City Council - Ways & Means Committee Hearing on Dockets #0128 and #0129

• Governing Body: Boston City Council, Committee on Ways and Means
• Meeting Type: Committee Hearing
• Date: February 09, 2026
• Time: 2:02 PM
• Chair: Councilor Benjamin Weber (District 6)
• Councilors in Attendance:
  • Edward Flynn
  • Erin Murphy
  • Liz Breadon
  • Sharon Durkan
  • John Fitzgerald
  • Enrique Pepén
  • Gabriela Coletta Zapata
  • Ruthzee Louijeune
  • Brian Worrell
  • Miniard Culpepper
• Panelists:
  • Carlton Jones, Director, Public Facilities Department (PFD)
  • Brian McLaughlin, Senior Project Manager, Public Facilities Department (PFD)

The committee reviewed an order for the appropriation of $6,500,000 for window and door replacements.

• Official Language: "Message an order for your approval, an order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of $6,500,000 for the purpose of paying costs for the window and door replacement projects at the following schools, the Edward Everett Elementary School and the Richard J. Murphy K-8 School."
• Scope: Includes all costs incidental or related to the projects, eligible for grants from the MSBA.
• Timeline: Construction is anticipated for the summer of 2027.

The committee reviewed an order for the appropriation of $3,000,000 for roof replacements.

• Official Language: "Message in order for your approval in order authorizing the City of Boston to appropriate the amount of $3 million for the purpose of paying costs for the roof replacement projects at the following schools. The Thomas J. Kenney Elementary School and Hugh Rowe O'Donnell Elementary School."
• Scope: Includes all costs incidental or related to the projects, eligible for grants from the MSBA.
• Timeline: Construction is anticipated for the summer of 2027.

Senior Project Manager Brian McLaughlin provided a status update on the city's partnership with the MSBA:

• Program Overview: The MSBA is a reimbursement agency funded by one penny of the state sales tax. It operates two programs: the Core Program (large renovations) and the Accelerated Repair Program (ARP) (roofs, windows, and boilers).
• Project Statistics:
  • 57 projects are currently in various stages of the MSBA process.
  • 32 ARP projects have completed construction.
  • $655 million in total construction costs to date, with over $240 million in reimbursements coming back to the City of Boston.
• Specific Project Updates:
  • The Gardner and Lyndon schools were approved for $11 million in November 2025.
  • The Adams School is expected to receive MSBA approval in late February 2026.
  • The Chittick School was removed from the current cycle because the cost of window replacement exceeded the 30% threshold of the building's assessed value, which would have triggered a legal requirement for full ADA compliance upgrades.

Councilors raised several questions regarding facility maintenance and program equity:

• HVAC and Energy Efficiency: Councilor Flynn inquired about the condition of windows and their impact on HVAC systems. Carlton Jones noted that replacements aim for modern energy efficiency standards and health/safety improvements.
• ADA Compliance: Councilor Louijeune sought clarification on the Chittick School's removal. Brian McLaughlin explained that state law requires full ADA upgrades if a project exceeds 30% of the building's value over a five-year period.
• Funding Equity: Councilor Louijeune and Chair Weber referenced a report suggesting suburban districts receive a disproportionate share of MSBA funds. Director Jones responded that while Boston has older and more numerous buildings, the city's participation and reimbursement levels have increased significantly in recent years, particularly with the inclusion of Madison Park.
• Procurement: Councilor Pepén asked about the procurement process for window vendors. PFD clarified that while they oversee construction, the initial vendor procurement for smaller repairs is handled by BPS Facilities Management.
• Specific School Needs: Councilor Culpepper raised concerns regarding auditorium seating at Orchard Gardens and window bars at the Mel King Academy (McKinley School). PFD noted these are generally operating budget/maintenance issues handled by BPS Chief of Operations Brian Ford.

• Public Testimony: No individuals signed up to testify.
• Action: Chair Weber announced his intention to bring Dockets #0128 and #0129 for a first reading at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
• Adjournment: The hearing was adjourned at approximately 3:15 PM.