then we are going to start. All right. Um one second. All right. Welcome everyone to the advisory committee meeting of Thursday, October 9th. Uh we have two items on the
agenda for tonight. Um both warrant articles a discussion of warrant article 14. contact information for public officials. Warn article 16 um resolution regarding a women's professional basketball franchise. If there are any
members of the public who wish to comment on either of these issues before we start, uh drop your name in the chat and we will call on you. >> I I >> And seeing none, >> yeah, >> I'm not sure who's giving
>> petitioners. Yeah. Who's giving the subcommittee report on 14? >> Margaret. >> Okay. Go ahead, Margaret. >> I was on mute. Uh oh. Okay. I don't know why my camera's not working. Oh, well. >> Yeah. You look sort of like a tunnel.
>> Margaret, can you also send me a copy of that report? I'd love to see it. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Um, well, can you go to the website and download it? That's probably a little bit Oh, the Well, that's there's a lot of attachments
cuz I attached all the stuff you guys sent me, but I can also email. >> I really can't do more than this device. So, no, I'll do it later if it if you sent it to me. Attach it to me. >> The report, but and then all the attachments are it's basically what you
guys sent us. >> All right. really don't know why my camera isn't working. Oh well, just turn it off. >> Yeah, don't worry about your camera. Just >> All right, go ahead and start. >> Yes, please. >> Margaret, do you have a cover over your camera hole?
>> I don't have a cover over it. I am using an external camera, though. Maybe that's why it's being >> um Okay. So, warrant article 14. This is a resolution requiring that the the identities and contact information for all elected town officials, including town constables, be prominently listed
on the town's website, be made available at the town clerk's office immediately upon request. The subcommittee voted 4 to 0 to zero to recommend favorable action on a revised version of article 14, including an amendment. So what this article effectively seeks to do is to
ensure transparency and public accessibility to basically require that the content information and the names of all elected town officials including constables be listed on the town of Brooklyn's website and be made available on the town clerk's office. The challenges that have existed here is that as of bas from what we understand
the town costable information was available on the town website until about 2021. And what the petitioners learned upon going to the town clerk's office is that the town council believed that there may have been a there may been a potential conflict of interest because town constables um are
effectively a private business similar to a notary. The thought was that perhaps it may have been not appropriate to list their information on on the town website and so it was removed a few years ago. However, um in one of the attachments that you'll see on the
report from the town clerk, the town council no longer um is defending that thought process and because town councils are elected has agreed to post their information online. Um, so the main argument of this petition is effectively that the elected
officials of Brooklyn are public servants. They're elected. Their information should be readily accessible to anybody who needs that information. Um, and since we are all online now, the our town website should be the ideal place to post that information just the way we have select board members and town meeting members information
available. Um, there was some back and forth with the town clerk's office. Um, you know, I mentioned the conflict of interest law. And then apparently there was also some challenge when going to the town clerk's office and successfully receiving that information. We haven't quite resolved
what may have caused that, but as we mentioned, the town clerk now says they're going to post it online. Um, and so hopefully that should no longer be a challenge. Um, in the subcommittee meeting about this, it was generally agreed upon that this is a challenge of transparency and this was a valid
concern and so the information should be available online and should be also be available through the town clerk's office. Um, voting yes on this would basically express town meetings desire that this content information as defined by the approved amendment, which we'll get into last, uh, should be prominently
available on the website and be made available by the town clerk's office available upon request. If, uh, voting no would basically leave the status quo, which essentially would mean that it would be open to interpretation by our current and future town council whether
or not elected official information should be available on the there's no financial impact and town council has confirmed no legal impact. Um, getting into the amendment that was proposed, the article, the warrant article as proposed did not define
contact information. And so the amendment that I proposed essentially puts in one sentence fragment to say contact information to be defined as first and last name, phone number, email address, and the date of expiration of term.
The only question around that would be should uh constable or any elected officials home address be posted to which I believe that should not be a requirement as part of this warrant article. It should be at least limited to first and last name, phone number,
email, and date of expiration of and it was viewed as a friendly amendment by the petitioners. Um language was approved by the town moderator. Um, and so that's the only difference between the warrant article as written and the amendment is just that definition of content information.
>> Any questions? >> So um before we go on to any questions or comments from um uh the committee uh so first thank you Margaret that was your first uh subcommittee report correct? Everybody should applaud. Um
very nice work. and um uh petitioner Miss Frolley, do you have anything to add before we um go on to questions or comments? >> Yes, I'd like to um have a little different perspective. It's been five years, almost exactly five years since constipals were listed.
Um they were never notified that they were not online and people don't generally Google themselves. At least I I don't and the others hadn't. Uh it was discovered last uh January by one of the constables and we did make an effort to
have it uh corrected and we were told that town council legally said no we are not private contractors exclusive. We actually were in 1971 were declared um special municipal employees and that does go to the heart
of conflict of interest. That's why they do a special employee. But I've also gone and been cleared by uh the ethics commission, the state ethics commission. It's not a conflict of interest for anybody any of the constables. But this article is not just
about constables because if you can remove one category of uh elected officials so that the electorate cannot find them anyway any which way couldn't go to the clerk's office and get the answers. They were forbidden to give it.
