[1:25] Heat. Heat.

[10:08] Good evening. It is Tuesday, September

[10:11] 22nd. Welcome to our regular select

[10:14] board meeting. Our first agenda item is

[10:18] to uh have a question to move into

[10:20] executive session. I will go ahead and

[10:22] move that we go into executive session

[10:25] pursuant to Mass General Laws chapter

[10:27] 30A section 21A6

[10:30] purpose six for the purpose of

[10:32] considering the purchase exchange lease

[10:34] or value of real property specifically

[10:36] 26 Pleasant Street and for uh Mass

[10:40] General Law Chapter 38 21A6 purpose 6

[10:43] for the purpose of considering the

[10:45] purchase exchange lease or value of real

[10:47] property specifically the Coolage Corner

[10:50] Theater located at 280 290 Harvard

[10:53] Street. Bernard,

[10:54] >> yes.

[10:55] >> Michael,

[10:55] >> yes.

[10:56] >> Amanda,

[10:57] >> yes.

[10:57] >> Anthony,

[10:58] >> yes.

[10:58] >> And I also vote yes. And once we

[11:02] conclude executive session, we will come

[11:04] back into open session.

[11:08] » Recording stopped.

[13:41] Bang.

[17:21] Heat.

[29:59] Thank

[30:15] you.

[33:10] Hey.

[33:23] Hey.

[37:39] Heat. Heat.

[59:14] Yeah.

[59:17] Heat.

[1:07:23] Heat.

[1:09:26] up

[1:09:56] here.

[1:10:07] Good evening again. We are back from our

[1:10:09] executive session. In executive session,

[1:10:12] we took a vote regarding the lease

[1:10:15] agreement at the Koolage Corner Theater

[1:10:18] and we would like to take that vote

[1:10:20] again now in public session. So I move

[1:10:23] that we execute the modification to the

[1:10:27] Coolage Corner lease agreement.

[1:10:30] >> Bernard,

[1:10:31] >> yes.

[1:10:32] >> Michael,

[1:10:32] >> yes.

[1:10:33] >> Amanda,

[1:10:34] >> yes.

[1:10:35] >> Anthony,

[1:10:35] >> yes.

[1:10:36] >> And I also vote yes. I want to thank the

[1:10:39] uh Koolage Corner Theater for uh working

[1:10:42] with us toward this agreement. and we

[1:10:44] very much look forward to continuing to

[1:10:47] see uh documented the continuing

[1:10:50] community benefits that the Koolage

[1:10:52] Corner Theater provides.

[1:10:56] » I want to thank um as well from town

[1:10:58] council's office John Bukite who has

[1:10:59] been working on this process now for two

[1:11:02] years, three years. Um it's been a long

[1:11:05] time. So um thank you to the Koolage.

[1:11:07] Thank you as always to town council's

[1:11:08] office and John your work here. Um,

[1:11:11] we're very grateful uh have the Koolage

[1:11:13] as a community partner. I don't know if

[1:11:14] you want to say a few words or anything.

[1:11:18] >> That's okay with you.

[1:11:19] >> That's fine. Yes.

[1:11:21] >> Oh, we we have to have you have to come

[1:11:23] to the microphone for our best

[1:11:24] >> come up to the podium.

[1:11:38] Uh my name is Michael Maynard. I am a

[1:11:41] board member at the Koolage Corner

[1:11:42] Theater for many years as board chair as

[1:11:44] we went through the expansion with a

[1:11:47] enormous support and uh encouragement of

[1:11:50] the town. Um, and it's been uh a

[1:11:55] wonderful success for us and I think

[1:11:57] it's also been a wonderful success for

[1:12:00] our patrons. Our best year ever prior to

[1:12:03] COVID was about 250,000 people or almost

[1:12:06] 250,000. Our first fully operational

[1:12:10] year um with the expansion open we uh

[1:12:14] were just shy of 300,000.

[1:12:17] So the it's it's a more userfriendly

[1:12:20] experience for our patrons. We have more

[1:12:23] screens. Uh we've been able to expand

[1:12:25] our programming. And I think perhaps

[1:12:28] from Brookline standpoint, hard dollars

[1:12:31] and cents, but also from a cultural and

[1:12:35] a community standpoint, we started the

[1:12:38] education program and we're at it now

[1:12:41] for just over two years. We have almost

[1:12:44] 3,900 kids in in the program in total

[1:12:47] now. Uh and Brooklyn has almost 900 uh

[1:12:53] kids are participating in the program

[1:12:55] and that has been enormously successful

[1:12:59] uh and I think good for the community

[1:13:01] but it's been it's been great for us

[1:13:04] too. There's been a lot of hunger for

[1:13:06] education over the years but we didn't

[1:13:07] have the space or the screens and now we

[1:13:09] do. So, I just want to thank the um all

[1:13:14] of the departments in town and you folks

[1:13:17] uh for your support and we very much

[1:13:20] appreciate your affirmation

[1:13:22] of of the modification lease agreement.

[1:13:25] So, thank you again. Thank you.

[1:13:31] All right. So, with that we will move to

[1:13:33] our next item which is announcements and

[1:13:36] updates. Do any board members have

[1:13:37] announcements or updates to provide?

[1:13:40] >> Amanda,

[1:13:41] >> I have two if that's okay. Um, the first

[1:13:45] one was uh an announcement that Governor

[1:13:48] Moraley said at the beginning of the

[1:13:50] month that 278 million in state and

[1:13:53] federal financing will support the

[1:13:55] creation of more than 2500 homes in 20

[1:13:58] communities. The Brooklyn Housing

[1:14:00] Authorities 10 Walnut Street was one of

[1:14:02] the 29 projects awarded funded. Um 10

[1:14:06] Walnut Street is the first phase of the

[1:14:08] redevelopment of VHA's Walnut High

[1:14:10] Apartments. The project will demolish 32

[1:14:12] obsolete federal public housing

[1:14:14] apartments that were first constructed

[1:14:16] in 1961 and replace them with 96 units

[1:14:19] of family oriented affordable housing.

[1:14:22] You can read the full statement from the

[1:14:23] BHA, but this is great news for the town

[1:14:25] and our soon to be new neighbors. Um and

[1:14:28] then the second thing that I had to say

[1:14:29] was a followup to my vision zero

[1:14:32] questions from 3C last week. Uh if

[1:14:35] anyone else is curious in the steps that

[1:14:38] the town is taking uh on new municipal

[1:14:41] vehicles that we acquire. Um I was just

[1:14:44] going to read the answers I got to them.

[1:14:46] Um the first is that all replacement

[1:14:48] trucks in our fleet um come equipped

[1:14:51] with speed alert systems which sound an

[1:14:53] incab alarm when the vehicle se exceeds

[1:14:56] a preset threshold. These systems are

[1:14:59] standard on our replacement trucks. We

[1:15:01] do not currently utilize this feature,

[1:15:03] but we do rely on standalone GPS

[1:15:05] monitoring systems which cross reference

[1:15:07] a map speed limit database and alerts

[1:15:09] management to specific instances of

[1:15:11] excessive vehicle speed. Second one is

[1:15:15] on direct vision. The excavator is a

[1:15:17] high vision truck of our class 7 to8

[1:15:20] trucks. Only the trash trucks are

[1:15:22] considered high vision. Other class 78

[1:15:25] trucks are classified as low vision and

[1:15:27] for these we now specify extra convex

[1:15:29] mirrors to improve driver visibility.

[1:15:32] We've also added a lower window on the

[1:15:34] passenger side door to improve sight

[1:15:36] lines to the side of the vehicle. All

[1:15:38] vehicles are additionally equipped with

[1:15:40] standard safety devices including backup

[1:15:42] alarms and backup cameras. And the last

[1:15:45] piece is on lateral protective devices.

[1:15:49] Uh, our current specifications require

[1:15:51] that all vendors quoting on the Town of

[1:15:53] Brooklyn vehicles include lateral

[1:15:56] protective devices in their pricing. In

[1:15:59] addition, we have an ongoing capital

[1:16:01] improvement program to retrofit existing

[1:16:04] vehicles that do not currently have

[1:16:06] lateral protective devices installed.

[1:16:08] Right now, the majority of our fleet

[1:16:10] already meets the best practice

[1:16:11] standards for this installation. So, I

[1:16:14] thought that would be generally interesting to everyone here.

[1:16:17] Yes, thank you for sharing those items.

[1:16:20] Anyone else, Anthony?

[1:16:21] >> Um, I just want to point out that during

[1:16:23] our last town meeting, u we passed

[1:16:25] warrant article 17, under article 17,

[1:16:28] the town voted to amend its general

[1:16:30] bylaws to add a new article, uh, civil

[1:16:32] immigration enforcement activities on

[1:16:34] town property that prohibits the use of

[1:16:37] town facilities for federal civ civil

[1:16:40] immigration enforcement in the absence

[1:16:41] of a valid judicial warrant or court

[1:16:43] order authorizing such use. the attorney

[1:16:46] general uh approved that warrant article

[1:16:48] um earlier this week.

[1:16:52] >> Thank you. Anybody else? Chaz,

[1:16:54] >> couple of small announcements. Um one uh

[1:16:56] ex good news, bad news announcement.

[1:16:58] Good news. Um Brookline Day is this

[1:17:01] Sunday. Um it's 27th. Um we're very

[1:17:04] excited. It's in Koolage Corner. uh as

[1:17:06] it has been the last couple of years.

[1:17:08] Starting at 11:00 a.m. and going to 3M,

[1:17:11] there will be a huge number of um uh

[1:17:14] participants. All your town hall

[1:17:16] departments um our friends from across

[1:17:19] the town and the state and the county

[1:17:22] will be there. Um I will say, however,

[1:17:25] that we also have a potential uh wrinkle

[1:17:27] in this. This is the bad news, which is

[1:17:28] we have a fall nor easter scheduled to

[1:17:31] come through town uh this weekend. We do

[1:17:34] not yet have visibility from the weather

[1:17:37] service on the direct risks to Brooklyn

[1:17:40] day. We always say that Brooklyn day is

[1:17:42] rain or shine, but what we have we did

[1:17:45] not specify that Brooklyn day is gale

[1:17:47] force winds and shine, which is the um

[1:17:50] more dangerous um issue here. We really

[1:17:53] don't want to be in a situation where

[1:17:54] people's safety is in jeopardy outdoors.

[1:17:57] we will need to make a call on whether

[1:17:59] or not to um uh cancel Brookline Day and

[1:18:04] look into how we would reschedule in

[1:18:06] community events. Um but obviously we

[1:18:08] want to be cognizant of the community's

[1:18:12] um you of of the community safety first

[1:18:15] and foremost. So we will update the

[1:18:17] community on whether Brookline Day is

[1:18:18] proceeding on Thursday morning. Um so I

[1:18:22] know folks are always concerned, you

[1:18:23] know, when do you make a call? How when

[1:18:25] do you make a call to close school

[1:18:26] because of weather events? When do you

[1:18:28] make a call to call these things off?

[1:18:29] There are a number of things that go

[1:18:30] into that decision. So, I just want to

[1:18:32] let people know that the the pivot

[1:18:34] point, the the decision point for

[1:18:36] Brookline Day, the next available

[1:18:38] decision point is on Thursday. Although,

[1:18:40] at any point, if there are issues that

[1:18:43] involve the safety of the participants

[1:18:44] or of residents, um we can make that

[1:18:46] call um as as we get closer to the date.

[1:18:49] But more to come on this. Please keep

[1:18:51] Brookland Day on your calendars for now

[1:18:53] and in the event that we do need to move

[1:18:55] it um we will let you know and we'll

[1:18:57] make that announcement. One other uh two

[1:18:59] other small uh updates from the public

[1:19:01] health department that um the

[1:19:02] commissioner asked me to read. Um one is

[1:19:05] flu shot clinics. Um Brookline Public

[1:19:08] Health is offering both flu and

[1:19:09] highdosese flu vaccines at three

[1:19:11] community clinics. Um all residents six

[1:19:14] months and older may be vaccinated. Um,

[1:19:17] adults 65 and older are the ones

[1:19:19] eligible for that highdose vaccine. So,

[1:19:21] the clinics will be held at the Baker

[1:19:22] School on September 24th, Brookline High

[1:19:25] School on October 4th, and the Driscoll

[1:19:27] School on October 7th. We also have a

[1:19:29] program for folks who cannot leave their

[1:19:31] homes uh for the homebound flu program.

[1:19:34] Um, you may visit bricklinemma.gov

[1:19:36] flu clinics again.govlu

[1:19:41] nic

[1:19:43] uh in order to have more information or

[1:19:45] to schedule an appointment. Please get

[1:19:46] your flu shots. Um it's going to be a

[1:19:49] rough flu season and we always want to

[1:19:51] be sure that you're safe. Um last, the

[1:19:54] community health equity survey uh for

[1:19:56] the state is now open uh for Brookline

[1:19:58] residents aed 12 and older. So the

[1:20:00] feedback that is received there helps

[1:20:02] Brooklyn then identify community needs,

[1:20:04] guide programs and services, and inform

[1:20:06] funding decisions for health and equity.

[1:20:08] So it's anonymous, takes it takes some

[1:20:11] time. It takes around 15 to 30 minutes.

[1:20:12] It's available in multiple languages,

[1:20:14] but it is really important. Uh the

[1:20:16] information that we get from this, it's

[1:20:17] a state-run survey, is used to try and

[1:20:20] figure out where our unmet needs are and

[1:20:22] how we can prioritize serving the

[1:20:24] community. So, please fill it out if you

[1:20:26] have the opportunity. Um and to

[1:20:28] participate, you go to mass.gov/halths

[1:20:31] survey, all one word. Thank you very

[1:20:33] much. Thank you.

[1:20:35] Anyone else?

[1:20:39] All right, then we will move to our next

[1:20:40] agenda item, which is public comments.

[1:20:42] Melanie, if you can go over the rules.

[1:20:45] Thank you for joining us for public

[1:20:46] comment. This is an opportunity for us

[1:20:49] to hear your perspective on the issues

[1:20:50] in Brooklyn that matter to you. Each

[1:20:53] person speaking tonight is limited to

[1:20:55] three minutes. You don't need to use the

[1:20:57] entire time, but you may if you like.

[1:20:59] Once 15 minutes has been met, there's an

[1:21:01] opportunity at the conclusion of the

[1:21:03] select board's business for additional

[1:21:04] comments. Members of the public

[1:21:07] sometimes raise questions during public

[1:21:09] comment. We may be able to provide a

[1:21:11] quick answer to a question, but are more

[1:21:12] likely to work with staff to get a more

[1:21:14] thorough answer and respond over email.

[1:21:17] The on-screen timer will flash orange

[1:21:19] when you have 60 seconds remaining and

[1:21:21] red when your time is nearly up. Please

[1:21:23] conclude your remarks at that time. If

[1:21:25] you have more to say, you are welcome to

[1:21:27] send an email to board members

[1:21:28] expressing your thoughts in greater

[1:21:30] detail. Any person wishing to speak must

[1:21:33] begin their comment by identifying

[1:21:34] themselves with their full name, either

[1:21:37] their Brooklyn precinct number or street

[1:21:39] address, and the specific topic on which

[1:21:41] they wish to speak. The board encourages

[1:21:43] but does not require that remote users

[1:21:45] turn their video on when commenting.

[1:21:50] » So, do we have any members who have

[1:21:51] signed up?

[1:21:52] >> Yes, Ann Lusk is first.

[1:21:54] >> All right, go right ahead.

[1:21:59] I see you have handouts for us as

[1:22:00] always. Thank you.

[1:22:37] tell me when. Ready.

[1:22:39] >> Okay.

[1:22:40] >> And lust precinct five. The Brookline

[1:22:42] Building Department Planning Board

[1:22:43] Zoning Board of Appeals did not follow

[1:22:45] or enforce its zoning bylaws concerning

[1:22:47] installation of heat pumps at 16 Hart

[1:22:49] Street. The town administrator and the

[1:22:51] select board members are bosses of the

[1:22:53] individuals in the planning and building

[1:22:54] departments and these departments should

[1:22:56] follow and enforce the zoning bylaws

[1:22:58] that Brookline residents have written to

[1:23:00] ensure quality of life in Brooklyn. Mike

[1:23:03] and Clare Wolf, owners of 16 Hart Street

[1:23:05] did not include drawings of their two

[1:23:06] heat pumps in their all electric house

[1:23:08] additions plans. The building

[1:23:10] department, planning department,

[1:23:11] planning board, and the zoning board of

[1:23:12] appeals did not tell them they needed to

[1:23:14] include drawings of their heat pumps.

[1:23:16] Mike and Claire did have a drawing of a

[1:23:18] storage porch under the upstairs bedroom

[1:23:20] that has the same floor as the

[1:23:22] all-season porch. When Mike and Clare

[1:23:24] presented to the zoning board of

[1:23:25] appeals, I even asked if they would

[1:23:26] install a solid wall in the opening of

[1:23:28] their storage porch beside me. Mike and

[1:23:30] Clare had the opportunity and did not

[1:23:32] reveal that they needed their not yet

[1:23:33] installed heat pumps to breathe. They

[1:23:35] received five special permits for their

[1:23:37] addition. After their addition was

[1:23:39] built, Mike and Clare put a stacked

[1:23:41] two-can heat pump inside their storage

[1:23:43] porch. The sound was extremely loud in

[1:23:45] my front walkway, my back front, my

[1:23:47] front door, and inside my house. Even in

[1:23:49] the winter, I went to the town each week

[1:23:51] and wrote countless emails. Because

[1:23:53] their two stacked fans were less than

[1:23:55] two feet from the property line, the

[1:23:57] town suggested they put their two heat

[1:23:59] pumps in the backyard away from me.

[1:24:00] Instead, Mike and Clare put two separate

[1:24:02] heat pumps back inside their storage

[1:24:04] ports with the two fans facing me. I

[1:24:06] live 5 feet away. Zoning bylaw specified

[1:24:09] that heat pumps are to be in the side or

[1:24:11] rear yard and ground mounted. The new

[1:24:14] bylaw allows heat pumps by right to be

[1:24:16] two feet from the property line and yet

[1:24:17] Mike and Clair's plans were part of the

[1:24:19] permitting process. On August 31st,

[1:24:21] 2026, I sent Polyelco an email.

[1:24:24] Therefore, because you reviewed Mike

[1:24:26] Sinclair's house, their house was not a

[1:24:28] built by right. Dan Bennett said they

[1:24:30] could put their heat pumps in whatever

[1:24:31] location they wanted by right. You

[1:24:33] cannot have a house addition that is not

[1:24:35] built by right and install the heat pump

[1:24:36] within the addition by right. The house

[1:24:38] is either built by right or not built by

[1:24:40] right. Polyelco wrote correct. Zoning

[1:24:43] bylaws also specified that heat pumps

[1:24:45] are to pass a decibel level test. Mike

[1:24:47] and Clare had a decibel level test

[1:24:48] conducted but that I pointed out to the

[1:24:50] planning and building department staff.

[1:24:52] This test was conducted by the

[1:24:53] contractor's young apprentice carpenter

[1:24:56] who presumably took a course from COAC.

[1:24:59] I called CHOHC and learned their course

[1:25:01] was for industry. They did not teach how

[1:25:04] to conduct a decibel test for house. The

[1:25:06] town approved my coninclair certificate

[1:25:08] of occupancy based on a decibel level

[1:25:10] test that did not include proper

[1:25:11] measurements including where the

[1:25:13] measurements were taken. All heat pumps

[1:25:15] also get allowed with age. I contacted a

[1:25:18] lawyer and as a start I would have to

[1:25:20] spend 2,500 to litigate the issue. I

[1:25:23] should not have to spend money or listen

[1:25:25] to their heat pumps when the town did

[1:25:26] not follow zoning bylaws. Mike and

[1:25:28] Claire should be put projected to put

[1:25:30] their two heat pumps near their own

[1:25:31] walkway in front of their windows in

[1:25:33] their back of their back room. Heat

[1:25:35] pumps in this location are farther from

[1:25:36] the abutter of 14 up street than on my

[1:25:39] side if the floor area ratio allows. My

[1:25:42] >> your time is up.

[1:25:43] >> Thank you.

[1:25:46] Right. Who is our next speaker?

[1:25:50] >> Nobody signed up prior.

[1:25:52] >> Anyone else in the room like to be heard

[1:25:54] now?

[1:25:57] Anyone online?

[1:25:59] >> You can use the hand raise feature on

[1:26:00] Zoom if you'd like to be heard.

[1:26:06] » Seeing none, in that case, we will move

[1:26:07] to our next agenda item, which is

[1:26:09] miscellaneous.

[1:26:12] Are there any particular miscellaneous

[1:26:14] items that members would like to discuss

[1:26:17] first? Anthony,

[1:26:18] >> I have 7J and 7K. Two quick questions

[1:26:21] for 7J. The question of approving an

[1:26:24] authorization to hire request for town

[1:26:25] council. Associate Town Council. Is this

[1:26:27] a backfill or the creation of a new

[1:26:29] position?

[1:26:29] >> Uh, it's a back, it's a backfill. Um,

[1:26:31] uh, one of our associate town councils

[1:26:33] is unfortunately departing for a

[1:26:34] position with the state. We wish you the

[1:26:36] best. Uh, but we need to hire a new, uh,

[1:26:37] attorney.

[1:26:38] >> Okay. And then 7K, uh, Porchfest. I'm

[1:26:41] assuming that also might get cancelled

[1:26:43] >> potentially. Yes. Thank you.

[1:26:44] >> Very sad.

[1:26:45] >> And, uh, what would be the timing around

[1:26:49] when a postponement would be announced?

[1:26:50] >> Same time on Thursday.

[1:26:52] >> Okay.

[1:26:54] Amanda,

[1:26:55] >> I have a question about 7B. Um, I can

[1:26:58] ask now or

[1:26:59] >> go ahead 7B.

[1:27:01] >> Um, High Street is on the Vision Zero

[1:27:03] high priority network and so I'm

[1:27:05] wondering if we have any Vision Zero

[1:27:07] improvements planned in the course of

[1:27:10] repaving.

[1:27:12] >> I will follow up with DPW on that. I

[1:27:15] believe the answer is yes, but I will

[1:27:17] double I want to be positive that I have

[1:27:19] the um the exact improvements that are

[1:27:22] being made there. Dan Murphy's online.

[1:27:24] >> Oh, Dan is online. Yes, there we go.

[1:27:26] >> Dan, if you could answer. Thank you.

[1:27:28] >> Yes, I can. Uh, yeah, we high street uh

[1:27:31] the we're basically planning to do 10

[1:27:34] and a half foot lanes and use whatever

[1:27:37] remains for the shoulders divided

[1:27:39] equally on the sides. And there are two

[1:27:41] uh rapid rectangular flashing beacons

[1:27:44] planned as well.

[1:27:46] >> So, they don't currently exist where the

[1:27:49] rapid flashing beacons are being added.

[1:27:52] >> That's right. Okay.

[1:27:54] >> All right. I have Bernard. Go ahead.

[1:27:57] >> Let people know that I made some edits

[1:28:00] to the minutes. Uh first was changing

[1:28:03] long-term strategic direction to

[1:28:05] medium-term. Is that correct?

[1:28:08] >> I always thought that roadmap was

[1:28:09] medium.

[1:28:10] >> Yes, that's correct.

[1:28:11] >> Okay. The other thing is uh I think it's

[1:28:13] important to add um the uh goal of

[1:28:17] increasing the racial and economic

[1:28:18] diversity of Brookline households which

[1:28:21] was goal five in our road map.

[1:28:23] >> Yeah.

[1:28:24] >> And you know I think this summary should

[1:28:25] include that.

[1:28:26] >> Absolutely.

[1:28:28] >> Anyone else?

[1:28:30] >> All right. So why don't we vote 7A

[1:28:32] separately? So I move that we approve

[1:28:34] the meeting minutes from September 15th

[1:28:37] subjects to the revisions provided by

[1:28:39] Michael, Amanda, and Bernard.

[1:28:42] >> Yes.

[1:28:43] >> Michael,

[1:28:43] >> yes.

[1:28:44] >> Amanda,

[1:28:45] >> yes.

[1:28:45] >> Anthony,

[1:28:46] >> yes.

[1:28:46] >> And I also vote yes. And then I move

[1:28:49] that we approve items 7B through 7M in

[1:28:55] omnibus fashion.

[1:28:56] >> Bernard,

[1:28:57] >> yes.

[1:28:57] >> Michael,

[1:28:58] >> yes.

[1:28:58] >> Amanda,

[1:28:59] >> yes.

[1:29:00] >> Anthony,

[1:29:00] >> yes. and I also vote yes. So with that

[1:29:05] we move to boards and commissions

[1:29:08] interviews.

[1:29:13] First we have Brooklyn commission for

[1:29:17] the arts. There are three vacancies

[1:29:20] and we have Jin man by

[1:29:23] >> online.

[1:29:25] >> All right Jin man whenever you are

[1:29:27] ready.

[1:29:30] Hello.

[1:29:31] >> Yes, I'm here.

[1:29:32] >> All right. So, if you'd like to

[1:29:33] introduce yourself, tell us about why

[1:29:37] you decided to apply for Commission for

[1:29:39] the Arts and what it is about your

[1:29:41] experience or interest that makes you

[1:29:43] believe you would be a good fit for this

[1:29:45] commission.

[1:29:47] >> Sure. Yeah. So, my name is Jin Man Bay.

[1:29:49] I'm a designer by trade. I've been in

[1:29:53] the Boston area uh as a resident uh

[1:29:57] since 2008. and I've been a Brooklyn

[1:30:00] resident for I'm on my fifth year as a

[1:30:03] Brooklyn resident. And um yeah, I'm

[1:30:07] looking to a just kind of exercise uh

[1:30:11] being a good citizen and give back to

[1:30:13] the community that I live in. And I sort

[1:30:16] of have a personal hobby interest in the

[1:30:18] sort of beautifification and design of

[1:30:20] cities. I think I I believe that um the quality and the beauty of spaces

[1:30:27] um has a high correlation with you know

[1:30:30] yielding good results for the soul of

[1:30:32] the people and the good of the town. And

[1:30:34] so um yeah I think I am again being a

[1:30:39] designer by trade. So I I started out my

[1:30:41] career in graphic design um and branding

[1:30:45] and moved into sort of user experience

[1:30:47] and product design. And so I I come from

[1:30:49] a wide sort of variety of artistic

[1:30:52] experiences and I'm excited to be become

[1:30:56] um a part of this group.

[1:30:58] >> All right. Thank you. A question I have

[1:31:00] for you. I see in your application that

[1:31:03] you are a fan of architect Theaster

[1:31:07] Gates and I'm wondering if you could

[1:31:09] talk a little bit more about uh what it

[1:31:12] is regarding Gates's uh architecture

[1:31:15] that you would maybe want to bring with

[1:31:18] you to the Commission of Arts.

[1:31:22] Yeah, I I think he so we used to live in

[1:31:24] Chicago uh which is where he lives and

[1:31:28] his whole thing is that he he buys up uh

[1:31:32] abandoned buildings in the south side of

[1:31:34] Chicago and he will redesign and

[1:31:36] renovate them into community spaces. And

[1:31:38] so I think for him it's um he has a

[1:31:41] quote that says that beauty has the

[1:31:43] right to live anywhere. And so it's more

[1:31:45] his philosophy

[1:31:47] uh and his will to use his artistic

[1:31:50] talents um to better the community.

[1:31:53] Um and so I I think it's just the the

[1:31:56] intent with which he designs, which is

[1:31:58] just to make every space better and more

[1:32:01] usable for people. Um not just

[1:32:03] aesthetically, but just for for the will

[1:32:06] and the good of the people. And so, uh,

[1:32:07] I've just always been a fan of his

[1:32:09] philosophy and his approach to design

[1:32:11] and something that I'm hoping to pursue

[1:32:13] hopefully in my career as well.

[1:32:16] >> Right. Anyone else have questions?

[1:32:17] Michael,

[1:32:19] >> uh, thank you very much for your

[1:32:21] application. Uh, I'm interested to know

[1:32:25] uh, just in the cont first of all, one

[1:32:28] question. Have you uh, participated or

[1:32:31] uh, looked uh, sat in on meetings of the

[1:32:34] Brooklyn Commission for the Arts?

[1:32:37] uh to date. No, I have not sat in on an

[1:32:39] actual meeting uh for the for that

[1:32:41] commission.

[1:32:42] >> Thank you. Um and my second question is

[1:32:45] um following up on David's question

[1:32:48] about um and your answer about

[1:32:51] reutilizing different spaces. Um are

[1:32:54] there spaces um that you see within the

[1:32:57] town of Brookline that would be ripe for

[1:33:00] this kind of treatment or

[1:33:02] transformation?

[1:33:04] Um I you know Koolage Corner I think has

[1:33:08] always been so I I look at Koolage

[1:33:10] Corner as a great sort of inspiration

[1:33:12] just because they do a lot of events

[1:33:14] where they block off the streets like

[1:33:15] Brooklyn Day and make it a more walkable

[1:33:19] place. I think uh I'm a big nerd about

[1:33:22] this kind of stuff. So I I read a lot of

[1:33:24] books about why old European cities are

[1:33:27] so beautiful um universally considered

[1:33:30] beautiful and and it's about making them

[1:33:32] more human scaled and walkable um and so

[1:33:37] more opportunities to sort of uh create

[1:33:40] uh the sort of walkable spaces I think

[1:33:43] throughout um and and less sort of car

[1:33:46] centric I think is always better for the

[1:33:48] town and so um that's the sort of thing

[1:33:51] that I would hope to happen more and

[1:33:53] more.

[1:33:54] >> Thank you.

[1:33:56] >> Anyone else?

[1:33:58] All right. Well, thank you very much for

[1:33:59] your interview. We don't typically uh

[1:34:02] vote the same day of an interview. Uh

[1:34:04] but you will hear back from us when we

[1:34:06] do make our selections.

[1:34:08] >> Thank you so much.

[1:34:11] >> All right. Next, we will move to

[1:34:13] interviews of candidates for

[1:34:15] transportation board. And

[1:34:18] >> let me clarify one thing. So there are

[1:34:20] still three more openings for the

[1:34:21] Commission on Arts even after the number

[1:34:23] that we nominated like a month ago.

[1:34:26] >> Yes.

[1:34:27] >> Okay.

[1:34:28] >> How many people are in this commission?

[1:34:30] Give me one second. I'll give you that

[1:34:31] information.

[1:34:33] >> Just wanted to understand the scale of

[1:34:35] what we need to fill.

[1:34:52] 10 members

[1:34:54] >> and there are three vacancies.

[1:34:57] >> All right. So now we will move to

[1:34:59] interviews of transportation board and

[1:35:01] our first candidate to be interviewed is

[1:35:03] Greg Wheeler.

[1:35:13] Good evening.

[1:35:14] >> Good evening. So, as I said to the uh

[1:35:17] candidate for Commission of the Arts, if

[1:35:19] you can tell us a bit about yourself,

[1:35:20] your background, your interests, and

[1:35:23] what makes you feel you would be a good

[1:35:25] fit for transportation board.

[1:35:27] >> Absolutely. Um so, good evening

[1:35:28] everyone. Uh my name is Greg Wheeler. I

[1:35:31] live on Kent Street with my wife

[1:35:32] Charlotte and our two year two two and a

[1:35:34] half yearear-old daughter Ella. Uh I am

[1:35:37] a town meeting member in precinct 3 and

[1:35:39] I want to thank you all for uh giving me

[1:35:40] the opportunity to interview here

[1:35:42] tonight. Um I'm a very firm believer

[1:35:45] that our transportation network can

[1:35:47] empower people to live and move about

[1:35:50] town uh safely, affordably, and

[1:35:52] sustainably. And I think that my

[1:35:55] experience can uh help the

[1:35:56] transportation board in the town

[1:35:58] continue advancing in these um these

[1:36:00] really critical objectives. Excuse me.

