WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=OBt3_c1emDc

Part: 1

1
00:04:32.960 --> 00:04:48.479
Good evening everyone. Welcome to tonight's regular select board meeting. It is Tuesday, July 14th. We're going to begin by uh going into executive session pursuant to general law chapter 3A

2
00:04:48.479 --> 00:05:05.919
section 21A3 purpose three for the purpose of discussing litigation strategy related to a claim by Anthony Buono Alec Levitz Joselyn Murphy Richard Murphy and Denell Shaun O'Neal senior seeking reimbursement for attorneys fees following an investigation into

3
00:05:05.919 --> 00:05:21.440
potential violations of town policies and state laws. And we will uh also be potentially voting on executive session meeting minutes from May 19th, 2026 and June 30th, 2026. Once we conclude

4
00:05:21.440 --> 00:10:19.399
executive session, we will come back into open session. So, Bernard, >> yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. Recording. Hey,

5
00:10:26.480 --> 01:02:31.480
hey hey. Heat. Hey Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

6
01:02:54.960 --> 01:05:58.920
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

7
01:06:59.039 --> 01:10:19.880
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, heat,

8
01:10:22.880 --> 01:12:07.880
heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

9
01:12:14.159 --> 01:14:07.719
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Oh, heat.

10
01:14:08.480 --> 01:14:57.600
Heat. Heat. Welcome back everyone and thank you for your patience with our executive session. We will now move to our next item which is announcements and updates. Does anyone have an announcement update to make? Amanda? >> Yeah, I had a little bit of a statement

11
01:14:57.600 --> 01:15:15.199
I wanted to read. I Excuse me. I want to start tonight on a bit of a sad note. Late last week, Louisa Gag, a 36-year-old transportation and bike share planner working for the city of Boston, tragically lost her life when a truck driver struck her on her morning bike commute just around the corner from

12
01:15:15.199 --> 01:15:30.719
us in Mission Hill. This is a terrible loss of a true public servant who spent her career making the road safer for residents and commuters. My heart goes out to all of Louisa's family, friends, and colleagues. May her memory be a blessing to us all. Many have noted that

13
01:15:30.719 --> 01:15:47.840
the stretch of Tmont Street where Louisa was killed is known to be a mother of two girls, D.Va Carvalo, was killed while walking on Tmont Street only two blocks away in 2024. Hearing this brings to mind many streets and intersections in Brooklyn, where we

14
01:15:47.840 --> 01:16:04.239
read about near misses and people sent to the hospital every month. Brooklyn has itself seen two fatalities in the last 5 years. Patty Erolano and Margie Menddees who have died while crossing the street in Brooklyn at intersections that remain unchanged to this day. We

15
01:16:04.239 --> 01:16:19.920
know the dangerous stretches of roads in Brooklyn. We also know because other communities have succeeded where we have not that preventing death and serious injuries is within our reach. But we continue to struggle to put action to our vision zero goals. The corner where

16
01:16:19.920 --> 01:16:37.199
Louisa passed away had the same kind of paint only disappearing at intersection bike lanes that we have seen throughout much of Brooklyn and that my family bikes on every day. Safe infrastructure from protected bike lanes to pedestrian islands to traffic calming saves lives.

17
01:16:37.199 --> 01:16:53.840
If we have any hope at meeting the vision zero goals the select board adopted in April 2025, we need to approach changes on our high priority network with urgency, commitment, and dollars. I will add my voice now and once again when we start the discussion of CIP planning that we need to move

18
01:16:53.840 --> 01:17:09.520
quickly on safety improvements if we want to avoid more tragedy. For those interested, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition is organizing a vigil. I honoring the life of Louisa Gag and calling for immediate urgent action to create safer streets for all this

19
01:17:09.520 --> 01:17:25.280
Thursday, July 16th, gathering at 5:30 p.m. at the Boston City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Square. Thanks. Bernard. >> Yes, thank you. And uh thank you for that, Amanda. There's been a lot of

20
01:17:25.280 --> 01:17:42.159
interest, and this is related to that in in in a way. There's been a lot of interest in the Gateway East bus lane pilot, which covers Boilston at Washington Street and continuing to the town line. The transportation board meeting on Wednesday starting at 6:30,

21
01:17:42.159 --> 01:17:59.440
includes on its agenda, uh which is scheduled for 7:40. a discussion and action on the Gateway East bus lane pilot recommendations. You can go to the transportation board's web page for the meeting materials, including recommendations that will be voted by

22
01:17:59.440 --> 01:18:16.480
the transportation board. Uh just for our information, once the transportation board acts on the recommendations, the select board will be asked to approve an updated traffic control agreement with Mass uh DOT and a memorandum of understanding with the MBTA. I mentioned

23
01:18:16.480 --> 01:18:32.960
that as relevant to Amanda's um uh statement because the uh bus lanes include bike lanes uh and there are a lot of issues with respect to the bike lanes and um you know bicycling in that

24
01:18:32.960 --> 01:18:49.679
area that uh maybe they'll talk about. So thank you >> Michael. Um to follow up with a statement uh that I made last week with regard to the uh Brookline's summer Eids program. I said that there was

25
01:18:49.679 --> 01:19:03.679
additional information. Um the best link to use if you are interested in participating in the summer eats program which provides breakfasts and lunches uh Monday through Friday uh between now and

26
01:19:03.679 --> 01:19:23.280
August 14th uh is to go to https colon one word public school of brookline schoolnutrition.com um and from there you can find a link to the summer eats program with all of the relevant information.

27
01:19:23.280 --> 01:19:39.920
>> I'd also like to add that uh both today and tomorrow the town is declared as a uh heat emergency. We do have cooling centers at multiple locations that are open. The Brooklyn Village uh center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

28
01:19:39.920 --> 01:19:55.679
Coolage Corner 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Putterham 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Specifically, these are at our public libraries. Uh and of course the uh police station basement is always available. >> And related to both of those last two

29
01:19:55.679 --> 01:20:10.800
announcements, due to the heat emergency, the summer eats program uh will be held in the denny room of the public health building during any declared heat emergency such as the one we've had today and tomorrow.

30
01:20:10.800 --> 01:20:26.400
And then another heat emergency related announcement for those who like to enjoy the splash pads. There is a lengthy list of our parks around town that have splash pads activated. The uh Juniper Street splash pads currently out of

31
01:20:26.400 --> 01:20:42.880
service, but almost all of the other ones are active uh tomorrow. Any other announcements or updates? All right, seeing none, we will move on to public comment. Melanie, if you'd like to review the rules of engagement.

32
01:20:42.880 --> 01:20:59.199
>> Thank you for joining us for public comment. This is an opportunity for us to hear your perspective on the issues in Brooklyn that matter to you. Each person speaking tonight is limited to three minutes. You don't need to use the entire time, but you may if you like. Once 15 minutes has been met, there is

33
01:20:59.199 --> 01:21:14.880
an opportunity at the conclusion of the select board's business for additional comments. Members of the public sometimes raise questions during public comment. We may be able to provide a quick answer to a question, but are more likely to work with staff to get a more thorough answer and respond over email.

34
01:21:14.880 --> 01:21:30.239
The on-screen timer will flash orange when you have 60 seconds remaining and red when your time is nearly up. Please conclude your remarks at that time. If you have more to say, you are welcome to send an email to board members expressing your thoughts in greater detail. Any person wishing to speak must

35
01:21:30.239 --> 01:21:46.000
begin their comments by identifying themselves with their full name, either their Brooklyn precinct number or street address, and the specific topic on which they wish to speak. The board encourages but does not require that remote users turn their video on when commenting.