If that's the case they could arbit without a legal foundation and we did try to get a legal foundation and we were ignored. So what's to stop it from happening another time to some other either elected officials or individual
officials? Meaning it could be be an abuse kind of thing where people can say I just don't want so I don't like so and so. I'm going to keep them off individually. And that's just not who we are. And that's not what we're elected officials are all about. I I surrendered
to Margaret's insistence about the address, but I don't agree with her. So, it's fairly friendly. But I still think that it's not really a good idea not to put the address because people have different modal ways of reaching out to their elected officials, whether they're
selectmen, no matter who you are. Sometimes people prefer to to send a letter because we often say sign a letter, you know, sign a petition, that kind of thing. and where you going to mail it if you don't have people's addresses. So, it it really is uh not
something I particularly support, but you know, I wasn't going to fall on that sword either. But this is about all the elected officials in town. And the other thing that was raised to me, um why should town meeting members have
their addresses online? Because they're they can be found on the town website. It it's kind of one of those um for me it's one of those Animal Farm moments. If we're going to do the top officials and let them not have to have their addresses there, then we're all equal,
only some more equal than others. And that that's troublesome to me because every one of us seeks their their uh vote addresses are on the ballots. Every single one of us. Um, it just seems like it's a kind of uh elitism
protecting people who maybe just don't want to be bothered with the people who vote for them, make it harder for them to be reached. I don't think that's a good idea. I really don't. If you're talking only about constables, they also provide a service that the public is
entitled and legally need to use and access and they haven't been able to for 5 years. And it's been 10 months since we we brought it to the attention of the clerk. So, it really is a a mysterious kind of thing. Why is it not just
happening? Why? Just a few weeks ago when I went to the clerk's office, they said, "We're not allowed to give you that list. You have to get it strictly from the town clerk." And that makes no sense. Either it's legal or it isn't. So, if if it's illegal in the eyes of
the clerk, he shouldn't even give it to us when we ask him. So, there's a lot of stuff here that Margaret did alert allude to that we don't have answers for, explanations for, but here we are. We're here here. And I'm hoping rather
than to sit around and complain about things, just fix it. It's a It's an easy fix. Very easy fix. And frankly, I don't know why it hasn't been done already. >> Question for me. Right. We'll go on to questions andor comments from the body. Harry,
>> well, so I I put my name on the list first. I'm going to sound like a broken record and this has nothing to do with the petitioners. Why are we wasting our time on this once again? It seems to have all been caused
by an a combination of an opinion by town council with which I do not agree and the entrangence of the clerk's office. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Other towns list these people. They list their phone numbers. They list contact information. They don't have a problem doing it. Uh, and it and frankly, as Regina said, at this point in time, it should have been done last week. There's no reason
why this needs to be moved before town meeting or town meeting needs to waste its time or the advisory committee needs to waste his time. The the the clerk and the town administrator ought to get together and
just do it. And and I really um this is a relatively light warrant this year, but I I really resent the intrusion on people's time by wasting it on things like this where there's absolutely no
need to do it. Margaret >> Harry, thank you. That was what we spent a lot of time talking about in subcommittee as well. There was a line in the warrant article about how calls to the town clerk's office weren't being returned. Um, in my mind, this didn't really seem like a policy issue, but almost more of an operational issue. You
guys have all been around a bit longer than I have. So, um, if this is an operational issue, are warrant articles always the best way to solve them. To me, that that seemed to be a bigger question. And just to respond to something else that Regina mentioned earlier, um, about, well, why are town
meeting members addresses posted? I would recommend that those not be mandated as being posted either. Um, I don't understand why anyone needs to know my home address to ask me anything about town meeting. You can email me, you can call me. There's so many ways to contact. You know, I have a Facebook
page for my campaign. Um, I would find it honestly a little bit menacing if someone showed up my home and one thing we talked about was this, you know, in this era of quite frankly like political violence, do we really need everyone's home address being posted online? And so
that's why I put in the definition of if we're going to make a warrant article mandating contact information be available, which of course it should be. People should always be able to contact you, your elected official, does that minimum necessary standard need to be addressed? And so I would argue no. If we're going to put forward this
language, the minimum necessary standard should not be home address. I come from the healthcare world. When you work when you deal with HIPPA, with HIPPA, they always say minimum necessary standard. only transport health information as necessary to actually complete patient care. To be a good elected official, do you need to know my home address? I
would argue no. HIPPA necessary standard don't include home address by default. >> Thank you, Margaret. Kelly Hardback. >> Thanks, Harry. Um my question is at this point having gone through the town's website um could somebody verify maybe
from subcommittee or the petitioners verify that it's only town constables contact information that's not posted because indeed as a town meeting member and advisory committee member my contact information is out there and I'd like to understand if this solely relates to
constables Not sure we have an answer. Kelly, >> is town council here or the town? >> I I I I I think um the the reason that you know, we don't know why Pat, we
believe it was Pat Ward that took this off, took these off. Um but town council uh obviously felt that there was some sort of um uh uh uh official endorsement
of what essentially could be construed as a commercial activity. Um and that's why he we I believe you know use the term conflict of interest. Um, some people run businesses, they have
personal websites, and you know, I think uh what town council has now decided and I believe correctly. So, I'm by the way, Harry, I'm with you on this. Uh, but I actually I actually voted on this one, which where I
normally don't vote on resolutions because it is related directly to the town. Um, and you know, the fact is that if we had not had this article put forward, this issue might never have
seen the light of day. Um, you know, I think town council has uh uh aired on the side of conservatism um to the extreme in many situations. And I,
you know, I I I do believe that most other if not all other elected officials have all their information online. uh there is an Excel spreadsheet you know under uh town meeting that has
everyone's name address you know phone numbers emails and look obviously you can go to the uh uh assessor's office and download all the um you know all the information there and get people's names and
addresses as well so you know you can go to the voting roles and get all that information um I I do want to emphas ize that this covers elected officials. >> Okay. Um it does. So the language that
is in here uh if passed by town meeting would impact elected officials. By definition, I believe um town meeting members are not officials. So you could have a situation where town meeting
members would continue to have their uh addresses posted um but not uh you know select board constables school committee um and I think that's going to be the rub um at town meeting with this
particular uh change >> and honestly uh thanks Cliff that was my follow-up question because um elected officials is not uh defined in this particular resolution and so was looking for a perhaps a clear definition of that.
