Brockton City Council approves firefighter appointments, multiple budget transfers and lease actions; zoning amendment referred

The Brockton City Council on Monday night confirmed four new firefighters, approved multiple budget transfers and an appropriation for golf-course equipment, accepted lease agreements and gifts, and referred a zoning map amendment to committee.

The actions, taken during the council's Sept. 22 meeting in Council Chambers, included a series of roll-call votes on transfers and appropriations and unanimous or voice approvals for personnel appointments. Several items were referred to standing committees for further review.

The appointments began the evening. Fire Chief Nardelli presented four candidates who he said had been “vetted incredibly” and were local veterans; the council voted to grant the appointments. Chief Nardelli introduced the candidates as Nelson D. Andrade, Giovanni V. Duarte, Austin J. Ferreira and Edgar Kelly, each appointed to the rank of firefighter.

The council also took up municipal housekeeping and budget matters submitted by the mayor and finance staff. Notable financial votes included adoption of multiple transfers from Human Resources benefits to departmental personnel accounts and the appropriation and authorization to borrow $470,000 to purchase maintenance equipment for DW Field Golf Course; that borrowing authorization passed by a 9–1 roll-call vote. Other transfers and appropriations described in mayoral communications were adopted by roll call (several recorded 10–0 or 10 in the affirmative as noted below).

Leases and property matters moved forward as well. The council accepted a three-year lease with Metro South Chamber of Commerce for property at 50 School Street (term beginning July 1, 2025, ending June 30, 2028) and accepted communications regarding leases with Hawkeye Fence LLC and a three-year lease for property at 91 Forest Street to be used by Brockton Public Schools; those matters were placed on file or referred to finance as the agenda directed. The council declared 7 Commercial Street (Brockton Police Headquarters) surplus and voted to refer disposition of that property to the standing committee on real estate.

The council also adopted a resolution accepting a small donation of six stationery items to the Council on Aging with an estimated value of $321.47 under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44.

Votes at a glance - Appointments: Nelson D. Andrade, Giovanni V. Duarte, Austin J. Ferreira and Edgar Kelly to firefighter — appointment granted (voice/voice roll call not recorded in transcript). (Agenda item 2) - Appointment: Daricella Green to Brockton Beautification Committee for a one-year term ending Sept. 2026 — communication referred to finance / placed on file (agenda item 3). - Council on Aging bylaws (amended bylaws submitted by Council on Aging Board) — adopted by roll call, 10 in the affirmative. - Waiver of residency (City of Brockton ordinance sec. 2-1-10) for plumbing and gas inspector Jason Yetman — adopted by roll call, recorded as 8 in the affirmative, 2 in opposition. - Acceptance of gifts (Robert Beauchene to Council on Aging, estimated value $321.47) — adopted by roll call, 10 in the affirmative. - Transfer / appropriation bundle (detailed transfers from Human Resources benefits to multiple departmental personal-services accounts) — adopted by roll call, 10 in the affirmative. - Transfer (Item 18: $63,566.62 from Human Resources benefits to multiple departmental personal-services accounts) — adopted by roll call, 10 in the affirmative. - Appropriation (Item 19: $22,151.48 from Human Resources benefits to library personal services) — adopted by roll call, 8 in the affirmative as announced. - Borrowing/appropriation for DW Field Golf Course equipment ($470,000) — adopted by roll call, 9 in the affirmative, 1 in opposition. - Lease acceptance (Metro South Chamber of Commerce, 50 School Street; three-year term) — adopted by roll call, 9 in the affirmative. - Declaration of surplus and referral (7 Commercial Street, Brockton Police Headquarters) — motion to refer to real estate committee adopted. - Zoning map amendment (rezoning several parcel IDs R1 to R5) — read into the record and referred to the ordinance committee and planning board for review.

The council also approved an ordinance referral (zoning-map amendment) that was read into the record and sent to the ordinance committee and the planning board for further review; the transcript shows the amendment will be scheduled for ordinance committee consideration. A separate resolve asking the council to invite affected youth sports organizations (including the Brockton Blazers) to discuss recent school-fee increases was referred to the finance committee.

The meeting record shows routine acceptance and placement on file of mayoral communications and CFO communications related to the above items.

Ending The council ended its formal business after scheduling committee referrals and votes; a later councilor comment raised concern about timing and notice for zoning matters (see separate item).