Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 12 p.m. (Boston time), Council Chambers
The Boston City Council met on October 28, 2026, under Council President Liz Breadon, with Councilor Culpepper temporarily chairing part of the session. The Council approved several grant dockets, including workforce development grants (2025, 2026), a fire department hazmat grant (2027), an East Boston senior center grant (2030), and confirmed Mercy Robinson as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (2031) and a slate of new constables (2032). The Council also passed a home rule petition waiving the age requirement for a Boston police applicant (2042) and a Section 17F information request on youth jobs (2051). Multiple hearing orders were referred to committees, including dockets on the opportunity gap for young women of color (2043), an elected Boston school committee (2044), the 311 system (2045), proposed 2030 census changes (2046), South Boston block party permitting (2047), the O'Connor Way bike lane (2048), South Boston public safety (2049), and lithium-ion battery safety (2050). A Flynn resolution to waive the ten-year residency requirement for BPD civilian employees transferring to sworn positions (2052) drew objections and was sent to the public safety committee without a vote. The meeting closed with memorials for several deceased residents and community figures.
0:02 and.
4:40 a.
4:40 the.
4:43 Single backslash city
4:46 council tv at this time I ask
4:47 that my colleagues and those in
4:49 the audience uh to please
4:51 silence their cellphones and
4:52 electronic devices.
4:54 Also pursuant to rule 42, I
4:55 remind all in the chamber that
4:57 no demonstration of approval or
4:58 disapproval from members of the
4:59 public will be permitted.
5:00 Thank you.
5:02 MR. Clerk, could you please
5:03 take a roll call vote to
5:05 ascertain the presence of a
5:05 quorum.
5:07 Councilor breadon here.
5:09 Councilor collette as a
5:09 counselor.
5:12 Culpeper councilor durkan,
5:13 councilor fitzgerald.
5:14 Councilor flynn.
5:15 Yeah.
5:16 Councilor louijeune.
5:16 Yeah.
5:17 Concilor mejia here.
5:19 Murphy.
5:19 Councilor.
5:20 Councilor.
5:20 Pepen.
5:21 Councilor.
5:22 Santana.
5:24 Councilor weber and
5:25 councilor worrell.
5:25 Yeah.
5:26 A quorum is present.
5:27 Thank you, MR. Clerk.
5:29 I've been informed by the
5:29 turkey.
5:31 The quorum is present and now
5:32 it's my pleasure to invite my
5:33 colleague currently
5:35 councilor at large.
5:37 Uh, julia here forward to
5:37 introduce today's clergy.
5:44 who following um, the reverend
5:47 invocation we will pledge um we
5:48 take the pledge of allegiance.
5:51 Thank you.
5:53 Good afternoon everyone.
5:55 Um, it is a privilege to
5:57 recognize a remarkable faith
5:59 leader, educator and community
6:00 advocate.
6:03 Uh, the reverend doctor gregory
6:04 groover senior um, is the
6:07 pastor of the historic uh,
6:10 charles street A.M.E. Church in
6:10 roxbury.
6:12 For more than three decades.
6:14 Reverend groover has been a
6:16 pillar of strength, faith and
6:17 leadership in our boston
6:17 community.
6:19 His commitment to service
6:21 of the church.
6:21 extends far beyond the walls
6:23 From championing educational
6:24 equity and expanding
6:25 afterschool programing
6:27 opportunities to serving the
6:29 boston public school committee
6:31 including as its chair,
6:32 reverend groover has dedicated
6:34 his life to ensuring that our
6:36 young people and families have
6:38 the resources and opportunities
6:39 they deserve.
6:41 Through his leadership with the
6:43 black ministerial alliance and
6:44 his countless contributions to
6:46 community organizations, he has
6:47 demonstrated what it truly
6:50 means to lead with faith,
6:51 compassion and purpose.
6:53 Reverend groover reminds us
6:55 that true leadership is not
6:57 measured by titles but by the
7:00 lives that we uplift and the
7:01 doors that we open for others.
7:03 On behalf of the boston city
7:05 council, we thank you for your
7:07 unwavering commitment to our
7:08 city, your advocacy for our
7:10 children and your continued
7:11 service to our communities.
7:13 Reverend groover, thank you for
7:16 being a voice for justice, a
7:18 champion for education and a
7:19 blessing to the city of boston
7:20 .
7:23 It is truly an honor to have
7:24 invited you to deliver this
7:26 today's invocation.
7:27 We are grateful for your
7:29 presence and for the wisdom and
7:30 spiritual leadership you
7:32 continue to share with our
7:32 city.
