
public safety challenges.
It is especially critical to
take advantage of technology
such as shotspotter.
It provides the ability for
officers to get to the scene
more quickly.
Um respectfully asking my city
council is to join me in
suspending and passing this
resolution.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you.
>> councilor flynn.
Chair recognizes consistent
time.
Okay, so you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> and thank you,
councilor flynn, um, for
following this.
Um, you know, as a chair
of public safety and criminal
justice, I believe that this is
an important conversation, um,
that we need to have as a as a
council.
I think councilor flynn
mentioned many of our
surrounding um, cities, um,
around boston who have had many
of these conversations and I
think that we should be having
that here in the city
of boston.
Um, so respects respectfully
for those reasons, uh, I would
like to unblock this
resolution, um, and be able to
have a hearing on this um, and
then being done being able to
bring this up for a vote after
we have that conversation.
Thank you.
>> thank you,
councilor santana.
Um, in light of this objection
,docket 1606 will be sent to
the committee on public safety
and criminal justice.
Mr trayer, could you please
read docket 1607.
Talking number 1607
councilor fitzgerald offer the
following resolution
recognizing SEPTEMBER as
national recovery month.
Chair recognizes
councilor fitzgerald country.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Uh, can I also add
councilor murphy as an original
co-sponsor?
Councilor murphy so added.
Thank you.
>> uh, since 1989, SEPTEMBER
has been recognized as national
recovery month by
recovery organizations in order
to celebrate the positive steps
made by those in recovery and
spread awareness of evidence
based methods of substance
abuse prevention and
treatments.
Uh, we're having an event to
honor those in recovery on
SEPTEMBER 3rd SEPTEMBER uh, the
17th uh, it's a thursday at 5
P.M. Uh, at the mass in cass
connector in collaboration with
the coordinated response team.
Uh, so I invite any and all
of my colleagues here again.
That's on SEPTEMBER 17th at 5
P.M. Uh, at the mass cass
connector.
Uh, we will do an event, uh, to
celebrate those who
recovery because as hard as the
work is, uh, we should stop and
take time, uh, to look at the
accomplishments made by those
that continue their
recovery have gotten into
recovery.
Uh, and look at the positive
work we've done and how we can.
Continue to.
>> build on it.
So, uh, thank you very much,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
Councilor fitzgerald.
Would anyone, um, like to add
their oh, councilor culture
murphy.
Counselor.
Beg your pardon?
Control, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Um, and thank you,
councilor fitzgerald for adding
me as an original sponsor.
I just want to stand and say
it's always important to be
recognizing the hard work
of those in
recovery themselves, the family
members who are going along
this journey with them and
those we know in this city and
across this country who support
those trying to find a path to
recovery which is the best path
anyone who is struggling could
take.
So someone who knows firsthand
and who has a son who made it
through the gavin foundation
who is now proudly serving in
the army and in a very healthy
,happy place in his life.
I know firsthand that it works
and I know many of us have
family members or ourselves who
know that this works.
But it's hard work and taking
time like you said
council gerald to celebrate
those um times when we have
wins because many times we're
not winning.
It's like two steps forward,
three steps back.
But like most things in life
you can't give up.
You've just got to keep moving
forward.
And I just want to make sure
anyone out there listening that
I'm here to support in any way
I can and I know my colleagues
care about this also.
So make sure you know that we
on the council here are
advocating for this.
It's not just those struggling
one just other thing I want to
add most of the media just
covers those who are struggling
down at mass and cast and
although that is a big
important thing that we as a
city have to address, it's a
public health public safety
mental health crisis down there
and as it has spread into other
areas but many of those who are
struggling are going to work
every day are living in houses
.
They're not homeless.
There's just different levels.
So to just remember that those
who are supporting know that
there's just so many different
people and many of them you
wouldn't even know are out
there needing support.
So thank you.
Thank you councilor murphy.
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Councilor collette is a part
of going to culpeper
councilor flynn,
councilor division
councilor pepper and
councilor santana
councilor oral and please add
the chair councilor fitzgerald
and murphy six suspension
of the rules adoption of docket
1607.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
Docket uh 1617 has been adopted
2060 thank you.
>> pass 60I.
Don't minarik dyslexia is
kicking in this afternoon.
Thank you.
Docket 1607 has been adopted.
Thank you, mr cook for the
correction.
MR.
Could you please read docket
1608.
Dukkha number 1608
councilor breadon now for the
following resolution calling
for robust infrastructure
solutions to protect the
charles river and other local
waterways from combined sewer
overflows.
thank you.
>> uh, MAY I ask, uh, MADAM
Vice PRESIDENT To take the
podium for me?
The chair recognizes
council PRESIDENT Breadon
council.
Brian, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Uh.
>> docket 1608a resolution
calling for a robust
infrastructure solutions to
protect the charles river and
other local waterways from
combined sewer or sewer
overflows.
Uh.
>> every year millions
of gallons of untreated
stormwater are discharged into
the charles and the mystic
rivers via combined sewer
overflows or csos.
While efforts have been made to
close these csos and prevent
sewage from entering our
waterways, approximately nine
combined sewage sewer overflows
outfalls remain along the
charles river.
Earlier this year, the
massachusetts water resources
authority and cambridge and and
cambridge and somerville
released a draft updated long
term control plan for the
charles river the alewife brook
,the upper mystic river.
Unfortunately the current draft
does not does not eliminate
csos.
We should not accept a long
term plan that allows untreated
sewage to continue entering our
waterways when there are
infrastructure solutions
available to significantly
reduce these discharges.
This will require coordination
between the mwi boston, our
neighboring municipalities and
state agencies.
Tremendous progress has been
made.
Discharge volume is down 98%
since the late 1980s.
However we shall continue.
We should continue to aim high
and demand that the charles
river be free from sewage
overflows.
This will be a pressing issue
as climate change continues
with increased rainfall and by
extension overflows.
I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution and join us in
calling for a stronger final
long term control plan.
Uh, we uh, are very proud
of the fact that we have
cleaned up boston harbor, that
the charles river is so much
cleaner but our the mystic
river, the charles river and
the transit rivers are three
watersheds within our
boundaries and uh, the safety
and the health of our water in
the in the harbor for swimming
and recreation in the summer is
greatly impacted by the fact
that these sewage outfalls the
continuing into our river ways
in the city.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor brighton.
Anyone else like to speak.
>> on this matter?
Would anyone else like to add
their name?
Um, MR. Clerk, would you please
add councilor uh, culpeper.
Councilor fitzgerald,
councilor.
Flynn, councilor.