36
01:21:46.000 --> 01:22:18.560
>> All right. So, do we have anyone who signed up for public comments? >> Nope. >> Anyone in the room? See Deborah Brown's hand raised. Deborah, and then we'll go to you, Regina. Go ahead. Good evening everyone. My name is Deborah Brown. Uh I'm a Brooklyn resident and I'm also the board

37
01:22:18.560 --> 01:22:33.920
president for the Brooklyn Community Development Association. I'm here tonight to talk a little bit about uh expiring use and the potential impact that that can have on Brooklyn. Uh expiring us is basically privately owned

38
01:22:33.920 --> 01:22:50.639
property that was either through federal government or state government mechanisms became affordable for a certain period of time. Typically it was about 30 years. And the problem is some of those units are losing their affordability and that

39
01:22:50.639 --> 01:23:07.679
means they could convert to market rate. We have lost some 287 units already according to the housing production plan according to the community economic development assistance corporation or seed. We've got we have 10 properties on

40
01:23:07.679 --> 01:23:24.239
a list that could lose affordability restrictions in a total of somewhere around the neighborhood of a thousand. Don't need to take notes. I'm going to send an email soon enough. I do want to say that Chaz the HAB and Carara and her team are

41
01:23:24.239 --> 01:23:40.159
aware of this, but this is not work for the faint of heart. This is one of those areas where you really kind of need subject matter experts. And that's everything from I don't think the seed list is right first of all uh because we

42
01:23:40.159 --> 01:23:55.840
would have c caught the wind property change sooner. I looked at the seed list it said the property converts in 2044. That's not true. It's 2027. So that that's you know that's an opportunity missed. But I will run

43
01:23:55.840 --> 01:24:13.360
through what I think we need a team to do and that's identify properties at risk. uh engaging owners early to explore preservation options, assembling acquisition financing for nonprofit purchasing, uh coordinating with uh the

44
01:24:13.360 --> 01:24:30.320
state, uh pursuing refinancing with new affordability restrictions, using projectbased vouchers or other operating subsidies if you can find them, and leveraging CPA funds and the trust and other state housing programs to support preservation. What happens if we don't

45
01:24:30.320 --> 01:24:47.520
do this? you know, our affordable housing inventory shrinks. We're going to displace long-term residents. We are going to displace long-term residents. There will be greater demand on local assistance programs that the town can ill afford. Uh there'll be reduced

46
01:24:47.520 --> 01:25:02.639
economic diversity. And finally, there will be additional pressures on municipal finances. So I would encourage you, my ask is that we treat this like an emergency.

47
01:25:02.639 --> 01:25:20.840
Gather the professional resources to tackle this not on a one by one basis, but look at this as a s in a in a systemic manner. Thank you very much. Right. Next we have Regina Frolley.

48
01:25:22.719 --> 01:25:38.239
Thank you. Uh Regina Frolley from South Brooklyn Precinct 16. I just rise for two things. One, normally in our packets, I uh there's a list of all the select people who are assigned to different committees in town and I haven't found it yet. And people are

49
01:25:38.239 --> 01:25:55.440
asking me who's the representative on this committee or that a couple of committees. So, can we get that and where can we find that list? >> Right. We'll make sure that's made available. Uh do do you know where that's is that not currently posted on our website? >> So it's probably with the public packet

50
01:25:55.440 --> 01:26:12.320
that was posted when the board discussed the assignments, but >> I had the packet. It wasn't in there. >> We could put it in a more prominent space for sure. >> I think the Yeah, the only one that was uh clear was uh Anthony Bongo was going to be assigned for some particular committee and after that nobody else was

51
01:26:12.320 --> 01:26:28.320
clear. So I'd like to know and I speak for a few people. Number two, uh I'm very interested in 6C, uh being that it's well over $2 million, and I wonder if you could uh discuss that when you do the miscellaneia so

52
01:26:28.320 --> 01:26:43.760
that you tell us what the electrification project is all about for the whole town hall. Thank you very much. >> Do we have anyone else who would like to participate in public comments? Anyone in the room?

53
01:26:43.760 --> 01:27:00.400
Anyone online? Seeing none, we will move to our next item which is miscellaneous. Approval of miscellaneous items, licenses and contracts. First, let's take up uh 6A, the approval

54
01:27:00.400 --> 01:27:16.320
for meeting minutes of June 30th and June 16th. I'll move approval of the June 30th minutes as revised by Michael and the June 16th minutes as revised by

55
01:27:16.320 --> 01:27:31.840
both Michael and Amanda. >> Bernard, >> yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. >> All right. I uh will respect the request from our public commenter for some

56
01:27:31.840 --> 01:27:47.920
discussion on 6C. So, can we uh get some more information on that item? >> Sure. Um, so the town hall electrification project was actually a CIP item that was discussed and debated at town meeting. Um, there is a writeup in our current CIP, but essentially last

57
01:27:47.920 --> 01:28:04.560
year the HVAC unit at on the roof of this building failed. um the public building department um in looking at replacing the chiller uh realized that in addition to being able to replace the chiller that we would be able to um basically make the building fully

58
01:28:04.560 --> 01:28:19.840
electric. So the project is both to replace the chiller and then also bring the entire building so that we are fossil fuel free for town hall. >> Sorry, Melissa Gooff, deputy town administrator. Thank you. >> All right. Do uh select board members

59
01:28:19.840 --> 01:28:35.920
have any questions about any of the other items for 6B through 6J or comments? Seeing none, I move that we approve items 6B through 6J in omnibus fashion. Bernard,

60
01:28:35.920 --> 01:28:51.280
>> yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. With that, we will move to our next agenda item, boards and commissions annual reports. We will be having a presentation from the

61
01:28:51.280 --> 01:30:00.719
Indigenous People's Celebration Committees annual report. Sorry, I'm going to share a presentation. So, thank Great. All set. Yeah. >> Yes. Right. >> Perfect. My name is Kaylee Bennett. I am

62
01:30:00.719 --> 01:30:17.199
in precinct 8. Uh Oio. Thank you to the select board for meeting with me today. Um, as I just said, my name is Kaylee and I am the chair of the Indigenous People's Celebration Committee. Our committee includes Paul Mlan, Shaina

63
01:30:17.199 --> 01:30:36.000
Penna, Jod Leader, uh, Katherine Florio, and David Brick. Uh, the IPCC is supported by Caitlyn Star and the Brookline Office of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Community Relations. >> I have one quick question on even your first slide. So I'm just curious which

64
01:30:36.000 --> 01:30:53.440
lang which specific indigenous language is your name written in on that first slide. >> Uh yes uh that is the Cherokee Nation language and syllary. >> All right. Thank you. >> Uh so this here is our team. Um and the

65
01:30:53.440 --> 01:31:12.560
committee is proud to plan and support new programming outside of our annual Indigenous People's Day celebration. And so I'm here to highlight that programming as well as anticipated events for later this year. Uh so the first thing is our indigenous authors book club. Uh this is a

66
01:31:12.560 --> 01:31:28.560
bimonthly book club that began in January 2023. The book club specifically features Native American, Alaskan Native or First Nations authors and not just books that are focused on indigenous topics. At this time we have a core group of attendees and the event is

67
01:31:28.560 --> 01:31:45.760
supported by committee members Paul Mlan and myself. The book club initially met quarterly but switched to meeting bimonthly last summer. Each book club includes a short presentation from myself about the book's themes and related historic and contemporary events. These are the books that we've

68
01:31:45.760 --> 01:32:03.199
read since January 2025. My personal favorites include The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Nothing More of This Land if you haven't read them. Uh and so these are also all genres including we did a romance uh as in our last book club. Um, and the Brooklyn Booksmith also supports

69
01:32:03.199 --> 01:32:23.520
this book club by offering a small discount on our featured books. The book club traditionally meets on Zoom, but we are planning to host the August book club in person. So, Indigenous People's Day um are uh a key featured event that we do. Um, I

70
01:32:23.520 --> 01:32:39.679
presented the Indigenous People's Day keynote for 2025 on the topic of Gdooi. This Cherokee word means working together to support your community. Keeping this value in mind, the IPCC is shaping current and up upcoming

71
01:32:39.679 --> 01:32:55.520
programming around this idea and concept. The Brooklyn Indigenous People's Day also fe featured some local indigenous vendors, Brooklyn town organizations, and local nonprofits including Brooklyn for the Culture, Serge Boston, Jennifer Kulfridge, and

72
01:32:55.520 --> 01:33:11.600
Mothers Outfront. The Brooklyn Booksmith also joined as a vendor selling books from the Indigenous Authors Book Club. Mothers Outfront led craft activities for kids and Manoa Poke and Chilikates provided the food. Um we hosted the event this past year at the Ridley

73
01:33:11.600 --> 01:33:29.120
School Cafe. There was a noraster on Indigenous People's Day and despite the poor weather, we had a great turnout and the recording of that day is on uh our website for this committee for Indigenous People's Day later this year. We're also planning to host it again at

74
01:33:29.120 --> 01:33:45.120
the Ridley School Cafe and we are going to really shift our focus for Indigenous People's Day into kid-friendly education resources and craft activities leaning into not only our location at Ridley, but also just how we want to make this

75
01:33:45.120 --> 01:34:03.840
event special and unique to Brookline. Um, this year we're looking to focus our theme around Brookline 250. So stay tuned for more details there as we finalize that planning. Uh so one of the things our committee

