Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers
The Boston City Council meeting on March 4, 2026 included an invocation by Reverend Dr. Arlene O. Hall and a presentation honoring three Eagle Scouts. The Council approved a $1,519,383 state grant for HVAC improvements at a school in East Boston (docket 0463) and a $25,000 Obama Foundation grant administered by the Office of Black Male Advancement (docket 0464, passed 12-0 on roll call). Committee chairs reported on hearings covering Boston Public Schools staffing and budget, snow removal, and city services for residents with caregiving needs, all of which remained in committee. New hearing orders and zoning text amendments were referred to committee, including items on the fare-free bus program, Mass and Cass treatment-centered approaches, single-stair building code reform, the anti-displacement action plan, juvenile weapon incidents and school safety, and inclusionary development policy off-site unit radius. Resolutions were adopted recognizing public works employees (0482), International Women's Day (0484), Boston Fleet Olympic medalists (0485, unanimous), ending Black health disparities (0486, unanimous), supporting active duty service members (0487, unanimous), MBTA commuter rail sidewalk snow clearance (0488), and Crispus Attucks Day (0489, unanimous); a resolution on temporarily replacing concurrent phasing traffic signals after snowstorms failed with four votes in favor and nine present. A resolution supporting the mayor's executive order protecting Bostonians from federal operations passed unanimously (0356), as did a Women's History Month celebration resolution (0424).
0:21 and.
7:18 I'm.
8:31 Not.
12:14 right.
12:17 We're ready to go.
12:19 Good afternoon.
12:20 Oh, yeah.
12:23 I called and I've been going.
12:36 And I can't.
12:43 Look at this.
12:48 Oh my GOD.
12:58 Thanks for being here.
12:58 It's.
13:02 So.
13:09 I just wanted to go to my
13:09 kitchen.
13:11 Go.
13:15 Like.
13:19 All day.
13:19 Yeah.
13:22 Like you know like but.
13:30 You know it's like.
14:52 Oh, you.
14:56 Good afternoon.
14:57 I call.
14:59 To order today's meeting of the
15:00 boston city council.
15:02 Viewers can watch the
15:05 council meeting via, uh, live
15:08 on youtube@boston.Gov backslash
15:10 city council dash tv.
15:13 At this time I ask those in
15:14 attendance.
15:15 Colleagues and those in
15:16 attendance to please silence
15:19 their cellphones and electronic
15:19 devices.
15:23 Also pursuant to rule 42 I
15:25 remind all those in the chamber
15:26 that no demonstration
15:28 of approval or disapproval from
15:29 members of the public will be
15:29 permitted.
15:32 Thank you, mr cook.
15:35 Would you please call the roll
15:37 to ascertain the presence of a
15:37 quorum?
15:43 i'm going to put your mic on.
15:43 There you go.
15:48 Councilor breadon.
15:51 Here councilor collette as a
15:53 of councilor culpeper
15:54 councilor durkan.
15:55 Councilor flynn.
15:58 Councilor.
15:58 Louijeune.
15:59 Councilor.
16:00 Mejia.
16:01 Councilor.
16:01 Murphy.
16:02 Councilor.
16:03 Pepen.
16:04 Councilor.
16:04 Santana.
16:07 Councilor weber and councilor.
16:07 World.
16:09 Quorum is broken.
16:10 Thank you, mr cook.
16:14 Um, I've been informed that we
16:15 have a quorum present.
16:17 Uh, no.
16:18 It is my pleasure to introduce,
16:21 um, councilor mejia who's going
16:23 to introduce her guest at large
16:24 today.
16:29 Um, and, um, reverend hall if
16:31 you'd like to join us as well.
16:41 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
16:42 And good afternoon to everyone
16:42 here.
16:44 I am super excited.
16:46 Um, and in the spirit
16:49 of women's international month.
16:51 Um, and for all things that
16:51 are.
16:54 People who are making history.
16:56 I'm really excited to introduce
16:59 this afternoon's um, clergy.
17:01 It is my absolute, uh, pleasure
17:03 to introduce a leader whose
17:05 ministry and impact extends far
17:06 beyond the walls of her church
17:08 and deeply into the heart
17:09 of our city.
17:12 Doctor arlene o hall is a
17:14 boston based preacher, educator
17:16 ,author and community activist
17:19 who has dedicated her life to
17:22 faith and service nearly 27
17:22 years ago.
17:25 She co-founded deliverance
17:27 temple worship center here in
17:29 boston alongside her husband
17:31 bishop raymond hall and has
17:34 faithfully served as senior
17:35 pastor ever since.