[1:36:03] Uh my most uh relevant professional

[1:36:05] experience comes from my time working at

[1:36:07] the MBTA where I was a senior director

[1:36:10] on the green line transformation team.

[1:36:12] Uh you might be familiar with their work

[1:36:13] as a number of my former colleagues uh

[1:36:16] are leading the accessibility

[1:36:18] improvements on the C branch this summer

[1:36:19] and into the fall. Um I joined the TE at

[1:36:23] a particularly difficult time for the

[1:36:25] organization. It was uh at the time when

[1:36:28] the agency was just beginning to

[1:36:29] identify and try to respond to decades

[1:36:32] worth of deferred maintenance while also

[1:36:35] trying to advance um really critical

[1:36:38] longer term capital projects. And I

[1:36:40] think that parallels to some degree with

[1:36:41] what Brookline is looking to do with its

[1:36:43] transportation network. Um my time at

[1:36:46] the T gave me a great deal of experience

[1:36:47] orchestrating large construction

[1:36:49] projects under what I would call

[1:36:52] moderate degree of public scrutiny. Um,

[1:36:55] and um, I think that would, you know,

[1:36:57] help serve the transportation board and

[1:36:59] I would love to contribute. Um, in what

[1:37:01] little spare time I do have, I produce

[1:37:04] um, datadriven stories on housing and

[1:37:06] transportation. Uh, my most recent story

[1:37:09] was on a deep dive in the Vision Zero

[1:37:12] efforts in Somerville, Cambridge, and

[1:37:13] Boston. Um, because I was interested to

[1:37:15] see what Brooklyn could learn from those

[1:37:17] communities. Um, I have a couple of

[1:37:19] charts from that report. I don't want to

[1:37:21] give you any extra reading any more than

[1:37:22] you already have. Um, but if you're

[1:37:24] interested, I have a couple handouts for

[1:37:25] you. Um, happy to take questions. Thank

[1:37:28] you.

[1:37:28] >> All right. Who would like to go first?

[1:37:30] Amanda.

[1:37:32] >> Yeah. Um,

[1:37:34] can you outline the number of ways that

[1:37:36] you, uh, typically transverse the town,

[1:37:39] either through it or around it on a

[1:37:41] regular basis, and how might that

[1:37:43] influence the perspectives you might

[1:37:44] bring to the T-board?

[1:37:46] >> No, that's a good question. I I think

[1:37:47] um, having a broad perspective of the

[1:37:50] different modes of transportation is

[1:37:51] really critical. Um, I would say I use

[1:37:54] as many modes as I as I can. I My family

[1:37:57] own a car, so we do periodically drive.

[1:37:59] Um, I have a cargo bike and I ride with

[1:38:01] my two-year-old daughter to daycare and

[1:38:03] to the grocery store. Um, I walk and run

[1:38:06] around town. Um, I've tried to get to

[1:38:08] every corner of the town by foot or

[1:38:10] bike. Um, because I think um, being out

[1:38:13] in the open and in the town gives you a

[1:38:15] different perspective as well. Um, and

[1:38:17] as a parent of a toddler, taking our

[1:38:19] stroller uh on our sidewalks has been an

[1:38:22] illuminating experience for me as well.

[1:38:24] Um, obviously I take the tea. Um, having

[1:38:27] worked for them as well. So, I think um

[1:38:30] I have a a pretty broad perspective of

[1:38:32] the different modes and and needs for different users around town.

[1:38:36] >> Thank you,

[1:38:37] >> Bernard. So, uh, at the Executive Office

[1:38:40] of Health and uh, human services. Yeah.

[1:38:42] uh you worked on um uh providing

[1:38:45] protective services to people with

[1:38:47] disabilities. Uh how is has that infor

[1:38:50] how it let me see what's the question

[1:38:52] how has that informed your uh your

[1:38:55] understanding of some of the needs uh

[1:38:57] with respect to transportation systems

[1:38:59] here in Brooklyn or elsewhere and what

[1:39:02] suggestions do you you have? No, I I

[1:39:05] think um you know, I've worked um in

[1:39:08] some capacity in my my current role at

[1:39:09] the executive office um around

[1:39:12] protective services for for people with

[1:39:14] disabilities um which doesn't tie

[1:39:17] necessarily directly into the

[1:39:18] transportation needs of of that

[1:39:19] community. But I think my the biggest

[1:39:21] factor I take away is that the needs of people with disabilities are very

[1:39:24] broad and and varied. Um and there's not

[1:39:28] a you know um there's a lot of different

[1:39:32] needs. So I don't think that there's um

[1:39:34] I think our transportation network needs

[1:39:36] to take into account if it's a mobility

[1:39:38] need and and the different mechanisms

[1:39:39] that we have to help accommodate um both

[1:39:42] at the town level or with the TE's

[1:39:44] paratransit service um for vision

[1:39:46] impairment disabilities. There's

[1:39:48] different types of disabilities that

[1:39:49] have different types of um of

[1:39:51] transportation needs. So I think that's

[1:39:53] just a perspective I've I've gotten a

[1:39:55] greater appreciation for in my current

[1:39:56] work.

[1:39:59] You mention in your application that you

[1:40:02] are a certified public accountant, that

[1:40:04] you maintain your license, and I'm

[1:40:05] curious whether there's anything you

[1:40:07] bring from your background as an

[1:40:09] accountant,

[1:40:10] uh whether that would inform at all your

[1:40:13] role on transportation board.

[1:40:14] >> Yeah, I don't I don't typically lead

[1:40:16] with that, my uh my accounting

[1:40:18] background, but um no, absolutely. I

[1:40:20] think the you know, we talk a lot about

[1:40:22] infrastructure, we talk a lot about

[1:40:23] projects. It's coming back to the the

[1:40:26] budgets um is is obviously a huge

[1:40:28] factor. Um I live in spreadsheets. I um

[1:40:33] love digging into details. Um and you

[1:40:37] know I have experience with with company

[1:40:39] financial statements um financial

[1:40:42] information at the state level. Not as

[1:40:44] familiar with municipal finance, but

[1:40:46] that's that's obviously something I'm

[1:40:48] excited to dig into. So um definitely.

[1:40:51] >> All right. Anyone else? Michael. Sure.

[1:40:55] I mean, as a as I know you're you're

[1:40:58] aware because I've seen your

[1:41:00] participation in in various in various

[1:41:03] ways uh around uh considering our

[1:41:06] transportation infrastructure. Um

[1:41:10] our our our our public way system and

[1:41:14] you know thinking of it as an entire

[1:41:16] system you know has lots of needs

[1:41:17] pushing and pulling on it from all

[1:41:19] directions um in all the modes that you

[1:41:22] talk about as well as you know the needs

[1:41:24] of our business community for people to

[1:41:27] be able to access their businesses

[1:41:28] people uh who are coming to and from

[1:41:31] home schools other town services etc. Um

[1:41:34] I'm wondering in the course of your

[1:41:37] digging in are there partic any

[1:41:40] particular insights or learnings that

[1:41:42] you think uh could apply in your work as

[1:41:45] a transportation board at the

[1:41:47] transportation board um that would sort

[1:41:50] of broadly

[1:41:52] uh influence your consideration of the

[1:41:54] public way?

[1:41:55] >> Yeah, that's a good question. And I

[1:41:57] think um you know one thing I would come

[1:42:00] back to is the town has I think pretty

[1:42:03] clear sets of plans and objectives

[1:42:05] around transportation and

[1:42:08] sustainability. Um and I that would for

[1:42:10] one be something that I would want to

[1:42:11] anchor. Um the decision-m making process

[1:42:15] around in terms of our climate action

[1:42:17] resiliency plan, our vision zero plan

[1:42:19] which we hear a lot about. Um and I

[1:42:22] think the the three priorities I listed

[1:42:24] in my introduction um and particularly

[1:42:27] safety would be kind of an anchoring

[1:42:29] point. Um I think a lot of our

[1:42:31] objectives in in the transportation

[1:42:34] needs are complimentary. Um we do often

[1:42:37] hear about whether they do come into

[1:42:38] conflict um or there's conflicting

[1:42:41] needs. um definitely would want to hear

[1:42:43] that through. But but airing on the side

[1:42:45] of safety and and learning too from what

[1:42:47] Somerville and Cambridge have have have

[1:42:49] paved the way on as well um is another

[1:42:52] thing that I would I would certainly

[1:42:53] want to to learn from.

[1:42:55] >> Thank you.

[1:42:56] >> Just one other question I have. Uh how

[1:42:58] many transportation board meetings have

[1:43:00] you attended?

[1:43:02] I have attended at least every meeting

[1:43:05] going back at least to the spring uh of

[1:43:07] the transportation board um as well as a

[1:43:09] number of advisory committee meetings um

[1:43:13] because I'm I have a lot to learn and I would love to if I'm appointed to this

[1:43:17] position hit the ground running as much

[1:43:19] as possible. So um I've done as much as

[1:43:21] I can to to catch up on past work that

[1:43:23] the transportations board has done,

[1:43:25] their current priorities and where

[1:43:26] they're where they're headed.

[1:43:28] >> All right. Thank you.

[1:43:31] Uh so uh as I explained to the prior

[1:43:34] applicant, we don't typically vote on

[1:43:37] the day of an interview, but uh we will

[1:43:39] get back to you when we're ready to make

[1:43:41] a decision.

[1:43:42] >> Thank you.

[1:43:44] >> Our next candidate is Brian Hawklutener.

[1:43:53] » Hi there.

[1:43:54] >> Hello. Uh so as I've said to the other

[1:43:56] candidates, uh please tell us a bit

[1:43:58] about your background, what it is about

[1:44:00] your experience and your interests that

[1:44:02] you feel would make you a good fit for

[1:44:04] the transportation board.

[1:44:06] >> Sure. Um my name is Brian Hook Lightner.

[1:44:08] I live at um on Elm Street, Precinct 6.

[1:44:12] Um I'm a former town meeting member from

[1:44:15] Precinct 6. I've served on a few

[1:44:17] different boards in the town, including

[1:44:20] um predecessor to the diversity, equity,

[1:44:25] um community relations commission. Um I

[1:44:28] served on a commission that wrote zoning

[1:44:30] for the Emerald

[1:44:32] Isle or sort of Brooklyn Avenue area. Um

[1:44:35] a committee that advised the select

[1:44:37] board on eminent domain for 22 Tapen

[1:44:40] Street. Um I'm a real estate lawyer by

[1:44:43] trade. So that's my my expert that I

[1:44:46] think I bring. I I represent clients on

[1:44:49] real estate development projects

[1:44:51] primarily in greater Boston, um Boston,

[1:44:54] Cambridge, Somerville,

[1:44:56] um River, um Newton. Um I don't do a lot

[1:45:00] of work in Brooklyn. My clients are not

[1:45:03] sort of Brooklyn developers, so I don't

[1:45:04] think that would be an issue. Um but I

[1:45:07] do have a lot of experience in

[1:45:09] representing clients before

[1:45:12] um board of appeals um type decisions

[1:45:15] and a lot of transportation issues that

[1:45:17] come up. So an example of a project that

[1:45:19] I'm working on right now is the Suffach

[1:45:21] Downs project in East Boston and River.

[1:45:24] It's the largest project that's been

[1:45:26] permitted in greater Boston, 16 million

[1:45:28] square feet. Um, it's going to be

[1:45:31] developed over 20 years. And there's all

[1:45:33] kinds of transportation issues that come

[1:45:35] up. Another project I'm working on is a

[1:45:37] project in East Boston, 160 MLEN, which

[1:45:40] is a um multimodal sort of industrial

[1:45:45] facility with a lot of transportation

[1:45:47] issues. So, I I do come across a lot of

[1:45:49] transportation stuff in my in my um my

[1:45:53] work and I think I could bring that to

[1:45:56] the board.

[1:45:58] >> All right. Any questions from members?

[1:46:00] Amanda,

[1:46:01] >> I'll give you the same question I just

[1:46:03] gave, Gregory. Um, can you outline the

[1:46:06] ways in which you transverse around and

[1:46:09] through the town on a regular basis and

[1:46:11] how might that influence the

[1:46:12] perspectives you bring to the T-board?

[1:46:14] >> Sure. So, I I am um I I I'm very

[1:46:18] balanced, I guess. I take the tea to

[1:46:21] work. I also bike to work sometimes and

[1:46:24] um carpool to work. So, I've I work

[1:46:28] downtown and so I've used all of those

[1:46:30] methods to get downtown. Um, I walk

[1:46:33] around Brookline a ton with my dog. Um,

[1:46:37] so I I sort of traverse the streets that

[1:46:40] way. Um, I just we just bought a new

[1:46:43] car, which was our first plugin. So, I

[1:46:46] just have kind of gone from, you know,

[1:46:48] just a gas powered car to now we have a

[1:46:51] gas powered car and a plugin. So, um,

[1:46:53] but I I I um am sort of an avid

[1:46:57] pedestrian, I guess, is sort of I I

[1:46:59] think what I think of the most. It

[1:47:00] really is what drew me to Brooklyn. Um,

[1:47:03] living in Brooklyn Village and being

[1:47:05] able to walk around is something that I

[1:47:07] think is really important and that I've

[1:47:09] seen on the transportation board when

[1:47:11] I've observed their meetings. Really

[1:47:14] balancing those things I think is is

[1:47:16] important. thinking about the needs of

[1:47:20] drivers, parking, pedestrians,

[1:47:23] bicyclists, and really focusing on

[1:47:25] safety, but also really thinking about

[1:47:27] all the ways those things come together.

[1:47:29] And I I've been very impressed with the

[1:47:31] transportation board and the way that

[1:47:33] the members have brought really

[1:47:35] thoughtful solutions to that and I think

[1:47:39] have done a pretty successful job for

[1:47:41] the most part in balancing those

[1:47:43] different needs.

[1:47:46] >> All right. Yeah. Um you mentioned in

[1:47:48] your materials that you think that your

[1:47:50] real estate background will

[1:47:53] uh will be very helpful on the transport

[1:47:55] transportation board. Um as a real

[1:47:59] estate lawyer representing large real

[1:48:01] estate developments. Tell me how that

[1:48:05] background would would play on the

[1:48:07] transportation board. I can think of a

[1:48:09] number of ways but tell me what you

[1:48:11] think.

[1:48:11] >> Yeah. So, I think it's given me some

[1:48:13] great exposure to what other cities and

[1:48:16] towns are doing and just being able to

[1:48:18] appreciate some of the innovations that

[1:48:21] are happening in Cambridge and

[1:48:23] Somerville, you know, Newton. A lot of

[1:48:25] these projects are really trying to find

[1:48:28] ways to get people out of their cars and

[1:48:31] um and find ways to,

[1:48:35] you know, sort of reduce single

[1:48:37] occupancy vehicle stuff. That's that's a

[1:48:39] big focus that our clients or my clients

[1:48:43] are sort of dealing with on a regular

[1:48:45] basis. Um, you know, trying to figure

[1:48:48] out how to build in a relatively dense

[1:48:51] area in a way that's not going to create

[1:48:55] more traffic and more, you know, sort of

[1:48:58] conflicts, I guess. So, I think it's been helpful to see that. Um, I do

[1:49:04] think that Brooklyn

[1:49:06] is has some room to grow in in in that

[1:49:10] regard. I don't think we're sort of

[1:49:11] caught up to where some of these other

[1:49:14] cities and towns around us have been

[1:49:16] sort of like been able to sort of

[1:49:18] progress in terms of um moving the

[1:49:21] needle. But I think, you know, we're getting there. We're starting in

[1:49:24] that direction and we're making

[1:49:25] progress.

[1:49:28] Michael.

[1:49:29] >> Um,

[1:49:31] so, uh, you started to answer the

[1:49:33] question that I was going to ask you,

[1:49:35] which I asked Greg before about, um, you

[1:49:39] how you think about, uh,

[1:49:42] the all balancing all the broad uses of

[1:49:44] the public way. Uh, you know, and you

[1:49:46] tal you enumerated several of them and

[1:49:48] you talked about the balance between them all. Um, I wonder if you

[1:49:53] can drill down to that a little bit, you

[1:49:56] know, in terms of

[1:49:59] uh in terms of what balance looks like

[1:50:01] to you or um how you would approach

[1:50:06] questions uh on the public way um with

[1:50:10] regard to the balance that you think is

[1:50:12] needed.

[1:50:14] Yeah, I think the example that I think

[1:50:16] of is um the Washington Street project

[1:50:19] as as there was a lot of discussion

[1:50:21] about,

[1:50:22] >> you know, it's not every block on

[1:50:24] Washington Street where you have these

[1:50:25] issues, but when you get to the village

[1:50:27] when where when where there's really a

[1:50:29] crunch and the idea was how do we

[1:50:33] preserve some parking for the businesses

[1:50:36] in and around Brookline Village? um

[1:50:38] particularly sort of think of the block

[1:50:40] from where we are right now to

[1:50:43] um

[1:50:45] where where kind of Washington Street

[1:50:47] and Harvard Street intersect and that's

[1:50:49] where I felt like it was really crunched

[1:50:51] and there was a a a meeting of the

[1:50:53] transportation board where they were

[1:50:55] looking at right how do we fit a bike

[1:50:57] lane in this space preserve parking as

[1:51:01] many spaces as we can for for businesses

[1:51:03] to allow some parking in this area while

[1:51:07] also maximizing pedestrian safety. And I

[1:51:11] felt like it was one of those situations

[1:51:14] where nobody was really thrilled with

[1:51:18] the results. There wasn't one group that

[1:51:19] was like we won, but I felt like the

[1:51:22] balance, they found the right balance on

[1:51:24] that um in that conversation. And um I

[1:51:28] think that's just a going to be the kind

[1:51:30] of challenge that I look forward to

[1:51:32] being part of on the transportation

[1:51:33] board, helping to find that kind of

[1:51:35] middle ground that works for different

[1:51:38] users and kind of you know the Goldilock

[1:51:41] solution. I I think think of it as

[1:51:43] >> Thank you. A question I have uh how

[1:51:46] would the uh climate action and

[1:51:48] resiliency plan and vision zero help

[1:51:51] inform your thinking on uh various

[1:51:54] proposals that are coming before

[1:51:56] transportation board?

[1:51:59] >> Well, I think vision zero I just think

[1:52:01] of that as you know sort of the focus on

[1:52:04] safety and really prioritizing

[1:52:07] um safety. And I guess I I don't have a

[1:52:11] ton of background on I haven't sort of

[1:52:13] dug into the actual

[1:52:16] um climate resiliency plan for

[1:52:18] Brookline, but my understanding would be

[1:52:20] that you know the vision zero is

[1:52:22] certainly about safety and I think

[1:52:24] that's got to be the number one

[1:52:25] priority.

[1:52:27] >> Okay,

[1:52:29] any other questions?

[1:52:31] >> All right. All right. Well, thank you

[1:52:32] very much for the interview and as I

[1:52:34] told the others, we'll get back to you

[1:52:35] when uh it's the day for making a

[1:52:38] decision.

[1:52:38] >> Thank you.

[1:52:42] » All right. With that, we will now vote

[1:52:46] on some reappoints.

[1:52:48] Uh I move that we reappoint Len Holy for

[1:52:52] a three-year term to transportation

[1:52:54] board.

[1:52:56] >> Yes.

[1:52:56] >> Bernard Michael.

[1:52:57] >> Yes.

[1:52:58] >> Amanda,

[1:52:58] >> yes. And I also vote yes. I believe

[1:53:02] Anthony does as well. It was going to

[1:53:05] tell me.

[1:53:06] Yes. Let's add Anthony as well.

[1:53:12] All right. Now we will move to our next

[1:53:15] item which is the cable ascertainment

[1:53:18] hearing. public hearing on RCN license

[1:53:22] renewal for the purpose of allowing the

[1:53:23] public an opportunity to comment on town

[1:53:26] and public cable related needs in RCN's

[1:53:30] performance. So, I'm going to go ahead

[1:53:32] and open a public hearing. This is a

[1:53:34] public hearing uh as part of the license

[1:53:37] renewal process. Brookline's RCN cable

[1:53:40] license expires on April 27th, 2028.

[1:53:44] Federal and state law require holding a

[1:53:46] hearing to allow the public an

[1:53:48] opportunity to comment on town and

[1:53:50] public cable related needs and RCN's

[1:53:53] performance. Notice of this hearing was

[1:53:55] posted twice in the Boston Herald as

[1:53:57] required and on the town's website.

[1:53:59] Copies of the legal advertisements are

[1:54:02] entered into the hearing record. We will

[1:54:04] provide any interested members of the

[1:54:06] public and other interested persons with

[1:54:08] an opportunity to submit input about

[1:54:10] what cable related needs are important

[1:54:12] to Brookline and about how RCN has

[1:54:15] performed under its existing license.

[1:54:17] Before proceeding to public comments, I

[1:54:19] would like to thank Brookline's

[1:54:20] community television access provider,

[1:54:22] Brookline Interactive Group, and RCN for

[1:54:25] their participation and assistance in

[1:54:27] the ongoing license renewal proceedings.

[1:54:30] In this hearing, the board will hear

[1:54:31] comments on all RCN cable related

[1:54:34] matters to include customer service,

[1:54:36] license administration, and important

[1:54:39] local studio needs, community

[1:54:40] programming, PEG access, and Comcast

[1:54:44] support for Brookline's local channels.

[1:54:46] Please try and keep comments limited to

[1:54:48] 3 minutes. If members of the public or

[1:54:50] other interested parties wish to provide

[1:54:52] comments following this hearing, they

[1:54:54] can send their comments to the town of

[1:54:55] Brooklyn care of Charles Young,

[1:54:58] assistant town administrator. Before

[1:55:00] proceeding to public comments, I also

[1:55:02] want to welcome RCN's representative,

[1:55:04] David von Morates, and ask David to make

[1:55:07] some introductory comments on behalf of

[1:55:10] Comcast.

[1:55:13] >> RCN, excuse me.

[1:55:15] And it looks like David is not here

[1:55:17] tonight or wasn't able to make it. So,

[1:55:19] thank you for recognizing him um chair,

[1:55:22] but uh but there will be no comments

[1:55:24] from RCM tonight.

[1:55:27] >> All right. I will note our um our

[1:55:29] council um firm um cable access matters

[1:55:32] uh Bill August is online if there are

[1:55:34] questions on the technical details or

[1:55:37] the um legal uh requirements involved in

[1:55:40] cable license.

[1:55:45] I guess now we'll go to public comment

[1:55:47] if there is any.

[1:55:49] >> We have two people signed up. We have

[1:55:50] Jessica Smiser and Kathy Seedman.

[1:55:53] Jessica's here.

[1:55:55] >> All right. Go ahead, Jessica.

[1:56:00] » Hi everyone. Thank you for the

[1:56:02] opportunity to speak tonight regarding

[1:56:03] the renewal of the RCN franchise

[1:56:05] agreement. My name is Jessica Smiser.

[1:56:07] I'm executive director of Brookline

[1:56:09] Interactive Group aka BIG. For those who

[1:56:11] don't know, BIG is the independent

[1:56:13] nonprofit community media center for

[1:56:15] Brooklyn. A member organization and a

[1:56:18] 501c3 nonprofit, BIG offers extensive

[1:56:21] multimedia training and access to

[1:56:22] highquality equipment. We provide

[1:56:24] discounted professional media services

[1:56:26] to local nonprofit organizations,

[1:56:28] education partners, and Brooklyn

[1:56:30] businesses. BIG also produces local

[1:56:32] government coverage, including select

[1:56:34] boards, school committee meetings, and

[1:56:36] the annual town meetings, and airs this

[1:56:38] coverage on our cable channels and

[1:56:39] online. We also have a community channel

[1:56:42] where local residents can produce

[1:56:43] community service, educational and

[1:56:45] entertainment programming. Our

[1:56:46] programming is funded through grants,

[1:56:49] donations, membership fees, fee for

[1:56:51] service contracts, and importantly for

[1:56:53] this hearing, cable franchise fee

[1:56:55] passroughs. In 1985, Big was

[1:56:58] incorporated as a nonprofit called

[1:57:00] Brookline Community Cable Trust. During

[1:57:02] this period, as the advent of cable

[1:57:03] television began, the federal government

[1:57:06] mandated through the cable

[1:57:07] communications act of 1984, that cable

[1:57:10] companies must have franchise agreements

[1:57:12] with municipalities in order to use the

[1:57:14] public right of way to run cable.

[1:57:16] Section 622 of the act states that

[1:57:18] municipalities are entitled to 5% of

[1:57:20] gross revenues derived from the

[1:57:22] operation of the cable system aka the

[1:57:24] cable subscription fee for the provision

[1:57:26] of community cable services such as

[1:57:29] public educational and government access

[1:57:31] TV channels and media education. This

[1:57:34] act also provides for an annual capital

[1:57:36] investment in the cable operation of the

[1:57:37] town community media center. The town of

[1:57:39] Brooklyn has for many years passed

[1:57:42] through just 2% of that 5% to support

[1:57:44] bigs operations. Because the act dates

[1:57:46] back to 1984, it did not include revenue

[1:57:49] from streaming services or internet

[1:57:51] service only cable TV subscriptions.

[1:57:54] Because of this, gross revenues and sub

[1:57:56] subsequently the pass through have been

[1:57:58] in decline. Cord cutting is a term used

[1:58:01] by cable companies, but it's a misnomer

[1:58:03] because it's actually the same cord that

[1:58:05] brings internet and streaming services

[1:58:06] into homes, and that cord still uses the

[1:58:08] public right of way.

[1:58:10] RCN has a much smaller share of cable

[1:58:13] subscribers in Brooklyn. However, they

[1:58:14] still support two cable channels in

[1:58:16] Brooklyn local programming. These

[1:58:18] channels run seven days a week, 24 hours

[1:58:20] a day, bringing Brookline residents

[1:58:21] local information and community created

[1:58:23] programming. They are very responsive

[1:58:25] partners in those channels and have a

[1:58:27] significant enough market in Brooklyn

[1:58:29] that many of our members and viewers are

[1:58:30] RCN customers. As with Comcast, they pay

[1:58:34] a quarterly franchise fee based on a

[1:58:36] snapshot of cable subscriptions. As an

[1:58:38] example, Big's latest payment from RCN

[1:58:41] was $9,26.87,

[1:58:44] which covers the second quarter of 2026.

[1:58:46] This fee has been getting smaller due to

[1:58:48] the decline in cable subscriptions. To

[1:58:50] illustrate this, the payment in August

[1:58:52] 2025 was $10,6768.

[1:58:56] This represents a decrease of over 15%.

[1:58:59] As BIG continues to work towards a more

[1:59:01] diverse revenue mix, we value the

[1:59:03] existence of RCN in the Brooklyn

[1:59:04] community, not just because they're good

[1:59:06] technical stewards. They're very

[1:59:08] vigilant at keeping our cable channels

[1:59:10] up and running, but because at this

[1:59:12] stage for us, every penny counts. We

[1:59:14] fear the loss of RCN would mean a loss

[1:59:17] of all those cable customers as folks

[1:59:19] would choose to forgo cable rather than

[1:59:21] go to Comcast. We also know what a

[1:59:23] monopoly can create a very different

[1:59:25] dynamic and in this case we feel a

[1:59:27] little competition is healthy for

[1:59:29] everyone. Thank you.

[1:59:33] >> Thank you. And our next speaker

[1:59:35] >> we have online Kathy Sman.

[1:59:38] >> All right. Go ahead whenever you're

[1:59:39] ready.

[1:59:45] One second to promote her.

[2:00:00] » Hi, thank you for taking my comments.

[2:00:03] Um,

[2:00:04] my name is Kathy Seidman. I'm a town

[2:00:06] meeting member in precinct 2. I serve on

[2:00:08] the Brooklyn Commission for the Arts and

[2:00:10] a board member of Brooklyn for Everyone.

[2:00:13] I'm also an RCN customer, but tonight I

[2:00:15] speak only for myself. I want to be sure

[2:00:19] everyone in Brooklyn recognizes the

[2:00:21] incredible value BIG provides our

[2:00:23] community. BIG supports teaching

[2:00:25] valuable broadcast and journalism skills

[2:00:27] to our high school students. BIG

[2:00:29] archives all the recordings of town

[2:00:31] boards and commissions that many of us

[2:00:33] used to find out what happened in one

[2:00:36] committee when we attended another. BIG

[2:00:38] is available to record town events and

[2:00:41] ceremonies. There are live broadcasting

[2:00:44] this meeting as we speak and they make

[2:00:47] town meeting accessible by providing a

[2:00:49] live broadcast as well as the technical

[2:00:51] support for a hybrid town meeting

[2:00:53] format. Besides all of that, they

[2:00:56] provide those services at a cost far

[2:00:58] below commercial production rates. But

[2:01:01] most importantly, without big,

[2:01:03] Brookline's complicated and fairly

[2:01:04] opaque governance structure would be

[2:01:07] much harder for those who work full-time

[2:01:09] or have small children or simply can't

[2:01:11] attend all the various boards and

[2:01:13] commission meetings we have every week.

[2:01:16] To get a sense of how much value BIG

[2:01:18] provides Brookline's town meeting

[2:01:19] specifically, I suggest you watch the

[2:01:22] video I put in my submitted comments.

[2:01:24] It's under four minutes. It's a video

[2:01:26] created by big interns about all the

[2:01:29] effort required to produce town meeting.

[2:01:32] I urge you to do whatever it takes to be

[2:01:34] to make sure BIG has continued funding

[2:01:37] to do the work we expect it to perform.

[2:01:40] Thank you.

[2:01:43] >> Thank you. Would anyone in the room like

[2:01:46] to be heard for the cable ascertainment

[2:01:48] hearing?

[2:01:51] Seeing none, anyone online?

[2:01:53] >> Jonathan Golden has his hand raised.

[2:01:55] >> All right, go right ahead, Jonathan.

[2:02:07] » Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank

[2:02:09] you for the opportunity to speak at this

[2:02:10] hearing. Jonathan Golden, town meeting

[2:02:12] member, precinct 17. I largely come

[2:02:15] online to echo what Jessica and Katha

[2:02:17] have just shared. Big I see is

[2:02:20] indispensable to our community and to

[2:02:22] our democracy, the way which it brings

[2:02:24] transparency and accessibility to our

[2:02:26] form of government. I the privilege to

[2:02:28] be a board member of BIG in the past and

[2:02:31] know well all the financial challenges

[2:02:33] that Jessica described. I'm glad to hear

[2:02:35] that she mentioned examples of

[2:02:37] partnership with RCN. It's good that is happening as well. And it's that

[2:02:41] spirit of cooperation is why I feel

[2:02:42] compelled to speak to see how can we

[2:02:45] work together to to help big meet the

[2:02:48] structural challenges that have been

[2:02:49] ongoing now for many years given the

[2:02:51] dynamics described about the cable

[2:02:53] industry. There must be ways that we can

[2:02:55] work together to help and support uh big

[2:02:59] so they can continue to support our

[2:03:01] community with the wonderful broadcast

[2:03:02] and community work that it does. So I'll

[2:03:05] leave your remarks there. Thank you for

[2:03:06] your consideration and your time.

[2:03:09] Thank you. Anyone else?

[2:03:14] » No one.

[2:03:15] >> Seeing none, I will close the public

[2:03:18] hearing.

[2:03:20] >> What will be our next steps on this?

[2:03:22] >> Charlie, you want to talk a little bit

[2:03:23] about the next steps here?

