Oh my god, I'm not sure.

Thank you so much.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I call to order today's meeting of Boston City Council.

Viewers can watch the council meeting live on YouTube at Boston.gov backslash city dash council dash TV.

At this time I ask my colleagues and those in the audience to please silence their cell phones and electronic devices.

Also, pursuant to Rule 42, I remind all in the chamber that no demonstration of approval or disapproval from members of the public will be permitted.

Thank you.

Mr.

Clerk, will you please uh call the role to ascertain the presence of a quorum?

Councillor Brain.

Here.

Council Callet is a father.

Councillor Culpepper.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Council Flynn.

Councilor Louisiane.

Councilor Mejia.

Councillor Murphy.

Councilor Pepin.

Councillor Santana.

Councillor Weber.

And Councilor Warrell.

The quorum is perfect.

Thank you.

I've been informed that the by the clerk of the quorum is present.

Now it is my pleasure to invite uh Councillor Weber to introduce today's this week's clergy.

Hello, good afternoon.

Um today's clergy.

Uh you want to come up here?

Uh yes, is Dr.

Dufort Fleurisson, uh, also known uh as Pastor Kiki.

Um, you know, I I first uh I got to know uh Pastor Kiki before um I even got involved in politics from his work with my wife's uh organization that does refugee resettlement in the region.

Um and you know it's his work uh you know it's part of his work with the church, but his work in the community.

Um I know you know all of us are concerned with the treatment of immigrants in our country right now.

Uh but you know, on the front lines in the community that is uh experiencing the pain of um what is happening in our country uh you know as much or or more so than any other communities that are Haitian community uh and that is why you know I've been uh proud to stand by Pastor Kiki uh whenever uh you know I can help.

Um and I know uh he and uh you know Councillor Louis Gen and others have been fighting uh to extend TPS status for uh for Haitians and through their efforts uh they managed to support uh Congresswoman Ayana Presley's discharge petition to bring an extension of TPS status up for a vote in the House of Representatives and this started several months ago.

I think you need 218 signatures, they started with eight or nine signatures, and it was phone calls and you know, all over the country going uh you know, uh reaching out to c uh to reps from all over the place, and they managed to get there, and it's um you know it's really an example uh for me for stepping up for a community that that needs our help.

And so I just want to thank uh Pastor Kiki for being here and uh uh give him the mic.

Thank you so much, uh Council Weber for this uh gracious invitation.

Uh thank you all the uh counselors, thank you for your leadership and also for your dedication uh to continue to represent uh the constituents of the city of Boston.

I would definitely ask you to stand as we're about to pray.

I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for saving me.

Uh I had cancer last year, went to surgery, but today I'm alive.

To God be the glory.

Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude.

We thank you for the council does the work they do on a daily basis.

Your words remind us in Romans 1301 that oratory is established by you.

And Proverbs 1434 tells us that righteousness exalt nation, but on justice and sin is a reproach to any people.

Therefore, O God, we pray that righteousness guides this council, that integrity, justice, and moral clarity influence every decision made in this chamber.

Lord of resurrection power, we thank you for Easter, Father, and then we thank you for the victory that you bring into us the hope and the courage.

And now, O God, we remember your holy requirement in Micah 6.8.

What does the Lord require of you?

To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before your God.

So today, on behalf of these counselors, we pray, grant them the strength to pursue justice, to defend the oppressed, uplift the vulnerable, and ensure fairness and equity for all residents in Boston.

Fill the hearts with mercy so that compassion guides their policies and every decision shows concern for human dignity.

Clothe them with humility, so they'll lead not for personal gain, but in service with integrity and accountability.

Lord, as your word states in Proverbs 11 14, where there is no guidance of people falls, but in abundance of counselors, there is safety.

May this council be a place of wise counsel and unity, and in abundance of counselors, make this body an instrument of real world, bringing life where there is dispel, justice where there is inequality, and unity where there is division.

Bless every counselor, staff member, and constituent their serve.

May wisdom guide their discussions.

Peace governs their interactions, and righteousness uplift not only this council, but this city and nation.

We entrust this session into your hands, O God, trusting your promise, Father, that as we acknowledge you, you will direct their path.

Father, as many people address you by many names, I pray through our precious Son name Jesus Christ and the people of God and serve.

Amen.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Pastor Kiki.

We have two presentations today.

Counselor Culpepper is recognizing Higher Ground Boston, and uh also the New England Center for the Arts and Technology.

Counselor Culpepper, if you'd like to join us and get five minutes for each of your presentations.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like Amadry Good and Martin Henley to join me on the podium.

The founder of NECAT and the chair of the board.

You might you might not remember, but last week that food that we ate was food prepared by the young folks at NECAT.

So they couldn't make it this morning because they are out preparing food for others.

But I hope you remember the taste of that food that we had last week and that it will stick for you with you for years to come.

For many adults, barriers to employment can feel isolating and overwhelming.

A cycle that's incredibly difficult to break all along.

But NECAT believes that with the right environment, the right skills, and the right people in your corner, meaningful change is not just possible, but it's achievable.

NECAT meets people where they are, wrapping their arms around them and walking alongside of them as they build towards something lasting.

Through hands-on culinary training, and you had some last week.

Participants gain real kitchen experience, but the work goes far deeper than cooking.

NECAT is equally committed to social, emotional development and career readiness, giving folks the confidence and the purpose they need to thrive long after they leave the program.

Founded on the belief that growth appears just doesn't happen, but it happens best without judgment.

NECAT prepares individuals not just for a job, but for a life of financial stability and self-sufficiency.

It is our honor to present this resolution to NECAT, and we are so pleased to have Martin Hensley, the founder here, and the Board of Director Chairman Madrid Good.

Let me just read this to you, Martin Mandry.

Come on.

City Council, City of Boston and City Council, official resolution presented by Councillor Mignard Culpepper.

Bid resolve that the Boston City Council extended its congratulations to the New England Center for Arts and Technology in recognition of NECAT's dedication, leadership, and contributions to workforce development and economic opportunity have made it one of Boston's most successful training organizations since its founding in 2013.

Providing unemployed, underemployed adults with tuition-free culinary training and career services that prepare them for careers in food service and the hospitality industries.

Be it further resolved that the Boston City Council extends its best wishes for your continued success that this resolution be duly signed by the president of the City Council and attested to a copy thereof transmitted by the clerk of the City of Boston by Elizabeth Braden, president of the City Council, by the clerk of the City of Boston attesting to offered by Minyard Culpepper on April 8th 2026.

It's my pleasure to present this resolution to you.

Thank you, Council.

Many thanks, Councilor Calpepper, for this invitation and for your support of our funding requests.

And also want to thank Councillor May, although she's not here for her support as well.

I think that you've heard from the council pretty much everything about our program.

The important news is that we're going to be moving next year into Newbion Square into a new building.

We've circulated information to all council members when we were here a couple of weeks ago.

And we look forward to your continued support.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us today, Council.

I just want to thank you for all your support.

As a lifelong resident of Roxbury, I'm excited about our move to Nubian Square, and I look forward for many, many, many more years to come.

And really wanted, on behalf of our students, alumni board, just thank you for the citation today and look forward to working together in the future.

I'd like to invite our colleagues up for a photograph, please.

Thank you.

Thank you, Matt.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Brandy, higher ground.

A transformative backbone organization whose work touches the lives of children and families across our country.

This vision is my prayer and why I do this work.

A Boston where every child has access to high quality education, housing, and health services.

Higher ground has built a coalition of over 65 partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies, all working together to ensure no child and no family falls to the cracks.

From stabilizing housing and their students and their families to bridging the educational achievement gap.

They don't simply provide services, they build the foundation for families to stand on their own and thrive long term.

We are incredibly, we are incredibly.

Let me say it one more time.

We are incredibly fortunate to have higher ground impact in our community, and it is with deep gratitude that we recognize the essential work that they do every day.

Please help me welcome their executive rec, executive director, Brandy, who is here with us today.

Brandy and Terry.

What'd you say for DJ?

DJ, DJ.

Please help me welcome their executive director, Brandy and DJ, who is here with us today.

Give them a round of applause.

Give me a round of applause for making it through.

Let me read this resolution.

City of Boston and City Council, official resolution presented by Councilman Yard Culpepper.

Be it resolved that the Boston City Council offers its graduate congratulations to Higher Ground Boston.

In recognition of Higher Ground dedication to advancing equity and strengthening community collaboration, they have made a leading, become a leading force in Boston's collective impact efforts by serving as a backbone organization and catalysts across sectors.

Through its commitment to shared leadership, continuous collaboration, and community-driven solutions, higher ground work to eliminate disparities and build sustainable opportunities for children and families across Boston.

Be it further resolved that the Boston City Council extends its best wishes for your continued success, that this resolution be duly signed by the president of the City Council and attested a copy there of transited transmitted by the clerk of the City of Boston, signed by President of the City Council, Elizabeth Braden, offered by Minyard Culpepper.

Thank you for all that you do.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.

No, no, y'all can do good afternoon, everyone.

All right.

So as Counselor Culpepper said, my name is Dr.

Brandy Brooks.

I'm the executive director of Boston's Higher Ground, and it is an honor and a privilege to receive this citation today.

And it is an honor and a privilege when I think back to the 10-year-old me that in one week lost my maternal grandmother to stage four cancer, and our house burned down in the same week, and we were homeless after her homegrowing service.

To now stand before you as an executive director of an organization where one of our priorities is supporting homeless students and families get housed, of which we've housed 625 students and families to date.

Thank you.

It is an honor and privilege to do the work that we do, which is ensuring educational equity, making sure that the kids in our community have access to high quality, affordable after-school care and summer learning opportunities, to make sure that our school partners have access to high quality social and emotional learning and support to make sure that our school partners and communities, to anyone that is homeless, whether it be a student or a family, that they get help to get housed, and most importantly, to stay housed in the community that they choose to live in.

And so it is an honor to stand before you, but I am not alone in this work.

And last but not least, this citation is for all the students, all the families, all the community members that over the last 16 years entrusted us in their moments of crisis, in moments of joy, in moments of virtual spaces during COVID, and even today with the challenges that we face as a community.

So I'm thankful for Councillor Culpepper.

I'm thankful for the other counselors, those of you I know and those of you I don't.

I will soon learn, and you will soon learn about us.

It's not a present.

So this resolution is co-sponsored by Councillors Fitzgerald and Councillor Warrell.

And uh just as a reminder, this is for a photo only, and we won't be taking remarks at this time.

So uh Council Warrell, Councillor Fitzgerald, um here for the photograph, and then we'll do the remarks later.

Good to see you.

Thank you.

So this is the photo apple.

Everybody smiles.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

Now, on to the first order of business.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please record that Councillor Warrell has joined us to correct the attendance?

We now move on to the first order of business, which is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of April 1st, 2026.

All in favor say aye.

All against say nay.

The ayes have it.

The minutes of April 1st meeting have been approved.

Uh we're now on to communications from our honor the mayor.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dockett's 0733 through dockets 0754?

0733 through 0754.

That's a lot.

It's a lot.

This is the only budget documents.

So I hope you're ready for the uh document number 0733, Message Genora for annual appropriation and tax order for fiscal year 2027, filed in the office of the city clerk on April 6, 2026.

Docket number 0734.

Message Janora for annual appropriation for the school department for fiscal year 2027.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on August 6, 2026.

Docket number 0735, Message Janora approving an appropriation of 40 million dollars to the other post employment benefits.

Liability trust fund authorized under Chapter 32B, Section 20 is added by Chapter 479 of the Acts of 2008.

