Hit record and we'll go live in five, four, three, two, one. >> Good evening. I'm Bernard Green, chair of the Brooklyn Select Board and this is the regular meeting of the select board
for the brand new year 2026, January 6 of that year. Um, let's start off with uh any announcements or updates from the select board. I'd like to start with uh Mr. Kerry first. Oh, all right. Uh, thank you. >> Introduce our new
>> Yes. I want I want to introduce our new assistant town administrator for operations, uh, Melanie Ozka. Uh, really, uh, pleasure to have you on board. Uh, Melanie is joining us from the town of Southboro. Previously, she was also with the town of Framingham. Uh, the city of Framingham, I'm sorry, former town of Framingham, now the city
of Framingham. Um, we're delighted to have you on board. Thank you for joining our team. Uh, Melanie started on Monday. Um, so she is still getting up and running. um but we welcome her to the team and we're excited to uh uh move into 2026 with a full complement of um
from the town administrators team. So, >> thank you all. >> Welcome. >> And welcome. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> So, I see that um David Pearlman is uh on Zoom as well as um and Michael. Um but we have a quorum here in the room.
So, we're okay. We're okay without a quorum, I think. But any rate, uh, any other updates or comments from the select board? >> Michael's got his hand raised. >> Michael, go ahead. >> Uh, thank you very much, Bernard, and, uh, happy new year to everyone. Um, I would just like to take this opportunity
to remind everybody that it is not too late to get, uh, vaccinations for both, uh, influenza and COVID. Um, it is certainly running at higher levels than normal in our community and I urge everyone to take advantage of our
medical science and get vaccinated. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Anyone else, John? Um, I've become that guy who, you know, whenever there is a bit of news about
someone who has served the town for many decades, um, is the one who raises his hand and says, "I I remember the days of that person's service or some some other aspect." So, I've got two of them tonight. Um, first uh is a sort of is a
note to passing note to passing of David Turner um for a considerable number of years served as uh Brookline's legal counsel. Um Oh, yep. And uh at a time
when not not unlike the these times um there were many difficult challenges to to face uh in terms of the legal standing of this issue or that issue at town meeting or the legal standing of the town in a situation in which there
was some kind of a dispute. Um, David uh made a a real impression on people through his service and his demeanor and uh has been uh paid tribute by a number of town meeting members who like me are
sort of veterans of um town meetings for many many many years where he would be our you know on um on call expert on just about every single legal question. So, David Turner um David Turner's passing and and those who get to um
later there will be the publication of the town meeting um uh emails that have been um going back and forth in in tribute to him. So, I hope the greater public gets to read those as well. Ken Liss is being honored tonight um later
with a vote on a resolution. And uh Ken Liss is u uh unique in the history of the Brooklyn Historical Society for the number of years that he has served as president, but also for the broad range of his contributions to local history.
He he leads tours. He publishes um writeups about various aspects of Brookline history. He's kind of on call whenever there is a question um that needs to be addressed about the town's history. And um I I I can't help but
note that I I myself was a past president of the Brooklyn Historical Society. Um and not not anywhere near the number of years as Ken, nor with the sort of quality and range of things that he has contributed. Um, but I was part of a small group that conspired to
really, really, really twist his arm to get him to agree to become president. And here it is 20 plus years later. And we're um passing a resolution later um tonight in his honor. Finally, I just want to note that the pool uh the
municipal pool has opened and reopened after some really really um significant improvements. And it's well worth celebrating, but even more so, it's well worth paying a visit to the pool for those who were waiting anxiously for the improvements to be made. They've been
made and um it's back in business. So, um anybody who didn't know that, I'm glad to pass along that good news. >> Great. Thank you. Any other comments? No. Anyone on No.
Okay. Let's move on to public comment. Charlie, you want to lay out the rules and let's start off with public comment? >> Sounds good. Thank you for joining us for public comment. This is an opportunity for us to hear your perspective on the issues in Brookline
that matter to you. Each person speaking tonight is limited to 3 minutes. You don't need to use the entire time, but you may if you like. Once 15 minutes has been met, there's 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. The on-screen timer will flash orange when you have 1 minute 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 tonight must begin their comment by identifying themselves with either their with their full name, either their Brooklyn precinct number or street address and the specific topic on which they on which they wish to speak.
The board encourages but does not require that remote users turn on their video when commenting. And the first person signed up for public comment is Lisa Shat. Lisa, if you're in person, you may approach the podium. Is Lisa in person? I'm not seeing.
>> She is. Yep, she's here. >> Thank you. >> Okay. My name is Lisa Shatz and I live in precinct 11. Um, I want to refute in the strongest terms a statement made at a prior select board meeting that unfairly and inaccurately characterized
a group of Jewish Brooklyn residents, including me. The statement accused us of organizing harassment campaigns against a Muslim American teacher and a Palestinian-American high school student. In his essay, Anti-Semite and Jew, Jean
Paul Sartra states that anti-semitism is not based on false facts, but on the need to liel, which is the act of assigning intentional wrongdoing to a person or group without evidence in a way that justifies hostility. Sartra
argues that anti-semitism is liable against Jews. By Sartra's definition of anti-semitism, the affforementioned statement, and I quote, uh here's the quote, they organized harassment campaigns against the Muslim American teacher and a Palestinian American high
school student, I repeat, a high school student in Brooklyn. End quote. This statement meets all the criteria of Sarter's definition of anti-semitism. It assigns intentional wrongdoing to a group group of Jews without evidence in a way that justifies hostility. I would
like to explain what I believe the statement is referencing and also its omissions and distortions. I believe the first accusation refers to a Brooklyn math teacher who presented a bar chart of data from the Middle East that included Palestine but not Israel.
Our group did not organize about it, but I know a Jewish group outside of Brooklyn did have a letterw writing campaign to school leaders not to harass a Muslim teacher, but to asssure that anti-Israel messaging is not hidden in teachers presentations. Again, it wasn't us. But even so, implying that this was
harassment and that it was in any way due to the teachers Muslim identity is lielist and according to Sartra anti-semitic. for the latter accusation. The reality is that a group of Brooklyn Jewish parents raised concerns with Brooklyn leadership, Brooklyn school leadership about incidents and
programming we believed were harmful to Jewish students. In one case, Jewish students were deeply distressed after a school event in which Israel was accused of genocide by a high school student. We ask that similar harm not be repeated. That is not harassment. It is parents advocating for their children's safety
and well-being. Implying that Jewish parents were harassing a student and moreover doing so because of his Palestinian identity is lielist and anti-semitic. Turning Jewish parents concerns for their children into accusations of harassment distorts reality and fuels anti-semitism. It al
it also reinforces a troubling pattern in which Jewish civic participation is portrayed as suspicious or malign simply because we organize and speak up. That this is becoming commonplace can be seen from the continual labeling of our group
as an organized group when no other advocacy group and they all organize is so labeled. This labeling >> your time is expired. >> Okay, thank you. The next person signed up for public comment is Kevin Casey. Kevin, if you're
in person, you may approach the podium. >> Mr. Casey's at the podium. >> Yes. Uh Kevin Casey 50 Winchester 208 208. >> Excuse me. U Hey Charlie, is the timer on? >> There it is on. There's just an issue in the room.
>> Oh, okay. >> I guess we'll start over. >> Yes, you have you'll have three minutes. Give me one second. And it's hopefully the green. >> Thank you, Chaz. >> Can we lift the microphone for just so >> Is that better? >> I guess.
>> Yeah. >> Uh my name is Kevin Casey, 50 Winchester Street, unit 208. I'm here to read a letter I sent to the building department in file, which the uh select board, fire department, and my association has received. Dan, the information you have
provided does not align with the records I've pre previously reviewed. A few months ago, I examined the building jacket and copied all documents associated with the renovation for unit 103, David Lecolair, who's well known in these halls. At that time, there was no
job card in the file. The staff member at the counter also reviewed the online permit record with me and confirmed that there were no departmental signoffs indicating that the work had ever been completed. The original permit had
expired and was never renewed. What you recently sent appears to be a handwritten job card with no identifying number and no visible connection to the permit in question. Based on the inconsistencies and lack of proper documentation, I am increasingly
concerned there may be inappropriate coordination occurring between parties. To date, I have not seen a single document that authorizes tying into another unit's ventilation system. As a Brookline taxpayer, I am requesting the following information, which should be
readily accessible to your office. An electronic copy of the building code from the ETH edition through the most current. a citation within the eth edition that explicitly grants unit 103 uh David's unit the right to vent into an existing building's air system. This
should clearly answer whether the work was performed in compliance with the local and state law. A summary of the changes and additions made in the 8th, 9th, and 10th edition of the building code. My understanding is this information is already provided within code updates. an explanation for why the
job card only serviced recently after 3 4 months. Why is it not legible and why it contains no identifi identifiable link to the permit? An explanation for why the building department's computer system does not contain accurate
information, specifically the required signoffs from each department. The system currently shows that no signoffs occurred and I was told directly that the computer system is the official system of record at this stage. It is no longer acceptable to provide incomplete
or nonresponsive information. My family is being directly harmed by what appears to be an unlawful situation and we are entitled to full transparency. Given the seriousness of this matter, I expect to be treated as a top priority at a
response addressing each of the points above within one week uh is both reasonable and necessary. I look forward to select boards building department response. Kevin Casey, 50 Winchester Street, unit 208. I have also included in the here the job card here that's in
your packet. Uh that is chicken scratch basically and anyone would tear this apart. There's no tie into the building permit at all. >> Your time is expired. >> Thank you. >> The next person signed up for public comment is Regina Frolley. Regina, you
may approach the podium. Thank you, Regina Frolley from Precinct 16. The latest report in the newspaper online uh is about a settlement with a teacher, a family that feels they that
the teacher had been sexually abusive to their child. This kind of was the last straw for me. I just realized in the last put down a list of the last three years the settlements we paid 11 million to Gerald Dolston uh 1.3 I think to Amy
Hall a police woman there's another lawsuit in the in the makings of another police woman uh we have this gentleman Chan and we had in the DPW over $400,000 about a woman who charged uh she was
physically assaulted in the garage. We don't need an override if we're going to be paying out this money. We need supervision. We need people to do their jobs and we need justice because if it's a question of injustice, we supervising
should correct that. We're not a piggy bank. I have attended many meetings over the years sitting here heard the um auditor usually powers and Sullivan come and tell you you need to get control of things. you need to have x amount of
money in the free cash. According to the paper, we're going to be paying three million or so out of free cash, leaving us with probably a little over a million dollars there. I can assure you that would not pass even a surface audit that
that P and S Sullivan usually did, let alone a forensic. Maybe it's time for forensic. It's time for you to say we do have a role in the school budget. We do because this money is coming out of the townside to pay for that. We need to do something about it. And I'm getting
angry and I think other people are getting angry as well. We need to stop this this uh inability to control what's going on with the staff. Thank you. >> That concludes the list of people who signed up in advance to speak at public
comment. Um, people in the room could raise their hand or folks online can use the raise the hand feature to let us know if they'd like to speak with the remaining time. Okay, Bernard, there are 18 participants online and no one is indicating their desire to speak.
