City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 59 items
- 1 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Boston was held in the Christopher J. Iannella Chamber, City Hall on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 12:11 P.M. President Louijeune in the chair. All councilors present. Bishop John M. Borders, III, Morning Star Baptist Church, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance. The Chair moved to adopt the minutes from the May 14, 2025 meeting. Motion prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 Message transmitting certain information under Section 17F: regarding City of Boston Employee Demographic Data, filed on Docket #1020, passed by the Council on May 7, 2025.
- 6 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 7 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 8 Communication was received from Timothy J. Smyth, Executive Officer of the Boston Retirement Board re: follow up correspondence to the FY26 Retiree Cost of Living Adjustment ("COLA") Base Vote.
- 9 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of April 30, 2025.
- 10 Notice was received from the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Ordinances of 1979 re: action taken by the Mayor on papers acted upon by the City Council at its meeting of May 7, 2025.
- 11 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 12 Dockets #0822 - 0824, Orders for the FY26 Operating Budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations, for the School Department, and for other post-employment benefits (OPEB). Remain in the Committee on Ways & Means. Dockets #0825 - 0827, Orders for capital fund credited appropriations. Remain in the Committee on Ways & Means. Dockets #0828 - 0830, Orders for the Capital Budget, including loan orders and lease purchase agreements. Remain in the Committee on Ways & Means. Dockets #0831 - 0845, Orders authorizing limits for departmental revolving funds, including Law, Tourism, Arts & Culture, Environment, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, Schools, and Police, and other budget related dockets. Remain in the Committee on Ways & Means.
- 13 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 14 Petition for a Special Law RE: An act relative to the Disability Pension for Patricia M. Lampron administered by the Boston Retirement Board. On motion of Councilor FitzGerald, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Flynn and Murphy as original co-sponsors. The rules were suspended; the petition was passed; yeas 13.
- 15 Petition for a Special Law RE: An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Jose Ortiz. The rules were suspended; the petition was passed; yeas 13.
- 16 Order for a hearing to review the hiring, training and compliance certification of BPS Bus Drivers.
- 17 Order for a hearing to review the management and oversight of the Boston Main Streets programs and the preliminary findings of the Wolf & Company audit.
- 18 Order for a hearing to discuss the community engagement process for installing EV Charging Stations in the City of Boston.
- 19 Resolution to formally support the Roxbury District Improvement Financing (DIF) to be utilized in District Seven. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the rules were suspended; the resolution were adopted.
- 20 Resolution recognizing June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilor Santana, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Breadon and Mejia as original co-sponsors. On motion of Councilors Santana, Breadon and Mejia, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 21 Resolution in recognition of Boston Emergency Medical Services and in celebration of EMS Week. On motion of Councilor Murphy and Flynn, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor FitzGerald as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Murphy, Flynn and FitzGerald, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 22 Resolution commemorating Memorial Day and honoring our Gold Star Families and those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. On motion of Councilor Flynn, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 23 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
- 24 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Coletta Zapata offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Samantha Peracchi in City Council, effective May 24, 2025.
- 25 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Murphy offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Anthony Gilardi in City Council, effective 5/31/25.
- 26 GREEN SHEETS:
- 26 Councilor Weber called Docket #1052, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the BTHC Program, awarded by the Donor Group to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund free tax preparation and filing services to low and moderate income Boston residents, from the Committee on Labor, Workforce & Economic Development. No objection heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Weber, the order was passed.
- 27 Legislative Calendar for May 21, 2025.
- 27 Councilor Santana called Docket #1051, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Twenty-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty Dollars ($23,860.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY25 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant-Round 2, awarded by Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant will fund the procurement of necessary equipment firefighter personal protective and safety equipment to comply with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, from the Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice. No objection heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Santana, the order was passed.
- 28 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 28 Councilor FitzGerald called Docket #0460, message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Dr. Guale Valdez as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission's Board of Health, for a term expiring January 15, 2028, from the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness & Recovery. No objection heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor FitzGerald, the reappointment was confirmed.
- 29 Resolution recognizing District Three Legacy Businesses.
- 29 Councilor FitzGerald called Docket #0649, message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Stanley McLaren as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission's Board of Health, for a term expiring January 15, 2028. No objection heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor FitzGerald, the appointment was confirmed in a new draft.
- 30 Resolution in memory of Charlene Roberts-Hayden.
- 30 Councilor FitzGerald called Docket #0101, message and order for the confirmation of the reappointment of Dr. Elsie Taveras, as a member of the Boston Public Health Commission's Board of Health for a term expiring on January 26, 2026, from the Committee on Public Health, Homelessness & Recovery. No objection heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor FitzGerald, the reappointment was confirmed in a new draft.
- 31 Resolution congratulating ESOL students for completing courses in Roslindale.
- 31 The Chair stated in absence of objection, ten late file matters were added to the Agenda. No objection heard, the following items were added:
- 32 Resolution declaring May 18th, 2025 as Public Works Appreciation Day in the City of Boston.
- 32 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Anadalay Mateo in City Council, effective June 2, 2025.
- 33 Resolution in memory of Michael Whitla.
- 33 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Katarina Helfrich in City Council, effective June 2, 2025.
- 34 Resolution recognizing Raquel Semedo, Sonia Satcheel, and Michaela Flatley.
- 34 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Sean Jacobsen in City Council, effective May 31, 2025.
- 35 Resolution recognizing Mariann Bucina Roca.
- 35 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Dianna Bronchuk-Jacob, Edward Conley and Gabriel Cruz in City Council, effective May 31, 2025.
- 36 Resolution recognizing FriendshipWorks.
- 36 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Dianna Bronchuk-Jacob, Edward Conley and Gabriel Cruz in City Council, effective June 7, 2025.
- 37 Resolution recognizing Friends of the Jamaica Plain Branch Library.
- 37 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Vivian Tsitso in City Council, effective June 7, 2025.
- 38 Resolution congratulating Craft Food Halls.
- 38 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Holly Margulius in City Council, effective June 9, 2025.
- 39 Resolution recognizing Chinatown Land Trust.
- 39 Message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend an in-kind donation valued at $397.00, representing the cost of an intersex inclusive, progressive pride flag (10 x 15) to the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, donated by the Boston Foundation Equality Fund.
- 40 Resolution recognizing BPS Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education.
- 40 Message and order for your approval an Order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend an in-kind donation valued at $108.55, representing the cost of tabling at the Boston Pride for the People Pride Festival to the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement by Boston Pride for the People. The purpose of this donation is to support the City's participation in the 2025 Boston Pride for the People celebration. This table will enable the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement to promote City programs and events, distribute resources, and directly engage with residents during Pride.
- 41 Emergency hearing order regarding traffic safety at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue, Roseclair Street & Mt. Vernon Street. On motion of Councilor Murphy, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors FitzGerald and Flynn as original co-sponsors.
- 45 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
- 58 The matters contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 59 Adjourned at 2:15 PM on motion of President Louijeune and in memory of BPD Sergeant Billy Baxter, George Wendt and Michael Whitla, to meet again on Wednesday June 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk