2025-04-09 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

2025-04-09 00:00:00 - Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

REP CABRAL - Sessions for the4 cCommittee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. We are waiting momentarily for the senate chair. At some point, depending on the house, proceedings we might need all of us might need to leave. And so we'll turn over the chairing to the Senate to do that. Today is all so-called land built, local extent. We don't expect to be a long hearing. We don't have to meet too many people signed up to testify. I just wanna make sure that everybody follows the new rules, in terms of engagement, in terms of reporting. As you know, if you have served on this committee before, I always take attendance. But this year, the attendance is more significant, and more important because we have to report as a committee, your presence at the hearing or your votes. If you today, we don't intend to take any votes on any bill.
That would be uploaded to the website, so everybody in the Commonwealth and everybody across the world will can see if you attended the hearing79 or how you voted on a81 particular piece of legislation when we do take an executive session or otherwise. We are not adopting any rules of the committee today. We're sort of going to play by ear here, sort of, Robert rules of order of the masons, procedure of legislative procedure. Either one of them is basically similar. And the reason why we're not doing the official committee hearing, official committee rules is because we do not have yet an agreement with the senate. Not for work of trying, but we have not reached that point. I expect that we will. And maybe in the next hearing or so, we'll be ready to adopt the rules of the committee. So we gotta make sure the staff recognizes all of you so we can take attendance who's present, who's not present. We take attendance on all members, both house and senate, but we will we will only post to the website, the house members, and then the senate has the responsibility to handle the wrong members.
So Senator Collins, we're responsible to handle the senate attendance in terms of does it get uploaded? Does it not get uploaded? That's not our business right now. So again, to my left, we have Representative Velis. Right? Davis. That's Senator Velis. Representative Davis, to my left, so let's not forget to record her as president. Representative Gentile to my right, Representative Gallagher, and representative, let me see if I forgot your name. Jennifer Armini, and Representative Donato. Alright? So far, those who are present and we have Senator Collins as well just arriving. As I said earlier, we might have to change the proceedings of the hearing to Senator Collins. They call back to the state. I mean, up to the house chamber for our, session. So I think I laid out basically the responsibilities of the house in terms of who we have to what we have to do in the house. Right? We have to make sure we take attendance for Representative Gary. As well, we have to preserve.
Okay. Public, this has always been a standard of this committee, of the committee that I've shared, of this and other committees. And again, it's very important for the new so called rules once we adopt them. Every testimony or anybody who testifies before this committee, either in person or virtually, your testimony is considered public testimony. Therefore, it will be publicly available at some point after the hearing. We would like you to submit your testimony electronically if you have a hard copy to the committee, so we can have it. And when I say public, it means if someone was to copy. Unless there is sensitive issues or sensitive matters, we335 might do it by, you know, sort of crossing out, that sensitive information before we make it public, before we submit it to when you request it might come in. Again, as the chair, on chairs, we have the ability to decide if a particular testimony might not be in the best interest to be public. So we have that right to keep it without being a public matter.
But by and large, I usually like to tell you that if you are testifying before the committee, this gets recorded. It's streamed live and will be on the website, the legislative website. So whatever you say here, it's public. So I don't see why it should not be public. But, so and that's the way, by the way, I have conducted all the hearings that I have done, ever since I've been the chair of any committee in this legislation. So we would like for those who testify in person or virtually that you state your name, your affiliation, your address, so where you live, is as you know, in Massachusetts, anybody can testify regardless if you are live in Massachusetts or not. Right? You have the right427 to come before any committee and429 testify either in favor or in opposition to the, Sir, can you say a few words?
SEN COLLINS - Yes. Thank you, Chair Cabral. It's an honor to be serving alongside448 you this session again for the joint committee on state administration and military oversight. I do appreciate that we have continued remote access for people around the state. As I know, we have over two dozen bills statewide that affect cities and towns and the Commonwealth as a whole. I468 also wanna recognize my Senate colleagues470 that are members of this committee, Vice Chair, Senator Elbridge, Senator Domenico, Senator Rausch, Senator Velis, and Senator Durant. I think this is an important function that this committee has with respect to land takings, article 97, and, the, process that we're trying to protect, that affects our constitution. And I do think that with the regulations around article 97 being put out there for consideration and change by the Elliott Driscoll administration, that it calls for an oversight hearing by this committee.
There have been, some fits and starts with that public process as it relates to extended comment periods. And I know this committee has heard statewide from advocates and town officials as well as concerned citizens about the impacts to this regulation change, as well as the impacts to the legislature's role in that. Something that is very unique. We have a requirement to pass legislation with two thirds of the legislature in roll call. That's not required with many things. And so I think as we consider this regularization change, or whether it should be changed at all, I think this committee should have an oversight hearing, to invite members of the public and experts to testify to that because it affects the role of the legislature, significantly this committee. With that, I look forward to the testimony today and to try and work through some of these issues, that I know are very important, can seem mundane, but also, in some cases, complicated. Thank you.
CABRAL - Thank you very much. We have, as you can, we have several members, elected officials, I should say, here588 today to testify. As you as you all know, because of the busy schedules, we usually take them out of595 war, off sign597 up. So we're gonna start with, Representative DuBois and then Representative Rita Mendez as well. And they are here to testify on H 3324.614 And614
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REP DUBOIS - HB 3324 - Thank you, Mr Chairman. So my name is, State Representative Michelle Dubois. I represent the 10th Plymouth District. I live at 6 Bank Street in the city of Brockton, and I'm here to testify in support of H 3324. It's an act to empower DECAM, to release property in the city of Brockton. So I wanna thank you, Chair Cabral Chair Collins and the members of the committee for hearing us out today. So this process of land, was taken in, two chunks. One back in the nineties for Brockton to have, for Massasoit Community College to have a conference center. That parcel is not in existence in this bill before you today, but we will be asking for an amendment. And then the parcel that you see referenced in this bill is the parcel adjacent to it. In total, there's 6.8 acres in control by DCAM of land730 that for one reason or another were purchased by the state for Massasoit734 Community College. The736 Massasoit has released its need and it's surplus this land to DECAM. Oh. So over the last few years, we've been trying to figure out a way to get this land back to reproductive to productive use.