>> Yeah, it's interesting if you if you actually if you look at that um Excel spreadsheet, one of the constables, Joseph Figler, um is not a town meeting member. He his name is on that
spreadsheet, but the only information next to him is EO elected official in parenthesy. Um, but but not any of his other information, which is interesting because he did have to provide it in order to run for
office. So, >> thank you. Thank you. and Neil Gordon. >> Neil, >> Neil, you're muted. >> You're not muted, but there's no sound. >> Is that Is that better?
>> Yes, it is. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, yeah. So, I think everybody on this call knows I'm a Brooklyn council. I'm going to deny any conflict of interest uh related to having my name and contact information on on the town website uh or or or or or
otherwise by the town. Um last night's conversation uh while it uh was inconsequential, we took a lot of time talking about hyphens. Uh at least that was a balanced argument as inconsequential as it might
be of whether you have hyphens or don't. That seemed to me to be a 5050. This one is ridiculous, right? That this has to come to town meeting is forced by uh a a
a a an untenable undefensible position that somehow you can't put the name and contact information of dulyeleed officials on the town website. Right. So, my name and Regina's name and
the other constables, um, they're on the ballot. It says constable, uh, you know, and and so on, right? It's on the ballot. It's also on the, uh, the list leading up leading up to election in the clerk's office. I want to say one
thing in defense of the clerk. I had this conversation with him. Ben Calpin was relying on advice of counsel under the state conflict of interest law. A municipal employee
providing uh endorsement of a private enterprise business that is the um uh the violating party under the conflict of interest law. The reason that Ben prohibited his staff from giving that
information out was because under advice of council, he didn't want to put the staff, if if council was correct, the staff at risk. His position is I'll hand out that information and I'll put myself
at risk because that's my choice to do that. I make no comment whatsoever about uh his timeliness in returning phone calls. Uh I don't I don't defend that. He can defend it if it's if it's true, but that was protective of the staff in
light of an opinion. Um yeah. Does this have to come to town meeting as a resolution? Sure. Because at some point, where else do you go? Um I've had many conversations with U. Chaz Carrie about
putting constable's contact information on the town website um periodically from time to time. By the way, no one ever came back to me and said, "Oh, we can't because we have an opinion from council." It was just dead silence.
Um this is the relief you seek. Here we here we are. Um, I I would have liked the uh my last comment, I would have liked anybody uh in town council's office to get the advice uh of of the AG uh on this
particular issue with respect to conflict of interest or even better try it out and have somebody complain to the AG because I'm pretty sure what the what the um you'll hear him laughing from from you know Boston to here for sure.
Thank you. Thank you, Josyn Murphy. >> Thank you, Harry. Um, my recollection is that the prohibition is against recommending certain vendors, but that's a topic for someone else. Um, so my comment relates to the amendment that I believe was made. Am I correct in
understanding that there was a proposed amendment that was voted to say that um information shall be provided? Is that correct? The amendment just define what the what the information is I believe.
>> But doesn't it say shall I? Think >> I have too many things in front of me. >> All the amendment says is after the word contact information. It says to be defined as first and last name, phone number, email, and date of expiration of term.
>> Okay. Well, maybe I'm mistaken. It struck me there might be a mandate in there. >> Right. that was part of the warrant article itself, not part of the amendment, >> right? >> And it is worded like a mandate >> then. Yeah. So just allow me to um point
out that under the public records law there are two exemptions that exempt from disclo public disclosure the home address, personal email address and home telephone number of um a variety of people employee
including employees of um the general court, an agency, executive office, department, board, commission, bureau, division or authority of the commonwealth which or political ical subdivision of the Commonwealth which would include uh Brookline and also um the family members
of certain individuals. So I guess I'm cons I suppose there would be a possible possibility that an elected constable would have a family member um I don't know might fall under this. So my only suggestion was going to be to
um suggest may rather than shall so that the constables who are listed could elect what information they wanted to be published. Thank you. >> So just to be clear the uh the Warren article is not just about constables. It's about all elected officials.
>> Ah fair point. So that makes it even more >> of an issue. Well, I guess Regina and Neil and all the petitioners, I think that they've already agreed to share that information by becoming constables. Otherwise, how
would anybody >> Yes. But their Margaret, their family members may not have. >> If if the constable chooses to share their first name, last name, constable, business phone number, and business email address, that's sharing their
family's information. I haven't Well, it could be if they live together, but I don't I don't >> But we're not sharing the address. >> I'm just raising this. >> It's not I I don't I don't I think we're over complicating it. I don't think that's I think that by not sharing the address, we're we're protecting the family members
>> to the So, let me just be a little bit more clear. I'm sorry. I have a massive headache from an event yesterday. Um to the extent there's a mandate that constables share their home email, their home addresses
and their personal phone numbers. I'm just suggesting that perhaps that should be changed to may rather than shall. That's all. >> Just to clarify, it's not sharing the home address at all. And the email doesn't have to be I don't know what a home email is, but it can be your
constable business email. But again, just to clarify, the address is not included. So I think family members are safe because you're not sharing a home address or like a home phone number. You would elect a business constable phone number and a business constable email address.
>> Great. So long as that's allowed under the language. I I couldn't figure it out in the last five minutes. >> Yeah. The language just says phone number. It does not say home. It says email address. Does not imply family email address. And then the word address is not is not included at all on
purpose. So there's no mention of like a home address at all in this definition of contact information. It does not even include home address. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. >> Joselyn, I think if you look at the chat, >> um Lisa has typed in
what appears to be the um the current language >> as amended. >> As amended. >> Okay. Terrific. Thank you. >> Um, any other comments, >> Dennis?
>> Um, uh, Regina, as petitioner, do you have any last words before we move to a motion? >> Um, just to keep in mind that all elected officials should be reach be reachable by their electorate and by
anybody they represent. even if they're not citizens, even if they don't vote, they have a right to find the people who run their government or who offer their services. And as somebody said, this is very clearly, as Cliff said, it's about
all the elected officials today. It might be that they and we only found out about this problem because it was constable, but it could be some other group tomorrow, and that's not okay. We need to be able to find the people we elect. And by the way, in terms of the address for constipables, none of us has
objected to having our address. Quite the reverse. We'd like our address on it. >> Um, one more comment from Linda Olsson Pelky. Question. >> Yeah, it's a question. Thanks, Harry. So, if one of these elected officials wanted to post their address with this
amendment, could they? >> Yes. In this amendment, the minimum standard doesn't include address. But if an elected official feels so moved, they are not prevented from doing so. This does not prevent anyone from sharing more than they would like to. It simply says that we all have to share a minimum
standard of what's in the chat. >> It doesn't really say that. It >> doesn't say that. >> It doesn't say that you're prevented from sharing address, >> which is what the question was. So you're not prevented from sharing address, but the minimum standard is >> but it's defined and it doesn't include
the address. >> But it's defined well but it's defined as what the town you know by the way. >> So Linda, you're also implying that we couldn't you couldn't include your middle name either. And I think >> right
>> but I don't but I >> I don't think that's a um that's not how I would read it is I guess is what I'm saying. Sorry, Cliff. I didn't mean to interrupt you. >> No, no. I was just going to make a couple of comments. First, this is not a bylaw, right? And so, let's be pragmatic
that um in the future, a different town council might come up with a different logic and we could be back in the same boat again. But I I I think this is this language is defining, as Margaret said, what the
town quote unquote has to do. It's time. It's town meetings. It's the will of town meeting. You know, um it's not a bylaw. What it has to do, it's not stopping anyone from saying, "Gee, okay, you can post that, but I'd also like my address." I I I do not see that any
language prohibiting that um at all. And by the way, if if we wanted if you wanted to make a a motion to amend this um and insert the words at a minimum.
>> Yes, that's exactly what I want to do. >> I I my my my sense is that the moderator would probably accept that because he accepted our inclusion of a definition which hadn't been there before. So
>> which might have been considered an expansion of the scope, but they didn't rule that way. So yeah, I think it just would be clearer if it's said as a minimum. >> I hope that I hope all of this problem
will be uh promulgated with the town meeting members etc. who might not be happy if their address is removed. It should be more of an opt out rather than an opt-in. And the way you're talking about it, it sounds like you'd have to opt in to to say, "I want my address
there." It should be the other way. >> Uh Fran, >> so I'm I'm a rather practical person. And if the things we listed are the minimum that are on the website,
is the town really going to have another line for optional address? So I wonder if it would have the option. And second, I wish it would include town meeting
members. I'm sorry if you can if you don't use the internet, you can telephone. Uh you have people's emails. I don't want my address there. The the two days after my name went up and with
my email as town meeting member, I started getting 20 spams a day. And yes, all of our information can be found, but why put it in one place and make it easy? To be fair, to be fair, most of those
were asking you to send um gift cards to me. So, >> so >> so you're my Nigerian friends. >> That's correct. >> So, um Fran, I think um I think in expanding this from elected officials to
include town meeting members who are elected but quote unquote not officials would be an expansion. >> An expansion of scope. Yes. >> Oh, yeah. I understand that. So, I mean, but but but that's a that's a warrant article that could come up in the spring if you were so inclined.
>> Neil Gordon. >> Yeah. Thank you. So, uh available at no charge in the town clerk's office is this. If you can see it. >> No, you can't. >> Well, you can't. >> You have to turn off your background. >> Yeah, I have to turn off the background. Anyway, it's the um
>> list of elected town officers, advisory committee members, executive officers, town media members association. It's published by Ben Calfman, the town clerk. It's yellow. Thank you, Fran. Uh, right now it includes town meeting members, select board members, library
trustees, you name it, it's in here. If you've been elected, it's uh precinct, name, first and last, phone number, email address, address, and zip code. Um, if we start with uh opt in, opt out,
I'll just suggest that we're adding a burden to the town clerk's office that was not anticipated. Susan, that's the old one. Unless you got like a >> Yeah, I've got that one, too. >> Um, I mean, it's it's all out there. Um,
I don't know. >> The Excel say it's all out there. Yeah, the Excel spreadsheet that uh Elise posted um is on the town website and the town meeting um page. And so again, this
information does exist already. Um it's just a question of whether or not there's a a better way to present it. I think >> I would like us to focus on the resolution at hand. Yeah, I'm assuming that the constables are posted somewhere
else besides that buried list on the town meeting member thing. No >> that's the problem. >> They are not. No, they are not. >> The only other place they're posted is in election results. >> No, I I agree with the need for the fix.
I just think there should be some flexibility in having if someone wanted their address listed. >> Can Can I speak? >> Arthur's a petitioner. >> Oh, Arthur's a petitioner. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Go ahead, Arthur. I I just want to u add that this problem has been with us since January and the clerk's office has been aware of it since January.
And I'm not sure why we've come to this that we're talking about making some kind of remedy to something that the clerk's office has known
for, you know, almost nine months now. >> Yes. Your co-patitioners made that point very um very clear. >> Sorry. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. And I think that that will end up being a portion of the report that's presented at at town meeting.
Um if we're done with uh qu uh questions and comments, I think we're going to move to the um uh motion. Um I'm assuming that um uh Linda, you're going to propose an
amendment once the motion is made. Can I just add one thing just to summarize something that I think Arthur was getting at. >> I agree more with Harry and I didn't take it personally, Harry. This should never have had to ever be a waste of
anybody's time. Most of all my mo my own. >> But the fact is we have tried. We tried in January. We tried in March to town council. We were completely royally ignored. I never got a legal reason at all for why they did this. I got no
reason, none. No response. So, I'm actually going the lowest next common denominator, which is just a non-binding resolution. But this could go much further, and I I'm hoping it won't have to. I'm hoping
this is the end of it. >> I'm I'm hoping it will. >> This I'm I say that because it shouldn't have happened. This is >> it is perplexing to me why
nobody seems including uh the reporter Margaret nobody seems to have any understanding of why this happened in the first place. It's a a job of investigation to find that out, but we're we're we're trying to move on right now. >> Right.
>> Yep. >> All right. Um, I posted in the chat what I think Linda was proposing >> and I'm hoping that Linda will review that so that we can >> I added the word. >> Well, I think it might need a I'd be I'd
throw in a couple commas, you know, defined comma at a minimum comma. >> Oh, I need extra commas. >> I'm a comma person. What can I say? It's up to you guys. I'm not stuck on that. But Anybody else have an opinion about the commas?
>> I noticed that myself, but I wasn't gonna say anything. >> Yep. Cliff's a comma guy, too. >> Look. Yeah. The um I I I I agree with Lisa that we can spend the night arguing about m dashes and hyphens and stuff. If you want to
rewrite uh that's not an Oxford comma. the um uh if you if Margaret if you want to correct commas as a scrivener's error if this amendment passes then go ahead but we're going to uh why don't you make the motion on behalf of the subcommittee
please >> do I just say I make a motion on behalf of the subcommittee to >> what you say is the subcommittee moves favorable action on warrant article 14 as amended >> okay the subcommittee moves favorable action on the on subcommittee on warrant
article 14 as amended. >> Great. And now um Linda is going to make her amendment. >> Yeah. I would like to propose to amend >> the motion to add um
>> at a minimum >> after defined and before as >> second. >> Okay. So first we're going to take a vote on that amendment. Um, and if that amendment passes, you know the drill. That amendment passes,
it becomes the main motion and we'll vote. And if it fails, we'll go on to the other vote. So, this is a vote on the Pelky amendment. Michael Burgerer, >> yes. >> Ben Burnbound, >> yes. >> Cliff Brown, >> yes. >> Uh, Anthony Buono,
>> I don't think he's here. >> Don't think he's here. Elise Couture Stone, >> absolutely. Yes. Uh, John Doug's not here. Harry Freriedman. >> Yes. >> David Mark Goldstein. >> I don't think he's here.
>> Here. Yeah. Hyphen Nated American. Neil Gordon. >> Yes. >> Susan Granoff. >> Yes. >> Perry Gman. >> Yes. >> Kelly Harderbeck. >> Yes. >> Alisa Jonas. >> Yes.
>> Janice is not here. Brian is not here. I believe Alec is not here. Carol Levin, >> not here. >> Liz Linder. >> Um, I can't see the amendment, but I from what I've heard, I'm inclined to say yes. >> It was it was in the chat.
>> Yeah, but it is Oh, sorry. Is it the one at 7:39? >> It's what I posted. I can't now because I'm sharing. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Hold on. >> You said yes. >> Uh, let me give me a second. Okay. You'll come back to go ahead of me. Yeah. >> Pam Lish >> not here.
>> Jocelyn Murphy. I think Liz is looking for commas, but I >> I am. No, I So, yes. Yes. I just wanted to make sure I saw it. I'm looking. >> Yeah. Good. >> Jocelyn, >> yes. >> Uh, Danell O'Neal, >> not here.
