City Council

Name: Boston City Council meeting
Start: 2026-09-30T16:00:00+00:00
Location: Council Chambers

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers

Video of the meeting

On the agenda

Roll-call votes

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($4,350.00) in the form of a grant, The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Scholarship, awarded by the Massachusetts Historical Commission to be administered by the Office of Historic Preservation. The grant would fund the cost of historical and historic district commission members, and municipal staff attending the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) FORUM conference. On motion of Councilor Durkan, the rules were suspended; the order was passed: yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Passed 13-0
On the message and order, referred on September 16, 2026, Docket #1671, to reduce the FY27 appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by One Million Nine Hundred Fifty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Four Dollars ($1,951,894.00) to provide funding for the Boston Police Department for the FY27 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society (BPDBS), the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on September 16, 2026, Docket #1672, for the Boston Police Department for FY27 in the amount of One Million Nine Hundred Fifty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Four Dollars ($1,951,894.00) to cover the FY27 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society (BPDBS). The terms of the contract are July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The major provisions of the contract include a base wage increase of 2% in July of 2025. The contract also contains an update to hazardous duty pay and amended language around sick time buyback at retirement. As originally presented to you, the FY27 budget request included a Reserve for Collective Bargaining - a separate appropriation to fund projected collective bargaining increases. A separate order has been filed to reduce that appropriation by One Million Nine Hundred Fifty-One Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Four Dollars ($1,951,894.00), the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on September 16, 2026, Docket #1673, to reduce the FY27 appropriation for the Reserve for Collective Bargaining by One Million Three Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Ninety-Three Dollars ($1,366,093.00) to provide funding for the Boston Police Department for the FY27 increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detective Benevolent Society - Superior Officers Unit (BPDBS-SO), the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
On the message and order, referred on September 16, 2026, Docket #1674, for the Boston Police Department for FY27 in the amount of One Million Three Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Ninety-Three Dollars ($1,366,093.00) to cover the FY27 cost items contained within the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society - Superior Officers Unit (BPDBS - SO). The terms of the contract are July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The major provisions of the contract include a base wage increase of 2% in July of 2025. The contract also contains an update to hazardous duty pay and amended language around paid details and summer vacation schedules. As originally presented to you, the FY27 budget request included a Reserve for Collective Bargaining - a separate appropriation to fund projected collective bargaining increases. A separate order has been filed to reduce that appropriation by One Million Three Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Ninety-Three Dollars ($1,366,093.00), the committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 13 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Culpepper, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).: Accepted 13-0
Order requesting certain information under Section 17F regarding roadway alterations and the City's response at Tremont Street and Parker Street.: Passed 11-0
Resolution in support of Question 6 to create a natural resource conservation fund.: Adopted 13-0
Resolution in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Boston Harbor Coastal Storm Risk Management Comprehensive System Plan and the City of Boston's application for federal authorization.: Adopted 13-0
Resolution in support of H.1544 / S.998: An Act to Guarantee a Tenant's First Right of Refusal.: Adopted 13-0
Resolution recognizing Tu Hispanidad Flag Day.: Adopted 11-0
Resolution recognizing October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.: Adopted 13-0
Emergency resolution calling for immediate relief for businesses devastated by the six-alarm fire at the historic Edison Building in Nubian Square.: Adopted 13-0

Documents

Summary

The Boston City Council, presided over by Council President Liz Breadon, recognized the Boston chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and open water swimmer Maura Toomey, then approved committee reports and passed dockets 1671-1674 funding Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society contracts ($1,951,894 and $1,366,093 from the collective bargaining reserve) and accepted a $4,350 historic preservation grant, each by unanimous roll call. Ten Boston Public Schools contract funding dockets (1829-1838) were referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and new matters including an ordinance reforming the Neighborhood Impact Commission and hearing orders on combined sewer overflows, MCAS scores, South Boston resident parking, a West Broadway parking garage, immigration enforcement's economic impact, busking and lead pipe replacement were referred to committees. The council adopted resolutions supporting state ballot Question 6, the Army Corps of Engineers Boston Harbor coastal storm risk plan, tenant opportunity to purchase legislation (H.1544/S.998), Pedestrian Safety Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and several heritage observances, and passed four Section 17F information requests. After a debate over the use of emergency late-file matters, the council unanimously passed an emergency resolution seeking relief for businesses displaced by the six-alarm fire at the Edison building in Nubian Square, while a second late-file emergency hearing order on health screenings for first responders drew an objection from Councilor Durkan.

