On the message and order, referred on December 1, 2021, Docket #1210, authorizing the City of Boston to extend the local option first adopted in 2012 that offers members of the Massachusetts National Guard and reservist on active duty in foreign countries a real and personal property tax exemption of up to 100% of the total assessed, the Committee submitted a report recommending the order ought to pass.
Thank you very much, Councilor Campbell. Madam Clerk, would you now please read docket 1210? Surely. Docket 1210. The Committee on Ways Means to which was referred on December 1st, 2021, docket number 1210 message an order authorizing the city of Boston to extend the local option first adopted in 2012. It offers members of Massachusetts National Guard and reservists on active duty in foreign countries a real and personal property tax exemption up to 100% of the total assessed. Submits report recommending the order to pass. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair now recognizes the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, Councilor Kenzie Bok. The floor is yours. Thank you so much, Mr. President. We had a great hearing on this on Friday. Thank you so much to Councilors Flynn and Flaherty for attending. And as it says in the description, Docket 1210 would authorize the city of Boston to accept this local option, which lets us provide a property tax exemption of up to 100% to homeowners who are active members of the National Guard or military Reserve serving in a foreign country during the fiscal year. This was adopted in 2012, and so every two years it's required that we reauthorize it. So the Council has been doing that continuously since the option first was created. I have to say that one of the things we discussed in the hearing is the fact that this is probably too well-kept of a secret. I mean, it's a fairly narrow band of folks as it is. But for instance, like the year before last, we had seven people taking advantage of it. In this past year, we actually didn't have anybody taking advantage of it. So one of the things that Councilor Flynn and I discussed with the assessor and sort of a follow up action step is to go reach out to Commissioner Santiago and think about ways to spread the word about this a little bit more, because through the military channels, there are definitely discreet people who qualify for this in the city of Boston who don't know that it's an option for them. So I think that was a major thing that came out of the hearing. And I'm grateful that Councilor Flynn for his partnership on that. But certainly we want to spread the word, but we need to have the exemption to spread the word about. And so in order for that to happen, as chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, I'm recommending today that this this stuck it out to pass, Mr. President. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Would anyone else wish to speak on Docket 1210? Seeing no takers. Kenzie Bok, chair of the Committee on Ways and Means, seeks acceptance of the committee report and passage of Docket 1210. All those in favor please indicate by saying I oppose. Nay, the ayes have it. The docket has passed. The President. Roll call vote yes. If Councilor Baker is doubting the vote. So, Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll on docket one two, one, zero. Thank you. Target 1210. Council Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Arroyo. Yes. Councilor Baker. Yes. Councilor Baker. AS Council BLOCK. Council BLOCK is Councilor Braden. Councilor Braden. Yes. Councilor Campbell. Councilor Campbell. Yes. Councilor Edwards. Councilor Sabi George. Councilor Sabi George. AS Councilor Flaherty. Council. 30 Years Council Flynn. Councilor for ten years. Councilor Janey. Council me here. Councilor, I'm here. Yes. Councilor Murphy. Councilor Murphy. Yes. And Councilor. Yes. Yes, Mr. President, do I get number 1210 received a unanimous vote. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Now moving on to the matters recently heard for possible action. Madam Clerk, would you please read docket 0221? Thank you. Docket 0221. Order for a hearing to discuss internal access and digital equity in the city of Boston.