Brockton City Council appoints four veteran firefighters, approves $119,000 in transfers

BROCKTON — November 19, 2025 — Brockton City Council unanimously appointed four military veterans as firefighters and approved more than $119,000 in departmental budget transfers at its September 22 meeting. Fire Chief Nardelli introduced Nelson D. Andrade, Giovanni V. Duarte, Austin J. Ferreira, and Edgar Kelly — all Brockton residents — telling councillors they would begin work within two weeks. The council passed a $470,000 borrowing order for DW Field Golf Course equipment 9 to 1, with Councillor Durancourt dissenting, and granted a residency waiver for Plumbing and Gas Inspector Jason Yetman 8 to 2 over the objections of Councillors Azak and Durancourt. The meeting's loudest moment came when Councillor Farwell publicly criticized the last-minute acceptance of a zoning map amendment — rezoning three parcels from R1 to R5 — saying the compressed timeline "makes it very difficult for anyone to get to that meeting if they work" and warning that hasty legislative process makes the council look as though it is "hiding something."