76
01:34:03.840 --> 01:34:20.719
does is uh community conversations. Um and so a lot of our programming that we do um is uh focused on education. So these community conversations that we have are casual. They encourage audience engagement and also feature topics about

77
01:34:20.719 --> 01:34:37.280
Native American history, culture, and contemporary issues. We believe that these issues and events are critical for building community understanding that Native peoples are present and not simply a stereotype. Paul Mlan and myself co-led a community conversation

78
01:34:37.280 --> 01:34:54.000
focused on contemporary and historical tribal sovereignty. The discussion specifically drew comparisons between the Jackson and Trump presidencies. And then in February, we revisited the same topic uh but related it directly to current events regarding uh the United

79
01:34:54.000 --> 01:35:15.920
States and Greenland. Uh as discussed during town meeting, um in May, the IPCC approved new language for the Brooklyn land acknowledgement. This new acknowledgement made its debut at the Maytown meeting. These edits offer more depth and inclusion of

80
01:35:15.920 --> 01:35:32.000
regional tribal nations and condensed some of the ideas from the original land acknowledgement. The committee will revisit the acknowledgement every year to ensure that it remains current and contemporary. So this is just the text of that new

81
01:35:32.000 --> 01:35:50.480
acknowledgement which I believe has also been updated on our website. Uh in December, we uh co-hosted a reception and performance celebrating the launch of an indigenous directory of musical storytelling. This event was co-sponsored by Brooklynbased Whit Snake

82
01:35:50.480 --> 01:36:06.960
Projects and the Brooklyn Community Foundation. The event featured musical performances from Thea Hopkins, Aquinowanog, Molly Peters, who's Mashpwampenog, and Geraldine Barney, who is Navajo. And you can see the three of them there. uh that's in Hanaman Hall.

83
01:36:06.960 --> 01:36:26.560
Uh and they uh all performed for this event. The reception also included food from Chicky's Kitchen, which is a Peruvian empanada company. Uh just this past week, the IPC, IPCC and the MLK celebration committee uh

84
01:36:26.560 --> 01:36:42.639
with uh Bernard uh hosted Hassan Namiscoco NITMUK scholar Jasmine Goodspeed to discuss the historical eraser of Christmas atuks um and specifically the eraser of his indigenous and black indigenous identity. The event also included a

85
01:36:42.639 --> 01:37:02.000
historical framework for colonization in this region, including events like King Phillip's war, forced removal, and the expansion of praying towns. So, looking ahead, uh the IPCC is wanting to do another 250 related event,

86
01:37:02.000 --> 01:37:19.760
possibly uh looking at the language of merciless Indian savages in the Declaration of Independence. um possibly maybe doing that sometime in August or September. Uh we're also looking to host the Wampaog Sers and Dancers in October or November as well

87
01:37:19.760 --> 01:37:35.840
as of course Indigenous People's Day 2026 and our most uh I guess the event that we have um coming next is our August book club. >> I think that's all. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you.

88
01:37:35.840 --> 01:37:53.360
>> Any questions or comments? brief comment. Thank you for putting it in presentation form. It's a little easier to actually follow all the good work that you're doing. >> Thank you. >> So I I have Oh, go ahead, B. Go. You can go. It's fine. Go ahead. Um yes, thank you. And um you know, I did participate

89
01:37:53.360 --> 01:38:09.440
with the indigenous people's committee at uh in the Christopher's u um conversation, which is very very important. And I hope you know we uh talked about doing future events together the two committees which are both

90
01:38:09.440 --> 01:38:27.679
>> designed to educate not just celebrate but educate the population about indigenous people and Martin Luther King and the and the civil rights movement and sort of in the words that I use sort of get rid of a lot of the mythology that u is sort of called history. Um and

91
01:38:27.679 --> 01:38:43.920
uh I think you know your committee is doing an incredible job with respect to that. I learned so much to my embarrassment that I didn't know um at at this conversation. So anyway, thank you for that. >> Yeah. No, um Jasmine is an excellent scholar. So it was a pleasure getting to

92
01:38:43.920 --> 01:38:59.119
work with you and I know that the IPCC really does want to do some of these cross collaborations with other committees like MLK. um which for us we see it as an opportunity to do more besides just indigenous people's day that we as a committee and also as a

93
01:38:59.119 --> 01:39:14.000
native person are more than just the single day of celebration. >> A question that I have so you referenced uh Booksmith offering books that are on your book club list for a discount. Are there any other private entities that

94
01:39:14.000 --> 01:39:29.440
have uh partnered with the indigenous people's committee, celebration committee and in some related capacity? >> Um so Whit Snake Projects is a nonprofit but it's a local opera company. So we

95
01:39:29.440 --> 01:39:47.760
did um partner with them on the um uh indigenous storytelling celebration. So that was a moment um for other collaboration. I know we do want to um for Indigenous People's Day this year, we do want to have turtle books um come

96
01:39:47.760 --> 01:40:05.600
uh to also uh be a vendor slash we are wanting to do a story time for kids during Indigenous People's Day. So that's a very organic uh natural partnership, but it's something we're looking to continue to expand. >> Okay. Then also you mentioned that there was sort of a educational

97
01:40:05.600 --> 01:40:21.600
uh programming you offered around the indigenous peoples of Greenland and that makes me curious about what do you see as the scope of the uh indigenous people celebration committee? Is it specific to indigenous tribes of what is today the United States of North America of the

98
01:40:21.600 --> 01:40:36.000
whole world? >> Yes. So, like with our book club, we really are trying to keep this in the scope of um Native Americans, Alaskan Native, um as well as First Nations, so into Canada. So, not looking necessarily

99
01:40:36.000 --> 01:40:53.280
at global indigenity, but looking at um sort of the indigenous groups that are in um our region more specifically with Greenland, a little bit of an exception. we had just done. Usually with the community conversations, we will um we'll do them twice because a lot of

100
01:40:53.280 --> 01:41:09.600
research and effort goes into doing uh sort of creating a presentation. So we'll do uh the presentation twice um a couple months apart. We did this first one about Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump and tribal sovereignty. So the

101
01:41:09.600 --> 01:41:26.080
real thing we were talking about was sovereignty. And then when everything escalated at the beginning of this year with regards to Greenland, we sort of expanded that conversation to the Trump presidency, but also indigenous sovereignty as it related to this issue

102
01:41:26.080 --> 01:41:42.800
because it did sort of the the pieces we were discussing in the fall about Andrew Jackson and and Donald Trump. uh I ended the presentation actually talking about Greenland and then because that issue became more prominent. Um then we kind

103
01:41:42.800 --> 01:41:59.280
of did expand outward to just continue to sort of break apart these concepts of sovereignty and in this case it became a a more of a national sovereignty conversation as it also relates to indigenous people. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, comments?

104
01:41:59.280 --> 01:42:14.400
>> All right. Well, thank you very much for coming and presenting. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up, we have boards and commissions interviews. First, we will start with some interviews of candidates for the advisory council on public health.

105
01:42:14.400 --> 01:42:31.560
Before we get started with that though, it's always helpful to have a reminder how many people have applied, how many positions are available. >> Give me one second to pull up my report. Also, we're going to ask you for the other committees, too.

106
01:43:03.360 --> 01:43:19.679
Okay, there are two vacancies on advisory council of public health and there is one person seeking reappoint. Okay, thank you. All right, so first up we have Vina Kadiala. Thank you. Want to come up to the

107
01:43:19.679 --> 01:43:41.679
podium? share the spreadsheet. Do I introduce myself? >> Yes, go right ahead. Introduce yourself, why you're applying, tell us about yourself. >> Absolutely. Well, first of all, thank you for having me. It's an honor. Um, my

108
01:43:41.679 --> 01:43:58.560
name is uh Venet Kella. I am a physician at Beth Israel Deaconist Medical Center and I live in Brooklyn Precinct 12. Um, I've been living in Brooklyn since 2022. Um, and have been working at BMC for

109
01:43:58.560 --> 01:44:17.360
that time. Um, I have been involved in public policy and public health work and initiatives since I was in medical school. Um, a lot of the work that I have done has been together with the American College

110
01:44:17.360 --> 01:44:34.159
of Physicians, which is the trade association for internal medicine physicians. So, I uh work as a hospitalist or hospital medicine physician, which is basically a primary care physician who works in the

111
01:44:34.159 --> 01:44:49.679
hospital setting to take care of patients who've been admitted into the hospital. um calling consultants, managing daily care and then discharging. Um and in that role I work a lot with the primary care physicians and the

112
01:44:49.679 --> 01:45:07.119
specialists. So I'm plugged into the hospital across the board. um with the ACP. I have been a member of the health and public policy committee HPPPC

113
01:45:07.119 --> 01:45:24.719
uh of the Massachusetts state chapter and we do a lot of activities including our flagship event which is our state advocacy day annually usually in March where we set up meetings with our state legislators at the capitol in Boston.

