Boston City Council Committee Hearing on Conservation Restrictions and BERDO Board Appointments - August 21, 2026
Boston City Council Committee on Environmental Justice, Resilience and Parks Hearing - August 21, 2026
On August 21, 2026, the Boston City Council Committee on Environmental Justice, Resilience and Parks, chaired by the District 4 City Councilor, held a virtual hearing to discuss two conservation restrictions for newly acquired park parcels and to consider the reappointment or appointment of eight members to the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) Review Board. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee expects to vote on the items at the next full council meeting. No public testimony was offered.
Discussion Items
Conservation Restrictions for Zero Dale Street and Sister Mary Veronica Park (Dockets 1401 and 1402)
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Director Bacon Eclipse of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department presented both conservation restrictions. Zero Dale Street in Roslindale/Hyde Park is a 1.04-acre (44,137 sq ft) wooded parcel acquired via eminent domain on June 26, 2024. It is adjacent to the 67-acre DCR-owned Sharon Woods Urban Wild and will complete a city block of permanently protected open space. Sister Mary Veronica Park at 190-198 West 8th Street in South Boston is a 4,655 sq ft pocket park acquired through a purchase and sale agreement approved by the Parks Commission on July 28, 2025. Both acquisitions were funded by the Community Preservation Act, which requires conservation restrictions in addition to Article 97 protection. The conservation restriction for Zero Dale Street will be held by the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation; for Sister Mary Veronica Park, by the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation. The restrictions document permitted and prohibited uses to preserve the land for conservation and community recreation.
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Councillor Flynn expressed appreciation for the Parks Department's work with South Boston residents and community leaders, and thanked Congressman Lynch, Senator Collins, and Representative Beale. Councillor Murphy noted attending celebrations at the South Boston site and highlighted the importance of preserving open space in that neighborhood, which has little parkland. Both councillors voiced support.
Reappointments to the BERDO Review Board (Dockets 1403–1408)
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The committee considered the reappointment of six members to the BERDO Review Board: Samare Amadi (term expiring May 23, 2029), Jessica Boatwright (term expiring April 24, 2029), Stephen Alice (term expiring May 26, 2029), Asan Faruki (term expiring March 19, 2029), Laurie Ferris (term expiring July 13, 2029), and Gail Lattimore (term expiring April 24, 2029). The appointments were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and referred to the committee on July 22, 2026.
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Councillors Flynn and Murphy had no questions and thanked the reappointed members for their service and willingness to continue. They expressed support for the nominations.
New Appointment to the BERDO Review Board (Docket 1409)
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The committee considered the appointment of Camellio Squabba Zapata to the BERDO Review Board for a term expiring July 20, 2029. The nominee introduced himself as Camilo Squirrusapata and shared his background: a Dorchester resident and proud HBCU alumnus with two master's degrees (sustainable development and conflict resolution). He has worked in advocacy, community organizing, and compliance with EPA and OSHA regulations, and currently works as a campaign organizer at the Union of Concerned Scientists focusing on clean energy transition. He expressed a desire to support the community and bring a Latino/Afro-Latino perspective to the board.
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Councillors Flynn and Murphy welcomed the nominee and stated their support. The chair looked forward to serving alongside him.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee members expressed support for all dockets. The chair (District 4 City Councilor) indicated they look forward to voting on the conservation restrictions and the BERDO appointments at the next full council meeting.
- No public testimony was submitted.
Meeting Transcript
District 4 City Councilor. And I'm the Chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Environmental Justice Resilience and Parks. Today is August 21st, 2026. The exact time is 1001 a.m. In accordance with chapter 2 of the acts of 2025, modifying certain requirements of the open meeting law and relieving public body with certain requirements, including the requirement that public parties conduct its meetings in a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public. The city council will be conducting this hearing virtually via Zoom. This hearing is being recorded. It is also being live streamed at Boston.gov backslash city dash council dash TV and broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCC and Channel 82, and FIOS, Channel 964. Reading comments may be sent to the committee email at CCC.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all counselors. Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing. Individuals will be called on in the order in which they signed up will have two minutes to testify. You wish to sign up a public testimony and have not done so. Please email our central staff liaison, Shane Pack at SHANE.pac at Boston.gov for the zoom link. Your name will be added to the list. Today's hearing is on Docket No. 1401. Message in order approving the receipt of a conservation restriction on land at Zero Dale Street, Boston Mass, Dale 2136. The grandest title of the land is located at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds at Book 70459, page 316. That description of the land includes all the land in Boston in Boston Suffolk County, Massachusetts, contain containing the entirety of a 44,137 plus square foot parcel of land, which premises premises which land is located at unnumbered Dale Street in the High Park District of the City of Boston. Of the assessment department as parcel 1808 1980. Recorded at Suffolk County Registry of Deeds Book 24 453, page 302. Message and order approving the receipt of conservation restriction on land at 190-198th Street, Boston Mass, 02127. The granted title of the land is located at Suffolk County Registry of Deeds at Book 71757, page 35. That description of the land includes all the land in Boston Suffolk County, Massachusetts containing the entirety of the parcel of land totaling 4,655 square feet of land, more or less known as Assistant Mary Veronica Park, shown as lot 5, lot 6, 7, lot 8, and lot 9 on a survey dated August 12th, 2025, titled Flat Plant 190 through 198 West 8th Street, South Boston Mass, prepared by Joyce Consulting Group for Entry Mass. Docket number 1403. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Samare Amadi as a member of the building emissions reduction disclosure ordinance review board from the term expiring on May 23rd, 2029. Docky number 1404, message order, the confirmation of the reappointment of Jessica Boatwright as a member of the building emissions reduction and disclosure ordinance review board for term expiring on April 24, 2029. Docket number 1405. Message in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Stephen Alice as a member of the building emission reduction disclosure ordinance review board for a term expiring on May 26, 2029. Docky number 1406, measure in order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Asan Faruki as a member of the building emissions reduction disclosure ordinance review board for a term expiring on March 19, 2029. Docket number 1407. Message order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Laurie Ferris as a member of the building emissions reduction and disclosure ordinance review board for a term expiring on July 13, 2029. Docket number 1408, message order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Gail Lattimore as a member of the building emissions reduction disclosure ordinance review board for term expiring on April 24, 2029. And document number 1409 message in order for the confirmation of the appointment of Camellio Squabba Zapata as a member of the building emission deduction and disclosure ordinance review board for term expiring on July 20, 2029. These matters were sponsored by May Michelle Wu referred to the committee on July 22nd, 2026. Today I'm joined by my colleagues in order arrival, Councillor Flynn and Councillor Murphy. I'd like to first do the reappointment to the Birdo Board. Um so first I'd like to turn it over to my council colleagues to see if they have any questions for the reappointments. Councilor Flynn, the floor is yours. Mr. Chair, I have no questions. I'm looking forward to supporting the nominees. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Flynn. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll now turn it over to Councilor Murphy. The floor is now yours. Thank you, Chair. Um no questions.
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