And this bill took a lot of work, but we got to a point where just this morning, we had a meeting, Senator Brady and myself, with, commissioner Bakke of DKM and his team to talk about the bill that's before you. We have someone from Catholic Charities here to talk about the project, which would be a $40,000,000 project, have housing, and make Catholic charities be a permanent fixture, in Brockton. Right now, they're in a kind of rented metal tin building that is slated for redevelopment for housing, and they will be asked to move pretty soon. And so we have the mayor here to talk about his support of this project. And what I would like is to gain the support of this791 committee. In my meeting with Commissioner Bakke, he did make a few suggested changes that I would like to share in written form with the with the chairs of this committee802 and the members. One is, right806 now, this bill only contemplates half, 2.8 acres of the 6.8 parcel, and that 2.8 acres would be transferred to Catholic Charities for a nominal fee. For them, they will explain what it will be for, but it'll be for their, community center and, three floors of housing.
And then the other parcel, we will be, DCAM is drafting the amendment right now. It would contemplate and request that those parcels become part of the municipal sale partnership which will empower the city of Brockton to revision what those parcels best use would be. And then, with support of DCAM and oversight from DCAM, be able to RFP those parcels out, and sell them. That's something that happened in Holyoke at the end of I mean, Lowell at the end of last, session. And I guess, DCAM has nine different parcels in this program right now. So that's one of the amendments that we will be asking for. And then, Section 5 line 67, it's just that we would like the shall to be changed to May. So Section 5 contemplates a right turn lane at the corner of this parcel. And, DCAM made the point to say that this intersection is slated for a big, like, 3,000,000 redevelopment, and there is892 a chance that the city may not want the turn lane. So to include a may and not a shall would be a better proper way to go. So we'll follow-up with, written testimony about each and every one of these amendments and discuss them with you. But I will say, I became a state representative in 2015.
And in 2012, I was a914 city councilor for the real estate committee in Brockton that sold this parcel to Massassoit for a dollar, that really focused924 on, not that didn't sell it, but released the that I was the chair of the committee that when this all happened, and the state purchased this land from the family that ran the restaurant, to put a life science center there. And that was at the end of Devel Patrick's, term as governor. And then when942 governor, Baker came in, he made the determination that he would much prefer to have the life science programming on the campus of Massasoit. And I think that that was a good choice952 because now our students don't have to cross a busy street and go into our commercial residential zone in order to get their life science training. And that program went from a $28,000,000 building that governor Baker invested, $38,000,000 and that is work is being done right now in the Massasoit campus. So we really wanna make sure that this parcel of land that's in one of the best, commercial residential zones in my district is utilized in a way that will, benefit the city. And having Catholic Charities have a home in the city of Brockton that's permanent is one of my biggest priorities, for this session. So I thank you very much for your time. I will follow-up with the written amendments and, any questions you have.
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REP MENDEZ - HB 3324 - Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair and all the members of the committee. So I'm, State Representative Rita Mendez, and I represent the city of Brockton. This, partial plan is, in Representative Dubois's district. As you can see, she's very committed to this, project, but obviously representing the city of Brockton, it does impact the city at large. And this, property has been vacant for a very long time because of the whole things that have been happening. So now is a chance and opportunity of a project that the city can really get behind and can really promote, can really get excited about, can really put momentum on that East Side part of Brockton, which services that is crucially needed for the community. So Catholic Charity is, an organization that the city fully supports.
We have the endorsement of the mayor and the city planner, and everybody being able to come behind this project, it's a lifetime opportunity that I don't think we're gonna see it happen again because it's been a lot of commotions of some elected officials being in favor one project, another being in favor another project. And then in the end, nothing happens because it just doesn't move them along. And this1074 is a project that the community is behind, the city is behind. We1078 as representatives are also behind. So this is our chance to actually get this moving. And we're gonna be filing the amendments. We're gonna be in communications with the community, the committee. But having the support from all of you and having this referred out favorably, it's gonna allow us to get this going, get this moving, and I appreciate the time. Thank you.
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COLLINS - Thank you very much, representatives. I had a question. So this property is currently owned by the city of Brockton, and it was leased to Massasoit or sold to Massasoit?
DUBOIS - It was purchased by the state. One parcel, they're, like, a little over three acres was purchased by the state in 19, like, 91. And then the other parcel that's, like, 2.8 acres was purchased by the state in 2016, 2015, for $1,700,000. And then 500,000 from the higher ed bond build was utilized to pull down the restaurant in the plan of putting a life science center there.
COLLINS - With Massasoit?
DUBOIS- With Massasoit.
COLLINS - And those plans have sort of subsided and they're moving on?
DUBOIS - Yeah. Massasoit actually got, $38,000,000 from the state to do all the life science programming on campus. So they're actually redoing two buildings right now that are, liberal arts program buildings, into, life science training buildings. And then the old life science training buildings will be converted into the liberal art, classrooms. So that's happening right now. We're really excited about it.
COLLINS - And the thinking is to get this back for the cost they purchased it on, not current market rates.