Transcript

2:27 good afternoon everyone.

2:29 I call to order today's meeting

2:30 of the boston city council.

2:33 Viewers can watch the

2:35 council meeting live on

2:36 youtube@boston.Gov backslash

2:38 city council dash tv.

2:41 At this time I ask my

2:42 colleagues and those in the

2:42 audience to please silence

2:44 their cell phones and

2:44 electronic devices.

2:48 Also pursuant to rule 42, I

2:50 remind all in the chamber that

2:51 no demonstration of approval or

2:53 disapproval from members of the

2:54 public will be permitted.

2:55 Thank you.

2:58 MR. Clerk, could you please,

2:59 uh, take a roll call vote to

3:01 ascertain the presence of a

3:01 quorum?

3:03 Councilor breadon here.

3:03 Council.

3:04 Colletta.

3:04 Zapata.

3:05 Councilor.

3:06 Culpeper.

3:07 Councilor.

3:07 Durkan.

3:08 Councilor.

3:08 Fitzgerald.

3:09 Councilor.

3:10 Flynn.

3:10 Council.

3:11 Louijeune.

3:12 Councilor.

3:13 Mejia.

3:14 Councilor murphy.

3:15 Councilor.

3:15 The pen.

3:17 Councilor santana.

3:19 Councilor weber.

3:19 And councilor.

3:21 World of palms.

3:22 Thank you, mr clerk.

3:24 I've been informed by the talk

3:25 that the quorum quorum is

3:25 present.

3:29 now it is my pleasure to ask

3:29 councilor collette as a partner

3:30 to come forward and introduce

3:32 her to this clergy.

3:40 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

3:41 Good afternoon everybody.

3:44 Um, it's an honor to welcome

3:45 father paolo coming here.

3:47 Did I get that right?

3:47 Excellent.

3:48 Okay.

3:49 Um, from east boston, from

3:51 sacred heart church which is my

3:52 home parish in east boston.

3:55 He was born in italy and after

3:56 schooling he joined the

3:57 seminary of the fraternity

3:59 of saint charles borromeo in

4:01 rome in 2001 he was or he was

4:03 ordained deacon and assigned to

4:04 the mission of the of the

4:06 fraternity in taiwan and after

4:07 ten years in taiwan and a short

4:09 visit back to italy, he arrived

4:10 in boston at the beginning

4:12 of 2012 and taught math at

4:14 dorchester.

4:14 cristo rey high school in

4:17 In JUNE 2013 cardinal sean

4:18 o'malley entrusted the pastoral

4:21 care of saint clement parish in

4:22 medford in somerville where he

4:23 taught math and religion at

4:25 saint clement high school for

4:25 four years.

4:29 After the parish school closed

4:31 in 2017 he arrived as vicar at

4:35 at the beverly um at a beverly

4:36 church and later appointed

4:37 chaplain at the shrine of our

4:39 lady of good voyage in the

4:41 seaport district in boston on

4:42 AUGUST 1st 2020 east boston

4:44 welcome father to sacred heart

4:46 parish in east boston and as I

4:47 mentioned sacred heart is my

4:47 family parish.

4:49 I was baptized there, I got

4:51 communion there I received I

4:54 was confirmed um and it's been

4:55 really a pleasure and I'm

4:57 thrilled to see how much the

4:58 church has thrived since his

4:59 arrival.

5:01 He's opened up the, uh, space

5:02 in the basement for a soup

5:04 kitchen which meets every first

5:06 first wednesday of second

5:07 wednesday of the month.

5:08 I'm happy that you corrected

5:10 me and it's just wonderful to

5:12 see this church come alive and

5:15 welcome uh, in um, folks from

5:17 east boston no matter who they

5:18 are, where they come from, um,

5:21 it's just a beautiful uh, time

5:22 to to be with everybody and

5:24 people have really great

5:24 conversations.

