Town of Brookline

The meeting involved announcements regarding the return to in-person meetings with remote access options. A public hearing for an alcohol license was postponed to April 9th. Select board members offered congratulations to Giselle Feropuibo, the departing Executive Director of the Brookline Community Foundation, and welcomed Abby Lopez as the new Executive Director of Women Thriving. Significant discussion focused on the town administrator's recommendation of Ashley Gonzalez as the new Police Chief. Members expressed views on the selection process, the need for community engagement with the candidate, and concerns regarding internal applicants and past lawsuits in the candidate's prior jurisdiction. Furthermore, there was extensive discussion about the allocation of American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds, with strong emphasis from public commenters urging the prioritization of investing funds in the Public Health Department for COVID-19 response staffing and infrastructure, as well as supporting schools to maintain small class sizes. Select board members responded by noting that the ARPA proposal for public health would be amended to address concerns regarding long-term staffing funded by short-term money, and that emergency funding would be provided in the interim.

The Special Town Meeting commenced following procedural announcements, including adhering to specific protocols for virtual participation, voting times, and chat usage. The primary agenda item discussed was Warrant Article 1, a motion by the Select Board to approve funding for a $11 million settlement in a protracted legal matter involving Mr. Gerald Alston. The Select Board Vice Chair provided an extensive presentation detailing the rationale for the settlement, including the perceived risks of proceeding to a jury trial, the timeline of events since the new board took office, and the necessity of providing closure to the 11-year litigation which also involves addressing issues of racial equity. The settlement, if funded by a two-thirds majority vote, would provide $11 million inclusive of prior due payments, end all related litigation, and sever the employment relationship between Mr. Alston and the Town of Brookline. During the session, points of order were raised regarding a Select Board member's prior involvement in signing an amicus brief contrary to the town's litigation position and concerns over adherence to a land acknowledgement script, which were addressed by the moderator.

The Virtual Town Hall for Brookline's Business and Nonprofits focused primarily on updates regarding COVID-19 relief and public health directives. Key discussions included a directive effective April 17th mandating the wearing of protective face coverings in public and detailed requirements for essential businesses concerning staff protective equipment, plexiglass barriers, and employee illness surveillance, with potential fines for non-adherence. Legislative updates covered pending COVID relief legislation, noting that potential business interruption insurance coverage is likely a federal issue due to financial constraints at the state level. Positive news included confirmation that unemployment insurance contribution rates will not be impacted by COVID-19 layoffs under enacted legislation. Commercial rent relief was discussed, with the conclusion that current legislative relief is residential-only, though property tax deferrals beyond June were noted as worth exploring based on future state cash flow. An existential threat to Chambers of Commerce due to their inability to access federal relief programs was also discussed, requiring further exploration for potential legislative support.

The meeting began with the confirmation of election results for three members of the School Committee for the town of Brookline. Key agenda items involved the election of a new Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2018-2019 term, followed by the election of a Secretary. The consent agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes (from March 22nd) and a change order for the Devotion School project totaling approximately $143,000, which comprises various small changes, owner-initiated modifications, and necessary adjustments like floor leveling compound due to flooring incompatibility. Superintendent updates covered the progress of the Devotion School construction, noting that site work is proceeding, exterior utility work by Eversource is nearing completion, and the building is anticipated to be ready for occupancy in August. Upcoming calendar events discussed included the Brookline history of slavery and freedom walking tour, high school graduation, and the recognition ceremony for staff with thirty years of service. A significant portion of the meeting involved public comment regarding proposed policies for home instruction and student discipline, with a resident expressing concern over the policies being too draconian and urging the committee to treat the drafts as a starting point for revision, especially considering summer scheduling conflicts for parents. Finally, the committee discussed and moved forward a proposal to name the Lawrence School Library in honor of Iris Feldman, a former librarian.

The joint meeting of the Select Board and the Advisory Committee focused on the initial presentation and discussion of the Town and School override proposals for the upcoming May election. The Town Administrator detailed a significant structural deficit where revenues do not match expenditures, exacerbated by the pandemic and limited growth. Staff presented an estimated tax impact from a proposed three-year base override totaling $11.98 million. Key aims for the override funds include eliminating the structural deficit, restoring critical services cut during the pandemic, investing in road maintenance and 'complete streets' planning, funding long-term solutions for waste disposal and Pest Control, investing in sustainability goals, and reorganizing departments to provide competitive wages. Specific line items discussed included a $2.1 million increase for streetscape transformation to meet annual roadway maintenance requirements and $325,000 for DPW fleet replacement.