Finance Committee recommends favorably on minutes, an appointment, transfers and three grants/resolves; NAACP and Cape Verdean delegations presented

At its March 17 meeting, the Brockton Finance Committee accepted minutes for its Feb. 18 and March 3 sessions and recommended favorably on several orders, grants and resolves that will move to the full City Council for final action.

The committee took the following formal actions (summary):

- Acceptance of minutes: Minutes of the Feb. 18, 2025 and March 3, 2025 Finance Committee meetings were "accepted and placed on file." (hand votes recorded; counts not specified in the transcript.)

- Appointment: The committee recommended favorably the appointment of retired officer Brian Kirby as a special police officer. Officer Kirby identified himself as a recently retired Brockton Police Department officer who remains certified through 2026. (Motion carried by hand vote; counts not specified.)

- Item 7 — Prostate cancer awareness resolve: The committee recommended favorably a resolve inviting Steven Bernard of the Brockton Area NAACP to present on the branch's prostate cancer awareness campaign. Bernard and Leona Martin of the NAACP described a decade of outreach, biannual forums convening New England urologists and community screening referrals, and the Prostate Cancer Equity (PCE) program that expedites access to clinical experts for men age 40 and over. Bernard said that March 27 is the 16th annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day at the State House (held virtually) and that AMITEC (Admitec Foundation) is seeking $1,500,000 from the state budget to support its work. The committee recommended the resolve favorably.

- Item 9 — Cape Verdean Association delegation: The committee recommended favorably a resolve welcoming staff and volunteers from the Cape Verdean Association Against Gender‑Based Violence. Pat Kelleher of Family and Community Resources Inc. described a shadowing and training program through May 11 for four Cape Verdean visitors who will meet with Brockton Police Department staff, the Housing Authority, Plymouth County victim advocates and other providers. Kelleher said the visit is not costing the City of Brockton any municipal funds and that the visitors are present on visitor visas; the resolve was recommended favorably.

- Item 4 — Transfer of $200,000: The committee recommended favorably an order transferring $200,000 (source: treasurer debt service $150,000 and assessor personal services non‑overtime $50,000) to assessor purchase of services to fund a five‑year certification program required by the Bureau of Local Assessor. The committee recommended favorably.

- Item 5 — $15,000 grant to Parks & Recreation: The committee recommended favorably acceptance and expenditure of a $15,000 Department of Conservation and Recreation grant for improvements at the Gilmore School fields (state earmark by Rep. Michelle DuBois; no city match required). The Parks superintendent said funds will be targeted to the fields behind the Gilmore School.

- Item 6 — $62,461 JAG grant to the Police Department: The committee recommended favorably acceptance and expenditure of $62,461 from the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance; the department said funds will be used for departmental equipment and require no local match.

In addition to the list above, the committee voted to take Items 7 and 9 out of order to accommodate guests. Committee discussion on items with presenters was largely positive; several councilors thanked the NAACP and Family and Community Resources for the presentations and moved the items forward by voice or hand vote. Where votes were conducted, the transcript records committee adoption as "recommended favorably" but does not supply individual yes/no tallies for each item.

The committee closed its agenda after these items and adjourned.