The latest available OPEB actor valuation as of June 30th, 2023, estimated the city's unfunded liability at 2.68 billion dollars.

Filed in the office of the city clerk on August 6, 2026.

Document number 0736.

Mr.

Janot authorizing the city of Message approving an appropriation order authorizing the city of Boston to appropriate the amount of three million five hundred thousand dollars from the city's capital grant fund to address the impact of transportation network services on municipal roads, bridges, other transportation infrastructure or any other public purpose substantially related to the operation of transportation network services in the city.

Such funds will be transferred and credited to the Capitol Grant Fund from revenue received from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on August 6, 2026.

Document number 0737.

Message Janora approving an appropriation on the amount of $5 million from the surplus property disposition fund.

Credited to the Capital Fund for Planning, Design, and Construction of Coastal Resilience Solutions around the city.

Filed in the office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026.

Document number 0738.

Message Janora approving an appropriation order in the amount of 3 million 840, 384 million seven hundred and five thousand dollars for various capital improvement purposes for city departments, including the Boston Center for Youth and Families, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Planning and Development Agency, Boston Public Library, Innovation and Technology, Environment, Fire, Mayor's Office of Housing, Office of Arts and Culture, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Property Management, Public Health Commission, Public Works, and the Transportation Departments.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026.

Docket number 0739.

Mr.

Genata approving an appropriation order in the amount of $13,855,000 for the various capital improvement purposes for the Boston Public Schools.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026.

Docket number 0740.

Mr.

Janora authorizing the City of Boston to enter into a one or more lease, lease purchase or instalment sales agreements in fiscal year 2027 in an amount not to exceed $28,500,000.

These funds are to be used by various city departments for the acquisition of equipment in furtherance of their respective government fund functions.

The list of equipment include computer equipment, hardware and software, motor vehicle, motor vehicles and trailers, ambulances, firefighting equipment, office equipment, telecommunications equipment, photocopying equipment, medical equipment, school and educational equipment, school buses, parking meters, street lighting, installation, traffic signal equipment, and equipment functionally related to and components of the foregoing.

Docket number 0741.

Mr.

Genora approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the maintenance and repair of Boston Public School facilities, including custodial and utility costs for extended building time.

Floor refinishing landscaping and building repairs.

Receipts from lease permit for use and parking fees for Boston Public School facilities will be deposited in the fund.

Boston Public Schools facilities will be the only unit authorized to expend from the from the fund and such expenditure shall not exceed $2 million.

Docket number 0742.

Mr.

Genora approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for fiscal year 27 for Boston Public Schools transportation costs, including bus and public transportation costs.

The revolving fund shall be credited with revenue received by the Boston Public Schools Department for the provision of transportation to groups and entities for field trips and activities other than transportation to and from school.

Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $150,000.

Docket number 0743.

Mr.

Genot approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Public Schools revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to repair and purchase Boston Public Schools computer technology, including computers, mobile devices, and instructional software.

This revolving fund will be credited with any and all receipts from equipment sales and repair fees for Boston Public Schools Technology.

Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $2 million.

Document 0744.

Ms.

Genau approving an order authorizing a limit for the environment conservation commission revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 for the purpose of securing outside consultants, including engineers, wetland specialists, wildlife biologists, and other experts in order to aid in the review of proposed projects to the commission for the city's ordinance protecting local wetland and promoting climate change adaptation.

This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from fees imposed by the commission for the purpose of securing outside consultants.

The environment department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at $50,000.

Document number 0745.

Mr.

Genot approving an order authorizing a limit for the distributed energy resource revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to facilitate the purchase of offsets of greenhouse gas emissions, which shall be associated with a per with a portion of the electricity consumed by the city annually and to operate, maintain, monitor, and expand the city's existing solar rays in Boston Public Schools combined heat and power facilities.

This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from the sale of renewable and alternative energy certificates and demand response program revenues produced by combined heat and power units located at Boston Public Schools sites and solar renewable energy certificates produced by the city's photovoltaic arrays.

Receipts and result resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed 150,000.

Docking number 0746.

To incur liabilities against and spend monies for such fund consistent with the ordinance.

ACPs are an approved emissions mitigation pathway that consists of payments equal to the average cost per metric ton of CO2 to decarbonize buildings.

This revolving fund shall be credited with any and all receipts from tuition paid by parents or guardians of children enrolled at the center.

Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $1,100,000.

Docker number 0748.

Mr.

Junota approving an order authorizing a law, a limit for the law department revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to purchase goods and services to pay for repairs to city properties.

This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from recoveries for damages to city property caused by third parties.

The law department will have will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall not shall be capped at $300,000.

Docket number 0749.

Ms.

approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Department Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2027 to pay salaries and benefits of employees to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to operate the police department fitness center.

Revenue for this fund is derived from monthly membership fees.

Receipts and resulting expenditures from this fund shall not exceed $100,000.

Docker number 0750.

Message and auto approving an order authorizing a limit for the Boston Police Revolving Fund for Fiscal Year 2027 to support the K9 units training programs for officers and police dogs from non-City of Boston Law Enforcement Agencies.

The Special Operations Division will charge tuition and other fees to outside law enforcement agencies for training with the K9 unit.

The tuition and other fees paid by outside agencies will be used to purchase training equipment, certify instructors, update facilities, and provide funds for other training needs not otherwise budgeted.

The special operations division will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures shall be capped at 100,000.

An order authorizing a limit for the mayor's office of arts and culture revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support public art to enhance the public realm throughout the city of Boston.

This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from easements within the public way granted by the Public Improvement Commission.

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expand from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at $800,000.

Mr.

Junot approving an order authorizing a limit for the mayor's office of routes and culture revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support the operation of the Strand Theater.

This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from rental fees for the use of the Strand Theater.

The mayor's Office of Arts and Culture will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at $300,000.

Docket number 0753, Message and Order authorizing an order limit for the Mayor's Office of Tourism, revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to purchase goods and services to support events and programming on and around City Hall Plaza to advance tourism and promote participation in public celebrations and civic and cultural events.

This revolving fund shall be funded by receipts from payments for the use of City Hall Plaza pursuant to City of Boston Code Chapter 11, Section 7-14.

The mayor's office of tourism will be the only unit authorized to expend from the fund, and such expenditures at $150,000.

Revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the operations of the bike share program within the city of Boston.

This fund shall be funded by system-generated user revenue, sponsorship revenues, and advertising revenues.

The transportation department will be the only department authorized to expend from the fund and such expenditures shall be capped at $1,400,000.

That's it.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Dockets 7.

$733 through Dr.

754 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr.

Clerk, would you please read Dockets 0755?

Docket number 0755 message and ordinance establishing a revolving fund for fiscal year 2027 pursuant to mass general laws chapter 44, section 53E and a half to support the establishment and operation of the bike share program within the city of Boston.

Thank you.

Docket 0755 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dockets 0756 through 0757?

Docket number 0756, Message and Ord approving an order appropriating $1,400,000 from the income of the George Francis Parkman Fund.

The funds are to be expended under the direction of the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the maintenance and improvement of Boston Common and Parks in existence as of January 12, 1887.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026.

Docket number 0757.

Message and all approving an appropriation of $3,600,000 from the 21st Century Fund, also known as the Public Educational and Governmental Access and Cable Related Fund.

Pursuant to Section 53F and three quarters of Chapter 44 of the general laws.

These funds may be used to support PIG access services to monitor compliance with the cable franchise agreement and for preparation of renewal of the franchise license filed in the office of the city clerk on April 6, 2026.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0756 through Docket 0757 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr.

Clerk, can you please read Docket 0758?

Docket number 0758, message in order and appropriation ordering the amount of $1,763,090 for the administrative and operating expenses of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee for fiscal year 2027.

And a further appropriation order in the amount of $39,587,798 from the Community Preservation Fund, estimated annual revenues for fiscal year 2027 to be appropriated in reserved for future appropriation.

Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 6, 2026.

Thank you.

Docket 0758 will be referred to the Committee on Community Preservation.

Committee on the Community Preservation Act.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0759?

Docket number 0759, message in order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand the amount of 10,925,140.07 cents in the form of a grant.

Awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through the Mass Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the police department.

The grant would fund increasing BPD's ability to detect, identify, track, and monitor unmanned aircraft systems within the City of Boston.

Docket 0759 will be referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

Mr.

Clerk, can you please read Dockets 0760 through 0761?

Docket number 0760 message in order for your approval.

An appropriation order in the amount of $860,000 for the cemetery division of the Parks and Recreation Department and the Trust Office of the Treasury Department to be funded from the Cemetery Trust Fund established under Chapter 13 of the Acts of 1961, filed in the Office of the City Clerk on August on April 6, 2026.

Docker number 0761.

Message in order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $375,000 in the form of a grant.

Grant awarded by the Boston Red Sox to be administered by the Mayor's Office.

Thank you.

Docket 0760 and 0761 will be referred to the Committee on Environmental Justice Resiliency and Parks.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0762?

Docket number 0762, Message in order authorizing the City of Boston to expend accept and expend the amount of $250,000 in the form of a grant.

Volunteer income tax assistance program awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development.

The grant will fund services to underserved populations in the most difficult to reach areas, both urban and rural, through free basic tax return preparation for qualified individuals.

Thank you.

Docket 0762 will be referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0763?

Docket number 0763 message in order for your approval in order authorizing the City of Boston to submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority a statement of interest for the for Melvin H.

King South End Academy located at 90 Warren Avenue, South End of Boston.

The statement of interest describes and explains the deficiencies and the priority categories for which the City of Boston may be invited to apply to the MSBA in the future.

Thank you.

Docket 0763 will be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0764?

Docket number 0764 message transmitting certain information under Section 17F regarding the use of 558.7 million dollars in the American Rescue Plan Act funds in the City of Boston.

Passed by the council on March 4th, 2026.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You've got two minutes.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.

We had a conversation earlier, and just want to say thank you, Madam Chair.

This is a follow-up to the 17F that I received that we received in our packet.

I had some questions and concerns about it.

A little bit of background information.

I was seeking confirmation as to the existence of any instances of possible misuse of funds from the federal grant funding over $558 million from the U.S.

Treasury to Boston, including any nonprofit funding that was either returned or request requested to be returned for any reason.

The second question whether the city of Boston communicated with any organization that received these grants to return the funds back to the city.

And I just wanted to highlight the second answer.

The second question and answer as whether the city of Boston communicated with any organization that received these grants to return them back to the city.

The response from the city of Boston was we are unable to comment on this at this time.

It should be readable.

And it's very blurry, it's very dark, it can't be read.

And I'm going to ask for another copy that I can read.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Just to let you know that we've spoken to IGR, and uh we've asked for a more legible copy to be sent to all councillors.

Um thank you.

Docket 0764 is being clear will be placed on file.

And now we're moving on to uh reports of public officers and others.

Um thank you.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0765 through 0770?

Docket number 0765, notice or receipt from the mayor, the appointment of Alan Mack as an associate member of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board effective immediately.

Docket number 0766.

Notice received from the mayor, the appointment of Denise Merton as as an associate member of the Commission of Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board effective immediately.

Docket number 0767.

Notice received from the mayor, the appointment of Sam Pasteur as an associate member of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board effective immediately.

Docket number 0768.

Notice was received from Nicholas Aronello, assessing commissioner of the appointment of John McCourt as an assistant assessor effective April 2nd, 2026.

Docket number 0769.

Notice received from Councillor Mejia regarding her absence from the April 8 2026 City Council meeting.

And Docket number 0770.