[2:03:26] >> Absolutely. So, thank you to the board

[2:03:28] for holding this public hearing. Thank

[2:03:30] you to our speakers who came out to talk

[2:03:32] about the town's cable needs. Um, we are

[2:03:35] starting our renewal process for our RCN

[2:03:39] cable license or rather for RCN's cable

[2:03:42] license, which expires in April 2028.

[2:03:44] So, we're a little ahead of the game.

[2:03:46] Um, and we're doing this with we're

[2:03:48] starting with the ascertainment hearing

[2:03:50] because it's legally required, but also

[2:03:51] because it helps inform those

[2:03:53] negotiations. Um, and so town staff will

[2:03:57] be looking to meet with RCN, with our representative, David von Mortz, who

[2:04:01] couldn't be here tonight. We're going to

[2:04:02] provide the recording of this hearing

[2:04:04] and tell them uh all the great comments

[2:04:06] we heard about Brookline Interactive and

[2:04:08] how important it is that the license

[2:04:09] continue to support them. Um and at some

[2:04:12] point we'll be back uh for another

[2:04:15] hearing and uh to look at hopefully a uh

[2:04:19] a license uh a renewal license uh for

[2:04:22] the board to consider. That's the that

[2:04:23] is the end goal.

[2:04:26] >> All right. Thank you. So with that we

[2:04:28] >> Thank you. So with that, we will now

[2:04:30] move to our next agenda item, warrant

[2:04:32] articles, public hearings. Uh we are not

[2:04:36] going to be addressing article 7

[2:04:38] tonight. We will pick that up at a

[2:04:40] subsequent select board meeting. So that

[2:04:43] will bring us to article 8, prohibit

[2:04:46] public meetings on election day.

[2:04:47] Bernard, you have a question.

[2:04:48] >> Yeah, I understand that also article 17

[2:04:52] will not be taken up.

[2:04:54] >> That's correct. Article 17 and 18 will

[2:04:56] not be taken up today either. uh for

[2:04:59] various reasons including that the

[2:05:00] petitioners are not available.

[2:05:04] >> Go ahead, Janice.

[2:05:08] » Thank you very much um to the select

[2:05:12] board for holding this public hearing. I

[2:05:14] am Janice Khan, town member from

[2:05:16] precinct 15 and a member of the advisory

[2:05:19] committee. I'm also a former president

[2:05:21] of the League of Women Voters of

[2:05:22] Brooklyn.

[2:05:24] Warrant article 8 very simply codifies

[2:05:26] in our general bylaws that boards,

[2:05:29] commissions, and committees subject to

[2:05:31] the public the open meeting law are

[2:05:33] prohibited from holding meetings on

[2:05:35] federal, state, and local election days.

[2:05:38] There are two exceptions, one for

[2:05:40] emergencies and a second for bodies that

[2:05:43] need to meet um for the administration

[2:05:46] of elections.

[2:05:48] So why this article and why now? Four

[2:05:51] weeks ago, Ben Kaufman, Brooklyn's

[2:05:54] elected town clerk, came before this

[2:05:56] board during the public comment period

[2:05:58] to speak on behalf of the voters of

[2:06:00] Brooklyn to object to the select board's

[2:06:03] decision to hold their regular public

[2:06:05] meeting on September 1st, the day of the

[2:06:08] Massachusetts primary election and

[2:06:10] during hours when the polls were still

[2:06:12] open. The select board after some

[2:06:14] consideration and additional push back

[2:06:16] from members of the community were able

[2:06:19] to move their meeting eliminating the

[2:06:21] conflict. So much gratitude for that.

[2:06:24] But it raised a concern that in the five

[2:06:26] decades that I have called Brookline my

[2:06:29] home, it's something I never even

[2:06:32] considered was an issue. We all continue

[2:06:35] to watch with increasing concern norms

[2:06:38] being broken at the federal level,

[2:06:41] particularly those threatening our

[2:06:42] national elections. In this moment, it

[2:06:46] is with some urgency that I feel we need

[2:06:49] to pass legislation to codify

[2:06:52] Brookline's norm of not holding public

[2:06:54] meetings on election days and to affirm

[2:06:57] Brookline's commitment to support the

[2:06:59] rights of voters and others who wish to

[2:07:01] engage in the electoral process. So I

[2:07:03] thank you for hearing this article.

[2:07:07] >> All right. So let us let's open the

[2:07:10] public hearing for article 8. Would any

[2:07:14] members of the public like to speak on

[2:07:16] warrant article 8.

[2:07:18] Again if you're online you can use the

[2:07:20] hand raise feature.

[2:07:27] » All right seeing none we will close the

[2:07:29] public hearing on warrant article 8.

[2:07:31] Now, how about discussion amongst

[2:07:32] ourselves here? Any select board members

[2:07:34] have thoughts?

[2:07:36] Bernard?

[2:07:37] >> Um,

[2:07:39] I I I would urge voting no action on

[2:07:41] this. I

[2:07:43] no one actually was inconvenienced.

[2:07:46] The few people who attend our meeting um

[2:07:50] for unlikely inconvenience. Um it was a

[2:07:55] period between 5:30 or actually 6:30

[2:07:58] since we had a executive session and 8

[2:08:00] talk when there was an overlap of of the

[2:08:04] voting and um our meeting.

[2:08:08] I mean, I I'm a little concerned about

[2:08:10] some of the language that, you know,

[2:08:13] we're being associated or or compared to

[2:08:15] the breaking of norms at the federal

[2:08:18] level. I mean, that's just not what's

[2:08:20] going on here. Um, so I'm I'm just

[2:08:23] uncomfortable with the with the sort of

[2:08:25] tone of of of this warrant article uh

[2:08:28] given that u the the actual injury was

[2:08:32] very minor if if at all.

[2:08:37] Michael.

[2:08:37] >> Um I would act

[2:08:41] I'm a little bit torn um because on the

[2:08:44] one hand I actually um agree with the

[2:08:48] petitioner in some cases that the

[2:08:49] codification of norms actually helps our

[2:08:52] governance move forward. Um and I'm I I

[2:08:57] would hesitate to decide a priority

[2:09:01] which norms should be codified and which

[2:09:03] ones shouldn't um as they get

[2:09:05] identified. Um I think it is it is a

[2:09:08] reasonable question to ask as to whether

[2:09:10] or not they should be they should be

[2:09:13] codified through legislation or policy

[2:09:16] or or um practice. Um

[2:09:22] that said, um I'm also curious um

[2:09:26] whether or not uh the petitioner has

[2:09:30] identified uh is this she said that um

[2:09:34] this has not been a concern over 50

[2:09:37] years. Um I'm wondering has this ever

[2:09:40] been a concern is she aware of in other

[2:09:43] Massachusetts uh municipalities? Um, is

[2:09:47] this a one is this a one-off response to

[2:09:51] a particular

[2:09:52] uh scheduling event that occurred

[2:09:55] roughly four weeks ago? Um, or is there any sort of broader context in

[2:10:01] which this is this is substantial?

[2:10:07] » I'd like to respond. So, um, so I would

[2:10:11] say that, um, with many years of

[2:10:13] experience writing and voting on bylaws,

[2:10:17] general and zoning bylaws, it's my

[2:10:19] experience that we do this in relation

[2:10:22] to something that has happened. You

[2:10:24] know, we are not preient, right? There's

[2:10:26] an issue that arises that we maybe never

[2:10:29] thought of. We create bylaws, general

[2:10:32] bylaws, and we create zoning bylaws in

[2:10:34] order to make our our government, I

[2:10:38] think, more sensitive and more um

[2:10:41] responsive to our local culture, um

[2:10:46] things that are important to Brookline.

[2:10:48] And I would say that um this is not

[2:10:51] really a condemnation of this board and

[2:10:54] this decision. It's really that it it

[2:10:57] raised an issue that I hadn't thought

[2:10:59] about that maybe it's a good idea for us

[2:11:02] as a very forwardthinking community to

[2:11:04] take this action and um whether other

[2:11:07] communities do it that is related to

[2:11:10] their own priorities, their own thoughts

[2:11:13] about their their communities. But I

[2:11:16] think for Brooklyn, this is one where we

[2:11:18] have an enormous amount of of public

[2:11:21] participation in our government, whether

[2:11:23] it's volunteering for boards or um or

[2:11:26] running for office. I mean, this is a

[2:11:29] very active community. And I think that passing this legislation would just

[2:11:34] honor the community that we have. And um

[2:11:38] so I this is not meant to be a personal

[2:11:40] attack. It's just the way our laws

[2:11:43] emerge in Brooklyn. It tends to be

[2:11:45] something happens and then we have a

[2:11:47] response and we take action.

[2:11:52] » Maybe something just to add to that is

[2:11:54] that the secretary of state has said

[2:11:55] that there are some some bodies that are

[2:11:58] not allowed to meet on election day by

[2:12:00] law. Um and those are um uh public

[2:12:03] hearings for held under zoning acts. Um

[2:12:06] so boards of appeal, zoning board of

[2:12:08] appeals, planning boards, etc.

[2:12:10] >> Those may not be held on election day.

[2:12:12] And then there's a state there's some

[2:12:14] state bodies that can't meet on election

[2:12:15] day, too. Um, the Secretary of State's

[2:12:18] office recommends that communities not

[2:12:20] hold meetings on election day. Um, but

[2:12:22] there's no state order. And I know some

[2:12:24] communities have codified that into

[2:12:27] official law and some communities have

[2:12:28] not. But in general, it is good practice

[2:12:31] in the absence of, you know, a pressing

[2:12:33] need. And in this case, I know you, you

[2:12:36] know, this is this is something that

[2:12:37] just comes up. But you know I think in

[2:12:38] this instance

[2:12:39] >> there was this question of what norms do we

[2:12:44] >> when there's a conflict between norms

[2:12:45] what do we follow um and so I think it's

[2:12:47] a good opportunity to have this

[2:12:49] conversation because one of the norms

[2:12:50] that you follow is the select board

[2:12:52] meets on Tuesdays Tuesday nights it's a

[2:12:54] presumption of regularity people come to

[2:12:56] expect it when we moved this meeting to

[2:12:59] Monday Bernard pointed out you don't

[2:13:01] often have a vast audience you know

[2:13:04] concurrently a lot of people watch the

[2:13:05] meetings more people watch the meetings

[2:13:06] after the act. Um but it's not always

[2:13:09] easy to see, you know, who's watching,

[2:13:10] you know, concurrently on um big

[2:13:13] streaming, for example, either on cable

[2:13:14] or over um YouTube. Um so the total

[2:13:18] number of people we think watch these

[2:13:20] meetings can vary, but we do know that

[2:13:22] it dipped pretty significantly when we

[2:13:24] held that meeting on Monday. Um and uh

[2:13:27] again, not to cast dispersions, but none

[2:13:29] of the people that I saw raise

[2:13:30] complaints about it came to that

[2:13:32] meeting. Um, so it wasn't a matter of,

[2:13:35] you know, it it it it was I I understand

[2:13:38] what the norm is and I I want to be

[2:13:40] clear that I value that norm. I don't

[2:13:42] think we should ordinarily be meeting on

[2:13:44] election days. But I also wonder whether

[2:13:48] it is necessary to prohibit the meeting

[2:13:50] on election days. And I think one of the

[2:13:51] things that the petition does, the

[2:13:53] Warren article does that is wise is it

[2:13:55] exempts, you know, true, you know,

[2:13:57] emergencies under the open meeting uh

[2:13:59] law, which I think is smart. Um and

[2:14:01] maybe that's maybe that's sufficient for

[2:14:03] your purposes in terms of balancing. Um

[2:14:05] but yeah, I think that question is how

[2:14:08] do you how do you deal with those

[2:14:09] competing norms which is there is an

[2:14:10] expectation among the people who come to

[2:14:12] this board regularly that it be held on

[2:14:14] Tuesday nights. Um and when it deviates

[2:14:17] from that there is a dip in attendance

[2:14:19] versus the concern that you want to give

[2:14:22] people the opportunity to vote. So it's

[2:14:24] just a balance it's a balancing

[2:14:25] question. Amanda,

[2:14:27] >> I just wanted to ask uh and I don't know

[2:14:30] if anyone knows this, but uh I know this

[2:14:33] is the the first meeting that the

[2:14:36] petitioner is aware of, but that doesn't

[2:14:38] necessarily mean that there haven't been

[2:14:40] election day meetings in our past. Um

[2:14:43] >> I'm aware of at least two that have

[2:14:44] happened on election days prior to that

[2:14:46] scheduled meeting. um of both cases. I

[2:14:49] believe it was on um um I'll get I'll

[2:14:53] get the exact dates, but yes, we have we went to the archives and we found at

[2:14:57] least two in recent memory um that were

[2:14:59] held um

[2:15:02] uh on an election day. And I know that

[2:15:04] other boards and committees do tend to

[2:15:06] hold their meetings on, you know, not

[2:15:09] all of them, but boards and committees

[2:15:10] that meet during the day on Tuesdays

[2:15:12] will sometimes still hold their meetings

[2:15:14] on an election day. So, it's not just

[2:15:15] the select board that uses that. There

[2:15:17] are other boards of committees that do

[2:15:19] so. It's just not as not as many. Um, in

[2:15:21] general, I think people try and honor

[2:15:23] that request that we try not to meet on

[2:15:25] election day when we can avoid it.

[2:15:28] >> Was uh was there a reason for those uh

[2:15:31] select board meetings to be held on that

[2:15:34] day, for example, emergency or

[2:15:36] >> there was no emergency there was no

[2:15:37] formal declaration of the need for an

[2:15:39] emergency meeting. We can pull the

[2:15:40] agendas and figure out why. Um, but in

[2:15:43] those both of those instances, they

[2:15:45] passed without incident. No one no one

[2:15:47] raised I looked at the minutes, no one

[2:15:48] raised an objection.

[2:15:51] >> Well, I agree with uh Bernard. I'm with

[2:15:54] respect to a little bit of skepticism as

[2:15:57] to how many people are genuinely

[2:15:59] impacted in terms of an hour and a half

[2:16:02] overlap. Nevertheless, uh it can

[2:16:05] inconvenience some people. And

[2:16:06] specifically, there was an email I

[2:16:08] received from town meeting member Cat

[2:16:10] Anderson about pole workers. And pole

[2:16:14] workers more often than not tend to be

[2:16:16] very engaged in local government. Uh I

[2:16:20] know four personally who are definitely

[2:16:22] very engaged. And for those four at

[2:16:24] least, and there probably more, if

[2:16:26] they're assigned to work the polls from

[2:16:29] open to close, then they are forced to

[2:16:32] make a decision. do we participate in

[2:16:35] the uh municipal government meeting or

[2:16:38] do we work the polls? And so for that

[2:16:40] for for that it's a small group but it

[2:16:42] is a group. We're inconveniencing them

[2:16:44] at a minimum and beyond that we know

[2:16:48] years in advance in some instances

[2:16:50] depending on the election what election

[2:16:51] day will be and so it shouldn't be too

[2:16:54] difficult for us to work around that

[2:16:56] when we are scheduling our meetings and

[2:16:59] when other bodies are scheduling their

[2:17:01] meetings. So from a policy perspective,

[2:17:05] uh I think that this Warren article is

[2:17:07] reasonable. There's plenty of time to

[2:17:10] plan around it and that way we're not

[2:17:12] inconveniencing anyone. One slight worry

[2:17:15] I have is I would like to see election

[2:17:18] day defined a little more clearly. I'm

[2:17:21] pretty sure I know what you mean. You're

[2:17:22] referring to the main day that people go

[2:17:24] and vote, but in this era of early

[2:17:26] voting, there are actually multiple

[2:17:28] election days now. And that could become

[2:17:30] a little bit problematic because we

[2:17:32] don't know if in the future there will

[2:17:33] actually be eight election days per

[2:17:36] cycle and that could be trickier if we

[2:17:38] can't meet on any election day including

[2:17:40] early voting days. So if that could be

[2:17:43] clarified I think that would be helpful.