DUBOIS - Right. Well, right now, it's just a vacant cement, lot. And in my conversations with DCAM this morning, they said that the land in Brockton, for that type of land will not, assess out for $2,200,000 with no business or any of that on it. So the plan is that, the 2.8 acres that we are proposing be transferred for a nominal fee to Catholic charities. Housing, 30 units of housing. And they would get lots of benefits from, like, the daycare, the food pantry, the CNA classes, the ESOL classes. And then the other parcel that is, like 3.2 acres, and that's where the conference center is, we are gonna be submitting an amendment that would put that parcel into the municipal sale partnership program operated through DCAM, and any revenue from that sale would be referred to, Massasoit Community College. So they would get whatever it didn't cost us to sell it, whatever that happens to be, be it a million dollars or $1,200,000.
COLLINS - So Catholic Charities plays a major role in my district as well, the headquarters in my district. The library center, they used to be down more in the downtown area. And then decided to consolidate their way into a local annex, which caused some1272 growing pains as you can imagine. I'm a little bit struck by the request by1278 Catholic Charities to be deeded the property. I mean, this seems that it came from the city of Brockland. Correct? And they have absorbed property in my district that was for other purposes of the nonprofits, and we're able to, step in and benefit from that as well as on a lease on public property. But, I mean, I have a hard time supporting the notion of transferring public property over to the nonprofits such as that. Is there a strong case from the people of Rockland to hand over the asset that's owed by the state to a non-profit?
DUBOIS - Yes. So I represent this area. I've lived here my whole life. It is 2.7 acres of land, and that land was purchased by a private business from the state. So it1327 was never a city-owned property. It was1329 the Christos restaurant, and the family chose to no longer,1333 be in1335 business when the make when the patriarch passed. Their daughters didn't wanna continue that business. So they sought out, a partnership with,Deval Patrick, Governor Patrick to put a life science training center there because they wanted that parcel of land to go to a community benefit. So that parcel of land, is paid for by a higher ed1359 bond bill that the state put forward and gave to this family. So1363 now it is in DCAM's property. Massasoit does not want it. And what we're looking at right now so Brockton is in a very high, building stage. Thousands of apartments are being built all across the city. And where Catholic Charities is renting right now, it's a metal storage building. And we1382 all know metal storage buildings are put up1384 for temporary purposes until1386 there's a better, more economically feasible project for1390 there.
And our city has, rezoned this whole area to be CRX Rail Yard redevelopment housing plan, where we plan and Rob May will be able to talk more about our city planner to put in thousands of using it units of housing. So Catholic Charities is going to be asked to leave, and we don't want them to leave the city. And what happened down in a different part of my district is we are rebuilding to 300 apartments for low-income seniors because they're falling into the ground. And we had self-help that was out in front of it, and they took that building by eminent domain in order to build, the housing that was needed for seniors. And self-help couldn't find another place to go, so they went to Avon. So they left Brockton. And the services that they were providing through that building were, a lot of telephone services, so they were able to still service Brockton. But with Catholic charities, if they are told to leave that building, which they've already heard, you'll hear more from, Catholic charities about this, that they will be asked to move out when the housing gets booming there. We can't lose all the programming that Catholic charities offers to our city. So from
COLLINS So the only so the only way to solve that is to give them three acres of property? Has there been consideration of a lease versus a long term lease versus a deed?
DUBOIS - Well, you know, we can talk about that.
COLLINS - Yeah. Because I mean, it's a grave concern to me for an organization that we've struggled with to think they're gonna be in the real estate business of acquiring public property.
DUBOIS - So Catholic Charities, we'll talk more1482 about that. Catholic Charities is is gonna be partnering with, PUA, which is the development arm of the Roman Catholic Church in order to build housing, on this site. So there'll be a partnership there. And so this is the way I see it. We really need these per my city is a low income city. It's not a city like a lot of cities where the incomes are increasing. My people need these programs. So to make sure the capital charities has a base in the city of Brockton and can be firm and, secure in their services is important. We're not gentrifying in Brockton. I mean, sure, some of the incomes are getting better. But, I mean, I want you to know every week I drive around a homeless mother with a kid in my back seat to programs all throughout the city. It's a different mom every week. So my city is still very, very low income, and these programs are actually a benefit to my city. So I think it would be way better than a private, investor who puts up, you know, 50 apartments, and then we lose Catholic charities. So that's just my opinion.
COLLINS - I hear you on the land use. Just for the record, I represent Dorchester, which by itself would be a gateway city, 100,000 people. Probably some of the most significant disparities in the Commonwealth. Also represent more public housing than anyone in the state.
DUBOIS - Yeah. No offense to Ted.
COLLINS - Yeah. We have three different kind of charity outfits in Boston. I just think, you know, having a member land bank is something that significant, makes sense. It should be more of a long term lease, but we wanna talk to you more about that.
DUBOIS - I would love that.
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REP GARRY - Just for clarification, is the Catholic Charities going to be the developer of the housing on that property or they're just gonna be in addition to the housing?
DUBOIS - I think Larry Mays is gonna be a better person to talk about that from Catholic Charities. But as I understand it, PUA would be developing and leading the charge on the housing, but he's gonna be able to correct me when he testifies next. Thank you.
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REP TYLER - Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. And I actually wanted to follow-up on, Senator Collins' commentary. So, great initiative to be able to provide more1619 housing. But, the one comment that I would like to share with1623 you is around, having a part a joint partnership with a organization like POA,1628 organization like this. And this organization does work in my district. And what we learned is that, there's some concerns around, like, creating more housing and the definition of what affordable actually means. So you guys know I came to you guys' district recently. I was really happy to see a lot of the great work out there, but really was aware of, the income disparities and some of the issues around just income and affordability and housing. And so just make sure that as you go down this pathway and you kinda go on to this venture that you're focusing on, making sure that these, new units that you hope to build, should they happen to be built, are truly affordable. Because sometimes, affordability doesn't mean actual what you think it means. It means what whatever the organization means. And that's kinda hard to follow, particularly when you have companies like this kinda managing that and creating whatever they think affordability is. And so, I'm sure you guys will do that. You guys are really, invested in affordable housing. So I just wanna just put that on your radar, something that I struggle with in my district as well.
