City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, councilors. I call this regularly scheduled meeting of the Brockton City Council to order. If you would all please join me in standing in saluting our flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Counselors, before we start today, I would like to take a moment of silence. Um, this last week, uh, the city lost a former counselor, Paul O' Conor, counselor at large. Uh, he served in this city in the early 80s. Um, and even when he left the council, he was always active in a in a bright light in the community. So, I'd ask for a moment of silence.

Thank you. May you rest in peace. Amen. Councelor Green. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to introduce two late files to be acted upon this evening. Second. Motion has been properly made and seconded to introduce two late files and to act on them under suspension of the rules this evening. All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes. Uh madam clerk or Mr. Clerk, we have a communication from the police chief requesting the following sergeant be promoted to police lieutenant and he is as he is the top ranked candidate on the attached promotion list. Sergeant Jason Ford to the rank of lieutenant in the Brockton Police Department. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor recommending the same. accepted and placed on file.

We also have a communication from the police chief requesting the following officer be promoted to police sergeant as as he is the top ranked candidate on the pro attached promotional list from the mayor promoting officer Christopher Dulis to the rank of sergeant in the Brockton Police Department. Accepted and placed on file and we have the orders appointment promotion of Sergeant Jason Ford to the rank of lieutenant in the Brockton Police Department. We have the promotion of officer Christopher Dulis to the rank of sergeant in the Brockton Police Department. Very well counselors. Uh question is on uh adop not adoption on appoint on the appointment. Uh madam clerk would you please read the role. Azac yes. Charell yes. D. Roza. Yes. Farwell. Yes. Griffin. Yes. Green.

Yes. Lai. Yes. Niccastro. Yes. Terra. Yes. Nine in the affirmative. The appointments are confirmed. Councelor Charnell. I make a motion that we um reconsiderate reconsideration with the hopes that it does not prevail. Second. Reconsideration has been properly made and seconded. All in favor of reconsideration? All opposed? The motion fails. Congratulations. [applause]

[applause]

Good evening, officers. Can you raise your right hand and repeat after me? I state your name. I, Christopher, do solemnly swear domly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof and will support the Constitution thereof. So help me God. So help me God. I state your name. I, Jason, do solemnly swear domly swear that I will faithfully and impartially that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me all the duties incumbent upon me as a police lieutenant and a police sergeant

as a police sergeant according to the best of my ability and understanding according to the best of my ability and understanding agreeably to the rules and regulations agree agreeably to the rules and regulations of of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the ordinances of the city of Brockton and the ordinances of the city of Brockton. So help me God. So help me God. I state your name I do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States. Congratulations. [applause]

All

right, we're back in session, Mr. Clerk. Item number one. Item one, we have the acceptance of the minutes of the November 10, 2025 city council meeting. Accepted and placed on file. We have the acceptance of the minutes of the November 24, 2025 city council meeting. Accepted and placed on file. We have the acceptance of the minutes of the December 8th, 2025 city council meeting. Accepted and placed on file. We have the acceptance of the minutes of the December 22nd, 2025 city council meeting. Accepted and placed on file. We have the acceptance of the minutes of the January 5, 2026 inaugural cere ceremony. Accepted and placed on file. We have the appointment of Wizar Mull McCulla of Brockton Mass to the role of commissioner of health and human services

referred to the committee on finance. We have the appointment of Judith Nelson of 36 Westland Street, Brockton, Mass, to the women's commission for a three-year term ending in March 2029. Uh, councelor Farwell. Mr. President, I move to table this appointment uh pending further information. Is there a second? Second. Motion's been properly and uh properly made and seconded. All in favor of tableabling. This is a hand vote. All in favor of tableabling. All oppose. The motion passes. Item eight, we have the appointment of Marge Shepard of Hancock Street, Brockton, Mass, as a full board member of the Council on Aging. Referred to the Committee on Finance. We have the report of the Finance Committee for its meeting of February 17th, 2026. Referred to the Committee on Finance.

That's just accepted. I'm sorry. Oh, sorry. Accept and placed on file. Communication from the mayor in accordance with Mass General Law, Chapter 44, section 31D, approving the deficit spending for snow and ice for fiscal year 2026. Accepted and placed on file. We communication from the mayor appointing Wadam McCuller of West Elm Street Brockton Mass to the role of commissioner of health and human services. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor appointing Judith Nelson Nelson of Westland Street Brockton Mass to the women's commission for a three-year term ending in March 2029. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor appointing Marge Shepard of 29 Hancock Street Brockton Mass as a full board member in the Council on Aging.

Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor in accordance with the general laws of Massachusetts chapter 44 recommending that the city council authorize a transfer of $25,000. This transfer will fully fund the IT department's overtime category for the remainder of the fiscal year. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the CFO relative to the same. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor in accordance with the general laws of Massachusetts chapter 44 recommending that the city council authorize a transfer of $15,000. This transfer will fund a full-time administrative assistant position within the emergency management budget for the remainder of the fiscal year. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the CFO relative to the same. Accepted and placed on file.

Unfinished business. We have the appointment of Steven Abrams to the War Memorial Board of Trustees for a three-year term ending in February 2029. In city council February 9th, 2026, read and referred to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. The question is on confirmation by a roll call vote. Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Asac? Yes. Charnell, yes. D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarez, yes. Tera, yes. 10 in the affirmative. The appointment is confirmed.

We have the appointment of Eugenie Kavanaaugh of five Christopher Road Brockton Mass to the women's commission for a three-year term ending in February 2029 in city council February 9th, 2026. Read and referred to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. The question is on confirmation by a roll call vote. Madame clerk, will you please call the role? Azac, yes. Turnell, yes. D. Rosa, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarez, yes. Terara, yes. 10 in the affirmative. The uh the uh appointment is confirmed.

We have the appointment of Aurelia Ambuo of 42 Albert Street, Brockton, Mass, to the woman's commission for a three-year term ending in February 2029 in city council. February 9th, 2026th. Read and referred to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. Question is on confirmation by a roll call vote. Madam clerk, will you please call the role? Azac, yes. Charell, yes. D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarez, yes. Terra, [snorts] yes. 10 in the affirmative. The appointment is confirmed.

We have the appointment of Joanne E. Nelson of 25 Homestead Road Brockton Mass to the Brockton Cultural Council for a three-year term ending in February 2029 in city council February 9th, 2026. Read and refer to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. Question is on confirmation by a roll call vote. Madam clerk, will you please call the role? Asac? Yes. Charnell, yes. D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvaris, yes. Terra, yes. 10 in the affirmative. The appointment is confirmed.

Ordered that the following name sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the mayor as follows. appropriation of $99,52187 from human resources benefits to animal control to assessors to auditor to DPW commissioner to DPW refugees to elections to the board of health to information technology to law to law license to parking authority to parks and recreations to police to public property to veterans all of those were in personal services non-overtime in city council February 9th 2026 read and referred to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. Questions on adoption by a roll call vote. Madam clerk, will you please call the role? Azac, yes. Charell, yes.

D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarz, yes. Terara, yes. 10 in the affirmative. The order is adopted. Voted that the following name sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the mayor as follows. Transfer of $20,000 from library personal services non-overtime to library personal services overtime in city council February 9th, 2026. Read and refer to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. Questions on adoption by a roll call vote. Madame clerk, please call the role. Asac, yes. Charell, yes. D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarez, yes. Terra,

yes. 10 in the affirmative. The order is adopted. Ordered that the city council authorizes the acceptance and expenditure of the total grant funds in the amount of $850,000 from Plymouth County to unappropriated estimated receipts opera fund in city council February 9th, 2026. Read and refer to the standing committee on finance. That report was favorable. Questions on adoption by a roll call vote. Madam clerk. Azac. Yes. Charnell. Yes. D. Roza. Yes. Farwell. Yes. Griffin. Yes. Green. Yes. Niccastro. Yes. Tvarez. Yes. Terra.