Louijeune councilor.
Murphy, councilor.
Bourbon councilor santana and
council earl and.
Please add the chair
councilor brighton uh speaks
seek suspension of the rules
and adoption of docket 1608.
All those in favor say aye.
Aye.
>> all those opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
Thank you.
Docket 1608 has been adopted.
Seven.
>> okay, mr clerk, can you
please read docket 1609.
Talking number 1609
councilor breadon uh, for the
following resolutions
celebrating national hotel
employee day.
Thank you.
>> the chair recognizes
council PRESIDENT Brighton
councilor you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Hotel employees are an
important part of boston's
hospitality industry.
Every day they welcome visitors
to our city and provide the
services that keep our hotels
operating and make boston a
welcoming place.
13,220 people work in boston's
hotels, and the hospitality
industry provides opportunities
for workers to develop new
skills, build careers and
advance within the industry.
This recognition is
particularly important this
year as boston has welcomed an
increase in visitors with the
world cup america 250 and sail
boston hotel employees across
the city have met that
increased demand with
professionalism and continue to
provide a level of service that
visitors of boston rely on.
The success of our hospitality
industry would not be possible
without the thousands
of employees who do this work
every day.
National hotel employee day
gives us an opportunity to
recognize their contributions
and thank them for the work
that they do for our city.
I want to extend my
appreciation to all of boston
sawtelle employees for their
hard work, dedication and
service and invite my
colleagues to join me in
celebrating them.
And by recognizing AUGUST 26th
as national hotel employee day
in the city of boston.
Thank you.
>> uh, would anyone like to
speak on this matter?
Okay.
>> council louijeune you have
the floor.
Thank you.
Um, um, MADAM Chair, I just
would be remiss not to stand.
In support of this resolution
as someone who has a number
of my family members or hotel
employees and, uh, work
diligently in the hospitality
industry.
So I want to thank um,
council PRESIDENT Breadon for
filing and just appreciate this
resolution.
Thank you.
Thank you council louijeune.
Anyone else.
>> would anyone like to add
their name?
Mr clerk would you please add
councilor culpepper
councilor fitzgerald
councilor flynn council.
Louijeune councilor murphy
councilor for burns
councilor santana
councilor worrell and please.
Add the chair councilor uh
brighton six suspension of the
rules and adoption of docket
1609.
All those in favor say I.
And all those opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
Docket 1609 has been adopted.
Thank you, councilor collette
as a part of.
Um.
MR. Clerk.
Could you please read docket
1601?
It was 1610.
Duncan number 1610
councilor flynn, after the fall
of the following resolution in
support of a knife collection
program in the city of boston.
Chair recognizes
councilor flynn council.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
MADAM Chair.
At councilor culpeper as an
original co-sponsor.
Councilor culpeper so added.
Thank you.
>> and I.
Thank you.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
This summer there have been a
surge of serious violence and
stabbings in boston, including
at south station.
During rush hour.
And not station as well.
Cities across the world have
enacted knife collection
programs at local police
stations in response to public
safety challenges.
In 2024 a cleveland, england
appointed knife surrender and
collection programs that allow
residents to anonymously and
safely dispose of knives and
other blade weapons through
dedicated surrender bins.
Again cleveland, england police
report that hundreds of knives
have been voluntarily
surrendered to these programs,
helping remove potentially
dangerous weapons from
communities and support broader
efforts to reduce reduce knife
crime.
In another city in england.
Um 350 weapons were handed in
including knives, machetes, um
in other and in several several
guns as well.
This was in lincolnshire um in
england.
Analysis of police reported
crime data in london found that
knife related crime declined
for five weeks following the
implementation of this program
in glasgow.
Studies show that individuals
in emergency departments what
stab wounds declined up to ten
months after the program was
implemented.
I think it's critical that we
put all options on the table to
reduce gun violence in the
city.
I do acknowledge and understand
that this has never been this
is not really popular in the
united states and MAY be having
a pilot program to see if it
makes sense or doesn't make
sense, but maybe it's worth a
try to reduce violence in the
city of boston.
I do know that
council councilor culpeper
might MAY offer a change to my
uh, resolution which I do
support the change but I do
want to give um
councilor culpeper the
opportunity to explain it.
but I'm on board with um with
his recommendation as well.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
Chair recognizes country
code pepper.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, the change in
the amendment I would offer is
to establish a broader daily
weapons collection program that
includes knives and firearms.
And I think councilor flynn
agrees to accept that amendment
.
Um, do we have do you have a
written amendment of we take a
few minutes.
I.
I'll take a brief recess.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Chair recognizes
councilor friend council, you
have the floor.
MADAM Chair.
MAY I go on record in support
of the, um, updated changes
made by councilor cole?
Yes.
>> yes.
Thank you.
Flynn, uh, accepts country
code peppers friendly amendment
.
Uh, all of you should have a
copy of the amended, uh,
resolution in front of you and
even everyone got it.
All those in favor?
All those in favor of accepting
this amended version.
Say I.
I I.
Thank you.
>> this, uh the amended, uh,
version is in front of you.
Uh, contra culpeper you want to
do continue?
Councilor?
you have the floor.
MADAM Chair.
I am now prepared to support
this resolution that has been
amended to create a more
comprehensive weapons
collection effort.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
Would anyone else like to speak
on this matter?
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Country color dispatcher.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Uh.
Pepen can, uh I I'm.
Yes, I'm.
Please add the chair.
Councilors flynn and culpeper
seek suspension of the rules.
Adoption of docket one uh
601610 in an amended version.
All those in favor say aye.
All opposed?
Say nay.
The ayes have it.
Uh.
Docket 1610 has been adopted.
Thank you everyone.
MISTER Chair, could you please
read docket 1611.
Ducky number 1611
councilor thing off of the
following resolution in support
of granting city of boston park
rangers police academy training
and police powers to enhance
public safety in boston parks.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes
councilor flynn so you have the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
The boston parks and recreation
department.
Um, park ranger division was
originally formed in 1982 as a
seasonal program that became a
year-round program in 1988.
The three main responsibilities
for the park rangers uh public
assistance, public safety, park
protection park rangers serve
at the nine emerald necklace
parks, boston's historic.
Burying grounds.
Neighborhood parks playgrounds
.
Their training includes park
management and background um
recreation, liberal arts,
environmental studies learn for
enforcement, first aid, cpr and
crisis intervention in the los
angeles city park rangers are
sworn police officers who
receive full basic police
academy training upon hire.
Like city of boston park
rangers, they are dedicated to
ensuring that city parks remain
safe, welcoming, enjoyable for
public use.