>> Linds Pelky, >> yes. >> Bran Pearler, >> yes. David Pollock. >> Well, my inclination is to think that this is unnecessary, but all of this is un should be unnecessary. So, on the
margins, I'll say yes. >> Carlos Rujo here. Carlos, but I thought he was here. >> He He was here. >> All right. Well, I'm going to skip. Margaret Robotham. >> Yes. >> Uh Lee Sullwin is not here. Christine
Westfall. She was here. >> Yes, I'm here. It's I just forgot to click off mute. >> Okay. So, >> Carlos is here. He's muted as we speak. >> All right. Well, we're going to go on
um as amended. >> What was the vote? >> It's 17 to 0 to zero. So, now we're going to um mum now we're going to vote on the article as amended. Michael,
>> why don't you just ask if anyone's changing? >> That's true. Is anyone going to change their vote? All right. So then 17 to 0 to zero, it passes. Thank you to the subcommittee particularly Margaret for a wonderful
report. Thank you to the petitioners and we will move on to warrant article 16. I don't know who >> ju just a just that's just a comment make sure that the select board sees the uh amendment because they they haven't
voted yet and >> we may as well make sure >> operational question what do I do with this I just put it in my report >> we'll talk about that Margaret there'll be there'll be a different report for the combined report >> okay I'll just copy the link
>> there's a whole format for how this works and we'll you have a little you have A little time. Thanks. Uh, who's >> Can I ask a question? Can I ask a question? >> What's the question? >> How does this does it get submitted as it is or will
you ask for at some point or someone additional changes? >> I mean, there may be additional changes proposed elsewhere in the process, but as it stands right now, this would be the motion. This is most likely the motion that would be presented at town
meeting as as it was amended tonight. It'll it'll the select board um pres you know I'm assuming that the um select board will will um not have its own version >> but the the petitioners can always if they insisted >> correct
>> revert to their original if they wanted to. >> Correct. Correct. And then there'd be competing motions at town meeting. >> But but Arthur, we were told it was a quote unquote friendly amendment, which means that the petitioners agreed with the amendment when it was made at the
subcommittee. >> Yeah. They didn't agree with your change just now, but >> they didn't they weren't asked. >> They weren't asked. But but at any event, uh this will be the the motion and you have time to decide what how you want to, you know,
proceed at town meeting. Um let's move on to warrant article 16 who is presenting the subcommittee report. >> I will do 16. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you everybody. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Regina Arthur. Thank you.
>> Um okay. So the public safety uh subcommittee met uh and uh uh discussed warrant article uh 16. It's a resolution to encourage bringing a professional women's basketball franchise to Boston.
Uh, and as as explained in the uh uh explanations of the Warren articles, the resolution does exactly that. It's doesn't do any much more than that. It supports bringing a WNBA franchise to the Boston area. Uh, the discussion was
relatively straightforward. uh it, you know, it included the uh natural uh question of uh you know, why why a resolution not specifically related to Brooklyn? Um so be it. Um the more
general discussion related to the likelihood of the Boston area actually receiving an expansion franchise, which is not what we're talking about. Um, it is apparently unlikely uh anytime soon for the Boston area to
get an expansion franchise and and hence the urging uh uh to support the transfer of an existing franchise to relocate to the Boston area. There were no comments from members of the public and uh at the
end of that particular uh meeting uh we recommended favorable action uh on the resolution as printed in the warrant. >> Mr. Burstein, do you have anything to add as petitioner before we go to
questions and comments? >> Um I think I'll just take questions if you have any. Um I I think the Ward article speaks for itself. I think what was in uh Neil's report uh tends to
speak for itself. Um there there was I I maybe I will address the the question that did come up about why should Brookline weigh in on this. I I do want to point out uh that we would be joining the city of Boston. Back in July, uh, Boston City Councelor Brian Warell filed
a resolution with the Boston City Council um about bringing a WNBA team to the Boston area and Boston City Council approved it unanimously. Um, I uh also will tell you that councelor
Warell is supportive of our resolution here and I felt it was important enough that Brooklyn uh should also step in and weigh in. Um, there is definitely appetite for a WNBA team here in this
area. The past two summers, the Connecticut Sun has held a game at TD Garden, one of their games, and both times TD Garden sold out completely. So, uh, it seems to me that there is
definitely, um, a interest in the area to have a team and I think it would be nice for Brookline to weigh in on this as well. All right, let's move on to questions or comments. >> Joselyn Murphy. >> Thank you, Harry. Um, Michael, I I fully
understand the thinking behind this, but what occurs to me is when the Olympics were potentially coming from Boston, there was a massive response, I think, from one of our own town meeting members, um, regarding the
impact that it would have on the city and potentially Brookline. Have have you looked into the impact that such a franchise would have on Brookline? Have you talked to the police chief about, you know, any potential public safety
issues or anything in that regard? Thank you. >> I have I have not spoken to anybody about such an impact for a few reasons. Um, one of which is that this is this would be nowhere near as large an impact as the Olympics would
have been. Um the situation with the Olympics, you may recall, was very different. There was a committee that was formed to try to bring the Olympics to Boston. They came up with a whole plan which included, oh, we'll use Brookline's facility here and we'll do this and we'll do that. And they never
came to us. They never said to us in any way, hey, we'd like to use this. Would this be okay? You know, this committee just assumed things on our part. Um, also, I'm not calling for a WNBA team to come to Brooklyn. Uh I'm calling for the
team to come to the Boston area. Um specifically in the resolution, the uh only impact that I can imagine is that should should the team end up playing someplace like a Ganis Arena, I suppose that could affect Brooklyn somewhat, possibly in the same way the Red Sox
