City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice hearing on Dockets #0999, #1066, #1095, and #1141

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) in the form of a grant for the FY2020 Securing the Cities Program, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the development of the Metro Boston Securing the Cities Radiological/Nuclear Threat Response Initiative, which includes the opening of a regional office and the creation of a regional task force.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Fifty-Seven Dollars and Ninety-Two Cents ($397,057.92) in the form of a grant from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be administered by the Fire Department. The grant will fund the purchase of PPE and related supplies, including reimbursements to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Four Hundred Fifty-Seven Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-One Dollars and Eighty-Five Cents ($457, 671.85) in the form of a grant for the FY21 State 911 Training Grant, awarded by the MA Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the Police Department. The grant will fund the training and certification of Enhanced 911 telecommunications.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) in the form of a grant for the FY21 Byrne State Justice Assistance (JAAG) Grant, awarded by the United States Department of Justice, passed through the Massachusetts State Police/Crime Laboratory, to be administered through Police Department. The grant will fund Operation Shot Spotter, a partnership between the BPD Youth Violence Strike Force and the MA State Police Gang Unit. The initiative will focus on suppressing gun violence, targeting violent impact players and patrolling “hot spots”. The partnership will develop and document intelligence and enhance community trust.

These matters were sponsored by Mayor Martin J. Walsh, and were referred to the Committee on September 23, 2020 (#0999), October 28, 2020 (#1066), November 18, 2020 (#1095), and December 9, 2020 (#1141).

NOTICE: The Boston City Council may have a quorum in attendance due to standing committees of the City Council consisting of both voting and non-voting members. However, members attending this duly posted meeting are participating and deliberating only in conjunction with the business of the standing committee. 

Attendance

In accordance with Governor Baker's March 12, 2020, Executive Order modifying certain requirements of the Open Meeting Law and relieving public bodies of certain requirements, including the requirement that public bodies conduct its meetings in a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public, the City Council will be conducting this hearing virtually. This enables the City Council to carry out its responsibilities while adhering to public health recommendations and ensuring public access to its deliberations through adequate, alternative means. The public may watch this hearing via live stream at boston.gov/city-council-tv. It will also be re-broadcast at a later date on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/Fios 964. 

Public Testimony

Written testimony may be sent to the Committee or staff email (below) and will be made a part of the record and available to all Councilors. Members of the public wishing to testify virtually via videoconference should email the staff contact for a link and instructions to do so.

Staff Contact: Shane L. Pac 

Committee Email: ccc.ps@boston.gov 

Staff Email: shane.pac@boston.gov  Staff Telephone: 617-635-3040

Re-broadcast on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/Fios 964 and streamed at: boston.gov/city-council-tv