[2:17:45] >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um

[2:17:48] >> Bernard um yeah we we can plan our

[2:17:53] meetings far in advance to avoid any

[2:17:56] problem because At

[2:17:58] least since I've been when I was chair,

[2:18:01] we started meeting not every uh Tuesday

[2:18:04] but uh uh three or or mostly three

[2:18:08] Tuesdays per month. So we can plan

[2:18:10] ahead. My my concern is just the idea

[2:18:13] that you know as was said this is voter

[2:18:17] suppression that you know it's violating

[2:18:19] some norms like at the federal level. I just hope we we're not,

[2:18:26] you know, using this as sort of a cudel

[2:18:28] against the select board in some way.

[2:18:30] But yes, we can plan around it around

[2:18:33] it. And I don't think there's a need for

[2:18:35] a warrant article to do that. Just, you

[2:18:37] know, an appreciation by the select

[2:18:38] board that uh we plan around election

[2:18:42] days as we see them coming up.

[2:18:46] That's my opinion. Amanda,

[2:18:48] >> I just wanted to add one point to the

[2:18:51] competing disenfranchisement argument I

[2:18:54] guess that Chaz was making. Um, and that

[2:18:57] if we do move our our meetings, I

[2:18:59] actually ran into the problem when we

[2:19:02] had our Monday meeting before election

[2:19:03] day that a poll worker reached out while

[2:19:05] I was in the select board meeting and I

[2:19:06] didn't get to it until too late to

[2:19:08] address his concern where he was trying

[2:19:10] to figure out how he was going to access

[2:19:12] the polls in the morning. um and he had

[2:19:16] no concept that we would be meeting on a

[2:19:19] Monday night. Um and so I do think there

[2:19:22] is always an unintended

[2:19:27] consequence. Um and I am a little bit

[2:19:30] concerned. I I'm kind of splitting the

[2:19:33] case. I I do think that as a general

[2:19:35] policy, we should not meet on election

[2:19:37] days. Um and our our boards and

[2:19:39] commissions, except for emergencies,

[2:19:41] probably should not either.

[2:19:44] Um, but I I do think it's a much more

[2:19:48] complicated answer and I kind of wish

[2:19:51] that this current Warren article maybe

[2:19:54] turned down a few of the whereas clauses

[2:19:57] um to make it more clear that this was

[2:19:59] trying to codify a a norm to make

[2:20:03] clearer expectations and less of a

[2:20:06] fingerpointing exercise for lack of a

[2:20:08] better term.

[2:20:12] Um, so the may I respond? So the law

[2:20:16] itself is really simple and doesn't have

[2:20:18] any of the nuances that that people have

[2:20:20] been raising concerns about. That's in

[2:20:22] the explanation. The law is really quite simple that no meeting of

[2:20:27] any board, committee or commission in

[2:20:29] the town subject to the open meeting law

[2:20:30] shall be held on any day in which a

[2:20:32] state or municipal election or primary

[2:20:35] is held. And I I take the chair's

[2:20:38] clarification point. um

[2:20:41] in in mine and then it se the other

[2:20:44] section just has the exemptions. So

[2:20:46] there's no there's no um nuanced

[2:20:51] about that. You know, there's no um you

[2:20:54] know, I think it's the formal election

[2:20:56] day when people actually go to the polls

[2:20:58] is what this is is talking about. And I

[2:21:01] think that's pretty clear,

[2:21:04] >> Bernard. And that includes special

[2:21:06] elections. for example, if we were to

[2:21:07] have a override election in July.

[2:21:12] >> True.

[2:21:13] >> Okay.

[2:21:14] >> We want people to participate freely in the process. Yeah. So, as I was

[2:21:19] suggesting before, I would be a bit more

[2:21:21] comfortable if this clearly spelled out

[2:21:24] that we're not referring to early voting

[2:21:26] because early voting

[2:21:28] can be over multiple days and that

[2:21:30] really could create a logistical crunch

[2:21:33] for any board if suddenly early voting

[2:21:36] counts as an election day. So, I'd

[2:21:38] rather not have any ambiguity.

[2:21:40] >> I will I will have a conversation with

[2:21:42] the town clerk and and work on

[2:21:46] clarifying that. Thank you. Thank you.

[2:21:50] All right. So, uh with that we will move

[2:21:53] to our next agenda item

[2:21:56] which is the memorandum of agreement

[2:21:58] with win companies.

[2:22:15] Good evening. I'm Amy Uaz. I'm the

[2:22:19] housing and community planning director

[2:22:20] in the department of planning and

[2:22:22] community development.

[2:22:24] And I'm here because at the last select

[2:22:27] board meeting on September 15th, um the

[2:22:30] board allocated up to $4 million for the

[2:22:34] project at 99 Kent Street to

[2:22:36] substantially re rehabilitate that

[2:22:38] property and extend the affordability

[2:22:40] restrictions for 99 years. The condition

[2:22:43] of that approval was approval of the MOA

[2:22:46] between wind companies and the town. Um

[2:22:49] that MOA outlines the town's support for

[2:22:54] um the extension of an air rights lease

[2:22:56] with the MBTA. It outlines the support

[2:22:59] for um the use of excess parking at the

[2:23:03] existing parking garage located between

[2:23:05] 99 Kent Street and uh Village at

[2:23:07] Brookline. And it also outlines what

[2:23:10] will happen um when the current

[2:23:13] affordability restrictions at villages

[2:23:15] at Brooklyn expire in 2024 and how wind

[2:23:18] has wind companies has agreed to

[2:23:21] actually it's a village at Brooklyn the

[2:23:24] um has agreed to um extend that those

[2:23:28] reapply for the affordability uh

[2:23:30] restrictions available through a housing

[2:23:34] um a HAP contract for the projectbased

[2:23:36] vouchers that are there and what would

[2:23:39] happen if that funding weren't

[2:23:41] available, how the town would

[2:23:43] participate kind of in a 50/50 split

[2:23:46] with extending those affordability

[2:23:47] restrictions. I have Michael Alperin

[2:23:50] with me. He's been our consultant

[2:23:52] working on this. He's with Terara Living

[2:23:54] Partners and he's been invaluable to

[2:23:56] this process. And I al also on Zoom is

[2:24:00] um Lauren Camperryi who is the senior um

[2:24:04] project director for the project at 99

[2:24:07] Kent Street. So there's no need we we're

[2:24:10] seeking approval tonight, but there's no

[2:24:12] need for the MOA to be signed tonight.

[2:24:15] Um but approval of the MOA will allow us

[2:24:18] to through a letter probably from um the

[2:24:20] town administrator to fully support Wind

[2:24:23] company's application for funding for

[2:24:26] from the executive office of housing

[2:24:28] livable communities.

[2:24:31] So we're happy to answer any questions

[2:24:33] you have. Um

[2:24:35] >> Michael is our expert. Michael,

[2:24:38] >> I'm just wondering, we did discuss this

[2:24:42] last week um and sort of went through it

[2:24:44] extensively and don't necessarily feel

[2:24:46] the need to to rehash that. I'm just

[2:24:48] wondering between then and now, has

[2:24:50] there been any either substantive change

[2:24:52] to the MOA um or other consideration

[2:24:56] that we should be made aware of

[2:24:58] following that conversation?

[2:25:00] Um, I think there there was a minor

[2:25:02] change. Um, nothing nothing significant,

[2:25:05] >> but we did want to reach agreement

[2:25:06] between their legal counsel and ours

[2:25:08] before we brought it back to you.

[2:25:10] >> But I I thought that there were some not

[2:25:14] major changes, but some changes that

[2:25:16] needed to be made in order to make the

[2:25:18] MOA uh complete. And you're saying that

[2:25:22] those are just minor? I believe those

[2:25:24] happened right before the last select

[2:25:27] board meeting, but I'd have to go back

[2:25:28] and look at the there have been many um

[2:25:31] iterations of this. You may be correct.

[2:25:33] I'd have to look at the timing because

[2:25:35] there were some significant changes

[2:25:37] right around the time of the select

[2:25:39] board's last meeting.

[2:25:40] >> Um but then after those you reviewed it

[2:25:42] that at that time and we came to

[2:25:44] resolution on those and then there were

[2:25:45] just some a couple minor changes after

[2:25:47] that point.

[2:25:50] >> Sure. Go right ahead.

[2:25:52] >> Thank you. Thank you.

[2:25:53] >> Welcome back.

[2:25:54] >> Thank you, Bernard. Sorry. Sorry. Um

[2:25:56] again, last week for trying to do this

[2:25:58] via Amtrak train for during the day

[2:26:00] meeting time. Um so just to reiterate

[2:26:03] what Amy just

[2:26:04] >> I'm sorry. Could you I

[2:26:06] >> I'm Michael Alrren. I am a consultant in

[2:26:08] this capacity for Terara Living Partners

[2:26:11] engaged by the town of Brooklyn. Um and

[2:26:15] used to be the executive director of the

[2:26:16] housing authority in Brooklyn and town

[2:26:18] meeting member and many boards

[2:26:20] throughout town. Um so um

[2:26:25] when and the town agreed on all the

[2:26:28] terms that town council proposed and

[2:26:31] that Amy and I proposed as well. There

[2:26:33] was a minor change since what was uh

[2:26:36] agreed to the day of your meeting last

[2:26:39] week, which was that the metropolitan

[2:26:42] fair area market rent was changed to

[2:26:44] small area fair market rent, which is

[2:26:46] how the Brooklyn Housing Authority

[2:26:48] currently calculates its voucher payment

[2:26:50] standard. So that's the minor change and

[2:26:53] I think you are absolutely right,

[2:26:54] Bernard. There were substantive changes

[2:26:56] that were asked for on behalf of the

[2:26:58] town and town council. All of those were

[2:27:00] accepted by Wyn and the owner.

[2:27:05] Amanda,

[2:27:05] >> I'm wondering if um just for the

[2:27:08] purposes of folks who might not turn

[2:27:10] have tuned in to our last meeting, if

[2:27:12] someone could give a highle summary of

[2:27:14] what the MOA protections are for the

[2:27:17] village.

[2:27:23] » Um and War and Lauren can jump into if

[2:27:25] there's any clarification the owner

[2:27:27] wants to provide or developer. Um, any

[2:27:30] tenants in good standing who are income

[2:27:33] qualified at the village, who live in a

[2:27:35] unit that is expiring use, which means

[2:27:39] is subject to the 40T notice the town

[2:27:42] received, um, will be held to rent

[2:27:45] increases no more than 10% over the

[2:27:48] coming years. Um, uh, or CPI plus three.

[2:27:52] Um, and that is consistent with 40T and

[2:27:56] above and beyond what's required by the

[2:27:57] state statute. Um, most of the tenants

[2:28:00] who are in good standing and income

[2:28:02] qualified today also have a voucher. So,

[2:28:05] they will be protected from any rent

[2:28:07] increases that impact the tenants

[2:28:09] themselves. There are two households

[2:28:12] we've identified that are subject to

[2:28:14] that agreement and in good standing and

[2:28:16] qualified uh on an income basis. There's

[2:28:20] then further protections if households

[2:28:22] do income qualify that have not income

[2:28:26] qualify to date and are in good

[2:28:27] standing. Um and then there are

[2:28:30] provisions about

[2:28:33] the HAP units in 2044 that protect um 39

[2:28:37] of the tenants that live at the property

[2:28:39] today to have affordable rents at or

[2:28:42] below 50% of area median income. the

[2:28:45] owner will reapply for that HAP contract

[2:28:47] to the housing authority on

[2:28:49] substantially similar terms um no less

[2:28:52] than 80 87% of the same economics um

[2:28:56] that are in place today um on a

[2:28:59] timeadjusted basis based on HUD's

[2:29:01] published um rent schedules that's very

[2:29:03] technical and sorry for saying that in a

[2:29:05] bunch of jargon but basically tenants

[2:29:07] will be insured if that HAP contract is

[2:29:10] renewed their rent does not rise the

[2:29:12] owner continues to receive revenues And

[2:29:14] then as Amy described, if the owner is

[2:29:17] unable to receive a HAP contract through

[2:29:19] the Brooklyn Housing Authority on

[2:29:21] similar economic terms, there's an

[2:29:24] agreement between the owner and the town

[2:29:26] to attempt to preserve affordability on

[2:29:28] an ongoing basis in a 5050 share of the

[2:29:32] costs of doing so relative to what the

[2:29:34] rents are in other market units at the

[2:29:37] property at that time.

[2:29:39] >> Thank you.

[2:29:40] >> No problem. Anyone else?

[2:29:44] All right. With Oh, go ahead.

[2:29:48] >> Somebody else.

[2:29:48] >> Oh, that's fine. I was just gonna agree

[2:29:50] with agree with Michael and say that

[2:29:52] we're also, you know, committing to to

[2:29:55] renovating um units that have reached

[2:29:59] their end of their useful life as part

[2:30:00] of the agreement as well.

[2:30:02] >> All right. Thank you. So with that, I

[2:30:05] will move approval of a memorandum of

[2:30:07] agreement with wind companies related to

[2:30:09] existing incomequalified tenants at 77

[2:30:12] Village Way, support for Wind Company's

[2:30:14] efforts in extending their air rights

[2:30:16] lease with the MBTA for 99 years, and

[2:30:18] support for the ability to rent excess

[2:30:20] parking spaces in the existing parking

[2:30:23] garage. Bernard,

[2:30:24] >> yes.

[2:30:24] >> Michael,

[2:30:25] >> yes.

[2:30:26] >> Amanda,

[2:30:26] >> yes.

[2:30:27] >> And I also vote yes.

[2:30:30] >> All right. Thank you very much.

[2:30:32] >> Thank you.

[2:30:33] Amy. Thank you, Michael.

[2:30:34] Thank you to Lauren and the wind team,

[2:30:36] uh, and to the whole planning team and,

[2:30:38] um, town council's office. Um, we look

[2:30:40] forward to sending that letter.

[2:30:43] >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

[2:30:44] Everyone, have a good night.

[2:30:46] >> So, with that, we will move to our next

[2:30:48] agenda item, which is update and

[2:30:50] possible vote on revised boards and

[2:30:53] committees handbook.

[2:30:54] >> Yes. Thank you, and I apologize to the

[2:30:56] board. We were working on this up until

[2:30:57] the 11th hour, so I don't think it's

[2:30:59] wise to take a vote until you've had the

[2:31:00] opportunity to review the most recent

[2:31:02] red line. Um but I did want to flag that

[2:31:04] it is in the packet. Um it and the most

[2:31:07] substantive change based on the

[2:31:09] conversation that we had last week was

[2:31:11] to the um code of conduct section. Um

[2:31:14] that section as Michael suggested now

[2:31:15] doesn't have that box around it. So it's

[2:31:17] it makes clear that it applies solely to

[2:31:19] boards and committees appointed by the

[2:31:20] select board. Um and it changes the

[2:31:22] format. Um previously I just think

[2:31:24] because it's been revised so many times

[2:31:26] over the over the revisions and as many

[2:31:28] hands have touched it, it just kind of

[2:31:29] developed a sort of life of its own

[2:31:31] where bullets said the same thing in

[2:31:33] different ways and so forth. And so we

[2:31:35] consolidated it so that it tries to be

[2:31:37] very clear and concise about the here's,

[2:31:39] you know, here's what a board and

[2:31:41] committee member does. They're they are,

[2:31:43] you know, almost to a person volunteers.