Communication from Councillor Coletta Zapata regarding East Boston Housing Stabilization Trust Fund nominees.

Thank you.

Docket 0765 through Docket 0770 will be placed on file.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0771?

Docket number 0771.

Communication received by the City Clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for City Council Action on the designation of the petition number 147.89, the Coughlin Plaza Hotel Back Bay, in effect after April 30th, 2026, if not acted upon.

Thank you.

Docket 0771 will be referred to the committee on planning, development and transportation.

We're now on to reports of committees.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0257?

Docket number 0257, the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation, to which was referred on February 4th, 2026, Docket number 0257.

Mr.

Junora authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of $500,000 in the form of a grant.

Planning neighborhood development funds awarded by Boston Redevelopment Authority to be administered by the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion.

The grant will fund the launch and early implementation of the commercial acquisition assistance program.

Submits a report recommended that the order ought to pass.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

The Chair recognizes Council Darkin, the Chair of the Committee on Planning Development and Transportation.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

The committee held a hearing Friday, April 3rd to discuss Docket 0257.

The committee heard testimony from panelists, which included Donald Donald Wright, interim chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, and uh Philomena Falcucci, a senior advisor to the CAAP community acquisition assistance program, Office of the Economic Opportunity Inclusion Cabinet.

The panelists discussed the commercial acquisition assistance program, stating that it supports small businesses seeking to purchase owner-occupied commercial property, creating stability against displacement and rising cost.

The panelists stated that CAP emerged from consistent feedback from small businesses about challenges with rising rents, volatility, and operating costs, threatening the continuity across generations.

CAP was formalized in 2023 with funding from the Barr Foundation and began soft launch and program design activities, including hiring a full-time senior advisor and partnering with local community development and financing institutions.

The panelists stated that this $500,000 grant will seed a down payment assistance pool, primarily as forgivable loans.

The funding is expected to support approximately five transactions with down payment assistance, typically around 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price.

As chair of the committee on planning development and transportation, I recommend moving the listed docket at this time to the full council for discussion and formal action.

At this time, my recommendation to the full council is that this matter ought to pass.

Thank you.

The president, the chair of the committee on planning development and transportation, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of docket 0257.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All approach say nay.

Thank you.

The committee report has been accepted, and docket 0257 is passed.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0630?

Docket number 0630, the committee on planning development and transportation, to which we was referred on March 25th, 2026.

Docket number 0630.

Communication was received by the city clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for City Council action on the designation of petition number 228.7, the Bussey House 1203-1205 Adams Street, Dorchester Mass 02124, in effect after April 22nd, 2026, if not acted upon.

Submits a report recommending that this designation ought to be passed.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Councilor Darkin, you have the floor.

Thank you.

The committee held a hearing on Friday, April 3rd to discuss Docket 0630.

The committee heard testimony from panelists, which included Elizabeth Sherva, Deputy Director of Historic Preservation, Office of Historic Preservation, and Jennifer Gaugler, uh, architectural historian from the Boston Landmarks Commission.

Um, I've already spoken on this docket, um, so and I've uh we got great questions, um, and we had a great conversation at the hearing.

Um so as the chair of the committee on planning development and transportation, I recommend it moving this docket listed docket at this time to the committee uh from the committee to the full council for discussion and formal action.

At this time, my recommendation to the full council is that this matter ought to be approved.

Thank you.

The chair of the committee on planning development and transportation seeks acceptance of the committee report and approval of docket 0630.

All in favor say aye.

All opposed say nay.

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes, Councillor Kaletta Zapada.

Yes.

Councillor Khalazapar, yes.

Council Culpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Culpepper, yes.

Councilor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Councillor Fitzgerald, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Yes.

Councillor Flynn, yes, Council Louis.

Council, yes, Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Murphy.

Councilor Murphy, yes, Council Papen.

Council Papen, yes, Councillor Santana.

Yes.

Councilor Santana, yes.

Councillor Weber.

Councillor Weber, yes, and Council Warrell.

Council Royal, yes.

Docket number 0630 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Docket 063630 has been approved.

We're now on to matters recently heard.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0178?

Docket number 0178.

Order for a hearing to discuss dedicating the new open space at Phillips Square to Tooney Lee Plaza.

Chair recognizes Councillor Durkin, the Chair of the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation.

Counselor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council President.

The Committee on Planning Development and Transportation held a hearing, public hearing on Docket 1478, Monday, April 6th, to discuss dedicating the new open space at Phillips Square as Tooney Lee Plaza.

The matter was sponsored by Councillor Flynn, and we were also joined by Councillors Murphy and Cole Pepper.

The committee heard testimony from Amy Cording, Director of Engineering at the Boston Transportation Department, who spoke about the redesign underway at Phillips Square and the process dedicating the space to Tooney Lee.

We also heard sorry, Tani Lee, I'm sorry.

We heard from the panel of community members, including Alice Kane from the Chinese Historical Society, Dr.

Carolyn Crockett, a colleague of Tani at MIT, Angie Liu from the Asian CDC, and Lydia Lowe from the Chinatown Community Land Trust, and Kayla Lee, Tani Lee's daughter.

The community panel, along with members of the public who provided testimony, spoke to the importance of the open space in the Chinatown neighborhood, as well as Tani Lee's extraordinary achievements and lasting legacy as an urban planner in Boston.

Dedicating the space in um in his honor would be deeply meaningful.

And I want to make sure that I give uh the lead sponsor an opportunity uh to discuss.

I I know something that matters deeply to him.

So counsel, I'd like to pass the rest of my time to Councillor Flynn.

And at this time, um, I also recommend that this remain in committee.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you to Councillor Durkin for uh chairing this important discussion and for ensuring that the community voices were heard.

It was an exceptional meeting.

We heard from many residents of Chinatown in the South End, many from the Chinese and Chinese American community about Tooney Lee, the incredible impact he had on the Chinatown community advocating for open space, parks, advocating for new public library, advocating and fighting for the Chinese community, ensuring they were treated with respect and dignity.

Several hours after that, I was with Councilor Weber, and we had a listening session in Chinatown, and the place was packed in this room at CCBA, and almost every single person that spoke talked about Toonie Lee and how are we going to ensure that Chinatown has an opportunity to have open space for residents in Chinatown.

Many of them are elderly and they rely on open space.

They rely on this area of the city of Chinatown because Chinatown has this so few parks.

Actually, only as one park in the in the in the community has limited trees, the low lowest tree canopy of any neighborhood.

It's about respect for the Chinatown residents.

It's about respecting them and ensuring that they have a place that's accessible and uh welcoming to them.

Let's support uh renaming this, but also let's support um putting money into the budget so we can have this wonderful park named after a wonderful community leader.

Thank you, madam chair, thank you, Councillor Durkin.

And I want to say thank you, Council Weber, for uh being with me at this important meeting.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Docket 0178 will remain in committee.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0290?

Docket number 0290 order for a hearing to review and strengthen Boston's summer safety and youth programming plan.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Murphy, the Chair on Human Services.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We had a hearing on Docket 0290 to review the city's implementation of the mayor's summer safety plan and to evaluate the city's readiness for upcoming summers.

As many of you know, um, this is a hearing that is held at least every year since I've been here, and I know before I got here five years ago that previous councils would always have this very important hearing to bring city departments together and make sure that we're all on the same page, ensuring that our youth have a safe and productive summer.

I want to thank the co-lead sponsor, Council Warell, who was there, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Culpepper and Fitzgerald, and the panel included Superintendent Chin of the Boston Police Department, the Bureau of Community Engagement, Isaac Diablo, who was the director of Office of Violence Prevention, and also the Senior Advisor for Community Safety, and Pedro Cruz, the executive director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement.

Issues that we discussed during the hearing, the administration described the city's summer safety strategy as a coordinated cross-departmental effort focused on prevention, youth engagement, and public health rather than enforcement alone.

The administration highlighted the continued expansion of Boston after dark as a central component of the city's approach, providing structured evening programming across neighborhoods.

The administration also discussed plans to host host youth focused events at City Hall, including a comedy show as part of a broader efforts to expand programming and engage young people across the city.

It was also discussed about really targeting that 18 to 25 age that I know counselors who were in attendance talked about the need to make sure that we're providing opportunities, and I know all the colleagues here on the council care about that age group, making sure they don't fall through the cracks.

The administration emphasized the importance of connecting young people to existing resources.

They discussed the youth line as a centralized tool to help youth and families navigate a wide range of programs.

They also testified that violent crime may be trending downward compared to recent years, but acknowledge the challenges our youth have.

So council is also emphasized the importance of ensuring that youth employment opportunities are sufficient and meet the demand, particularly for young people facing safety concerns or involvement in the criminal legal system.

And many raised concerns about whether current programs have the capacity to serve all eligible participants.

We highlighted the need to ensure that program is equitably distributed across neighborhoods in responsive to real-time conditions, including areas experience increased activity or lacking consistent youth engagement opportunities.

Overall, this hearing highlighted the importance of continued coordination, targeted investment in meaningful engagement with young people and community-based providers to ensure that summer safety efforts are both effective and equitable.

So thank you, madam chair.

We'll keep this in committee.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Docket 0290 will remain in committee.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0325?

Docket number 0325 ordinance amending City of Boston Code.

Ordinances chapter 17-22.

Road safety and accountability for delivery providers.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Chair of the Committee on Government Operations.

Councillor Coletta Zapata, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Uh President.

The Committee on Government Operations held a hearing yesterday, April 7th, regarding this docket.

Councillors in attendance included lead sponsor Councillor Flynn, along with Councillors Durkin.

Murphy, Peppin, Fitzgerald, Louis Jeanne, Weber, and Warrell.

We also got an absence letter received from Councillor, Councilor President Brigham.

President, on behalf of the administration with Mia Capone, the Director of Parking and Curbside Management for the Boston Transportation Department.

The proposed ordinance aims to amend an ordinance passed by this council last year.

The original ordinance established several core requirements for third-party delivery providers.

Companies processing over one million orders per year must obtain an annual permit from the BTD, provide proof of liability insurance for all drivers, and companies must report data, including unique identification numbers for each order and the type of vehicle used.

With the proposed amendment, the use of motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, motorized scooters, and low-speed motor vehicles and limited use motor vehicles for third-party delivery would be completely prohibited.

The originally proposed ordinance is set to take effect this week on April 11th.

Director Capone expressed a preference to allow the ordinance to go into effect as written, noting that once implemented, the legal department would be responsible for issuing fines to companies whose drivers failed to comply.

She also spoke to these vehicles, helping the flow of traffic and creating less congestion.

Counselors expressed caution about a complete ban, but thanked the lead sponsor for advancing the conversation.

They also noted the potential to bring drivers to the table, emphasizing the importance of including all stakeholders in decisions that could significantly impact individuals' livelihoods and primary sources of income.

During public testimony, several speakers supported allowing the existing ordinance to take effect before pursuing any amendments, while others emphasize the urgent need to ensure two-wheel driver delivery drivers are held immediately accountable for complying with traffic laws.

So at this time, my recommendation is that this matter ought to stay in committee.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Docket 0325 will remain in committee.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0638?

Docking number 0638.

Order for a hearing to examine the Boston Police Department's protocols for releasing police body camera and dashboard camera footage.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Santana, the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Yesterday we had a hearing on the Boston Police Department's protocols for releasing police body cameras and dashboard camera footage.

At the hearing, we heard from Dave Frederick from the General Council of the Boston Police Department.

We also um heard from Ivondro Carvajal, Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency.

And we also heard from Dr.

Christopher Schneider as one of our third um panels.

