City Council approves multiple public-safety, housing, and workforce grants; adopts FY26 tax classification

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Boston was held in the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber, City Hall on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM. President Louijeune in the Chair. Present Councilors Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, and Worrell. Reverend Art Gordon, People's Baptist Church, delivered the invocation, and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. The Chair moved to adopt the minutes from the December 3, 2025 City Council Meeting. Motion prevailed.

ROLL CALL

APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 3, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

COMMUNICATIONS FROM HER HONOR, THE MAYOR:

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Four Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-Four Dollars And Twenty Cents ($1,485,264.20) in the form of a grant, the FY26 Hazardous Materials Response Team Earmark Grant, awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant would fund the needs of the Boston Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team, per line item 8000-0600 of the FY26 General Appropriations Act. Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Later in session, Councilor Santana moved for reconsideration of Docket #2079. Seconded by Councilor Breadon. Reconsideration prevailed. On motion of Councilor Santana, the rules were suspended; the order was passed.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in the form of a grant for the NU Housing Stabilization Fund, awarded by Northeastern University to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Housing. The grant will fund Northeastern University’s contribution of $1,000,000.00 to MOH per cooperative agreement for the 840 Columbus Avenue Project in Roxbury. On motion of Councilor Breadon, the rules were suspended; the order was passed.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ninety-Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000.00) in the form of a grant, the Workforce Training Fund Grant, awarded by the MassHire Department of Career Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund programming to help address business productivity and competitiveness by providing resources to Massachusetts businesses for training current and newly hired employees. On motion of Councilor Weber, the rules were suspended; the order was passed.

PETITIONS, MEMORIALS AND REMONSTRANCES

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS:

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 November 19, 2025.

Communication was received from Scott Finn, City Auditor, transmitting reports listing transfers made solely for the purpose of closing accounts for Fiscal Year 2025.

Communication from Councilor Flynn regarding recent communications relating to elevator failures at BHA Ruth Barkley Apartments.

Communication from Councilor Flynn regarding a recent 17F Order relating to Boston Housing Authority (BHA) elevator failures.

Notice was received from David Aiken regarding his resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals, effective December 6, 2025.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:

On the message and order, referred on August 6, 2025, Docket #1400, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Million Nine Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($3,966,900.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY26 Safe and Successful Youth Initiative Grant, awarded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund a comprehensive, interagency strategy that connects law enforcement, employment, education, public health and youth development agencies to reduce youth violence in the Commonwealth, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed.

On the message and order, referred on August 6, 2025, Docket #1409, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars and One Cent ($10,000.01) in the form of a grant, for the FY23 National Violent Death Reporting System, awarded by the MA Department of Public Health to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund data collection by the Bureau of Investigative Services and the Drug Control Unit, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed.

On the message and order, referred on August 27, 2025, Docket #1548, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Million One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($4,125,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the FY26 Public Safety Answering Point Support and Incentive Grant, awarded by MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund costs associated with providing Enhanced 911 services, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed.

On the message and order, referred on August 27, 2025, Docket #1549, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Five Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Six Dollars and Thirty-Two Cents ($528,156.32) in the form of a grant, for the FY26 State 911 Training Grant, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the training and certification of Enhanced 911 telecommunications staff, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed.

On the message and order, referred on November 19, 2025, Docket #1972, authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Boston MVP Action Grant, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to be administered by the Public Works Department. The grant will fund the Massachusetts Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, a 67-acre urban wildlife sanctuary in a low-income neighborhood of Boston, the committee submitted a report recommending that this order ought to pass. The report was accepted, the order was passed.

MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD-FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:

On the order, referred on December 3, 2025, Docket #2045, relative to the adoption of tax classification in the City of Boston in FY 2026, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order pass. The report was accepted; the order was passed; yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).

On the order, referred on August 6, 2025, Docket #1453, to submit a petition to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, the committee submitted a report recommending that the order pass in a new draft. Councilor Worrell in the chair. The report was accepted; the order was passed in a new draft; yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).

Order for a hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove parking minimum requirements for new development. Councilor Louijeune in the chair.

MOTIONS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS:

Order for a hearing on building a parking garage at the City of Boston municipal lot on West Broadway in South Boston.

Resolution in support of comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive decision-making in Boston Public Schools in closure and reconfiguration decisions. On motion of Councilor Mejia, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 12 (Breadon, Durkan, Coletta Zapata, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).

Resolution in support of a Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Elevator Safety Commission. Objection by Councilor Breadon.

Resolution in support of HD.4422, "An Act relative to property tax classification, the senior homeowner property tax exemption, and the personal property tax exemption". On motion of Councilors Weber and Worrell, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Louijeune as an original co-sponsor. Objection by Councilor Flynn.

Resolution rededicating the Thomas Irving Atkins Room. Councilor Worrell in the chair. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

Resolution rededicating the Gabriel Francis Piemonte Room. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

Resolution denouncing the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. On motion of Councilor Louijeune, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.

