On the message and Ordinance, referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0259, Amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section X and Establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, the committee submitted a report recommending the Ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the Ordinance was passed in a new draft.
So I can number 0259 An ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinance Chapter 15, Section ten and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act. The Chair recognizes Council Royal Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Counsel. Royal. You have the floor. Thank you. We have a hearing. Mr.. Thank you, Mr.. Chair. The Committee on Government Operations had a working session on Tuesday, April 12th, on docket 0259, an ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances Chapter 15, Section ten, and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, which was sponsored by Councilor Julie McGee and myself. I'd like to thank my council colleagues for attending Councilor Julie me here, Councilor Rosie Lui, Jen, Councilor Candelaria, Councilor Kenzie Bok and Councilor Ed Flynn. I also like to thank Chief Solis Rivera, Chair McKenna and the Human Rights Commission and get Abby and the advocates for the purpose and councilor flying with you to remember those ongoing attacks . Now, this ordinance would amend existing language in the Boston City Code and establish a chief diversity officer who would provide oversight over the city's nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action policies. This ordinance would also require regular updates on progress made regarding diverse hiring and promotions and require that the Chief Diversity Officer work with officers to make sure that there are fair hiring practices in place for family members of current employees. During the working session, the committee heard language suggestions on and speaking to collective bargaining agreements, which would not be subject to this ordinance at all. All collective bargaining agreements supersede this. There was further discussion regarding the duties of the Chief Diversity Officer and the language suggestions on how covered employees would receive a promotion, upgrade or reclassification. The committee is working to get information on the city's current job posting policies while we wait to receive those specific language amendments from from multiple parties that we discuss at the working session, I'm going to recommend that this remains in committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Counsel Royal. The Chair recognizes. Counsel me here. Counsel me here. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my co-sponsor counsel for chairing such a great working session. We received a lot of great feedback from the administration and from our advocates and our colleagues here. So I'm the counsel and that we feel like we are really moving this work forward and making the ordinance stronger to best fit and serve our city workers. And a special shout out to Councilor Bark for a lot of great ideas that you shared in that space. Really do appreciate you. And one thing that I will just say is that I also want to uplift a lot of the workers that reached out to our office over the summer talking about the issues that they were experiencing. And it was because of their courage and their leadership that we are here in this moment addressing this issue. So I just want to uplift the workers who who literally came out of the shadows to talk about the discrepancies in in promotional practices here in the city of Boston. And I'm hoping that we can move this along quickly so that we can take it up for a vote of. Okay, thank you. Thank you, councilman here. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Talk of 0259 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0265, please. 0265 In order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expand a grant funded through the coronavirus, state and local fiscal recovery fund. C o. F. R f. In the Treasury of the United States, established by Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a r awarded by the United States Department of the Treasury.