City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 66 items
- 1 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Boston was held in the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, City Hall on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 12:03 P.M. President Louijeune in the Chair. All Councilors Present. Father Joseph Zhang, St. James the Greater Church, delivered the invocation and the meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag. President Louijeune moved to adopt the minutes from the March 27, 2024 meeting. Motion Prevailed.
- 2 ROLL CALL
- 3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
- 4 COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:
- 5 On the message and order, referred on March 20, 2024, Docket #0631, an Order to reduce the FY24 appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by Four Million Nine Hundred Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars ($4,909,838.00) to provide funding for the Boston Police Department for the FY24 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society - Superior Officers Unit, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12, not present 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 6 On the message and order, referred on March 20, 2024, Docket #0632, order for a supplemental appropriation Order for the Boston Police Department for FY24 in the amount of Four Million Nine Hundred Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars ($4,909,838.00) to cover the FY24 cost contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society - Superior Officers Unit. The terms of the contracts are July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023 and July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The major provisions of the contract include base wage increases of 2%, 1.5%, 2%, 1% and 2.5%, to be given in July of each fiscal year of the contract term, as well as the addition of the Transitional Career Award Program in July 2023. The contract also contains reforms relating to discipline, officer return to duty, paid detail system, and union release, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. Filed in the Office of the City Clerk on April 1, 2024. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12, not present 1 (Fernandes Anderson).
- 7 On the message and order, referred on April 3, 2024, Docket #0633, authorizing the City of Boston, acting through its Mayor’s Office of Housing, to accept and expend payments in the amount of Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000.00) given to the City of Boston’s Inclusionary Development Policy Fund (IDP). The IDP was established by Executive Order in February 2000 to support the production and preservation of affordable housing in new market rate housing developments, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed;
- 8 Councilor Murphy called Docket #0634, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Forty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-Five Dollars ($346,835.00) in the form of a grant, for the Federal FY24 Senior Companion Program, awarded by AmeriCorps to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant will fund administration of the Senior Companion Program, including reimbursement for travel and meals plus stipend for volunteers who provide companionship to homebound and frail seniors, from the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Murphy, the order was passed.
- 9 Councilor Murphy called Docket #0635, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Forty Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars ($140,253.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY24 Retired Senior Volunteer Program, awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service to be administered by the Age Strong Commission. The grant will fund administration for senior community service volunteers, including reimbursement for meals and travel expenses, from the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Murphy, the order was passed.
- 10 On the message and order, referred on April 3, 2024, Docket #0636, for the confirmation of the appointment of Paul Raber Umphenour II as an Alternate Member of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission, for a term expiring March 19, 2027, the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.
- 11 Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Hessann Farooqi, as a Member of the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure (BERDO) Review Board for a term expiring March 19, 2027.
- 12 Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Anne Kilguss as a member of the Bay Village Historic District Commission, for a term expiring April 1, 2026.
- 13 Message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Senam Kumahia as a member of the Boston Landmarks Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2025.
- 14 On the message and order, referred on April 3, 2024, Docket #0640, for the confirmation of the appointment of Angela Ward Hyatt as a member of the Highland Park Architectural Conservation District Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2025, the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.
- 15 On the message and order, referred on April 3, 2024, Docket #0641, for the confirmation of the appointment of Shamaiah Turner as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal, for a term expiring May 1, 2026, submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass in a new draft.
- 16 On the message and order, a home rule petition to the General Court entitled "Petition for a Special Law Re: An Act Relative to Property Tax Classification in the City of Boston," the committee submitted a report recommending the petition ought to pass. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata, the rules were suspended; the petition was passed. yeas 8, nays 4 (FitzGerald, Flynn, Murphy, Worrell), present 1 (Mejia).
- 17 PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES
- 18 REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:
- 19 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Michael Woodall as Chair of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, for a term expiring January 3, 2028.
- 20 Notice was received from the Mayor of the appointment of Scott Finn as Comptroller-City Auditor, effective April 1, 2024.
- 21 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
- 22 On the message and order, referred on February 28, 2024, Docket #0381, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Open Data Curriculum, awarded by the MA Department of Education to be administered by the Department of Innovation and Technology, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed.
- 22 Councilor Santana on behalf of the Committee on Education, submitted the following:
- 23 MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:
- 24 Order for a hearing to review programming available for seniors in the City of Boston.
