City Council - Regular Meeting

Start. So. For the record, my name is Aaron Murphy at large city counselor, and I'm the chair of the Boston city council committee on human services. Today is June 29th. 2026 and the exact time is 1032 in accordance with chapter 2 of the acts of 2025 modifying certain requirements of the open meeting law in relieving public bodies of certain requirements including the requirement that public bodies conduct its meeting in public place that is open and physically accessible to the public the city council will be conducting this hearing virtually via zoom per the head sponsor of this request. I don't know if councilman here is on yet. I think she should be helping on soon. This hearing is being recorded. It is also being live streamed at boston.gov backslash city-council-tv and broadcast on Xfinity channel 8, RCN channel 82 and Fios channel 964. Written comments may be sent to the committee email at ccc.hs.boston.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all Councillors. Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing. Individuals will be called on the in the order in which they signed up and we'll have two minutes to testify. If you wish to sign up for public testimony and have not done so you can email our central staff liaison Ron Cobb at ron.cobb.boston.gov for the zoom link and your name will be added to the list. And thank you Ron I know you've been getting lots of emails and calls for this hearing so I appreciate the work you've been doing for this. So, today's hearing is on docket 0694 in order for a hearing on the conditions, operations and access of. Boston centers for youth and family pools. This matter was sponsored by council and here. Myself and council and was referred to the committee on April 1st, 2026. I do know. that this is a topic, an issue we have every year. And I know we've checked in, Councillor Flynn and I had one a couple months back, and I think it's important, especially now that the heat wave's coming, and always good to check in and see where we are on this city asset. So if I am correct, in order of arrival, we have Councillor Flynn, Councillor Pepin, and Councillor Durkan. I think that's correct. And if more colleagues join us, I will add them to the list.

Sorry, I'm having technical difficulties. Can you hear me?

I can, yes.

Thank you.

And council is here, um, from the administration, we have Brian Ford chief. Chief of operations. Thank you for being here, Brian. We also have Eddie McGuire, director of operations. And I believe it's Sam here for modest. Sam Lovingson is here who is the 1st deputy commissioner for PMD property management department. Which we all probably remember, I think it's 2 years now, the pools falls now under property management, which has had a positive impact. So, looking forward to hearing from them also. And we have some. Community panelists also who will come 2nd, but before I turn it over to the administration, I'm going to call on my. Colleagues for any opening statements, I'll go. 1st, to the lead sponsors, and then to counsel Flynn and counselor Durkin if that is okay with everyone. So, counsel me here if you're good to go, you can start.

Awesome, can you guys hear me and see me? Yes, both.

Okay, great.

So I just want to thank my colleagues for showing up. If anyone knows anything about me, I've always been all about making sure that we are creating space for community to amplify their voices. We've heard a lot of concerns regarding some of the pools closures and decisions, protocols, policies, and procedures that have not been in place for effective community processes. And so my hope is that in our time together, we can understand the how we go about making decisions like this, and the level of communication and engagement community plays in this process. And I'm just really grateful to community for reaching out to our office and asking us to create a platform for them to be heard. And I'm looking forward to working alongside the administration to set you all up for success as we continue to move through this work together. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilor Mejia. Councilor Pepin.

Good morning, everyone. Pleasure to be here today to talk about this very important topic. I represent three very beautiful pools in my district, and I know that I get a lot of questions from my residents about just the access to them, the quality of the pools, if they're going to be open this year. It's always a question. People are excited for them. I know that I have a great group of advocates in my district as well. that I've been advocating over at the Flaherty Pool. I believe I got some testimonies for that. Also some testimonies that I heard from seniors who want to make sure that their aquatics class continues to be strong with BCYF. I think that's a very popular class. So I wanted to elevate that, but wanted to, I'm probably gonna ask questions today both about facilities in terms of the relationships between BPS and BCYF, and then more geared towards BCYF programming and how they're being run at the pools. So that's what I'll be talking about today, making sure that my residents feel heard. And thank you so much for hosting this meeting, Councillor Murphy.

Of course, Councillor Flynn.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. My constituents in the south end have expressed their frustration regarding the prolonged closure of the pool at the Blackstone Community Center. BCYF pools have reopened. However, Blackstone remains closed. This is not only about a quality of life, it's also a safety issue for our children who are being left without critical swimming lessons throughout the year. The city must find the funding to complete pool repairs so that we're able to provide lessons for our children and neighbors in public housing. As of right now, the swimming pool at the Blackstone is closed indefinitely. It will not reopen unless the whole school is completely redone, which will likely take several years, or maybe it will not get done. But let me tell my colleagues in the administration about the Blackstone. It sits between the Villa Victoria and the Cathedral Public Housing, just down the road from Roxbury. Many families of color have historically used this pool. In November 2024, I held a hearing with Council Murphy on the status of the pools in the city. BPS informed me, that to reopen the pool, a full excavation would need to happen due to the aging shells, shell drains lines, groundwater coming back. However, I'm beyond frustrated now with what is happening with the lack of action at the Blackstone. I'm calling for an independent engineering study at the swimming pool at the Blackstone. I don't think it's fair that children in the south end in Roxbury, most of them are kids of color, don't have the same access to a swimming pool that wealthier white kids have. And I just can't accept that any longer. So I'm calling for an independent engineering study, and I don't want to hear that we're not able to open the Blackstone any longer. I want solutions on how we're going to open the Blackstone, and I'm not going to take no for an answer. sense that i'm frustrated yes i'm frustrated because people in frust in public housing are frustrated that they don't have the same level um of a swimming pool that wealthy white families do and my constituents don't feel like they're being heard and i want some answers and i'm going to call for this investigation and for a hearing order specifically on the blackstone but i want to use this opportunity to find out what the situation is with the blackstone thank you

Thank you, Council Flynn. Councilor Durk.

Thank you so much, Chair. I was able to join a couple years ago the opening of the Charlestown pool, which is looking incredible. And I understand there's a bunch of pools that are under. We don't have any pools in my district, but we are really excited that the Hennigan just opened because it's very close to a lot of my constituents in Mission Hill. And so... I understand that about three-fourths of the pools in the city are open and that pool infrastructure is extremely complicated. I think my advocacy is just for the pools to be open longer. I think that it's really important that sometimes when we invest over $30 million in a pool frustration, you would hope that it would be open for at least 90 days in the summer. So, and obviously making sure that I understand that our goal is to have students and young people work these jobs, and they're not out of school yet, so that raises its own issue, but grateful to BCYF and grateful to operations team and everyone who works to ensure I know for the Hennigan, it took a lot of advocacy and it took a lot of work on behalf of the operations team, so I'm grateful that that pool is open and I know that there's more work to do. but i think that we're you know as a city i think we're getting more splash pads open than ever we're doing as much as we can to uh make sure that um but the you know it's complicated and i think every single infrastructure project in the city is different so i'm excited to hear more through this hearing and i want to thank the chair for bringing this issue forward thank you everyone so

I'll just reiterate what people said, looking forward to this conversation to hear what state all of our pools are in, which ones are open. In the past, we've had issues where maybe the pool was functioning, but we needed staffing. I think we've gotten past that. that we're good with our lifeguards. Also want to get an update hearing that some of our schools may have to go back and do additional HVAC where we thought maybe it was done already. So if we can kind of get an overview of that also because sometimes our pools are closed not because the pool isn't working but because the building itself needs to be shut down for Um, you know, other repairs in the building, so. 1 thing I'd like to ask before I turn it over to the admin panel. We are holding this. I know council here and I have had several conversations. I'll be very transparent. I kind of push back on the virtual meeting, but she did convince me that. It's virtual to make sure that the community panelists voices are heard. So, if admin is going 1st, I just want to ask that you stay for the. Community panel to hear their concerns also in questions that we have. So, if you could assure me that that will be happening. Um, we can go forward. Council me here you have your hand raised.

Yes. Thank you. Counselor Murphy for accommodating a virtual meeting and. Hearing just 1 more thing, 2 more things that I want to point out is that, um, in regards to. The black stone as a parent, uh, organizer, even before I walked into city hall, I have been advocating and working alongside the blackstone parents and I do want to uplift and 2nd. Counselor Flynn's remarks regarding just the inequities of the black stone and and. The time is now, and then to counselor Durkin's remarks regarding the clarity pool in Charlestown. It was through the office of my office in particular that worked alongside concert Coletta. I'm about that then to ensure that the city was meeting the moment for the Charlestown community in regards to their pool. And I want to see that same type of energy. and response that we saw in Charlestown given to the Blackstone, in addition to making sure that the folks from the Flaherty Pool in Roslindale also understand that they do have a voice, And I would like to better understand how we ended up here anyways, with the clarity decision, that's going to be a lot of my questions. And lastly, just because I always like to lead with community. I'd like to advocate consumer fee that we honor if the, if everyone, if. If there's public testimony. Lined up virtually, or, you know, virtually, if we can hear a few voices from public testimony or and or community panel before we go to the admin, just because I think it's important. And I'm sorry if my office did not communicate that to you, but we'd like to lead. With a few public testimony before we hear from the admin panel, if that's okay with you and sorry if that was not communicated to you sooner.

A few things were sent over, but. I don't know if that was exactly asked. I do know. That I did get a list of a few people that Ron, I mentioned at the beginning has been working since. You know, the weekend to line up people, so I would ask Ron and Ethan. Are there people already with the link ready to go for public testimony? Do you know, because we could start with. Three, public testimony, and then we'll go to the admin based on the list I have right now. Do you know, Ron, if anyone's already lined up for that?

Yeah, Ron, you're on mute.

I think he's checking with Ethan. We'll see.

Madam Chair, we're checking now to see who I have already.

OK, we'll give it one minute. Thank you.

Yes, I believe the first few people are in here ready to go.

If you could, we're going to do three now. If you could accommodate that, if you elevate them and then I'll get them started. Thank you. Good morning Natasha. I see you on the screen. And I also see can we'll start with Natasha. You have 2 minutes if you could just start by. Identifying yourself your neighborhood or your connection and then you can go ahead with your testimony. Thank you for being on.

Great Thank you so much morning. My name is Natasha. My daughter just finished her 3rd season with the dolphins and I live in Rosalind Dale. I'd like to address BCYF's unfulfilled commitments. Six months ago, the city promised specific steps to improve community engagement. Only one of those has actually happened, a short-term working group for the Dolphins. We greatly appreciate that working group. Without it, swimmers would not have had a spring season or secured grants for next season. But advancing a vision for youth swimming requires the genuine community engagement that BCYF promised back in January, with kids and families at the center. But since then, BCYF has not engaged the broader Flaherty or swimming community about their needs. They did not send the promised surveys or monthly updates. Volunteers did that work instead. When BCYF did conduct outreach, we were left out. On February 12th, central office surveyed league families about competition days, but no Flaherty family I know received one. But the main thing I want to lift up what's most disappointing is the failure to form the broader citywide parent working group for competitive swim. There's been no meaningful follow through on this promise. And this undermines what I believe to be our shared goals, equitable access to both safe swim and high quality competitive swim opportunities that allow Boston kids to thrive in the water. In January, my daughter said to city officials, I want to swim in high school, college, and maybe one day internationally. My papi is from Puerto Rico, and one of his dreams is for me to represent our island. I always want to try to make him proud. The dolphins can help me learn to compete at that level. I urge the city to help make the dreams of Boston's current and future youth swimmers a reality. Honor your proposals. Form the citywide working group. Let's create real infrastructure for youth swimming like other sports have and build a shared future for Boston's youth together. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Ken, you can go. Thank you.

Good morning. I'll be quick. So I work with the task force, and we've been working, our youth have been working for a year and a half to get the Hennigan pool open. And I'm happy to say that democracy does work after a year and a half of a lot of work. A lot of city officials, a lot of elected officials working with us. We did get it open. Hope, Councillor Flynn, and I'm wishing the best for you with the Blackstone. One thing I will say is I can't think of a square footage that gives more joy to people of all ages across the city than the swimming pools. Elderly, young kids, infants with their parents, et cetera. And so I think if we can try to uplift and make the pools a bit more of a priority, especially with this heat coming, but also just in the indoor pools as well. Kids can't have their phones with them in the pools. um and they there's so much social interaction laughter fun everyone who's been around a pool knows this and our teens jumped in uh the mayor jumped in the pool the other day uh counselor weber jumped in the pool a bunch of teens jumped in and they spent hours hours in that pool no phones imagine So one thing that might be helpful is that if we, there were so many entities involved in the Hennigan, and so if we went back and did a little bit of a survey, how could have things picked up a little quicker rather than the year and a half that it took? That might be helpful. But again, it's one of those positive stories that just took a lot of patience and persistence. Thank you.

Thank you and congratulations. It doesn't go unnoticed. I know Council Flynn you mentioned and Council Mejia uplifted advocacy when certain pools do get the attention and get the work needed. So happy that it did work out there. I think the last one for now will be Danny. I see you on. You can go.

Hello. Okay.

Yeah, we're good. We can hear you. You can go.

Okay. With the Hennigan Pool opening, I can't stress how important it is for the people of the community to be able to learn and to be able to swim. For the youth, it becomes increasingly common that they grow up and don't learn how to swim. Like, every day, you see more and more kids not being able to learn how to swim. and for the pool being shut down for such a long time has definitely contributed to that i believe i learned how to swim in the pool ever since i was seven or seven second grade at the hennigan and while mr ted was still my instructor when i got back into the pool i i stayed in there for so long that i didn't want to get out my friends and i stayed there until it was time for us to get out of the pool we had so much fun that i didn't want to have the cool close back up again With it being redone, and it will allow the youth but also the elderly to practice swimming in the water, with the pool having access for those with special needs and disabilities will also be included with boards and platforms for regular school days. People should be able to swim in the pool during all months of the year. It's also important for the school to have a swim team to further establish an incentive for students to learn at a young age to swim and to be able to compete in possible tournaments and represent the Heligan. It is truly heartwarming that the space opens back up. It makes me happy to finally see the space where I grew up and learned all those years being a student at the Hennigan. Thank you.

Thank you, Danny. We will now go to the administration. I'm not sure if you have already figured out which order you want to go in, but you can go ahead. Thank you.

Well, we have a presentation, so I thought we'd run through that first.

Yes. Thank you. Go ahead.

Everyone see that?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

OK. All right, so. All right, so there are 22 pools owned by the city. 18 of the pools are operated by BCYF, two of which are outdoor and open only during the summer. As you can see, there are a few pools such as the Carter School Pool, the South End Fitness Center, BPS Humana, and Madison that are not operated by BCYF. We are operating the Madison Pool this summer, however. And then we also have the Curly Beach. So just kind of an overview of where pools are located, some of the pools that exist in our network that are not operated by us, but are available to either the student population or being operated by somebody different. In the next slide. Looks like we're having, oh, there we go. So, just to break down, I won't go through every single 1 of these, but as you can see how the pools and maintain, um, which facility falls under. Um. Obviously, does help maintain those pools on a day to day basis as well as operate them. And then owned, uh, pools. Um, as you can see there, another list, and then, which is the south end. So, just for everybody to kind of get an understanding. Of. you know, jurisdiction as well as kind of how we work together on this. It's this seems to be one of the areas that people, you know, get a little confused by. So we can always share this after as well. Just want to go through, you know, just the percentage of pools and where we were and where we are today. As you can see, just kind of how we account for everything. The only one that is excluded during our analysis is the charter school. And then you can see from 2023 to 2026, we have one from 10 pools to 16. That was a significant amount of work and coordination done between BCYF, BPS, PFD, and PMD to make that happen. Major capital projects and repairs, um, since 2021, I think it's an unprecedented amount of investment in our aquatic network. Um, not only from a staffing structure, but from a facility structure as well. I'm getting the necessary funds, uh, together in order. To, you know, see all of these reopenings, um, the Paris street pool, the clarity pool, the Marshall pool, Matt hunt Draper Condon Quincy. Lee and Perkins and Hennigan. Again, I think unprecedented amount of investment in our aquatic settings and just shows the dedication of my colleagues throughout the different departments to meet the needs of the City of Boston and its patrons to try to get as many facilities open as possible. And it hasn't been an easy task to say the least, but it's a task that we took wholeheartedly and continue to work toward ensuring that these pools are just got reopened, stay open and are servicing the public. Um, upcoming capital projects, Curtis Hall pool will be closed in July of 2026 for a one year renovation. It's desperately needed. The facility is constantly battling with different issues going up and down. And so finally, being able to get this investment in Curtis Hall will ensure that we can operate that moving forward. In a safe environment and also in an updated environment. Grove hall, obviously the new community center, it's underway currently will also include a pool, which will be a vital asset to the community. And we look forward to. You know, building an operation around that as as we progress. Um, marabella pool is closed this year because they are doing the north end community center, uh, rebuilt that will be included in it. And so just like the clarity pool was, um, updated and. Well, essentially rebuilt and the same thing with the marabella pool, which was struggling for many years to maintain its. Viability, um, looking forward to also seeing that come back online, um, somewhere in 2028. And then the Mason pool is currently in design for a major renovation. And we've continued to work with property management and PFD to get the necessary third-party entities in there to assess those conditions as well as to provide an update as to how we can move about modernizing the pool to ensure its operations moving forward. I'd like to hand this over to Sam Levinson to just kind of go through the maintenance situation and how we've been handling that collectively between ECYF and PMD.

Yes, thank you, Eddie. Good morning, Madam Chair. Good morning, Councillors. My name is Sam Loveson. I am with the City of Boston's Property Management Department and have the distinct pleasure of overseeing maintenance of the seven standalone BCYF pools, which has been an enjoyable experience given how important they are to the community and how quickly the maintenance and the changes of these pools can have an impact on the communities that they serve. So in partnership with the mayor, thanks to her prioritization of aquatic facilities and the work by the finance and budget team to allow for additional funding to service those pools, all through the mayor's resilient buildings plan, we put a number of changes into practice since 2021 to better maintain our pools and bring them into a state of good repair. The first thing we did was we assessed all pools along with all other city buildings as part of the citywide facility conditions assessments, which BPS also conducted for their facilities, giving us a clear understanding of any deficiencies in those facilities and what the cost would be and the priorities would be to repair them. In 2022, through our partners in the state legislature and the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation, we received a $5 million grant of American Rescue Act funds dedicated to aquatic repairs, which we've been putting to use. And those funds are currently being used to do the overhaul of the Curtis Hall pool, which Eddie mentioned. It closed on last Friday on the 26th and will be closed for approximately 12 months. In 2023, as I mentioned, we took over maintenance, we being the property management department of the seven standalone BCYF pools along with the other BCYF centers. And since 2024, we along with our partners in operations, BCYF and Boston Public Schools have been meeting monthly to talk about pools, just coordinate closures, maintenance, any sort of upcoming issues or programming items that we need to discuss. And then in 2024, we also put a new pool maintenance contract in place and BPS did the same. This maintenance contract, again, thanks to the prioritization of the mayor and our finance and budget team, is really focused on reducing unplanned closures. So we're ensuring we always have on-call technology technicians available, parts readily available, and that we can ensure that the pools are kept in a state of good repair after all of these extensive capital investments like at the Cloridy. And my colleague Brian Ford can expand upon this, but BPS is also dedicated to staff positions to work on pool maintenance supervision and sort of move that forward. And with that, I will turn it over to Brian and the BPS team.

Thank you.

Thank you, Sam. Good morning, everyone. Thank you council for having me today. My name is Brian for junior and the chief of operations for Boston public schools. Just to touch a little bit on what Sam was mentioning in terms of the way we've accounted for our staffing. Around these pools, we do have 2 dedicated positions that have come to us in 2023. Where we have an assistant director of special projects as well as a senior pool supervisor. With that, and the allocation of our general contracting budget of around 3 and a half million for the school year of 2024, we're able to address around 4 pools to make sure that they were operable and ready for the summer. In 2025, we're able to secure an additional 4Million in spending. So we're able to continue to do the work on those same pools and get even more of them operable. And over the last 2 years. We've been, we spent just around 1 and a half 1Million. dollars out of that fund which is going to be for the next few years and then moving forward we have a contract with weston samson for around four million dollars that continues to do the repair and maintenance on our 12 school-based schools now right now we're in a pretty good position so nine of our schools are currently running in school swim programs which serves around 1300 students and i learned swim classes and public education and physical education 8 sessions of monthly learning community opportunities for BPS, some instructors, lifeguards and some professionals. 9 of our BPS, some instructors are training with through their swim whispers training. And in 2026, 2026, swim and water safety were integrated into physical education framework for student learning outcomes. Looking forward. We're going to continue to maintain the strong relationship that we formed with working together and collaborating. As you can see on a few of the previous slides, and, you know, me talking to Sam and Eddie probably more often than we would absolutely need to on a daily basis, just to make sure or weekly basis, just to make sure things are going as planned. Um, we going forward, we'll continue to put out contracts for 3 year sections of time to make sure that we continue to maintain our pools. And. After that, we are going to make sure we can continue our assessments, make sure we can recommend capital projects where they need to happen, put together major project proposals for critical work and see which items fall into our maintenance categories versus our capital planning expenditures. And with that, I'll pass it back to Eddie if he has any closing remarks.

Thank you, Brian. I'm going to move back just one step just to go over some of this is related to BCYF programming. As you can see, swim lessons, we've provided them to over 20,000 youth since 2022. We've trained, you know, 15 BCYF staff and BPS lifeguards for adaptive swim techniques. And we're offering adaptive swim programming at four different BCYF pools and hosting annual autism awareness swim event every April. So we're trying to ensure that we include all walks of life and giving opportunity for individuals to access these resources. We worked very hard to essentially reopen. And as you can see through the list below, the increase of obviously our aquatic program and attendance. If you can see, there's a little dip in FY25. Part of that is from a data cleanup that we did, as well as a few pools that were down within the last year. So there was a little bit of a dip, but nothing too significant. I believe it's an accurate number. So that is the presentation. I can stop sharing at this point.

Okay. Thank you. So we're gonna go to my colleagues to ask questions to the admin, and then I've been in contact with Ethan and Ron, and we have five public testimony that will come up after my colleagues before we go to the next panel. So, Councilor Mejia, you're first. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm having somewhat of internet issues. Can you hear me?

Yes, we can't see you, but we can hear you.

Hold up. I'm not going to deny you of my presence. Here we go. There we go. You're good. Okay, I'm good. All right. So just a few questions. The Hennigan finally reopened. So awesome. Nearly after five years. What were some of the key factors that delayed the reopening and what has BCYF changed to prevent closures again? of that length in the future, it'd just be helpful to know. As we know that the Blackstone remains closed, so I'm just curious, what's the current timeline for reopening? What remains outstanding and what barriers still exist? families deserve to know where we're at and why we're not where we need to be. So I'd love to better understand that. Parents have raised concerns about changes to swim team programming at the Flaherty in particular. And I'm just curious what led to those decisions and how is BCYF engaging families when programming changes affect youth and disrupt entire families or families who were traveling all the way from East Boston to participate and now they're driving all the way to Dedham. That's very disruptive. So I'm just curious, you know, what work are we doing now so that we can continue to work together and that students have access to the team? So just curious about kind of where we're landing with that. And can you share BCYF's current priorities for aquatics division? For example, do we know if the city has made any significant investments in the initiatives like Swim Safe to expand swimming lessons? How does the priorities shape decisions around staffing, maintenance, programming, and access across the entire pool system? And so I'm just curious about that. And then I know I'll have a second round, so I don't want to overwhelm you with too much in this first go round.

You may have already. I'm happy to answer them the best that we can. I'll take the sort of maintenance and sort of work to address sort of the lengthy and unplanned closures. And I'll let Brian jump in regarding the BCI BPS. manage pools as necessary, but essentially it's a two pronged approach. One is continuing to make these large capital investments. We know that we have decades of deferred maintenance in our aquatics facilities, which is unfortunate. And this administration has made it a priority to sort of along with the community and you all to prioritize capital investment in pools. We have active capital projects going on at the Mirabella, at Curtis Hall and others. Then in parallel with that, One thing that we are really working on along with BPS is getting those maintenance contracts in place so that we're able to perform expected preventative maintenance, sort of replace parts quickly before issues sort of snowball. But in my experience some of these longer closures are really about sort of the gel of the pool or really like sort of critical structural systems of the pool itself reaching the end of their expected life and so it's unfortunate that those are such large problems but large problems tend to take a much longer time to fix and what I think we've got better at is the small problems that may have resulted in a pool being closed for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks because of waiting on parts or trying to diagnose a problem. I believe we've gotten much better at resolving those issues, and we can focus our energy and our efforts on those bigger picture problems where a pool is losing water. How do we do that? We're going to have to close it and renovate it, but we can prioritise that. Brian, anything you would add there?

Yes. Thank you, Sam. i would say uh maybe pun intended here right it's a fluid situation for a lot of our pools um and uh specifically as it relates to the hennigan we were looking at 2023 was the last time that we were open prior to the most recent opening and the contracting vehicles are really something that slowed us down where we were seeing different pieces of maintenance without the proper staffing on our side to be able to assess what those problems might be Once we were able to bring in some people to assess the pools, both internally and externally, by doing some audits, it allowed us to actually forecast what it was like to have the right people in place to see exactly what contracting vehicles we needed to put there. So it meant that instead of doing the $20,000, $10,000 WQC or our written quote contract for us to put the work forward, we were able to do an assessment that allowed us to put a larger maintenance contract together to do this work. It also meant that we had a budget that was allocated from the capital budget that allowed us to also piggyback on that to do the service that we did need. In that pool, and then it was replacing of the chemical feeder system. After that was working, it was kind of continually chasing the issue down the line where we couldn't trace it before, because we needed all pieces to be operable before we can figure out how much needed to happen. It seemed like that domino effect, along with some of the lead times that we're seeing on parts, some of the contractors being on site, was really what slowed that process down. But very similar to what Sam was mentioning before.

OK. Is anyone going I may have missed it, but did anyone talk about the decision making. Process for the clarity how that came to be and. Eddie can help you with that.

Yep. I was just about to chime in. So, um, the decision making process specific to. The flowery dolphins you're saying are.

Well, I mean, yeah, I would like to start with that because that's 1 of the reasons why we're here today. Overall, you know, we were also hearing from families from the head again, and we were hearing from families at the Blackstone. Obviously, you know. That my office was heavily engaged with the clarity pool in Charlestown. So if you could just kind of paint a picture for what family and community engagement looks like overall, and then I would like to dive in a little bit deeper to kind of how we ended up with the flowery situation and just the bumps that we've hit along the way.

Okay. I mean, so just in general, where advocacy on every level is coming in to BCOF on a daily basis, whether it's specific to aquatics or just general programming. That is being accounted for. Our public information officer is collecting that. We are responding to that as quickly as we possibly can. What we say is obviously we share that with our colleagues and it is identified by the administration as well as obviously you all to help us set our priorities. It isn't the only determining factor, but it is something that is taken into account. So to say that there is like a particular scale, there isn't, but there is one that that we are accounting for it. We are trying our best to address it and addressing it in the operational parameters that we have in the fiscal, as well as the amount of money we have and things like that. So taking a look at facilities, especially facilities that may need a little love to get back on board or a complete rehaul, and then trying to prioritize in that fact. With respect to programming, changes in programming, happen season to season pretty regularly. Sometimes things change from one season to the other, and we do get feedback on that. And then we try to incorporate that within our You know what the programmatic offerings that are coming in the near future. So. That would be specific to saying, like, that's how we take our information. A lot of it comes from 311. Some of it comes from a site level engagement as well as when we have events. Um, and so we get briefed on those things and we put that into. Um. you know, our analysis of when we're reviewing the entire network. With respect to, yes, Counselor.

No, go ahead. I'm hoping that you'll get to what?

The Flaherty.

Yeah.

Yes. With respect to the Flaherty, the Flaherty Dolphins, they are five, you know, they operate under the Roslindale Community Center Council, a separate 501 nonprofit, independent. Of Boston centers for use and family, um, they are using our facility and that is going to continue and they have been working. With the, but both chiefs, both chief Masso and deputy chief Conley as well as Nadine. Um, I, I heard earlier in the comments that people were concerned that. Not certain things have not progressed as far as they would like it. What I do know is that they do continue to meet with the flared dolphins and parents and communicate. You think it's a bi weekly basis or a monthly basis and there isn't a timeline set to say this is when. Our connection with them, and it still continues, they're still allowed to use our facility, not only the clarity facility, but we've also had conversations about if. Scheduling at other pools as well, if necessary. And that is essentially where we are with respect to that process. I remember you at the council. I remember you being there for the community meeting as well. So they are operating. They are operating out of the Metro League, which is separate of us. And they are still being coached by Louis Barnes, I believe. He's just not coaching during his working hours as a pool manager. So I don't know if that adequately answers the question or not.

Well, I know that we're on a timer. I'm not sure. Maybe I can just do a follow up in my 2nd round. Councilor Murphy just chair Murphy just to be with my colleagues. I'll come back for round 2. Thank you. Thank you. Council of pep in.

Hey, everyone. Again, thank you so much for this hearing. Thank you so much to the panelists, for the community panelists for testifying and for all their work. To the admin, thank you so much for providing the questions. I also have a ton of questions similar to Council Mejia, follow up on the Flaherty pool as well. But I want to start off with some a little bit more basic questions. Programming for the seniors program of the aquatics program, big fans again. I know that they've been reaching out for updates on the funding, on when they're going to continue. I want to know where do you guys hold those programs for our seniors through the Age Strong Partnership as well. I know that many of them attend the one at the Flaherty Pool, so I wanted to get an update on that specific site. And then I think that this is a question more towards Chief Ford. Regarding the Mildred Pool and the Mattahunt Pool, I would like to know in terms of timing and if the pools are ready to be open this summer. I know that the Mildred Pool had some questions about if it was going to be open or not last year. And I just want to make sure that those two pools are going to be available to the Mattapan residents for this summer. And then the questions that I had regarding the Dolphins and the Flaherty Pool is a little bit more broader question as well, is in terms of the future of the swim team, I know that they have been very successful, very competitive, one of the best, if not the best swim team in the city of Boston. I've always wanted to know if the city of Boston is looking to create some sort of a league of its own, Use the Dolphins as an example. What is the plans for the future of swim teams and swim leagues in general in the city of Boston? I'll leave it at that for now.