114
01:45:24.719 --> 01:45:39.920
Um, I've also been involved in the National Leadership Day where we go to Washington DC to meet with federal legislators. Um, I've been involved with the ACP since I was in medical school in New York State. Um

115
01:45:39.920 --> 01:45:55.760
and we uh in the health and public policy role, we not only meet with the legislators but also put out position papers on various pieces of legislation that are

116
01:45:55.760 --> 01:46:11.920
being considered. We provide written and oral testimony. I have testified in front of the public health committee on Bunker Hill. Uh, Bunker Hill, Beacon Hill, sorry. Um,

117
01:46:11.920 --> 01:46:30.800
and um, we serve as a resource for for our public officials to help give our perspective as physicians on important issues that face us in our practice and also issues that our patients face in their daily lives and in their uh,

118
01:46:30.800 --> 01:46:46.480
interactions with the health care system. Um over the last couple years we've been heavily involved in efforts to expand access and quality of primary care services. Um we all know that Boston is

119
01:46:46.480 --> 01:47:01.360
kind of the hub of medical care in the United States and yet even here we have massive primary care access issues, shortages of primary care physicians. And so we've been trying to retain primary care physicians in the

120
01:47:01.360 --> 01:47:16.400
area, but also we have a large number of primary care physicians who are getting older and close to retiring. So, we've been trying to work on programs to incentivize uh trainees, residents in internal medicine to go into primary care, which

121
01:47:16.400 --> 01:47:33.040
is hard because of regulatory kind of administrative burdens, paperwork burdens, uh issues like prior authorization from insurance companies,

122
01:47:33.040 --> 01:47:49.360
um and frankly payment reimbursement. deficiencies. Uh so there are several bills in front of the legislature now that are trying to address those issues that we have been advocating for. We've also worked

123
01:47:49.360 --> 01:48:07.920
on issues involving um immigrant rights and safety. Uh recently the protect Act was introduced and debated uh still in process uh that would basically prevent immigration enforcement activities in

124
01:48:07.920 --> 01:48:23.600
sensitive areas such as cour houses, municipal buildings, hospitals and would require judicial warrants for ICE and immigration authorities to uh carry out their enforcement activities. Uh we've

125
01:48:23.600 --> 01:48:39.040
also worked on statewide vaccination efforts uh particularly to try to increase vaccination rates among school age children trying to remove non-medical exemptions

126
01:48:39.040 --> 01:48:56.159
for uh mandatory vaccines for children to attend public schools. Um, so it's just a snapshot of various initiatives that I've been involved in and you know I've I've really enjoyed the work that I've done and I find it to be very

127
01:48:56.159 --> 01:49:13.920
rewarding and um I wanted to kind of give back to the community be more involved in the town and I believe that my experiences and my ongoing work uh as a physician uh would make me a very an

128
01:49:13.920 --> 01:49:31.199
effective member of the advisory council and would love to have the opportunity to serve. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions from board members? Bernard, >> thank you. Um, excuse me. You you've done a lot of work

129
01:49:31.199 --> 01:49:46.719
in the broader uh Boston area, Massachusetts area. That's very uh very important and impressive. what what what ideas do you have for our advisory committee here in Brooklyn that you would want to emphasize beyond just you

130
01:49:46.719 --> 01:50:02.960
know the usual things of vaccination um immigrant rights etc. Um I have uh attended a few of the recent meetings of the uh advisory council. So

131
01:50:02.960 --> 01:50:18.639
um very much supportive of the efforts to initiate the nicotine-free generation in our town which is to prevent people born after the year 2000 from buying tobacco products. Uh we're working right

132
01:50:18.639 --> 01:50:35.679
now actually on uh regulation and and potential prohibition of products which are completely unregulated and but widely available. Um I I'm very interested in that. And I think also community health efforts in the town.

133
01:50:35.679 --> 01:50:50.239
One of the things that we were talking about recently was to set up um vending machines for essential public health items, sanitary products, um for for menstruating people and um

134
01:50:50.239 --> 01:51:07.280
first aid equipment and medications, things like that that people can access um in public facilities like town hall or the public library. Um and I think um

135
01:51:07.280 --> 01:51:21.760
honestly the advisory committee touches on a lot of different areas. The public health involves also housing access in town. So we um focus on affordable housing, all the things that we that we do in town.

136
01:51:21.760 --> 01:51:37.840
So, a question I have for you regards your time as a rapid response supervisor at Salem Hospital, and you were an award for it. And I'm just curious, what uh did you take from that experience that you might want to bring to this position?

137
01:51:37.840 --> 01:51:54.800
>> Um, I guess I should start by does does everyone understand what the term rapid response means in the hospital setting? assume that we do but our vast TV audience may not.

138
01:51:54.800 --> 01:52:10.639
Um so a rapid response uh in a hospital setting is when a patient becomes concerningly unstable uh low blood pressure, really fast heart rate, sudden chest pain, anything that would require

139
01:52:10.639 --> 01:52:27.199
quick rapid evaluation and potentially getting the uh intensive care unit involved, the ICU. Um, so one of my responsibilities when I was working at Salem Hospital, uh, my first job out of

140
01:52:27.199 --> 01:52:44.080
residency was to supervise the residents who were primarily tasked with responding to these events. uh we would go and then we would determine first of all what we needed to do right away in terms of administering

141
01:52:44.080 --> 01:52:59.599
medications or bringing the ICU team down to evaluate to see if we needed to transfer, getting quick imaging, whatever it was, but um and and making sure that ultimately the patient was

142
01:52:59.599 --> 01:53:16.080
given the appropriate care quickly. Um, what I took away from that was the importance of working as a team and maintaining clear and open conversation, which meant not just me kind of

143
01:53:16.080 --> 01:53:33.199
instructing the residents, but allowing the residents and the nurses who were involved in the care to voice their thoughts on what was happening and to have mechanisms for um birectional communication and feedback afterward. We

144
01:53:33.199 --> 01:53:48.560
would debrief at the end, make sure we would express what we did well and what we thought was we could do better. Um, I think that framework I think would translate well onto the

145
01:53:48.560 --> 01:54:05.360
advisory council about kind of communicating openly about issues and being able to resolve conflicts in a productive way. >> Anyone else? Michael. Um, thank you very much for your application. Um, I'm

146
01:54:05.360 --> 01:54:23.840
curious about uh your your perspective um working in a hospital um and uh understanding how the work that you do in hospitals um either will support or conflict with um the concerns that are

147
01:54:23.840 --> 01:54:40.000
addressed through public health advocates. Um, do you have a a specific example in mind? >> Um, no. I'm I'm wondering if there are situations within your work at the

148
01:54:40.000 --> 01:54:55.679
hospital where sort of public health issues come to the four um that that could reasonably be brought to the local level. >> Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Um, so

149
01:54:55.679 --> 01:55:11.040
when I take care of patients in the hospital, I'm managing everything about their hospital stay from medications to what specialists are involved to even a large part of what we do is discharge planning which is actually a

150
01:55:11.040 --> 01:55:28.000
multid-disciplinary effort that involves case managers, social workers, nurses, physical therapy, occupational therapy. Basically, we figure out what our patients living situation is and whether that person can go back home safely once

151
01:55:28.000 --> 01:55:44.880
they've uh received their medical treatment and have improved and what we can do to make them safer at home and sometimes that involves setting up home services. Um, we I I recently took care of someone who

152
01:55:44.880 --> 01:56:02.880
had extreme food insecurity, had lost a lot of weight, was very malnourished and underweight. And that's one of the things that I think translates very well to the community level, ensuring that people are having their basic everyday needs met.

153
01:56:02.880 --> 01:56:19.599
>> Um, and we do that. We we really do think about what we what patients need at home and if they can go home, what we can do to to optimize their ability to continue living at home versus um do they need to go to a nursing facility? That kind of thing. That's

154
01:56:19.599 --> 01:56:38.400
it's a daily conversation. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> All right. Thank you very much for your interview. >> Thank We'll likely make a decision in the coming weeks once we hear from the other candidates. >> Appreciate it. Thank you.

