City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 73 items
- 1 A regular meeting of the Boston City Council of the City of Boston was held in the Christopher J. Iannella Chamber, City Hall on September 11, 2024 at 12:03 PM. President Louijeune in the Chair. Councilor Fernandes Anderson absent. Pastor Joshua De La Rosa, Kohanim Ministries, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance. The Chair moved to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2024 meeting. Motion Prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 Councilor Coletta Zapata called Docket #1334, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Eleven Million Four Hundred Six Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Two Dollars ($11,406,762.00) in the form of a grant, awarded by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry to be administered by the Parks and Recreation Department. The grant will fund the creation of an accessible, inclusive and resilient urban forest in Boston and reduce technical and financial barriers to accessing and preserving trees, from the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency & Parks. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the order was passed; yeas 12, nays 1 (Flynn).
- 6 On the message and order, referred on September 11, 2024, Docket #1335, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Million Three Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($2,322,200.00) in the form of a grant, for the Community Mitigation Grant, awarded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to be administered by Budget Management. The grant will fund to offset costs related to the construction and operation of a gaming establishment, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed.
- 7 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 8 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 9 Councilor Durkan called Docket #1336, communication was received by the City Clerk from the Boston Landmarks Commission for City Council action on the designation of the Petition #243.11, The William Lloyd Garrison House, 17 Highland Park Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 (in effect after October 9, 2024 if not acted upon), from the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Durkan, the designation was passed.
- 10 Communication was received from the City Clerk regarding the 2023 - 2024 University Accountability-Statistical Report.
- 11 Communication was received from the Commemoration Commission of the report entitled "Commemoration Commission Progress Report" July 2024.
- 12 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 August 28, 2024.
- 13 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Jerica Bradley as Temporary First Assistant Collector-Treasurer for a period of 60 days, effective September 6, 2024.
- 14 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Tim McKenzie as Temporary Second Assistant Collector-Treasurer for a period of 60 days, effective September 6, 2024.
- 15 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Oliver Sellers-Garcia as an ex-officio member of the Air Pollution Control Commission, effective immediately.
- 16 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Quoc Tran, as a member of the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel, effective immediately.
- 17 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Eron Hackshaw, as a member of the Internal Affairs oversight panel, effective immediately.
- 18 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Sammy Nabulsi, as a member of the Boston School Committee Nominating Panel, effective immediately.
- 19 The Constable Bond of Helen Cameron having been duly approved by the Collector-Treasurer was received and approved under the usual terms and conditions.
- 20 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
- 21 On the message and order, referred on August 7, 2024, Docket #1163, for your approval an Order to reduce the FY25 appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by One Hundred Eighty-Seven Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-Three Dollars ($187,373.00) to provide funding for the Boston Police Department for the FY25 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police School Traffic Supervisors Association, Inc. (BPSTSA), the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12, absent 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 21 Councilor Worrell, on behalf of the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following:
- 22 On the message and order, referred on August 7, 2024, Docket #1164, for a supplemental appropriation Order for the Boston Police Department for FY25 in the amount of One Hundred Eighty-Seven Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Three Dollars ($187,373.00) to cover the FY25 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police School Traffic Supervisors Association, Inc. (BPSTSA). The terms of the contract are September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2027. The major provisions of the contract includes a base wage increase of 2% to be given in September of each year of the contract term and flat amounts of $200, $200, $275, and $350 to be added to annual salaries in January of each fiscal year, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12, absent 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 23 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 24 On the home rule petition, referred on June 5, 2024, Docket #0926, an act relative to raising the maximum age requirement for entrance to the Boston Police Academy, the committee submitted a report recommending that the petition ought to pass. The report was accepted; the petition was passed; yeas 12, absent 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 25 On the message and order, referred on August 7, 2024, Docket #1162, for your approval an Order amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section 15-11.1, regarding Black Male Advancement for Equity and Welfare. Since its establishment in 2021, the Black Men and Boys Commission has sought to study the social conditions of the city’s Black men and boys, develop strategies to remedy or assist in remedying serious adversities, and recommend courses of action to create equal opportunity for generations of Black men and boys in the City of Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass in new draft. Councilor Coletta Zapata moved to substitute language. Motion prevailed. The report was accepted; the order was passed in a new draft; yeas 13.