17:38 Okay doctor hall brings both
17:40 spiritual conviction and
17:41 academic depth to her work.
17:44 She holds a master of divinity
17:47 from gordon um conwell
17:48 theological seminary and a
17:51 doctor of ministry in pastoral
17:53 leadership from pentecostal
17:54 theological seminary.
17:56 She continues to shape the next
17:57 generation of leaders through
18:00 her service on multiple boards,
18:02 including the board of trustees
18:05 at both institutions as well as
18:06 leadership roles within the
18:08 church of GOD and the center
18:13 for african descent and 2016
18:16 she made history as the first
18:17 woman and the youngest
18:19 PRESIDENT Of the black
18:20 ministerial alliance of greater
18:23 boston, building on more than a
18:24 decade of prior service and
18:25 helping to strengthen the
18:27 collective voice of black
18:29 clergy around the region.
18:31 She is also the author of the
18:33 secret place dwellers and the
18:35 coauthor of a giving people and
18:36 continues to pour into others
18:39 as a mentor a spiritual leader
18:40 in our community.
18:42 Doctor hall's leadership
18:43 reflects a deep commitment to
18:45 faith and community, and we're
18:47 so grateful to have a presence
18:49 here today and I just want to
18:53 just quickly before I I just go
18:56 off script that when I ran in
18:56 2019.
18:59 not only did you pour into me.
19:01 But your whole.
19:02 Congregation literally wrap
19:02 their.
19:03 Arms around me.
19:06 So I want to say thank you.
19:09 For giving me the strength to
19:10 fight on.
19:12 Um.
19:13 thank you.
19:14 You're not.
19:22 Good afternoon.
19:27 It's such an honor to be back
19:27 here.
19:29 In this capacity.
19:32 Item council PRESIDENT.
19:37 And my dear friend
19:37 councilor julia.
19:39 Let us pray.
19:47 Thank you.
19:52 Almighty GOD.
19:56 We pause at the opening of this
19:58 city council meeting this
20:01 morning and we acknowledge you.
20:05 We invite your presence into
20:08 this chamber and into the
20:11 hearts and minds of those
20:13 entrusted to leading the city
20:13 of boston.
20:16 Today we commit the work
20:19 of this council and the agenda
20:21 before them into your capable
20:21 hands.
20:25 You are the GOD of wisdom,
20:29 justice and peace and we ask
20:31 you that your wisdom guide
20:34 every conversation and that you
20:38 guide every decision and every
20:40 policy that will shape the
20:42 lives of the people of this
20:42 city.
20:46 Lord we thank you.
20:49 Hallelujah for these civic
20:49 leaders.
20:52 Who have answered the call to
20:55 serve this city of boston.
20:58 Thank you for the passion that
20:58 they carry.
21:01 Thank you for the communities
21:03 that they represent.
21:06 we thank you for every area
21:08 that they serve in.
21:10 We thank you for their
21:12 dedication to the public good,
21:15 their commitment to justice and
21:18 their willingness to carry the
21:20 responsibility of leadership in
21:23 such an important time as this.
21:27 So during this women's month we
21:30 pause and we give thanks to the
21:32 shoulders of the woman who have
21:35 paved the way before us in this
21:37 city and across the nation.
21:41 A woman who stepped into spaces
21:44 where few had gone before and
21:47 whose courage opened doors for
21:49 generations to come.
21:51 We thank you for the historic
21:53 leadership that continues to
21:55 shape boston today.
21:57 We thank you for mayor michelle
22:00 wu, the first elected female
22:01 mayor.
22:06 Of this great community called
22:06 boston.
22:08 We thank you and we ask you
22:10 that you will continue to grant
22:14 her grace and of favor, wisdom
22:15 and love.
22:18 Has she served the people
22:18 of boston?
22:21 We thank you for city
22:21 council PRESIDENT Liz.
22:24 We thank you for every member
22:26 of the city council.
22:28 We thank you for the charge
22:30 that you have entrusted to them
22:30 .
22:33 Grant them wisdom to lead,
22:36 grace to govern and courage to
22:39 make decisions that serve the
22:40 common good.
22:43 Your wisdom reminds us in psalm
22:47 68 that you speak and woman
22:50 proclaim your purpose are
22:51 mighty.
22:52 Hallelujah indeed.
22:56 In these uncertain times we ask
22:59 you to raise up deborah's
23:02 hallelujah voices of wisdom and
23:04 courage for your people.
23:07 And today we thank you that you
23:09 will grant them the wisdom and
23:12 the courage to carry out the
23:14 calling in leading the city
23:17 like deborah, give these
23:19 leaders courage to stand in
23:21 spaces where leadership
23:24 requires both wisdom and
23:27 conviction, bold presence and a
23:31 power both anointing and
23:31 conviction.