However, the law enforcement
authority also allows them to
respond to incidents, assist
with public safety, deter
criminal activity, work
proactively to reduce crime in
city parks.
The boston police department
has a long standing issue
of understaffing, overstretched
resources, mandatory overtime,
looming retirements.
The boston police officers have
worked more than 16 hours a day
for years, negatively impacting
officers physical and emotional
well-being as well as that
of their families.
At one time, the boston park
rangers had the authority to to
make arrests they had police
powers.
Um this with this resolution.
Um, although there's more work
that needs to to be done would
grant uh police uh, park
rangers with police powers that
would provide them with the
authority and tools necessary.
To properly respond to
incidents within boston's parks
and public spaces while
allowing them to serve as an
additional layer of public
safety.
This could help address public
safety incidents more quickly,
provide additional resources to
an already strained boston
police department.
I met with um residents in
beacon hill recently in
downtown boston about how
critical boston common is and
how we need more police
presence in boston common.
I love the boston common park
rangers play a critical role
there but I think we could it's
hance public safety and
security make it safer in
boston common if the park
rangers has the authority to
make arrests I think it's
needed and we did have it at
one time and let's go to the
proper steps to get it back
again.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
Would anyone, uh, like to add
their name?
Councilor collette as a powder
councilor pat.
Oh, councilor culpeper, I beg
your pardon?
Do you wish to speak?
Yes I do.
MADAM PRESIDENT and.
Councilor, you have the floor.
I appreciate councilor frame
raising the broader issue
of public safety in our parks
and the staffing challenges the
boston police department are
facing.
However, I am not prepared to
support granting police powers
to the boston park rangers
without first having a
committee hearing to understand
exactly what that would mean.
The resolution proposes
providing park rangers with
police powers points to the los
angeles police where park
rangers are sworn peace
officers who receive full basic
police academy training.
And if we are considering
giving boston police rangers
law enforcement authority, then
we need to have a serious
discussion about what that
training would require.
I would have significant
concerns with granite police
departments without requiring
the same appropriate academy
training, the use of force
training, civil rights training
,accountability training and
other safeguards expected
of officers exercising
comparable authority.
For these reasons I believe
this hearing order rather than
a resolution asking us to
endorse the policy today.
So you asking I.
>> I believe this should be a
hearing or.
Are you objecting to the
resolution?
Yeah.
>> and send it to committee.
MADAM Chair.
Councilor flynn beg your
pardon?
Council if then you have the
floor.
Thank you.
>> let me out of respect for,
um, councilor culpeper and
councilor santana, two people I
greatly admire on the council.
I would like to ask if we could
place this in a in the public
safety committee, but I would
like to ask if we could maybe
have a hearing maybe in the
next 60 days or so and and I
agree maybe maybe we place it
in the place it in committee.
I'm not asking for a vote on it
at this time.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
Council um thank you.
Docket.
Does anyone else want to, uh,
councilor santana, you had the
floor.
Uh, thank.
You, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I just wanted to thank
councilor flynn for setting
this committee.
I also believe that this town
deserves a nuanced conversation
.
Um, and I just wanted to also
just commit to, um, hosting a
hearing if placed in the public
safety committee within the 60
days that, um, the lead sponsor
requested.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor santana.
Uh, docket 1611 will be sent to
the committee on public safety.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
This is when we go off script.
Um, thank you, MISTER Chair,
for reminding me.
Would anyone like.
>> to add their name?
Councilor coletta zapata,
councilor.
Culpeper.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Um.
councilor santana.
Councilor around.
Uh.
Thank you.
Councilor pepper.
Thank you.
Docket 1611 uh, will be sent to
the committee on public safety
.
>> and criminal justice.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket.
1612 talking number 1612
councilor worrell for the
following resolution in support
of head start and early head
start and the importance
of their programs in the city
of boston.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes constable.
Royal councilor.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I'd like to add
councilor culpeper as an
original co-sponsor.
Councilor culpeper so added.
Thank you.
>> headstart is known for
providing comprehensive health
care, nutrition and family
services to low income youth,
those at risk of homelessness
and other vulnerable
populations.
Head start program serve about
2000 boston families across 21
centers administered through
abcd and the dimock center in
roxbury.
We have spoke to members at the
massachusetts headstart
association recently who raised
the alarm around the federal
government's proposed rule
making a head start and early
head start programs that would
eliminate a vast majority
of existing standards that make
these programs so great for our
families.
If passed, this ruling has the
potential to severely impact
our headstart resources in
boston such as increasing the
average number of children per
teacher by 16% by reducing
supply of teachers by
approximately 13%.
There's reductions in teacher
salaries eliminated bilingual
instructors and other keepers
key positions and making some
head start children potentially
ineligible for the program
simply because they won't have
proper documentation.
We have to end this for a
reason and especially for
programs that so many of our
children and families depend
on.
These standards must be
protected.
I encourage residents to speak
up against this ruling and
uplift support for headstart to
maintain strong standards in
massachusetts.
The federal register is taking
public comment on the proposed
rulemaking through OCTOBER 6th.
To submit comments
electronically visit federal
register.Gov follows submit a
comment instructions remember
to cite the docket number acf
dash 2020 6-0595 or feel free
to reach out to my office
directly for any assistance.
A big shout out to mass
headstart association once more
for your leadership and the
work that you do.
Thank you.
Thank you councilor worrell
chair recognizes
council culpeper council you
have the floor.
madam PRESIDENT, I support this
resolution 100%.
I think it's important because
it cannot control every
decision made at the federal
level.
But we can make clear what we
stand for.
I'm proud to support the head
start and early head start.
The educators and organizations
that make these programs
possible and the children and
families throughout boston who
depend on them.
I also encourage residents and
stakeholders to make their
voices heard during the federal
public comment process as this
resolution calls for.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor culpeper.
The chair recognizes
councilor murphy country you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor worrell
for bringing this resolution
forward.
As a former k-1 teacher for
many years I taught our four
year olds and bffs.
And as a parent you must know
it's hard to get one of those
seats and as we are trying to
expand and have more universal
pre-k across the city, we know
that we don't have a seat for
every child.
So it's programs like this that
are filling in the gaps and
it's so important that all
of our children have this
opportunity because we know the
data shows those kids who come
to kindergarten first grade
without this exposure are just
so far behind and many we know
don't ever catch up.
So proud to support this and
whatever we can do to advocate
at the federal level.
So thank you.
Thank you councilor murphy.
Would anyone else anyone like
to add their name?