5:25 I've had some of the best

5:26 conversations at that uh, soup

5:26 kitchen.

5:28 So I welcome everybody to be

5:30 there um, and get a chance to

5:31 have a great conversation with

5:33 someone who I call a friend and

5:35 here.

5:35 really grateful to have him

5:36 Um uh, father cuban.

5:38 So without further ado, please

5:40 provide a warm welcome, uh, for

5:40 father.

5:41 Pablo cuban.

5:42 You have to be.

5:43 Thank you.

5:46 uh, councilor zapata, my

5:47 friend.

5:48 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

5:50 It's my fourth time here.

5:54 Uh, the first time was, uh,

5:56 cancer edwards.

5:56 virtual in 2020 with

6:01 Uh, my last name is not very

6:02 italian coming?

6:03 Not sure.

6:05 I spent ten years in taiwan in

6:07 my last name in taiwan in

6:07 chinese.

6:09 Sounds like harsh life with so

6:10 many meanings.

6:11 harsh life.

6:14 Well I'm I'm saying this

6:15 because I actually would like

6:16 to start off with something a

6:20 bit harsh like uh well we hear

6:24 constantly about ai apocalypse

6:27 wars and international turmoil,

6:28 political divisions and

6:31 tensions in our country,

6:32 uncertainty for the future, our

6:34 planet, our country, our our

6:36 children grandchildren.

6:38 Yeah these are some world where

6:40 I'm sure keep you awake at

6:43 night and the rest of my brain

6:46 and my heart as your brain and

6:47 your heart is one.

6:51 Where can we find some stable

6:51 ground?

6:54 Are there any hope and

6:55 certainties on which we can

6:56 rely to build the future our

6:58 families, our city and our

6:58 society?

7:01 Speaking of headquarters

7:03 of unesco you know the nation

7:04 international it's sort

7:05 of educational scientific

7:07 culture organization in paris

7:11 last week pope leo sent regards

7:13 to finding hope and stable

7:14 ground for the future.

7:16 I would like to appeal to two

7:18 images from a bible a great

7:20 cultural treasure of humanity

7:22 the tower of babel and the

7:25 public square of pentecost with

7:27 our babel represents a unity

7:28 imposed for domination.

7:31 At the same time this edifice

7:32 reveals that the more power

7:34 seeks to oppress the more it

7:36 weakens itself exposing its you

7:40 ,its inhumane face therefore

7:41 continues the corruption

7:42 culture which are considering

7:44 fines of redemption in the

7:46 square in the public square

7:49 pentecost 50 days after easter

7:50 their message of peace and

7:51 mercy that good news by people

7:54 every nation this message

7:55 proclaimed by restriction jesus

7:57 victory of life over death and

7:58 salvation gives hope to a

7:59 world.

8:01 The pentecost the public square

8:03 becomes a place for peace

8:05 because every defense against

8:07 human persons celebrating

8:09 equity and props.

8:10 Those words I would like to

8:12 invite everyone at this point

8:14 to rise, settle in prayer and

8:15 follow me in prayer.

8:17 You come to pray or just follow

8:20 silently and quietly your

8:21 father in heaven.

8:24 MAY the men and women of this

8:25 esteemed council have the

8:26 courage to take up the

8:28 responsibility the task

8:30 of promoting peace peace in

8:31 your hearts, in the

8:32 relationships within our

8:33 families, in our city.

8:36 Maybe not give in to the

8:37 mentality of violence and

8:38 oppression.

8:40 Never long MAY they love life

8:41 at every moment from its

8:43 beginning to its end and not be

8:44 afraid of the future.

8:46 Maybe not grow weary but work

8:48 tirelessly for the good of our

8:50 other communities so that with

8:52 them our beloved city of boston

8:54 firmly rooted in itself and

8:56 continue to flourish as a true

8:56 home for everyone.

8:59 MAY GOD sustain us team

9:01 officials in these commitments

9:02 and MAY bless simple.

9:03 Thank all the men and women

9:05 over city we ask for through

9:06 christ our lord.