I was joined by Councillor Murphy, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Warell, Councillor Weber, and Councillor Calera Zapata.

We also received a letter of absence from Councillor Durkin and from Councillor.

Sorry, Councillor Papen was there, sorry.

It was not here.

I also don't have the will just send another letter of absence, but I'll get that.

As the chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice, I take seriously our responsibility to ensure that the public understands how decisions are made, especially when it comes to transparency and policing.

And as I mentioned yesterday, complexity should not be a barrier to public trust.

I think we had a great conversation.

I want to thank the lead sponsors, um, Councillor Um Cole Pepper and Councillor Worrell for bringing this forward.

Um, and I want to thank my colleagues for joining us in the conversation.

Um as the chair of the committee on public safety and criminal justice, I recommend that docket number 0638 remain in committee.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Santana.

Docket 030638 will remain in committee.

We're now on to motions, orders, and resolutions.

A reminder that under Rule 39, remarks and new matters not up for a vote today shall be limited to three minutes from the lead sponsor and two minutes from the co-sponsors.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read docket 0772?

Docking number 0772, Councillor Culpepper offered the following ordinance establishing a child care access fund.

The chair recognizes Councillor Culpepper.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I would like to add Councillor Santana as a second co original co-sponsor.

Um councillor run that past me again.

Council Tana.

Santana.

Councillor Santana is so added.

Madam President, right now the average cost of child care in Suffolk County is around $2,500 per month.

That is simply an affordable for many working families, especially single parents, families pursuing education or job training, and those working to build economic stability.

When child care is out of reach, it impacts everything.

Parents' ability to work, to go to school, to maintain stable housing, to provide for their family.

And as we've just seen in document number 0747, it affects the employees that oversee the daycare.

And at the same time, we know that child care providers themselves are under pressure, forcing workforce shortages, rising costs, limited resources.

So this is not just a family issue.

Madam President, I once again point the council's attention to document number 0747, the City Hall funds and amount of $1,100,000 that we just approved for salaries and benefits for employees of the City Hall Childcare.

The Child Care Access Fund would allow Boston to provide targeted financial support to child care providers so they in turn can reduce tuition costs for families who are not fully served by existing programs.

It would also support families on wait lists, help with co-payments, and make strategic investments in neighborhoods where child care access is limited.

This is about making sure that a parent does not have to choose between going to work and finding safe, reliable child care for the child.

It is about supporting providers who are doing essential work in our communities.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this forward and to continue the conversation about how we as a city can better support working families across Boston.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Culpepper.

The chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

And I want to thank my district city counselor, Councillor Culpepper, for your leadership on this issue and for adding me as a co-sponsor on this ordinance.

All of our families deserve access to affordable child care.

They deserve to know that the cost of care won't force them to choose between work and their children, and it is every city that invests in making that possible.

I think as Councillor Culpepper mentioned, in the Suffolk County child care can cost up to $2,500 a month.

And that's not including people who are paying rent or paying a mortgage for single parents, for families on wait lists, for residents pursuing education or job training.

These are impossible choices to face.

This ordinance ordinance addresses that impossible choice by establishing a dedicated child care access fund, supporting families, stabilizing providers, and closing the gaps in existing programs.

I'm proud to support this effort.

Hearing and seeing no objections, Councillor Flynn is added as a third co-sponsor.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Reverend Culpepper for adding me.

And it plays a critical role in supporting so many families, but I also want to acknowledge the role in financial support the city of Boston in the residents did under Mayor Flynn in the mid-80s.

And I also want to acknowledge the first lady who is my mother, the role she played as well.

But this the child care, the daycare facility at City Hall means a lot to me and my family.

I'm going to do everything I can to support it.

I want to say thank you to Reverend Cole Pepper for bringing this forward.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, uh, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councilor Peppen, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Dockets 0772 will be referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0773?

Document number 0773.

Councillor Coletta Zapart offered the following.

Order for a hearing to discuss the status of the City of Boston's curbside food waste collection program.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Kaletta Zapata.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to add Councillor Durkin as an original co-sponsor and suspend the 12 and add Council Louis Jeanne.

Counselor Durkins added.

Seeing and hearing no objections, Councillor Louisian is added as a third.

Thank you so much.

Boston has set an ambitious goal through Zero Waste Boston to divert 80% of our waste from landfills and incinerators by 2035.

Food waste is a major part of that equation in the city's partnership to provide free curbside composting for smaller buildings is an important step forward.

But the reality is demand is outpacing access.

Enrollment is currently full with a growing wait list across neighborhoods.

At the same time, residents in larger buildings are excluded from curbside service and must rely on drop-off sites or private options which are not equally accessible citywide.

This hearing is an opportunity to better understand where the program stands today, its capacity, constraints, and costs, and to explore how we expand access more equitably.

We are serious about our zero waste goals.

We need a system that works for all residents, regardless of where they live.

I look forward to hearing from the administration and identifying ways which we can strengthen and scale this important program.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Councillor Jerkin.

Councillor Jerkin, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you so much to the my colleague, Councillor Claude Zapata, for including me on this hearing order.

As we all know, she has been a strong advocate for environmental sustainability, and I'm really proud to partner with her on this issue.

Composting is an important tool for reducing waste and supporting our environment by diverting food scraps from landfills.

It's something we should absolutely be encouraging in the city and an area I've been proud to support.

Last year I sponsored a hearing with Councillor Pepenn on both of the city's composting programs, Curbside Composting and Project Oscar.

That hearing sparked a productive conversation.

We heard strong support from residents who participated in these programs, but also discussed the challenges of cost and capacity.

Because composting infrastructure remains widely small uh remains relatively small scale, these programs, curbside composting in particular, can be really expensive.

The city currently uses its own tracks for curbside collection, and the program does not fully serve all residential buildings with more than six units.

Full utilization by participants remains a challenge.

An expansion has been limited by the capacity of our contracted processing facilities.

Given the fiscal environment, I think it's important that we take a close look at how these programs are operating.

We need to ensure that we are using our resources effectively while continuing to move towards more sustainable long-term solutions.

And that may require us to rethink certain aspects of the current approach.

I have seen firsthand that Project Oscar bins in my district are a huge success.

They're wildly used, prop popular, and they reflect residents' excitement for sustainability.

And for my own freezer that has lots of onion peels, lots of bananas.

I need I I need to schedule my next visit to my bin outside of the fire station in Beacon Hill.

Um we must continue uh engaging people who are eager to participate.

At the same time, it's appropriate that we evaluate the curbside composting program as it stands at the moment, and I look forward to the conversation.

I also want to speak to the media here.

Sometimes these issues aren't sexy and they don't get covered, and it's just completely ridiculous.

So please cover these issues.

Special thank you to WBUR for their great work, but it's important that we actually cover these issues that I find that the media just isn't interested in.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Jerkin.

The chair recognizes Councillor Louis Gen.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Councillor Cleta Zapata for adding me on this docket.

Um I think it is incredibly important to compost and to think about ways that we can increase sustainability and want to thank the chair for and wanted to thank the councilor for the work that she's done in that space.

I also am someone who really advocates that folks compost and the benefits for a number of reasons in a household.

Um and so uh I think as both of my colleagues have stated it's important for us to review the program, see if there are any efficient efficiencies that we can gain and think about where we are as a city in terms of meeting our sustainability goals and the challenges that um the bins um that it can place.

I know that I'm always rushing in the morning.

Um they they come at 6 30 in the morning and I'm always rushing to make sure that my compost is out on the side of the street, and folks are always asking about the green bins, and so um I do think it's time for us to pause and review the program and see what um what more we can do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0773 will be referred to the Committee on City Services.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0774?

Talking number 0774, Councillor Warrell offer the following.

Growth redevelopment tools for underperforming commercial properties in Boston.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Royal.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Commercial property values in Boston have now declined for two consecutive fiscal years.

According to the city's dashboard, office vacancy has reached 16.8%, the highest of this decade, and nearly triple what it was in 2019.

At the same time, office rents have fallen by more than 14%.

We are seeing the impact in real time.

Properties as that once sold for 50 million dollars are now selling for under 20 million.

That market correction is the major loss of value and has real consequences for the city.

Because when commercial values fall, the tax burden does not just disappear, it shifts to our homeowners.

We have now seen residential tax bills increase by double digits for the past two years.

So while commercial buildings sit underuse and underperforming, homeowners are absorbing the tax increase.

And that's not sustainable.

We know the city has taken steps through commercial to residential convergence and planning efforts like plan downtown, and those are important, but they don't work for every building.

A lot of these properties, especially older Class B and Class C buildings, require significant reinvestment.

In some cases, that means adaptive reuse.

In others, it means major renovation, even demolition before they can return to productive use.

And that is what this hearing is about.

It's about exploring and expanding our economic development toolbox.

This is also about making Boston more competitive for reinvestment.

We should be looking at district-based financing tools, smarter incentive structures, reduce fees, gap financing from a public-private vehicle and other ways to help commercial property owners, lenders, and investors reposition these properties so they can bet eventually grow the tax base.

That means looking at tax incentives, including how we are structuring them and how they have been in and how long they've been in place.

Last year, my office filed a home route petition to shorten commercial commercial property tax incentive timelines from 15 years to seven years because we need more flexibility to create win-win situations, get shovels in the ground while also protecting the city's long-term tax base.

There's an opportunity here to explore an office to anything pathway.

If a commercial building can become housing, that's great.

But if it makes sense as a mixed-use space, hotel, cultural cultural education, or upgraded commercial space, we should be open to that too.

The goal is to get these properties contributing to our city again, supporting jobs, supporting small businesses, and easing the tax pressure on residents.

I'm looking forward to this conversation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpeper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Gen, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0774 will be referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0775?

Docket number 0775, Councillors Murphy and Flynn offered the following order for a hearing on equity and athletic funding and access across Boston public schools.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

The Chair recognizes Councilor Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um Councillor Flynn and I filed this last week after word from a baseball team in his neighborhood.

In the recent events involving the XL High School varsity baseball team, where student athletes do not receive basic uniforms such as hats for their opening game, highlight a failure to provide essential resources to student athletes.

Our student athletes, coaches, school leaders, and parents have raised ongoing concerns that teams are relying on nonprofits, fundraises, and outside support to secure basic necessities.

BPS athletic programs should not operate like youth sport programs that depend on volunteers and community patrons to provide uniforms, equipment, and access to participate, including practice fields, facilities, and transportation.

Especially after we've had several and one recently hearing with the athletics department and BPS, and I've had conversations with them also, and they do often share that they're fully funding and all of their teams have what they need.

Athletics are a critical part of student engagement, attendance in school culture, and must be treated as essential, not optional.

Concerns remain that access to sports, quality of equipment, and level of support vary significantly across schools, raising serious equity issues within the district.

These concerns come at a time when BPS operates with a budget of approximately 1.7 billion dollars, underscoring the expectation that all students have access to the basic resources needed to participate fully in school life.

I'm looking forward to this hearing to um get some information to make sure that there aren't individual teams or coaches or schools that feel as though they're not getting fully supported by the system and hope to be able to advocate for all of our student athletes, coaches, and families who I know show up and help in many ways.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

As Councillor Murphy mentioned, um, the varsity baseball team at Excel High School did not receive their school provided baseball hats on time for their opening opening day baseball game.

This raised concerns from parents, coaches, and student athletes on how sports are funded within BPS.

We also heard from other parents across the city that this is also happened to um to their child, a student athlete.

It's critical that we hold this hearing to ensure equitable access to sports, equipment, and support within BPS, as well as to hear from students that were impacted by this incident as well.

