7 key takeaways from Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan's 'State of the City'

BROCKTON — For the first time since voters elected him, Mayor Robert F. Sullivan gave his yearly "State of the City" address Thursday to a live audience. Sullivan, who will be seeking a third term this fall, touted his administration's accomplishments and made big promises to clean up the city and not raise property taxes.

"My friends and fellow Brocktonians, the state of our city is strong and vibrant — and that vibrancy is due to our collective work," Sullivan said to about 200 attendees at Brockton High School's Nelson Auditorium. "We are better together."

If you missed the speech, you can watch it in full above or read the transcript. Here are seven items that stood out:

Clean City Initiative

Sullivan is not the first mayor to vow to clean up the city's trash-strewn streets and overgrown properties.

"Litter, weeds, and other aesthetics are a problem throughout our city," he said. "As the old saying goes — 'perception is reality.' I acknowledge that and I am firmly committed to a solution."

Sullivan said his Clean City Initiative would deploy clean-up crews, including ones made up of Brockton youth this summer.

"We will launch crews regularly to address the litter and clutter that send the wrong message to our residents and visitors," the mayor said.

He also announced re-institution of the city's Code Enforcement Task Force. City employees from the Board of Health, Building Department, Police and Fire will canvass residents and business owners every two weeks, urging them to help Brockton present a tidier face for residents, visitors and possible investors. The effort will also include volunteer "ward captains" from each of the city's seven wards to report to ward councilors and the mayor's office.

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Low interest rate on $98M public safety building

One of the projects that will define Sullivan's tenure is the new public safety building. The $98 million project will move four city departments — police, fire, emergency management and information technology — into one facility taking up an entire city block along Warren Avenue. Demolition of the old high school is scheduled to start this summer.

On Thursday, Sullivan told the crowd that the city has already borrowed the $98 million. The timing is fortunate, given recent spikes in interest rates.

"We locked in an extremely low interest rate in the twos," Sullivan said. "Over the term it's going to save millions and millions of dollars for the city of Brockton."

Some features of the old Brockton High School will be saved for inclusion in the new facility, he said.

Major renovations without a tax hike?

Sullivan listed several big-budget renovations on deck for city-owned buildings. Taken as a whole, the projects would transform public properties across the city. They include $8 million for HVAC and an additional $4 million for other renovations at City Hall. "It's a building I love," Sullivan said of the 1894 edifice, "but it's a bit tired." Other previously announced projects include a $3 million makeover of the Cosgrove Pool on the East Side, a revamp of the Senior Center and fixing up the War Memorial.

Sullivan said federal tax dollars will fund the building spree. He pledged to shield property-tax payers.

"That is a firm commitment I make to you tonight — we will continue to invest, but we will not increase the property tax burden on our hard-working Brocktonians," the mayor said. "The City Council and I are united and committed to keeping Brockton affordable as we create new sources of tax revenue."

The city sets its budget by deciding how much to spend within the limits set out by state law. No local politician can ensure a given property owner won't pay higher tax bills, however, given the overall rise in property values Brockton has been seeing.

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Office of Immigration Services

Brockton has always been a city of immigrants. In recent decades, most have come from Cape Verde and Haiti. Sullivan announced a plan, previously hinted at, to create an Office of Immigration Services. He'll need approval from the City Council.

"This office will help to streamline the immigration process and connect new residents with the services they need to assimilate, secure employment, pursue educational opportunities and health care and become productive citizens in our city," said Sullivan.

In the beginning, the office would make referrals to other agencies and programs, with a view to developing its own programs and resources. Sullivan did not say in his speech whether these services would be limited to legal immigrants.

"Everybody who comes here needs our love and support," said Sullivan, whose maternal grandparents came to Brockton from counties Ballyhaunis and Waterford in Ireland.

No fire deaths in 3 years

As is traditional for State of the City speeches, Sullivan thanked public safety leaders like Police Chief Brenda Pérez and Fire Chief Brian Nardelli. He recounted the extraordinary achievement of getting Brockton Hospital evacuated without injuries in last month's fire.

Brockton keeps its fire department famously busy. In the past year the department had 33,347 total runs and responded to 14,860 fires. Sullivan said the city has gone three years without a fire death, saying it was the longest such stretch in many years.

An elderly woman on Provost Street died this month after being taken to the hospital in critical condition. However, her medical emergency began before the March 7 fire at her single-family home. Nardelli said Friday that she had been cooking. She did not die because of the fire.

New businesses on the way

Sullivan said a "Brockton renaissance" would continue in the coming year with an already-finished 150,000 square-foot "spec" building for industrial tenants. He said a new Kentucky Fried Chicken will be coming to 716 Belmont St., near the entrance to the high school. National Grid plans a new office building at 161 Mulberry St., he said. The former Dick's Sporting Goods at the mall will become "Urban Air," a trampoline and adventure park. A wholesaler, New England Market, will open at 56 Oak Hill Way. Sullivan also touted a new 70-room hotel being built near the mall as well as a new Bank of America building in that area.

As proof of Brockton getting attention from developers, he held up a copy of the Boston Business Journal, which recently featured the city on its front page.

Hagler statue artist chosen

Sullivan also passed along news about the previously announced statue honoring Marvelous Marvin Hagler. An artist has been chosen to craft a bronze likeness of the middleweight world champion boxer and Brockton product. The artist has started drafting the piece, Sullivan said. The statue will be placed in a new "pocket park" snuggled close to where Hagler and other notable Brockton fighters trained at the former Petronelli Gym.

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This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton State of the City: Mayor touts Clean City Initiative