Thank you, Counselor. So maybe I'll just start with the last question first, since we were just on that topic, and then we can move backwards. With respect to competitive swim at BCOF, we're looking at not only making sure we're maintaining our own league, which is a little below, I would say, the threshold of what the Metro League Flaherty Dolphins are and making sure that we expand our own league at all the new pools that we just opened. And it's really the entryway for you to get to initially into competitive swim and then take the next step into something like that of the Metro League. In addition to that, in collaboration with USA Swim, Chief Masso, Deputy Chief Conley, as well as Nadine have been working and collaborating with USA Swimming in order to figure out a structure that could potentially fit within our own so that can elevate it there it's still in kind of the works like drafting works there are like agreements that need to be signed and you know liability and threshold as well as parameters to even compete at that level i am not a pro and understanding all of that but i do know that those conversations are existing and that competitive swim continues to be um you know competitive swim definitely is one of the you know key facets of our aquatic Network and something that we prioritize, but it's not the only thing either. So I just want to make, you know, teaching people how to swim is is key in order for you to be able to get to the level of competitive swim as well as ensuring that we have programs such as. You know, senior aquatic programming, whether that's water aerobics or the bikes or whatever it is. So there's a, you know, a spectrum of different types of programs that are all trying. We're all trying to prioritize as well as ensure that they're. You know, spread around the city, um, as well, you know, in an equitable fashion. So you don't have to travel. You know, all the way to Ross and Dale, in order to get that class, if you live in these Boston, um. My situation with respect to the classes and moving forward, we are definitely dedicated to ensuring that we're providing the highest quality programming as consistent and reliable programming as possible. Obviously, the parameters in which we're operating have changed under the new budget. And we're going to make sure that we do an analysis of not only our ongoing operations, but all of our programming And to ensure that we are efficient and ensuring. That we are consistent and reliable as well as equitable in the way that we distribute programming, especially aquatic programming throughout. Um. You know, throughout our, our network, um, I will say it, it will be a little bit more difficult this year than it has in years past with respect to. you know, the new fiscal situation, but we're still not going to, I mean, we're still going to do our best to ensure consistent, reliable, and safe programming.

That's great. And if possible, our office has questions about what classes are available. If you have some sort of a breakdown of, especially my region, like the southern part of the city, where there are the senior aquatic class or the, any type of programming, for that age group, that would be helpful if you could share that.

Yeah, absolutely. I'll make sure we follow up after this to have that information sent over.

Thank you. And then to Chief Ford, just following up on the Mattaheim and the Mildred school pools. I know that those are BPS connected swimming pools as they are connected to schools. Wanted to know, is there any updates on that I can share the residents on terms of them opening for the summer?

Yes, so good morning, Councillor Peckham. Good morning. Good to see you. So I have a live document and I was really hoping, we have some people boots on the ground today that are going through a couple of these sites just to see if there's gonna be some further updates. As of right now with the Mildred, the pool is ready to be operated in its current status. So right now it's just working through some of those logistics to make sure that we can fully pull the pool online. That's just going to be some administration. So we will work with that. And you should be able to tell the community that as long as we can program the pool, it should be available for use.

Do you have a date expected? Or are you aiming for an expected date that they can say, like, I don't know, like July such and such, you can start using the pool this day?

Yeah. i don't have that date um i think as you know i work with you know some of our colleagues here and some of the existing school programming we'll figure out if that's something we're able to do because that is also a site that um we have summer programming in so i just want to see if like they are using the pool currently or have a plan to use the pool and then um what we can do for the the residents as well so i just i think i need to have another conversation with eddie and sam Um, to figure out what that looks like, it's being inspected today.

By, and is already. In the background, anticipating that the inspection goes well to move staff there almost immediately to open. Um, and so. Usually after the inspection, there are usually some boxes to check. Once those things are done, the BPS will communicate that to us, and our staff will deploy as quickly as possible to reopen the pool.

That's huge. That's huge. That's great updates. Thank you so much for doing that. And then I'll also advocate for the Mad Hunt pool. I was just there, I want to say two weeks ago, with the amazing Raymond Heath. He had a great youth opportunity. program there, he still has one. I was able to talk to over 30 young people and the kids actually brought up the questions about when the pool is going to open. So we'll love to also get an update on that, when that's available. I know those two sites, Mattapan, you know, they have people that they want to go swimming. So we're very blessed to have two pools in that neighborhood. So advocating for both Milligan and the Mattahan. And before, Madam Chair, before I know my time probably coming up, I just want to thank the parents of the Flaherty Pool. I know that the transition has not been easy for the families. I just want to elevate their voices. They've been doing everything possible they can to advocate for those kids. I believe there's over 90 swimmers in that program, many of them who live in my district. It's always nice to see democracy in action when the parents are speaking up, the youth are speaking up. Kudos to BCYF for creating the opportunity to have those working sessions on a biweekly basis. That was very helpful to at least get to where they are now. I know that we are not at a place where it's the exact answer we've been looking for. but I know that we are heading in the right direction. I think that with the eyes of, you know, the city council partnership with ECYF and the parents, I think that we can make sure that the dolphins continue to be successful. But that's what I wanted to say.

Thank you, council Pippin, council Flynn Europe.

I'm sorry, did you want to?

Yeah, go ahead. Sorry.

I just wanted to interject for a minute because I didn't answer the question on the Mata hunt. Oh, thank you. Live updates are great. So the Mata hunt just passed their inspection two minutes ago. So we should be pretty good there. And so we'll have an opening date for you. And the Mildred was just flagged as open for me right now.

Huge.

Just wanted to.

Thank you. Councillor Murphy, it looks like we're going to go swimming in Mattapan.

I know. I'll see you there in our neighbourhood. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Councillor Flynn.

Thank you. I'm still asking about respect for my constituents in the south end, the Blackstone swimming pool. located across the street from Ruth Barclay Public Housing Development, across the street from Villa Victoria, two developments that are almost all people of color. We're talking about in this conversation, high school swimming, college swimming, elite swimming. But what about my constituents that are living in public housing and down the road that live in Roxbury? What about them? Are they part of this conversation or are we just ignoring them? They might not have the advocacy or the ability to effectively weigh in with elected officials, but They're important. Their families and their children deserve a little bit of respect. We haven't heard that conversation at all about the Blackstone. We're almost ignoring them and hoping that they go away. I've voted nine times for the capital budget. and the Blackstone swimming pool is still closed. I want to make sure my constituents that are living in public housing and in Roxbury and South End have the same opportunities as other families, wealthier families, white families that have the ability to lobby their elected officials. But why are we refusing to have a conversation about this, Sam? Can't we engage city officials and work on trying to identify ways that we're able to reopen, invest in the resources for the Blackstone School? Why is there so much silence around this?

Thanks, Councillor. Unfortunately, I do not oversee the Blackstone. I'd have to defer to Mr. Ford on that one.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

Good morning, Councillor. Hi, Brian. This is a tough question to answer, and I don't think that I have any great response for you, just to be frank. We have been... advocating for all of the pools, right? It's not that we have precedented one over another. I think we've got to a place where we did our initial assessments. We saw that two pools were outstanding. Two pools were a little bit above what could be considered that maintenance line. That ended up being the up Holland pool and the Blackstone pool. We have since done those assessments. I think we went to the pool together I don't wanna recall the time online because I don't remember the exact date.

We did and I'm requesting, I'm gonna send another email out. I'd like to do an onsite visit next week with the appropriate city officials at the Blackstone. But I just can't accept it any longer, Brian, that we're not able to fix a swimming pool in the city of Boston. I'm not saying it's you because it's not you, Brian, because I like you and I have great respect for you. But I just can't accept that any longer, that we're unable to fix the swimming pool in the Blackstone pool. And I'm hearing about other pools where elected officials are jumping in the water and everyone's having a grand old time. But what about my constituents at the Ruth Barclay development? Almost all people of color. What about the people at Villa Victoria? Almost all people of color. People down the road in Roxbury that go to the swimming pool as well. I have an obligation to them. I'm not going to jump in the swimming pool regardless if it's fixed or not fixed. My job is to fix the pool, and it hasn't been fixed, and I want us to work together. I'm willing to work with you, Brian, because we've worked well together, but I'm just not going to accept any longer that the Blackstone School is a school that's unfixable. I can't accept that.

I agree, and I think what you're asking for is the appropriate next step. I think getting an engineering assessment, working with the team that has expertise in this, looking and comparing against the capital budget that exists now and figuring out like, what is. You know that next step, right? We talked about the shell. We talked about the excavation that needs to happen in the building. We talked about the wastewater lines that were there as well that need some additional support. And I think comprehensively, we need to put it all together with the FCA that we've done with that assessment that. You know, we've identified with our pool team, but I think we also need to bring in a couple of extra people. I think it wouldn't be against. you know, regulation for us to think about what a civil engineer might do for that part of the city and how we could Think about this, so that up Holland, we started this process. And I think it Blackstone. There should also be an ability for us to start this process. I just have to check check with, like, a few things on my end. What what it takes to get that off the ground. For at least for us to all have, like, that transparency.

Yeah, I, I see, I see us all celebrating the pools across the city that are opened and. And I was over in the south end. I was over in Roxbury over the weekend. I was at the bowling building for a brunch in honor of Mel King and his family. And residents came up to me and were asking me, Ed, what about families of color, swimming lessons for them in the south end in Roxbury? When are you going to open that pool up, Ed? Is there any support on the city council or in the mayor's office for putting resources into the Blackstone swimming pool? And I said, well, there is with me. And I'm not giving up on my constituents. But I hope we have the same level of excitement and commitment like we did with opening other swimming pools around the city. And it's just, this is a racial justice issue as far as I'm concerned. And we want to make sure young people of color, boys and girls, have swimming lessons. That's important. That's a safety issue. That's a moral issue. That's about respect and dignity for our residents, for all of our residents. People in wealthy neighborhoods have the ability to get swimming lessons for their kids. And that's fine. I'm happy about that. But kids in public housing, in low-income families, don't have that same ability. And that's the job of the city, to provide those resources. And we have, we've filled them. We've filled those kids. And we need to come together for a plan, develop a plan, because they deserve a little bit of respect. And they've been denied that respect from the mayor's office and the city council, as far as I'm concerned. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Council Flynn. Council Louis-Jean, you're up next.

Good morning everyone. I'm happy to be with all of you and I also just wanted to say that I know that there's tremendous work in the city to do to make sure that all of our pools are online and that we're able to meet the needs of all of our residents. And I also want to acknowledge To you, to Brian and to Ed, the tremendous work you all have done and BCYF has done to get us this far in celebrating pool opening. Because I do think that there's been a lot of great work not to take away from the work that needs to happen. So just wanted to say that. I also wanted to uplift the advocacy. I think Councilor Pepin asked many of my questions with respect to the Flaherty pool and access for everyone. I think Director McGuire, I heard your answers when you were talking about making sure that the pool was accessible to those aquatic lessons and those who needed lessons on how to swim and developing the BCYF's own teams. I'm wondering sort of when we're talking about allocating the time to different programs, you know, in this situation, I want to uplift the dolphins here. How are we making a decision about pull time?

Um, with respect to pool time, obviously, I mean, I think our priorities are programming 1st, especially like the swim lessons, um, and anything that our staff are facility facilitating. We've put a lot of time and effort into developing those structures as well as ensuring that the staff are certified and certified. You know, we were picking up those expenses in order to have that quality and to have the ability to do so. Um, but also a 3rd party vendors that we've brought in that specialize in aquatics. So we try as much as possible to ensure that we're consistently. Programming the pool while also. You know, having general windows of opportunity for whether it's open swim or a 3rd party use. Um, and so when we take a look at how we're going to do that, it's obviously programming 1st. Then things that are specialized, like, vendor purpose, whether it's for seniors. Whether it's a different type of activity that we might not have in house, but we want to make sure we're offering it to the public then. With respect to the next step would be kind of general. General open access, swim, open, swim, lap, swim, things like that to the general and then looking for those other windows that are there for 3rd party use. Um, and that's that's kind of the way that we look at it and prioritize. Um, and luckily we're able, you know, there are a lot of competing. Asks all throughout the city, it's not just 1 particular group or or another. It's 10s of them. Um. And ideally, we're able and we are continuing to build toward having a lot of these things in-house and having those times allocated and expertise in-house. whether it's for competitive swim or if it's a lifeguard who wants to be trained in, you know, aqua aerobics. So trying to get off, not so much relying on vendors as much as possible, but in-house expertise as well as kind of, you know, making sure that third-party communities have an equitable opportunity to access one of those windows, and that balance is sometimes a little difficult. Oh, Ben. Counselor, I can't hear you. You're muted.

You're muted. Pro mistake, sorry. Are we going to be able to guarantee to the dolphins the time that they need to... You just went on mute again, Councillor, sorry. Oh, sorry. Are we going to be able to guarantee to the dolphins the time that was promised to them regarding pool usage and lane time?

Right now, my understanding is that they are continuing to operate out of the Flaherty. We've also offered other locations within our network to ensure that the time that they need is there. And the chiefs, as well as Nadine, have been working with them on a biweekly basis to continue to hear their concerns, as well as ensuring that their operation can Be sustained at at that location, I would say, I think my understanding is that. They were operating out of the clarity, uh, swimming, like, 8 times a week. That might be a reduced a little bit, or we might be able to move them to a different location, but the bulk of. What they have done historically at clarity has not been. Interfered with, um, so we look forward to having them here, you know, their season this year as well.

Thank you. And I just want to just encourage you to continue to work alongside the families and their priorities as we want to make sure that we're maintaining these competitive surf teams and doing the work of building out. I 100% hear you about making sure that pools are available to learn how to swim. I know that's a deep, deep need, especially for our young kids, black and brown kids. Just learning how to swim is so, so important. I have my own swim story and challenges and journey as a result of not having access to pools. And so it's incredibly important that we do everything we can to make accessibility possible at all levels. But I want to make sure, you know, I came out and I listened to the families at the Cloridy in Charlestown, at the Flaherty in Roslindale, Mildred, and Mattapan, that we continue to center families and the priorities of our families in the decision-making process when it comes to the pool time. Thank you, everyone, and I really appreciate the time to ask these questions. Thank you, Counselor.

Thank you. So, Ron, Ethan, we're going to go. Thank you to my colleagues. That's all that are on right now. So we're going to go to. The next 5, I think Paul Paula. Apollo is 1st, Paulo Johnson.

Excuse me chair before we move on, we're still going to do a 2nd round of questions, right? You're just going to allow we will, but before we move on. Yep. I'll do it. Yep.

Thank you. We have Paulo, Anita, Mercedes, and Ethan, who should be coming up next, but Paulo first. Thank you.

Hi. Yeah, we can hear you. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Paula Paz Johnson. I'm from Rossendale, and I have been part of the Florida community on and off for about 18 years. First as a swimmer, and now as a parent of swimmers. I joined Florida at 16 years old after moving to Boston. Florida is so much more than a swim team. It teaches children discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and self-confidence. Ever since my kids joined, the team has played a huge role in shaping who they are. It has helped build their confidence, created lasting friendships, and given them a true sense of belonging in the community. As stated by Edward McGuire, BCYF's swim program is not a competitive swim team, but for many Boston families is the only affordable option. If the city doesn't support programs like Metro Flighty Dolphins, are children whose families can't afford private swim clubs and that are really good swimmers simply supposed to be left behind? Watching our kids worry about the future of something they love while feeling they're not being heard is hard to process. These are not small questions. They come from real fear and confusion. These kids are kids who show up for the city. They represent Boston with pride. They grow and learn here. but it often feels like their voices and the programs they love are not being prioritized. As a parent, this hurts because they're doing everything right. They just need the city to show up for them too. Investing in competitive swim is investing in Boston children. I hope the city continues to support programs like the Flaherty so future generations can have the same opportunity that helped shape my family for nearly two decades. Thank you.

Thank you, Paulo.

Anita? Good morning, my name is Anita Cooper and I'm here today as a Rossendale resident and Flaherty Dolphins swim team parent since 2017. Being part of the Flaherty Dolphins competitive swim team helped shape my three children into the young adults they are today. It isn't just a swim team. It's a pathway that builds confidence, leadership, and community. Last December, we learned that after 30 successful years, the Flaherty Dolphins competitive swim team would no longer continue as a BCYF program. Today, the Flirty Dolphins continues as a developmental program, and I'm grateful these opportunities remain. It introduces children to the sport in a supportive environment. But for swimmers who want to continue developing, there also needs to be a true competitive pathway. This means more advanced training, competition under standard swimming rules, and the opportunity to progress to higher levels of the sport. Today, that pathway continues through the Boston Dolphins, supported directly by families rather than a BCYF programme. Families are paying more than twice what they paid before because they believe this opportunity is worth preserving. There are very few competitive swim team options within Boston, and many suburban programs start at $2,000 a year. As opportunities become more expensive and move further away from the city, they become less accessible to the very families BCYF exists to serve. One of the reasons I voted for Mayor Wu was because she described Boston as a family living room, a place that has to work for everyone. That vision has always stayed with me because BCYF pools are one of Boston's shared living rooms. Competitive swimming is more than a sport. It teaches discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. It creates lifeguards, swim instructors, coaches, and young adults who give back to their communities. That is exactly the kind of opportunity I believe Mayor Wu wants for Boston families. Please preserve affordable, competitive swimming opportunities for Boston's children. A thriving city isn't measured only by how efficiently it uses its buildings, It's measured by the opportunities it creates for people. Thank you.

Thank you, Anita. Next, we have Mercedes.

Hi, I'm going to just make a few comments because I did submit a written testimony. But as I'm listening to the discussion about children and the competitive swimming and also the lack of discussion about the Mason pool, which serves as it serves a school and also a community, a larger community that is underrepresented. A lot of the people from the south end come all the way to the Mason pool to actually swim because there's nothing happening at the Blackstone. And I appreciate your comments and your advocacy, Mr. Flynn. But I, as a, I'm a senior. And that's the other reason why I wanted to talk. I'm kind of a bridge person. My son, who's now 30, actually wanted to swim at the Flaherty, but instead we went to a million pools around the city, including some in the colleges looking for a program. And at that point, he did go to the Mason pool. And I did that because I wanted to build his self-esteem. He struggled in school and it was one of the ways that he felt successful as an individual, not playing basketball, but swimming and learning the challenges of that. As I said, my son's now 31 and I am a senior with health issues. And my neighbor who's sitting next to me, she's saying that she doesn't look good for the camera, but we have been going to the Mason pool for the last three years and have been taking water aerobics, doing swimming lessons and engaging For seniors, which is really important, breaking the isolation, especially after COVID, breaking that isolation that a lot of seniors have when they're alone, they're retired or they're aging and they have physical issues. I have built a community and there are community people who are actually on the phone, on the Zoom call, who are not speaking, who have really used that pool as a way to connect to community. And The pool is extremely important. And actually the Mason pool is not only used by the kids, but it's used by seniors. And the seniors actually last year, I embarked on raising money for the students at the Mason school to have suits and swimming gear. And we raised $4,000 doing that. and handed that money right to the Boston Public Schools to get those kids in the school. They were coming with used suits that maybe were not washed out. I'm like, wait a minute. I know when they have their own suits, they'll feel confident. So I am here, and I should say that I live in Dorchester. So I come all the way across town, maybe six blocks from Marshall, but I come across town to go to their aquatics program for seniors. And a lot of us would not know what to do if we didn't have that program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mercedes. Thank you for your, you know, speaking not just about yourself as a senior. So it's all generations swim in our pools. So I think is Ethan, is this youth Ethan up to go before we go back to a second round? Or Ron?

Not seeing the men here.

Okay. Is Maria there? Zola Terez?

not seeing Maria even.

Okay. I'll go back to a second round for our panel, for my colleagues, and then I will set up the next round of speakers with you. Thank you. So Councilor Mejia and then Councilor Flynn.

Thank you. It would be helpful for me. I'm going to start specifically with the Flaherty pool. We participated in some organizing, if you will, with some of the families. They came to us early December, reaching out, looking for some guidance around how to best move forward. And I know that they had worked with Chief Massot and BCYF staff and created some infrastructure and some ways to be able to support these transitions. You had mentioned that it's a separate nonprofit. Has it always been that?

That's my understanding.

Okay, because my understanding... Okay, go ahead.

Yeah, they operate under the Roslindale Community Center Council. They sign an MOU. There's some sort of MOU between them. I believe they're the fiscal... their fiscal agent for that and then I think they reiterated their own status earlier this year as a separate entity.

So let's just kind of for us to for those folks who haven't been following this journey and so that we can get these sort of things on the record and we understand kind of what these processes are. My understanding is that bcyf like the families that were part of the flarity pool um the dolphins team they were not paying a significant amount of money now they will be correct something that was a public resource now it's a non-profit entity and therefore they're they're now being asked to pay a lot more than what they had initially signed up for. Is that true?

I can't speak directly to their program fees and how they break that down. Who can? With respect to Boston Center and Youth and Families, I mean, we're not charging them in any way, shape, or form if that's Yeah, we're not adding that in there in cost for utilization and things of that matter. If this, I wouldn't be able to speak to their costs. Our programs are free.

Okay, so the Dolphins program and the participation continues to be free?

I believe that they, in order to participate in the Flaherty Dolphins, there is a fee that that organization collects. What I do know is that we've provided bathing suits for them over the years for free.

Yeah, so I guess what I am trying to better understand is that BCYF is a public entity that is supported with public dollars. However, this particular program was forced to privatize by becoming its own nonprofit and then covering those costs as private participants. That's the narrative, and I just want to...

I can clarify that.

Yeah, can you? Because that sounds a little weird that we would do something like that.

This isn't just for the Dolphins. I'll speak very broadly about our relationships with councils. Councils are separate 501 nonprofits. They at one time operated pretty prolifically throughout our entities. In 2018, the terms of liability related to city of Boston operations, and those 501 C3 operations were officially. Lineated and separated in lines of liability. The flarity dolphins have operated out of the flarity pool. the dolphins have operated out of the flaherty pool in partnership with the rossendale community center council but they were not a bcyf specific city of boston operated program they did have a coach or they still do have a coach that is both an employee of the city of boston and now is also their coach on the side just not during his scheduled work hours so then basically

Is it fair to say that the coach, what they're paying for as private, through the privatization of it, covers their coaching hours?

I'm not sure what the fee is related to the coach. That's not part of the city. We're not in the finances of that, but they have always charged a fee to their swimmers to operate In that week, yeah, I think.

Yeah, so thank you. And what I guess what I'm trying to better understand is that when people come to me with concerns about. Oh, well, now we have to pay and we're talking about equity and we're talking about. removing financial hardships. We have families that have been traveling from East Boston to participate in this way and now there's additional fees and some families have opted to send their kids now to other spaces and places like Dedham, which now it just feels like we've gone from having a quality team, the Dolphins, that were competitive and still are, and that in some ways their little wings have been cut. Like you're no longer gonna be flying as high as you can because we're going to stop the way we have been doing business with you and now we're creating a new structure and this new structure forces families to then have to, what it feels like, a privatization of a public good. And that's what I'm trying to better understand. Like, how do we reconcile with that?

Well, the entire city had to, you know, all separate nonprofits, especially councils, you know, they had to sign the terms of the 2018 MOU. Then they did it again in I believe 2022 and then there's continued conversations about that relationship. The Flaherty Dolphins are operating under the same guys as all other 501 that have that.

Now they're paying for the coaching and the insurance is new. They didn't have to cover those costs. In order for them to maintain their team, families are now being asked to cover the insurance and coaching whereas before they didn't. So that has that cost.

Yeah, their insurance. I mean, if there's a fee related to coaching, then yes, that would that's a new cost for them. But with respect to insurance and other aspects, that's not something that I'm aware we would have been covering. So the standard in which they are now essentially The standard in which we're having them operate is the same one that we would do for all of the councils throughout the city. And that's something that's been in existence since 2018 and reiterated throughout that time up to now. So this was not a random switch. It's just the enforcement of it is at this point.

OK, so just a few things. They're not a nonprofit. like before they were used for the Metro Swim League meets. I'm just trying to help understand. None of this makes real sense to me. That's why I'm trying to unpack it. And could you just ask if there was anybody who can answer this. Was there an agreement with the dolphins that is only for the year pool use and why not longer? Was there any agreements around Did you understand that question? I'm moving all over the place here.

It's okay. I mean, it's a continual, again, the chiefs and HHS are working and Nadine are working with them on a regular basis. I mean, I have not seen any specific time limit put on the dolphins for utilization of our facility. And obviously as we are working to help prioritize our own programming, as well as making sure that the general public has regular access to it, you know, we're working with the dolphins to identify times that they can continue to operate out of there. With respect to their financial situation, they do, my understanding is that they are a subsidiary of the Roslindale Community Center Council, which is a separate 501 nonprofit. And that nonprofit will be held to the standards of the MOU that ensures our compliance with the law.

Thank you, Eddie. Sorry. Thank you, Mr. McGuire. I think that that is probably where the discrepancy lies is that this group was forced in many ways to be its own standalone nonprofit to cover these costs. That's how the narrative is that they were forced to privatize. But they're all Boston citizens, right? And they all pay taxes to support our public good. And that's where the tension is. Now they can only swim at Metro and they're not supported to the team to swim on Metro. So it's a little bit confusing there. And they have to pay for everything except for the pool time. It's going from here's this free amazing program to the terms and conditions have shifted significantly and the financial burden is being placed on the families. That's where the discrepancy lies. They're also being forced to swim at two different pools and they're limiting the size of their team. How can they be competitive when they have two different pools um and and different days to use it so it's just there's a lot to just put on one team in a short period of time and so that those are the sort of things that we're trying to reconcile with yeah i would say just just to be fair the terms in which that they're being held to were established after

There was an incident at the Curlie Community Center that sent a review, which was a drowning, that sent all third-party entities operating within our facility to be assessed. It took about two years, and what came out of that was an MOU about kind of standardizing that relationship and the responsibilities of third-party relationship to public assets. That was in 2018 and reaffirmed more than once. I believe 2022 or 21 was again where the was signed and it's it goes through what I would say is that. The way that they are operating today, we're actually established in 2018 and it's 2026. And throughout between 2018 and 2026, they should have been operating in the fashion that we're now holding to.

So that's the point of clarification here for a lot of folks, because. They have not been operating as a nonprofit or third party entity until this year.

No, they were okay.

Well, then they were charging.

They were charging our programs have been free for a significant period of time. Metro League is not operating outside of utilizing the Flaherty facility within any other of our departments and any of our other sites. Now, we're not taking away from the Flaherty Dolphins in there and what they do for the community and the competitive swim aspect of that, but they are not a BCYF program. So, and the terms in which we're operating with third parties, we've held countless other neighborhoods and institutions to those standards and they fit, the dolphins are obviously moving toward fitting within them.

And this is usually why I like to lead with community because what their experiences usually does not line up with what the administration is. And there's a point of tension here because in their eyes, they were not swimming. They were not a nonprofit. They were BCYF participants. And it feels as though they've been kicked out of BCYF. It feels like they have been evicted. um from their i know this is just i'm just noting for the record this is the way it feels um and i know that i have other colleagues that want to ask questions and i don't want to continue to hold you hostage here um and but i will say that you know with a when you have a partnership with a non-profit it's This sounds a little bit messy, doesn't sound as clear as here it is. I know that I may have a third round of questions, hopefully I will, but I'll just state that for me, someone who didn't learn how to swim, I know how important this conversation is, especially in our communities when there's so many young people, particularly young people of color, who need this and could also compete competitively. So it's not just about saving lives, but it's also a sport. And I think that if we can continue to treat it as such, then our kiddos can have the same opportunities that the suburban communities have when it comes to swimming. And I think that the dolphins were definitely onto something here. And I think that it's really sad that we don't have this. in the capacity that we did, but I'm gonna let my colleagues swim.

How's that? Did you say you don't know how to swim?

Yeah, don't be trying to get me to swim, okay?

We could change that for you.

No, listen, I got knocked off the bike.

Ed and I can meet you down at the Curly. We can go swimming in the ocean.

I don't know how to waddle. I don't know how to waddle, and that's it. I used to, when I was a kid, it was the fire hydrant that I, and whenever we had floods on my street that I swam in, and that's the water, so...

Well, if you ever change your mind, please let us know, Ann. No problem helping you out.

Yeah, no, that's all good. Y'all not using me as an example. I'm not going to be drowning. I have enough problems already. But anyways, I'll wait for my next round, and thank you. Thank you. Councilor Flynn?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I still want to stay with my... original topic of why we're refusing to support residents in the south and in Roxbury with the swimming pool that works. It's beyond frustrating to many residents that are hearing this conversation and we're talking about competitive swimming and kids going on to high school swimming and college swimming and and we all support that but the kids that don't have access to the swimming pool will not have those same potential opportunities that other kids have And that's what's difficult for me to accept, that because you're from a certain neighborhood, you have the opportunity to excel in a particular sport. And if you are from another neighborhood, especially a neighborhood located within several public housing development areas, and across the street from Villa Victoria, then you're not really able to excel in a particular sport or a scholarship in a high school or a college. And that part for me, I just can't accept. And so my question is, Brian, why do we prioritize building new swimming pools or Sam or Ed, why don't we prioritize building new swimming pools when there's still swimming pools that need to be fixed?

Council, yeah, I think we're trying to strike a balance of both. I think we've had the unique opportunity with BCYF Grove Hall to incorporate a pool in a neighborhood and a center that didn't have one, and we've seen the need. throughout the city, and as this sort of discussion has indicated, the desire of the community to have those facilities available, so we prioritized including that in the Grove Hall. The BCYF North End, the new North End Community Center, we knew that the Mirabella Pool was facing similar challenges to the Clarity.

Then Sam, why, then you stay on that example that you highlighted. in the north end, why was that a priority? And I support that, the north end pool, the new north end pool. But why don't we support a new Blackstone school pool if we're willing to put all the energy and resources into building a new swimming pool in the north end? Again, I support that. Why can't we do the same for the residents of the south end? Why was one particular neighborhood prioritized over another particular neighborhood?

No, I think that's a valid question, Councillor. I mean, I can't speak to how the prioritization within the capital plan was reached. I would hesitate to say that one neighborhood is being prioritized over another. From our perspective as facility managers, we're really prioritizing what we consider to be least within the capital plan things that are typically out of our reach to deal with sort of on a on a routine basis and i'll let brian speak to this but an experience we've had that i know he's had at pools is that with many of these you're chasing an issue and you continue to chase the issue and it's frustrating to the community it's frustrating to to you and the other councils and it's frustrating to us that we you know we fix a filter and then we find out that the collector tank is broken and we fix a gutter and then we find out that the pool's losing water and with the Blackstone in particular my understanding was that BPS submitted a renovation plan to the to the MSBA in 2022 I believe and were denied and so they were hoping to rebuild not only the pool but the entire school i think that has put us in a position of of reactivity uh which none of us really prefer to be in so you know i think to brian's earlier point i think meeting on site with the blackstone and figuring out okay given this larger context given the investments that you mentioned the the pool has been closed for a lot of a lot of years now

there is $500,000 in the capital budget for the potential of a new Blackstone School potential swimming pool. Not a lot of money, as we know, but there's money in there. But the question still remains, the pool has been closed six years, and so even if it was built today, It'd take another couple years, 10 years. It'd be a total of 10 years. We lost a generation of young people that wanted to learn to swim competitively. We're not providing equal services to them like we are other particular neighborhoods. So I feel like if the city of Boston is not going to prioritize building a new BCYF school, which I don't know if they're committed to doing that, if that's not their priority, let's fix the swimming pool immediately. Because I don't want another generation lost due to our inability to move forward with building a new school. Why should the residents of the South End suffer because of poor decision-making at City Hall? Sam, what do you think?

No, I think you're right. I don't want any residents or constituents to suffer in the South End or anywhere else. And I think, you know, this administration has worked hard, you know, from three years ago when half the city's pools were closed, including almost all the pools in Dorchester and Mattapan. We've got back to a place where we have pools open in Mattapan and Dorchester. We're building new pools.

But Sam, but the Blackstone wasn't prioritized. Was it not prioritized because it was too difficult to do or there wasn't the support for it?

I can't speak to that, Councillor Bryan. I think it was very difficult to do and remains very difficult to do.

But that doesn't mean we should not do it because it's difficult to do. That means we have to work together to come up with a plan to to put the necessary resources with the proper engineering study with the community support to prioritize rebuilding this pool. But just doing nothing is really not an answer. Telling the residents of the South End and Ruth Barclay and Villa Victoria and Kitson-Roxbury, you know, we see people jumping in the swimming pools, cutting ribbons, having a grand old time. And then we look at kids of color and Ruth Barclay. Do you know how that must make them feel when they see that on television, everybody's celebrating and they can't even, go to their local swimming pool because it's closed, it's been closed for years, that must be demoralizing to see that type of video on television. What do we say to those young people, Brian or Sam?

Yeah, I just wanted to jump in just for a moment here. I agree, right? We should be doing what we can in order to make sure that pools are available for all of our residents across the city. I think one good resource for us might be kind of sharing the map. I keep looking up and I'm not looking up and away, but I'm looking up at my map. My map has a bunch of different pools that are available across the city. And I'm starting to think of like we have, and maybe this is not operated by us, but the South End Fitness Center, There's the Madison Park, which will be open this year. We have the Condon K-8 and the JQES, the Quincy Elementary School Pools. And I think everybody here on the administration is happy to help any resident be pointed in the right direction to make sure that they have access to the ability to swim. I mean, I learned to swim in the city. I think everybody should learn to swim in the city. And I think it'd be very helpful in terms of why we're not packaging more pools with schools. I think we're trying. I think the last school that came online that had a pool attached was the Carter. We all know that it was a need. I don't think I need to go into more details there. A lot of our schools are in unique positions where the footprint hasn't necessarily supported adding in an additional pool to those spaces. And even things like working with the Jackson man community in Brighton, working with some of our new school communities, when they come online, we start to look at what the community is asking and looking for. And we incorporate that into some of the designs as we get there. I think the 500,000 that is currently in the capital budget, it's low, but I think it's low on purpose and it's so we can get that study, right? So we can figure out how we can continue to explore down the line, what it means to invest in the Blackstone, whether it's the pool, the school, or the pool and school in combination with one another, because I do agree that we're still investing there. in the Blackstone, like we've done, and still more needs to happen on the inside, but we're doing improvements to the outside. We're adding things to the library. I think every time I walk through there, I want to make sure that we are doing more. We are serving that community from all the aspects that we're able to. And I think working with agencies that are next to us, MSBA, maybe that'll happen again, but we'll have to work with the plan and see if that works for BPS collectively, and then what it means to move forward with that next step in the capital plan.

All right. Thank you, Brian. I'll chime in. I mean, Boston Centers for Youth and Family obviously still operates out of the Blackstone School. We do have a van, and we're more than willing to and have always provided the opportunity to transport anyone who is in that area to one of the functioning pools in and around our network. I understand that it would be better for it to operate Within their own neighborhood, but this is something that we do commonly, especially when pools go down for periods of time. Shifting programming, making transportation available. And so if anyone in the cell, then is watching this or hearing this, you know, if you go to blackstone and request, you know, working with the site director, we can accommodate. In our network, the opportunity for you to take classes at any 1 of our functioning pools, whether it's close or not and until there's a resolution with respect to. The major overhaul of that specific pool, but we don't want anyone ever to feel that they don't have an opportunity there. Um, and if it. Something that we could better coordinate, or if there is a specific group, please let us know and we will work with you all to ensure that you do have access and you do get the services that you see in other pools.

Madam Chair, I'd like to request information from you to the BCYF team. Can I get a list of the number of people that were driven from BCYF Blackstone to other BPS or BCYF-related swimming pools since the Blackstone?

Has been down.

Has been down. I do think that's important for us to have the facts as we go forward. Madam Chair, I don't have any further questions. I want to say thank you to you, Council Murphy and Council Mejia, for advocating for the Blackstone pool, but also for the residents of the south end in Roxbury as well. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. We've been joined by Council Worrell. So, Council Worrell, you are up.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the administration that's here. I just have a couple questions around pool status inside of District 4. Holland, any status on the Holland pool? This is something that the community advocated for for some years now. I know that it's a major fix, but I just wanted to check in to see, you know, what's the plans? Is it something that we plan on fixing over the next couple of years, or is this school one of the schools that's possible for major renovation?

Good afternoon, Councilor Worrell. Good to hear from you. At this moment in time, I don't have a major update for Upholand. Currently where we are is from the last conversation that was had, We've since had a team go out and do an assessment of that space in partnership with the city of Boston operations. We have got that report back. I think right now we are working on trying to figure out what feasibility looks like in terms of how we can or what the next step might be in terms of feasibility for that project to move forward? Because of a particularly tough financial year, don't have an answer for you on the moment of what next steps are on timeline.

Got it. So do we think it will be, like how often do you, Like for your capital plan, how often do you set timeline? Like when would you have an update for the timeline? It will be sometime next year? And when do you plan on revisiting it to like set timeline for pool renovations and plans for capital projects for pools?

Yeah, so... Annually, I try to make sure that we have an updated proposal of capital projects that usually falls in line with about an October for the submission. I do meet with the team and assess kind of like all of the different things that have come up as higher priorities on a weekly or bi weekly basis, depending on the month. so that we can summarize where our current budget is and where we're having some budget pitfalls for those proposals to come together for October. The formal reports of those or formal submissions, they start our preparation in about August. So about a month and a half from now, we'll start putting together what that looks like from the BPS side and weigh in our operating versus capital versus grant funding into that mix as well.

All right. And my understanding is that the Lee school pool is now open. Yes, true. Okay, awesome. Awesome. And what are the hours of operation?

Did you ask what the hours of operation? Yes. Yeah, so it is Monday through Friday. They're operating, well, obviously when it's schools in session, it's when school's out until 9 p.m. But once, yeah, so I believe the hours of operation for this summer are 10 to 9, or something along the lines of that. And they just developed a a new pool schedule and it's just recently been opened. So there is programming and enough lifeguards at that location for programming to be maintained.

You said not enough or enough? Sorry. There is enough.

There is enough.

Awesome. All right. Well, thank you. I know that facilities management, as we have done this transition from BPS to own a lot more of the pools. I know that a lot of work has gone into it. I know that facilities management is a lot of work, but we have to just make sure that we stay committed to making sure that accessibility and access to a lot of the amenities that our public in our school provide to our community is up and running. But I just want to say thank you for all the work that everyone on this call puts in. Also, I just want to thank my colleagues for advocating for their community. And I know that we are all working towards making sure that, you know, these amenities are available to all our residents across Boston. So I just want to say thank you to everyone on this call for all your hard work.

Thank you, Councilor Worrell. We are going to go to if they're still on the last who have signed up already, um, public testimony, and then to the 2nd panel, but. If we have Maria, and then it's Ali Oscar, Elizabeth Louisa and Bo were the others still on the list, but if you are still on Maria, you can go next. Might just take a second.

I think Maria might have left.

Okay, but we have Al. Perfect. You can go ahead, Ali. Thank you.

Hello. I was going to say good morning, but I will say good afternoon. My name is Allie Cashin. I'm the parent of two children who have been swimming at the Flaherty for the past several years. The Flaherty community has not gotten clear answers about why BCYF transferred the Dolphins coach or privatized what was once an affordable and accessible public swim team. But internal emails we received from a public records request do shed some light on some of these questions. These emails suggest that BCYF officials transferred Coach Barnes because they thought he spent too much time with the Dolphins team. They show officials strategizing about how to get ahead of parent outreach to the mayor's office after executing this poorly planned transfer. And they also show how two falsehoods that we have heard today became key talking points. The first was that Coach Lewis orchestrated parent outreach to the city, which I assure you we were capable of doing on our own. And the second was that the Dolphins were a quote, external non-BCYF team, despite decades of Dolphins swimmers being registered through BCYF, swimming at BCYF pools, being coached by BCYF staff, and swimming in BCYF meets. But the main reason I'm highlighting these emails today is because of what they don't talk about, children. In 231 pages of correspondence between city and BCYF officials, children barely enter the conversation. Children are mentioned only in mass emails to parents or in internal discussions about how to manage parent outreach. When an organization that exists to serve children and families makes a decision that eliminates a public youth program and children are not at the center of that discussion, something is broken. Boston's kids deserve better. Of all places, BCYF should be the place where they come first. Thank you.

Thank you. For your testimony, let me just check. I think we have one more public testimony. If Rachel Green is on, you are next.

Hi, good morning, everyone. It's great to be here. Can you all hear me? yes we can thank you morning um so um i am really grateful for all of the conversation that we've had today about the importance of young people swimming and i would love um in my professional capacity as a person who works with young people in boston to help with that um but i'm actually here as just a citizen i've been a resident of boston for over 20 years and have really counted on BCYF to support my well-being. When I first moved back to Boston, I really wasn't very excited about being here, and I really found a community at the Manahunt Pool. It was a place where the lifeguards looked out for me. They taught me and a lot of older women, some in their upper 80s, who had never been in a pool before to actually like learn how to swim and build their skills. I'm not an early morning person, but I have become an early morning swimmer because of my work schedule. And so I rely on going to the Mason pool early in the morning to be able to swim. And some of the ways that the pool has operated this year have felt a little bit like arbitrary and confusing. It was initially when I started swimming that I could get in at 5.50 in the morning because I signed up for a 6 o'clock lap swim, and that gave me enough time to get into the pool. At some point in the winter, they started locking us out of the pool in the dark and not letting us in until 6 a.m. At some point, they would let us into the lobby, but then they told me that I couldn't get into the locker room because it was a liability issue, which made zero sense to me because why the liability in the lobby would be different than the liability inside of the locker room was confounding to me. And then this Friday, a bunch of us were swimming, and all of a sudden at 6.50 a.m., the lifeguards started blowing whistles and got us all out of the pool, which was a little scary and startling. I didn't understand what was going on. It was raining out, so I thought maybe there was lightning, maybe we were in danger. And then when we all got out of the pool, they just told us it was just a new rule. The new rule is that you have to stand on the deck for 10 minutes between the hour at the end of the hour And for what reason, nobody could tell me. So we all got out of the pool and us and the lifeguards stood on the deck for 10 minutes. And then eventually at 7 a.m., they let us back in the pool. And so I think it's just a little frustrating having swam at so many different pools around the city to find that sometimes the rules are arbitrary, that things aren't very well explained. And also just as a resident, I don't always feel like I'm treated very respectfully. But I want to say that that is not the majority of my experience. The majority of my experience in the pool that I'm very grateful for are that the lifeguards look out for us, that the managers are accommodating. But in those off cases, I really would like something to be addressed. Thank you.

Thank you, Rachel. We actually do a few others that popped on. So Oscar, you were next.