I want to say thank you to my neighbors in South Boston for stepping up and supporting XL students, including Bobby Ferrara, Robert Passetti, Dave Monahan, and others who work together to help our students.

That to me is what South Boston is all about.

But it shouldn't have to come to that with a 1.7 billion dollar budget.

Boston works best when we work together.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Councillor Flynn.

Um like to add their name.

Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Louis Gen, Councillor Peppen, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0775 will be referred to the committee on education.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0776?

Docket number 0776.

Councillor Worrell offer the following.

Order for a hearing to explore the creation of a public-private lending agency in Boston.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

This hearing comes at a time when access to capital is becoming one of the biggest barriers to the kind of growth we want in Boston.

High interest rates in the private market are making it too many projects seem unfinanceable.

Over the past year, the council and the mayor have taken important steps to respond to that reality, including establishing the 110 million dollar housing accelerator fund to help move already approved housing projects that have stalled.

Under the leadership of Chief Idou, the city has also expanded tools to help small businesses grow, compete, and build wealth from the scale program, the CAT that we just recently funded.

And Boston's not starting from scratch here.

The Boston Local Development Corporation provides small business loans.

Now on the housing side, the mayor's office of housing and the Boston Home Center already provide subsidies, financial assistance, and mortgage support that helps residents access and stay in housing.

So the issue is not whether the city should play a role.

The city already does.

The real question is whether we're doing it with the right coordination, scale, and attention.

We need to use our financial position for the types of projects that our neighbors need.

Housing that meets our fair housing goals, small businesses like daycares, pharmacies, and grocery stores.

Right now, those community serving developments are getting stuck, not because the need is not there, but because the financing is not there.

This hearing is an opportunity to look across all these efforts and leverage our financial position to really make an impact in the capital market as a public private financing agency.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Morale.

Anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Docket 0776 will be referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0777?

Docker number 0777.

Order for a hearing to discuss the role, responsibilities, and staffing levels of at the Office of Neighborhood Services in light of Boston's fiscal crisis.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Office of Neighborhood Services has always been historically intended to facilitate and attend community meetings.

Assist residents with basic city services, share information, report on neighborhood feedback and relevant information to the city, including to various boards, such as the Zoning Board of Appeals.

ONS was primarily responsible for hosting the community process and meetings on zoning and licensing projects.

However, in 2021, ONS was restructured to also include three community engagement specialists assigned to various neighborhoods across the city to now facilitate all of the community process, including abutters meetings.

These meetings are intended to play a critical role in the community engagement process by obtaining feedback from the neighbors most impacted by a particular project.

In the last several years, many civic groups across the city have also conducted their meetings in a genuine hybrid format, both on Zoom to account for persons with disabilities and those that can't make it in person, so that many of our seniors or folks that do not have digital access are included.

Not only are we still not doing genuine hybrid and abutters meetings, the only city board doing them currently is the BPDA board.

I have said for years all need to be in person and online at the same time.

But beyond the way we hold these meetings, we should not look to avoid requests from neighbors, local civic groups in a district city councilor for more community process when a project changes.

For eight years, when a project changed and the community asked for another meeting, my office in ONS would partner up and ask for a deferral on behalf of the community.

That did not happen over the last week, unfortunately.

Last week I wrote a letter to the chief of the department asking for her partnership and requesting a deferral on a case in South Boston on behalf of many neighbors in the City Point Neighborhood Association.

That routine request over eight years went unanswered.

But just yesterday at the ZBA, the same neighbors and civic groups asked the ZBA for an additional community meeting, and ZBA agreed.

The community process was not complete and deferred the in deferred the case.

This is just one example.

This is public service.

ONS should not be looking to get out of work.

They should be willing to work with residents and help coordinate and engage these meetings.

We should not be afraid to engage in the public process.

If we're not facilitating meetings, what are the name what are we doing if we're not serving our constituents?

During these challenging economic times, with reports that the city of Boston is currently in a 100 million dollar deficit, it's critical to carefully review and discuss the role, responsibilities, and staffing levels at ONS, along with how it is budgeted, budgeted, and to ensure that taxpayer funds are not used, are being used efficiently and responsibly.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, Councillor Warrell, and please add the Chair.

Thank you.

Docket 0777 will be referred to the Committee on Public City Services.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0778?

Docket number 0778, Councillor Flynn offered the following.

Order to amend Rule 46 of the rules of the Boston City Council for municipal years 2026 and 2027.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I filed this order to amend Rule 46.

Which Rule 46 states that the City Council may not suspend any rules required by the open meeting law, the city charter, or those defining the authority of the council of the council president.

It further states that Rule 12, 33, and 35 may only be suspended by unanimous consent, while other rules may be changed or suspended only with a two-thirds vote of the council.

However, Rule 12 may be suspended in the case of emergency if a councillor submits a matter with written explanation showing that it could not have been anticipated in advance and requires immediate council action.

Rule 12 states that any matter submitted for the council consideration must be filed electronically with the clerk, along with one hot copy, delivered to the clerk's office no letter than 10 a.m.

two days prior to the council meeting.

With Rule 46, while Rule 46 allows slate files in the case of emergency, in my opinion, an emergency should not be determined by a single counselor.

As you recall, this also took place several times over the last few months when I filed a resolution on behalf of working men and women in the city.

For those reasons and other reasons, um I want to bring this matter before the city council and the city council president and maybe have a discussion on it.

Those are reasonable matters to be heard when they incur when they occur in real time after the Monday morning deadline at 10 a.m.

From so from 10 a.m.

on Monday to 12 o'clock on Wednesday.

Um there should be some consideration for emergency hearings, and they should be heard.

I asked my colleagues to join me and support this change respectfully so that lay file matters they may be only blocked by two-thirds of the council.

Um this is about transparency, this is about accountability, this is about ensuring the voices of residents are heard.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Um, seven eight will be referred to the committee on rules, ethics and administration.

Oh, and counselor Fitzgerald, please add Consulate Fitzgerald.

Mr.

Mr.

Clerk, can you please read dock at 0779?

Document number 0779.

Councillor Murphy offer the following order requests and certain information under Section 17F, information regarding Boston Public Schools, school bus, auto liability insurance coverage, including the non-renewal of the prior policy, the procurement of a new insurance provider, and all related safety claims and cost data.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

I'm just requesting information about the Boston Public School Bus Auto Liability Insurance Coverage.

And it's written out, I think thoroughly here.

So hoping that we can get this information soon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, seven seven nine.

Oh, sorry.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Docket 0779 has been passed.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docker 0780?

Document number 0780.

Counselors Murphy and Flynn offer the following resolution calling for an independent performance audit of Boston Public School spending, staffing and resource allocation.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Council Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

So this is a resolution which I filed last week and re-filing today or tried to file last week, calling for an independent performance audit.

BPS operates with an annual budget of approximately 1.7 billion dollars, representing one of the largest investments of public resources for the city of Boston.

Recent budget discussions have included significant proposed reductions in the school-based staffing, including teachers and classroom aids raising serious concerns about impacts on classroom learning, student support, and school stability.

These resources, these reductions come at a time when students require increased academic social and emotional support, raising questions about whether resources are being allocated in alignment with the student needs.

Ensuring fiscal responsibility within BPS is essential to protecting classroom resources, preserving critical school-based positions, and preventing decisions that negatively impact students and families.

At the March 26, 2026 Boston School Committee meeting, Chair Jerry Robinson stated that both at the school level and at central office, it's time for an audit, underscoring the need for greater accountability and review.

Questions have been raised regarding spending patterns, central office growth, staffing allocations, and whether resources are being directed effectively to support students in classrooms.

And I know myself and I would assume all of us are hearing a lot, and we had a hearing here that was well attended with students and staff, but hearing directly from students, teachers, administrators, and families about the concerns, knowing that cuts are coming in the following year.

And we even had cuts to finish out this year with the shortfall.

They continue to report challenges related to resource allocation, service delivery, and support for students.

Particularly those we always know with the greatest needs.

Boston residents deserve confidence that education funding is being used effectively, equitably, and in a manner that prioritizes student outcomes and classroom support.

So I'm calling and asking support of our colleagues that we take a deeper look, especially knowing that with we continue to have an appointed school committee, but the chair of the school committee agrees, and I know many people do also, so hoping that we can get the answers that I know many of us want.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Murphy.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was listening to the school committee meeting last week when they were debating on and voting on the budget of BPS and listening to Jeffrey Robinson, who's the chair of the school committee, reappointed by the mayor, asking almost demanding an audit of BPS was profound.

And this is someone that is appointed by the mayor to this position, knowing that we are in difficult financial challenging times.

She's asking, she's calling for an audit of BPS.

Does the city council also believe that we should have an audit of B BPS, Boss Pump of School System?

I met with the with the parents uh special education group last week, and they actually just filed something recently.

Um, this Boston Parents-led special education council.

They're seeking an independent audit on special education programs in the city of Boston in Boston public schools, impacting mostly students of color.

I guess our decision today is are we going to stand with students?

Students of color.

Are we going to stand with students with disabilities?

Call for an audit, stand up and advocate for them, or are we just going to accept the status quo?

I have an obligation to fight for students that are not heard in the city, and I think that's what this council has been always about, is fighting for those without a voice in government.

Today is our opportunity to step up.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council Flynn.

The chair recognizes Consul Weber.

You have the floor.

Thank you very much.

Um Madam President.

Just to point out a couple things.

You know, we already have a finance commission, an audit committee, and every year we perform an independent audit of all of our spending.

That I am told you we we spend close to a million dollars on an independent audit takes six months, and we get about 180 pages on our on our financing and our spending, including BPS.

And our last report detected uh no material misstatement or fraud in our spending, including BPS.

We have already uh hired an independent uh uh audit of the uh sort of board performance of BPS back in 2014-15.

The city spent $660,000 on McKinsey, which took an extra year to provide a report that made sort of you know business type suggestions.

For example, they said we should have a higher student-to-teacher ratio in Boston.

Um, you know, I don't think that we necessarily need to be spending our money on advice like that here in Boston.

Um if this resolution is calling for an examination of performance of our teachers or the impact of the money uh, you know, of what we spend money on, that's called budgetary oversight.

Um, that is for the school committee and for this body to step up.

The state also oversees the performance of our uh public school system.

Uh, and if there are questions to be answered, I think you know, uh that are still left to be answered.

We have to step up and answer those questions.

I just uh respectfully to the filers.

I don't think that this proposal uh at this time is a practical approach to the issue of whether our school system is working well.

I think we we saw the outcome of an independent audit that that wasn't well uh thought out in 2015, and that's why I'm voting no on this resolution.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Weber.

Chair recognizes Councillor Darkin, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair.

Um as you all saw last meeting.

Um I objected to two dockets being read into the record.

The Attorney General's guidance is clear.

Open meeting law is about making our democracy work and the public has to have access to and understand the reasoning behind government decision making.

To uphold that principle, the law requires that all agenda items anticipated for discussion be publicly noticed at least at least 48 hours in advance.

I'll admit it.

I've done late files, but um I think it should be the highest bar possible to go against the attorney general's guidance, the highest bar possible.

If if I bring forward a landmark and one person doesn't want to vote on that landmark, it's not voted on.

The idea that the attorney general has put forward guidance that says please notice things 48 hours in advance so the public can transparently see what's going on in our body.

I think that's incredibly important.

And um, I think the irony here is that we're having a conversation about transparency and wanting to do it without it proper being properly being noticed 48 hours before.

So today I also see two late files that the public may be interested in, and they have not been properly noticed before the committee 48 hours in advance.

We have a meeting next week.

We could have that conversation next week.