presence at Fenway Park affects us. My guess is that a team that is brought to this area would end up playing at TD Garden and that would probably impact us very little in a negative way. You know, in a positive way, you know, would be
encouraging the um, you know, greater equality between, you know, there's a lot of gender inequality in professional sports right now. Um, I will point out that that Boston has many uh sports teams of men and very few that are known
about, you know, for women and the ones that are aren't getting as much uh interest as right now the WNBA is. I I would feel that this, you know, the committee would probably be hardressed to name our women's soccer franchise or our women's uh hockey franchise. Um, my
feeling is that the impact we'd have is that if if people in Brooklyn got to see women playing professional basketball at the highest level, that would be a a thing to help um inspire our young girls and our young boys uh in many ways. And
I'll also point out that when teams are in an area, um, they tend to run community programs. They tend to do outreach. Right now, the Connecticut Sun, which is the only New England team for the WNBA, uh is in Unusville, Connecticut, and they do a lot of these
things and they really reach out to the community. And when they came to TD Garden, they actually ran uh a whole gym event for for girls um in Boston, you know, and and it's not like it would be only people who live in Boston, you know, the the people who live in
Brooklyn would also be able to benefit from this. this would enhance our entire cultural and civic life uh for the whole you know region and remember we are surrounded on three sides by the city of Boston. >> Thank you. Um I one last question and
and it is this. Does this have anything at all to do with Caitlyn Clark? >> Uh in what sense? I mean Caitlyn Clark there I've actually been read a very interesting book about the Caitlyn Clark effect. Um I I forget the title. um but
it's by a journalist and following the WNBA. Um there there's a lot of interesting things that happened. Caitlyn Clark did create a huge extra ground swell of interest in the WNBA, which I will point out has actually been around for decades. Um women's professional basketball. Uh and it it's
true that um two years ago when the Connecticut Sun came to TD Garden, they were playing the Indiana Fever. Oh, sorry that last year. This year they were playing the Indiana Fever. And yes, a you know, TD Gardens sold out and Caitlyn Clark was there. Um I I will
point out as as possible um uh conflict of interest, self-interest, I don't know. My daughter got a jersey signed by Caitlyn Clark at that game, but um my kids and I were at the game the summer before, and I don't think anyone here would know who um the Connecticut Sun
played uh two summers ago. Maybe somebody here knows, but I will tell you it was the Los Angeles Sparks. And although Caitlyn Clark, you know, did join the WNBA last year, she was not on the Sparks. And yet, Connecticut's son, Los Angeles Sparks,
sold out TD Garden in Boston. So, I think that Caitlyn Clark is a factor in the entire country starting to become more interested in this. But I'm not filing this just because of the so-called Caitlyn Clark effect. The main
reason I filed this is, as some of you may have heard, I know the the subcommittee knows about this, is that um the Moheaggan tribe that owns the Connecticut Sun put the Sun up for sale. And there was a very good bid from
Steven Pegleuca, I believe is how to pronounce his name, who's one of the minority owners of the Celtics, who wants to bring them to Boston. But um the commissioner, who some of you may have heard some stuff about recently because one of the players had some things to say about her, the
commissioner feels that it would be unfair of Boston to jump over some of the other cities and she wants to have them move to Houston if they're going to move. That would completely remove this type of basketball from all of New England. Um and I think that would be a
shame. So that's why I decided that we should join Boston in and Boston City Council and advocating to keep the team in New England. >> Thanks, Michael, very much. You know, my question was a little bit tongue and cheek. Um, but Caitlyn Clark and many of her teammates are, you know, amazing
basketball players, so thanks for your comments. >> Well, you're welcome. It may be tongue and cheek, but there is a serious aspect to it, so I did want to actually address it. >> Linda Olsson Pali, >> thanks. Um, hi Michael. I just was wondering what what are your
anticipating happens to this resolution if it passes because it doesn't say, you know, and the select board will send a letter to the Boston City Council or anything like that. So, what what's what's the thinking behind what's going to happen if this passes?
>> Well, um I it's true I don't call on the select board or anyone in town to to reach out and specifically uh tell somebody, "Yes, we want this to happen." Um, but I I honestly would hope to have a little bit of news coverage. You know,
I know that when um when the Connecticut Sun came to TD Garden uh this summer, uh there was actually a bunch of major news coverage WCVB television um I will note actually interviewed me and my and one of my kids because we were at the game
and but they had a whole story about what was going on with what's what's happening with with Boston. There's a lot of news stories. People may be missing them because they tend to be filed away in the sports and business sections, but you know, honestly, my hope is that, you know, Brookline News and one or few other places will pick it
up and will be one more thing that can be passed along as yes, there's support in Boston for this. Um and I mean and I personally if this passes will reach out and just send my own letter to you know the commissioner and to the tribe and
say hey you know and and also get in touch with councelor Laurel and say hey Brooklyn uh has come in uh in agreement with the Boston city council on this. >> You might want to write a press release. >> I I might do that. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Christine Westfall, >> just a a a quick kind offormational um uh comment not necessarily related specifically to this uh resolution. And that is what we're seeing a across the board is an interest in all sports uh
including women's sports at a heightened level that's probably directly linked to the increase in sports betting. Um and um that's becoming um interesting and problematic in a whole
number of ways. Um I'm I'm going to support the resolution, but um I think that underlying a lot of the interest right now is uh the push from sports betting. >> Thank you.