I just finished eighth grade at Boston Latin Academy. I've been swimming in both the BCYF and Metro Leagues with the Flaherty Dolphins for five years. I'm working as a lifeguard intern at the Flaherty Pool this summer. And I hope to become a lifeguard when I turn 16. I want to start by saying that what I've been hearing about competitive swimming from BCYF has not lined up with my experience. The Florida Dolphins was a BCYF team that swam in both BCYF and Metro Leagues for decades. I know this because I swam in both leagues when I was on the Dolphins team, even though I'm not anymore. Today I want to talk about how competitive swimming, specifically swimming for the Florida Dolphins, essentially changed my life. When I was in first grade at a BPS school, I was sent to the principal's office nearly every day. My teachers also used to sit me in a chair outside of the classroom because they said I was too disruptive. I learned during that time that it was better to keep quiet to avoid getting in trouble at all costs. It was not all that surprising when I got an ADHD diagnosis in second grade once I moved to a different school that focused more on understanding kids than punishing them. Those early experiences stuck with me, and I continued to avoid situations where I thought I might get in trouble or make mistakes. I refused to join sports teams or speak up in class. But swimming with the dolphins helped me find my voice again. When I started in fourth grade, I was not a good swimmer. But I worked hard, improved, and started to feel more confident. The Dolphins built my confidence because it was hard. I had to work on stroke technique and endurance to get better. I had to focus on my form so I didn't get disqualified. If I had been on a developmental swim team in the BCYF instead of a competitive team, I wouldn't have worked as hard or have done as well. Contrary to what a lot of people think about kids with ADHD, we're not lazy. We just need something that's challenging to keep us engaged. Competitive swimming also provides an outlet for kids with ADHD because of the consistency of it and the focus that it requires. This year, I won a silver medal in the 500 freestyle at the Boston City Championships as part of the BLA swim team. I never would have been able to swim that distance, let alone competitively, had I not swum with the Dolphins. Kids in Boston deserve to have the same opportunity I have had to become competitive swimmers. But without a public option for competitive swimming, the approach to high school swimming is gone. Because I'm hoping to swim in college, I am now swimming with USA Swimming, which is the national competitive swimming organization. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to do this and am very aware that because of the cost, I can only do this because of my own privilege. Many, many families do not have that privilege. If the city takes away the most competitive swim team in BCYF, it is also taking away the opportunity for so many families to have their children swim competitively at a higher level. PCYF swim times can't be used in college applications, unlike Metro League times. Since Metro needs to be officiated, the times achieved in them are considered official. PCYF might be a good starting point, but it doesn't carry kids into college swimming. Metro, and specifically Flaherty, do. Kids in Boston need access to both types of leagues. I want to wrap up by talking a little about what it feels like to be a youth swimmer in Boston. It feels like we are essentially an afterthought. I've been playing baseball with the J.P. Regan League for as long as I've been swimming, and Regan is able to apply for permits each season to use city baseball fields. The mayor attends Regan's opening day, and Regan participates in the Mayor's Cup baseball tournament each year. Almost every other sport has a Mayor's Cup and has a way of filing permits to use public facilities. Swimming does not. If the city values its youth swimmers as much as it does other youth athletes, please consider giving us equal access to facilities and recognition through the mayor's office. On a personal note, I would love to be able to swim in the mayor's cups for me. Thank you.

Thank you, Oscar. And next we have Elizabeth.

Hi there, before I get started, I just want to confirm that I have five minutes to speak as a as a two minutes for public testimony.

And just to be clear, it's not also a time for either colleagues or the panelists to kind of no i'm sorry counselor uh chair murphy um elizabeth is a panelist not a public testimony so if you're a panelist we then if you could wait we haven't called up the second panel so i um oh i guess oscar was also supposed to be so louisa danny elizabeth and oscar are panelists so is beau on beau would be the last to just be um not just but to give public testimony if Beau is on and wants to, and then we can call back Oscar, Elizabeth, Louisa, and Danny for the second panel. And you will have as much time as the first panel. So if you don't waiting, Elizabeth. Thank you. Thank you. So if Ethan, if Beau is on, that would be helpful. And then we can call up the next panel. And before the admin leaves, I think Councilor Mejia may have just had one more question for Are you also.

What was in here? They just need to accept the promotion of panelists.

Thank you. Bo, if you heard Ethan, if you can just accept panelists and then you'll be able to speak. You're in. Let Ron know that I was going to send in a letter instead, and I'm just listening to the testimony of others. Sorry that that didn't get communicated. That's awesome. Thank you for that. I appreciate it. Do you have any other questions before we switch to the next panel?

Yes, I think it's more of a clarity. I just want to just be helpful for those who are tuning in and have been doing a lot of work here. And, you know, from what I understand, they were a team of 90 swimmers. And now they can assure that their students will still have a team pass next year. So I just want to note that for the record as a point of contention for families. And then in regards to the city acting as a fiscal agent and collecting fees, I believe that was started in 2019. And it was immediately after the agreement between the site councils and the city was ended in 2018. I just feel like it's a little bit murky. All this came to be, but this, the regional manager, from what I understand, insisted. That it was the city that it was a city program and required families to get money orders. And that didn't take personal checks and the city treasure had no management entry in their system for those fees. And they were recorded as swim lessons or donations and a review of the Treasury records for that year will show that a spike in those 2 entries. And then after the point we opened after. the regional manager at the time said that it would be okay for them to do it again and they've been doing it like that ever since and they believe that they you know they have picked up in 2021 and 2022 and they you know it just feels like the whole timeline and i know we're not going to spend the whole time with this issue here but i think that it is a little bit unclear and then it would help me um mr mcguire if you could just for the record just state clarification for us in regards to how this became to be where it is right now.

Yeah, I can give another brief overview of the relationship with respect to councils and third party entities at Boston Centers and Youth and Family. Again, those relationships were scrutinized after a drowning in 2016 at the Curlie Community Center. As a result of that, that was the legal department reviewed how we operate in contingency with third party entities and created an MOU that delineated the terms in which third parties could operate in public facilities to ensure compliance with the law. As a result of that, community center councils throughout BCYF network were held to new standards. Some of the things that they did do in the past was collect money at public assets, which is not compliant with the law. And we moved to rectify those under the guise of the legal department. With respect to the Flaherty Dolphins and their operations, i can't speak to the previous manager um or whoever we're referring to and with respect to the way that they said that they could operate but what i do know is that we've gotten our guidance from the city of boston's legal team and we're following that guidance and that the flowery dolphins are still able to operate out of our facility and we are still providing space and working with them to ensure that competitive swim is a part of boston centers and youth for bcyf's aquatic network moving forward um it is true that florida that some of the dolphins members do swim at with bcyf uh developmental teams um vice versa but the developmental teams and those in bullet unless you sign up for the dolphins can't swim with them There are two separate leagues. PCYF controls its developmental league. The Flaherty Dolphins operate out of the Flaherty Community Center in a separate league called Metro. That's how that happened with respect to incurring cost to operate their program. I really can't speak to that, but I do know that the... HHS along with Swim Safe and others have been working with them to try to help mitigate those costs in this transition as well as ensuring that they still have time. And again, there isn't a timeline. Right now it says we're just going to stop communicating with them. It's a continued work in progress and there are still things that, thresholds that need to be met. And I know that they're going to work diligently, you know, my colleagues are going to work diligently to ensure that.

Thank you. And I know, Chair Murphy, that my time is way over. I would ask if the administration does not mind staying. I may have a few more questions, because I think that when we hear from community, we usually have a better understanding of some of the things that we may not have all the information, and it's not until we listen to folks that we have a full picture. So if the administration does not mind waiting, and then I can ask whatever last round of questions I have, if I have any after the community panel speaks.

Yes, I agree. Thank you, Council Mejia. Um, so I do just want to thank Oscar and hope that you do stay on, um. As a panelist, the next panel is going to be Oscar. Who is a clarity swimmer Elizabeth Costello who is a clarity parent. Louisa, who was a friends of the Hennigan community center and then Danny Vargas. the youth advocate from the high score task force will be the next panel um so i even um if you could set them up but i did want to give we've been joined by council of culpepper a chance to speak um ask any questions hopefully the admin will stay on but if you have any questions directly from the administration it's it's your turn thank you for being here

Thank you, Councilor Murphy. Thank you for holding this hearing. I will hold my questions for now. I'm just listening to all the good information that we're getting. Thank you to the panelists. And I'd rather just continue to move on at this point. I'll jump in later. But yeah, I just think we need to keep moving forward with the information that we're listening to. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you for that. So thank you to the administration. I hope you can stay on and know that each of us individually, but also collectively will continue to reach out and advocate. And for myself, just thank you for always being available when I do have specific questions. Just one quick question that I did have, and it could have been wrong information, but over the weekend, Brian, I heard that The Murphy school was going to undergo more HVAC work and I mean, the story sounded identical to what did happen a couple of summers ago that the community center, the would then have to move out again. Is that true that they're doing more HVAC work and is that was that always planned or is this to kind of fix? Because I know. At the end of this school year, there had been some concerns that the. Past work needed to be updated if you could just speak to that before we move on to the next panel. Thank you.

Sure. We are noticing that there was a little bit more HVAC work that needed to happen at the Murphy School, and that's why we've relocated all of the summer programming at that building this year. It doesn't seem to explicitly be affecting the pool, but because of the type of work that's happening, where it may affect the carbon monoxide detectors, it may affect the fire alarm system. We do want to make sure out of an abundance of caution that we don't have people in the building while we're undergoing some of these changes. um in terms of the timeline for this i it was pre-planned because it came up during the year and we should be able to get through those i just don't have an exact timeline of when it's complete prior to the beginning of the school year but i don't have the date in the summer currently available which would be complete uh if i can find that before we're over i'll just send it over

And are we prioritizing to do it sooner than later so that we don't lose a whole summer for the neighborhood to have that pool access?

Yes, we should be prior to the project should have started. So school ended last week. The project should have started. This week, okay.

If you could keep me up to date, that'd be helpful. Thank you. Okay, so we are on to the 2nd community panel. I know Oscar, you already shared your story. Thank you. Go dragons. If Elizabeth, if you and. Louisa and Danny, but Elizabeth, you can go next and you have as much time as you'd like to share. and we'll ask questions of this panel also.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. Hi, everyone. My name is Elizabeth Costello, and my daughter Cora just finished her second year swimming with the Flaherty Dolphins. Until the city decided to abruptly and unjustly categorize us as a private team and not a BCYF team, my daughter competed in both the BCYF and Metro League meets as a BCYF swimmer. She was very proud to swim in BCYF meets and display her BCYF medals, but will no longer be able to compete in that league next season because of the application of rules we never knew applied until today in a city MOU we have never seen. I also serve as president of our team's newly established board of directors. We did not establish this board to reiterate our status as a third party. Families previously paid a fee of $200 to cover our $15 Metro League participation fee, our competition swimsuits, and our swim caps. Now we are required to form a new nonprofit, pay for coaching, secure insurance for our swimmers, and insurance for our board. These costs were previously not required, as we were a BCYF team. As Councillor Mejia noted, our fiscal agent handled our funds for us because the city didn't have the operational structure to manage those fees. I invite Mr. McGuire to join one of our upcoming meetings with Nadine so we can help address some of his misconceptions about our team and we can better understand these rules that are just being explained to us today. As board president, my responsibility is not just to our current swimmers, but to ensuring our program continues to grow and serve youth swimmers across all of Boston for years to come. We are genuinely supportive of expanding swim programming across the city, and committed to working with the city on an arrangement that meets everyone's needs. And we stand with Councillor Flynn and the Blackstone families in asking that BCUAF prioritize all communities, not just ours. We ask that the city honours its commitments to the Dolphin families and not split our team between two locations, as this will burden families who rely on public transit. We have proposed alternative schedules that would allow us to practice at the Flaherty alongside the new BCYF team, including a dedicated evening window for the BCYF team, which we understand is the city's primary goal. Our team remains in institutional limbo because of the decisions made without community input and commitments that have not been honored. And we implore the city to please stop making changes months into existing agreements and to deliver on the genuine community engagement it has promised. In January, we were told BCYF would increase engagement with the Flaherty and the broader Boston Swim community. As Natasha noted in her testimony, six months later, we have seen no follow through and BCOAF continues to set priorities for resource allocation without public input. We truly believe the city shares our vision for competitive swimming in Boston, and we ask that you fulfill the promise to convene a citywide working group on competitive swimming across BCYF pools so that every child has a pathway from developmental swim to high school, college, and beyond. Today is our first time hearing that BCYF is engaging with USA Swimming, which I want to note is a less inclusive and more expensive program than the Metro League. We want to be part of these conversations that will impact our swimmers. And we need long-term commitments to support our shared vision for competitive swim. One year of pool time, guards, and grant funding gives us no ability to plan ahead or sustain program access for our lowest income swimmers especially. There is a glaring gap in how Boston supports competitive swim compared to other youth sports. Soccer, baseball, softball, they have seasonal permits, standardized fees, and formal city recognition through events like the Mayor's Cup. As Oscar noted, swimming has none of this. The city has invested in swim safety with free lessons for over 1,500 youth through the Swim Safe program. and the BCYF Developmental League, and we applaud that. But there is no permit system for community swim programs, no tournament recognition, no continued grant pathway to support sustainable community-driven programs. Programs like ours are always one administrative decision away from disappearing. Swimming should have the same opportunities as every youth sport in Boston. We are asking the city to build that infrastructure for every youth swim program in Boston, from East Boston to the South End to Roslindale. And we are asking that it be built with the community, not handed to us. In closing, we ask the city for four things. Honor your commitments, deliver the genuine community engagement you promised in January, make long-term commitments that allow us to plan and grow, and build the infrastructure that gives swimming the same standing as every other youth sport in Boston. Our children deserve a city that keeps its word and puts them first, no matter what neighborhood they live in. Thank you.

Thank you. It looks like we have bow and alley. So I assume you're both on as part of this panel. Also, is that true? I already spoke. Oh, okay. You're still on. Okay. Okay. Thank you. So, council me here council called pepper if. You have any questions to the community panelists, or if you wanted to elevate any. Other concerns you can go now, if you're still on Julia, I see cameras and I'm here.

I'm here.

I know.

Yeah. Unfortunately, for the administration, I'm still here. Lisa Harris seems to have popped on to. Louisa, do you want to speak before council here asks any questions of the panel? Yeah, that would be helpful if and I don't see Danny yet, but I do see Louisa just hopped on.

Councilor Murphy, can I add, Elizabeth, one question?

Sure, of course. Go right ahead. Oh, sorry. And also, Danny already spoke at the beginning. Oh, okay. Okay. All right.

So then when is my turn to ask questions? I think people signed up for both. Okay. Okay. So then it's okay for me to ask questions now?

It is. And then, Councilor Culpepper, did you have a specific question for Elizabeth?

Yeah, I just want to talk a little bit more about that citywide planning group that you talked about. The city made a commitment to establish.

Yeah, are you just curious about the details of that? This was something we had. We had a community meeting in January with with Jose Maso's team. And one of the commitments they had made to us in January was that we would form a citywide working group to address competitive swim and that we would do that in the spring. So we have passed that timeline. So we were asking that that be formed by the fall.

That's what I was talking about. And how is it to be established Per district, per school, how was it to be a sample?

It was just a brief bullet point on a slide in the community meeting. We didn't receive any additional details about it. At that meeting, we did note that our team had immediate needs that needed to be addressed around competitive swim, and so we were able to to secure a city-wide work, a city working group with our team. But again, that is only benefiting our team. We want the conversation to happen for all youth in Boston, not just for our team. So that's what we're requesting the follow up on.

Thank you. Okay. And we can, Councilor Murphy, we can talk about following up on that for Elizabeth, because I do think it's a great idea.

Absolutely.

And I think it keeps all swimmers on the same level, not one being beneficial. or one have an advantage and the others don't have. So let's talk about it after the hearing and see how- Yeah, I'm just pulling one more detail.

It was meant to be about 12 or 15 parents from all across the city. So again, not just our team, but citywide. Thank you. Awesome.