I think that the more the longer I sit in this seat and the longer I sit doing this job, the more I appreciate why the reasoning and and why the attorney general would want things to be noticed 48 hours in advance.

My constituents haven't seen what I'm looking at here in terms of these late files.

Our constituents last week hadn't seen what we're talking about here today, and they might be interested in it.

So I have so much information, but we have literally four rules that touch late files, and we have guidance from the attorney general and late file matters and not properly noticing things is the top complaint, open meeting law complaint that the attorney general responds to.

So I think I'm standing on business here, and um I think that my um I think it's really important that we all understand open meeting law.

There's multiple things that the attorney general has put out about open meeting law and public bodies.

Um so I'm gonna be voting no on this for the reasons Ben stated, but I do think it's important for me to respond to the feedback I've received.

You want to be transparent, publicly notice things in advance of the meeting.

Thank you, Councillor Um Durkin.

I think the matter before us concerned the resolution calling for an independent performance, independent performance audit of Boston Public Schools.

Um Chair recognizes Councillor Murphy.

Yes, thank you.

Just for the public who's listening in, I do just want to remind people that when the agenda last week came out at noon, there was communication from the audit committee, Larry DeCara, and also from the finance office, Groffenberger, who gave us some kind of startling information and also listening to the school committee hearing is why.

So you can't file something before you read something that the administration and the audit committee shared with us.

So that is why it was put in.

And I think any time we're advocating for supports making sure, because we've had generations of students not getting the resources and education they need.

That's been documented with a lot of data.

So I think any time I'm advocating for student athletes for city services and city workers, and for our students and staff and teachers to have what they need, I'll always call it an emergency.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

So this is the docket uh seven seven eight zero zero seven eight zero, uh, a resolution calling for an independent performance audit of Boston Public Schools spending staffing and resource allocation.

Um would anyone like to add their name?

Thank you.

Uh Docket uh all all in favor and Finn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket zero seven eight zero.

Mr.

Clark, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0780?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes.

Councillor Colorado Zapata.

Present.

Councillor Coletta Zapata, present.

Council Culpepper.

Yes.

Councillor Culpepper, yes.

Councilor Durkin.

Councilor Durkin, no.

Council Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitzgerald, yes.

Councilor Flynn.

Yes.

Councillor Flynn, yes.

Council Louis Jen.

No.

Council, no.

Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Murphy.

Yes.

Councillor Murphy, yes.

Council Pepin.

Council Papen, no.

Council Santana.

Council Santana, no.

Council Weber.

Councillor Weber, no.

Councilor Warrell.

Yes.

Council War, yes.

Six votes in the affirmative.

Five votes in a negative and one present.

Does not pass.

So docket zero seven zero seven eight zero has not been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0781?

Docker number 0781.

Councillor Murphy and Flynn offer the following.

Resolution calling for an independent performance audit of the City of Boston's operations and fiscal management.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes.

Docket 70.

The Chair recognizes Dr.

Council Murphy.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

So this is a resolution calling for an independent performance audit on the City of Boston's operation and fiscal management.

Recent communication, which came out last Wednesday at noon when the agenda came out from the City of Boston's Chief Financial Officer and Audit Committee have identified emerging and significant fiscal concerns.

The City of Boston is currently projecting a fiscal year 2026 year-end budget deficit of approximately 48.4 million dollars, reflecting growing financial pressure within the current fiscal year.

This projected deficit is driven in part by substantial negative variances in key accounts, including approximately 47.1 million in snow and winter management, 48.7 million in public safety expenditures, and 4.3 million in execution of courts, partially offset by a projected 13 million revenue surplus.

The city's audit committee has further warned of structural financial pressures, including weakening commercial property values, a slowdown in new development in health insurance costs exceeding budget projections by an estimated 15 to 20 million dollars.

Recent actions taken by the administration, including increased spending controls, delayed hiring, and restrictions on departmental expenditures indicate that fiscal pressures are already impacting city operations.

These developments were not fully and proactively communicated at the Bost to the Boston City Council or public in a timely manner, raising concerns regarding transparency, oversight, and fiscal planning.

Ensuring fiscal responsibility is essential to protecting court city services, preserving jobs, and preventing additional financial burdens on Boston residents.

Boston residents continue to face a high cost of living and should not be expected to pay more while receiving fewer services due to inefficiencies or lack of oversight.

An independent performance audit would provide a comprehensive review of city spending patterns, staffing levels, procurement practices, operational efficiency, and the alignment of resources with the needs of Boston residents.

So I'm looking forward to having this audit to get the answers that I think all of us would like to have.

I'll just remind us that every time we go through the budget hearings, we know we have many, probably 48 hearings ahead of us and different departments come in.

We had hundreds of requests for information, hundreds that we asked city departments before we took a vote, and a very small amount of them were ever answered, and many of them weren't answered fully.

So we had hundreds of unanswered questions that many of us wanted the actual data to make fiscally responsible decisions, and I think in a time when we don't have hundreds of millions of dollars of opera funding or ESSER funding to supplement programs that I think we all advocate and care about, it's time to really look closely at the budget and how it's working.

Thank you.

Um the chair recognizes Councillor Flynn, the second co-sponsor, and then I'll go to Council Coletta Zapata.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um this audit would be important.

It would provide the city council as an opportunity to really study the budget and know exactly what has taken place over the last year with what spending.

Um last year the budget increased significantly the year prior to that as well.

Um by being fiscally disciplined, fiscally responsible, transparent, and accountable to the residents.

And part of that is reviewing the budget in doing this audit.

We have we have high property taxes here in the city of Boston, and many people think we have declining city services.

It's only natural that we would ask for an audit of city spending.

That's that's us doing our due diligence on behalf of the residents, but I believe the status quo can no longer be accepted in this city, and we have to ask hard questions during this budget process during the budget debate, but we also need an audit so we can prepare ourselves and know exactly what is taking place in this city, especially with the um with the with the so many number of uh new staff that were hired here at City Hall.

We have an eighth floor restaurant on that recently closed because city employees are not in.

We have a coffee store on the mezzanine level that that is closed.

Um this building is struggling.

City workers need to come back to work.

We need an audit of our financial practices in ensuring everyone is accountable for the role they do here as a city employee.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I appreciate the intent behind this resolution, and it's nice to call forward to put it diplomatically and respectfully, but residents should know that this already happens on a yearly basis.

Uh it's called the annual external financial audit conducted by independent auditors.

So this is not a new concept.

In fact, it's already happening.

We have an active audit committee already identifying the exact pressures cited here.

Overtime, snow costs, and rising health care expenses.

These are not hidden problems, they are well known and already being managed in real time.

I think this resolution also may confuse a financial audit with an operational or performance audit, it's unclear, which takes years if done correctly and would deliver findings long after the current fiscal challenges have evolved.

It's not a tool for real-time fiscal management.

Additionally, the problems cited here are well known.

There is communication dating back to last year in measures that have been taken regarding spending controls, hiring delays, and other corrective actions.

These are not mysteries requiring an audit to uncover, they are well-understood challenges actively being managed.

So we risk duplication, spending time and resources, studying problems we already understand.

And so because of this, I'm voting present because there is an ongoing audit already happening.

You can go to Boston.gov, click departments, click auditing department, and then click reports in financial reports.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coletta Zapata.

The chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Well said, uh, Councillor Coleta Zapata.

Um I think that it's really important that we understand the status quo since 1982, has been an audit every year.

So I'm pleased to tell my colleagues that the status quo is an audit, and that audit's taking place.

I think that we're getting a little confused here.

Audit has been in the news.

The term audit has been in the news.

There's a lot going on at the State House, and I understand that sometimes what the work we do here can feel a little flash in the pan.

But um it's really important here that we bring the facts into this conversation.

The facts are through the creation of uh the city of Boston has been required by Massachusetts Law to undergo the annual independent audit since 1982, following the passage of chapter 190 of the acts of 1982.

And in that, uh it says the city shall retain the services of an independent certified public accounting firm which shall annually audit the accounts of the city.

The audit committee shall monitor the progress of such audit and shall meet with the accounting firm at least quarterly.

That is taking place.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Would anyone like to add their name?

Okay.

Um counselors Murphy and Flynn seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0781.

All in favor say aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docker 0781?

Councillor Braden.

No.

Councillor Braden, no.

Councillor Coletta Zapata.

No.

Council Coleta Zapata, no.

Councillor Culpepper.

Councillor Culpapa, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, no.

Councillor Fitzgerald.

Council Fitzgerald, no.

Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, yes.

Councillor Louis.

Councillor Louisian, no.

Councillor Mihia.

Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, yes.

Councillor Be Pen.

Councillor Pen, no.

Councillor Santana.

Councillor Santana, no.

Councillor Weber.

No.

Councillor Weber, no.

And Councilor Warell.

Yes.

Councilor, yes.

Eight votes in the affirmative.

And four votes in the negative.

No, sorry.

Sorry about that.

Eight votes in the negative and four votes in the affirmative.

Thank you, Mr.

Clerk.

Docket 0781 has not been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Dock at 0782?

Document number 0782, Councillors Durkin and Braidnoff of the following.

Resolution recognizing April as Autism Acceptance Month.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Durkin.

You have the floor.

Thank you so much.

I'd like to suspend the rules and add Councillor Peppin as a third co-sponsor.

Uh uh hearing and seeing no objection, Councillor Peppen is so added.

Thank you so much.

I'm proud to introduce this resolution recognizing April as Autism Acceptance Month in the City of Boston.

Autism acceptance month is observed each April to promote inclusion and acceptance for people on the autism spectrum.

It's an opportunity to recognize the talents and contributions of autistic individuals in our city and to affirm that autism is not just a diagnosis, but also an identity and a community whose lived experiences are important.

In 2021, this observance was named Autism Awareness Month and changed to autism acceptance month to emphasize genuine inclusion, moving from just awareness to fully supporting and celebrating members of the autism community.

While we have made progress, I know there's still much work to be done.

Individuals with autism continue to face misunderstanding and barriers in our education, employment, housing, and other aspects of community life.

As a city, we must remain committed to dismantling these barriers and making our city more inclusive for everyone.

We are fortunate to make have many outstanding organizations and programs in our city advancing this work, including Autism Speaks, the Aspire program at Mass General Brigham, Strive at Wentworth, and the Common Room, I know which is in Councillor Braden's district, among others.

Boston is a city that values equity and inclusion, and we are committing to ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to thrive.

And to my niece, um, I got to tell her over um Zoom the other day that we are making it autism acceptance month, and so she's getting celebrating all month long, and Evie is incredibly excited.

Um this is this um autism has touched my family, and uh we are so lucky um to uh to get to share just in the brilliance that is my niece and um this matter so deeply to me and um as someone who has a mental disability.

Um it's really important to me that we accept everyone in our city and that we move towards inclusion for everyone and understanding people's intellectual differences.

So I'm really grateful to Councillor Braden and Councillor Pipen for sponsoring this with me, and um really excited to celebrate the entire month.

Um so thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Durkin.

Uh I also want to thank you, Councillor Durkin, for bringing forward this resolution.

I'm proud to co-sponsor this with you and Councillor Pepin uh recognizing autism acceptance month.

This month is about more than awareness, it's about ensuring true inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for individual individuals with autism across our city.

While you sell while we celebrate the contributions of the autism community, we must also acknowledge the barriers that still exist in housing, education, and employment.

You've already mentioned some of the many great organizations that work uh with the uh persons with autism in across the city.

I have a particular fondness, as you mentioned, for the common room in Brighton.