7:34 And at this time I'd like all
7:36 of us to welcome reverend
7:38 doctor gregory groover senior
7:39 to lead us in today's
7:40 invocation.
7:42 Come on down and while you're
7:43 coming down, I just want to
7:45 also uplift, um, this clerk, um
7:49 ,who runs the pantry alongside
7:50 you all.
7:52 Um, and also for all of her
7:53 leadership.
7:54 So I want to give a shout out
7:56 to gwendolyn if she's tuning
7:56 in.
7:57 thank you, council man.
8:02 Thank you.
8:05 and let us pray.
8:12 Dear oh holy one.
8:19 Our GOD, our yahweh, our true.
8:21 Endless provider from whom all
8:25 blessings flow are duly elected
8:26 and duly bound.
8:29 City council is gather also.
8:33 As your chosen servants to
8:34 continue accomplishing your
8:36 will for a better boston built
8:39 on justice and equality for all
8:40 people.
8:44 We as residents of this city we
8:47 are immeasurably grateful for
8:50 your raising up these 13
8:53 ordinary citizens who have been
8:54 divinely called to shoulder
8:58 your extraordinary work
8:58 of governing this city.
9:01 I'll pray at the.
9:03 Beginning of this session is
9:04 that you will not only speak
9:08 over them and to them but oh
9:10 GOD, you will also speak
9:12 through them in their
9:15 discernment, in their
9:17 deliberations and in their
9:17 decisions.
9:20 Pour not only your wisdom into
9:23 their heads, your work into the
9:24 hands.
9:25 But your very.
9:27 Will into their hearts.
9:30 Help them to hear with their
9:32 own ears the cries of the many
9:35 who are suffering, who are
9:37 without, who have been left
9:41 behind and who live from day to
9:42 day.
9:46 Barely make known your vision
9:49 of GOD for such a time as this.
9:52 To all the members of this
9:53 distinguished body.
9:56 Convict them with your courage.
9:59 Grace them with your grit.
10:02 Strengthen them with your
10:03 steadfastness.
10:06 Deed them with your
10:07 determination.
10:09 And empower them.
10:13 To no end with your endeavor to
10:14 bring about.
10:15 A better boston.
10:18 GOD it is what you have dreamt
10:19 for.
10:19 for this city.
10:23 So now dream it into the very
10:24 souls of these city councilors
10:27 so that we will all see and
10:30 witness and experience a
10:31 greater day in this city.
10:34 Yes, have your way.
10:34 Today.
10:36 oh lord.
10:37 And the work of these city
10:40 councils and all of the city
10:42 council staff members, MAY we
10:45 rise to become a city on even
10:45 a.
10:46 Higher hill.
10:48 Because of.
10:50 what is transacted in this
10:52 chamber on this day and at this
10:53 hour.
10:55 And MAY that work.
10:57 Be in your name.
10:59 And in your name.
10:59 that we pray.
11:03 And let us all say amen.
11:04 Amen.
11:06 I do that.
11:10 Mentioned the flag of the
11:11 united states of america and
11:14 this is a public for which it
11:18 stands one nation under GOD,
11:20 indivisible, with liberty and
11:20 justice for all.
11:34 Thank you.
11:34 Reverend.
11:37 Um, thank you for joining us
11:38 today.
11:45 I've been informed by uh the
11:46 councilor culpeper has joined
11:46 us.
11:51 We're now on to the first order
11:52 of business, which is the
11:53 approval of the minutes from
11:55 the meeting of OCTOBER 21st,
11:56 2026.
11:59 All in favor, say I all
11:59 opposed.
12:00 Say nay.
12:02 The ayes have it and the
12:03 minutes of the OCTOBER 21st
12:04 meeting are approved.
12:06 We're now I want a
12:07 communications from around the
12:07 mayor.
12:09 MR. Clerk, could you please
12:13 read dockets 2025 and 2026
12:13 together.
12:16 Stuck in number 2025 message in
12:17 order authorizing the city
12:19 of boston to accept and expand
12:25 the amount of $2,409,496.20 in
12:28 the form of a grant that we owe
12:29 a youth program grant awarded
12:31 by the united states department
12:33 of labor past to the messiah
12:35 department of career services
12:37 to be administered by the
12:38 office of workforce development
12:38 .
12:41 The grant will fund the
12:42 comprehensive youth employment
12:43 program to serve eligible.
12:47 Youth ages 14 through 24 who
12:49 face barriers to education,
12:50 training and employment.
12:54 Duggan numbers 2026 message not
12:55 authorizing the city of boston
13:01 to accept and expend the amount
13:03 of $1,822,840.20 in the form
13:06 of a grant wio for adult
13:07 activities awarded by the
13:08 united states department
13:10 of labor pass through the
13:12 masaya department of career
13:14 services to be administered by
13:16 development.
13:16 the office of workforce
13:18 The grant will fund services to
13:20 help jobseekers access
13:22 employment, education, skills
13:25 training, apprenticeships and
13:26 support services.
13:29 Thank you mr chair.
13:33 Docket 2025 and 2026 will be
13:34 referred to the committee on
13:35 labor and economic development
13:35 .
13:38 Mr kerr, could you please read
13:40 docket uh 2027.
13:43 And number 2027 message in
13:44 order authorizing the city
13:46 of boston to accept and expand
13:49 the amount of $760,000 in the
13:51 form of a grant for the fiscal
13:53 year 27 hazardous materials
13:55 response team er my grant
13:58 awarded by the executive office
13:59 of public safety and security
14:01 department.
14:01 to be administered by the fire
14:02 The grant will fund the needs
14:05 of the boston fire department
14:06 hazardous materials response
14:10 team pro line item 8000 through
14:13 zero 600 of the fiscal year 27
14:14 general appropriations act.
14:16 Thank you.
14:19 Chair recognizes councilor uh
14:20 santana, the chair of the
14:21 committee on public safety and
14:22 criminal justice.
14:23 You have the floor.
14:26 Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
14:28 Um, this grant funded by the
14:29 state's office of public safety
14:31 and security will directly go
14:32 to supporting the work of the
14:34 boston fire department and how
14:36 we fund the hazardous materials
14:38 response team through JULY
14:39 of next year, more commonly
14:41 known as the hazmat team or
14:42 simply hazmat.
14:43 This team of vital importance
14:45 to our city and helps residents
14:46 feel safe when they are exposed
14:47 to potentially dangerous
14:48 chemicals.
14:51 Bills of um open to orders or
14:52 much worse.
14:54 As a chair of public safety um
14:56 of this committee I recommend
14:58 that um docket numbers 2027 are
14:59 to pass.
15:00 Thank you.
15:02 Um, councilor santana six
15:03 suspension of the rules and
15:06 passage of docket 02027.
15:07 All in favor say aye.
15:09 All opposed say nay.
15:11 The ayes have it.
15:13 Docket 2027 has passed.
15:16 Mr clerk, could you please read
15:19 docket 2028 and 2029 together.
15:22 So I can number 2028 message in
15:24 on the rise in the city
15:25 of boston to accept and expend
15:27 the amount of $300,000 in a
15:30 former grant bloomberg harvard
15:33 city leadership fellow awarded
15:34 by harvard university to be
15:35 administered by the law
15:36 department.
15:38 The grant would fund a city
15:39 leadership fellow who will
15:41 serve as a partner with city
15:44 departments in the advancement
15:45 of city programs and policies.
15:49 Talking number 2029 message in
15:50 not authorizing the city
15:51 of boston to accept and expend
15:56 the amount of $190,105.22 in
15:58 the form of a grant
16:00 apprenticeship building america
16:01 awarded by the united states
16:03 department of labor to be
16:04 administered by the office
16:05 of workforce development.
16:08 The grant will fund equity
16:10 pathways from pre
16:11 apprenticeships to registered
16:13 apprenticeships in the
16:14 hospitality, construction,
16:16 health care and life sciences
16:19 industries for underrepresented
16:20 populations in underserved
16:21 communities.
16:23 Thank you.
16:28 Um docket 2028 and 2029 will be
16:29 referred to the committee on
16:32 labor and economic development
16:33 .
16:34 And also MR. Clerk, could you
16:36 please record the contract?
16:37 Canada has joined us.
16:43 MISTER Chair, could you please
16:45 read docket 2030.
16:49 Ducking number 2030 message on
16:51 authorizing the city of boston
16:54 to accept and expand the amount
16:56 of 187,000 in the form of a
16:58 grant east boston foundation
17:00 fund two awarded by the
17:02 massachusetts port authority to
17:03 be administered by the aged
17:04 grant commission.
17:05 The grant will fund the age
17:07 joint commissions operations
17:08 and management of the east
17:10 boston senior center.
17:11 Thank you.
17:12 chair recognizes
17:14 councilor murphy of the floor.
17:15 Thank you.
17:15 MADAM Chair.