Thank you, Charlie. Okay, let's move on to our miscellaneous calendar. First, approval of meeting minutes from December 16, December 23, and December 29 of 2025. Uh, any corrections to those minutes? I
see that um I saw that Michael had some corrections, which I propose we accept unless someone has any questions about that. Bernard, the um I I know there were substantive changes to the 16th and
there was a lot that went on on the 16th and I'd like to propose that we delay the approval of that until I can review it in detail. >> Okay. >> Um I won't be here next week, but we can put on the agenda for the following week. >> Okay. So, let's vote on December 23rd
and December 29th. Uh those are short meetings. So, any uh further questions about those or corrections? Okay. Okay, I move approval of the minutes for December 23 and December 29, 2025.
All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak, >> I. >> Paul Warren, >> hi. >> David Pearlman, >> hi. >> Michael Rubenstein, >> I. >> Chair votes I. >> So, we will take >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Um, I I would just ask um one of my
comments was a was that there was a missing section. Um there was no reference to something that was part of the uh uh climate commu climate community leaders program climate leader communities program. Um so I would just
ask that we circulate a revised uh version of the minutes before we take them up so that we can just all see what the whole thing is as opposed to my comments on top of the old version. >> Is is this December 16? >> Yeah, this is for December 16th. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. If we could distribute it a redline version, Michael's changes and others that people may have proposed, it would be helpful because I know there's a lot of changes made. Thank you. >> Uh, we voted, right? >> Yes.
>> And chair votes I, too. >> Okay. Next, I'd like to take items 3B through 3 I in omnibus fashion, but pulling out 3 I, uh, which is the, um, resolution for Kim Liss. And I'd like to
read that because Kim Liss is such an important uh person in our community in terms of um uh the historical uh the history and the historical record that I think it it justifies spending a little
time maybe three or four minutes uh reading uh the resolution so people really uh understand you know why we're uh uh recognizing him for for his work. So, um I move that we approve um those
items. Let me first read uh the resolution and then we'll vote on all of them unless someone wants to pull out something else. Okay. Okay. This is a resolution of the Brooklyn Select Board expressing
appreciation to Kenneth Kin Liss for his exemplary service and scholarship in preserving and sharing the history of Brooklyn. Whereas the Brooklyn Select Board rightfully honors those exemplary Brooklyn residents whose civic work,
scholarship, and leadership have enriched the cultural and civic life of our town. And whereas Ken Liss has served for many years as president of the Brooklyn Historical Society, leading the organization in its mission to preserve, interpret, and promote
Brooklyn's heritage. And whereas under the leadership of Kin List, the historical society has maintained and interpreted Brookline's historic properties, including the Edward Devotion House, one of the town's oldest colonial era structures and headquarters
of the society, as well as the Widow Harris House and the Putterham School at Lars Anderson Park, thereby preserving tangible links to Brookline's colonial and early history. And whereas Kin List has developed and led walking tours and
virtual tours of Brooklyn neighborhoods and commercial corridors such as a century and a half of shopping in Coolage Corner, bringing to life the stories of the people and places that have shaped our community. And whereas Kin Lists has
overseen the historical society's expansion of online resources, making Brookline's history widely accessible through digital archives, photo collections, neighborhood histories, and innovative then and now features. And
whereas Ken Liss has contributed important research on topics of civic and social significance including the study of Brooklyn's racially restrictive covenants published as Thomas Aspenwald Davis, Amos Lawrence and Brooklyn racial
covenants uh which have helped the town and its residents confront difficult aspects of our past with honesty and rigor. And whereas T Ken List has worked with other local public historians and
educators to provide historical details and documentation for their projects such as Hidden Brookline, which provides walking tours and uncovers and educates the public about the history of enslaved people in the town and the effort of
town residents to undermine and abolish slavery. And whereas Kin List has served as an important and vital public historian, giving lectures, writing extensively for the historical society's website, and contributing articles and
commentary to Brookline News and other local outlets, where his Brooklyn past and present features have illuminated the historical context of contemporary issues. And whereas Kim Liss has worked in
partnership with town officials, school civic groups, and cultural institutions such as the public library of Brooklyn, using history to strengthen community connections and inform public discourse. And whereas through these many
contributions, Kin List has helped generations of residents and students engage more fully with Brookline's unique past, deepened civic understanding of the town's development, and inspired appreciation for the role of history in shaping our collective
identity. Now therefore, in consideration of the foregoing, on this 6th day of January, 2026, the Brooklyn Select Board on behalf of the residents of Brooklyn hereby acknowledges, commends, and thanks
Kenneth Kin Liss for his outstanding and sustained contributions to the town of Brooklyn's historical preservation, public education, and civic life, and expresses its deepest gratitude for his scholarship. ship, stewardship, and
leadership signed by the Brooklyn Select Board. I wanted to read that um fairly long uh resolution because Kim Liss is really really important to Brooklyn and I think it's important that people like
Kim Liss be um uh be publicized to the residents so they can appreciate what he does. So with that um I move approval of items 3B through 3 I which includes the
resolution of for Kim list. All in favor please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak >> I. >> Paul Warren >> I. >> David Carlman >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein >> I >> and chair votes I. >> Bernard. Thank you for reading that. I
think it was uh really important to >> Yeah. Thank you. >> acknowledge him. >> Yeah. Okay, let's move on to our main calendar starting off with boards and interviews
uh boards and commissions interviews. Um so I want to start off by saying as I have done before uh to u say what I think the select board should be looking for in candidates for public bodies and
public bodies is what we're calling our boards commissions committees and other formal bodies like that. In general I think we should be looking for four things. Does the applicant have the skills and background that is required
to be successful on the public body? Does the applicant have good ideas and perspectives on the work of the public body? Does the applicant bring relevant diversity to the public body to ensure that all communities and perspectives
are represented in the work the public body does on behalf of the town? And four, can the applicant work effectively and respectfully with other members of the public body and with town staff that will be working with the board with the
uh public body to evaluate candidates. We will gather information in on these areas from the application submitted the interview and from town staff or current members of the particular public body. We have three applicants to fill four
open seats on the Commission on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations. I will note that a fifth seat is held by Chi-Chi Woo, whose appointment was voted two to two at a meeting in December, which means that no action was taken, and she will remain a
member of the commission with all the rights and duties of other commissioners until her seat is addressed by the select board. So the first uh applicant is Annne Treker who I believe is in the audience back.
>> So please introduce yourself and tell us why you're interested in being a member of the uh commission. >> I'm Ann Treker. I live in precinct 6. I'm a former town meeting member. Just so you know that um I'm interested in this commission because uh these
issues are something that I feel like I've been advocating for uh for most of my adult life. They're really important to me um personally. Also in my role I was an occupational therapist in Boston public schools for many years and dealt with um issues of inclusion of various
kinds of people who were not the majority including individuals with disabilities and I've been working you I've been sort of involved in that for a long time. I also think that this this particular commission I I'm I'm um personally looking for a way to be part
of the town government that's a little bit smaller than being on town meeting. I feel like it's a better forum for me and so that's part of why I'm interested in being on a commission. I was um well I can mention that later but anyway um I feel like the issues that are relevant
to the this particular commission are really very important to the town of Brooklyn. Uh the town of Brooklyn's a very progressive city with lots of progressive policies. However, we are primarily white upper middle class individuals and because of our
backgrounds and I include myself in this background and in this group of people because of who we are, it sometimes is challenging or not always as easy to be cognizant of what uh the diverse members of our community are feeling. And I think this board is really important in
terms of as they list their mission on the website of supporting and encouraging tolerance and encouraging cooperation and encouraging um um ways to work together to see that that diversity in Brooklyn is both protected
and celebrated. So that's sort of my general reason. >> Great. Thank you. I'm going to ask just suggest Ian when you respond to questions just because we have a couple of members remote if you could get right close to the microphone. You have a great voice for speaking but >> yeah I'm pretty loud
>> be captured there. >> Hey one of the things I noticed is that you got a BS from Temple University. >> I did that that won't help you. I mean I grew up in North Philadelphia. I know Temple very well. Yeah. Um, but I'm not going to, you know, make or allow that
to bias me in favor of your >> I have a degree in dance from Template University. >> Okay. Um, my >> I went on to be an OT after that, man. Okay. >> Um, in your application, you mentioned the need for more work in the area of
DEI. I think you mentioned some of that um in in your remarks, but you know, do you have some other additional thoughts uh about that kind of work? >> Yeah. about things that the commission could be doing. >> Well, I I I think that what's going to be really important is for this
commission to get enough members that that as a group they can move forward with some recommendation with recommendations. as I understand that I I've spoken with Kevin McKenzie a few times to try to I was trying to figure out what this commission did that was different than the town office and how
they work together and it it's um feels like the this commission does a lot of support for the town office and helps out in some of those ways. I think that that's the the first thing I think um I think uh community relations is also an
area that I'd like to see it would be nice to see more of. I I feel like that's um you know getting in touch with what the community thinks getting in getting information to the community about in general about what's going to happen through either um you know
meetings or things online or whatever would would be good. Um um I think I think that you know the events that this this commission is part of are are important. I also think that that some
of the the recommendations to town meeting and to the select board are an important piece. >> Uh Paul >> and first thanks for coming forward and thank you for your service in town meeting. You're >> welcome. >> It's not a small body but um I do
understand your desire to participate in something smaller. Um you had mentioned in your application about the work that you've done within your precinct to help increase communication. Um, and I think it's kind of related to what you just said. Um, you know, community relations
is communication, >> right? >> What do you have some ideas about how to improve communication across groups? Um, not just kind of broadcasting, but to increase dialogue. Well, I I know one thing that we did in precinct 6 several
years ago um when Malcolm Dulrin was on this commission um is we had um Zoom meetings with constituents to constituents to explain warrant articles. I have to admit that they weren't that well attended, but I think the idea of having a community meeting
is really important. Um the other thing that personally when I ran for town meeting I think I might have almost knocked on every door in precinct six and that that through that experience I learned that listening and talking to
people is really a great way to communicate and to get things going and got lots of ideas from people in precinct 6 when I was when I was doing that and I and I felt like that was really important. So I think one-on-one is good. I think community meetings. I also think reaching out to community
organizations that might be that might be collaborative, not necessarily government ones, but ones that also might might be a way to collaborate in forwarding these issues. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh David, I think is next.
>> Yes. Just my question for you. You referenced in your introductory remarks uh your experience working with the disabled and how you see a need to help uplift their voices as a part of uh the
work of this commission. Could you talk further about your experiences in serving that population and how you would uh bring forward their interests? >> Um uh sure. Yeah, I was I'm an occupational therapist, pediatric occupational
therapist, and I've worked in private practice and in the Boston public schools. And a lot of what I did besides actually work with children who had physicy is uh is autistic individuals, autistic children. So um not only did I work with
children to help them be more successful in their environment of the school, I spent a lot of time um really communicating with teachers like this is why this child is doing this and if you can help if you can do X you know
whatever then that's going to help that child to participate more fully. So standing standing up for that child with the with teachers, helping explaining things to parents, um uh advocating for um students with disabilities having a
larger role in the school culture uh as in um being part of performing groups, being part of school government when that was possible. Um, and I mean I think the biggest thing that an OT does is you fac as an occupational therapist,
you facilitate individuals to be able to make to be the most functional they can be in their environment. And I see that, you know, in in my little role at a school, but also in a bigger role in town. I mean, even things like the fact that now you can come into meetings on
Zoom. That's a huge accommodation for people who, you know, not not all of us who are disabled who do that, but it's a really big accommodation and a big step for the town, I think. >> That answer your question. >> Yeah, Michael. >> Um, thank you very much, uh, and thank
you, Ann, for uh, putting in your application and stepping up to serve. Um, I have two questions. Um, the first question is, how do you think about incorporating a person's intent and a
person's impact when judging their words and their actions? >> Do you mean if they're in if they're actually what they do is seems to be different from what they intend? Is that what you're getting? uh in whatever case or situation you care you you think
about that question of intent and impact. >> Well, I I try I mean I can I guess speak more personally about this. I try really hard I try really hard to listen to people. I feel like that's really key and I try to look beyond not not
certainly not in every situation but in situations that are really thorny or difficult like look beyond what this person is saying or doing to try to understand what their background is. For instance, someone who um um has felt put down by the system for all of their, you
know, all of their time interacting with that system. There's not necessarily going to be someone who might might say some things that are, you know, a little bit out of line. But if you look at like what what came behind that and why is that happening and how can we other
other people bridge that comment to what to their that person's background and to what should be done to change it. I don't know if that answers your question or not, but >> no, thank you. Um, and the second question I have is, uh, as a commissioner, uh, how would you propose
that we best follow Ward Article 15, which was passed by town meeting in November, um, to recognize and celebrate, uh, every month of June as LGBTQAI plus Pride Month. uh and acknowledge
every March 31st as transgender day of visibility, every May 17th as International Day against homophobia, bif phobia, and transphobia. Every June 28th as the Stonewall riots anniversary, every October 11th is National Coming
Out Day. Uh every month of October as LGBTQIA plus History Month, and every November 20th as Transgender Day of Remembrance. Well, that's a lot of different I mean,
I fully support recognizing uh the LGBTQ plus community and uh and what what and to be you know a aware of that community's needs and to be very aware of um you know um discrimination against
that group of people. And I think having I don't I I I actually have to admit that I don't know too much about the background of this warrant article, but I would support it if that's what the town meeting voted for. For sure. >> I mean, I certainly support the ideas
behind it. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah. And thank you so much for applying um and and for your answers tonight. Um, I'm just going to ask a very practical question because it often gets
overlooked and I just, you know, want to be sure that we don't overlook it in this case. Um, the the the commission at present um tends to meet on Thursday nights at six o'clock and and just once a month and it's usually the maybe the second or the third Thursday of the
month. Um, have you had a chance to just sort of figure out if I were to be on this commission, would I be able to um go with the flow of the meeting schedule that they currently follow? And I only asked the question because um uh it might seem, you know, that well why
can't why wouldn't they be able to just change their meeting date? But that gets really complicated. You know, if a person upon being new to the board, suddenly it turns out the one thing that they didn't get asked was can you can you be there on on the evening that they meet
>> on a Thursday evening? You're saying? >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, assume it's a Thursday and it's the second or third Thursday and it's a six o'clock meeting as >> the point is to figure out if like every Thursday I have, you know, whatever, you know. So, >> no, that wouldn't I don't think that
would be a problem. >> Okay. you know, and I I understand how changing a date is not just changing a date. It's really really complicated. So, I get that and I would do my best to be able to, >> you know, be at all the meetings and and, you know, participate fully.
>> Great. Great. Great. >> Thank you. >> Is that it? >> One more. >> Such a packed house you're doing. Thank you. I appreciate you talking. >> Thank you. Thanks, Ann. Next we have Kaylee Bennett who I who must be on uh
>> Yes, we do have Kaylee online and I'm going to go ahead and promote Kaylee now. >> You can share your video and audio when you're ready. >> Hey there. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes, we can. Please introduce yourself and tell us why you're interested in
being a member of the diversity commission. >> Sure. Um hi, my name is Kaylee. I am um I live in Brooklyn going on 12 years now. I am a um I am a uh Cherokee Nation
citizen um and also a person with epilepsy. And so with those sort of two um things in mind, I think it's especially important to um advocate but also be um a point of visibility for um
persons with disabilities as a minority community, but also um for the Native American community, which is quite tiny in Brooklyn. Um, and for me, what's so important for this um, uh, group is to
make sure that those voices are heard since they can often be lost. Um, and also that we're celebrating those um, communities. So, I am the chair now of the indigenous people celebration committee. So have been doing um various
different work um with that committee which is uh wonderful and projects to um uplift native voices um and also um for everyone else work as allies for that community. I don't know if that answered your
question, but that's that's a spark notes in me. >> Well, that's a great start. So um what are some of the ideas that you would have for new programming um on the commission? uh you you mentioned um a disability
um and our previous speaker also talked about uh that um which I I don't think that the commission has been particularly focused on. So give give me some ideas that uh you would bring to the commission along those lines or or other lines.
>> Yeah. So for me um I think there's two things here. Um, if you attend an indigenous people's day, you heard me speak to this, but um, when I think of Brooklyn, I think of what I can give to Brooklyn just as an individual, which is
uplifting this concept, this Cherokee idea of it, the word for it is gadoogi, which means working together to benefit our community. And that can be in a lot of different ways. Um, one of the things I've as I've uh made my way in life in Brooklyn thought about sort of things
that could be improved upon, especially when it comes to accessibility. Um, I think one of those uh things are um and this is these are perhaps bigger than uh general programming for um the commission, but improving accessibility
across Brooklyn. For example, our sidewalk infrastructure. Um, I lived on Fuller Street for 11 years and uh that area in particular has some pretty rough sidewalks and and terrain in general and I think of that area is um surrounded
not only by the Brookline um senior center but also um senior housing. And for me, I have an invisible invisible disability. Um, which is another thing that I think is important to uplift is not everyone has a visibil a visible
accessibility or disability. Um, similarly, I suffered a severe fall down a flight of stairs a couple years ago and so I could barely walk and thinking again about access for our community. Um there is a lot of conversation about
bike lanes and also cars and driving. Um but thinking through for folks who have to drive or have to be driven places um therefore how can we better improve that infrastructure. So I think having those
conversations and thinking through the fact that it's not necessarily either or. It doesn't have to be prioritizing biking versus prioritizing pedestrians versus thinking through better car infrastructure, but like working together to solve those problems. Um,
and I think generally, you know, there's so many different types of diversity in Brookline, which are all beautiful and wonderful. And so thinking how we can cross collaborate that we don't have to be siloed into these different areas, but rather celebrate everyone together.
um and increase the visibility for these communities. >> Let me ask something related to that. >> So the indigenous people's celebration committee has a very robust program. You
>> yeah any thoughts on how um or ideas you could bring to the commission from your experience with the um committee? >> Yep. So two things that I um sort of spearhead sorry um two things that I um spearheaded with that committee are um
we do an indigenous author's book club and I think that these sort of other examples of diversity. The book club has been very successful. We've done it for three years now. Um just had actually our latest session was this past um Sunday. Um, and so, you know, there's
lots of literature that could be um per perhaps we do a book club or some type of conversation where we are uplifting these different voices um through literature come together as a community to um talk through that and explore these ideas and concepts. That's an
example. Another thing that um I helped spearhead um sort of initiated with the indigenous people's day committee is um having community conversations and these have been very meaningful uh and it just
is an opportunity to take a topic really break it down and have it be completely open where it's not just a presentation but folks throughout the whole evening can ask questions in the moment as they have them. Um, and I think that's also
applicable here where you we've used Hanaman Hall um, for these uh, meetings. So making it very accessible to the community to attend, but also thinking through how um you know what are some topics that we can think to who are um
experts or um people who can speak from their own experiences um on those topics and then how can we come together as a community to um to just to learn. And I think for me so much of being a person
in the world is listening, learning from others who have different life experiences. And I think these types of events would would help achieve that. >> Yeah. Uh Bernard, you actually uh kind of touched on the the question that I had. You came at it from a different way from her experience with the Indigenous
People's Day Celebration Committee. Your background is actually at Harvard >> doing events and programming, >> correct? Yeah. Which is, you know, and and I think that the reason why I bring that up is um >> you know, it does take a unique skill set of similar to what you have at
Harvard, >> uh to take a lot of different types of ideas and bring them together into programming uh with a community. Um and so while she the reason why maybe we see such great programming on indigenous days because of her experience at Harvard. Um, and I think I don't really
have a question for you because Bernard raised it, but uh this uh you know this unique experience that you bring uh programming and and event coordination I think is something that is important for for these types of commissions. >> Yeah, to speak to that briefly, I I
actually didn't I guess introduce my uh my prof professional careers, but I I consider myself a um a lover of event planning and I do that both at Harvard. I also have a totally separate career which is in theater as a production
manager. And so I would say both of these sort of career um trajectories are large scale event planning and small scale event planning. But um that that's what I love. And for theater, the skill set is the same but the like audiences I
guess are different. But um that is entirely how I've built my career. Um and it's something that I I really love and I'm passionate about. you did bury the headlines, so I'm glad you >> Sorry. >> Okay. >> Apologies.
>> Um, >> thank you, Kaylee, for um uh for uh stepping up. I we all really appreciate the work that you've done. Um and uh I uh also want to commend you for your Indigenous People's Day
celebration. the the presentation that you made was was excellent and the the event was was very well um it was well attended and very well pulled off. So, thank you for that. Um I'd like to ask you the same questions that I asked the previous person. The first is how do you
think about incorporating a person's intent and a person's impact when judging their words and their actions? >> Yeah. Um, I think a tricky question for for sure and I hope this is answering your question, but I like to operate in
the world with always assuming good intent. And this is something we especially talk about in theater because I think theater more than Harvard is sort of where conflicts can come up and you um is often my role to help um parse
that out, solve a conflict. But as long as you're going into those difficult conversations with assuming good intent, then I find that it's often easier to um come to an understanding about why there might be a disagreement. And it could
just be that there's two different perspectives coming at the same problem with their own personal backgrounds that is perhaps causing that tension point. But that doesn't mean that everyone's going into a problem with a um with ill
intent. That in fact we often all have good intent, but it doesn't necessarily come off that way or something could be misconstrued or misinterpreted. Um and so I might not succeed all the time, but I I really do try to move about the world that way. I don't know if that
answered your question. >> Yeah. No, no, no. Thank you. That was that was um very thoughtful. I appreci that was very thoughtful. I appreciate it. Um, and the second is, uh, as a commissioner, how would you propose that we best follow, uh, the ward article 15 that was passed by town meeting in
November to recognize and celebrate every month of June as LGBTQIA+ pride month and the list of one, two, three, four, five, six other um, celebrations throughout the year rep uh,
representing various aspects of the LGBTQIA plus community. Um, exactly. And I think that goes back to visibility. Um, like how can we make these minority
communities um, more visible and how can we as Brooklyn celebrate them? Um, whether that be through specific programming or going back to this idea of community conversations. you know, there are some of the like noted dates that you um brought up that will be uh
are included in this that maybe we don't all know about, whether that be because of age, generation, um understanding or or what have you. And so being able to come together as a community to maybe like have a panel, just have a conversation about why is the state
important, why is this event important, and what does that mean for not only us as a community, but also as allies for these community members um to feel safer and like they can um and that they can confidently move about the world.
>> Thank you, >> David. Yes, thank you for uh your presentation so far and answers to these questions. A question I have, so you've touched upon uh community visibility and the importance of uplifting different groups
through event planning with which you have a lot of experience. You also mentioned in your response to an earlier question undertaking sort of tangible projects to uplift certain voices. So in the context of talking about those with
disabilities, you mentioned uh accessible sidewalks. So I'm wondering if you could build upon that idea a bit in terms of what do you think would be the appropriate role for CDICR in
tangible projects as a way to uplift voices beyond providing visibility? >> Yeah. Um, that's a a great question, too. And I don't know if I am familiar enough with like what the actual like
long-term solutions could be, but I think a first step is flagging that there are issues and we I think could do that. um as a commission of determining well exactly where are these sort of problem points and how could we make them better and then bringing that up
further with the um necessary outlets in the town um to determine you know what are tangible actionable long-term next steps. So, I think this feels easy to me, but something that could be a
conversation point is uh going back to bicycle safety versus pedestrian and driver safety. Um there are various areas throughout Boston that are designated lift Uber drop off zones which is ensuring that there's not a
tension point between bicyclists who need to move safely as well as pedestrians who might need to for their own accessibility needs um enter a vehicle safely. So is there a place in Koolage Corner? Is there a place in Washington Square which have a lot of
businesses where we could designate a zone like that? So, I think that's another thing that, you know, it's obviously a long-term pro problem to solve and and parse through, but it is something tangible that I think the town could accomplish.
>> Okay, thank you. Oh, John. Yeah, sorry. Don't >> Sure. I wasn't sure whether I should raise my hand. Um, Kaylee, um, thank you for applying. Um short form of the question that I asked previously is simply uh are you familiar with the meeting schedule that this commission
follows and you know is it a good fit with uh what is your current schedule? >> Um yes I think so. I think you mentioned what first or third >> well middle of the month usually and and a Thursday at like six o'clock.
Um yes, generally I um have a lot of flexibility in my schedule. Um sometimes there could be some variations to that. Um if like using March as an example, I'm getting married in March. So, um I would decline uh if there was a third
week meeting, but um generally I have had no issues um with my uh the timing of our committee work for indigenous people's day celebration. So, I would not see um any issue with um being able
to meet those uh requirements for meetings um with this. >> Yeah. Okay. Um and and then I um I'll leave it to you to help people understand your role with the um Brooklyn town w Facebook townwide
discussion page. Um I I'll just say that um uh you and I have had some exchanges as recently as today. um basically driven by um questions of whether there was behavior on that townwide discussion
board that um fit the definition of sort of toxic. I mean, you know, people just basically looking for an opportunity to grind an axe with somebody um in a way that was completely um divorced of the point uh behind a person putting it
putting um something on the Facebook um townwide discussion page. What what is your sense of how best to handle um social media as a beneficial um way of the community coming together
uh while at the same time avoiding it becoming um a forum for let's just say toxicity um uh between people. >> Yes. Um, so
it's a complicated question. In what I've learned in my 11 going on 12 years living here, uh, Brooklyn is passionate, is a very passionate community and it is immensely passionate about the issues that are important to them. Um I will
also say uh since moving here let's in the 2014 through 2020 time I think things were a bit less tense than they are now. And in my time in this role on Brooklyn discussion um I have seen a global pandemic
broader concerns about policing in the United States and in Brooklyn. So 2020 um also the conflict in uh Russia and Ukraine as well as our uh very current prevalent contact uh conflict in the
Middle East. So those are some it's been a challenging um five years not only for uh Brooklyn specifically but also um the world. And so I think the group has
therefore also gone through some of those same challenges of going back to what I said earlier, you know, how do we as a community speak to one another? Um, and sometimes people do it in a more colorful way than other ways. Sometimes
going back to this idea of assume good intent, uh, a lot can get lost in social media and somebody has good intent, but it's perceived a different way. And so, um, there might be a point of tension with
that because, um, I find, uh, communicating online is very different than communicating in person. And I also would like to see Brookline have more conversations offline where we're looking at someone in the face and recognizing this is my neighbor and the
success of our community depends on us being able to work together and to also recognize that we all have the same goals in mind and that we don't have to fight because we
all care about Brooklyn in the same way. Um, that's how I approach uh Brooklyn talent discussion. And I I also sort of approach it in a sense that like as I I don't mean to tell you as um
politicians and elected leaders that sometimes no matter what you do somebody somebody's going to be upset >> and you just sort of have to move about the world with a firm belief that you are doing your best and you are doing
your best with good intents. And it's not necessarily going to be received that way, but it doesn't mean that you are that you are going about your life and and your communication, whether it be
online or offline uh maliciously. >> I don't know if that answers your question, but >> no, I I I I appreciate that. It's a difficult question and I I'm not sure I have the perfect answer myself. And I I just want to be clear because I don't want people to misunderstand. I really
appreciate the role that you have played and and that you have stayed with it um during some very difficult times when you know there were um frequently um things that would flare up you know on this um particular Facebook townwide discussion page but at the same time I
wouldn't be revisiting that page and adding my own thoughts on this or that or my adding my own bit of news on you know as to this or that if if if I didn't think there is at the end of the day something very useful about a
forum where people get a chance to spread news people get a chance to exchange views um and you've provided that town Facebook has provided that um you have about what 10,000 followers at this point
>> almost 11,000 and I will say in 2020 >> it was only about 4,000 the growth of this group in five years is kind of crazy. Um, and I I do think that's a part of it. I think for me one of the
most useful tools of the group is for community members to hear from other community members about things that they might need to. So whether that be a doctor or um a gardener or like there's so many different things where people
are are searching for information that they're looking for their neighbor to say well what was your experience and how uh like what is that uh how can I learn from your experience whether there's a myriad of topics that come up. I personally I think that's one of the
most advantageous aspects of the group. I also very much give a shout out to Brooklyn news because I think having a local news source who is reporting the news that is important to us in Brooklyn that having conversations around what they're reporting that that's also
critical but it's very recent that we have Brooklyn news as a like I as a non-biased as a a source that's really focusing on Brookline specifically. Um, and so for me it's those two aspects of the group that are particularly beneficial. And as you said, there have
been flash points. Um, and I think I sort of laid them out. It has been an enormously challenging five, six years for the world, but also for Brook Lime. >> Yeah. >> And >> I think that goes without saying. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thanks again for the answer.
>> Okay. Thank you uh for uh your application and an interesting discussion. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Next, we have Victoria Fernandez. Is she uh online? >> I do have Victoria Fernandez online. I'm
promoting Victoria now. Victoria, you've been promoted and you can share your video and audio. >> Uh, good evening. >> Hi. >> Yeah. So, what I'd like you to do is to um give us a little information about yourself and why you want to be on the
commission, but also since your application did not provide much information, um tell us what's important to you um or or what experience you have that would be relevant to serving on the commission and what are some of the issues on which you think the commission
should focus so that we have a basis for questions. >> Sure. So, my name is Victoria Fernandez. I have lived in precinct 13 since almost about a year now. Um I am a precinct 13
town meeting board member that was caucused in at the last town meeting. And uh my background I am Filipino American. My father is from the Philippines uh from Manila and my mom is
white. And one thing that I really like about Brooklyn is that it is diverse, but at the same time, I do feel like some of that transparency and the presence of diversity is lacking. And I do feel that
with being on the board, I do want to make other cultures, not only my own as a Filipino American, um, but Asian culture, um, European cultures more prevalent to the public eye.
>> Hey, Paul. >> Yeah. Uh, thank you, Victoria. Um, so, and I appreciate you giving the overview on that last point you made about, um, increasing awareness. uh for different cultures. Do you have thoughts on how how that might be accomplished by the uh
by the committee, the commission? >> Yeah. So, I one of the things that I really like to do is I like to walk on Beacon Street. And it's really hard to miss the what would you call them? The boards, the electronic boards that put
updates about different things happening around town. And I do think that having more updates about cultural events that are happening around town would be great. Oftentimes they've been flyers. Um but I think they would do better if
more of them were on these electronic boards and they were updated more. Um they were updated more just because sometimes I'd go by and they haven't been updated for like a month um in terms of town news, town events. Um, and I also think they would do more good if
we put them around places where more people are likely to see them. Not just where there's foot traffic, but more so near um, tea stops. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Um, thank you for applying. And, um,
just to, uh, repeat the question that I've asked of each of the candidates tonight. uh have you familiarized yourself with the meeting schedule that is currently followed by the commission and is it a convenient one for you? >> Yes, I have looked at the schedule and I
am a teacher. Um I work out in Hangingham so I do most the time end work at 5:20 around that time. So I would have to haul to get to uh get to meetings.
Um, you're probably not alone in in occasionally having to do that. I'm a little notorious myself. Um, uh, thanks for that that answer. And, um, uh, I wonder if you wouldn't mind commenting on the question that our our previous,
uh, interviewe was uh, commenting on as to your sense of the role of of social media. let's just you know say um Facebook as a forum but it could be other social media uh in terms of uh h
how does one kind of set up guidelines for people to use social media in ways that enhance life in the community and don't become um uh you know forums for there to be
divisions that are exacerbated in the community. >> Sure. So, um, to go off of of that, I'm also in the Brooklyn townwide discussion, um, I think it's really important to keep my ear to the ground.
Um, and while I may not be as active, I feel like I have commented a few times, but I'm not very present um, with commenting just because I'm one of those people that likes to see what others are saying. But when it comes to guidelines,
I feel like the guidelines that are there um currently do a good job. I do feel that some people overstep in terms of maybe this is a discussion that needs to be taken um out of being online and
being um not exactly like a town meeting sort of thing. But I don't think as we have learned um some things just don't translate well. So, I do believe that the moderators do do a pretty good job
at cutting off a conversation and possibly even removing um a member from the page when they overstepped. Um I hope that answers
>> No, no, you uh it it's helpful. It's very helpful and and you know I think this is a conversation we're going to have uh for days and months and years um as you know social media continues to be um one of the key forums for people to
come together um and uh and yet hopefully come together in ways that as I say enhance the life of the community and don't create all kinds of of strife in the community. Yeah, I do I do believe that most of the people that
I've seen posting on there seem to be pretty levelheaded, but there are a few people who are willing to put themselves in the proverbial hot seat, so to say. They have some um hot takes, uh what would be considered hot takes. Um but it
eventually either evens itself out, these conversations, or uh they die down. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh, Michael, I think you were next. >> Thank you very much. Uh, and thank you, Victoria, for your application.
Um, I'd also like to ask you the two questions that I've asked the other candidates. Um, the first is how do you think about uh incorporating a person's intent and a person's impact when judging their words and their actions?
>> Sure. So, I think that's a very interesting question. uh and going off of whether that's in person or online um can be very different. But really what it can come
down to is um I I usually like to look at the visual first. How if I'm meeting this person in uh meeting this person in person, um how are they standing? Body language. um that can kind of tell you how they might be feeling because, you
know, words don't always match with how someone's feeling um reading their body language. But then looking at what type of language they're using um I know that can be very um can come down to semantics sometimes, but are they using
charged language? Um are they not using charged language? How do they feel when it comes to uh what kind of passion or maybe what kind of lax language they're using? Um, I think how to tell the difference though really comes down
to having multiple discussions just because I don't think things can totally be remedied one one meeting and if they can that's great but some discussions take a little bit more effort and it there needs to be
both people coming to the table or however many people coming to the table in order to have that question and open to coming to the table to have those discussions. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and the second question is, as a commissioner, how
would you propose we best follow word article 15 passed by town meeting in November to recognize and celebrate every month of June as LGBTQIA plus pride month, and acknowledge every March 31st as transgender day of
visibility, every May 17th as International Day against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, every June 28th as the Stonewall riots anniversary. iversary every October 11th as National Coming Out Day, every month of October
as LGBTQIA plus History Month, and every November 22nd as Transgender Day of Remembrance. >> So, I first want to say that I will go on the record again um to say that I uh voted in favor of this warrant uh back
in November and I was really glad that it passed. Uh, one thing in order to make sure that everyone is celebrated is I think looking at the demographics of the town. Um, maybe not entirely um,
just sexuality, but also what types of ethnicities and religion are very prevalent in the community. It's really important to celebrate all of those even though there may not be a certain a high percentage of one uh type of
demographic. Um and I think besides cultural events again having those cultural events in public places where foot traffic and other people even those visiting from the suburbs um can see and maybe even
want to come back into town. I think that's really important. Um, I'm really big on cultural events. One of the things that I do as an educator is make sure that everyone is welcome. Um, I have a like all is welcome and pride
flag outside of my classroom as well as making sure that literature I I usually call it like literature of color, but either um usually literature that is written by an author of color are used in the classroom. And that could be
something that even gets pushed out is that there are recommendations for hey um we're going to be reading or here's a list of books by um queer authors that we can recommend at different not only
reading levels but also for uh age groups as well. >> Thank you David. You've now touched upon this in a couple of your answers. Uh but as an an educator in Hangum or really as an educator anywhere that you would work,
how does that position inform upon your views of how CDICR ought to operate and what you would want to pursue? >> Sure. Uh I think there's a couple ways. Number one is patience. Um, I think in
this day and age when so many of us are quick to jump to our first thoughts, I think holding back on maybe what we're first going to say and thinking truly about our words and our actions is
really important. And I have found that is something that I do often as not only an educator but as a person. And when it comes to hard discussions and hard topics, I think that is one thing that
needs to happen is to have patience. Um, another thing that I think is important. The second thing is that we need to be willing to have those types of discussions. Being able to meet being
levelheaded and not have such animosity behind what is being said just because you know like sorry I should probably expand on that a little bit more. Um, just sometimes when it could be like a parent email or maybe
even uh administration coming and maybe having some type of harsh tone, it's best to remember what type of position you're coming from. So being able to take a step back, realize where they're
coming from, not only their role in the system, but also as a person, um, and thinking about how to best answer. Um, just because everyone comes to the table with their own perspectives and being
open to hearing what someone has to say is important. hear them out first before and think through your answer before responding. >> Okay, thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Um, next item, proposed
capital improvements to the Brooklyn Music School at 20. Uh before I go before we go on um I should have said this after each interview uh we will be making a decision on appointments to the
commission like other uh public bodies at a later meeting. Um so any rate our next item is uh proposed capital improvements to the Brookline music school at 25 Canard Road.
Is there David Tierney uh online that uh David is online and I believe he try sharing the screen. >> David, you've been promoted. You can share your screen. >> All right. >> And video when you're ready.
>> Great. Please tell us about this project. Um, >> sure. I'm having having a little challenge with sharing my screen screen. >> I can work on pulling that up for you, David, if that's helpful. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Just just one moment. I'm sorry. Oh, I think I've got it. Okay, we see you. And do you see my screen? Not yet. >> Uh then I don't have it. >> Well, well, I'm seeing it. >> Oh, you are. >> You do. Do you have something
that you want to share? >> I have a slide presentation about the project, why we need to feel we need to move forward with this project and and the scope. >> I think Cara is going to give us a hand. I've just promoted her. >> Thank you. >> And I don't have it.
>> Well, I'm saying it. like you. >> Do you do you have something? >> That's a delay. >> What? Oh, yeah. That's Yeah. >> Is that part of the >> Yeah. Like the football practice or something?
>> I'm just promoting her. >> Yes, I'm working on that. Just a minute. Yeah. So, Well, while she's pulling that up, I'll introduce myself. My name is David Tierney. I am uh in my middle of my third year as the executive director at
the Brookline Music School. Uh as many of you know, uh last year Brooklyn Music School celebrated its 100th anniversary as a cultural organization in Brooklyn. We have a little over 900 students mostly from Brooklyn but uh of all ages
and from a lot of contiguous and even further away towns as far away as Wakefield for example. Um the project that we're proposing doing uh we use Canard House, a town building that's administered by the school as our home base, but we also uh rent classroom
spaces throughout town to teach music lessons. But we're a performanceoriented organization and um we're looking for your permission. We've gotten permission from the school committee to expand and renovate our recital hall. Currently, our hall, which is a double parlor in
the building on Canard Road, is about a thousand square feet, including the performance area and seats uncomfortably about 60 people. If you've been to a program there, you're quite familiar with the the uh the difficulties. A re a renovated and expanded recital hall
would be about 1464 square feet with the additional 431 square feet allowing us to double our audience size to 120. The renovated hall like our current hall will have a flat four meaning it's fully accessible allowing for a maximum flexibility of use. And the school's
standard setup would then move the performance area away from the um route nine end of the hall to the canard side of the hall with audience seating being no further than three seats away, three rows away from any of the performers.
Next slide. Getting this hall done would allow us to increase the frequency and elevate the quality of students performance experience at the school. As I mentioned, it would double our audience capacity and a much more welcoming, flexible, and accessible space that
would foster greater sense of community. Um, it would allow us to host comfortably larger audiences, but also to have the space for some of the ensembles uh that we're developing as well as more concerts and rehearsals. We would offer this dedicated performance space to the broader Brookline community
including the schools to appreciate enjoy music as well as there is no other space or would be no other space of similar size and design in Brooklyn. Next slide. It would provide an acoustically appropriate performance space that would make student performances actually sound
good. Uh obviously increasing to 120 capacity optimizes audience capacity and experience. And the expansion with the upgraded furnishing and lighting creates a recital hall that would acquire accommodate a much wider range of performances than we do now, including
student recital, our rock and jazz bands, chamber ensembles, and even musical theater and ensure a high quality experience for both performers and audiences. The projected cost of the expansion is about $800,000 and of course would be the responsibility of
the music school to raise. And here's our timeline on this. We did over the last over the past summer up through December complete a feasibility study and fundraising assessment. Um and as of October 25th, we had already secured four lead gifts totaling $325,000.
Up till now we have secured the um uh endorsement in an advisory capacity from the preservation commission on the on the a look of the project and the school committee both the capital and finance as well as the full school committee unanimously endorsed the project and encouraged us to move forward with it
with you. We are just completing the quiet phase of fundraising. And to update, uh, as of today, we have about $670,000 in commitments and gifts towards this project. We're not finished with our quiet phase rest yet. And we hope to, if
this is approved to move forward in end of January, go public to secure the additional 150,000 now that we would need to raise. And with all that being successful, we would plan on construction beginning this June when school gets out with the major
construction uh being completed before the end of summer. Interior work taking until the end of October to done. So there should be be done. So there' be no impact on Lincoln school when the project is completed. Next slide. Here are the key people who are behind are
working on this project. Obviously the music school and its board of trustees. Me is the executive director. Vicky Laauo, Brooklyn resident, longtime director of finance administration for the school. Valerie Kurd, who is our director of marketing and development. And our fundraising consultant is Jen
Higin Bothotham, who was someone I worked with when I was at the River School in Weston for 20some years. Next slide, please. This is a picture of what the side Canard roadside of the building looks like. Now, this open porch is on the
side of the building, and our proposal is to enclose it. um to and then take down that wall you see underneath the porch to open up our recital hall. Next slide. This is a view from the Lincoln School playground of what that would look like from Lincoln School playground. You can
see the closedin porch on the right side of the building. And the next slide uh changing the angle. This is from up on uh um Canard Road closer to Walnut Street. You can see the scope and scale of of closing in that porch.
Next slide shows what it would look like at night when it was lit up. And you can see into the building um into the current recital hall in this picture. >> And then the next slide is a full-on from right across the street on Canard Road at night what it would look like
fully lit. And then the last slide is the interior of what that hall would look like. Where the chairs are now positioned is what our recital hall is. It's one long narrow room. By opening up on the porch, we gain that extra space and would have
a facility that looks like this. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any discussion, John? >> Yeah. Um David, thank you so much for that presentation and thank you to everyone connected with the Brooklyn
Music School um with which um our family is, you know, familiar from experience years ago. It's it's amazing to me the the many years that this school has been a integral part of education in Brooklyn. Uh and and operated under this, you know, very kind of a special
arrangement whereby um uh uh and and this is actually what I would love to get clarification on. um with the the the building itself is owned by the town and um I I wonder if that could be
clarified as to is it owned by the school department? Is it owned by us? Is it um owned by um us in some form of arrangement that isn't quite the same um as as ownership? Uh and to to what
extent um do do we have an obligation to make sure that we don't in an arrangement which is more like um you know use of the space um we don't make the space itself usable only for one
thing um which then makes it very difficult if there's ever the need to find a different um partner um in the use of that space. So, can somebody just help me with a little bit more clarity as to the relationship and and the sort of guidelines for conducting ourselves
within that relationship? >> You want to take or do you want to or you want me to? Yeah. >> Yeah, I can jump in. Um, so I'm Cara Brutin, director of planning and community development. Uh I am almost certain that the property is on the registry of deeds is owned by the town
of Brooklyn. But like many of our school properties when it comes to leases um like we did with the solar panels for example um the leases including the existing lease the music school has is signed by both the select board as well
as the school committee. And um when we I understand that David is um working with Joe Albuquerque on the school side to look at the existing lease and how that might be changed because as you can imagine the music school is going to put in this much um capital investment. They
want to make sure they're going to be there for more than a couple years. Um, and once that revised lease and also working with town council, once that revised lease is ready, we will then come back to you um and ask you to look at that document. Tonight, my understanding is David is looking for
permission to um have the town administrator or anybody you'd like to sign um any pre-construction permitting documents like zoning board of appeals, preservation so that the music school can move forward on finalizing those construction docks. and that signature
would just be as the property owner um signing on behalf of the town as a property owner whereas the applicant on those permits would be the music school. >> Thanks. That helps. Um well, Paul, first >> um I guess I'm first I appreciate the
presentation and I have to admit I do not I'm not up to speed maybe as much as others are on uh the Brooklyn Music School and its relationships to the town. So I I apologize for that in advance. So I may ask some basic questions. Um but it does get to I think
what John raised is um care custody and control of the building and what it means to the school and for the town uh for the school to make a a capital investment in uh in a town building. um and what does it mean for us to make
an appro give an approval tonight without understanding what the lease is um and what the what the conditions of that lease are um are we able to separate those two things Chaz I mean I am we're happy to uh obviously if you are in need of more information on that
we're happy to do that you know they are a current leie and they are working with um the school department to um renew the current lease agreement that they have so the current lease agreement is in the is in the process of being renewed. Um
and as a result of that you know this is part of part of this process does involve you know the renovation of the structure you know the upkeep and maintenance and renovation of the structure here. Um this the that is to say the section of the building that
they utilize um you know they're responsible for making sure that it >> is you know that they're not leaving it in a worse condition than when they they use it. >> Right. So, I guess my my I'll ask a more basic question, James. And again, I I apologize in advance for the the very simple question. >> No, it's okay.
>> So, um if I were to invest $600,000 or more and $800,000 in a building, um if if something were to happen with the lease, I'd want to be able to can I get that money back? That's what I'm trying to understand is what what's happening with with uh what are the conditions and
provisions are going to be in the lease? >> Um I don't anticipate that they're I don't anticipate that there's a provision in the lease that's going to involve, you know, the potential to >> reimbursement, >> right, or clawback in the, you know, this is this is an investment that the
music school wants to make um and is >> proceeding, in my understanding, somewhat independently of this question of renewing the lease. The lease is for the space. They would like to renovate. They would like to spend their money to renovate the space. The school committee is amendable to that. Um, but there is
not, and again, the teams can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that there is a, you know, for example, a provision that says if there's a breach of the contract, can we have the money we spent on renovating the building? >> Okay, I think that's important just to understand if we're putting some I'm going to have two more basic questions
with my mayor, Bernard. Um, how long has the uh music school been operating in the facility? >> 1994. >> So, quite a while. Um, and are there other tenants in the building or is is the music school occupy the entire building?
>> It's just us, but the music school building is made available and used by Lincoln School. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Let uh before Michael, let me ask a question somewhat related, I guess. Who insures the uh
building? Is it uh the town's self- insurance program or is it a separate uh policy? We we insure the building. We have that's part of the lease agreement is that we pay for the insurance for the building. >> Okay, Michael.
>> Um uh thank you uh Bernard. Uh hello David. I'm not sure whether this constitutes uh disclosure, but I should say that uh my wife uh Elizabeth Scaish is a musician uh and was a former employee at the River School as well. So
worked actually worked for David um for some time. >> Um so hello. Um uh I my understanding is is that the the resulting improvements will remain with
the building and and simply become part of the building. Um and and you know those improvements will be uh taken advantage of by the by the lease. um uh in accordance with the lease. But
in terms of the the ownership of the improvements, um am I correct that that those improvements will actually be owned by the owner of the building? >> I think that's correct. >> That's Yes. Okay.
>> Right. Ultimately, you know, it's similar to any sort of situation where you have a renter who wishes to make improvements to the property. Ultimately, the property owner still controls that. >> Sure. Um and I and I'll simply say from my own understanding the the improvements that are being proposed um
look excellent in terms of the improvement to the space and the ability of that space to handle the kind of programming that I understand um the Brooklyn music school um and other similar music schools um around greater
Boston to support. So I just want to put that plug in. David The answer to this question is probably obvious, but given that you are expanding the space in order to accommodate more people, make better use
of the space, uh I presume you also looked into potential impacts around the acoustics. And I'm just wondering what went into that thinking. >> We started to do that. We have an acoustic engineer lined up to to analyze
the final drawings. The space isn't that big that it presents terribly challenging concerns, but we want to be sure that we don't build something that does have some acoustic challenge. We don't expect that, but we're keeping an eye on.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um, so unless there are any other questions, I'd like to move to authorize the town administrator to sign on behalf of the town as the owner or any permits required for pre-construction permitting, including
planning or zoning board of appeals or preservation commission. So, uh, all in favor, please indicate by saying I. Yes, John. >> I ask a question for sure. This may seem like a trivial matter, but I was just curious as to why the word owner is is
has quote marks around it. Um, which are usually used to designate so-called owner. Um, are we the owner or are we not the owner? >> You are the owner. It's just it's it's a matter of me signing because I am not the owner. Brooklyn. >> Okay. Okay. >> You with select board or the executive body. Yeah.
>> May I ask one other additional question, Bernard, before you vote? uh such as having this authority does it stop um do we does the lease still come back to us? So the lease any final renewal of the lease yes will come back to the select board and the school committee.
>> Will will will uh before they begin construction will that become before us? >> Almost certainly. Yes. Uh >> I just I that so that's important to me is that we see the lease before construction begins just to tie it all together is I think how it would it would come together. >> And I think the other portion of this as
you can see is this is a pre-construction authorization. Right. I you're you're we're stopping at the level of construction authorization. I'm not going to be able to sign off on any construction permits. That's going to come back. >> Thank you. By the end of the school year, >> right?
>> Okay. Uh so all in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak. >> I. >> Paul Warren. >> Hi. >> David Pearlman. >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein. >> I. >> And chair votes I. Thank you. >> Thank you everybody. Appreciate it very much. >> Good luck.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Next, uh, a public hearing for 7 o'clock and we're only 15 minutes late, which is a record. Um, tree removal hearing appeal for
Walnut High Apartments for Brookline Housing Authority on Jennifer Street. So, uh, I see that we have speakers Jennifer Gilbert, Malay Pratt, and Jack Schiffer, our tree warden.
Oh, you snuck in. >> Shall I begin? >> Proceed. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Jennifer Depazo Gilbert here uh this evening on behalf of the Brookline Housing Authority. Here with me this evening in person is Ben Stone, the executive director for the
BHA. On with us virtually is Bridget Bole, the project manager for the Brooklyn Housing Authority, along with Nick Bjornens, who is the project architect with UTIL design. And we also have the project arborist Dave Ropes online.
We're here before you as required by Mass General Chapter 87, which is the uh statute that sets forth the process to remove any public shade tree. In connection with this project to
create 181 new units of 100% affordable apartments at its property at Walnut and High, there are three public shade trees on Juniper Street uh that the BHA seeks uh permission from this board to remove.
And in replace of those three, it intends to plant five shade trees on Juniper Street. It's an exciting project. It began uh many many years ago in in concept. >> The town has committed uh generously
$7.5 million in funding towards the project. And in December of 2024, the planning board after an extensive site plan review that included separate meetings with various departments, neighbors, residents, and stakeholders.
site plan review was approved and the decision was filed and then began the process to bring the construction documents forward. Um there have been many meetings on the site and inspection of these three particular trees on
Juniper Street. three town arborists, Tom Brady, Peter Jutrus, and Jack Scher, who's here with us this evening, agreed with um the fact that a combination of the condition of those existing trees that they are in decline along with the
associated work required for the project, which is to uh lower the grading uh to allow the building to be fully accessible at the entryway, but also be fully accessible on the sidewalks. um they've all concluded that these
trees uh would not survive. BHA um is proposing, as I said, to replace the three with five new on Juniper Street. And we've had many meetings with DPW. And I want to thank Millie and also Liz Erdman is here from the tree planting committee and Jack for
all their time on this. Um on June 5th, the tree planting committee held a public hearing and voted to support the removal and replacement as proposed by BHA. But because there was opposition at that meeting, the statute then requires us to
come to the select board to make the decision on tree removal. That's a procedural requirement in the statute. On December 12th, we went to the Brooklyn Commission on Disability and they voted to uh recommend approval of
the proposal specifically in order to um replace the sidewalks and make them fully ADA compliant. They are not now, and you'll see in a minute when I turn it over to the architect um you'll see what I'm talking about. It should be noted also that although
the project is exempt from the new town tree bylaw because it is 100% affordable, the BHA has gone to great lengths to meet the intent and purpose of that bylaw and has um expended considerable expense to meet the bylaw
at least with respect to the spirit and intent by creating a beautiful uh landscape plan and many many uh green open spaces. uh are proposed for the residents when the project is done. So, they do have a robust landscape plan for
their own property. Um I'd like to turn it over to Ben Stone to say a few words and then you'll see a presentation from the architect and we'll be available of course to answer any questions. >> Thank you, Jennifer. Um, I don't have too much to add beyond just to kind of
orient ourselves on the project a little bit more. As Jennifer said, it will, this project over two phases will replace 100 units built in the 1960s with 181 modern units. The first phase that we're talking about will replace 32 townhouse units that are not very accessible, particularly the 24 for the
elderly with 96 modern units for families. Uh, well, open to anybody, but including families. uh that'll be fully access uh include accessible units, full visit, full visitability. They'll be passive house standard uh and
have solar production on the roof as well as adding on net to the tree canopy. The project is advancing very well um as Jennifer mentioned seated with 7.5 million from the town. This uh funding makes us much more competitive uh in competing for state funding. We
were recently invited uh to submit a full application for HLC's funding round and are hopeful of being funded uh in this summer which would probably put us in construction uh hopefully early in 2027. The project is also at 70% construction documents which means it's pretty far
advanced in design. You'll hear a little bit from our uh design firm uh Util in a moment. Um so overall we see this this project as a very exciting one in addition to the benefits for the future and current residents. Um, we seize as an opportunity to provide a more
welcoming entrance to Brookline uh along Route 9. Um, as well as providing benefits to the neighbors and public, including a particular uh accessible improved sidewalks and an improved tree canopy overall. Um, we thank uh the tree planning committee and the commission on
disability for their support. Um, and now I'd like to hand it over to Nick Burren from UTIL who can discuss the uh the work in this condition in more detail. >> Great. Thank you, Ben and Jennifer. I'll go ahead and share my screen now. Can everybody see that?
Yes. Great. So, uh, as Ben and Jennifer mentioned, my name is Nick Beerren. I'm a principal at UTIL. We've been working with the housing authority, uh, throughout this planning process for this exciting project, uh, redevelopment of the Walnut High Apartments. And as Ben mentioned,
we're we're sort of in the middle of a pretty lengthy process here uh to deliver 181 units of new affordable housing to the town over over two different buildings. Um but you know, that process really started with a pretty in-depth analysis and understanding of the existing conditions
on the site. Um, and we went through uh a lengthy feasibility and and conceptual planning process and and ultimately the site planning and and uh planning board approval process that Jennifer mentioned >> in 2024. Um, that process was informed very much by uh review and analysis of
the trees that exist on the site. And you see here on the on the left hand side of the screen the existing tree protection plan which maps out all of the trees that are on the site, those of which can be retained, those of which need to be replaced. And that's really complemented by this very robust uh
planting plan and strategy that you see on the right where we're adding a substantial number of net new trees to the site overall. Uh really with an aim of you know improving long-term planting health, tree canopy coverage and and sort of overall site sustainability for
this project at the outset uh when it's complete. Um the excuse me the the process that um we went through uh to establish these recommendations uh you know was in coordination with our um arborist consultant who's here with us
this evening. Um, and we did a very thorough evaluation of every single tree on site. And that involved, uh, going in and, you know, identifying, uh, every single specimen, um, sizing it, identifying the species, um, and then making some preliminary evaluations
about the overall health of each individual, um, uh, member there on site. um and uh looking at the structural integrity of each individual tree and then making some preliminary recommendations about the long-term survivability and and the um viability
of these trees to remain during the redevelopment process. And you know I think as Jennifer mentioned um you know while these are significant uh uh significantly sized trees they are unfortunately already in decline um and in only in fair health and and suffering
from some uh lack of structural integrity particularly in their upper canopy. Um and really the reason for that is because of the very challenging growing conditions that these trees exist in. uh they're sandwiched, you know, between uh a a fairly narrow public sidewalk along Juniper Street and
then this existing retaining wall which dates back to the original uh development of the site in the early 60s uh you know with the housing authority. And as you'll see here in some of these more detailed photos, that uh combination of factors is really creating some pretty undesirable uh
growing conditions for these trees. there's a very narrow strip of soil of of planting volume that's available for uh these trees to grow in. Um and that in combination with this retaining wall directly behind them is forcing the roots to clump and bundle to have very
limited access to soil and nutrients and then forcing them out underneath the sidewalk. Um so that's not great for the health of the trees. Obviously that's why they're in decline. Um and it's not great for the sidewalk either. It's causing accessibility issues. that's causing safety issues and tripping
hazards. Um, and additionally, the the existence of the retaining wall itself, as Jennifer mentioned, is creating um some pretty significant grading challenges and accessibility challenges both for current residents on the site um who need to navigate, you know, uh stairs or complex ramps uh to get access
to their apartments. Um as well as, you know, its existence would be inhibiting uh future improvements to accessibility and visibility as part of this long-term redevelopment plan. It's for all those reasons why, you know, we think that, um, you know, this is an excellent opportunity to use, uh, this
redevelopment project and the resources that the housing authority is devoting to the project to, um, create a a much more uh, long-term uh, sustainable uh, planting strategy for for the entire site and for this part of Juniper Street in particular. Um, that's going to
improve public accessibility. that's going to improve the long-term uh tree canopy coverage in this area and provide the most public benefit over the long term. Um, and you'll see here in this series of diagrams again just sort of exactly what that will look like uh in the proposed condition that was reviewed
um you know by the by the planning board. Uh on the left you'll see the existing condition where again these very large trees are quite constrained by these existing structures. Uh their root growth is is limited and uh you know impinging on the sidewalk. um as opposed to the proposed condition, uh
the trees are would be removed. They would be replaced with new trees. Again, replacing the three existing trees with five new trees in a much more generous, uh planting zone. Um that's going to allow for the trees, you know, to not be impacted by the retaining wall,
obviously, to not impact the rebuilt sidewalk, um which will have improved accessibility and durability. Um and the uh lowering of the grades and the the uh gentling of the slopes here will provide better access and visitability uh for
neighbors and residents to get from the public sidewalk into the interior of the site as well. Um so I believe that's everything we have for you. um appreciate your attention on this matter and I'll turn it back over to to Jennifer and Ben to facilitate any
questions or comments you might have. >> Sure. Well, ready to take any questions you might have? >> I guess I have a question. Um and maybe I missed something in the process of going through this. Um if the uh housing authority is exempt from the town bylaw,
>> why is there an appeal? Okay. Because the um that tree bylaw is for the trees on the housing authorities site and these are public town owned trees. >> Okay. >> And so that falls under a separate state
statue and process on request to remove. Yes. >> John mention was made of you know there were people who um objected to the removal of the trees. Are they here tonight and um will we have a chance to hear from them?
This this is a public hearing, so anyone who wants to make a make a point either in favor or against will have the typical time to do so. >> Okay. And you would prefer uh that that we ask our questions first? >> Yeah, we usually do that. >> Okay, that's fine. Yeah, that's fine. If I may, then I'll I'll ask my question.
Um it's more it's more just to make a point. Uh I I listened in on the hearing um that resulted in the decision as described tonight and um uh yes uh it it it was pretty clear that there are some people who you know really really value
these trees and I think we can understand why. I think it's going to be a continuing um challenge to us in Brooklyn to um figure out what we mean when we say we're going to replace some existing trees, especially if they are
canopy tree, canopy trees of these, which these three are. Um and of the reach and the expanse of trees such as these three, um what does it mean to replace them? Are we actually going to plant um a tree which is a future canopy
tree just like these? And if we are, are we inviting the same kinds of problems that maybe, you know, um we're facing tonight in terms of how much space do they need? Um c can they be planted in the spaces that we're used to creating
in our sidewalks right next to right adjacent to our paved roads? Um, and if we're not going to be planting canopy trees, then what kind of trees are we going to be planting? And will they in
fact truly replace the canopy trees um if for example they don't um present as a canopy? Um so can can we get a little guidance from um the folks who have spoken as to uh 20 years from now, 30
years from now, uh what will the people who value these trees um what will they be seeing um in the sidewalk where these trees once were? >> I can um answer part of that. So, a couple of things here. With the removal
of the retaining wall, um that will give the new the new five trees the opportunity to flourish. They are canopy trees, but they won't be restricted. Um they will also have structural soils um will be added which will allow the root
system to grow. Um, and as far as what they will look like in 20 years, um, I can't say, but maybe Jack or the one of the town, uh, tree experts might want to address that. >> Okay, >> sure,
>> Jack. Oh, that's your cue. >> Good evening, everyone. Josh Schlifer, uh, tree warden and urban forestry manager for the town. And these are good and big questions that we are asking and
answering as a forestry department regularly about how we can replace what's removed and what planting sites are sufficient for the long-term viability of these plantings. But in this instance, we're planning on replanting
canopy shade trees in this area. I think presumably Lyndon, so I don't want to speak for the team, but I think um as a town when we have species that are succeeding like these, we'd love to replant the same species when and where we can while also diversifying our forest and whatnot. Um but yes, we will
be replanting canopy trees in 20 years with, you know, the right conditions. They could well look like the trees we have there now, which is >> And these are lynons. >> These are lynons. Yeah. >> And so the thought is that they will be replaced with lynons. >> Yep. and with Lyndon's in better growing
conditions because these are working with some really tough tight conditions between that sidewalk and that retaining wall. So, if that can be improved, it could be lovely long term. >> Okay, great. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh, thanks Jack. As as you know, we've spent a lot of time together on trees because of the MBTA renovation.
Um, so I I I think of all the things that we talked about >> as part of that process and we continue to talk about as part of that process. >> Um, and then uh I have a couple of questions. The first is the the trees which are currently on the sidewalk looks like they're going to be moved
where the retaining wall used to be. So almost on top of the retaining wall, but the retaining wall is gone. It looks like the building is coming out a little bit. Is the building going to uh is the building expanding uh towards the sidewalk? Uh maybe the architect could exp or because I'm going to have a
question related to that. >> Yeah. Um Nick, do you want to uh take that question? Yeah, it is modestly closer to the sidewalk and I think you can you can see here in the diagrams that are still up on the screen. Yes, that it is closer. Yep. >> Okay. So, I I want to make sure I was interpreting it. So, it looks to me like
there's a lot less space for the tree uh canopy wise, although there is room, you know, for roots. Um do you see these trees uh becoming a canopy if they're that close to the building?