>> I I I Are you looking for a response at all or I mean I I'll tell you, >> it's just anformational comment. >> Okay. Okay. I mean, I know nothing about what's going on in sports betting. I I don't even know if and how people are betting on WNBA teams or not. >> So,
>> Oh, they're betting on them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I that that is completely something I know nothing about. >> Yeah. Well, if you're not if you're not addicted to it, it's it's not your problem. But they've gotten to the point now where >> you can place a bet during a game on
who's going to make the next basket. It's just insane. >> Thanks, Chris. Um, Elise. Elise. Elise. >> Hi. Yes. Um, so I'm curious if within
this process if you have met any opposition to this and and if so, what have been the major tenants of those arguments? I haven't really met what I consider any significant opposition. The the the the
things that came up were again at the the advisory committee subcommittee um had the question of you know the pano question of should Brooklyn weigh in on issues that are not Brooklyn issues. Um you know to which I would always point
out that you know we've done this since the 18th century. Um and and and honestly supporting women's professional sports is consistent with our commitments to equity. >> I mean this is something that we talk about in this town a lot, you know. So I think that uh it's consistent with our
commitments to inclusion and an opportunity for women. Um so I think that you know advocating for this falls into something that Brooklyn does. Uh the the Brooklyn Commission for Women is also looking into possibly supporting this article. The only other argument
that I saw against it, again, and I actually mentioned this before, um um David Mark Goldstein actually I think partly in just emailed me to his concern that if the if a if the Boston women's professional basketball team decided to
play their games in Aanis Arena, isn't that going to affect traffic in in in Brooklyn? And I mean, my response to that honestly is that, you know, I think it's far too soon to think that this resolution is going to cause a major
impact of that sort to Brooklyn. So, those were the only two real objection arguments that I'd heard up until this point, and those were my responses. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Dennis, that's it for questions and
comments. >> All right. Do you want to have the last word, uh, Michael, before we move to the motion? >> Um, well, I guess I would just say that I do think that this resolution would show that Brookline supports
um women uh women's sport, you know, professional sports. I I think um it's uh it may be a symbolic but I think it's a strategic resolution because when the WNBA has been you know evaluating places
and and and we we have this issue with are they willing to let Boston jump ahead and if they show look Boston has support you know for such a team maybe that will help us bring a team earlier here than currently I'm here in the year 2033
uh I think our resolution would inspire the next generation, add a voice to the a movement that reflects our our values. Again, Brooklyn values, you know, equity, opportunity, um, and community pride. I mean, I think in the end, this
would show that the town of Brooklyn's excited to see women's basketball on the biggest stage, and this costs us nothing, and I think it's would send a very strong message. Um, and I hope uh the I'm hope the advisory committee will see fit to support this and then I hope
town meeting will see fit to support it as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Neil, um, we're ready for a motion. >> Uh, yeah. On behalf of the subcommittee, I move a recommendation of favorable action on article 16 as printed in the warrant.
>> Great. Let me share my screen. Uh, we're voting. Uh, the recommendation is for favorable action toward article 16. Michael Burgerer, >> yes. >> Ben Burnbound, >> yes. >> Cliff Brown,
>> abstain. >> Uh, Elise Coutur Stone, >> yes. >> Harry Freriedman, >> yes. >> Uh, Neil Gordon, >> yes. Susan Granoff,
>> a strong yes. >> Perry Grossman, >> yes. >> Kelly Hardbeck, >> as a woman, a sports fan, and a fan of Ellie, the mascot of New York Liberty. Uh, yes. >> Alisa Jonas,
>> yes. >> Liz Linder, >> yes. Jocelyn Murphy, >> yes. >> Linda Olsson Pelky, >> yes. >> Ran Pearllor,
>> definitely yes. >> David Pock, >> yes. >> Carlos Rujo, >> yes. >> Margaret Robotham, >> yes. >> Christine Westall,
>> yes. All right. So, by a vote of 17 in favor, none opposed, and one abstension, our recommendation is for favorable action on warrant article 16. Larry, you want to give an update on that our business for this week. So, you
want to give people the update for the next few meetings? >> So, for next week, um, no meeting on Tuesday the 14th. >> We will be meeting on Thursday the 16th, Zoom only. And to the best of my knowledge, we will
be doing warrant article 9, the renters's handbook. Warrant article 13, resolution on older populations/ the Fiser Hill property. Warrant article 10, renaming a baseball diamond, and warrant
articles 11 and 12 regarding um advisory committee members being on um other town committees. And I received a request to um take up warrant article 13 first. And I see no reason not to not to honor
that. So we can update the um the notice if if we get the chance. Uh oh yes. Yes, Joselyn. A full suite. Um all right. Thank you everybody. We'll see you a week from tonight.
Hey, I want to thank Lisa for posting in the chat. It's really helpful. Thank you for doing that. >> Oh, you're welcome. >> Good night. >> Good night, everyone. >> Good night.