Councilor collette is a powder
councilor for fitzgerald
country.
Flynn country louijeune country
murphy country pepen country
santana and please add the
chair councilors morrell and
culpeper suspension of the
rules adoption of docket 1612.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
Thank you.
>> docket 1612 has been
adopted.
MR.
Could you please read docket
1613.
Talking about 1613 council.
We're all off of the following
resolution recognizing quality
homes for humankind.
Chair recognizes constable
worrell country.
You have the floor.
Uh thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Just asking for suspension and
pass of the recognition that we
did at the earlier of this
meeting.
Thank you.
>> uh, would anyone like to add
their name to docket 1613?
Councilor, um.
Uh, councilor fitzgerald.
Councilor flynn,
councilor louijeune councilor.
Murphy, councilor.
Pepen, councilor.
Santana, councilor.
Culpeper.
And please out the chair,
councilor.
What else?
suspension the rules adoption
of docket 1613.
All in favor.
Say aye.
All opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
Docket 1613 has been adopted.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1614.
Talking about 1614
councilor culpepper offer the
following resolution in support
.
Uh, of.
Of a south in alleyways working
group.
Chair recognizes
councilor culpeper
councilor you have country.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I would like to add
councilor fitzgerald as a
second original co-sponsor and
for suspension of the rules.
Uh, councilor flynn as a third
original co-sponsor I would
also if I could I would add
councilor santana as a fourth
co-sponsor.
Yeah.
Because of all the work he's
done on this issue.
Councilor fitzgerald has.
>> added as a second.
And councilor flynn.
Is at an hearing and seeing no
objections.
Councilor franzen.
Does a third.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I would also request suspension
of rules to vote on the passage
of this docket.
The south end has a unique
network of historic alleyways
that residents depend on for
access to their homes, parking
,utilities and other everyday
needs.
but because many of these
alleyways are privately owned,
residents are often left
responsible for addressing
infrastructure issues that are
difficult and expensive for
individual property owners to
solve on their own.
One issue that deserves
particular attention is a
city's roadway and betterment
process.
Many of these historic alleys
simply cannot satisfy the
dimensional standards currently
applied to the acceptance
of new public, new public ways
.
Some of the narrow narrower
than 40 foot minimum because
they were built long before
today's roadway standards
existed even though narrow
public alleys already exists
elsewhere in boston.
We need to examine whether
there are alternative standards
or processes that recognize the
unique conditions of these
historic alleyways while still
addressing accessibility
emergencies, emergency response
and legitimate public safety
concerns.
That is why I am proposing the
creation of the south alleyways
working group rather than
approaching drainage ownership
,maintenance, utilities
funding and public acceptance
as a separate problem.
This would bring residents,
public owners, elected
officials, city officials and
other stakeholders together to
identify practical short and
long term solutions.
We MAY ultimately determine as
some solutions can be
accomplished administratively
while others require changes to
city policy or even state law.
The purpose of this working
group is to create a structure
where we can work through these
questions together and develop
recommendations that reflect
both the realities of the south
end and the experience of the
people who live there.
I look forward to working with
south end residents, my
council colleagues, the
administration and other
stakeholders stakeholders on
this effort.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you.
>> councilor claude pepper.
The chair recognizes
councilor fitzgerald.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I'd like to thank
councilor culpeper for adding
me as the second original
co-sponsor.
This is a great idea because
the the the interwoven
infrastructure of the alleyways
through the south end is
inherently what makes the south
end the south end and gives it
that that historic feel.
However, uh, because of that
historic uh state uh there are
many complications that come
with that.
The council had just mentioned
ownership uh, cleanliness uh
and service that is provided on
those.
And so uh I think it's a great
idea to get to this group, uh,
and figure out what we can do
and what steps need to be
taken.
Uh, perhaps from a legal
perspective to better service
clean, maintain uh, these this
infrastructure in the south and
so thank you councilor up up
and thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor fitzgerald
.
Chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
And thank you to
councilor culpeper for adding
me.
Um, proud to partner with
councilor culpeper
councilor fitzgerald alleyways
in the south and provide access
to homes, businesses, parking
areas, utilities and other
properties.
But many are privately owned
and have aging infrastructure
that creates significant
challenges for residents and
property owners.
I worked with then city
council on working with the
boston water and sewer
commission on many issues in
the south end but especially as
it relates to um private
alleyways and how we're able to
support residents on water and
sewer related.
Issues.
>> residents are facing long,
long standing infrastructure
and maintenance issues flooding
inadequate draining pavement as
councilor culpeper mentioned
utility related issues,
accessibility concerns,
emergency access many south end
alleyways were built before
modern roadway standards in a
physically too narrow to meet.
>> the city's current.
40 foot minimum.
We should explore.
Whether alternative standards
or process can preserve
accessibility in emergency.
Response.
>> but those are the types
of questions we can ask at this
working group.
>> so I'm.
Really glad that
councilor culpeper is leading
on this.
A south end working group can
bring stakeholders together to
find solutions bringing
residents, property owners.
City officials, utility
companies, engineers, legal
experts, civic.
Organizations, neighbors.
Teachers.
>> the working group can
identify funding and
maintenance solutions.
Improve coordination.
Examine opportunities for
greatest city involvement,
develop the recommendations for
both immediate improvements and
long term.
Policy changes.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
The chair recognizes
councilor pepen.
Councilor, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I wanted to rise to just, um,
thank the three sponsors
of this docket and it is great
that there is an organized
movement happening in the south
end.
I know that council will round
myself.
I mean, our respective
districts have been having a
lot of conversation about
private ways, so I'm going to
be very curious to see how this
goes and we'll love to learn
from the three of you of how
and what is being discussed so
that we can replicated across
in other neighborhoods as well.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor pepen.
Would anyone like to add their
name?
Councilor collette is a.
>> paddle.
.
Councilor pepen.
Councilor louijeune council.
Murphy.
Councilor.
Santana.
Constable rowland, please have
the chair.
Councilors culpeper, fitzgerald
and flynn seek suspension
of the rules.
Adoption of docket 1613.
All in.
Favor, say I.
Yes.
Start over again.
Councilors culpeper, fitzgerald
and.
Flynn six.
Suspension of the rules.
Adoption of docket 1614.
All in favor say aye.
All opposed.
Say nay.
Thank you.
Docket 1614 has been adopted.
Thank you, mr chair.
Could you please read docket
1615.
Talking number 1615 councilor.
Flynn offer the following
resolution.
In recognition.
>> of the city of chelsea
all-america city award.