9:07 Amen.

9:10 Thank you.

9:11 sacred pledge.

9:15 Allegiance to the flag.

9:16 and of.

9:18 America and to the republic for

9:19 which it stands.

9:20 One nation.

9:23 Under GOD, indivisible, with

9:25 liberty and justice for all.

9:33 Thank you father.

9:36 Uh we are now moving on.

9:37 We have two presentations this

9:38 afternoon.

9:40 Councilor pope culpeper is

9:41 recognizing the national forum

9:43 for black public

9:43 administrators.

9:46 Uh, and I'm also, uh, have a

9:47 presentation for maura to

9:49 me and the massachusetts open

9:51 water swimming association.

9:52 Councilor culpeper, would you

9:54 guests?

9:54 like to come forward with your

10:08 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.

10:19 I want to.

10:22 recognize and thank the

10:23 boston chapter.

10:24 Of the.

10:25 national forum for black

10:27 public administrators for

10:30 joining us today for their

10:32 presentation to the city

10:33 council during our lunch and

10:34 learn.

10:37 And if bpa plays an important

10:39 role in strengthening public

10:41 service by developing and

10:42 supporting black leaders in

10:45 local and state government here

10:46 in greater boston.

10:48 The boston chapter continues

10:50 that mission through

10:52 professional development,

10:56 mentorship, networking, civic

10:57 engagement and helping prepare

10:59 the next generation of public

11:01 servants and cultivating

11:03 leaders who strengthen our

11:04 communities and improve our

11:05 government.

11:06 We want to thank the members

11:08 of the boston chapter not only

11:10 for spending time with us

11:12 today, but for the work you do

11:13 every day here in boston,

11:16 throughout massachusetts and as

11:17 a part of a national

11:19 organization committed to

11:21 excellence and opportunity in

11:22 public administration.

11:24 It was a pleasure to welcome

11:25 you to city hall and look

11:27 forward to continuing to work

11:29 together to strengthen public

11:32 service and develop the next

11:33 generation of leaders.

11:35 And I would also like to give a

11:37 special shout out to a long

11:40 time friend uh, when we were.

11:44 You youth I'm not telling how

11:46 far back we go, but we've been

11:48 friends for a really long time

11:50 and I'd like to bring up former

11:52 past PRESIDENT Honored.

11:52 Uh.

11:55 Thank you.

11:56 very much.

11:58 Uh, councilor culpepper and, uh

12:00 ,I also want to thank all

12:02 of the members of the boston

12:05 city council for attending the

12:07 presentation this morning.

12:10 And also I want to thank all

12:13 of the staff members and in

12:15 particular the staff that, uh,

12:16 work with councilor culpepper

12:18 for their assistance in

12:20 organizing the the meeting that

12:23 we held this morning to share

12:24 information related to the

12:26 national forum for black public

12:27 administrators and the

12:29 important work that we do not

12:30 only locally but also

12:31 nationally.

12:35 So again, um, I uh, appreciate

12:38 all all of your gracious

12:40 hospitality and uh, I'm happy

12:42 to say that as a long term

12:44 resident, uh, transplant to

12:48 boston, um, I'm very pleased to

12:50 see that, uh, we continue to

12:53 make, um, progress, build

12:57 bridges and also address, um,

12:58 many problems with new

13:01 solutions and new strategies to

13:04 move forward in a very a very

13:06 positive manner for the future.

13:09 Thank you again, uh,

13:10 councilor culpeper and thank

13:12 you to all the members of the

13:14 city council and um and friends

13:15 who are here today.

13:19 Michael, former PRESIDENT

13:22 Of the boston chapter of the

13:24 national forum of black public

13:25 administrators.

13:26 Thank you, councilor.

13:27 Culpeper and.

13:28 Thank you.

13:30 To city council for your very

13:33 warm and generous welcome to

13:35 our chapter representatives.

13:38 Um, this morning um it's a real

13:39 pleasure to meet all of you.

13:43 Um, as a long time uh,

13:44 dorchester resident though uh,

13:48 born in chicago, um, I and a

13:50 professor in public policy and

13:51 public administration,

13:53 university of massachusetts

13:56 boston um, I see firsthand the

13:57 power of.