- 26 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 27 On the message and ordinance, referred on September 11, 2024, Docket #1347, establishing the Office of Labor Compliance and Worker Protections, the committee submitted a report recommending the ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. Councilor Coletta Zapata moved to substitute language. Motion prevailed. On motion of Councilor Coletta, the report was accepted; the ordinance was passed in a new draft; yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, Fernandes Anderson, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepen, Santana, Webber and Worrell).
- 28 Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Directing the City of Boston Police Department to Waive the Maximum Age for Police Officers for Chris Glaropoulos. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the rules were suspended; the petition was passed; yeas 12, absent 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 29 Order for a hearing to discuss Boston Public Schools transportation for students on the first week of school. On motion of Councilor Flynn, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilors Mejia and Murphy as original co-sponsors. Referred to the Committee on Education.
- 30 WITHDRAWN
- 31 Order for a hearing to discuss the extension of free museum passes exclusively for Boston Public School families.
- 32 WITHDRAWN
- 33 WITHDRAWN
- 34 Resolution recognizing September as Hunger Action Month and September 10, 2024 as Hunger Action Day in the City of Boston. On motion of Councilors Weber and Pepén, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Coletta Zapata as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Weber, Pepén, and Coletta Zapata, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 35 Resolution recognizing October 1, 2024, as Nigerian Independence Day. Councilor Worrell in the Chair. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 36 Resolution recognizing September 2024 as Suicide Awareness Month in Boston. On motion of Councilors Louijeune and Mejia, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Durkan as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Louijeune, Mejia, and Durkan, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.
- 37 Order requesting certain information under section 17F: regarding Boston Housing Authority (BHA) elevators.
- 38 Order requesting certain information under section 17F: regarding White Stadium documents.
- 39 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
- 40 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Weber offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Clare Brooks in City Council effective September 7, 2024.
- 41 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Millie Rivera in City Council effective September 7, 2024.
- 42 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Kiara Montes De Oca in City Council effective September 7, 2024.
- 43 GREEN SHEETS:
- 44 Legislative Calendar for September 11, 2024.
- 44 The Chair stated in absence of objection, three late file matters would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following items were added:
- 45 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 45 Notice was received from Councilor Fernandes Anderson of her absence from the September 11, 2024 Council Meeting.
- 46 Resolution recognizing Nuevo Dia Adult Day Health Care.
- 46 Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees in City Council, effective September 14, 2024.
- 47 Resolution recognizing four of Councilor Henry Santana's FY24 Summer Interns.
- 47 Order for a hearing to address utility street work coordination, notification, and compliance post-completion.
- 48 Resolution recognizing Leonardo Rosarlo.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Dorchester Art Project.
- 50 Resolution recognizing the Consulate-General of Brazil in Boston.
- 51 Resolution recognizing Suldan Mohamud Suldan Jama Suldan Yusuf.
- 51 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:
- 52 Resolution congratulating Yousef Irziqat.
- 53 Resolution recognizing Port Norfolk Yacht Club.
- 54 Resolution recognizing the Massachusetts Women's History Center.
- 55 Resolution recognizing Rick Winterson.
- 56 Resolution recognizing the 57th IAFF Convention.
- 57 Resolution recognizing Xiomara Saldaña.
- 58 Resolution recognizing Odalis Polanco.
- 59 Resolution congratulating Ciara O'Shea and Matthew Donovan.
- 60 Resolution recognizing Asian American Day.
- 61 Resolution recognizing Chinatown Main Street.
- 62 Resolution recognizing Scobie's Restaurant.
- 63 Resolution recognizing Mary E. Higgins.
- 64 Resolution honoring the memory of all innocent lives lost on the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- 65 Resolution recognizing Robert Anthony.
- 72 The matters contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 73 Adjourned at 2:16 p.m. on motion of President Louijeune, and in memory of Jane Hurley O'Connor, Patricia Conti, James M. Ahern, Loretta M. Lynch, Cambridge City Councilor Joan Pickett, Mass Dems Leader Mary J. Richards, Mrs. Juanita Byner, Patrica Bennett, Yanou Jacquet, Chris Mello, and James Earl Jones, to meet again at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk