City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice hearing on Docket #1167 #1207 #1209

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Thirteen Million Five Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($13,520,000.00) in the form of a grant for the Federal FY21 Urban Areas Security Initiative, awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through the MA Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, to be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, to support planning, exercises, trainings and operations that build regional capacities to help prevent, respond to and recover from threats or acts of terrorism, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive incidents.

Docket #1207, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Six Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Five Dollars ($106,575.00), in the form of a grant, for the FY22 DMH Co-Response Grant, awarded by the MA Department of Mental Health, to be administered by the Boston Police Department, to fund a full-time recovery coach/forensic peer specialist to assist Boston Police Department officers with Hub & Center of Responsibility meetings citywide.

Docket #1209, message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seventy Two Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($72,600.00), in the form of a grant, for the FY2022 Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant, awarded by the MA Department of Mental Health, to be administered by the Boston Police Department, to fund overtime cost to backfill Crisis Intervention Training and other mental health training for officers.

These matters were sponsored by the Administration, and were referred to the Committee on November 17, 2021 (Docket #1167) and December 1, 2021 (Dockets #1107 #1109).

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 Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, 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 and via broadcast 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: Michelle A. Goldberg

Committee Email:  ccc.ps@boston.gov  

Staff Email:  michelle.a.goldberg@boston.gov  Staff Telephone: 617-635-3040

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