Resolution in support of demanding updated cost estimates for the White Stadium project. Councilor Louijeune in the chair. On motion of Councilors Mejia and Murphy, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Flynn as an original co-sponsor. On motion of Councilors Mejia, Murphy, and Flynn, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted; yeas 12 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Louijeune, Mejia, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell).

PERSONNEL ORDERS:

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Weber offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Michael Fishbein in City Council, effective January 3, 2026.

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Pepén offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Nerlande Brice in City Council, effective January 10, 2026.

GREEN SHEETS:

Legislative Calendar for December 10, 2025.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Resolution recognizing 2025 CSHCA Award Recipients.

Resolution recognizing the 45th Anniversary of Wheelock Family Theatre.

Resolution recognizing the 150th Anniversary of Old South Church.

Resolution recognizing Marvin Martin.

Resolution recognizing Anna Leslie.

Resolution in memory of Charles M. Raso.

Resolution recognizing William "Bill" Spain.

Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Ryan Pratt in City Council, effective January 24, 2026.

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Coletta Zapata offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Elaine Donovan, Judith E. Evers, Stephan Marin Betancurt, Samantha Peracchi, Gabriela Ramirez, and Elizabeth Sanchez in City Council, effective December 6, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Angelique Brutus, Lorraine Payne Wheeler, Reginald W. Stewart, Bayle Vines, and Ewura Yankah in City Council, effective December 13, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Skarlett Abreu Martinez, Dulce M. Bernal-Sandoval, Katarina Helfrich, Beatrix Marcel Knight, and Millie Rivera in City Council, effective December 13, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Santana offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employee Stanislaus A. Blejwas in City Council, effective December 13, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Dorah Pierre Louis and Olivia Huynh in City Council, effective December 13, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune for Councilor Mejia offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Skarlett Abreu Martinez, Dulce M. Bernal-Sandoval, Katarina Helfrich, Beatrix Marcel Knight, and Millie Rivera in City Council, effective January 3, 2026.

Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of temporary employees Cindy Dieujuste-Jacob, Jesse Purvis, and Julian Viviescas Mejia in City Council, effective December 6, 2025.

Councilor Louijeune offered the following: Order for the appointment of central staff employees in City Council, effective December 13, 2025.

Communication was received from Mayor Michelle Wu, regarding certain information under section 17F pertaining to Boston Housing Authority operations and standard practices, Docket #1854, passed by the Council on October 22, 2025.

Resolution recognizing Richard Wright.

The Chair moved adoption of a Consent Agenda containing the following items:

The Chair stated in absence of objection, one late file matter would be added to the Consent Agenda. No objection being heard, the following item was added:

The items contained within the Consent Agenda were severally adopted.

Adjourned at 3:47 p.m. on motion of President Louijeune, in memory of Charles M. “Chuck” Raso, Mary Healey, Guilen Guerrier, Napoleon Jones-Henderson, and the father of former Governor Charlie Baker, the meeting concluded sine die. Attest: Alex Geourntas City Clerk

The chair stated in absence of objection, ten late file matters would be added to the Agenda. No objection being heard, the following items were added:

Councilor Santana, on behalf of the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, submitted the following:

Councilor Coletta Zapata, on behalf of the Committee on Environmental Justice, Resiliency and Parks, submitted the following:

Councilor Santana called Docket #1951, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) in the form of a grant, for the Community Safety Initiative, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant will fund the City of Boston’s comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing gun, gang, and youth violence in the City, from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body. On motion of Councilor Santana, the order was passed.

Councilor Breadon called Docket #1976, message and order authorizing the City of Boston, acting by and through the Mayor’s Office of Housing, to accept and expend Thirty-Two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-One Dollars ($32,251.00) in supplemental funds awarded under HOME Investment Partnership Program- American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Act of 2021 for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The purpose of the HOME-ARP funds is to provide housing, shelter and services to individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations in the City of Boston. This award will support the development of affordable rental housing, from the Committee on Housing and Community Development. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body. On motion of Councilor Breadon, the order was passed; yeas 10 (Breadon, Coletta Zapata, Durkan, FitzGerald, Flynn, Murphy, Pepén, Santana, Weber), not present 2 (Mejia, Worrell).

Councilor Worrell, on behalf of the Committee on Ways and Means, submitted the following:

Councilor Coletta Zapata, on behalf of the Committee on Government Operations, submitted the following:

Councilor Santana called Docket #2036, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Forty-Eight Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty-Four Dollars ($148,824.00) in the form of a grant, for the Federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Reallocation, awarded by the United States Department of Justice, passed through the MA Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the Annual Boston Address Verification procedure mandated by the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board, from the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. No objection being heard, the matter was properly before the body. On motion of Councilor Santana, the order was passed.