DUBOIS - Well, maybe we could meet and talk about that, more. I know that the bill itself proposes that 25% shall be affordable to household incomes with incomes below 80%, the area median income. And 20% shall be affordable to household incomes with incomes that's below 50% of the area median income. But this is in section 1, but this is something that I would really be happy to talk to you about and get more clarity on and make sure that we really drill in to what we really wanna get. Thank you so much.
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REP GALLAGHER - Thank you, Mr Chairman. I just wanna I just have a a quick comment, and I just wanna thank you for your foresight and your forward thinking on addressing several issues to do with housing and addressing some needs of Catholic charities. Obviously, there are several things that need to be worked out going forward, and I appreciate you for it. Thank you.
CABRAL - Any other questions? Thank you very much. We're, looking forward to working with you to find out whatever issues need to be added to that.
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REP CONNOLLY - HB 3308 - SB 2923 - Thank you so much, Chair Cabral. Thank you to Chair Collins, and to the esteemed members of this committee, and thank you for taking me out of turn as well on this busy day. I'm here to testify in support of two bills that have filed this session. The first is a refile of a local DCR land lease matter. This is house bill 3308 as well as senate bill 2923 filed by Senator DiDomenico, an act authorizing the reorientation of a parcel of land occupied by the Riverside Boat Club of Cambridge. And Riverside Boat Club is a community boat club. It's located in the Cambridge Port section of the district that I represent. Riverside Boat Club currently holds a 5-year waterfront permit with DCR, and they're seeking to enter into a lease agreement under chapter 65 of the acts of 02/2010. Senator DiDomenico and I filed this bill, to allow the club to enter into that lease, with a reconfigured boundary. And so there's no loss of public space under this proposal. But what they would do is shift their boundaries, and that would improve accessibility to the building and allow them to safely store boats for use by local schools and community groups.
Importantly, the language of this bill has been approved by DCR. It's not impacted by the open space provisions of chapter 274 of the acts of 2022. There's no loss of public land. It actually will help DCR in enabling the boat club to be a better steward of land in this area. This legislation, has been vetted by both chambers. It passed the senate on July 31st of last year. It was teed up by the house committee on bills in third reading. The House Committee on Third Reading made some subsequent edits. Those edits are reflected in this version of the bill before you today. Given this legislative history, and, of course, the important role, I think, the boat club plays in making the Charles River accessible to a diverse range of constituencies. I'm hopeful we can move it forward, this session and act on it quickly, in the legislature. We're joined in the audience today by Dick Garvera, who's been, very committed to both the boat Club and Magazine Beach Partners. So respectively ask for your help with that and would be happy to work with you, or take any questions. Would you like to hear about the second bill now? Or
CABRAL - Sure. Go ahead.
CONNOLLY - Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the second bill is, a new bill that I filed this session, House Bill 3309, an act facilitating access to justice in the city of Cambridge. And this bill, really is reflective of the fact that the Cambridge District Court has sat in the city of Medford since the year 02/2009. I wanna recognize our colleague, Rep Decker, who has led on this issue as well1961 for many years. There's a bill that Rep Decker has filed that I cosponsored that would require bringing the Cambridge District Court back to Cambridge. This new bill, looks to try to help in that solution by taking note of the fact that we have a vacant former probate and family court in the registry of deeds building in the city of Cambridge. And then across the street on 3rd Street, we have, the juvenile court, which is in a newly renovated courthouse across the street. And so all this, bill does is really, put into law a preference or a priority that in any potential future disposition of this public space, that special emphasis is made to consider the needs of the trial courts, in our community. And I've met with DCAM, and I've met with the trial courts to go over this concept. They've been very receptive. We also know that there are plans on the books to create a Southern Middlesex Regional Justice Center.
That may implicate the Somerville District Court up on a large parcel of land near Assembly Row, which is a growing area. And so one of the ideas that I've brought to the trial courts into DCAM is to say, really take note of this vacant probate, former probate court space. Because when you hopefully someday build that Southern Middlesex Regional Justice Center, this vacant court space might serve as a swing space to help facilitate, that access to justice. And, you know, the final thing I'll say is it really is about access to justice. It is difficult, for Cambridge residents who have to engage in the court in various capacities to make it over to the Cambridge District Court, which again sits in Medford. If any of you are familiar with that courthouse, the Malden District Court also sits in Medford. I'd say, frankly, you know, it's unfortunate. I've had to go to that courthouse, in my capacity, of legal2085 practice, and you have cars parking up on the lawn. You have people who can't find a place to park because that courthouse is completely jammed.2093 And so, definitely hoping, that we can continue the dialogue about how we provide access to justice. So happy to take any questions and really appreciative, for you taking me out of turn.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 1 - I don't have any questions. I just have a comment, because I'm sponsor with, as representative Connolly mentioned, on the Riverside Boat Club legislation. And I'm hoping that this committee does I'm a member of the committee, so I will be voting for that to report out favorably, in a timely manner because it has passed the Senate, and we were ready to get it done in the house. So, hopefully, that we get this bill, out of the committee, very soon. And access to justice as well, another bill that I support, for my hometown of Cambridge, the need to have their own, court in the community, which was taken from us many years ago, is really, a detriment to our residents and really something that we need to rectify and bring back into our community again. So, thank you, Representative Connolly, for highlighting those two bills and for being here to advocate for them.