155
01:56:38.400 --> 01:57:04.159
>> Next up, we have Cameron Ashrafade. >> Hello. Uh, I'm Cameron Ashra. I live in Precinct Twan. And uh yeah, I am uh definitely not as qualified as the men who spoke before me, but uh I'm

156
01:57:04.159 --> 01:57:22.800
a clinical research coordinator. I work at Jaws and Diabetes Center and uh yeah, I I've always viewed uh the community as where the change we want to see in the world kind of starts. And so growing up in a family of uh physicians and seeing

157
01:57:22.800 --> 01:57:37.280
how medicine impacts different communities has always been something I've been exposed to. And so working uh with a community that's so impacted by public health, I've seen that and I would like to be involved with the

158
01:57:37.280 --> 01:57:56.239
advisory uh the advisory on public health committee and work with them to try and address some of the public health issues that face the community here in Brooklyn. Yeah. All right. Any questions? >> Um, >> go ahead, Michael.

159
01:57:56.239 --> 01:58:12.320
>> So, so I I guess I I'll start with with a question that would either come up now or later. Um, you've you've applied to be on two commissions. >> Um, and I'm wondering uh whether you have a preference between the two um or

160
01:58:12.320 --> 01:58:27.360
how you how you sort of compare your interests between the two commissions. Yeah, I I don't necessarily have a preference between the two. I they're both kind of aspects that have really been of interest to me kind of throughout my life. I've always been

161
01:58:27.360 --> 01:58:45.360
drawn to medicine and so I've always had the familial connection there as well and been interested in that. And so that is kind of the basis of why I'm interested in public health and especially having seen its impact. But in terms of the conservation commission, I was always or I became very interested

162
01:58:45.360 --> 01:59:03.199
in conservation and ecology in uh college and took a lot of classes on it. And so that's why I really applied to the two because they're two items that have really stood out to me especially lately and uh things I'd like to pursue. >> Thank you. A question I have for you.

163
01:59:03.199 --> 01:59:19.760
You uh mention in your application that you grew up around the phrase, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Can you talk about how you would want to uh sort of actuate that saying on the through your work on the public health advisory committee?

164
01:59:19.760 --> 01:59:36.480
>> Yeah, I think a lot of that really comes down to emphasizing screening for chronic diseases. I think um what's very important is catching these diseases early so that you can treat them and manage them within patients. And so on a broader scale, if we can help the

165
01:59:36.480 --> 01:59:52.080
community design programs that allow more people to get checked for chronic diseases, um check their blood pressure, their uh blood sugar levels, these different chronic diseases will give people a better opportunity to get

166
01:59:52.080 --> 02:00:08.719
earlier treatment, earlier care, and help improve health. And I think that a lot of the preventive measures that have been uh supported by the council uh such as the be well uh initiative is important but I think there's also an

167
02:00:08.719 --> 02:00:23.840
ability to do more. >> Yeah. You you work with uh Joselyn diabetes uh is it center or >> center? Yeah. >> Center. Um and diabetes lends itself to public health um initiatives. Do you

168
02:00:23.840 --> 02:00:40.080
have any um ideas that we're uh ideas for um the council to work on that we're not working on now with respect to uh diabetes care and other chronic diseases like that? I mean you mentioned for

169
02:00:40.080 --> 02:00:58.239
example checking uh for you know um blood sugar um uh and other things you know that can be done at a local level. Are there any other question or ideas you have? >> Yeah, I think um

170
02:00:58.239 --> 02:01:15.520
I think it really comes down to screening for for the disease and its complications and improving like awareness and education around it and um yeah so I think it's really kind of >> how how would how could the uh council

171
02:01:15.520 --> 02:01:33.199
advisory council contribute to that? >> I think uh it's just using or pushing forward initiatives that make it more accessible. Um, and I think if if we can increase the access to the uh screening measures then and make it easier to

172
02:01:33.199 --> 02:01:52.400
screen it might be >> else a general. So, uh, why why now? Why are you sort of in, for lack of a better term, inspired to get involved in one of the committees that you're applying for?

173
02:01:52.400 --> 02:02:08.320
>> Yeah. Uh, so I've been in Brooklyn now for the past two years. Um, and then I went to BU before that. So, I've always I've been around the area for about six years. and um kind of becoming part of the community and and seeing its impact

174
02:02:08.320 --> 02:02:24.560
on me. I want to also try and help improve the community around me. So, get involved. >> All right. All right. Uh so, thank you again for your interview and we will get back to you at some point in the future after we've interviewed all the candidates. >> Thank you.

175
02:02:24.560 --> 02:02:47.440
>> Next up, we have Solana Hanok. >> She's online. Hello. >> Feel free to turn on your camera if you can. You You don't You're not obligated to. >> Um, sorry. My connection is horrible when I turn on my camera, so I usually

176
02:02:47.440 --> 02:03:03.760
keep it off. >> That's all right. So, start whenever you're ready. >> Okay. Um, thank you so much for having me. My name is Siana Hanuk. I'm a rising ninth grader and I live um in precinct 17. I'm honestly so excited today uh to

177
02:03:03.760 --> 02:03:19.679
be here because public health is something that my friends and I live through every single day. Um whether we're living uh or dealing with stress, mental health, or seeing vaping trends around town. Um, I might not have a

178
02:03:19.679 --> 02:03:34.239
medical degree yet, but I do have a front row seat to what Brooklyn Youth is actually experiencing. I'm incredibly eager to learn from all of you, bring a fresh student perspective to the table, and help make our community a healthier

179
02:03:34.239 --> 02:03:52.159
place for everyone. Thank you. >> All right, any questions for Selena, >> Michael? Um, so first of all, thank you uh also for your for your application and your interest in getting involved.

180
02:03:52.159 --> 02:04:07.760
Um I'm wondering uh if you can speak to any more uh detail or specificity uh in terms of the ways in which the public health council can specifically engage

181
02:04:07.760 --> 02:04:23.679
um on these questions of youth mental health um or um the other challenges to which you have the front row seat. Um before I can like talk about um a

182
02:04:23.679 --> 02:04:40.320
sort of uh solution, I would like to talk to like talk about a specific problem I see a lot of. Um and it's like when it comes to vaping, smoking, drug abuse, and even sexual harassment, a lot of Brooklyn youth treat these serious

183
02:04:40.320 --> 02:04:54.800
dangers as a joke or see them as something completely distant from their own lives. And um if you were to talk to one of my friends or peers at school about substance abuse, uh their common

184
02:04:54.800 --> 02:05:11.199
reaction would be to laugh it off or say that would never happen to me. Um it's I believe it is because they see these issues um in in movies or extreme scenarios that only happen somewhere

185
02:05:11.199 --> 02:05:27.679
else. And because of that, standard health awareness campaigns feel boring um and totally disconnected from their daily reality. And off the top of my head, I suppose I have a goal, which is um to stop talking at students or

186
02:05:27.679 --> 02:05:44.080
teenagers and to start talking with them. Um because if we want teenagers to take these issues seriously, we have to um change both who is delivering the message and how it is being delivered. That is just my opinion.

187
02:05:44.080 --> 02:05:59.119
>> Thank you very much. >> Anyone else? So, a question I have for you, I see that you have uh worked uh on a capstone project advocating for a right to counsel for residents in civil eviction

188
02:05:59.119 --> 02:06:15.360
cases. Can you talk a little bit about how that might inform your activities on the advisory council on public health? >> Um, I suppose some of the things things that I've learned from my research and presenting it to people could uh

189
02:06:15.360 --> 02:06:32.639
contribute to what I can provide on the council. Um it has certainly increased my knowledge on the struggles that people who are impoverished face. Uh it also has improved my ability to pre

190
02:06:32.639 --> 02:06:48.800
present and I guess invoke a sort of feeling of pathos from um an audience including my actual peers. I managed to convince my friends to actually feel remorse and want to dedicate time to

191
02:06:48.800 --> 02:07:04.079
helping these people who are facing eviction unfairly. >> All right. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Well, as I've said to the other two candidates, we'll make our decision at a later date once we've interviewed everyone. Uh, thank you very

192
02:07:04.079 --> 02:07:19.840
much, and you'll hear from us soon. >> Thank you. Have a nice day, all of you guys. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next, we will move to interviews for the naming committee. And >> excuse me, David, just before we go on, I just want to confirm there was a

193
02:07:19.840 --> 02:07:38.880
fourth candidate in the packet. Has that person been rescheduled or pulled? >> She was not able to make it. We put her on for the 28th. >> All right. So, now we'll move on to the naming committee, Robert Moran. >> I did share this spreadsheet in the one

194
02:07:38.880 --> 02:07:54.639
drive with everybody. So, but there is currently one vacancy. >> And how many candidates? >> Um, just this one. >> Good evening. My name is Robert Moran. I live in precinct 11 and I've been a

195
02:07:54.639 --> 02:08:12.480
resident of Brooklyn for over 30 years. And ever since I was a a child, I've had an interest in history. And when I saw the opportunity to serve on the naming committee, I thought this would this would fit my interest

196
02:08:12.480 --> 02:08:27.679
well. And uh I can tell you I've I can bring a collaborative effort. I'm a commercial real estate attorney and I'm used to working with with other people in order to get things

197
02:08:27.679 --> 02:08:44.960
done and to listen to other people. So that's what one of the things I can bring to the naming committee. And I would I'm studious and I'd be prepared and I think I would give a present a

198
02:08:44.960 --> 02:09:02.639
different view. My opinions might be a little uh different than some other people's in the town. My politics would be more to the right of center. So I would give a a I would give some diversity to to the board.

199
02:09:02.639 --> 02:09:18.719
And I think it's important that that we name that we that we name uh facilities have to after people that are historically significant and uh

200
02:09:18.719 --> 02:09:37.040
as uh the general criteria for the Brooklyn naming committee I think is excellent. I when I when I wrote my little present little presentation, I hadn't read frankly the Brooklyn naming committee their uh criteria and I agree

201
02:09:37.040 --> 02:09:54.480
with that criteria and I think I would I would be an asset asset to the committee and thank you for the opportunity. >> All right, any questions? So one question I have when you describe

202
02:09:54.480 --> 02:10:11.840
yourself as right of center how do you feel that would manifest in terms of your role with selecting names or considering names? >> Uh in considering names I would I would take into consideration all factors but

203
02:10:11.840 --> 02:10:27.840
I think coming from the right of center I might have a different perspective and uh that that's all I can say. I haven't I don't have any agenda. I'm not here to say, well, let's name everything for Ronald Reagan or something. I don't have

204
02:10:27.840 --> 02:10:44.639
any preconceived notions. Do I have someone I think who is missing in Brooklyn? Quite frankly, Henry Hobson Richardson. He's the most famous American architect maybe of ever, certainly of the 19th

205
02:10:44.639 --> 02:11:00.880
century. He didn't just live, he lived, he worked, he died, and he's buried in Bur right here in Brooklyn. He collaborated with Frederick Law Olmstead, you know, the the uh founder of landscape

206
02:11:00.880 --> 02:11:16.719
architecture and he's forgotten. I mean, you might look at Trinity, Trinity Church in Copley Square and someone might mention Richard, you know, Rich, it's Richardson Roman-esque, but I don't think we should

207
02:11:16.719 --> 02:11:32.960
forget people from history, particularly someone with connections to Brooklyn. Bernard, >> in your um application, you talk about as you're talking about now um naming uh

208
02:11:32.960 --> 02:11:48.719
buildings or other things after people uh with a connection to Brooklyn even though even though even if they are nationally significant. Uh are you suggesting that the current uh mission statement be changed because it does

209
02:11:48.719 --> 02:12:05.599
allow uh national noteworthy public figures or officials Uh, I would say my I would I don't have a problem with national noteworthy public officials, but I I think it I think it's important to have a

210
02:12:05.599 --> 02:12:25.280
connection to Brooklyn, but but I wouldn't rule out naming something something for a nationally noteworthy public person. Anyone else? All right. Well, thank you very much for your interview and we'll get back to you

211
02:12:25.280 --> 02:12:41.840
once we've interviewed all candidates. We do consider uh applications on a rolling basis. It's something that we're likely going to move away from because that does create in my opinion at least too much of an open-ended application process. Uh but in the in the meantime,

212
02:12:41.840 --> 02:12:58.560
it's not closed yet applications. So, we will get back to you. >> Thank you again. >> All right. So now we will move on to interviews for candidates for the conservation commission and welcome back chairman Ashravad.

213
02:12:58.560 --> 02:13:14.320
So there's currently one vacancy. Um there will be one pending because the chair is resigning when a replacement is appointed. We do have four applicants total for the two potential vacancies.

214
02:13:14.320 --> 02:13:34.880
>> Right. Hello again. Um, yeah. Uh, so I'm also applying to the conservation commission. In college, I took a lot of courses on conservation and ecology because it's something that really interested me. And so I think in uh Brooklyn, one of the

215
02:13:34.880 --> 02:13:50.079
things that really stands out is the parks around the the town and the green space which really sets Brookline apart from pretty much anywhere I've seen. And I think that a lot has been done that's really incredible, such as the studios

216
02:13:50.079 --> 02:14:06.079
without walls. And at the same time, I think the ecological purpose of the wetlands and the emerald necklace and the parks is also very important. So, um yeah, I'm applying for the commission um

217
02:14:06.079 --> 02:14:23.119
because I'm interested in it and I'd like to uh learn a lot more and uh help serve the community. >> All right, any questions, Michael? Um I'm curious as to whether there's any particular aspect of the charge of the commission that you are

218
02:14:23.119 --> 02:14:38.880
interested in sort of diving into in particular. >> Yeah. So I'm I'm very interested in the work to try and protect the wetlands. I mean the wetlands are very important for carbon sequestration and so I think that's an important ecological role and so I think that's very exciting but I

219
02:14:38.880 --> 02:14:54.079
think also kind of blending that with the recreational use of the the lands is also important. So, I'm excited to work with that. >> Thank you. >> Else, Amanda, >> uh, you you touched on something that I

220
02:14:54.079 --> 02:15:09.280
I've raised with other, uh, appointee appointees, potential appointees to this commission, which is applicants. There you go. Um, which is how how do you think about sort of expanding access to

221
02:15:09.280 --> 02:15:26.079
conservation lands and balancing recreation? um with the needs to uh keep the um environmental landscape as as it is, right?

222
02:15:26.079 --> 02:15:44.239
>> Yeah, it's it's it's definitely a balancing act and I think you kind of have to tow the line a little bit kind of as we do now. I mean, if you look at the Muddy River, there's the walkway there. uh a lot of uh the parkland has area where pe

223
02:15:44.239 --> 02:15:58.800
areas where people can go but it also serves the kind of ecological uh function that it's supposed to and so I think that is important the work to replant kind of the the wetland um

224
02:15:58.800 --> 02:16:17.280
flora is very important and I think it's kind of managing managing it to make sure that both services are kind of being cared for. >> Sorry. >> Have you attended any of the meetings of

225
02:16:17.280 --> 02:16:32.240
the Conservation Commission? And what do you think about what they do? >> Uh I I unfortunately have not had a chance to. It's been a very um crazy June and and May for me, but um I'm hoping to go to them even if I don't get

226
02:16:32.240 --> 02:16:49.120
the uh the appointment. So >> yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we'll get back to you once we've considered all the applicants. All right. With that, we will move toward our next agenda item, which is

227
02:16:49.120 --> 02:17:06.160
the discussion of dissolution of a list of uh public bodies. And that list is other post employment benefits. although we may need to hold off on that as that's a requirement when

228
02:17:06.160 --> 02:17:23.280
we look to set up an OPED trust. So that needs to stay active for some period of time and the committee would meet once a year for that purpose. Uh so we can't quite move yet on that one. Uh but it was on our list as we discussed in our workshop. Also on the list, expenditures

229
02:17:23.280 --> 02:17:39.359
and revenue study committee, pre-production committee, climate action committee, vision zero committee, CIMS oversight committee with a potential merge into a new committee, surveillance technology and military type equipment committee, an information technology

230
02:17:39.359 --> 02:17:55.760
advisory committee. And those last two are also possibly to be merged into a new committee. So any discussion on removing these? Michael, >> I just want to make sure it's clear. The tree protection committee's work uh is

231
02:17:55.760 --> 02:18:11.840
intended to be folded into another committee. Is that right? >> Was this was this >> one of those? >> I believe there was overlap with the tree planting committee and there was confusion about why there were why there were dual committees that seemed to serve a purpose and we agreed that the

232
02:18:11.840 --> 02:18:27.519
tree protect the tree planting committee needed to stay in place. It's one of the oldest committees that we have. I think it might be the oldest in the Commonwealth as well. um and that the tree protection would had um served a specific purpose that has now been um fulfilled. >> Okay.

233
02:18:27.519 --> 02:18:44.160
Any other questions, comments? >> I re excuse me, I received a comment from Amy Hmel. I don't know if she circulated to other people. Um but uh she emphasizes with respect to the um uh surveillance technology and military

234
02:18:44.160 --> 02:18:59.679
type equipment committee which she and I sat on that it's very important that the committee that replaces the three uh that you mentioned include people who have really a high level of technical expertise because

235
02:18:59.679 --> 02:19:17.040
these issues are very very difficult and and not only technical expertise but just an understanding of the balance has be uh um made between safety and uh privacy. uh you know many times uh

236
02:19:17.040 --> 02:19:32.559
safety and privacy are seen as in conflict but in fact you know uh they have to go together as we saw during the um the co outbreak when you know failure to uh provide privacy to people's

237
02:19:32.559 --> 02:19:50.000
information undermine their willingness to uh participate in working with the community to ensure safety uh of uh people you know from um uh covid So you know I think she's she's right on this that you know this whatever replaces

238
02:19:50.000 --> 02:20:07.120
this committee should include you highly uh competent people from his technical standpoint but also people who have thought about you know that relationship between privacy and uh safety. So >> all right >> and and that comes up all the time.

239
02:20:07.120 --> 02:20:27.439
>> I understand that we have a member of the CIMS committee in attendance Ian Palenomb. Uh love to hear from you your thoughts about potential disillusion. >> Good evening. Ian Paul. I live in precinct 6. I'll make clear I'm speaking only for myself

240
02:20:27.439 --> 02:20:43.359
and as an individual member of the committee, not for the committee or its chair or anybody else. Uh I have an outline, but I'll truncate it. Um I assure you I'm not planning a filibuster to try to keep the committee alive. Um, I personally have no problem with

241
02:20:43.359 --> 02:20:58.000
the demise of the camera committee. We haven't met since 2024. Nobody seems to miss us particularly. And I don't think it's because we're so forgettable or the issue is forgettable. I just think there's there's really no

242
02:20:58.000 --> 02:21:17.120
need at this point with all these complicated issues of privacy versus um safety, privacy versus evidence. Um there's no need to devote a separate committee to 11 cameras on on uh polls

243
02:21:17.120 --> 02:21:33.600
at busy intersections. Uh when we were on the committee, we made basically two recommendations that were adopted. Uh, one was to extend the retention period for the video to 30 days so it would comply with state law and the other was to keep the cameras on

244
02:21:33.600 --> 02:21:51.200
24/7 which kind of happened by default um after the shrouds that um were supposed to cover them during the day became obsolete. Um otherwise every meeting we basically learned there were x number of requests for video for either criminal or traffic

245
02:21:51.200 --> 02:22:06.960
or civil investigations that it helped in some cases didn't help in others but there is no instance where it hurt. Uh and that's important as you go forward and consider merging this topic into another committee.

246
02:22:06.960 --> 02:22:24.960
um is that I think these I was on the committee from about 2012, which was a couple years after it started. And you may recall that the cameras themselves really became kind of a an easy target and a and and a symbolic target and

247
02:22:24.960 --> 02:22:40.240
symbolic of the issue. Um because there were concerns there are these cameras and what are they going to be used for? And in those 16 years or so since they've been up, there hasn't been even a single concrete allegation that

248
02:22:40.240 --> 02:22:56.000
anybody misused them. Now, other types of intrusive powers that the government have has, which I'm familiar with as a prosecutor, have much greater potential for misuse and much greater immediate need for guard rails and regulation and

249
02:22:56.000 --> 02:23:14.319
and ethical handling. Um, but I just hope that um as you go forward and merge it that you keep in mind kind of the practical considerations and that if you dissolve this committee,

250
02:23:14.319 --> 02:23:30.640
it's because it's not needed and not because there was a perception that maybe we weren't anti- camera enough. Um, because all we did was make a couple of recommendations that really reinforce the system. um committee had two criminal defense attorneys on it. Uh a third guy who

251
02:23:30.640 --> 02:23:45.600
worked closely with a criminal defense attorney, had me, a prosecutor who now handles mostly law enforcement misconduct cases. So, we're we're hardly in the tank for anybody. I'm also somebody who was quite attuned to the

252
02:23:45.600 --> 02:24:02.479
privacy issues um both from my job and from having a father who had a long and inaccurate FBI file. at least the parts that you could read that weren't redacted. Um, but I've always been distressed when kind of a reaction and ideology

253
02:24:02.479 --> 02:24:17.920
uh overcomes the practical considerations. Um, you saw it with uh kind of the back and forth and the initial compromise where people said let's abolish these cameras completely. Then there was a rape that

254
02:24:17.920 --> 02:24:34.160
was solved with the help of footage and it kind of swung back and and again the argument became symbolic rather than practical. Um it seems very unlikely in in um Brooklyn that you'll have a shot spotter

255
02:24:34.160 --> 02:24:50.080
debate which is a good thing given what's been happening in Cambridge lately. Um but again um Bernard I think you uh and by the way Mr. Green. I think um overall the main thing I wanted to do was to thank the

256
02:24:50.080 --> 02:25:06.880
select board for asking me to do this over the last decade. Although Mr. Green, I think you're the only one who's really to blame for my being on it >> because everybody else can on the board afterwards. >> Um but thanks. Um, and if when you form

257
02:25:06.880 --> 02:25:22.880
a committee, you ever uh ask me to uh serve and pontificate about this stuff again, I assure you that uh it'll be well worth what you pay me. Thanks. I I was actually about to bring that up because given the depth of your

258
02:25:22.880 --> 02:25:38.960
experience in this and also how you scour our agendas apparently and became aware that we would be discussing this and decided to come in and speak to us about your experience with it. That's very much appreciated and certainly uh as what we're really looking to do here

259
02:25:38.960 --> 02:25:54.240
is not disillusion per se but more of a merger. We have a long list of committees and boards in town and some of them deal with overlapping matters and from a public perspective sort of the average resident might not always be

260
02:25:54.240 --> 02:26:11.760
able to tell what fits into which group and why we have three groups dealing with X issue and none dealing with Y issue. So we're trying to clean that up a little bit and that's one of the goals of this process. So, I don't want you to feel that the work you put into this

261
02:26:11.760 --> 02:26:29.040
committee was all for not or that we don't value it or that we're not going to be uh considering related issues in the future. Uh actually, we are. Anthony Buono who's not with us in person today is sort of the designated chair for this

262
02:26:29.040 --> 02:26:45.439
new uh committee that will form that will be a merger of CIMS oversight surveillance technology and military type equipment and information technology advisory committee uh and as a a specific charge is built for that and a decision made about how many

263
02:26:45.439 --> 02:26:59.920
members certainly your application would be very welcome. >> Thank you. I did get a tip off in an email from your administrator. So, okay. It wasn't I didn't do any scouring. Appreciate it. Thanks.

264
02:26:59.920 --> 02:27:15.600
>> Thank you. >> All right. Any other discussion? >> Um just just an administrative question. I did notice the climate action committee that's listed here. Um I looked on the website just now for like

265
02:27:15.600 --> 02:27:31.280
its archive and didn't find it. And it looks like it's actually was already dissolved as the part of the creation of ZAB. So I'm wondering if there was something we missed in terms of why it's being called up again for dissolution.

266
02:27:31.280 --> 02:27:47.920
>> Not sure why it's on the list, but it doesn't hurt to vote to dissolve it again, I guess. Um and I I just had one point on the vision zero committee which I generally agree can be dissolved but I do want to make sure that we're getting follow up on the condition of appropriation

267
02:27:47.920 --> 02:28:04.160
um especially the working group to actually address vision zero. Um >> just flagging that again as a >> we don't need this committee ongoing if we are moving forward on vision zero. Yeah, I know DPW's been working on um a

268
02:28:04.160 --> 02:28:20.560
new process and engaging with the transportation board to meet the condition of appropriations. >> Right. Just to reiterate for the public, we're not necessarily eliminating any of the important work that took place in these committees. We are disbanding committees that have already completed

269
02:28:20.560 --> 02:28:36.960
their work, combining committees where a merger makes sense thematically and uh it's more part of a general reorganization, not so much an elimination. for example, expenditures and revenue study committee uh that was formed in the leadup to the override.

270
02:28:36.960 --> 02:28:52.640
They've made certain recommendations. We are certainly going to take those recommendations seriously and have a process in place by uh which we try to implement them. Uh but the specific work that the members of that committee

271
02:28:52.640 --> 02:29:08.399
engaged in has been completed. Hence why uh we will vote shortly to uh dissolve it. One more point along those lines. I do think um the committee itself, the RSC committee had some recommendations of

272
02:29:08.399 --> 02:29:24.479
the next iteration of this that happens um that might be helpful to integrate if and when we do form a next iteration of that committee in the future. And I'm not sure exactly how to like keep that for the future charge, but at least like

273
02:29:24.479 --> 02:29:42.080
their recommendations should go into uh the next time we're discussing as a select board creating a similar committee. >> Okay. Yeah. We I think we also talked about a lot of that work maybe being done by the town school partnership as well. >> Yeah. No, I I think it it was more just

274
02:29:42.080 --> 02:29:58.880
the um the comments on setting up the committee to begin with. Yeah. >> Oh, just the overall kind of premise and >> Yeah. and the charge and and how to actually set it up to be successful in future. >> Yep. >> All right. So, on that note, I move that

275
02:29:58.880 --> 02:30:18.160
we dissolve the public bodies listed under 10A with the exception of OPED. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony. All right. And I also vote yes. All right, with that we will move to

276
02:30:18.160 --> 02:30:34.960
2026 special town meeting dates. Question of setting the dates for the 2026 special town meeting. So in your packet you have the uh proposed schedule for town meeting. Uh we are looking to have a warrant opening date of August 6th which is a Thursday and a warrant

277
02:30:34.960 --> 02:30:50.319
close date which is September 3rd which is also a Thursday. Then you count 75 days from that date and you have your town meeting date. That brings us to November 17th for the first night of town meeting. We are looking to hold um placeholders for additional meetings on

278
02:30:50.319 --> 02:31:07.359
the 18th and 19th. Then we skip the week of Thanksgiving and we're looking at reserving December uh one, two, and three, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday if needed. Uh we've coordinated with the town clerk and the moderator. Those dates work for them. And we've also reserved the dates at the high school as

279
02:31:07.359 --> 02:31:23.200
well. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, I move approval of the setting of the dates for the 2026 special town meeting as just outlined. >> Yes. >> Bernard votes yes. Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda,

280
02:31:23.200 --> 02:31:37.760
>> yes. >> Anthony, you're muted in case you're trying to vote. >> I am. Yes. >> Okay. And if you'd like a chance to vote on our previous one, I'll give you that. Do you also want to vote to uh dissolve

281
02:31:37.760 --> 02:31:53.760
all of the public bodies minus OPED? Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. And I also vote yes. Moving back to the dates for the 2026 special town meeting. All right. With that, we will move to our next item, which is reappoints.

282
02:31:53.760 --> 02:32:11.040
Question of reappointing the following members to the Brookline Commission for Women. I would suggest that uh two of these members be uh moved for appointment to three-year terms and one of them to a one-year term. Uh this is

283
02:32:11.040 --> 02:32:27.120
at the request of the uh chair of the uh Brooklyn Commission for Women and I'm inclined to respect her suggestions. Uh so I would like to Any further discussion? All right. So I would like to move that

284
02:32:27.120 --> 02:32:43.680
we appoint to threeear terms Eileen Lee and Melissa Mucin. Bernard. >> Yes. Uh >> do we want to give the start and end dates of those terms or do we know what they are? Or can we just say three >> is it some December 1st?

285
02:32:43.680 --> 02:32:59.840
>> No, the Brooklyn Commission Women expiration dates are 6:30 26. >> Okay. So, starting >> July 1st would be the start through June 30 of three years from now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, Bernard voted yes. Michael, >> yes.

286
02:32:59.840 --> 02:33:15.680
>> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. And I move that we appoint Julia Kazan for a one-year appointment. Bernard, >> yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony,

287
02:33:15.680 --> 02:33:30.640
>> yes. >> And I also vote yes. So, our next item uh relates to the September 1st, 2026 state primary. Question of executing the warrant for the September 1st state primary.

288
02:33:30.640 --> 02:33:47.920
Is that a Tuesday? Because we have um a meeting. I thought it was September 1st, maybe a second. >> It is a Tuesday. >> Okay. So, that clashes with the meeting that is posted on the website.

289
02:33:47.920 --> 02:34:02.960
>> You can always change that. >> Okay. Yeah, I'm suggesting that we change it. Okay. >> The agenda hasn't been posted or anything. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, you were suggesting that we not meet on election day. >> Yeah. That's usually the practice. >> Seems reasonable.

290
02:34:02.960 --> 02:34:19.520
>> You're talking about September 1st. >> Yeah. >> I'm just curious. Why do you think it's a potential conflict with Select Board to meet? >> I saw it on the website. >> Okay. >> It's listed there as meeting. Let me see if I can find it.

291
02:34:19.520 --> 02:34:34.880
Well, the issue of whether we have a select board meeting or not on September 1st can be addressed later, but for purposes of this particular vote and executing the warrant. So, something that I'm curious about, how is it up to us to decide when a state primary

292
02:34:34.880 --> 02:34:50.800
occurs? >> I'd have to ask uh for a reference to a law that uh gives it to you as your authority, but I I believe that's why the request is coming to you from the town clerk. I think you need to set the dates just like you set the dates for the warrant. You set the dates for the elections as well.

293
02:34:50.800 --> 02:35:06.880
>> All right. Okay. Well, I certainly would like us to match the rest of the state and I think we probably would have to anyway. Uh, so I move that we execute the warrant for the September 1st state primary. Bernard, >> yes. >> Michael,

294
02:35:06.880 --> 02:35:21.040
>> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. Next item 13B, uh, question of establishing early voting hours for the September 1st, 2026 state primary. And do we have what those early

295
02:35:21.040 --> 02:35:36.640
voting hours will be? >> Yes. I believe that they are Saturday, August 22nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Um, those are early voting at the Potterham

296
02:35:36.640 --> 02:35:51.760
Library and the Koolage Corner Library. And then we also have um additional uh early voting for the state primary in at town hall which would be Saturday August 22nd from 10 to 4, Sunday the 23rd same

297
02:35:51.760 --> 02:36:09.280
same 10 to 4. Monday the 24th 8 to 5 Tuesday August 25th 8:5 Wednesday August 26th 8:5 Thursday the 27th same 8 to 5 and then Friday the 28th of August 8 to 12:30. and that is uh town hall early

298
02:36:09.280 --> 02:36:25.520
voting hours. >> All right. Thank you, Amanda. >> Uh I just have a question. Do you know if they are still recruiting election volunteers for that primary? And if so, how might someone apply? >> I would uh refer any interested parties

299
02:36:25.520 --> 02:36:43.120
in participating in uh elections to the town clerk, and I'm sure that he would welcome any uh willing and able recruits. Thank you. >> All right. All right. With that, I move approval of establishing early voting hours for the September 1st state primary as just laid out. Bernard,

300
02:36:43.120 --> 02:36:59.439
>> yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. And now our last agenda item, question of assigning police details for the September 1st, 2026 state primary. I'll go ahead and

301
02:36:59.439 --> 02:37:16.319
just move this out. Right. >> All right. Sorry. Go ahead, Michael. >> I'm sorry. I have I have just one clarification for the officers that are assigned during early voting hours. Um I just want to be clear that the uh officers assigned during Putterham Library in Koolage Corner are only for

302
02:37:16.319 --> 02:37:33.200
the early voting hours at those sites as opposed to all hours of early voting as it says in the letter. In the strict reading of the letter, all hours of early voting would include all of the hours that are at town hall but not Putterham Library and college corner. And I assume we are not

303
02:37:33.200 --> 02:37:49.760
assigning officers for those other sites if there's no early voting taking place at those sites. >> Yeah, I think you can clarify that in your vote that it is specific to the assignment at the Putterham Library and Coolage Corner Library uh and not the town hall.

304
02:37:49.760 --> 02:38:06.240
>> Okay. >> Yep. The assignments are are specific to the uh one officer at this particular site. >> Right. >> All right. So, I move that we assign police details for the September 1st, 2026 state primary as described as

305
02:38:06.240 --> 02:38:21.280
specific to the particular sites as outlined in the letter. >> Yes. >> Michael, >> yes. >> Amanda, >> yes. >> Anthony, >> yes. >> And I also vote yes. With that, would anyone like to participate in some more

306
02:38:21.280 --> 02:38:38.840
public comments? Nobody in the room. Anybody online? Then we are adjourned. Thank you very much everyone. >> David, thank you for an eight o'clock journal or not a journal ending early meetings. I love it.