Uh and we also had a visit from the folks at the common room with their therapy dog Gleason a few months ago, and it was a great delight to have them here.

And also a shout out to all the many advocates and families who contribute to push this, push us forward to do better in supporting our our uh folks in our neighborhoods and across the city with autism.

Boston must continue to lead with acceptance, and I urge my colleagues today to support this resolution.

I will now recognize Councillor Peppen and then we'll uh recognize Councillor Flynn.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Councillor Durgan for Adam as a third.

As we recognize autism acceptance month, we are reminded of something simple yet powerful that every person deserves to be seen.

Value and support it for who they are.

Autism is not something to be fixed, it is a different way of experiencing and interacting with the world.

And when we talk about acceptance, we are talking about moving beyond awareness and into action.

It means building a city that doesn't just acknowledge differences but embraces them as well.

In Boston, the responsibility starts with insurance we have the right structures in place, especially as in systems like our Boston public schools.

Every child, regardless of ability, deserves access to an education that meets them where they are, support their growth and sets them up for success.

That means investing in specialized services, supporting educators and working closely with families who too often have to fight to secure the resources their children need.

But it doesn't stop just at schools.

True acceptance means creating inclusive spaces across our entire city.

In our workplaces, our public services, our transportation system in our communities.

It means listening to individuals with autism and their families and making sure their voices guide our policies.

Autism acceptance is not about it's about dignity.

It's about equity.

It's about making sure that every Bostonian has an opportunity to thrive.

And I want to give a shout out to an institution that is not in my district, but it's in Councillor Fishero district.

It's Bay Cove.

It's an amazing place where that provide services for specifically children with autism.

My family has benefited from that, and it's just an amazing place that I can't thank them enough for the service that they provide.

And actually, um I just learned in Councillor Darkin's district, Fenway Park just added a quiet room during baseball games, so that families who need to decompress or find the time to quite to just find the time to get away from the noise, they have a place to do so.

So I just encourage everyone to keep this in mind.

It's a there's a lot of families that are going that you know have someone with autism or someone we we we may know.

So thank you so much for having me as a thorough co-sponsor.

Thank you, Councillor Pepin.

Uh, Chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and please add my name.

This is an important resolution in support of recognizing autism awareness month.

This is an issue that impacts almost every family and in neighborhood across the city.

I want to specifically mention a wonderful group in my neighborhood in South Boston.

It's called the Southeast Special Kids and Young Adults.

I know Councillor Murphy supports them, and Senator Nick Collins is an active member there as well.

Um but what they do is they bring residents, not just from South Boston, um, but they bring them across the city, but they bring them together to sub to support children and young adults with various activities throughout the year.

And I enjoy going there, supporting them and people with autism are our neighbors and our family members, and they deserve respect.

They deserve dignity.

And what I also wanted to highlight is the really the unsung heroes of the parents or the guardians of these children.

They do a tremendous job, as do their teachers in the Boston public school system.

I see them every day supporting our students with disabilities, uh, students with autism, and they do an exceptional job.

And I just came here to acknowledge that incredible role they play.

But as a society, what's important for us is to treat all children, all people with autism with respect and dignity.

They've got lodged children.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

The chair recognizes Councillor Louis Gen.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm just rising uh to echo a lot of the sentiments of my uh colleagues and to also um just re preach the inclusion that's necessary for people to feel like they belong and create spaces of belonging.

I also want to give a big shout out to our BPS teachers who do so much uh work to create experiences of inclusion, uh, to make our uh to really transform the lives, right?

I think we've come so far in terms of uh autism awareness, even in 20 years in terms of learning how people learn best and how to um support people in their learning journey and also in their independence.

So just wanted to give a uh big shout out to our teachers and the work that they do and to all of the organizations is masters advocacy uh for children, uh, that does a lot of work with uh children who have autism.

I think we had a presentation here from a group that that works with um young people who are autistic, um, who uh need help finding friendships and things of that nature.

I think that was not sure if it was.

Yeah, Matt, yeah, that I thought it was just like a fantastic presentation.

Uh we have work in that does incredible work with folks with this with disabilities and um and uh with with folks who are on the autism spectrum uh to make sure that they can live independently and work independently.

Um, and so I just you know want to echo and thank my colleagues for filing this.

It really is a spectrum and it's a journey for so many people, but those who are artistic want the same things as those who are um not.

It really is a spectrum and it's a journey for so many people, but those who are artistic want the same things as those who are um I have to give a big shout out to our very own print uh Princess Pari, who is on Love on the Spectrum, who's an avid avid tea supporter, um, and who shows every day what it looks like to uh live uh authentically and autistically.

So I want to give a big shout out to uh Princess Pari and to her girlfriend Tina.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And the chair recognizes Councilor Murphy, you have the floor.

Just want to rise to thank the makers and us on the council supporting autism acceptance month.

I think we all know that we need to do it all year round as a former special ed teacher, um, know the challenges.

I do want to shout out the Lee School, who has always had an outstanding autism strand.

But as the system goes more inclusive across BPS, all of our teachers and Paris are you know teaching and working really hard alongside our students with autism and doing great work.

And the next program, which is helping our students, 18 to 22, have life skills.

So I do also want to shout out like that next step.

And I know Southy Special Kids, Charlestown Special Kids, where they provide opportunities if it's comedy night, bowling, just regular um events that many of us just take for granted that these kids just really don't always get to participate in and fail included, so it's wonderful to see.

But the work opportunities, and something that I've been advocating for ever since I got on the council, is that when we're offering youth summer jobs and year-round jobs or internships in different city departments that we're making sure that we're offering them to all kids, um, also those with disabilities on IEPs having special needs and the work we need to do to support the um departments if they are taking them on, but making sure that we uplift that and also working goodwill all of these um nonprofits out there who are providing employment because we know when young adults have jobs, have money, have that independence.

It's very life-changing, not just for them but for their families.

So thank you for filing this.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy.

Um, I'd like to also uh but 20 years ago I got an invite to go to the the South Boston Special Kids.

Uh uh they had a karaoke uh and was just one of my clients that invited me.

It was really wonderful event and great work been happening there for a very, very long time.

Uh would anyone like to add their name?

Councillor Coleta Zapada, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitz Fitzgerald, Councillor, uh Councillor Flynn, Councilor Louis Gen, Counselor Murphy, uh, Councillor Santana, Councillor Weber, and Councillor War L Councillors Durkin, Braden and Pepin, seek suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at 0782.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed say nay.

Docket 0782 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read Docket 0783?

Docker number 0783, Councillors Fitzgerald and Warrell offer the following.

Resolution recognizing April 13, 2026 as Lewis D.

Brown Day of Civic Engagement.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Consular Fitzgerald.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, as you saw, we took a picture earlier with the Lewis D.

Brown Institute and its folk, and uh every year uh we sort of name this day uh April 13th.

We recognize April 13th as the Lewis D.

Brown Day of Civic Engagement.

Um I gave my maiden speech on trauma response uh and the need for it uh here uh for all the trauma that occurs, both violent and otherwise.

But the Lewis D.

Brown Peace Institute really steps up for our city and takes on a lot of that trauma response for the city.

Uh and so we are happy to support them.

They do a great juristic that participated in a lot of their activities and events, uh, and I see the work that they do and how it really does the people that go for their services and how they feel welcomed and comforted uh in how to deal with the trauma from the situation that they've seen.

And uh it's just uh it's an honor today uh to present them uh with this resolution recognizing April 13th as Louis D.

Brown Day of Civic Engagement, uh, and we will continue to do that for the work that they do.

Um and I of course uh I hand it over to my co-sponsor Brian Morell to say his words as well.

Thank you.

The chair recognizes Consul, you have the floor.

Uh thank you to my uh to the sponsor of this, and uh thank you, Madam President.

Um, but I just also too want to just rise up and just recognize the Lewis D.

Brown Peace Institute for their incredible work here in the city of Boston throughout the many years of of their service, and my office has consistently advocated for their work in this body in FY25, uh push for increased funding uh for the Lewis D.

Brown Institute because we know how critical and vital uh they are to the violence prevention, uh healing, and community support across the city.

Um, and their work is not just limited to violence, it's about building a culture of peace, um, and is that's also now expanded over to civic engagement.

So I'm proud here to recognize uh April 13th, uh, which is also another national holiday, my birthday, as Louis D.

Brown, Day of Civic Engagement.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh Councillor Webb uh would anyone else like to add their name.

Counselor Kaleda Zapata, uh Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Flynn, uh Councillor Louis Jeanne, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Santana, and Councillor Weber, and please add the chair.

Councillor Fitzgerald and Councillor Morrell seek suspension of the rules and adoption of dock at 0783.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say nay.

The ayes have it.

Dock at 0783 has been adopted.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please read dock at 0784?

Document number 0784.

Councilor Louis Jean offer the following.

Resolution to protect SNAP and to support and support of Department of Transitional Assistance Workers.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councillor Louis Jean.

You have up you have the floor.

Thank you, um, Madam Chair.

Um, I'd like to add Councillor uh Santana as an original co-sponsor.

Uh Councilor Santana is so added.

Thank you.

And I uh am requesting suspension and passage today.

This is a resolution in support of SNAP, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which is our most effective anti-hunger program in this country, um, and to support our Department of Transitional Assistance workers who uh face a lot of stress right now as they do the work of uh working with and alongside our most vulnerable residents.

Um right now we are seeing an increase of those who are in need of uh financial support to eat every day, um, and that's what SNAP does.

Today, there is an op-ed um in the globe called Hunger in Massachusetts, is about to get worse by Catherine D'Amato, the president and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank.

And just want to make it clear it says new SNAP eligibility and work requirements passed as a part of the one big beautiful bill act, have gone into effect.

These wide-ranging new rules require even more Americans who were previously exempt, like veterans, teens, and older Americans, to work or volunteer 20 hours per week to qualify for food assistance, as well as jump through bureaucratic hoops to keep their benefits.

I recently visited one of our shelters and was talking to um one of the workers who talked about the increase in people that they're seeing in their shelters among our elderly.

Um it is a travesty what we see happening.

We have to support uh SNAP, even uh as they come under attack.

We need to make sure we're supporting it at the state level, um, and that we are standing with our DTA workers.

Yesterday, I started my morning um in Roxbury and Nubian Square alongside Councillor Santana, alongside Senator Miranda, alongside our DTA workers, called to action by the Boston Food Access Coalition, um, and shout out to Mercy Robinson from South Boston and Action, who made sure that um I was there and put this on my radar, that we are standing up for our most vulnerable residents who live in public housing, who live um on the margins of our of our city, whom we may not get called from all the time, but who are in desperate need of our support and our help alongside our DTA workers.

And so I'm just filing this resolution to acknowledge the the major problem we have in part because of uh changes at our federal government level, making it hard at our state level, but we cannot uh reenact on our commitment to those who are in need of food, and so I stand with them.

I'm in with everyone who, despite the weird uh snow, rain, whatever we had yesterday morning was out in force in Nubian Square to um to stand in solidarity with those in need.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Uh the chair recognizes Councillor Santana.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam President, and um thank you, um Councillor Louis Gen for including me and your and on your leadership on this.

I was proud to stand with you yesterday um in Nubian Square.

Um I think Councilman uh mentioned it.

I think there's two things going on right here, right?

I think there's uh uh an increase in just food insecurity across um the board, and we need to make sure that we're especially ahead of budget season that we're being intentional about um how we distribute those funds.

Um and then I think you just want to give a shout out to all the our DTA workers who are just um uh dealing with such a large workload and dealing with our most vulnerable residents across the city, um, and they're just uh and significantly underpaid.

