REPORT – PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
November 2, 2026
The Standing Committee on Public Safety to which was referred the following reports as follows:
- Resolve: Whereas there have been reported issues with safety on the Brockton Area Transit bus transportation system, be it resolved to invite a representative of the BAT bus system and a member of the ridership to appear before a committee of the Brockton City Council to discuss.
having considered the same, report FAVORABLE by Motion of Councilor Asack, 2nd by Councilor Charnell.
MINUTES – PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
November 2, 2026
The Standing Committee on Public Safety was called to order at 6:28 p.m. by Councilor Thomspon with Councilors Farwell, Asack, Charnell and Thompson present.
Agenda read into the record.
The Committee first considered the following:
#1 on agenda
Comments by Councilor Thompson
(Letter from Michael Lambert, BAT Administrator read into meeting, top priority is safety, camera-based avoidance system for accidents, cameras on bus, tracking of incidents)
Comments by Richard Ripley
(fighting for 44 months, thousands of documents and videos on this, ongoing threat to public safety on public transportation, some care and drive responsibly, group of drivers that do not care and endanger, need a safe company, investigated and confirmed, safety signs on buses in 4 languages, affected elderly or disabled riders, failure to secure wheelchairs, incident involving student, eating and drinking while driving, distracted driving, duty of care to passengers on bus, asked BAT for policy and they did not respond, written policy to respond to concerns within 3 business days, wrong destination on the front of the bus, language barrier issues, recorded and reported, solution offered but BAT refuses to respond, BAT statistics, need complaint filed before videos are review per agreement, incident numbers from BAT, 550 bus trips per day, victim of this 5 times, BAT responses to complaints, evasive and not forthcoming, solutions suggested, not held publicly accountable, could have found someone to show up, evasive, not brought before school committee, BAT needs to do more)
Comments by Councilor Thompson
(extends thank you, Mr. Lambert says he would answer any questions, please send them to him and he will send to Mr. Lambert)
Comments by Richard Ripley
(has emails he has sent to Mr. Lambert)
Comments by Councilor Farwell
(no direct knowledge, MGL regulates regional transit authority, not appointed by the city council, no jurisdiction, we do not employ them, compassion view but structure in government, state departments, no authority or responsibility to force BAT to respond, write to the state department of transportation, BAT advisory board)
Comments by Richard Ripley
(agrees, BAT’s board of director has supervision of Mr. Lambert, Mayor is the chairman of the board, Mayor Rodrigues will not do it, city money to BAT $2.9 million for their operating budget)
Comments by Councilor Farwell
(cherry-sheet, but to hold BAT accountable is the board)
Comments by Richard Ripley
(councilors has a right to speak up when there is a dangerous safety threat)
Comments by Councilor Thompson
(needs to wrap up, late start, safety data from BAT)
Motion to report FAVORABLE by Councilor Asack, 2nd by Councilor Charnell. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion to adjourn by Councilor Charnell, 2nd by Councilor Asack at 7:01 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:01p.m.
Documents received: November 2, 2026 letter from Michael Lambert, BAT Administrator, Brockton Area Transit Authority data sheet for 2025 and 2024