17:17 I'm asking my colleagues today
17:18 .
17:19 To suspend the rules and passed
17:22 docket 2030, which is
17:24 authorizing the city to accept
17:27 and expend the $187,000 grant
17:30 from mass sports east boston
17:30 foundation fund.
17:31 And it will.
17:33 be administered through
17:34 eight strong commission.
17:36 This grant specifically is
17:38 going to pay for the salaries
17:39 of the center's director and
17:41 assistant director, who do a
17:43 wonderful job and as the chair
17:45 of human services um, asking
17:47 that we pass this today we know
17:49 that east boston is just one
17:51 of two senior centers that's
17:52 operated by eight strong across
17:54 the city, and these spaces give
17:56 our older residents a place to
17:58 connect with neighbors, stay
18:00 active and access support for
18:01 seniors living alone.
18:03 That daily connection can make
18:05 an enormous difference as we
18:05 all know.
18:07 So making sure that this grant
18:10 asking.
18:10 that.
18:10 gets where it needs to go I'm
18:11 Was suspended.
18:12 Passed today thank you.
18:13 Thank you councilor murphy six
18:14 suspension of the rules and
18:16 passage of docket 2030.
18:18 All in favor say aye.
18:21 All opposed say nay.
18:23 Mr trump, could you please take
18:24 a roll call?
18:26 Vote on docket 2030.
18:28 Councilor breadon.
18:29 Yes, councilor breadon?
18:30 Yes.
18:31 Councilor colette as a file
18:32 councilor.
18:32 As a yes.
18:34 councilor.
18:34 Culpepper.
18:34 Councilor.
18:35 Culpepper.
18:35 Yes.
18:36 Councilor.
18:36 Durkan.
18:37 Councilor.
18:38 Yes.
18:38 Counselor.
18:38 Durkan.
18:39 Fitzgerald.
18:39 Yes.
18:40 Fitzgerald.
18:40 Yes.
18:41 Councilor.
18:41 Flynn.
18:42 Yes.
18:42 Council.
18:43 Flynn.
18:43 Yes.
18:43 Council.
18:44 Louijeune.
18:44 Yes.
18:44 Council.
18:45 Louijeune.
18:45 Yes.
18:45 Councilor.
18:46 Mejia.
18:46 Yes.
18:47 Council.
18:47 Mejia.
18:48 Yes.
18:48 Councilor.
18:48 Murphy.
18:49 Yes.
18:49 Councilor.
18:50 Murphy.
18:50 Yes.
18:51 Council.
18:51 Have a pen.
18:52 Councilor santana.
18:54 Yes.
18:55 Councilor.
18:55 Weber.
18:55 Yes.
18:56 Council.
19:01 Webb's in.
19:01 councilor.
19:01 World councilor worrell.
19:01 Yes.
19:01 Talking about 2030 as we
19:02 received 12 votes in the
19:03 affirmative.
19:05 Thank you, MR. Clerk duncan
19:06 2030 has passed.
19:08 MR. Clerk, could you please
19:10 read docket 2031.
19:13 Ducky number 2031 message no
19:15 further confirmation of the
19:17 appointment of mercy robertson
19:18 as an alternate member of the
19:21 zoning board of appeal for a
19:23 term expiring MAY 1st, 2029.
19:25 And chair recognizes
19:25 council drug.
19:27 Thank you so much.
19:28 Um, so we just had our hearing
19:30 on the zba.
19:33 Um, nominations um, mercy
19:35 robinson um it was filed late
19:36 by the administration.
19:38 Uh, but she's also I know a lot
19:39 of us know her.
19:41 She is the executive director
19:43 of south boston and axion, a
19:44 grassroots organization working
19:46 to empower low income and
19:48 afro-latina latinx residents in
19:48 south boston.
19:50 Um, I know that she was
19:53 actually councilor santana's
19:56 designee for abcd um and also
19:58 has received recognition to the
20:00 council for um through erin
20:01 murphy uh, before and she's
20:03 been recognized as an
20:04 extraordinary community leader
20:05 by this council.
20:07 Um, so I was hoping that my
20:09 colleagues would allow me to
20:10 suspend and pass her nomination
20:11 because I don't think we're
20:13 going to have time before the
20:14 end of the year to do another
20:16 zba um, so I want to get let my
20:17 colleagues who know her
20:19 personally speak to her
20:19 nomination.
20:20 Uh, but.
20:22 She's a I mean, based on her
20:23 resume, um, has accomplished a
20:25 lot and, uh, just wanted this