23:34 Oh like esther, remind every
23:36 woman serving in leadership
23:39 today that they have come to
23:42 this calling for such a time as
23:45 this and in a world marked by
23:48 conflict and division, we ask
23:51 you to grant what only you can
23:54 give peace in the midst
23:54 of chaos.
23:56 Light in the midst of darkness
23:57 .
23:59 Wisdom in the midst
24:01 of complexity and unity in the
24:04 midst of great differences.
24:06 Protect the city.
24:09 Watch over the city GOD and
24:12 guide the leaders to the
24:14 charter they've being entrusted
24:14 to them.
24:17 To run to in the communities.
24:20 Let every decision made in this
24:23 chamber continue to flourish
24:25 the lives of those they
24:26 represent.
24:26 Uh.
24:28 Let there be safety.
24:31 Let there be a well being to
24:33 the people of the city
24:33 of boston.
24:36 MAY the wisdom of GOD guide
24:38 this council.
24:42 The courage of justice mark its
24:45 the leadership and the peace
24:48 of GOD rest upon the city
24:50 of boston and we ask these
24:53 blessings in the name of jesus
24:54 the christ.
24:56 And if everyone can agree with
24:58 me by saying amen.
25:00 GOD bless you.
25:04 When I recite the pledge
25:04 of allegiance.
25:07 Amen.
25:11 I like the united states
25:12 of america and republic for
25:14 which it stands one nation
25:17 under GOD, indivisible, with
25:19 liberty and justice for all.
25:29 Thank you, reverend hall and,
25:29 um.
25:33 MR. Clerk, let's see what is
25:37 presentations.
25:37 and I invite up uh, we're on to
25:40 Um, mr chair, could you please
25:42 ,uh, record that
25:43 councilor collette supporters
25:45 in attendance and councilor um
25:45 morelle.
25:46 Yes.
25:48 we're now on two
25:49 presentations.
25:51 Uh, we have two presentations.
25:54 I invite councilor murphy flynn
25:55 and fitzgerald.
25:56 Uh, um.
25:58 That was the idea and.
25:59 that was the irish one.
26:01 So we're done with the first
26:01 one.
26:02 Okay.
26:03 Very good.
26:04 uh, councilmember for you
26:05 have the floor.
26:07 Thank you.
26:08 council PRESIDENT.
26:11 Could um let's see.
26:14 Could you join us down here our
26:14 recently.
26:16 Recent eagle.
26:18 Scout and could mr gross.
26:18 Yeah.
26:19 Please join us.
26:31 You can come right through you.
26:40 Can write up.
26:40 Yes.
26:42 Thank you.
26:46 Okay.
26:53 So it's an honor for.
26:55 me to be up here today.
26:57 With three outstanding.
26:59 Young men from the city
26:59 of boston.
27:04 Joel, adam and john on earning
27:05 the rank of eagle scout.
27:07 On sunday I had the privilege
27:09 of attending their eagle scout
27:10 court of honor.
27:12 It was a powerful ceremony.
27:14 I was proud to stand alongside
27:16 their fellow scout, their troop
27:17 leaders and their families to
27:18 celebrate what is.
27:18 Truly an.
27:19 extraordinary achievement.
27:22 The rank of eagle scout is not
27:24 common it represents years
27:26 of discipline, leadership,
27:27 perseverance and service.
27:28 It is not given.
27:29 It is earned.
27:32 Joel completed his project at
27:34 the boys and girls club
27:36 of dorchester, the denny
27:37 building, an outdoor.
27:38 Platform at.
27:39 the denny youth center that
27:41 serves young people.
27:42 for years to come.
27:43 Thank you for that.
27:46 Adam restored a gazebo and
27:48 built planting boxes at the
27:49 brookdale senior living center
27:51 ,improving a space where
27:52 residents gather, reflect and.
27:55 Build community and john.
27:56 Completed his project at the
27:59 new england wildlife center,
28:00 constructing and installing an
28:01 informational kiosk and trail
28:03 signage that promotes
28:03 education.
28:04 and environmental
28:05 stewardship.
28:08 So I'm just highlighting their
28:09 project that they did but we
28:10 know it was years.
28:14 Of service as we can see many
28:14 badges that you've.
28:16 earned over the years.
28:18 Each of these projects reflect
28:19 service to a different part
28:22 of our community youth seniors
28:23 in the environment that speaks
28:25 volumes about their character.
28:26 As a.