And Council Clerk Ripper, I'm more than happy to share with you the notes that we took and that our office has been working alongside the Flaherty parents in regards to this issue since December. So more than happy to loop you into the organizing that we've been doing. The reason why they were able to have that meeting was because we met with some of the parents in December and talked about a plan of action. And what came of that was the meeting that was hosted and they did such an amazing job of turning people out. That place was packed. They walked away with some agreements and then some of those agreements became disagreements because, um. the work that we set out to do did not manifest in the way that we had intended. And so this is an opportunity for course correction and getting it right. So Councilor Culpepper, happy to engage you into the process.

Yeah, I think we need to help them get it established. But we can talk about that.

Yeah, we definitely can loop you into the work that has been happening offline. Thank you. So I just, hi, Louisa, you're here. Okay, go ahead.

I just want to ask you, do you want to please, yeah, go ahead. Should I do it or wait? I'm sorry. No, no, I would like you, this is your time.

So, yeah, I'll go.

Yep. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good afternoon. My name is Louisa Harris. I'm a JP Mission Hill resident. And on behalf of the 400 plus friends of BCYF Hannigan, we want to thank you for the effort and attention to reopen the Hannigan pool. No small feat for sure. But if a reason on why this project took the amount of years and finance to realize, the reason became clear. In our opinions, it's a lack of vision, strategy and competence on the part of leadership and on-site management. And that's why we have this conversation today. Someone said that communities are not strengthened by grand gestures alone. but by the consistent, thoughtful choices that quietly remind people that they are seen and supported. This creates connection and restored dignity and lays the groundwork for something lasting. The Hennigan Sports Center is a constructive channel for the energy of students, not only Hennigans, we have several schools around here, teens, adults, families, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities. I think we are quite tolerant and understanding, as you heard, but overlooking past and current mismanagement or allowing another disconnect manager in our case will have negative consequences for our community that has been already greatly overlooked by BCYF and BPS in the past. BCYF and BPS have only seen us as people bringing issues to them, but if they had only checked our concern, instead of relying on reports from uncommitted managers, on-site managers, they would have seen that our requests were valid years ago and were validated also by previous councillors. A year ago, over 100 community members gathered to state our request to BCYF and BPS, but they did not come with an open mind. Once again, failing to connect with, quote, youth and families, They are supposed to care and support, which seems to be a pattern, unfortunately. And the constant refusal to listen and adapt has led and is leading, sounds like, to stagnation and quite a lot of money spent. So our pool has reopened. Now the community needs a leadership, management, and programming that reflects its need. In our case, last year's community meeting, very clear and written requests from the community were given to the councillors, the mayor, senate, state and city officials. And these requests are, first of all, community center programs. Second, a dedicated community entrance separate from the school entrance, which in our case is completely possible. and equitable hours of operation designed around the schedules and needs of the community throughout the year, not just in the summer. So in closing, our hope is that collaborations, communication, and accountability to the community must be at the foundation of a functioning and well-maintained center. The extent of BPS and BCYF leaders' next actions will demonstrate their ability to listen to the community, responding to us thoughtfully, and working in collaboration with us towards meaningful solutions. So thank you.

Thank you for that and for your years of advocacy. I appreciate it. Council me here. Do you want to go 1st with jar?

I do. Thank you. So, and I want to thank Louisa for reaching out to our office as well. And I just want to know for the record that normally what I tend to do. Is either allow the district counselor or the committee chairs to kind of really step into their power and lead and then, because I'm such a busy body, sometimes I can't help, but to be engaged and so. Just really wanna thank particularly the Flaherty Pool folks for looping our office into this and working in collaboration with you all. Sorry that we're still at it, but I do believe this is a lesson for everybody here. And Louisa, congratulations on the advocacy that you all were able to do. Um, so now I just really want to better understand some of these dynamics from the community's perspective, because I always say there's 2 different sides to every story and the better that we are understanding people's experience. The better we're able to understand what needs to get fixed as we continue to have these discussions. So this is really more about understanding. So this is for the community. I'm curious if you could just tell us what was the communication between BCYF and the community? What has the communication been between the BCYF staff and community? I'd love to hear kind of like the communication flow. I felt like I saw a lot of emails, then after the emails came some response, but if you could just talk to us a little bit about your experience with the communication flow. One, two, is there anything that the administration said in their remarks that you would like to respond to? This is not normal, but I do believe this is an opportunity for communities to have a voice. And I think it's important that if they said something did not understand or that did not land well, or it was a little bit confusing or may not be true to your experience, I would love to give you the mic to do just that. And for the swimmers, what does swim provide that is different than any other sports or activity? I think this is such a very specific sport that I'd love to hear kind of what it provides for you that no other sports you can get. And then for your, I'm curious to know what is your vision for swimming in the city as a whole? I'm curious what should BCYF be planning for the long term? I really do believe that this is an opportunity for us to really start thinking collectively and collaboratively of what that can look like. And then my last question for now is how can we expand the model and the success of the Dolphins team to other teams and pools throughout the city? That's a lot for y'all, but Elizabeth and the team, you have the floor.

Thank you. Let me start with the communication flow question. don't want to i mean if we go back to december when the decision was initially to move our coach was initially communicated to us we did not hear that from bcyf first we did hear um that news from our coach and again as ali noted he did not ask us to he notified us he notified this us of this information he did not ask us to conduct outreach on his behalf we did that on our own out of our own interests And that was in the middle of our season. Our season started in November and concludes in April. When we did receive communication from BCYF, it did not initially address what would happen with the rest of our season. There was some notes that our coach could continue to volunteer, but it didn't address anything about the future of our team. And again, we joined this team two years ago with this idea that my daughter would Be growing through she's 10, you know, she that she could be like Oscar and some of the high schoolers and swim for years on this team. It's half a mile from my house selfishly. Right? So, um, and when we, um, so, yeah, that, that is like the broader communication that we have received from and then. I think specifically now that we do have our city citywide working working group with Nadine and Lisa and Efrain, we've had a lot of really good communication with with them working through the details of our spring season, our summer season and working through. the grant funding, so I do really, I think the communication has improved at that level, but the communication broadly and engagement has not. We have not had the broad communication about the, again, the citywide working group or the future vision for swimming. That vision for swimming in the city, Again, we haven't had this conversation as with the city or as a full team in a bit. So I don't want to completely speak for everyone, but we would, you know, I think Oscar outlined and I outlined there's a pathway. You learn to swim in a swim lesson. You join a developmental program. If it's something you're really excelling at, you join the competitive program. and that could lead you to high school and college and beyond. And it's a lifelong sport that teaches you a lot of discipline. So I think our vision for competitive swim is that it's not just isolated at our one pool, that it is something that children have access to and can feed into from across the city, and that there is a structured way of identifying how someone moves between the developmental system across the city into the competitive system across the city. I would say that we swim in the Metro League because it's the only... accessible, affordable option that provides the competitive swimming. And we don't have that in Boston. So if that was ever something that existed in Boston, that is something our team would be thrilled to participate in. That's just been the only option. And in terms of addressing some of the other testimony, and I did include some of that in my own remarks, and Ali as well, but the fact that we have been classified as not a BCYF team, like no one, no Flaherty family or swimmer ever knew we weren't a BCYF team until BCYF told us that. They made that decision for us. We identify, still do if you'd have us, we identified as a BCYF team. Again, I call the Flaherty pool because it was the pool nearest to my house and my daughter enjoyed swimming. And I asked to join the team. In my mind, it was the Flaherty team at the Flaherty pool, the BCYF pool, the BCYF team. So there's a lot that I'm learning even in this meeting about MOUs and legal rulings and agreements that has not been explained to us or explained to me. I didn't understand that until today. So I do think we have some additional follow-up conversations beyond this hearing to better understand those details. But I think it's unfair to classify us as not a BCYF team because of those other structural rules around an MOU that we've not been privy to see. So that is the primary piece that we really want the councilors to know is that we have always been a BCYF team. And we were removed from the league by the city.

Okay, so Mr. McGuire, I know, and Chair Murphy, if you don't mind, could I allow the, could I ask the administration?

Mr. McGuire, if you would like to respond to that, I know you spoke to it earlier, but if you don't mind, that's good.

I mean, especially the part that the families did not know that they were no, it's like being kicked out your house without getting the eviction notice. It's like, oh, wait a minute, I got to, like, so, you know, help me understand that. Like, how could that, that's a big communication flaw there. So I'm just curious.

Just to be clear, the dolphins are still operating out of the Flaherty pool.

But are they considered a BCYF team?

Louis Barnes is still the coach of the Flaherty Dolphins.

But are they still considered a BCYF team?

They are not a BCYF team. They charge, and they have charged for some time, and they operate in a league that is not in the Boston BCYF League. Now, the swimmers swim on the Dolphins, and they can swim on our team as well. But it's not a league or an agreement that we have. BCYF does not have an official agreement or a team in Metro League. Ever?

Ever.

Yes. Really? That's correct, yes. So they have historically operated out of the Flaherty. They are going to be allowed to continue to operate out of the Flaherty. Louis Barnes, who is the coach, is going to be able to coach the Dolphins. It's just not going to be during his work time. So, I mean, we have worked with them consistently to meet on a regular basis, and there are still some goals to be met about competitive swim and holistically throughout our network. And that timeline hasn't changed. We are continuing to do that. There isn't an end to it. Now, I understand that the parameters in which they are operating now are not something that you are familiar to, but they are the parameters that all third party entities in the city of Boston should be operating under while using a public asset. And there have been multiple different organizations already operating under those standards since 2018 and being enforced. We've I would say again, the health and human services department has spent. Significant amount of time and effort reviewing this to make sure that the league can continue to operate out of our facilities. And that we are in compliance with the law. I so, with respect to. Saying that we're kicking them out, or that we don't want them to operate in our facilities is not accurate, but we are trying to prioritize our programming as well as equitable access to the facility. and to all of our facilities throughout the entire network. And so, yes, we're asking them to potentially operate at a different pool if there is a conflict with some of those other priorities. But with respect to anything being definitive as if we do not want them there, that's not that's not accurate. And I think that the amount of time and energy put forth by my colleagues. And my supervisors would speak to that and that we have yet to completely finish. All of the things set in that January meeting, but there has not been any indication that we won't meet those. So, I mean, just for you all to have an understanding, I was that. Part of the time and community center council that was there when the 2018 memo came out, not in this official capacity. Everyone on the council resigned due to the lines of liability. I had to completely rebuild it. Programs had to end it was because a result of. The working relationship between these entities. Now, they are still able to access our facility. They are still able to, you know. identify as the Flaherty Dolphins. But when it comes down to where they compete and what we have control over, BCYF Developmental League is our league. We're exploring opportunities for competitive swim, and we have yet to delineate those specific things. But the Flaherty Dolphins operate in a separate league and utilize the facility. And there is a blend of kids between the two. So I completely understand that, you know what I mean? It's somewhat hard to interpret, but there isn't, Again, we're not trying to do anything more than ensure that we're aligned with how all entities should be operating out of our centers and safely. And we're continuing to work with them. But you can't take a developmental swimmer and have them swim randomly at the Metra League. You can't have a random BCYF swimmer who isn't signed up through the Dolphins and paying that fee swim in that league unless they do so. So that's the difference between our operations and theirs.

Thank you. I think if Elizabeth or Oscar, thank you, Mr. McGuire, would like to speak to that, you have the floor now. I think I saw Elizabeth's hand first, and then you can go, Oscar, if that's okay. Thank you.

I will just ask, why, if we weren't a BCYF team since 2018, when this MOU, why have we been allowed to swim in BCYF meets in all that time why was the decision made mid-season and why wasn't it communicated to us with with in like collaboration with us like again the way it was communicated was was terrible and and why why do the as ali noted the 231 pages of in emails that we have, why was that never mentioned as the reason why our team was destroyed? Our team was destroyed because you felt Coach Lewis was spending too much time on the team. I never saw anything in those emails about our youth swimmers. I never saw anything about legalities. I never saw anything about not honoring MRMOUs. So really, this is not sitting well with me as an explanation for why we are not a BCYF team. Thank you. Go ahead, Oscar.

So I have something similar to what Elizabeth said. What I heard was that the Flaherty Dolphins are not a BCYF team and have never been a BCYF team. I disagree with that. I think that since we have participated in BCYF meets, been registered as BCYF swimmers, and won many, many BCYF championships, I myself participated in the last one, and we won that one by a mile. How does that not make us a PCYF team?

I'm not sure if there's an answer for that. Or maybe you've already explained that. I mean, I appreciate you coming. McGuire on, but I know that modern Rivera and Jose Masso and others have been part of this conversation. So, if you don't, um, you don't have a. Answer that's fine. Also, we can continue. I know that we'll continue to get answers. From any outstanding questions from this meeting. Um, counselor called pepper, do you have, um. Any questions or want to speak to. The community panel that's on.

I had some questions for the administration though.

Yep, that's fine. I know that Eddie and Brian are here.

So I was looking at the forecast for future expenses on a new three-year pool contract after the existing contract expired in 2027. And this is for the administration. How much is that New three year pool contract.

I would have to follow up with Sam and then I believe the first allocation was 150,000, but I'm not 100% sure. So let me follow up to get that information. And that's specific to bringing in like Weston Sampson and others who can more immediately fix kind of lower tier issues.

So in 2026, no, go on.

Uh, good afternoon. Council call pepper. So, uh, just because we operate on a separate contract. Um, in 2024, we had 3 and a half 1Million, which we rapidly spent. Um, to get, uh, it was actually just 4 pools ready because of the amount of money that was involved in 2025. we had a 4Million dollar contract. That is the 1 on our side. That's it. Is expiring in June of 2027, 2027. Yep. Past that point in time, what we'll do is the goal is something similar or to forecast our exact need based on the maintenance separate of the capital projects of what a three year continued maintenance at the same level will look like. We're expecting somewhere between three and four million projected right now. But when we get towards the end of of the next fiscal year, we'll have a better picture of what that looks like.

And with regard to the Madison Park pool, that's going from BPS to BCYF.

For twenty six, not exactly. So we. Partner with the mayor's office and and PMD or property management department to expand our pool services for the summer. And the Madison part seemed like a great opportunity for us to flex that and see how well it works. We don't know if it would be continued, but right now it's something that we're trying out. And we'll know soon. I mean, summer is going to kick off shortly.

Just for the summer 26? Yes. You'll be operating it though, BCYF?

Yes, BCYF will be operating Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 6, throughout the remainder of the summer.

And the South End Fitness Center is all set?

That isn't 1 of the pools that operates. It is 1 of the that's included. We haven't had any reports to say that it's not an operable condition.

It's right. Correct. Okay. Okay. I did my question was that just said. That it's all set for summer 2026. My question was that it's all set for 2026.

My understanding is that the pool is operable and that it is function, you know, so people are utilizing it, but we don't track that for BPHC. They would have to report that separately. I do get some of the facility updates, but I don't get the utilization updates from that.

Okay. That's all I had, Madam Chair.