13:58 Good government.

14:01 To, uh, change people's lives.

14:03 And I hope that the boston

14:04 chapter of national forum for

14:06 black public administrators can

14:09 work with city council, its

14:10 staff and all of your

14:14 constituents to enhance, um,

14:16 pathways to public service for

14:18 our young people, um, and

14:20 productive careers for those

14:21 who are in or considering

14:22 public service.

14:23 Thank you.

14:25 I'd also like to give a shout

14:28 out to chanel and marie, the

14:29 backbone of this organization.

14:30 Oh come on.

14:32 Okay.

14:32 um.

14:34 I was nervous, so I typed my

14:34 speech.

14:35 Um.

14:37 thank you so much.

14:39 Um, council PRESIDENT For

14:41 having us here today and thank.

14:42 You all too as well.

14:43 Um.

14:46 We are very grateful to be here

14:46 .

14:48 Um, our chapter remains

14:48 committed.

14:50 To strengthening public

14:51 administration through

14:53 leadership development,

14:55 mentorship, professional

14:55 networking and creating

14:57 pathways for the next

14:58 generation of public servants.

15:00 Uh, we believe public service

15:02 is more than a profession.

15:03 It is a responsibility to lead

15:05 with integrity, uplift our

15:07 communities and create

15:08 opportunities for others.

15:10 So we are grateful for this

15:11 recognition and we look forward

15:13 meaningful.

15:13 to continuing building

15:14 Partnerships and relationships

15:16 with you here.

15:16 Um.

15:18 and beyond um, here and

15:20 outside of these offices to

15:21 serve the greater boston

15:22 community.

15:22 Thank you chanel.

15:26 And let me just quickly read

15:29 this resolution city of boston

15:32 and city council official

15:33 resolution presented by

15:36 councilor minyard culpeper be

15:37 resolved that the boston city

15:38 council offers its

15:41 congratulations to the boston

15:42 chapter of the national forum

15:44 for black public administrators

15:45 in recognition of your

15:47 outstanding commitment to

15:49 advancing excellence, diversity

15:50 and leadership in public

15:52 service throughout greater

15:53 boston, you have strengthened

15:55 the pipeline of black public

15:56 sector leaders by force and

15:58 professional development,

15:59 mentorship, networking and

16:01 civic engagement for current

16:03 and aspiring public

16:04 administrators through

16:05 partnerships across greater

16:07 boston, you continue to prepare

16:09 the next generation of black

16:10 of generation of public

16:11 servants.

16:13 The boston chapter continues a

16:15 national forum for black public

16:17 administrators mission by

16:19 cultivating talented public

16:20 leaders who strengthen

16:22 communities, improve government

16:25 and expand opportunity across

16:25 greater boston.

16:27 And be it further resolved that

16:28 the boston city council extends

16:30 its best wishes for your

16:32 continued success that this

16:33 resolution be duly signed by

16:36 the PRESIDENT Of the city

16:37 council and attach it to copy

16:38 thereof transmitted by the

16:40 clerk of the city of boston

16:42 signed by the PRESIDENT Of the

16:44 city council elizabeth friedman

16:47 ,attested to by the city clerk

16:49 of boston alex gratis and

16:52 offered by city

16:53 council district seven the

16:55 heart of boston vineyard

16:55 culpeper.

17:00 Thank you thank you, thank you

17:00 very coming.

17:05 Yes.

17:09 I'm inviting all of my

17:11 colleagues to please come in.

17:12 And have.

17:13 a photo with.

17:15 The.

17:19 and the epa.

17:20 City.

17:25 okay.

17:26 And how are you?

17:28 Up?

17:31 All all.

17:35 It's my microphone.

17:36 Okay?

17:38 You're all this.

17:49 Thank you.

17:52 Congratulations I MR.

17:53 PRESIDENT.

17:55 let me just say this I've

17:55 been referring.

17:56 To the.

17:57 Men as.

17:58 Parents presidents.

18:01 This is the current.

18:02 PRESIDENT.

18:06 Of the union, so thank thank