Boston City Council Look At Preliminary Election, Early Voting, Participatory Budgeting, Student Debt & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from the  April 28, 2021 Boston City Council meeting:

VOTES

Date of the Preliminary Election: The Council voted 11-0 (Councilor Essaibi George abstaining) to approve an order moving the date of the Preliminary Election for this municipal year from September 21 to September 14, after a hearing where the Elections Department stated that it would be preferable to have more time to potentially process mail-in ballots. 

Chemical Crowd Control Agents and Kinetic Impact Projectiles: The Council voted 7-5 (Councilors Baker, Essaibi George, Flaherty, Flynn, and O’Malley opposed) to approve an ordinance sponsored by Councilors Arroyo and Campbell restricting the use of chemical crowd control agents and kinetic impact projectiles. After a hearing recently held in the Committee on Government Operations to discuss this matter, Chair Edwards recommended that this order ought to pass in a new draft.

Student Debt Cancellation Resolution: The Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Councilors Mejia and Arroyo calling on the federal government to cancel all student debt.

I AM Bill Resolution: The Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Councilors Essaibi-George and Edwards in support of the I AM Bill, a state legislative proposal that would expand access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters and public schools.

NEW FILES

Tracking Vacant Commercial Properties: Councilors Mejia and Bok filed an ordinance to establish systems for tracking vacant commercial properties in the City of Boston. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Early Voting Options: Councilor Arroyo filed a home-rule petition for Early Voting Options for City of Boston Municipal Elections. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Same-Day Voter Registration: Councilor Arroyo filed a home-rule petition to allow for Same-Day Voter Registration for City of Boston Municipal Elections. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations. 

Amending the City Charter: Councilor Edwards filed an order to amend the Charter of the City of Boston by submission of a question for approval by the voters to amend the process of creating and approving the municipal budget, allowing the Council to respond to public feedback with actions other than simply rejecting the budget. It would formally establish and allow for the expansion of the participatory budgeting process and allow the Council to offer more extensive oversight of the budget for Boston Public Schools. This matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations.

MATTERS RECENTLY HEARD

FY22 Budget: Councilor Bok reported back as Chair of the Committee on Ways & Means regarding hearings recently held to discuss the FY22 operating budget, including annual appropriations for departmental operations, the School Department, and for other post-employment benefits (OPEB), capital fund transfer appropriations, and the Capital Budget, including loan orders and lease-purchase agreements. (Remains in Committee)

UPCOMING HEARINGS (Streaming online at https://boston.gov/departments/city-council/watch-boston-city-council-tv) 

• Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, May 5th at 12PM. 

• Thursday, April 29th at 10AM: Hearing to discuss the FY22 Budget: Law, Arts & Culture, Tourism, Revolving Funds (Committee on Ways & Means)

• Thursday, April 29 at 2PM: Hearing to discuss the FY22 Budget: Capital overview and Public Facilities Department (Committee on Ways & Means)

• Friday, April 30th at 10AM: Working session to discuss the FY22 Budget: Boston Police Department,  Environment, Conservation Commission, Landmarks (Committee on Ways & Means)

• Friday, April 30th at 1:30PM: Hearing on community voice in impact advisory groups (Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)

• Monday, May 3 at 1PM: Hearing on the Conservation Commission receiving a property to be included as an addition to the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild (Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)

• Tuesday, May 4 at 2PM: Working session to discuss the FY22 Budget: Boston Public Schools Commitment #1, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Youth Engagement and Employment (Committee on Ways & Means

For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.