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COLLINS - Thank you. And, Representative Connolly, I imagine this was helped with ADA access as well. I know we have these buildings that2179 are all my court house is in need of a transition as well. All my courthouse is in need of a transition as well, but, it sounds like this would also help not just access to justice from a jurisdiction, geographical standpoint, but I imagine it's ADA compliant.
CONNOLLY - I would have to confirm that. But what I can say, and I think it speaks to your point, is the most recent use of this vacant probate and family court site was for an emergency, family shelter. And I think I'm very proud of our community in Cambridge. We stepped up and embraced, the need to offer that service. And the Commonwealth, put hundreds of thousands of dollars into renovating this space during that time. And so, certainly, I think to address your point, there have been recent state investments in this facility.
COLLINS - Has the secretary of state, been engaged on this? And if and if not, is that something you'd consider doing?
CONNOLLY - I have been in regular contact with his staff, around this site. And so, certainly, I think it's a great suggestion, to now take the latest version of this idea, and I'll continue to do that follow-up.
COLLINS - And just finally, you know, I know that the riddleside2255 boat club is of a2257 lot of importance to Cambridge. And I just, wanna say that without these clubs that bring access to not rich people as well, we wouldn't be able to bring that type of access to chapter 91 calls for, because the state alone can't do this stuff. And so whatever it takes to support that2276 initiative, come in. Thank you.
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GARRY - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Representative, I haven't been down on Third Street many years now since the probate family court cut out. How many sessions of Cambridge are at Malden currently? Do you know?
CONNOLLY - You know, it's mostly everything. I think, occasionally, there may be one of those magistrate sessions on Third Street, but the main district court activity that I'm aware of is in the Medford Courthouse alongside the Malden District Court.
GARRY - Is the juvenile still at 3rd Street? Do you know?
CONNOLLY - Yes. Okay.
GARRY - So all the court rooms up on the Second Floor could be accessible for a district court then?
CONNOLLY - It's certainly possible, and, you know, we had met with the trial courts. It's important, I think, to maintain juvenile court in Cambridge, and it's a question of capital investment. And I think the third street courthouse has recently had a great deal of capital investment. The trial court felt some additional, investment would be needed to make it fully accessible as a district court. And it could be maybe what you're, getting at is I could see one future where the district court sits at 3rd Street and the juvenile court potentially sits in the former vacant, the currently vacant former probate and family court in the registry of these bills.
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ROBERT SULLIVAN - CITY OF BROCKTON - HB 3324 - Good afternoon, Chairman Cabral, Chairman Collins, members of the joint committee. First of all, I wanna thank you for what you do for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I really appreciate all of your public service. I'm here, in full support of, House Number 3324 or, I've had many, many meetings with the state delegation. Brockton is fortunate to have three state representatives and one senator. And I've also equally had many meetings with Larry Mays and Kelly Cuddle on behalf of Catholic Charities. We are talking about Crescent Street in the City of Champions, which is also known as Route 27. It's the entrance into the city of Brockton from the East Side. It is the entrance of Massasoit Community College. This property used to be Christo's. It was owned by the Zaganas family. The lot itself that we're talking about, the two plus acres, is a vacant lot. It hasn't garnered any real estate taxes since the Zaganas has sold it to DCAM. But I support this for many many reasons. Number one, it will be affordable housing, and I'm an advocate for housing in the city of Brockton. It will bring taxes in.
PUA will have to pay taxes2446 to the city of Brockton for the housing component. They are also doing a project on the other side of Massassoi Community College on Thatcher Street. They've acquired property from, the sisters of Jesus crucified and sorrowful mother, the convent over there. So I am familiar with Pua. But at2463 the end of the day, Catholic charities could just leave the city of Brockton. They could decide to cancel the lease and move2469 on. But Kelly and Larry have expressed their desire to stay in the city of Brockton and invest millions and millions of dollars on2475 the East Side Of Brockton, providing services that are greatly needed by our, residents on a daily basis. So, again, I fully support this. I appreciate, the comments that were made earlier. I do, concur with, Rep Dubois and Rep Mendez that, the offering by2493 Senator Collins should be looked into relative2495 to a long-term lease.
But I am just, someone that grew2499 up here in the city of Brockton, and I know that there is a need to continue the good work that is done on a daily basis by Catholic charities. The additional amendment property, is the standing building, which was Christo's two restaurant, then it became the conference center of Master Sohyet. Behind that was, the East2517 Side Movie Theater, the Jerry Lewis theater owned by the Wedge family. Those are outstanding buildings that eventually2523 will be developed and create a really wonderful addition to this property. So, again, I just thank each and every one of you for your service. I wanna go on the record to fully support this. I appreciate your consideration, and I'm hopeful for your support. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, committee members.
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CHRIS COONEY - CONCERNED CITIZEN - HB 3324 - Yes. Good afternoon, Chairman, Cabral and Collins and the members of the joint committee. My name is Chris Cooney. I live at 33 Macklemore Street in Berkeley, but spend most of my time in the city of Brockton at 60 School Street where the chamber owns a 10,000 square foot office building. I serve as president CEO of Metro South Chamber of Commerce representing hundreds of businesses, in organizations throughout Brockton and the entire region. I'm here today to express strong support for H 3324 filed by representative Michelle Dubois, which would authorize the division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to dispose of the state owned property at 782 Crescent Street in the city of Brockton known locally as2635 a former Christos site to Catholic charities. The Metro South Chamber of Commerce commissioned us, a site reuse study for this location several years ago. That study identified the highest and best use of this highly visible long vacant parcel as a mixed use development, offering both community services and workforce housing, exactly what Catholic Charities is proposing.
Their vision, for the site includes a first-floor early education center, a relocated food pantry, basic needs programs, workforce development, and language classes for over 300 adults waiting to learn English, as well2672 as support services for immigrant immigrants and refugees to this country. Upper floors will house at least 30 units of works workforce, housing aligned with the Healy Driscoll administration goals of housing production and social infrastructure, especially around transit. This proposal has been, informed by a robust planning process, including at UMass, Donahue Institute, needs assessment, and engagement with local and regional stakeholders, including the Metro South Chamber of Commerce and many of, the businesses and residents along that stretch. It's a model example of how strategic reuse of public land use yields transformative community driven outcomes. We thank representative Dubois for her leadership, on this initiative and respectfully urge the committee to advance H 3324. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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LARRY MAYES - CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON - HB 3324 - Greetings, Chairman Cabral, Chairman Collins, and members of the joint committee on state administrations and regulatory oversight. My name is Larry Mayes, and I am the senior vice president for government and community relations for capital charities of Boston. I am here in support of H3324, an act authorizing the division of Deepgram to good to dispose of certain parts of the land in the city of Boston, also by representative Michelle Dubois. The mission of Catholic Charities Boston is to welcome and serve with compassion and respect all those in need by providing life's necessities, education, and advocacy to move families towards self sufficiency. Our vision is to help create a just, equitable, and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.
And for more than a century, Catholic Charities Boston has helped many people from poor backgrounds and others and families and faiths and backgrounds. One of the most comprehensive nonprofit providers of social service and maps and futures, We offer 70 programs across 20 locations throughout the Eastern part of the state with more than 450 employees, 7,000 of individuals and families annually. We have four divisions basic needs which includes shelters for individual familiesand food panties, refugee and immigrant services. Adult education and workforce development and family and youth services, which includes five licensed and accredited child care centers in a network of more than 100 child care homes. Catholic charities have served the Brockton community since 1920, and we currently operate programs at a rented facility, as you heard, on 4th Street in Brockton. They provide adult education, job training programs, elder services, and basic needs supports for over 5,000 people each year.
Catholic charities is provided funding by DESE. Yes. So all programs in which we have 42 slots. We serve over 200 adult learners with a wait list that exceeds 1,500. Catholic Charities in total serves over 62,000 people as individuals in 2024, in all these different programs that we offer. We are here to address the needs of Brockton residents and ensure Catholic Charities can continue to serve the community for years to come. Catholic charities is partnering with the planning office of Urban Affairs to develop a single parcel located at seven Institute Crescent Street and known as First Holds one, the site of the former Crystal's restaurant. The restaurant as we have closed in 02/2013, and the site has remained vacant for more than a decade. This parcel of land is located on the East Side of Boston near retail retail centers and the back bus line six and is currently owned, as we've heard, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Catholic Charities and the planning office will develop the parcel with a building that would include a licensed and accredited center for early education and care, community support programs, adult education, workforce development, and a certified nursing assistant training program and community spaces. For the first two floors and three and the remaining floors, we do find 45 units of affordable workforce housings. The housing units will be a mix of one, two, three bedroom apartments and serve a diverse range of household income. We are looking forward to more discussions on this property. We think that this is an opposite opportunity for this for the residents of Brockton as well as for the city of Brockton. And we are thankful for the efforts of the mayor, Representative DuBois, Representative Mendez, as well as Chris Cooney from the Metro Commerce of Metro Commerce Center, and others in Broad Bay, the city planner, for their help in this matter. Thank you so much.
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ROB MAY - CITY OF CROCTON - HB 3324 - Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and representatives and panel members. Excuse me. My name is Rob May. I'm director of planning and economic development for the city of Brockton. I live at 61 Oak Street in the city of Brockton, and I am here to support, house bill, 3324. This corner has sat, underdeveloped for quite a3230 long time. It is an important entry point into the city, and, it will support the redevelopment of this, area. As you may know, the city of Brockton is an MBTA-compliant community, and the mayor Mayor Sullivan and I have, worked tirelessly to, bring new housing, particularly affordable housing to the community. And this partnership between Catholic charities, with Pua, and, the Commonwealth is going to have, a very positive effect on the East Side Of Brockton. Thank you very much.
CABRAL - Thank you very much for the testimony. Any questions? Any comments? Seeing none, thank you very much. If you have something in writing, please submit to us electronically to the committee. Appreciate it. I believe this is all of those were assigned to testify on this particular legislation. Right? Well, we'll move on to the next bill. We do have some folks signed up for the next bill, and that's, Senate 2217. An act including the usage3305 of state properties as filed by Senator Rush. We have Ellen McKinnon.
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ORLANDO PERELLA - HARBOR POINT TASKFORCE - SB 2108 - Chairman Cabral, Senator Collins, members of the committee, good afternoon. My name is Orlando Perella. I am the chairman of the Harbor Point Community Task Force, located at, Harbor Point, which is right on Columbia Point, right next to the JFK Library, UMass Boston, and a new, high school that is coming. This is called the Ruth Batson Academy. Incredible. Very excited about all these, places that we have in the Columbia Point Peninsula. I'm here to support, on behalf of all the residents of Harbor Point, about 3,500 of them, give or take. So it's a little town that we have in the Peninsula. And, I would like to pass these things around. I don't know if I can get up and, to you so you have some context to know. So this, I'll wait until you get it. So this parcel plan that you're looking at, this is something that was acquired by the UMass Building Authority back in 2010. And it has been, you know, an empty lot, an eyesore. Nothing has been developed, during the past, you know, 15 years as you can see that, except that they knocked down, you know, a couple of buildings.
That's basically what is taking place. Eventually, what is, at some point coming there is a development called Dorchester Bay City. And Dorchester Bay City, will bring, you know, a great number of, property to that area. It's gonna be about probably in the neighborhood of 1,800 rental units, and you3539 can imagine how, Malvern Street, which is, by the way, the only way in and out of, that peninsula in our3547 area, we see a lot of, you3549 know, gridlock constantly. It happens. So imagine what would happen, you know, when we have all these additional, perhaps, you know, 5,000 more residents on top of what we have right now. Not counting the high school that is just, you know, taking place right now. So we're3566 not gonna lock, and we have also the Boys3568 and Girls Club is building a fabulous, field house. So I can read, you know, articles right here, that speak over and over and over again of the impact that is gonna be on Mangoran Street. Let's talk about the human factor. At Harbor Point, we have about 345 give or take, you know, seniors out of the 3,500, you know, residents. By the way, in our complex, this is a 1,289 units.
And out of those, 400 are subsidized for low income residents. I'm gonna also gonna speak on behalf of something that is very dear to me. I am a veteran of the United States Air Force, and I have veterans that live in Harbor Point, which sometimes, you know, their voices are not heard. What is the essence of my presentation to all of you right now? It's that we have been asking that UMass build an authority to through Accordion, which is the developer of this Torches survey city, to place an additional role to alleviate, you know we're not being capricious. We're just asking for something that is just common sense. Add an additional role. And as you can see, there is a green area on the first page, this green area right here, where, you know, is a DCR area, where that road, you know, can connect Harbor Point through Day Boulevard. We do it today. We use a little entrance that we have to that, parcel to get out on any gridlock. One of my main concerns is emergencies. Like I mentioned to you, we have seniors. If we run into any situation where that road is clogged up, we don't wanna see a tragedy. We don't see anybody die because the ambulance cannot kill at Harbor Point. Let me talk about, you know, a little bit about Ooma.
I'm very proud to say also that I graduated from UMass Boston, from the College of Management. And they taught me, UMass, to be responsible, to do the right thing. We are Americans right here. I have been overseas and I have seen total neglect, But it's not gonna happen. And this city, and this country, because I implore you not to allow this. Umba has been sitting on this parcel for 15 years. We have communicated with UNBA numerous letters. Matter of fact, you know, we asked for documentation to the, Freedom of Information Act. And all those letters that came back to us were our letters that they never responded to. Don't you think that that is, I mean, not to say disrespectful, that, cruel with a place that holds low income residents like they don't count. And by the way, we got so many kids who are low income that are going to UMass, being educated at UMass Boston. So it's totally unacceptable that they behave in this way.
Ooma has been just giving us the cold shoulder. We're coming to you, and we ask you on behalf of the 3,500 residents of Harbor Point, we need your support. We need you to please understand that if nothing gets done right now with this access road, among other things that we have been asking, but this is the essence of this committee right now, then all the research that I did is different organization, you know, is page after page after page, how detrimental it will be if we don't have an additional access egress from Harbor Point to Dave Boulevard and vice versa. So I'm asking you, please, that you consider I know we came before you and you were very positive. Matter of fact, Chairman Carlotta remember that he spoke Spanish to some of our members. I mean, we couldn't get them all because it was just the hour and they gotta take care of their kids and this and that. But we thank you immensely for what you did for us, you know, on that first hearing, which was was tremendous. So we ask you again, please. And Senator Collins, thank you for doing this. If you have any questions, I'm open to,
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COLLINS - SB 2108 - Thank you, Chair Cabral. Thank you, Orlando, on behalf of the people and the residents of Columbia Point for being here and testifying today. These issues are both parochial and statewide. They're constitutional, actually. So I do wanna make3905 mention upfront that, you know, I wanna confer with my cochair and counsel, but I think this committee should be seeking an opinion, from the SJC around article 97 protections and the preservation of access for the public. So we have a roadway here, which is interesting. It's not access to the green space. It's access to the road. It's all concrete that the Department of Conservation and Recreation owns. And this legislature, two terms ago, provided, legislative relief to that end, for an easement to be, obtained by the UMass building authority, a public agency. And since, up until recently, being backed down by the Department of Asset, Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance was suggesting that they were the steward of this.
You know, they got an easement to do, the work that they will be doing on a $1,500,000 square foot project. At 8 UMass, 235,000,000 dollars if it moves forward. Not insignificant. So this is why the legislature made that consideration because of the value that it would bring back. Now since then, they've stifled not only other private rights, but public rights to suggest they have to come before the king that is UMass building authority and get an agreement on access to this site, which takes them, from public ways to, what is also a public lease, with the Boston Housing Authority for affordable housing. Now this legislation, no doubt, would provide the same similar non exclusive stated access to other, private entities. But I think it's important for us to know because I don't think we wanna be having anybody negotiate with anybody, a public or a private entity, for what should be protected public access under the article 97, of the constitution. And I think that's important for us because we just passed legislation two times ago that essentially, based off of an interpretation of the public entity who we4046 granted the authority for to gain an an non exclusive access for their own purposes, leverage that which impacted the value of other private property and the mobility of the environmental justice community.
And I don't think that was the intention of the legislature. But so that's not moving forward with any dispute, Not just on this case, but any other case because it is precedent setting that we should get an opinion from the SCC that spells out, one, the law and the legislative authority on easements of parkland that's not grass, that's concrete, that is a public way. Is that just for purposes to the park? Should that be in this case? And I we can share, as well the plan for this area. You see a roadway planned to go right through from the public way in the beach all the way through to the current, housing community that I don't know if the plan is they want people to go through a drawbridge of sorts when this is being created for public purpose by a public agency. So I think there are a lot of thorny issues to clear up with respect to how other parties are leveraging their easements as if they're theirs and now they own the property. I think that has to be clear. Because if it's happening with a public agency in the form of UMass building authority, and they have more powers and authorities than state agencies and the private, I think we need to get to the bottom of that. I do support this legislation as the author and the supporter, but I think it's important for us so the residents of Columbia Point don't feel like they need legislation to be able to access something that they should be entitled to under article 97. With that, thank you for your testimony.
