Docket #1663
To accept and spend a $970,000 grant to fund the redesign and construction of 1350 Boylston St.
The property is an apartment complex. The docket was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development, and Transportation.
Docket #1664
To accept and spend a $413,472 grant from the United States Department of Justice.
This money will be used to create and fund three domestic violence advocates to be assigned to police districts, a management analyst at the Family Justice Center, a technology coordinator for data collection, reporting, and records management.
The docket was assigned to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
Read about other support groups in Boston helping survivors of domestic violence.
Docket #1665
To accept and spend a $402,785 grant from the United States United States Department of Justice.
This grant will also fund a management analyst at the Family Justice Center and a technology coordinator for data collection, reporting, and records management. Along with this, the grant will fund overtime for specialist units.
The docket was also assigned to the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
Docket #1666
To accept and spend a $259,252 grant from the MA Department of Energy for the Clean Vehicle Project.
The grant will cover liquified petroleum gas conversion kits for city pick-up trucks to reduce CO2 emissions. The docket was assigned to the Committee on Environment, Sustainability, and Parks.
Read more environment and climate change news here.
Docket #1624
A residential tax exemption of 35 percent of home value was approved for the Fiscal Year 2020.
Councilor Ciommo said “the city relies heavily on property tax for city funds,” and he “recommends this ought to pass.” The docket passed unanimously.
Docket #1337
An ordinance that establishes a municipal Inspector General’s office in the city.
The Finance Commission “expressed opposition,” said Councilor Michael Flaherty and stated that they “can achieve the same goals that were proposed by the inspector general.”
In support of the ordinance, Councilor Andrea Campbell said “Bostonians deserve a city government that is free of waste, corruption, grounded in transparency, and accountable to the people.” She believes an inspector general should be “accountable to the public, not the mayor.” Campbell also said that the city has an opportunity to “create something that is local, that could work in partnership and collaboration with the existing agencies while exceeding their jurisdiction, operating independently from the mayor and City Hall, and do so proactively.”
The docket was kept in the Committee on Government Operations.
Docket #0184
An ordinance that reauthorizes condo conversion protections for residents in the city and extends these protections by one year.
Currently, these protections grant renters living in apartments due to be converted into condominiums certain rights. These include the right to a notice period, first refusal to purchase their unit, relocation assistance and relocation benefits.
“There’s so many people who have no idea if their building is being sold or converted to a condo,” said Councilor Josh Zakim, who supports these measures. Councilor Ed Flynn said that in the future the Council could consider expanding “the protections in the ordinance to cover tenants facing displacement.”
The docket passed unanimously.
Find out what affordable housing advocates are doing to protect Boston residents from eviction.
Docket #1585
An ordinance to allow the inspectional services department to charge a fee for inspections conducted outside of the department’s normal hours.
The docket passed unanimously.