28:27 boston city councilor at
28:28 large, it is especially
28:30 meaningful to recognize these
28:32 three young men as proud boston
28:34 residents who represent our
28:34 neighborhood so well.
28:37 This recognition is personal to
28:37 me.
28:39 My father earned the rank
28:41 of eagle scout in the late
28:43 1950s, and I grew up
28:45 understanding what badges
28:47 represent integrity, commitment
28:48 and service above self.
28:52 It stays with you for life on
28:53 sunday like I said it was
28:54 moving to be in that church
28:56 with you from fellow scouts who
28:58 walked alongside them, from
29:00 leaders who mentored them over
29:02 the years and from families who
29:03 supported them through years
29:05 of camp outs, merit badges,
29:06 leadership challenges and
29:06 service.
29:08 Joel, adam and.
29:10 John today my colleagues here
29:11 on the council join your
29:13 families in your troop in
29:14 recognizing what you have
29:15 accomplished.
29:17 You carry not only eagle scout
29:18 badge but the pride of the
29:18 city.
29:20 of boston with you.
29:21 And I do just want to add.
29:22 That you were in.
29:23 Troop 28.
29:24 And maybe.
29:26 You could speak to that one and
29:28 if I pass it off but troop 28
29:29 was the troop in dorchester.
29:30 Which became.
29:31 small and.
29:32 during.
29:34 Covid they shut down but they
29:34 did not give up.
29:36 So I hope you could go first
29:37 please if you want to speak
29:38 just.
29:39 speak to how we kept.
29:41 It together and then we were
29:41 honoring them this week.
29:42 so.
29:42 Thank you councilor murphy my
29:46 name is chris gross I am the
29:48 scout master now of troop 42 in
29:49 quincy, massachusetts.
29:52 I was scoutmaster and troop 28
29:52 dorchester.
29:54 We met out of the race post and
29:55 as councilor murphy had
29:57 mentioned during covid our pac
29:58 shut down.
29:59 Our troop wasn't growing.
30:02 They were contemplating tearing
30:04 the race post down and we
30:05 didn't have a place to go.
30:07 An opportunity in quincy came
30:07 up.
30:09 I invited the kids to come
30:11 along and continue their
30:13 scouting journey rather than
30:15 risk not being able to achieve
30:17 this wonderful accomplishment.
30:21 So on.
30:22 Sunday I.
30:23 did present them with
30:23 official.
30:25 Resolutions but no pressure.
30:27 But would any of you like to
30:27 say something?
30:30 No I don't.
30:31 Want to go for.
30:32 The offense.
30:33 Okay that's okay.
30:35 We're not that scary but we
30:37 just want to and I know my
30:38 colleagues will join me saying
30:39 just congratulations.
30:40 and just.
30:41 know that we're so proud
30:42 of you and this will stay with
30:43 you.
30:44 And if there's anything you
30:45 need from us here we just want
30:47 to continue to promote the good
30:49 work you do and your wonderful,
30:50 you know, neighbors to me in
30:51 dorchester and it's just great
30:52 to see you accomplished there.
30:53 So congratulations.
30:56 Could we.
30:57 get a picture with our.
30:59 Colleagues please?
31:00 this is the fun part.
31:04 So you guys.
31:05 You guys come on.
31:06 It's about you.
31:07 Yeah you not us.
31:11 You didn't say.
31:17 Thank thank you.
31:22 Got a stronger than you thought
31:22 .
31:23 Yes thank you staff.
31:26 They've been busy.
31:27 Congratulate thank you.
31:30 I can verify that adam actually
31:32 did earn merit badges.
31:33 he just.
31:34 Can't find.
31:34 the staff.
31:35 but to.
31:36 Mean here in maine.
31:36 Yeah.
31:37 camping in maine.
31:47 Awesome.
31:48 Congratulations.
31:48 thank you, thank you.
31:50 thank you for all you do.
31:51 Thanks for coming.
31:51 Thank you.
31:54 Congratulations.
31:54 thank you.
32:05 And also thank you.
32:06 Thanks to.
32:19 Thank you.
32:23 And again congratulations to
32:23 our eagle scouts.
32:26 Right.
32:31 uh and and I also want to
32:34 recognize uh, richard gormley
32:35 uh, the honorary lord mayor
32:37 of west roxbury.
32:37 Welcome.
32:38 Glad you could join us today
32:41 for our celebrations, richard.
32:43 Thank you.
32:50 now on to the first order
32:51 of business, which is the
32:52 approval of the minutes from
32:54 the meeting of FEBRUARY 25th,
32:54 2026.
32:56 All in favor say aye.