Chair recognizes
councilor flynn council, you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
The city of chelsea was proudly
recognized for being an all
american city for the second
year in a row and a historic
fourth time.
This outstanding achievement.
Reflects chelsea's strong sense
of community commitment to
social, economic and racial
justice, respect for our
immigrant neighbors, civic
engagement, ongoing dedication
to creating a vibrant and
welcoming city for all.
We congratulate the residents,
community leaders and
organizations of chelsea on
this distinguished national
recognition and wish the city
success.
The city manager fidel maltz
heads.
Is an outstanding public
servant whose dedication to
chelsea and its resident
residents is exceptional.
I had the.
Opportunity to.
Study with him at a leadership
program over the last year.
With a background in civil
engineering and extensive
experience in municipal
government.
Fidel has demonstrated a.
Strong commitment to.
Improving infrastructure,
securing critical funding.
Strengthening public safety,
showing that residents have a.
Voice in the future the
community.
He has also led with energy
accessibility and a genuine
love of chelsea, making him an
exceptional leader and a
tremendous asset to this
community.
And just on a side note I do
spend a lot of time at the
chelsea soldiers home which is
an exceptional residential
program um, managed by the
state of massachusetts at the
veterans department for the
state.
I was there a couple weeks ago.
Going back again.
Next week for a cookout.
But this is a program in
chelsea that veterans from
across the state are.
Able to live.
There and get medical care
there.
But it's just one example
of what makes.
Chelsea unique.
Along with their incredible
contributions to public
education but also uh.
Respecting immigrants as well.
Um, I'm asking my colleagues to
join me, um, in suspending and
passing this resolution, MADAM
Chair.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
Would anyone like to add their
name.
Cancer.
>> colitis about a cancer.
Culpeper councilor fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Louijeune councilor.
Murphy, councilor.
Pepen councilor santana
cultural were.
Well pleased to have the chair.
Councilor flynn seeks
suspension of.
>> the rules adoption of docket
1615.
>> all in favor say I.
All opposed.
Say nay.
Thank you.
>> the ayes have it.
Docket 1615 has been adopted.
Mr chair, could you please read
one docket 1616.
Talking about 1616 council sign
up for the following resolution
in support of an investigation
by the massachusetts secretary
of state into incorrect ballots
distributed.
During early voting in boston
and maintaining state
receivership of boston election
department through the 2028
election.
Chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
There were confirmed.
Reports of incorrect ballots.
Distributed at the condon
community center in south
boston in my neighborhood.
The city.
>> of boston and election
department officials have since
acknowledged that on the first
day of early voting.
>> the.
City made a.
Determination that this in fact
took place.
This incident follows the
NOVEMBER 2024 presidential
election when poll workers.
Reported issues.
Of citywide ballot shortages,
ballots in the correct language
and calls to the election
department.
They went on and answered.
This caused unnecessary and
unreasonable wait time for
residents in many left of.
Voting location.
Voting booth without casting
their ballot.
Following an investigation.
Into these.
Significant issues, the
secretary.
>> of state announced the
appointment of.
>> a.
State receiver to oversee
boston's.
Election department through
2026.
Boston's early voting sites
provide.
>> the opportunity for any
registered.
Voter to cast their ballot at
any citywide location.
That's for early voting.
As a result, poll workers are
tasked with following.
Protocols to.
>> provide 34.
Different types of ballots
based on a registered.
Voters address.
Especially following the
serious errors that.
Boston made.
In what was widely considered
one of the most important
elections of our lifetime in
2024.
I believe.
>> the city should only.
Offer in-person early voting in
one's own neighborhood in
district.
Or at city hall when.
We allow.
Residents to vote.
>> at every location.
Throughout the entire city.
Again for early voting.
Um, I think it puts a
tremendous strain on the system
.
I think it's also unfair to our
poll workers that have to have
a ballot ready regardless.
Of where the person is coming
in from.
We only increase.
>> the chances of incidents
where human.
Error can occur when a poll
worker provides the wrong
ballot.
Early voting ballots that leave
city hall should only go to
early.
Voting locations within their.
Appropriate district
neighborhood.
I am.
>> calling for the city
election department to remain
at a state received
receivership for the 2028.
Election as the right to vote
is.
>> both sacred.
I believe it's.
>> a civil rights issue as
well.
A thorough investigation must
be conducted.
To ensure.
All ballots are counted.
We must prioritize critical
community needs.
Quality of life issues, the
ability to administer basic
city services.
Every vote counts in the
process must be.
>> as clear as possible.
For all including.
Our immigrant neighbors.
Public housing residents, our
seniors and persons with
disabilities.
Voting is an important and.
Critical part.
>> of society.
It's how we decide who.
Represents the people.
Implementing an effective.
Transparent and fair election.
Process is the responsibility
of the election department.
We need immediate.
>> changes to ensure every.
Vote counts.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
>> uh, councilor burton, you
have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
i'm standing.
Today to vote to voice my
concern and opposition.
>> to this resolution.
The incident referenced in
which three early voters.
Received the incorrect ballot.
Was isolated.
Immediately corrected.
And all three voters were
ultimately able to cast.
>> the proper ballot.
There is no evidence of a
systemic failure or widespread
error in.
Boston's early voting systems.
At a moment when election
misinformation is rampant, we
should be careful not to
amplify false alarms or suggest
that.
Boston's elections are in
crisis.
The facts do not support that
conclusion.
Our election.
Department has already.
Taken corrective steps and the
secretary of state has publicly
stated that this was a small
contained mistake.
Calling for extended state.
Receivership through 2028.
Based on a single resolved
incident is a disproportionate
and risks.
Undermining confidence in our
local.
Election workers who diligently
do their jobs.
We should focus on
strengthening our.
Systems.
>> supporting our new.
Elections executive director.
And ensure clear communication
with.
Voters rather.
>> than escalating an isolated
error.
into a narrative of systemic
failure.
For that reason I will.
Be voting against.
>> this resolution.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you council breadon
anyone else?
Uh, councilor louijeune you
have the floor.
Thank you.
Um, I just wanted to say, um,
that I agree with what, uh,
councilor breadon just stated.
I also want to make it very
clear that I wholeheartedly
disagree with the idea that
early voting should be limited
to ballots.
Early voting should be limited
to the areas in which uh that
uh a vote is happening for that
district.
We need to make sure that we
are doing everything to expand
voting access.
We should have same-day voter
registration.
We should have make it easier
for people to vote, let people
know that they have the right
to vote um, in in situation.
So it's really really important
for us to be doing everything
we can especially as the right
to vote is under assault in so
many ways by the federal
government.