- 25 On the message and order, referred on January 24, 2024, Docket #0136, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Commercial Acquisition Assistance Program (CAAP), awarded by the Barr Foundation, to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. The grant will fund core support to its Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion to grow its impact, the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure submitted a report recommending the docket ought to pass.
- 26 Order for a hearing to discuss trash collection in Boston.
- 27 Order for a hearing regarding technological infrastructure improvements across city departments.
- 28 MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:
- 29 An ordinance establishing the office of Inspector General within the City of Boston.
- 30 Councilor Coletta Zapata called Docket #0646, A petition for a special law re: An age waiver for the maximum age requirement for Max Handerson to join the Boston Police Department, from the Committee on Government Operations. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Coletta Zapata , the petition was passed.
- 31 Order for a hearing on diversifying cannabis business models.
- 32 Order for a hearing to discuss pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and expanding the Safety Surge program in the City of Boston.
- 33 WITHDRAWN
- 34 Order for a hearing to raise the age requirement for entrance to the Boston Police Academy.
- 35 Order for a hearing to discuss the need that all our youngest children in the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program are receiving their special education services.
- 36 Resolution recognizing April as Fair Housing Month.
- 37 Resolution in support of S. 3452, "Fred Hamilton Veterans’ Lost Records Act."
- 38 Resolution recognizing Ernestina "Titina" Sila and her role as a pioneering leader in the struggle for independence in Guinea-Bissau.
- 39 PERSONNEL ORDERS:
- 40 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Murphy offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Kasey Barrett in City Council, effective April 1, 2024.
- 41 GREEN SHEETS:
- 42 Legislative Calendar for April 3, 2024.
- 42 The Chair stated that in absence of objection, two late file matters would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following matters were added:
- 43 CONSENT AGENDA:
- 43 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Maccon Bonner in City Council, effective March 23, 2024.
- 44 Resolution recognizing Medal of Honor Day.
- 44 Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Durkan offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Maccon Bonner in City Council, effective March 30, 2024.
- 45 Resolution in memory of Wilena Julien.
- 45 Councilor Durkan called Docket #0534, message and order for the confirmation of the appointment of Senam Kumahia as a member of the Bay Village Historic District Commission, for a term expiring June 30, 2025, from the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation. No objection being heard, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Durkan, the appointment was confirmed.
- 46 Resolution in memory of Rosa Baptista DaLomba.
- 46 Councilor Durkan called Docket #0505, message and order for your approval an Order approving the receipt of a Preservation Restriction on the Fowler-Clark Farm, 487 Norfolk Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02126. The Fowler-Clark Farm has historic significance to the City, and the owner, Fowler-Clark LLC, has conveyed a historic preservation restriction on the exterior features of the buildings and site to Historic Boston, Inc., a local charitable corporation, from the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Durkan, the order was passed.
- 47 Resolution recognizing Mei Yao Chin Wong.
- 47 Councilor Fernandes Anderson called Docket #0343, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($325,000.00) in the form of a grant for the Red Sox Arts and Parks Program, awarded by the Boston Red Sox to be administered by the Mayor’s Office. The grant will support arts programming, community events and parks operations across Boston, from the Committee on Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Tourism & Special Events. Hearing no objection, the matter was before the body. On motion of Councilor Fernandes Anderson, the order was passed.
- 48 Resolution recognizing Colette Phillips.
- 49 Resolution recognizing Phil Celeste.
- 50 Resolution recognizing Mimi Turchinetz.
- 51 Resolution congratulating Bryce's Journey.
- 51 The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following matters:
- 60 The Chair stated that in absence of objection, four late file matters would be added to the Consent Agenda. No objection being heard, the following matters were added:
- 61 Resolution on behalf of the Council as a whole recognizing the 203rd Anniversary of Greek Independence.
- 62 Resolution in memory of John Moran.
- 63 Resolution in memory of Clement Pinto.
- 64 Resolution in memory of Terrence "Terry" Donnelly.
- 65 The matters contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.
- 66 Adjourned at 2:43 p.m. on motion of President Louijeune, and in memory of Congressman William Delahunt, Dr. Jean Perez Nazaire, Larry Lucchino, John Moran, and the victim of Tuesday's fire in East Boston, to meet again on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk