- File Name
- Finance_Agenda_051826.pdf
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- PDF (279 KB)
- Related Meeting
- Finance Committee Meeting (May 18, 2026 7:00 pm)
- Committee
- Finance Committee
- Category
- Meeting Agendas
Download Finance_Agenda_051826.pdf
FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA
The Standing Committee on Finance will meet on Monday, May 18th, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers, Brockton City Hall, 45 School Street, to consider the following:
1. Appointment of Sylvester P. Fortes of 20 Hope St., Brockton, MA 02302, to the Brockton Advisory Council of Health for a three-year term, ending in February 2029. (POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MARCH 16, 2026) (POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 21, 2026)
Invited: Sylvester P. Fortes
2. Appointment of Maria Fernandes, of 21 Bower Avenue, Brockton, MA 02301 to the Brockton Advisory Council on Health, for a three-year term ending in March 2029. (POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 6, 2026) (POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 21, 2026)
Invited: Maria Fernandes
3. WHEREAS, the city encountered issues with internal financial controls resulting in audits by outside organizations; and WHEREAS, the recent report from the Office of the Inspector General relating to the school department deficit, and the continued review of city finances by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reinforce the need for stronger internal controls and oversight of finances. This proposed amendment to Chapter 324 of the Acts of 1990 was cited in the Inspector General report and is intended to help strengthen review and approval of multi-year spending obligations. This would apply to all departments and would not alter the authority of the school committee or other city agency to negotiate provisions of contractual agreements. THEREFORE, be it Ordered by the City Council of the City of Brockton to adopt a Home Rule Petition to Amend Chapter 324 of the Acts of 1990 accordingly.
ORDERED: That the City Council of the City of Brockton petitions the Great and General Court for to repeal special legislation relating to the City of Brockton to be filed
with an attested copy of this Order be and hereby is approved under the provisions of Clause One (1) Section Eight (8) of Article Two (2), as amended, of the Articles of Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as follows:
PETITION TO AMEND CHAPTER 324 OF THE SPECIAL ACTS OF 1990 “AN
ACT RELATIVE TO THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE CITY OF
BROCKTON”
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Provided that the General Court may reasonably vary the form and substance of this
requested legislation which shall be within the scope of the general public objectives of
this petition, be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court
Assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
The text of Chapter 324 “An Act Relative to the Financial Conditions in the City of
Brockton” shall amended to include the following language at the end of Section 5 of
Chapter 324 of the Special Acts of 1990 to state as follows:
All powers and duties of the chief financial officer of Brockton shall apply to all departments of the city, including the school department.
School department budgets, expenditures and other financial matters requiring action by the city council shall be submitted to the chief financial officer for review and comment after they have been acted upon by the school committee.
All collective bargaining agreements, personal employment contracts, a contract for goods and services, or any agreement, lease, purchase order, or spending request by the school department which may require the expenditure of funds or otherwise financially obligate the city for a period in excess of one year, shall be first submitted to the chief financial officer who shall submit in writing to the mayor and city council a certification that it is his/her professional opinion, after an evaluation of all pertinent financial information reasonably available, the city’s financial resources and revenues are and will continue to be adequate to support such proposed expenditures or obligations without a detrimental impact on the continuous provision of the existing level of municipal services.
Provided further, in the case of any collective bargaining agreement, individual employment contract or agreement to pay salaries, wages and benefits, no agreement shall be valid without a certification by the chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall report his/her failure to issue a certification to the mayor and city council. The chief financial officer shall note, specifically, the contents of the agreement which prevent certification and return the agreement to the appropriate department for further action.
In all cases where the duty is not expressly charged to any other department or office, it shall be the duty of the chief financial officer to promote, secure, and preserve the financial interests of the city.
The city of Brockton shall be deemed to have accepted section 37M of chapter 71 of the General Laws for the purpose of consolidating the operations of the business and financial services department of the school department with those of the city under the authority of the chief financial officer.
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026)
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 6TH, 2026)
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 21ST, 2026)
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MAY 4TH, 2026)
Invited: Legislative Counsel
Shannon Resnick
Dr. Troy Clarkson
City Auditor Juan Gonzalez
Mr. John Condon Former
CFO Superintendent Dr. Priya Tahiliani
4. WHEREFORE, the Boys and Girls Club raised millions of dollars to construct new facilities in Brockton on land at Eldon B. Keith Field. The land needed by the Club was purchased from the city, with approval by the City Council. An easement to allow entry into their land from West Elm Street is needed but for almost two (2) years the school committee has refused to grant approval. Meanwhile, as time passes the costs of construction increase for the Club. If approved, this petition will allow the mayor to proceed with the planning and design for a suitable easement, notwithstanding state law which allows the school committee to control the land.
THEREFORE, be it Ordered by the City Council of the City of Brockton to adopt a Home Rule Petition as follows.
ORDERED:
That the following petition be approved and submitted to the Great and General Court for approval under Clause (1) of Section 8 of Article 2, as amended, of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to the end that legislation be adopted precisely as follows, except for clerical or editorial changes of form only.
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BROCKTON AND THE BROCKTON CITY COUNCIL TO GRANT AN EASEMENT OVER LAND
KNOWN AS “ELDON B. KEITH FIELD” TO ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF A NEW FACILITY BY THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF METRO SOUTH
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1: Notwithstanding the provisions of MGL Chapter 71, Section 33, or Chapter 99 of the Acts of 1920, the mayor with the approval of the city council may grant to the
“Boys and Girls Club of Metro South” an easement over land known as Eldon B. Keith
Field for the purpose of constructing a new facility to serve the youth of the city.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE MEETING MARCH 16TH, 2026)
(POSTPONED FROM FINANCE MEETING MAY 4TH, 2026)
Invited: Derek Haim And/Or Designees
City Solicitor James O’Brien
Vice Chair of Brockton School Committee Claudio Gomes
5. ORDERED: That the following named sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the Mayor as follows:
Transfer of: $375,000.00
FROM: LAW -PERSONAL SERVICES NON-OVERTIME $100,000.00
LAW – OTHER INSURANCES $100,000.00
LAW – COURT JUDGEMENTS $75,000.00
DPW SEWER – PURCHASE OF SERVICE $40,000.00
FIRE – PERSONAL SERVICES NON – OVERTIME $60,000.00
TO: LAW – PURCHASE OF SERVICE $175,000.00
LAW – WORKERS COMPENSATION $200,000.00
Invited: City Solicitor James O’Brien
CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson And/or Designees
6. ORDERED: That the following named sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the Mayor as follows:
Transfer of: $5,000.00
FROM: PARKING AUTHORITY-PERSONAL SERVICES NON-OVERTIME
$5,000.00
TO: PARKING AUTHORITY-PERSONAL SERVICES OVERTIME $5,000.00
Invited: Executive Director Eric Akesson
CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson And/or Designees
7. ORDERED: That the following named sum be and the same is hereby transferred as the same was submitted by the Mayor as follows:
Transfer of: $250,000.00
FROM: POLICE -PERSONAL SERVICES NON-OVERTIME $250,000.00
TO: POLICE -PERSONAL SERVICES OVERTIME $250,000.00
Invited: Chief of Police Brenda Perez And/or Designees
CFO Dr. Troy Clarkson And/or Designees
8. ORDERED: That the following petition be approved and submitted to the Great and General Court for approval under Clause (1) of Section 8 of Article 2, as amended, of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to the end that legislation be adopted precisely as follows, except for clerical or editorial changes of form only.
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF BROCKTON AND THE BROCKTON CITY COUNCIL TO DECLARE CERTAIN LAND AS SURPLUS ON LAND KNOWN AS “KEITH FIELD” IN THE CITY OF BROCKTON
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1: Notwithstanding Section 1 of Chapter 99 of the Acts of 1920, the school committee of the city of Brockton shall have the authority to declare as surplus, pursuant to the provisions of Section 15A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, that portion of the athletic field as described in said Section 1 that is shown as Lot 1 on the approval not required plan entitled “Plan of Land, Eldon Keith Field, Brockton, MA”, prepared by Beals and Thomas for Boys and Girls Club of Metro South, Inc, last dated 8-28-2025, and recorded in the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 1815 at Page 973.
SECTION 2: Notwithstanding said Section 1, the city council of said city, pursuant to said Section 15A, may transfer the care, custody, management and control of said Lot 1 for any lawful municipal purpose, including without limitation, in order to sell, convey or otherwise dispose of the same.
SECTION 3: Notwithstanding said Section 1, or any other special or general law to the contrary, said city council may sell, convey or otherwise dispose of a non-exclusive access and utility easement over the portion of said athletic field labeled as “Proposed Access & Utility Easement” on said plan, without said school committee having declared said easement area as surplus pursuant to said Section 15A or otherwise losing care, custody, management or control of the same, provided that said school committee has still voted to authorize the creation of said easement.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Invited: Derek Haim And/Or Designees
City Solicitor James O’Brien
Vice Chair of Brockton School Committee Claudio Gomes
9. RESOLVE: Be it Resolved: In recognition of Haitian Heritage Month to invite the CEO of Haitian Community Partners to address the Brockton City Council, sitting as the Finance Committee regarding the important work that the organization has been doing in the community. It is of paramount importance to highlight the positive impact of the foundation’s efforts particularly during this meaningful month of celebration and
reflection.
Invited: CEO Marline Amedee And/or Designees