We need to be expanding access
to early voting not not
retreating from that and we
need to be making it possible
for everyone to vote.
So I just wanted to make that
very clear because early voting
is so important and so many
people have fought for this
right and are continuing to
fight as the right to vote is
under assault nationwide that
year we should be setting the
example by extending early
voting by making it easier if
someone is running an errand
they can, you know, vote at
city hall even if they live in
hyde park or mattapan.
And so I just want to just be
on record and as a strong
supporter for early voting and
expanding the right to vote.
Thank you.
Thank you, councilor louijeune.
Uh, does anyone want to add
their name?
Mr cook, can you add uh,
council murphy?
Uh, mr clerk, would you please
take a roll call?
Vote on docket 1616.
.
>> councilor breadon.
No.
>> councilor breadon no.
Councilor collette as opposed
no go to color as opposed to no
councilor.
Culpeper present.
Councilor culpeper present
councilor.
Durkan.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Fitzgerald.
No councilor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Council.
Flynn.
Yes.
Councilor.
Louijeune.
Councilor.
Louijeune.
No.
Concilor mejia here.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Councilor.
murphy.
Yes.
Councilor.
Vipin.
Uh.
Councilor.
Pin.
No.
Councilor.
Santana.
Councilor.
Santana.
No.
Council.
Weber and councilor.
World council.
Well.
No.
Seven votes in the negative two
in the affirmative and one
present.
Thank you.
>> docket 1616 has not been
adopted.
MR. Clerk, could you please
read docket 1617.
Can number 1617
councilor culpeper oh for the
following resolution declaring
AUGUST 24th as elizabeth
freeman day in the city
of boston.
Chair recognizes
councilor culpeper.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I would like
to offer a substitute filing
for docket 1617.
After doing more research on
elizabeth freeman, it appears
that the day elizabeth freeman
was awarded her freedom in
damages was AUGUST 22nd, not
AUGUST 24th.
Elizabeth freeman, also known
as bear, was born into slavery
and later enslaved in the
household council.
But before we proceed would you
have a second for the
substitution?
Okay.
>> you MAY proceed.
Thank you.
Elizabeth friedan, also known
as mom but was born into
slavery and later enslaved in
the household of john ashley in
sheffield, massachusetts after
the adoption of the
massachusetts constitution and
its declaration that all people
are born free and equal,
freeman challenged whether
those principles to coexist
with her continued enslavement.
In 1971, freedom and brown
successfully sued for their
freedom in brum and that verse
actually her case became an
important part of the legal
struggle that ultimately
established that slavery was
incompatible with the
massachusetts constitution.
Her story is also an important
reminder that the rights
expressed in our founding
documents did not automatically
extend to everyone.
It took courageous individuals
like elizabeth freeman to
demand that those promises
actually be honored.
Recognizing elizabeth freeman
day gives us an opportunity to
honor the courage and to
recognize the role of black
americans have played
throughout massachusetts
history and pushing our
commonwealth closer to its own
ideals of freedom, equality and
justice.
I hope my colleagues will join
me in supporting this
resolution and recognizing
elizabeth freeman's enduring
contribution to the
commonwealth of massachusetts.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Thank you, councilor culpeper.
Would anyone like to.
>> add their name?
Councilor color disappeared a
counselor fitzgerald.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Counselor.
Murphy.
Country.
Pepen.
Counselor.
Uh santana comes from the
region.
Councilor worrell.
>> and please of the.
Chair councilor culpeper.
>> seeks suspension.
>> of the rules and.
Adoption of.
>> docket 1617.
All in.
>> favor say aye.
All opposed say nay.
The ayes have it.
Thank you.
>> docket 1617 has been adopted
.
We're now moving on to
personnel orders.
Mr turk, can you please.
Read the.
Personnel orders?
Personnel those docket number.
1618 councilor.
Brain for council a call for
1619 councilor brading for
councilor culpepper 1620
councilor breadon for
concilor mejia here.
1621 councilor.
Breen for councilor murphy and
1622 councilor breadon for
councilor santana.
Thank you.
>> the chair moves to passage
of the personnel orders.
All those in favor say.
i thank you.
The ayes have it.
The personnel.
Orders have been passed.
Uh, before we move on to green
sheets.
>> is there.
Anyone who wishes to, uh, would
.
Like to add.
>> their.
Name to a docket that.
They MAY have missed?
Councilor.
>> uh, culpeper.
Are you leaving?
No, no.
I'm good.
>> you're good.
Thank you.
Anyone else add their name to a
docket they MAY.
>> have missed?
Okay.
Um.
>> so now moving on to green
sheets.
As anyone looking.
>> to take a docket from the
green sheets.
Councilor pepen, you.
Have the floor.
The chair of the committee on
housing and community
development.
Yes.
>> thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Yes.
I am looking to pull um from
committee on housing community
development docket 1552
of which is on page 16.
Of the green sheets.
Uh, councilor.
Uh, mr chair, could you please.
>> read that docket into the.
Record from the committee on
housing and.
Community development number
1552 resolution calling for an
immediate housing stabilization
response system for boston
residents.
Who involuntary lose work
authorization due to federal
changes in immigration policy.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes country and
country.
You have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Yeah I'm pulling this out
of committee just because
of the importance and
timeliness of the topic of this
resolution, the time right now
where a lot of our um, migrants
especially those with the
status of being revoked are
going through a lot of hardship
and do not know about their
future and the uncertainty
of their placement here not
only in the city of boston
across the state
of massachusetts.
So I would like to pull this
out of committee and bring it
to the floor for a vote today.
Absent objection, the motion
of the committee.
>> chair is accepted and
docket.
1552 is properly before the
body.
You MAY continue.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
As I said, this is a very
timely matter.
It's a matter of great
importance in my district
across the city.
A lot of people are living in
fear.
I know that council councilor
at large which louijeune has
been working adamantly on this.
So I actually want to if she
has.
Anything to say on this I would
like to, um, yield my time.
To her.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes
councilor louijeune councilor.
You have the floor.
Thank you.
>> councilor benton, I just
wanted to say, uh, thank you to
all of the incredible, um,
advocates who are working on
this issue.
I want to say thank you to I
have been peppering them the
state and the city who are
working adamantly on this as we
continue to, uh, ensure that we
have a plan for those who are
boston residents who are
suffering from harm as a result
of this administration's
attacks on our immigrant
communities.
Thank you.
And I know that you, uh,
councilor council PRESIDENT
Biden are also second on this.
So I just want to thank you for
your partnership and your work
on this as well.
Thank you.
Thank you both.
Um, councilor pepen, MR.
Passage of docket 1552.
All in.
Favor say aye.
Aye.
All opposed.
Say nay.
MISTER Chair, could you please
take a roll call?
Vote on docket 1552.
Councilor breen.
>> yes.
Councilor breadon.
Yes.
Councilor collette as opponent
councilor let us put a yes.
Councilor.
Culpeper.
councilor durkan.
Councilor fitzgerald.
Yes.
Councilor.
So yes.
Councilor.
Flynn.
Yes.
Council.
Flynn.
Yes.
Council.
Louijeune.
Yes.
Councilor louijeune.
Yes.
Councilor mejia.
Councilor.
Murphy.
Councilor.
>> murphy.
Yes.
Council.
Pippin.
>> yes.
Councilor.
Pen.
Yes.
Councilor.
Santana.
Yes.
Councilor.
Santana.
Yes.
And councilor weber.
Councilor.
World.
Yes.
Councilor.
Well, yes.
Nine votes in the affirmative.
Thank you, mr crack.
Docket 1552.
>> has passed.
Any other.
Dockets from the green sheets?
Good.
That's it.
And we're now on to.
Late files.
um, I'm informed by the work
that there.
Are 6.56.
>> late files.
We have four.
Is.
>> uh.
>> for absence letters.
Three absences.
Yeah.
>> there's three, uh, letters
from councilors.
There's a letter of absence
from the mayor.
There's some.
>> uh, personnel all across the
boards.
Councilor constable.
Bonds and one personnel.
Or two um, absent.
Objection, these late matters
uh, will be added.
Uh, MR. Clerk, could you, uh,
maybe start with.
>> the personnel orders?
Firstly file a personal order.
Councilor breadon on behalf
of central staff and city
council staff.
Thank you.
>> the chair moves should
passage.
>> of these late fund matters.
All in favor.
>> say aye.
All opposed?
Say nay.
Thank you.
>> the personnel.
Orders have passed.
And then we will if you could
read.
The letters of absence.
MR. Clerk.
.
>> second late file absence
letter.
Uh, dear clark churches please
note that I'll be out of town
on monday, AUGUST 24th, 2026
from 9 A.M. Returning sunday,
AUGUST 30th, 2026 at 4 P.M..
Thank you.
Uh, mayor will.
Third file matter uh, absence
from councilor uh mejia.
Dear PRESIDENT Brain, I'm
writing for my absence at city
council meeting on AUGUST 26th,
2026.
My staff will be listening and
informing about the meeting and
actions taken by the body.
Sincerely, council me.
Uh fourthly file matter
councilor uh, weber, I regret
to inform you be unable to
attend today's council meeting
.
Please note my staff will be in
attendance and keep me informed
of actions during the
council meeting.
Thank you, councilor weber and
the late file letter from uh
councilor durkan.
Councilor, PRESIDENT.
Council.
PRESIDENT Breadon.
Colleagues, I am unable to
attend today's council meeting
due to a fever and flu like
symptoms and I want to ensure
the safety of my colleagues and
staff.
So, uh, special thank you to
vice chair john fisher for his
support with matters relating
to planning, development and
transportation.
Sincerely, councilor durkan.
Thank you.
>> those absence letters will
be placed on file.
And now we're on to, um.
The commissioner.
Constable.
>> MISTER Degrees to read those
into the record.
The consequence of cleveland
burden colin farrell and ian
randall having been duly
approved by the collector.
>> treasurer were received.
In the clerk's office this
morning.
Uh, let's see, mr clerk to
those need to vote.
Yes.
Um, the the constable bonds
will be approved under the
usual terms and conditions.
All those in favor say I thank
you.
Yeah.
All those all those opposed say
nay.
Thank you.
The ayes have it.
We here.
Now we're on to move.
Thank you, mr truck.
I'll just find my way in this
pile of papers.
Uh, we're now on to moving on
to the consent agenda.
I've been informed by the clerk
that there are no new additions
to the consent agenda.
The question now comes on
approval of the various matters
contained within the consent
agenda.
All those in favor say aye.
All right.
Thank you.
The consent agenda has been
adopted.
We're now on to announcements.
Please remember that these are
for upcoming events and dates.
Uh, does anyone have
announcements?
Councilor flynn.
Um.
Councilor flynn, you have the
floor.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
MADAM Chair MAY MAY I briefly
mention a upcoming veterans
city council hearing meeting
that's taking place on friday?
It's certainly you're drawing.
Um, yes.
Go ahead.
Okay.
>> um.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
I do want to invite my
council colleagues friday
morning to a very important
city council hearing on
veterans.
Um, it's it's a hearing on
supporting black veterans.
It's a it's a hearing on
supporting women veterans.
And I really want to ask my
city council colleagues to
please be there, um, for the
important hearing.
I have been disappointed.
I'll be honest with you.
Um, I had a city
council hearing that I chaired
last week on the water and
sewer related issues for, uh,
discounts and the city
administration was here, but
not one city council attended
my hearing that I chaired.
Um, I do want to respectfully
ask if you could be here for
the entire meeting.
Be here on time, ask questions.
It shows me that you are
committed to veterans and
military families.
Sometimes I get the feeling
that we as a city are not as
supportive of veterans and
military families as we could
be, but your presence at this
important hearing would
demonstrate that you do care.
You do care about veterans.
You do care about military
families.
And I do think it's an
important subject that warrants
your time.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you, councilor flynn.
The chair recognizes
councilor collette as the
pathway constable.
You have the floor.
Thank you so much, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I just want to say happy
birthday to my incredible
mother.
Um, she just recently retired
from after decades of service.
She helped, um, homeless kids.
>> and their families and I can
say this now because she's
retired, but sometimes she
would take in kids when they
didn't have anywhere else to go
including their families.
And um, that is just an example
of her selflessness and she's
um she's deserving of all
of the beautiful things in her
retirement and again just happy
birthday mom.
Love you.
I hope she gets an opportunity
and your beautiful grandson as
well.
Yes.
Happy birthday to your mom.
Uh, councilor.
Uh, pepen, you have the floor.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Um, and thank you to the vice
chair of the veterans affairs
committee because I know that,
malika whitley and another shaw
to appreciate the work you do
in hyde park.
Um, but I wanted to give a
public thank you to my summer
associates.
We call them associates in my
office, not interns.
Uh, they do amazing work.
Uh, I'm kiara delgado, kiara
barros delgado, matt arnold and
natalie puff tac who did
amazing work in my office.
They came up with events.
They did policy work.
They did a lot of constituent
services and it's just a
blessing to be able to see just
city kids work in my office
throughout the summer all the
time and just I'm so thankful
for the work that they did so
publicly thanking you all.
I wish you luck in your next
year in college so shout out to
all the interns.
Thank you.
Thank you chair recognizes
council division council you
have the floor.
Thank you.
And I guess I'm going to steal
a page from the books of two
of my colleagues.
I also we had fantastic summer
associates we call them summer
as well.
So um, just want to thank them
for the incredible work that
they did in our office.
And I also want to give a big
happy birthday shout out to my
younger sister who is two years
my junior but is um incredible
broadly and I want to just say
happy birthday to her and I
have a lot of SEPTEMBER uh,
friends I want to say a happy
birthday to, uh, justine and a
happy birthday to gilda.
We won't meet again before
their birthday, so I just
wanted to give a big shout out
to all of the folks who have
birthdays and, um, in SEPTEMBER
and all of the virgos in this
world.
Thank you.
>> chair recognizes
councilor mercury council.
you have the floor.
Thank you.
Also want to as we said goodbye
last friday to our last intern
had seven of them this summer
and they always just bring such
joy to the office and just help
immensely.
But I did also want to give a
shout out to paul chang and the
boston registrar a few weeks
ago.
I did just want to say thank
you to kristen and jessica
downstairs.
They just did something above
and beyond and they went to a
constituents home after work to
do something that was important
to get done and I just want to
publicly thank them for doing
that.
They didn't need to but they
really helped someone that
needed their help.
So thank them.
Thank you.
>> that's good.
Uh, we are wishing a very happy
birthday.
Uh, between now and the next
council meeting to
councilor collette as a matter.
Um, lots of SEPTEMBER
birthdays.
Uh, jordan frias of councilor
webber's office.
Rob cobb of central staff,
jessica carrera of councilor
fitzgerald's office.
Uh, we also want to wish, uh,
happy christmas to all the
folks in allston.
It's right around the corner
SEPTEMBER 1st stop by and find
some pre-loved treasure.
And remember, uh, to schedule
your mattress pickup with the
city by using the 311 app.
Very important.
it's going to be a lot
of activity.
Uh, it's going to be a very
busy day.
And allston and brighton on
SEPTEMBER 1st.
Not only is election day but it
is allston christmas.
We're now moving on to
memorials.
Uh, would anyone like to
uplifting them a, uh, ask my
colleagues I have some hearing
loss so please speak up nice
and loudly.
Thank you.
Um.
Councilor division.
Thank you.
Um, I'd like to, um.
End today's meeting in honor
of, um, four individuals, all
three of whom and whose names
you should have.
Uh, denise washington, who's
the founder of pop up poetry?
Um, and resident in roxbury.
She also was, uh, promoters uh
,creator behind kwanzaa crawl
.
Uh, she does uh she did so much
work here in the city and
supporting arts and creativity
not only in the city but in
hollywood.
And so I just wanted to uplift
denise washington and her
memory.
Um, I was able to go to our
home in DECEMBER with a had no
idea that she was sick and
presented her with citations
for her work both in poetry and
in the arts and in kwanzaa.
So I just wanted to lift up.
Um, denise washington, also the
father of dana roumania, uh,
high park community leader, uh,
john pierce, rumania passed
away.
um MAY his memory be a blessing
to all of those who know him
who's a sailor and a gift to
his family.
And, um, so many showed up to
mourn him and I just wanted to
pay my respects to the roumania
family.
And last but not least, um,
matthew saint mark is a
firefighter here in the city
of boston and he recently
tragically lost his nephew who
often spends a lot of summers
in boston with him.
He was only 15 years old and um
,uh, died.
Uh, the unfortunate hands
of gun violence down in florida
and was his namesake.
So I want to give my
condolences to matthew saint
mark on the passing of his
nephew, uh, matthew saint mark
and to the entire saint mark
family.
Thank you.
Oh, and last but not least, the
fourth one was, um, someone who
meant a lot to many of us here.
Uh, but dolly parton, who
passed away yesterday obviously
meant a great deal to so many
in this country.
Um, she did a lot of work for
not only in her talent but, um
,in promoting workers rights.
I remember working on past um
campaigns 9 to 5 being a
soundtrack to so much of the
work that we did in trying to
support workers.
Um, and she's just been such a
was such an ally to so many
people.
So you know, to make sure that
we honor dolly parton as well.
I think I.
Absolutely will.
Uh, chair recognizes
councilor flynn.
Councilor, you have the floor.
Um, thank you, MADAM Chair.
I want to, um, acknowledge the
passing of a neighbor in south
boston, jack bolger.
Jack bolger.
Both belgium, belgium.
Walter bolger.
Thank you.
I appreciate your help.
Anyone else?
So on behalf of councilor pepen
the, uh, we have george
mitchell on behalf of councilor
britain.
We have richard, jesse, rita.
For those who are familiar with
the allston community, uh, we
recognize her is a very feisty
97 year old who's a lifelong
resident of allston, a very
dedicated member of uh, saint
anthony's parish, uh, church
and parish.
Uh she was a uh supporter
of the honan allston library.
Friends of the library.
She served on the harvard
allston task force.
Uh, she lost her life partner
carol a few years some years
ago.
Uh, they had, uh, a life
partnership and, uh, carol was
her beloved spouse of 60 years.
We also want to, uh, remember,
um, denise, uh, washington on
behalf of councilor louijeune
john.
Uh, pierce wrote room here
matthew saint mark, behalf
of councilor uh flynn, we have
jack.
Balter and on behalf of all the
city council we, uh, give
thanks and remember the
remarkable life of uh and
service of dolly parton.
Her impact extends far beyond
music and entertainment.
Through her imagination library
.
She had made early literacy a
major part of her legacy
through providing books to
children regardless of family
income not only in the united
states but across the world.
Since starting the program in
1995, the imagination library
has grown from her home town in
tennessee to now serving five
countries and helping millions
of children build home
libraries and creating a love
of late reading at a very early
age.
We give uh she was one of a
kind and was an incredible
human being.
The chair moves that when the
council adjourns today it does
so in memory of the
aforementioned individuals.
A moment of silence, please.
The council is scheduled to
meet again on the enola chamber
on wednesday, SEPTEMBER 16th,
2026 at 12 P.M..
Thank you to my colleagues,
central staff, the church
office and to the consisting
of uh griffith.
Thank you alan.
Uh, all in favor of adjourn,
please say I.
I thank you.
The council is adjourned.