Um to protect um again our most vulnerable.

So um thank you, Council Jan, for your leadership.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Centana.

The chair recognizes Councillor Flynn.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I represent a large number of low-income residents who receive SNAP benefits in rely on these benefits to purchase food for themselves and their families.

Food insecurity affects the most vulnerable in our city in imposing more difficulties on anyone who needs SNAP benefit to get access to food is unconscionable.

I also want to highlight the tremendous work of ABCD.

Action for Boston Community Development.

The ad from the City of Boston in 2025 indicates that 17% of Boston residents live in poverty with rates highest among Hispanic and Asian residents.

Populations that I represent in my district.

Housing costs in Boston are also among the highest in the country.

With SNAP benefits, it provides a family an opportunity to have nutritional food.

Taking away this benefit impacts negatively these families and really is unconscionable to do that.

SNAP benefits help these residents gain access to critical food so that they don't go hungry at night.

In 2019, I filed a resolution opposing the Trump administration's rule change to SNAP.

I've been active and involved in this issue for a long period of time.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn.

Would anyone uh like to add their name?

Councillor Coletta Zapata, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Durkin, Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, Councillor Peppin, Councillor Weber, and Councillor Warell, and please add the chair.

Counselors Louisiana and Santana seek suspension of the rules and adoption of docket 0784.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Mr.

Clerk, could you please take a roll call vote on Docket 0784?

Councillor Braden.

Yes.

Councillor Braden, yes.

Councillor Coletta's apartment.

Yes.

Councillor Colorado, yes.

Councillor Culpepper.

Councillor Culpepper, yes.

Councillor Durkin.

Councillor Durkin, yes, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Yes.

Council Fitz Joe, yes, Councillor Flynn.

Councillor Flynn, yes, Councillor Lugen.

Yes.

Councilor Lugen, yes, Councillor Mejia.

Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Murphy, yes, Councillor Penn.

Council of Penn, yes, Councillor Santana.

Council Santana, yes.

Councillor Weber.

Councilor Weber, yes, and Council Warrell.

Councilor Rowell, yes.

Docker number 0784 has received 12 votes in the affirmative.

Thank you.

Before we move on to the green sheets, is there anyone who would like to add their name to a docket that they have missed, may have missed.

Yeah, could you please add my name to uh docket number 0775?

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Thank you.

We're now on to green sheets.

Is anyone looking to pull anything from the green sheets?

Umber, I understand you may have some dockets to pull.

Uh I don't believe so.

I think there has to be two weeks between M SPA votes.

And I think we I think that's correct, yes.

So I think we're gonna pull uh next week.

Next week.

Yeah, thank you.

Very good.

Thank you.

Um we're moving on to late files.

Uh Mr.

Clerk, do we have late files?

We have three late files.

Thank you.

I'm informed by the clerk that there are three late files.

Absent objection.

Um councillor um councillor Durcan, you have the floor.

I object to the two late files.

Um, three three.

So I object to these two specifically.

Uh Councillor Mr.

Clerk, could just clarify uh there's a letter from the mayor, an absence letter from the mayor.

There's an absence letter from the mayor, and there's two to orders from councillor.

Okay, thank you.

Madam President, if I mind one lane file, two line file, and all three lane files.

I'm going to get to that.

Thank you.

Can we take Mr.

Clerk?

Can you read the uh letter of absence uh into the record and then we'll deal with the other two?

It's all or no.

Put that on the agenda for next week.

Thank you.

The late files have been uh have not been added, and uh Mr.

Clerk.

Um we move Madam President, may I just want information?

Yes, sir.

Would we go through these two late files?

We filed a Monday morning uh before 10 o'clock.

Four and five on staff on council staff that they were inappropriate.

There's been discussion over the last couple of days.

We did meet the 48 hours.

Uh there's been discussion over the last couple of days.

They finally came to a resolution late uh this morning, close to the meeting.

No, one person at a time, please.

Thank you.

Consulate Culpepper has the floor.

And and so when you look at what happened, had they not been challenged by Central Staff Monday, they would have been filed timely.

And so I say that looking at them being filed, withdrawn at the advice of the central staff being refiled again today after they were discussing.

I would say they're not actually late filed.

They met the 48 hours that the Attorney General the colleague referred to.

They wouldn't necessarily I think the late file uh it's been objected to, so we'll end debate and we'll send these both dockets to uh public uh public safety.

Thank you.

We can't do that.

It's gonna be on the agenda for next week.

If they re-file thank you.

Thank you, one person at a time.

Um re filed in a timely way, and they'll be on the agenda next week.

Thank you.

Councilor Murphy.

Um, Madam President, last week an objection was made before anything was read into the record, and myself and councillor Flynn were not allowed to speak to advocate for why we also thought we had really good reasons, and I appreciate Councillor Culpeper and Councillor Weber's late files, and we're looking forward to the conversation, the debate, and the support of it, but um just want to ask the clarifying question why some colleagues are able to speak after a block and some aren't.

Right now, this uh the late file issue has already been mentioned is a uh open meeting law via the so it's my decision that these will be.

No, I'm asking about the conversation.

Um the same thing happened last week, but when council last week was asked to speak about why it was the same issue last week.

It was a late file.

No, it's I know but I okay.

Yeah, so it's my decision.

These are going these will come before the body next week.

So that's not what I'm asking.

Thank you.

I'm asking why did a councillor get to speak on an afternoon.

Thank you.

Are you not going to say clarify why?

No, I am not.

Mr.

Clerk, could you um we are now moving on?

These two dockets will be uh refiled for next week.

Um the consent agenda.

We're now moving on to the consent agenda.

I've been informed by the clerk that there are no additions to the consent agenda.

The question now comes up comes on approval of the various matters contained in the consent agenda.

All those in favor say aye.

Thank you.

The consent agenda has been adopted.

We are now on to announcements.

Please remember these are for upcoming dates and events.

Um a few shout-outs here.

I'd like to wish a happy birthday to anushri uh Shay.

Shahe, uh, whose birthday is April 12th.

And as we already heard, there's a national holiday to recognize to celebrate Councillor Warrell's birthday on April 12th.

There is 13th.

Um I've also a little birdie told me that uh our clerk uh is celebrating a birthday on April 10th.

So I wish you all a very, very happy birthday.

Uh any other any other announcements.

Um start with Councillor Durkin.

Do you have an announcement?

So we'll now move on to memorials.

Would anyone like to uplift a name?

Councillor Dirk and you have the floor.

Thank you.

I'd like to uh Herman Greenfield, a beloved Beacon Hall resident and pharmacist, a devoted family man, passed away on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by his family.

And for many decades, Herman was a familiar and cherished presence in the Beacon Hall community as the owner of Gary Drug, recently uh named a legacy business.

He loved his work deeply and took great pride in caring for people of the neighborhood.

Generations of Beacon Hall residents came to know him, not only for being a pharmacist, but a trusted friend.

The feeling was mutual.

He loved his community and they loved him back.

In a particularly meaningful chapter of his life, his son Dan joined him at the pharmacy, and the two worked side by side for more than 30 years, continuing her tradition of dedication and care for customers and neighbors.

Those who knew Herman will remember his warmth, his generosity, his sense of humor.

He had a passion for politics and tennis, a dedication to helping others, and the ability to create a genuine connection with so many people over the years.

Above all, nothing mattered more to him than his family.

He is predeceased by his brother and his best friend, Julian Greenfield, and he who he shared a lifelong bond.

He's survived by his beloved wife Sandy and his daughter Toby.

His daughter and Toby and Alisa Greenfield and husband Daniel Van Acker and their son Julian.

The funeral services are going to be held at Temple Sinai.

For anyone who would like to celebrate his memory.

So thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Thank you, Consident Dark.

And the chair recognizes Consular Weber.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

I'm just gonna read from the statement from the BHA.

Anna was a transformational tenant leader who dedicated her life to empowering residents in the Mildred Haley community.

Over the course of her life, Anna became one of the defining tenant leaders of Mildred C.

Haley, formerly known as Bromley Heath Apartments.

Anna dedicated uh herself to advocating uh for her neighbors and creating opportunities for generations of children that called Mildred C.

Haley home in 1967 as a member of Mothers for Action.

Anna was instrumental in bringing a health center to the development.

The Martha Elliott Health Center first opened in Bromley Hall to provide infant care before later expanding to a state-of-the-art facility on Bickford Street.

Anna worked closely with Action for Boston Community Development or ABCD to bring youth programming free breakfast recreation and recreation programs to BHA children at Bromley Hall, which was uh later renamed the Anna Mae Cole Community Center.

She was also deeply involved in efforts to stop the construction of I-95 through the Southwest Corridor in 1968 alongside the late Mildred C.

Haley, Anna co-founded the Bromley Heath Tenant Management Corporation, which became the first tenant-run public housing management corporation in the United States, where Anna went on to serve as the chair.

In the 1990s, Anna worked as a property manager at Whittier Street Apartments.

After retiring from the BHA, Anna continued her lifelong commitment to her community as a Boston Public Schools crossing guard.

She read to children, helping them to help them safely onto school buses and sometimes bought hats and gloves to keep them warm through the winter.

Cheryl Patterson, who's a longtime BHA manager and niece of Mildred Haley said Anna raised eight children of her own, and she was a mother of so many uh others who grew up at Bromley.

She was a queen in our community, and she greeted you with a smile.

She was just a beautiful soul.

Um Anna May Cole's uh uh uh uh wake and and and funeral or Friday, April 17th, um at uh the Morningstar Baptist Church uh starting at 10 a.m.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Weber.

Uh, the chair recognizes Councillor Louis Jeanne.

You have the floor.

Thank you.

Um I rise today very sadly to uh give condolences to the family of Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, um Nancy Matthew, who very sadly passed away on April 1st.

While, of course, there's an ongoing investigation.

It appears as though uh domestic violence, tragic incident is what took her life.

Um she was a ball of joy, a leader, an environmentalist, the first black woman and the first Haitian American uh person to be vice mayor down in Coral Springs, Florida.

She uh was a passionate public servant and cared deeply about bringing people together.

Very sadly and tragically for the family.

They're dealing with a lot of loss.

Last year, her brother died by suicide after uh surviving the uh the shooting at the high school in Florida, I believe it's the Douglas Um Goodman High School.

I may have that name incorrect, but that family right now, after losing two of their children is experiencing a lot of loss.

I got to know the vice mayor as a member of the National Haitian American Electors official Network, and when I was down in Florida for a family event last year and wanted to do some campaigning or two years ago, she connected me right away to the right people so that I could do some some work down there.

And so she's just such a light that has gone out, but her legacy will live on.

I just wanted to give my condolences to the Mattyre family as they continue to grieve the loss of their son and now their daughter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Luis Jeanne.

Anyone else?

On behalf uh the chair move on behalf of Councillor Coletta Zapata, we adjourn in memory of the following.

Uh Councillor Coletta Zapata, Rosalie Gaglio Giglio.

Uh, on behalf of Councillor Junkin, Herman Greenfield, on behalf of Councillor Louis Jeanne, Nancy Mateo, on behalf of Councillor Louis Jeanne, Claudette Mentor, on behalf of Councillor Murphy, Sonia Lyle, on behalf of Consular Weber, Anna May Cole.

We have a moment of silence, please.

The chair moves it when the council adjourns today.

It does so in the mention of the in the memory of the aforementioned individuals.

The council is scheduled to meet again in the INAWA chamber on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 at 12 p.m.

Thank you to my colleagues, central staff, the clerk, clerk's office, and the council stenographer.

All in favor of adjournment, please say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Council is adjourned.