Okay, thank you. Council Culpepper. Council Mejia, do you have any closing statements or questions? And then I'll just do one last check with Ron if there's any more public testimony since we finished the last ones.

yeah and no i want to just thank um the chair for accommodating this hearing virtually thank you so much um and for the community panelists and for the administration these are the sort of difficult conversations that i think are really important to have especially in this moment in time when there's so much mistrust in government that i think the more spaces that we can convene to get clear and to allow folks to share their experiences with us. This is customer service. This is the best way that we get better. And I hope that the administration listens with that ear in terms of what we need to do. I still do believe that there are many outstanding questions and things that we need to do to get it right for the Dolphin and Flaherty Pooh families. And I look forward to working with my colleagues and community to figure out a path forward that is clear and just for everyone. And so you have a partner in me in this work, and I just want to thank the advocates who reached out via email. I've never seen a group of people organize that quickly over the holiday break. Y'all did not. Take your foot off the gas and so much so that, you know, you had counselors. Attending your community meetings, you had folks participating in a number of different processes. And so my team has always been committed. I know, Mr. McGuire, you remember me from the Charlestown Clarity Pool days, so you know I am a fierce advocate and a big supporter of community-centered processes, and so I look forward to working with you and your team to make sure that we right the wrong and make sure that we set up our families for success, more importantly. And I want to thank the students, the families, on the advocates who have shown up and the administration for staying here the entire time. That is not normal. We don't usually get to see that. So I just want to thank you all for not just staying, but for allowing the back and forth to go with community. That's not the norm either. And so I just want to just thank you for allowing that to manifest in the space. And you got a partner in me. I look forward to working alongside everyone. Thank you, Chair Murphy.

Thank you. Before I go to Council Culpepper, we do have a couple more. Ethan just texted. So, Ethan, if you could bring up the public testimony that has signed up since the last time we checked. Thank you. Dana, you are the first one in. If you would like to unmute, you can go. Thank you.

Hi, my apologies. I feel some of this is repetitive, but I am not good on my feet, so I'm going to read my remarks. My name is Dana Willeke, and my family lives in JP. My daughter learned to swim at Curtis Hall, and she was a proud BCYF Flaherty Dolphin for nine years, and she's currently working her third summer for the city as a lifeguard at the Hennigan. BCYF facilities are an incredible resource for Boston, with city pools being integral to raising a healthy and active family in an urban environment. Free access to pools is one of the major assets we enjoy as residents in an otherwise very expensive city. Unfortunately, many of our city pools have been closed for excessively long periods of time, are underutilized while open, or have experienced disruptive programming changes. To be clear, this isn't strictly about lack of funding. It's about lack of planning, failure to both seek out and to listen to the needs of users, and misguided attempts to standardize programming when instead facilities should be responsive to the communities they serve. For three decades, by also participating in the Metro League, the city team out of the Flaherty was able to provide affordable access to recreational level competitive swimming. It gave opportunity to city youth beyond the Learn to Swim program offered by BCYF alone and provided rigor and organization that was unmatched in the BCYF Development League. You've heard from Flaherty swimmers about their individual loss this winter with the move of their coach, but the loss to Boston will be greater if this team and this opportunity that it represents isn't preserved. Please recognize the value of what this team has been able to offer to the city for three generations of swimmers. And don't waste 33 years of operational knowledge by trying to start from scratch without our team. Make a long-term commitment to the 90 dolphin swimmers. They already exist. They're there. They're ready to go next season and all that would benefit in the future. I urge BCYF leadership to view the new Boston Dolphins team success as an example of the strength of the city's aquatics program and not a drain on resources, not at odds with other pool users. If done right, this public partnership can be a blueprint for learning from our shared past and planning for a stronger future. Thank you.

Thank you, Dana. Margo, you are up next.

Chair Murphy, I just want you to know that Oscar wants to say one more thing. His hand is up.

Thank you. Margo, if you're unmuted, you can go.

I am a great water aerobics person. I go to many different pools. I wanted to share the experience of Saturday mornings at the Mason pool. There may be 40 people in attendance. It's that popular. And a lot of people who have disabilities, who are physically challenged, seniors, a lot of women, and a lot of different communities represented um it's a wonderful community and i haven't heard you talk about mason pool like with the exception of mercedes um it seems to be all about flattery and um you know i what about all the other pools and i'm also i would like to get a response around um What I've been hearing that the Mason pool might be closed. If someone could address that, but I really hope that the water aerobics programs will continue because they're really well attended and there are mainstay for seniors across many communities. Thank you.

Hi, Margot. My name's Ed McGuire. I'm the Director of Operations for BCYF. There is no timeline at this moment for a foreclosure. They are assessing the pool, overall infrastructure, and coming up with the plan. But as soon as we have an idea of if it's possible to fund and move forward with it, we'll be communicating that out to the public. But we are looking to modernize the pool.

Thank you, Eddie. I don't think, unless Ethan is still bringing people in, I don't see any new names. Okay. So, Oscar, was your hand up from before? Do you want to say something more?

I'd like to say something more.

Of course, go ahead.

Thank you. I think maybe instead of taking away the most competitive, team in BCYF, maybe we should add more, like give more teams access to the Metro League or like give the Mason Pool a Metro team or the Blackstone when it finally reopens. Like instead of taking away this amazing opportunity, like create more opportunities for kids around the city to compete with each other instead of having just one great opportunity. I mean, on the Dolphins, we have to go way out of town. We're going to Wellesley and Milton, and it would be great if there were competitive teams that could actually give us a good challenge in the city. I think that would be much better than evening it out by taking away the most competitive team.

Thank you. Thank you, Oscar.

So, Councilor Culpepper, if you have any closing statements, and I'll just... Yeah, I had a question about the Southland Fitness Center being the only BPHC-owned pool How does that work?

I would have to get, are you talking about day-to-day operations at that pool or ownership?

Yes, because BCYF only supports them, right?

BCYF, we don't operate that facility.

I understand, but you support them, right?

No, we don't support them. They're just on the list of city assets. We don't have lifeguards there. Our CPOs are not there.

So if something goes wrong with it, then they repair it or fix it on their own?

For capital investment and or for repairs, it would be something. My understanding is that it usually is done in partnership with property management as well as PFD. So I don't think they're solely responsible, but they definitely have majority stake in that.

But how does it work? Let's say there was a problem with the pool. How does that work in terms of repairing it?

I don't have enough information on that offhand that I can provide today, but I can definitely follow up. What I will say is that for all pools, there is a collaborative approach between BPS, PMD, PFD, and BCYF, as well as a litany of other individuals like a press team and things that monitor and we meet on a monthly basis. And so when issues arise at any one of our pools, there are subsections within those departments that focus particularly on it. But it's, you know, sharing best practices, understanding what costs were previously, as well as having, you know, Unfortunately, pools like to break so that we have situations where we have to share knowledge quite regularly and or have expertise of our, you know, come in and make those particular adjustments. But, um. With respect to their funding resources and stuff like that, I couldn't really speak to it. So I will follow up with you all with that for you all.

And actually, they own it, right? That's my understanding trying to get to. How does that partnership work? In terms of the operation and the repair.

I'll make sure to follow up with that on this list and thank you for. The slide deck you shared earlier that the self and fitness center is the only 1 outside of.

Yeah, yeah.

Maintained through them and the other.

The other question I had was, what's the Swim Whisperers training program?

Yeah, Brian.

Yeah, just from my understanding, it's kind of like a train-the-trainer, right? It's what? Kind of like a train-the-trainer type of program. Right now, Swim. Right, so our trainers train with them, and it is kind of like a repetition of creating more trainers.

Right, but who are the Swim Whisperers?

It's a program to help train individuals that teach adaptive swim techniques. So we work with that organization to help train our staff in order to be able to ensure equitable access to our facilities and people of all needs. And so that's, that's my understanding of it. Me and Brian are more operations related. So the programmatic aspect, we could always get someone who speaks more. You know, more in depth about what that actually entails. I think Nadine would probably be the. Probably to be the best person to follow up with that on. But so if there's any specific details to that program or others, we can. You know, I can make sure we get that information to you through through the chair.

Yes, yes, absolutely. We could just. Try and find out who this swim with. The swim, which words are? Yeah.

That'd be good too.

And it seems like they're training some of the swim instructors, some of the BS, yeah.

Okay.

And that's it. Okay. And so there's three things we were looking for. And customer here talked about establishing a citywide task force.

Mm-hmm.

And the information from the December meeting that Elizabeth talked about.

Yep.

And...

Salt Sand Pool.

Just trying to be clear on how, if it does go down, how that operates, who's responsible for making sure that they get the attention they need if something does happen to it. And then the Swim Whisperers training. Who are the Swim Whisperers?

Okay, those are good questions. We'll make sure we get those on the record. Thank you.

Thank you. And here's what's interesting, my final comment. This is something that most folks never even think about until the pool breaks or until the pool's not available. And so I really appreciate you holding this hearing, all the answers and the testimony that we heard, especially from the public. And I think it just makes it a lot easier to be on top of the pools before something happens to know who handles the operation and the. Repair in case the pools go down, so you don't think about it much until they go down. And then everyone's trying to figure out. What do we do next? And so, Brian and Edward. Thank you for coming on to give us the answers that you did. And then hopefully this summer that someone will go through with no pools. Having any kind of issues. Thank you.

Thank you. Council call pepper. Chair Murphy also here. Yeah, no, I see you again. We also will hear a lot from. Residents with the heat wave, right? The summer is just beginning. So. That's usually also when things aren't working and there's a need. So, thank you for that. 1, quick question before I pass it back to council here. Who. You've mentioned Nadine. I feel like I should know her. Which Nadine are we referring to?

She's the aquatics regional operations manager in my team. And so she handles a lot of the recruitment, but also helping establish some programming and overview of just generally that.

Okay. And one thing I know we listed the south end because it is part of our assets property wise. Um, as we look at neighborhoods and needs. Just want to reiterate, uh, the need also. That we look outside of just our assets. Because 1 thing we do see is when we say neighborhoods, like Roxbury, Matt, a pan, Dorchester. Are kind of like these pool deserts it's not just like. Other neighborhoods, like, we're investing in. our bcyf pools which i think is important but they may already have like a ymca they already have a boys and girls club they have other access to you know very you know non-profits but public facing pools um so there really are these spots across the city so thank you um elizabeth and i know the team of people who have been advocating for the flaherty swim team also looking just outside of your needs and just seeing i know louisa That's something you guys kid about, you know, you want to advocate for your school or your neighborhood. In this case, your swim team, your pool, but you do see the need that that has to go equitably across the city. So I know there is one out there somewhere, Eddie, but do you have a list you could share with me? The council is where we're also listing other pools, even though they're not city assets. Has that been a list that you guys have created just to Even though we can't rely on them, you know, on a day to day basis, but just that knowledge is important to see that map across the city.

um i'm not uh completely sure so i'd have to double check to see if that isn't i would assume it is because a lot of what we're just you know um those partnerships with health and human services with the swim safe initiatives you know it incentivizes ymca's boys and girls clubs and other entities with aquatics to you know provide swim lessons um so i would have to double check that but i also i also do have to jump from this meeting i just wanted to say thank you to everybody thank you for staying on i appreciate it

And Council Mejia, you're up.

Yeah, no, I understand. And I know that Mr. McGuire has to leave and I see Mr. Ford is still here. But it was, you mentioned the... the site as an asset, and when we're talking about public good, public dollars, you know, I see the work that came out of the BCYF flarity pool as a public asset that public, you know, that families were taking advantage of, and so I'm just curious in terms of funding, has there, do we have a budget line item that was ever used for the Flaherty pool to support the dolphin programming, the city ever in its existence in the last 20 something years? Because at some point I believe that this team was a fully operating initiative of BCYF.

I'd have to... I'm not aware of whether or not there was a specific line item in the past that was spent, you know, directly for this program. What I do know is that Our current aquatic funding is comes from our general budget, um, and is spread throughout the entire city. So, there isn't any specific cost that goes to outside of trying to set up programming or, like, vendor fees. There isn't a specific allocation to 1 site. It's all 1. So, we have to take that money and spread it out throughout the network. So, there is no, no, 1 ticket. So, at this point, if that was different than in the past, I couldn't speak to it. Okay, but thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak here today and for the advocacy and we look forward to. To work with you all.

Okay, thank you. Thank you. Before I close up meeting. I know. Wait 1 2nd. I will give Louisa and Elizabeth seem to have raised their hand. I'll give you 1 last chance, but comes from here. Do you want to finish?

I just got some folks that stated that they sent their video testimony. So I just wanted to make sure that they know that their written testimony and or their video testimonies will be added to the record. And I'm not sure if you're going to play those videos. after the Elizabeth and Louisa speak just so that we have those video remarks as part of our record here today.

I'd have to check with Ethan and Ron. I know I don't I have not seen them yet. So I will check when I give Elizabeth first and then Louisa another chance. I'll check with them.

I have the same exact question as Councillor Mejia. I was just curious about the written and submitted video.

The written are never read into the record. They're put part of the record. I can check. Video can if we wanted to. I'm just not sure if Ethan has it set up ready to go, but it will be part of the meeting once we close it out. So I'm checking with Ethan now about that.

Thank you all so much for inviting us and involving us. This is really grateful for this opportunity today. Thank you.

thank you louisa yeah um i just want to say thank you for thinking outside the box in a sense of thinking of ymca or additional resources the only issues with that is that you have to pay a fee so unless there is a connection between bcyf and YMCA to support those who are not able right to afford the fees that YMCA requests. They will not be viable options. Just want to make sure that that's what I keep on hearing from people. So, thank you.

Yeah, no, they're definitely. They're reasonable. They're not free. Of course, the fees there. Um, yeah, but when we're looking at neighborhoods around the city, there are definitely neighborhoods that have no, no access to even another option. Um, so just to, um, I'm not sure Ron, if you have them, but Ethan says.

Yeah, because I had a question for Brian.

Okay, if he's still here, yes, he is. Um, if he. I'm checking in with Ron now.

And this is not related. Brian, did you ever take care of the issue at Orchard Gardens that we discussed some time ago when Clinton Jones was on?

Yes. So I had the team go out there and address it immediately. It was the following weekend that they were able to get out to the site. I believe they did some make safe work and now we have an estimate for further work that's supposed to happen in that auditorium as well. And I'll have to check on the status of where that's going with the next step only because we've had a tough budget year.

Please do, please do. And I understand about the tough budget and believe me, we all understand that. Thank you, Brian.

Anytime.

Thank you, Councilor Murphy. I think that's it.

Thank you, Council Culpepper. I know Ethan said there was a glitch with the submission form, but we will add any video testimony that was given so people can watch it after once this video, I mean, once this meeting is adjourned, it will be part of the record along with any testimony that was submitted. So, thank you everyone for being on it was an important, I think, informative meeting. Thank you for. The public testimony for the community panelists and the admin. I appreciate you were here you stayed and. You were very helpful, I think, and we'll continue to reach out with any further questions. We have to continue to advocate for the community. With that being said this hearing on docket. 0694 is adjourned. Thank you. And stay cool. Everyone go to go to 1 of the pools. Go for a swim. Thank you. Council Murphy. Thank you. Thank you. Council me here in your team. Thank you. Bye.