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TYLER - Thank you so much for your testimony. While I do not represent that part of Boston, Columbia Point and just Dorchester, South Boston area, I guess I'll speak on behalf of all the residents of Boston is that we all have driven past it. We all have driven down UMass, the back roadways, and have all experienced the gridlock trying to come up and around the roadway, cut across around to get out of the area, over back into South Bay to come back to Downtown Boston and to Roxbury. And so, I just wanna let you know that you are heard, and thank you so much for your testimony.
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MICHAEL COCHRAN - CORCORAN AND JENNISON COMPANIES - SB 2108 - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Collins and the committee. My name is Michael Cochran. I'm president oh, sorry. My address is 343 Commercial Street, Boston. I'm president of Corcoran and Jennison Companies, which is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. And that is, director buttered to property that we are speaking about, the old Bayside Expo Center, now, scheduled to be the Dorchester Bay City. Just for clarification, this site goes over to Santander Bank as well. So in4272 total, the new development proposed here is over 6,000,000 square feet. So it's very significant. You mentioned the gridlock you've been in.4282 Just imagine 6,000,000 more square feet of development coming. We at our office building out our, tenants include the Massachusetts State Lottery, UMass Boston, State of Vital Records, and, Visiting Nurses Association.
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COCHRAN - Okay. Thank you. In addition to our office building, we have developed, the Bayside Doubletree Hotel, which is a 97-room hotel, which we've owned and operated since 1999. We, also, the developer and co-owners of the, Harbor Pointe apartment complex, which we developed in 1986. And it was the old Columbia Point housing project. Additionally, we built another 330 units on Columbia Point, known as the Peninsula Apartments. We followed the development of the Bayside site since, UMass Building Authority purchased the site in 02/2010. Unfortunately, over the last 15 years, there's not been any development on this site. Its most significant activity since you MBA's ownership has been the collapse of the old Bayside Expo Center building and the old Bayside Expo Center sign. Both of these structures collapsed due to UMBA's neglect and failure to repair. Despite UMBA's representation that any of its past and future plans will be open to the public, its practice has been anything but. The existing legislation that UMBA lobby for and succeeded in obtaining with DCR and the legislature involved no inclusion or consideration to its abutting neighbors and communities or other city of Boston residents. We very much appreciate the draft of the present bill as it provides access to the easement from DCR to all responsible property owners and residents in the Columbia Point Peninsula. Thank you.
COLLINS - Thank you, Michael. Yeah. I must say that how UMass building authority has conducted themselves from the Bayside Expo sign to this just on the surface is shameful. And, you know, we can't continue to allow that to happen. The way they dealt with that sign, it was until it started falling into from the sky and into the ground, did they do absolutely nothing? But thumb their nose at the community, elected officials, the Butters, and so that's why this legislation is important to move swiftly. I know the, committee, is going to be taking this up very soon, and I hope that it becomes a favorable vote, which I anticipate it will, and that everybody's rights here should be protected.
COCHRAN - Thank you very much, Senator, and the rest of the committee.
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RICHARD FULHAM - CONCERNED CITIZEN - SB 2108 - Good afternoon, Senator.4521 Thank you for,4523 your time. My name is Richard Fulham.4525 I live at 48 Arega Street in Dorchester. I've, been a lifelong resident of Dorchester, 60 Years exact from last Sunday. And also, happy to say that for the last 41 years, I've worked on Columbia Point in some capacity. I'm here in support of the bill, and thank you for your time.
COLLINS - Thank you. I must state too is I've become aware that there's been no discussion or plans discussed between the UMass Building Authority and the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the utilization of the Dorchester Shores and Parks Trust that was created in legislation to serve this purpose in the aftermath as it relates to the green space that's being debated and discussed, which hasn't been, you know, completed. And I know that there's still ongoing discussions with the environmental agencies, but I find that disheartening that there was any legislation in a direct reference to this utilization of this road and the project, in the aftermath for the president of grace, for the preservation of green space, that that has not happened. So again, that's another indication that UMass building authority hasn't really dealt with this in good faith. Thank you for your testimony.
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MYLES BYRNE - CONCERNED CITIZEN - SB 2108 - Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. My name is Myles Byrne. My address is 100 Lovejoy Wharf in Boston. I'm here to express my support for S 2108. In many ways, this legislation is personal for me. I have worked on the Columbia Point Peninsula in Dorchester since 1996. Prior to that, I attended UMass Boston's McCormick School, and also was a youth worker for two years at the former Columbia Point housing development. In short, I've worked for and watched the miracle4661 transformation of this once no-go area for Boston for4665 over 30 years. I'm also here to remind everyone the truth is often fungible, but trust is not. And sadly, the University of Massachusetts Building Authority has lost our trust. On 09/11/2023, and then again on 09/13/2023, they provided us written memorandums of community benefit and mitigation promises. That was the last time we heard from you. This is the reason we feel the need for legislation to protect DCR access to the quality of life public space we enjoy along Dorchester Bay. Thank you.
COLLINS - Thank you. One of my concerns and whether we bring this up with the attorney general or seems more appropriate than the SJC is whether or not the UMass Building Authority is actually in violation of the state law that we created by how they've been operating. So that may be something the committee should consider. There's a, it was requested an opinion of the attorney general about whether the violation of the state law has been, been taking place here by the US military. Thank you.
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CABRAL - Motion to adjourn. Have a second. All those in favor. Say aye. Aye. Have it. So the hearing is adjourned.
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