[2:31:46] They need their time and expertise

[2:31:47] should be respected. Here's what is

[2:31:49] expected of them. Here's what they what

[2:31:52] they should be doing. Here's what they

[2:31:53] should not be doing. And then at the

[2:31:55] end, there's language um that I think

[2:31:57] resolves the issues that you were

[2:31:58] discussing regarding what happens after

[2:32:00] a vote is taken. um whether or not an

[2:32:03] individual, you know, how an individual

[2:32:05] can continue to express disagreement

[2:32:06] with the with the position if they are

[2:32:09] on the losing side without actively

[2:32:11] sabotaging the implementation of that

[2:32:13] decision from a public policy

[2:32:15] perspective. So, um using your language,

[2:32:17] David, I think we kind of thread that

[2:32:20] needle. The other big substantive change

[2:32:22] that's in there as opposed to stylistic

[2:32:24] is the one we talked about about

[2:32:26] boarding committee members doing uh

[2:32:27] independent research, reaching out to

[2:32:29] third parties, other municipalities,

[2:32:31] contractors. And the proposed solution

[2:32:33] there is that the if a board or

[2:32:35] committee member wants to do that kind

[2:32:36] of work that they first speak to the

[2:32:38] assigned staff person and ask that

[2:32:40] person to do that outreach and only then

[2:32:43] if they don't get what they want or if

[2:32:45] they don't get a response or so be you

[2:32:46] know whatever there's at least a record

[2:32:48] that they reached out to the staff

[2:32:50] person and said hey I would like to do

[2:32:51] this can you help me or you know can I

[2:32:54] can you arrange this contact so that

[2:32:56] there is a point a connection somewhere

[2:32:58] and staff know that that contact is

[2:33:01] taking place But it doesn't prevent it

[2:33:02] from happening. It just tries to make it

[2:33:04] so that in the first instance there's a

[2:33:06] clear line of communication in terms of

[2:33:08] you know who is who is the interlocator

[2:33:11] for the town in this regard. So um

[2:33:14] preserves the ability to do it makes

[2:33:16] sure that in the instances that were

[2:33:17] concern people were concerned about

[2:33:19] where either they didn't people don't

[2:33:22] get back to them or what have you

[2:33:23] there's still the opportunity to do

[2:33:24] that. But at the very least it creates a

[2:33:27] paper trail that the board member says

[2:33:29] hey I would like to do this. Is that

[2:33:31] okay? Um, and then there's no um there's

[2:33:34] no concern that board members are are freelancing, right? You know, are purporting to represent the

[2:33:40] authority that they don't have when

[2:33:42] speaking on the town's or trying to

[2:33:43] speak on the town's behalf.

[2:33:47] » One one comment in the code of conduct

[2:33:50] section. Um,

[2:33:52] right now we have the line that says

[2:33:54] members must not hold themselves out as

[2:33:56] having authority to negotiate or enter

[2:33:58] into agreements on the town's behalf.

[2:34:00] Um, I think we were proposing something

[2:34:03] more like proactively stating that they

[2:34:06] do not have the ability. Um, so that

[2:34:09] even if they do not present themselves

[2:34:11] as having negotiating authority, it is

[2:34:14] not presumed by a third party that does

[2:34:16] not understand the inner workings of

[2:34:18] town governance. I agree with Amanda. I

[2:34:20] think part of that discussion was we

[2:34:22] discussed maybe having a mandatory uh

[2:34:25] disclosure in writing that needs to

[2:34:28] accompany any outreach that is direct so

[2:34:31] that it's very clear. I think that the

[2:34:34] current language where it's just

[2:34:36] contacting a staff member that might not

[2:34:38] be sufficient because that doesn't

[2:34:41] necessarily prevent the member from then

[2:34:43] subsequently having a conversation that

[2:34:45] could be misconstrued even if that's not

[2:34:47] the intention.

[2:34:48] >> But if there's a written disclaimer that

[2:34:51] goes along with any such communication

[2:34:52] then it's abundantly clear.

[2:34:54] >> We can make that clear. Yeah,

[2:34:56] absolutely.

[2:34:58] Um, I haven't because of the the the

[2:35:01] late hour I haven't had any opportunity

[2:35:04] to review it. So, I'm going to just

[2:35:06] reserve the right to do so,

[2:35:08] >> of course.

[2:35:08] >> Um, but I I had one sort of larger

[2:35:12] question. The town currently has, and

[2:35:15] it's accessible from the select board's

[2:35:18] uh web page, a Town of Brookline code of

[2:35:21] conduct.

[2:35:21] >> Yes. that applies both to employees and

[2:35:26] to members of public bodies. And so I

[2:35:30] just I'm wondering whether um

[2:35:35] whether this should in in any form

[2:35:39] either supersede that or

[2:35:43] uh the code of conduct should be an

[2:35:44] employee code of conduct and then the um public bodies is handled

[2:35:50] independently um or how how they sort of

[2:35:53] cross reference each other.

[2:35:55] >> It's a great question. the so the code

[2:35:57] of conduct that was initially passed by

[2:35:58] the board in December of 2022, right?

[2:36:01] >> Um was passed

[2:36:04] >> as as I understand and this is right

[2:36:06] when I first arrived in town. It was one

[2:36:08] of the earliest projects that I

[2:36:10] >> took on and I what I was realized at

[2:36:13] that time was in the board's passage of

[2:36:15] that code of conduct. It was never the

[2:36:17] board did not express a clear intent

[2:36:20] that it be a mandatory document. It was

[2:36:22] basically sort of a set of community

[2:36:24] guidelines because it was it was meant

[2:36:27] to provide guidance both to people that

[2:36:29] the board had jurisdiction over and

[2:36:31] people the board did not have

[2:36:32] jurisdiction over. So when issues

[2:36:35] started to arise about members of the

[2:36:37] what happens if a member of the public

[2:36:39] violates the code of conduct position we

[2:36:41] took with those members of the public

[2:36:43] was this is an opportunity for

[2:36:45] education. We can send you a copy of the

[2:36:47] code of conduct. Please you know we

[2:36:49] encourage everyone to follow it. When it

[2:36:50] came to employees, there was the

[2:36:53] argument that was made. Certainly, we

[2:36:54] didn't collectively bargain it, so it

[2:36:56] didn't apply to the unions. And then

[2:36:58] non-UN employees raised the issue, well,

[2:37:00] if it doesn't apply to union employees,

[2:37:01] why should it apply to us? Um, with

[2:37:04] mandatory force. And so, ultimately,

[2:37:06] that code of conduct has been viewed as

[2:37:09] um a state a statement of goals or

[2:37:12] statement of policy, but not as an

[2:37:14] enforcable code of conduct with regard

[2:37:16] to employees or members of the public.

[2:37:19] Okay. And so I do think it is worth in

[2:37:21] this instance what you are creating is

[2:37:23] an enforcable code of conduct for boards

[2:37:25] and committee members. So I think there

[2:37:27] is because you say in this um handbook

[2:37:30] failure to follow the guidance of this

[2:37:32] handbook can results in you know you

[2:37:34] being not reappointed or asked to to

[2:37:36] step down. Um, so I do think there is a

[2:37:39] difference between this document and

[2:37:41] that document and I think it's worth

[2:37:43] revisiting that code of conduct in a

[2:37:45] broader context especially since we are

[2:37:47] now going coming up on a new cycle of

[2:37:49] negotiations with our main unions.

[2:37:52] >> Um, you in your explanation said members

[2:37:56] of the public and I'm just want a

[2:37:59] clarification. Did you mean members of

[2:38:01] the general public or members of public

[2:38:04] bodies?

[2:38:05] >> All all of the above. you know, someone

[2:38:07] comes into a public building yelling and

[2:38:09] screaming, calling someone names. You

[2:38:12] know, we were, you know, we've we've had

[2:38:14] some success actually in, you know,

[2:38:15] calming people down, talking through and

[2:38:17] say, "Hey, look, on the wall on every

[2:38:19] floor of town hall is this code of

[2:38:21] conduct says you're going to treat we're

[2:38:22] going to treat you with respect. You

[2:38:24] treat us with respect. Can you please

[2:38:25] stop shouting and tell us what it is

[2:38:27] that we can how we can help you?" Um,

[2:38:29] and you know, so that we we do try and

[2:38:32] deploy that code of conduct broadly. say

[2:38:35] this is kind of the compact we're trying

[2:38:37] to make with the public. You know, we

[2:38:38] make these commitments to you, you make

[2:38:39] these commitments to us. Um, but it's

[2:38:41] not enforceable. You know, it's not

[2:38:43] something that we can discipline

[2:38:44] somebody over. Um, and it is not

[2:38:46] something that we can use in the

[2:38:49] abstract to say, you know, to a border

[2:38:50] committee member, hey, you know, I have

[2:38:52] definitely said to some boarding

[2:38:54] committee members, hey, listen, here's a

[2:38:55] copy of the code of conduct. Do you

[2:38:57] think that your behavior is following

[2:38:58] this code of conduct? Um, but I haven't

[2:39:00] I have no authority to discipline them

[2:39:02] over it.

[2:39:03] >> Right. I'm I'm just the thing I'm

[2:39:06] concerned about is is the confusion of

[2:39:08] language. If you use code of conduct in

[2:39:11] an enforceable sense within the handbook

[2:39:13] and not in an enforceable sense in the

[2:39:16] broader then then maybe we should not

[2:39:20] use the same language to mean two

[2:39:22] different things in two different cases.

[2:39:23] >> I can think of a different term for this set of enforceable guidance.

[2:39:28] >> Yes, I think that's the right choice.

[2:39:32] Anyone

[2:39:33] else?

[2:39:36] >> All right. So, it seems that

[2:39:38] >> I question in the um actually in this

[2:39:41] version that you sent around today,

[2:39:43] there's some language that is in boxes

[2:39:45] and I thought that that related to um

[2:39:49] those things that don't apply to select

[2:39:51] board appointed uh public bodies. Is

[2:39:54] there a reason why we can't take that

[2:39:56] out? And because it's very um it

[2:40:00] clutters up the the handbook.

[2:40:01] >> Let me take you let us take a look at

[2:40:03] that. You know, we we we were trying to

[2:40:05] because because the document is helpful

[2:40:08] to bodies that are not select board

[2:40:10] appointed, it can be helpful to

[2:40:11] highlight to them like, hey, here are

[2:40:12] the sections that we think might apply

[2:40:14] to your operations. Um, but if you think

[2:40:17] that's if if you as a board think that's

[2:40:19] cluttering, we're happy to, you know,

[2:40:21] dispense with that that formatting

[2:40:22] >> or or there may be a clearer way to

[2:40:25] present that

[2:40:26] >> than a than a box.

[2:40:28] >> Yeah.

[2:40:28] You might even just be able to

[2:40:29] have a cover sheet that says 3.1, 3.6,

[2:40:33] whatever it is applies to all bodies.

[2:40:36] Um, regardless of whether

[2:40:38] >> I think sometimes, as you can see, it's

[2:40:39] like, you know, even like with within

[2:40:41] the introduction, you know, there's like

[2:40:42] there are boxes, you know, paragraph by

[2:40:44] paragraph. Some of them apply, some of

[2:40:46] them don't. Um,

[2:40:47] >> I mean, you you could just highlight or in bold type say this applies to

[2:40:53] nonflight board.

[2:40:55] >> I think that makes it more easily read

[2:40:59] and less confusing.

[2:41:01] >> I agree.

[2:41:03] >> Okay,

[2:41:05] >> we will we will consult our formatting

[2:41:08] team.

[2:41:09] >> All right. Anyone else want to comment?

[2:41:14] Okay, then we will vote on this at a

[2:41:16] subsequent date as you've received some

[2:41:19] more feedback.

[2:41:19] >> Thank you.

[2:41:20] >> And thank you for all the work that's

[2:41:22] got into this. We will now move on to

[2:41:25] our final item of the evening, long

[2:41:27] range and strategic plans progress

[2:41:30] discussion of cadence for updating the

[2:41:32] board on the progress of long range and

[2:41:34] other strategic plans.

[2:41:36] >> Thank you. I will I'll take this as well

[2:41:37] and I'll share my screen with you all.

[2:41:40] Um

[2:41:41] you can see here um this is our internal

[2:41:45] tracker of board um uh uh plans.

[2:41:50] >> That any bigger?

[2:41:52] >> Can I make that any bigger? Yes. Is it

[2:41:54] going to help you? I don't know. I will

[2:41:57] do my best.

[2:41:58] >> Thank you.

[2:42:02] » Um so you can see here um the list that

[2:42:05] we are creating in terms of long range

[2:42:07] or mid-range strategic plans. We have

[2:42:09] the name of the plan, the department and

[2:42:11] division that it belongs to, a link to

[2:42:13] the plan itself, um the time horizon of

[2:42:16] the plan, when it is updated, the

[2:42:18] importance of renewing it on time, the

[2:42:20] update cadence that we are suggesting

[2:42:22] for the select board, um the method of

[2:42:25] which we would recommend um updating

[2:42:27] you, and then the contact person for

[2:42:30] when you have questions about what was

[2:42:32] going on with a particular plan or

[2:42:33] policy. I wanted to share this with you

[2:42:36] here in advance of publishing it more

[2:42:38] broadly and sharing it with both you and

[2:42:39] the public to double check one if there

[2:42:42] is additional information about these

[2:42:44] plans that you would like covered

[2:42:46] besides these um these uh uh columns you

[2:42:51] see here and um to um just have a

[2:42:55] discussion more generally about the

[2:42:57] cadence of these um presentations. One

[2:43:00] of the things that I want to avoid, you

[2:43:02] know, it's good. It's, you know, we

[2:43:03] talked a little bit earlier about

[2:43:04] codifying norms and practices and so

[2:43:06] forth. It's really great that we are

[2:43:08] moving into, you know, in on a

[2:43:10] department by department basis increased

[2:43:12] strategic planning and long range um

[2:43:15] policy um focus. Um what we don't want

[2:43:18] to do is wind up in a situation where

[2:43:20] all of our time is spent updating our

[2:43:21] plans. Um we want to be implementing the

[2:43:23] plans. So um you can see here that we

[2:43:26] have um 22 uh plan Sorry, 21 plans

[2:43:31] listed here. Uh, of which, um, some are, plans that were, for

[2:43:36] example, the strategic asset um, and

[2:43:40] major parcel study was commissioned as

[2:43:42] part of the 2018 override. Um, and there

[2:43:44] was never a proposal made to update it.

[2:43:46] Um, it's included here for sake of

[2:43:48] completeness. Um, but it is one of the

[2:43:50] odd plans out in the sense that it

[2:43:53] provides valuable guidance to us, but it

[2:43:55] doesn't actually have um, a cadence for

[2:43:58] updates to the board. Um similar and you

[2:44:01] know you can see similarly with um the

[2:44:03] 2022

[2:44:05] um uh transportation and mobility plan.

[2:44:07] There is no um language in that plan

[2:44:09] about when the next major update is. But

[2:44:12] obviously one of the things that's

[2:44:14] happened since that plan was published

[2:44:16] is that we have been updating the data

[2:44:17] in underlining under underlying it on an

[2:44:20] annual basis. And so the publication of

[2:44:23] the plan itself is a um a starting

[2:44:26] point, but then every year you will see

[2:44:29] the commissioner come in with an updated

[2:44:31] version of that um you know now

[2:44:34] ubiquitous graph about if we spend x

[2:44:35] amount of dollars the quality of the

[2:44:37] roads goes up. If we spend x amount of

[2:44:38] dollars the quality of the roads is

[2:44:39] maintained. If we spend less than x

[2:44:41] amount of dollars, the quality of the

[2:44:42] roads goes down because we update that

[2:44:44] number every year, which we were not

[2:44:46] always doing prior to the catalyst of

[2:44:50] that transportation and mobility plan.