Yes. Nine. In the affirmative. The order is adopted. Ordered that the city pursuant to Mass Journal Law Chapter 44 sections 53A and 53A and a half hereby accepts the following donation of $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation to the Brockton Public Library. In city council February 9th, 2026, read and referred to the standing committee on finance that report was favorable. Questions on adoption by a roll call vote. Madam clerk, will you please call the role? Azac, yes. Charell, yes. D. Roza, yes. Farwell, yes. Griffin, yes. Green, yes. Lai, yes. Niccastro, yes. Tvarez, yes. Terara, yes. 10 in the affirmative. The order is adopted.

Ordered that the following name sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the mayor as follows. Transfer of $25,000 from information technology goods and supplies to information technology overtime. Referred to finance. Ordered that the following name summed be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the mayor as follows. Transfer of $15,000 from police personal services non-overtime $7,500 from fire personal services non-overtime $7,500 two emergency management personal services non-overtime $15,000 referred to finance

resolved be it resolved by the Brockton City Council to invite Dr. Troy Claxon, chief financial officer, Mayor Moyes Rodriguez, TJ Plant, Commonwealth Compact Grant Consultant, and Juan Gonzalez, city auditor, to appear before the finance committee to discuss and provide an update on the current status of the FY26 budget. Referred to finance

resolve. Be it resolved to invite Mayor Ros Moses Rodriguez, DPW Commissioner Patrick Hill, traffic commissioner Captain Mark Pocaro, and Beimma Director Steven Hook to appear before the Brockton city council sitting as the finance committee to discuss how the city of Brockton can improve improve its responses to the impacts on the city of recent snowstorms, including clearing streets and sidewalks near schools and throughout the city. Spec specific information sought includes without limitation the snow removal plans developed prior to the storms where removed snow is placed the amount and kinds of equipment and support available in the city for snow clearance and removal in recent storms. The amount and types of equipment and support provided by the Commonwealth and federal government and the ideal amount of equipment and support needed by the city for this work going forward.

Referred to the committee on finance councilors. That is the end of our agenda. Uh, are there any moments of personal privilege? Late file. Oh, there's a lay file. Uh, councelor D. Roza. Um, I'd like to make a motion to uh review a late file. Second.

Motion's been properly made and seconded to introduce a late file. All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes. We have a communication from the mayor in accordance with the general laws of Massachusetts chapter 44 recommending the city council authorize the acceptance and expenditure of a donation in the amount of $100,000 from the United States soccer foundation to Brockton Parks and Recreation. This donation includes the installation of a sport court facility at Malbury Street playground from the US Soccer Foundation as part of their World Cup promotion. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the mayor relative to the same. Accepted and placed on file. Communication from the CFO relative to the same accepted and placed on file.

And we have the ordered that the city pursuant to Mass General Laws chapter 44 sections 53A and 53A and a half hereby accepts the following donation of $100,000 from the United States Soccer Foundation to Parks and Recreation. Referred to the Committee on Finance. That is all we have. Councilors, that's all. There any moments of personal privilege? Councelor Azac.

Thank you. I would just like to announce to residents that Mayor um Moses Rodriguez has extended city hall hours on Wednesdays. Uh beginning March 11th, city hall will extend its hours of operation [snorts] and remain um and remain open until 700 p.m. every Wednesday moving forward. Mayor Rodriguez has implemented this change as part of his init uh initiative to make city hall more accessible and convenient for residents who may not be able to visit during um visiting hours during the day. So, uh moving forward from March 11th 11th, Wednesdays will city hall will be open till 7 p.m. Thank you.

Thank you, councelor. Any other counselors? Seeing none, I declare this meeting adjourned. Good night, everybody.