[2:44:52] Um, so there are, you know, I we when we

[2:44:56] circulate this document, I think the

[2:44:58] feedback that would be helpful for us is this too much information? Is there too much going on here? um you

[2:45:06] know where possible we've tried to

[2:45:08] identify when updates can be

[2:45:09] consolidated or put in writing. For

[2:45:11] example, there are a number of emergency

[2:45:13] management plans on here and the EM team

[2:45:15] is happy to consolidate updates of these

[2:45:17] with other either with other plans um or

[2:45:21] um with other emergency management

[2:45:22] functions. So, it's not as though we

[2:45:24] need to be updating all 21 of the all 21

[2:45:26] of these in person with you on even on

[2:45:29] an annual basis. Um there's the

[2:45:31] opportunity for consolidation, but um we

[2:45:34] want to hear from you if there's too

[2:45:36] much in here, if there are things that

[2:45:38] you were expecting to see in here that

[2:45:39] are not in here. Um and if the

[2:45:42] overarching cadence of this is um

[2:45:44] appropriate, at which point we will

[2:45:46] start building out your annual calendar

[2:45:50] um with regular updates based on this

[2:45:54] framework. So,

[2:45:56] >> so my initial thought is that your your

[2:45:59] uh projects or sorry your reports

[2:46:02] essentially fall in a few different

[2:46:03] buckets. There are those that we need to

[2:46:06] have a formal updating of the report on

[2:46:08] some regular cadence every five to 10

[2:46:11] years for either internal purposes or or

[2:46:14] for state funding. Um there are others

[2:46:17] that I could see something like the Karp

[2:46:20] where the update is not you need to redo

[2:46:23] the whole plan. You just need to report

[2:46:25] back on the progress that has been made

[2:46:27] against said plan.

[2:46:28] >> Um and so like the the cadence and the

[2:46:31] type of feedback are different

[2:46:33] >> in that regard. Um, and then maybe the

[2:46:35] third category is what you were talking

[2:46:37] about where there's a few one-off

[2:46:40] uh reports that have been done and I

[2:46:42] think when thinking about them, we

[2:46:45] should view it in the context from which

[2:46:47] they started. Um, so if the goal was to

[2:46:52] identify major parcels that might be

[2:46:54] ripe for development, theoretically the

[2:46:56] update should come from our long-term

[2:46:59] economic development team um, in the

[2:47:02] context of whatever other updating

[2:47:04] they're they're doing on a regular

[2:47:05] basis. Um, so maybe even like thinking

[2:47:08] about them into three different

[2:47:10] categories. Um because you're right, I

[2:47:13] can very much see way too much staff

[2:47:16] time being put into words smmithing

[2:47:19] documents that no one is going to read.

[2:47:21] Um where I would rather know, especially

[2:47:25] for things that um we have talked about

[2:47:28] hitting milestones on a regular basis. I

[2:47:30] would rather just have them spend their

[2:47:33] time making progress and then saying

[2:47:36] x amount of the vision zero high

[2:47:38] priority network has vision zero

[2:47:40] improvements. That's a much more valid

[2:47:42] number to me than like rewriting the

[2:47:44] whole vision zero plan.

[2:47:46] >> And also a natural point at which many

[2:47:48] of these departments and divisions are

[2:47:50] going to deliver updates to you about

[2:47:52] this is as part of the budget process,

[2:47:54] right? you know this is when they

[2:47:55] present to advisory that's really the

[2:47:58] deep dive the digging into the the the lines and and so forth. This is you

[2:48:04] their opportunity there are updates to

[2:48:05] you on the select board are really an

[2:48:07] opportunity to talk about goals and and

[2:48:09] achievements and progress um and what

[2:48:12] their hopes are for the coming fiscal

[2:48:14] year. So as part of that they can build

[2:48:16] these longer range plans some of these

[2:48:19] longer range plans into that update. But

[2:48:21] for some of them, I do think that you

[2:48:22] are going to want standalone updates on

[2:48:25] how things are going because of the

[2:48:27] centrality of the plans to the overall

[2:48:29] um goals and objectives of the town.

[2:48:32] >> Um a couple of thoughts. Um

[2:48:37] with regard to sort of the categories

[2:48:39] that that Amanda laid out, um uh I was I

[2:48:42] was sort of thinking thinking along

[2:48:46] somewhat similar lines. Uh in

[2:48:48] particular, uh I would like to know

[2:48:52] which of these

[2:48:54] um which of these plans have trackable

[2:48:58] goals embedded within them and which

[2:49:01] ones do not. Um and for the ones that

[2:49:05] have trackable goals, you know, in the

[2:49:07] case of the road map, you know, we've had we there's been some

[2:49:12] discussion of of the stages of progress

[2:49:16] and I know that such also exist in the

[2:49:18] car.

[2:49:19] >> Yeah.

[2:49:19] >> Um I think that that kind of common

[2:49:23] progress marker to the extent that it

[2:49:26] can be adopted across more plans um in presentation will help streamline our

[2:49:33] ability to absorb the information. So

[2:49:36] building building out some some form of

[2:49:40] consistent progress indicators

[2:49:44] um for those plans that have specific

[2:49:46] goals

[2:49:48] um and

[2:49:50] for that set of plans

[2:49:53] um I'm not sure how much how how much

[2:49:56] sort of detailed uh words smmithing is

[2:49:59] necessary but certainly to know if a

[2:50:04] particular goal or action that is being

[2:50:08] uh measured along the along that

[2:50:10] implementation or execution pathway

[2:50:13] makes progress. Um I would actually like

[2:50:16] to be able to see that information just that that one metric updated on a

[2:50:22] quarterly basis. And the reason is

[2:50:25] because because since there are so many

[2:50:29] PL um of so many items that are being

[2:50:32] tracked along that mechanism um by the

[2:50:36] time you know if you look at this

[2:50:37] annually and you try and look at all of

[2:50:39] the things that people have worked on.

[2:50:41] It's it's very hard to absorb

[2:50:45] um and respond to and reflect on, you

[2:50:48] know, what could be several hundred

[2:50:51] action items that have been made that

[2:50:54] we've made progress on and if there was

[2:50:56] a

[2:51:00] slightly faster rhythm specifically just

[2:51:03] to indicate those items in which

[2:51:06] progress has been made. Um I think that

[2:51:09] would be helpful both for us to be able

[2:51:11] to digest it and for broader

[2:51:13] communication to the public.

[2:51:15] >> So for clarification you would say on a

[2:51:18] quarterly basis take the carp and be

[2:51:20] like these three items we made progress

[2:51:22] on this quarter and not talk about the

[2:51:24] rest of them.

[2:51:24] >> Right. And this one moved from planning

[2:51:26] to implementation and this one moved

[2:51:28] from implementation to complete and this

[2:51:31] one moved from pre-planning. Now we've

[2:51:33] started planning.

[2:51:35] When when saying tracking, do you mean

[2:51:39] measurable or beyond measurable?

[2:51:41] >> Well, from my examination of plans, um I

[2:51:47] to answer your

[2:51:49] the your question, I think I'm talking

[2:51:52] about trackable. Um if we have uh if we

[2:51:56] are trying to track goals that are not

[2:51:58] themselves measurable or we have a sense

[2:52:02] of like sort of where they are in the

[2:52:04] execution pipeline

[2:52:06] um then I think that's a problem with

[2:52:08] the goal and that should be that should

[2:52:10] potentially be called out. Um

[2:52:15] but but the the other piece of this that

[2:52:18] makes that makes some of these goals

[2:52:20] more complex is that some of the goals

[2:52:23] as they're specified in plans are oneoff

[2:52:26] goals like you know we want to uh we

[2:52:31] want to reduce our vision zero deaths in

[2:52:33] town to zero per year right and you know

[2:52:37] we have all these sub goals and you know

[2:52:39] the uh the the percentage of

[2:52:42] implementation of bicycle network etc

[2:52:44] and so forth. Um some of them are a

[2:52:47] single goal that goes from beginning to

[2:52:49] end. There are other goals however which

[2:52:52] are ongoing where that cycle of

[2:52:55] implementation

[2:52:57] um is actually annual you know like

[2:53:02] uh I can't think of an example off the

[2:53:04] top of my head but many of the goals for

[2:53:06] example in the carp say or the road map

[2:53:08] say ongoing which means that you know

[2:53:11] you you get it done in one year and then

[2:53:13] you need to get it done in in a in a

[2:53:15] future year. Um, and maybe for that set

[2:53:19] of for that set of ongoing goals,

[2:53:22] there's a different kind of cadence, but

[2:53:24] I'm particularly interested in both for

[2:53:27] our understanding and for the

[2:53:28] understanding of the public when we

[2:53:30] establish long range goals that have

[2:53:34] multiple stages in terms of their

[2:53:36] execution that we get more reporting on

[2:53:39] those.

[2:53:40] >> So, I I agree with your uh proposed

[2:53:42] formulation.

[2:53:44] uh I would propose maybe adding one

[2:53:47] additional layer which would be to the

[2:53:49] extent that the goals are quantitative

[2:53:53] to provide that data as well where where

[2:53:56] there's something that is tangibly

[2:53:58] measurable as opposed to a qualitative

[2:54:00] goal. So some of our goals are more

[2:54:04] uh open-ended and subject to

[2:54:06] interpretation. And so those can

[2:54:08] certainly be tracked in terms of what

[2:54:10] stage we're in similar to what we're

[2:54:12] doing with the road map. But where there

[2:54:14] is a goal that uh there's a specific

[2:54:16] number having that specific number as a

[2:54:19] data point I think would be helpful.

[2:54:21] >> Sure. Yeah. And and for the for the

[2:54:24] items which are uh maybe the term is

[2:54:29] aspirational as opposed to measurable,

[2:54:32] right? because um

[2:54:35] you know I think I think I'm less

[2:54:38] concerned personally about quarterly

[2:54:42] progress on aspir on those aspirational

[2:54:45] goals. I mean, they may still be they

[2:54:48] may still be quantifiable in the sense

[2:54:50] that, you know, if we if we, for

[2:54:52] example, have a goal that says we want

[2:54:54] 2400 units of new housing by 2035 or

[2:54:58] whatever number comes up in whichever

[2:55:00] plan, um that that goal is relevant. Um,

[2:55:06] I mean it certainly would be worthwhile

[2:55:08] at some point having,

[2:55:11] you know, knowing where we are along

[2:55:13] that number, but that's that's a

[2:55:15] different tracking piece than the

[2:55:18] tracking piece of where we are in the

[2:55:21] execution plan. And I think those two

[2:55:23] things are distinct um, and may be

[2:55:26] subject to different kinds of reporting.

[2:55:31] » All right, anyone else?

[2:55:33] Amanda,

[2:55:34] >> uh, just one uh point. I I actually

[2:55:37] liked your quarterly tracking, but I'm

[2:55:39] thinking about staff workload for some

[2:55:42] of those. And I don't want the tracking

[2:55:46] to update us on a quarterly basis to

[2:55:48] take the place of actually doing the

[2:55:50] thing.

[2:55:51] >> And so if that is too heavy a burden,

[2:55:53] I'd rather go to less frequent updates.

[2:55:55] >> And you know, all of this feedback I'm

[2:55:57] writing down, we have our regular

[2:55:59] department heads meetings. I'm going to

[2:56:01] take this feedback back to the

[2:56:02] department heads and get get comments

[2:56:04] from them. I'll bring it back to you.

[2:56:05] This is this is a dialogue. So, we will

[2:56:07] continue to have this conversation.

[2:56:09] >> Right. I I I want to make really clear

[2:56:11] that that I'm not trying to get words

[2:56:15] details on every goal quarterly. Right.

[2:56:17] I'm trying to get a very specific metric

[2:56:20] that we can track over time.

[2:56:25] » All right. Anything else?

[2:56:28] >> Oh, one other point. I think you have it

[2:56:30] in your spreadsheet, but the ones that

[2:56:32] we are tracking because like I'm

[2:56:35] thinking the OSRP that you need to

[2:56:37] submit in order to be eligible for

[2:56:39] funding and therefore like it important

[2:56:42] to do it at whatever cadence is

[2:56:44] dictated.

[2:56:44] >> Yes. One of the you know one of the

[2:56:46] things that department head suggested as

[2:56:47] we were building this was you know why

[2:56:49] do we need this you know is it just why

[2:56:51] do we need to update this document is it

[2:56:53] and the answer could be we don't or the

[2:56:54] answer could be we must or we don't get

[2:56:56] the money. Um, so yeah.

[2:56:58] >> And yeah, and that the answer to that

[2:57:00] also helps like if we can consolidate

[2:57:02] any plans,

[2:57:03] >> right?

[2:57:03] >> Um, because I am all for streamlining so

[2:57:06] that you're not updating three different

[2:57:08] plans with the same thing.

[2:57:09] >> Yes.

[2:57:10] >> Um, and and I'm sure there are also

[2:57:12] cases where um uh specific plan goals

[2:57:17] are either uh redundant or conflicting.

[2:57:21] And you know that's once we once we have

[2:57:25] the full list and we can to see that

[2:57:27] then maybe identifying some of those

[2:57:30] points will also be helpful.

[2:57:34] All right.

[2:57:36] Okay. So, that wraps up that item. But

[2:57:38] before we close for the evening, a

[2:57:40] couple matters. Uh Kate, for purposes of

[2:57:43] the minutes, Anthony contacted me and in

[2:57:46] addition to voting yes to reappoint Len

[2:57:49] Holy, he also would like to register a

[2:57:51] yes vote for the Win Village MOA.

[2:57:55] >> Okay. Thank you.

[2:57:58] >> Um would

[2:57:58] >> is that allowed then to send in a vote?

[2:58:02] >> I I I I would really like opinion from

[2:58:05] council on that question as well.

[2:58:07] >> I think we've done it before, but sure

[2:58:08] we can check.

[2:58:09] >> Good answer.

[2:58:10] >> We will um county council is online, but

[2:58:12] I I don't think Joe, I don't know if you

[2:58:14] have a have a have an answer up your

[2:58:15] sleeve for this one. Um

[2:58:18] >> so I don't think it counts as an

[2:58:20] official vote, but you can record his

[2:58:22] sense that if he was president, he would

[2:58:24] have voted that way. So I think that's

[2:58:25] permissible. But counting it as like

[2:58:28] four, you know, you know, if it was

[2:58:30] probably 40 instead of now 50, like no,

[2:58:33] that's not permissible. He needs to be

[2:58:34] present. But you can put in the minutes

[2:58:36] that if president, you know, uh, you

[2:58:38] know, Anthony would have voted in favor.

[2:58:41] >> Okay.

[2:58:44] All right. Would anyone like to be heard

[2:58:46] in public comments before we close our

[2:58:48] meeting?

[2:58:51] >> There's no one line. I make a

[2:58:53] >> Sure. Go ahead, Amanda. Um, mainly

[2:58:54] because I'm still on the pole worker

[2:58:56] emails. Uh, Brookline is still in need

[2:58:58] of poll workers for the November

[2:59:00] election. Um, so contact I think it is

[2:59:04] poleworker bricklinem.gov

[2:59:06] if you are interested.

[2:59:08] >> We are not meeting on that.

[2:59:11] >> And I would like to uh add a thank you

[2:59:13] to Mrs. Rubenstein for fetting us

[2:59:16] >> delicious apple cake tonight.

[2:59:18] >> Please uh Ms. Scavenish.

[2:59:20] >> Miss Scavish.

[2:59:21] >> Yes. for uh the delicious apple.

[2:59:23] >> Whoever it was, it was delicious. I

[2:59:25] mean, it was incredible.

[2:59:27] >> Okay. All right.

[2:59:27] >> Thank you. And you can record that in

[2:59:29] the minutes.

[2:59:31] >> And that David, are you going to attend

[2:59:33] the uh opening of the Wonder restaurant

[2:59:36] thing tomorrow?

[2:59:38] >> What time is that?

[2:59:40] >> It's 5:30 to 7:30.

[2:59:41] >> Yeah.

[2:59:42] I was planning on being there.

[2:59:43] >> Yeah, I was going to go, too.

[2:59:45] >> All right.

[2:59:46] >> I mean, you don't have to go. I'm

[2:59:48] curious, but

[2:59:49] >> I'll try to make it.

[2:59:50] >> Okay. You know what it is? It's new

[2:59:53] concept.

[2:59:53] >> Yeah,

[2:59:54] >> they they sent me a request for an RSVP.

[2:59:57] I don't know if they sent one.

[3:00:00] >> All right. Well, that concludes our

[3:00:02] meeting for the evening. Okay.

[3:00:03] >> Thank you.

Brookline Select Board Meeting Meeting - September 22, 2026

Transcript