>> That's a good question. Um yes. I think it's important to think about both above and below ground space. So, it's a valuable distinction. We I mean, and I hesitate to say one is more or less important than the other, but if the below ground space is improved, I don't
see the slight encroachment of the building being a huge problem. It's still open on three sides, and I think those sides are I would need to check maps, but south being one of them. So, it should get sufficient light through all of that. Um, and right now there's a
pretty good like awning opening on that building. So, there should be enough space. We have trees working in much tighter conditions in our urban context and doing okay. >> And then my my second question is, do these remain public shade trees? Are they moving onto the BHA property? >> That's a good question, and I was
admittedly wondering it myself when looking at these maps and how they would stay above the retaining wall. I think we need to talk about that, but I assume they would remain public shade trees. I was actually at trees that are planted by the municipality or tree warden um or in an
oversight thereof can be retained as public shade trees. So >> that's right there the the statute um calls that out that these would remain public shade trees and the BHA would maintain them um trimming pruning with in consultation with the town and the
exact location would also be have to be approved by Jack and his team. >> Okay. And in the future, if these trees needed to come down, they would still need to go through the same process because it's correct. Okay. Correct. And my last question for Jack, um what's the caliper that we're replacing? These are pretty big trees. I don't know how DBH
is, but um what's the DBH and what are we replacing them with? >> Uh the DBH on these, I don't remember exactly, but it's in the like high 20s and low 30s, I think, for the three trees. Um, and I measured it a few weeks
ago, so I should remember. Um, >> but they're pretty they're pretty they're substantial. >> They're substantial trees. Yeah. And they're they're big trees in that section of Brooklyn, too. Um, albeit in a really tough location. Yeah. >> Um, but we'd be replanting with probably our standard, which is 2 and 1 half to
three and 1/2 in caliber trees in that range. And sometimes it's tempting to plant bigger trees to get more mature ones in there, but I'm a believer and the data reinforce that smaller trees catch up in time and are able to acclimate. So I believe that to be best,
but yeah, we'd be replanting about nine aggregate inches of caliper. >> And those trees are probably 60 years old, maybe older. >> Hard to speculate. Um they could easily be up to that. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Hey, David.
>> Yes. So, I have a question that's uh somewhat similar to John's. Uh how many years do you think it will take before these new trees would start to pose a problem in terms of the roots getting underneath the sidewalk? Because even in
this diagram of the proposal, it looks like the roots are already a little bit under the sidewalk. >> It's true. I think that will largely come down to the ultimate design and implementation just how much rooting
volume there is for the trees. But I would say that if we you know we have tree and sidewalk conflicts everywhere throughout the town because we have trees growing along our sidewalks and roads and it's something we're well accustomed to managing as a DPW and well
on top of finding solutions to continue to improve. So, I wouldn't I wouldn't um worry personally too much about that conflict in this instance because that's something we're dealing with with all of our plantings and we're working hard on. >> But do you feel it's a conflict right
now with the trees as they are? >> Um, not enough of a conflict where I would remove the trees solely because of their conflict with the sidewalk, but I was I have been reflecting on how hard it would be to replace this sidewalk or do any work around these trees. and have
any possibility of preserving them because they're in such a late stage of their lives and they have all these grading challenges around. So, all to say that I no, I wouldn't remove them solely for that reason, but if the road and sidewalk were being redone in that
area, I think we'd need to have a conversation about about their viability. Would that work? >> Okay. Uh, Michael. >> Uh, thank you. Um, and some of my questions have been been answered, so I
appreciate that. Um, but I'm trying to understand the grading and the old retaining walls characteristics relative to the tree versus the new one. So, can you tell me approximately how high the
current retaining wall is above grade and how far it extends below grade and how does that differ in the proposed um regrading? >> Sure, Michael. I'm going to let uh Nick from Util Design answer that.
>> Sure. Uh so, the the existing retaining wall uh I'll just go back a slide if that's okay. Um uh it varies in height. So it, you know, towards the the uphill side of Juniper, it really tapers down to maybe only 12
in. Uh closer to Walnut Street, it's it's closer to 3 or 4 feet, depending on where you are. Um and then there was a um a series of sort of additional retaining walls and and ramps that were constructed at the corner of the existing building there um that are quite tall, probably five or six feet
tall. Um so that that height above grade varies. We don't know um the exact you know below grade conditions obviously because we haven't excavated around the trees but we're assuming that this wall goes down to frost depth that would be sort of a conventional construction here
so it's 3 to 4 feet you know below grade um does that does that answer your question Michael? Uh yeah, for current conditions and what's the plan moving forward? >> For the proposed condition, there would be no retaining. Well, here the the entire slope from the building would be uh would be graded down and there would
be a granite curb at the back of the sidewalk that would match the granite curb at the street. That's what you see uh this little block right here. Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. So, that's so that's just a curb that sticks out. >> It's just a curb that would be, you know, about 12 inches and half of it would be, you know, buried in in the ground. Yep.
>> Got it. Got it. And and then there's there's space between the tree and the and this back curb. >> Yeah. Right. Right now we're we're located the trees um uh you know basically right over the property line
on the housing authorities property. But I think, you know, Jack makes a fair point that we probably need to um, you know, evaluate each location in more detail as we go into the construction documents and just make sure that, you know, that specific uh location and the configuration of the curb is, you know,
as beneficial to the trees as possible. Um, and you know, it sounds like from a from a statutory standpoint, the the ownership of the trees and their, you know, control doesn't really matter so much where they sit on the property line. So, I'm sure we can find a favorable solution there. >> Yeah. And it also looks like, and please
confirm if I'm correct, that the actual slope of the grade of the grade behind the sidewalk is flatter in the proposed condition. >> Yes. Exactly. Yes. Yes. And that's that's exactly what's enabling us to
create better accessible paths, uh, you know, adjacent to the trees to to get folks from Juniper Street and from Walnut Street, uh, up into the site and to the various building entrances that are proposed. Right now there's a if you if you're familiar with the site there's a pretty significant retaining condition
both along walnut and along juniper that uh you know is inhibiting uh travel and and access there. Yeah. >> And are the the storm water impacts of that change in grade well understood? >> Yeah, they're they're pretty nominal. Uh you know there's not really a big impact
there. It's all it's all um you know pvious conditions here. So it's infiltrating. Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay. This is a public hearing. Uh Charlie, why don't we open the hearing and see if anyone wants to um speak.
>> Okay, this is a public hearing. Um folks in the room wishing to speak should raise their hand and can be called on to approach the podium. Folks online, please use the hand raise feature to let us know that you'd like to speak and your we'll promote you and your three minutes will begin. Um so far, no one
online. There are seven people in the room and no one is raising their hand. >> So use the hand raise feature folks online. 20 20 participants and no one is raising their hand. >> Okay. In that case I will close the
hearing and uh we will proceed to a vote >> before you had something. >> Yeah, I do have I do have a a question. I'm hoping um that we could hear from the chair of the tree planting committee since um we don't have the benefit of uh
hearing what the opposition was about it. I'm hoping that you can address that. The things that you heard, I know you always ask great questions during these and you care about every tree in town. Could you help us understand what was raised, what the concerns were, and how what led you to approving this?
>> Sure. Uh good evening. This is Liz Erdman, the chair of the tree planting committee. And for a summary of the meeting, it was um very well attended. There were about 20 people there and we had had a number of letters written
before the meeting. Um uh there were many residents of the building concerned about uh basically kind of coming in and not not wanting any changes made to uh to the the sidewalks, the tree, the
retaining wall. Um Jennifer and the team did a really good job answering answering questions and concerns from um from everybody there, including including myself. I think uh the tree planting committee came in wondering can
these trees be saved and we walked through the the root situation, the condition of the trees and that there really was no way to to keep the trees um and and um that they they probably
wouldn't live even without this project. It was it was a matter of time. Uh I some of the questions from participants were like can you move the sidewalk? Can you move the sidewalk 10 feet away and
you know kind of build it out? And um and then another point that that people made is wanting to know um when it was going to happen, like when are the trees coming down, when are the new trees going in? And um in my experience so
far, that is is something that um is very stressful for neighbors when a project begins and the trees come down early and they don't go they don't get planted till much later and residents who don't know the plan like
you know there's just that in unsuress like is it going to be ravaged and not replaced. So I think hearing the seeing the plan, seeing you know there was there was a lot of kind of positive um of seeing that there would be more
trees planted that you know the interior was very green and um and hearing people's concerns. So that the BHA really spent a lot of time um uh addressing addressing concerns and so ultimately we voted that uh we voted two
to three that the um trees could be removed. >> Okay. >> Thank you. And thank you both. >> And I have one other one just one other question for um a process standpoint. Uh Depazo had mentioned that >> um because there was opposition that it came to us. What's the normal course? Do
we only hear these? Did someone have to appeal it to us? Was there an appeal filed or >> so you know you >> So the um normal process is that you apply to the tree warden for a removal permit and it goes to the tree planting
committee. If no one um first it's posted and advertised and if anybody files an opposition, it doesn't really matter what the tree planting committee says. It has to come to you by statute. But if nobody files
an opposition, then the tree planting committee can vote and the tree warden is then allowed to issue the permit. >> And what constitutes an opposition? Is it just a letter saying I don't like anything? >> Anything in writing? An email. Um in this case, there was uh someone that
posted um an opposition to the trees on the tree. >> Gotcha. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Sure. >> So that I learned something. So thank you. >> Yeah. If it's it's not rescended be um I think it's that night. Is that right? If it's not rescended before or during the
meeting then it has to come to you. >> Gotcha. Okay. That's really helpful to know. Thank you. >> Okay. any other >> um so I have a question just in terms in terms of those letters and um can you
can you say how many of those letters were filed and how many of the letters that were filed were filed by residents of the BHA properties >> um I I don't think I don't think letters were filed that that I remember by
residents Um uh many of them came about a week before and um the green space alliance the um mothers out front um all all wrote letters. Uh I don't think the people who
resided there who came had written letters. >> Okay, that's good. >> And those letters are in opposition to taking the treatment, >> right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. The reason that I'm asking this question just just to be clear is
that um I am a little concerned that we historically don't get sufficient represent uh sort of appearances from people who are uh resident within BHA properties in terms of the concerns uh
of their properties. So if they were in opposition, the fact that they're not here is is something to be uh sort of considered. >> I I do think that the discussion seemed to answer a lot of questions um
>> as to the viability of the trees during during that uh during that meeting. So I >> um but but I do think sometimes once people write they don't write to say I changed my mind like
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Unless there are any other questions, I'd like to close the hearing and proceed to a vote. That okay? >> Yeah. Yeah, I just I want to make one comment, uh, Bernard, because I, um, I
just I'm thinking about what we've gone through and what we've been going through because of trees being displaced from the, uh, from the sealine on the MBTA. Um, and it's telling there's nobody here. I mean, that's usually there there is a pretty strong advocacy
group. um that is, you know, it's it's usually two or three groups come together and and they they rightly so are very concerned about our tree canopy um and and protecting it and and keeping it viable. Um what I heard tonight was that residents of the BHA
came to the meeting and their primary concerns were about losing the trees, when were they going to be replaced, what's the impact on their on their lives and accessibility and walking down the sidewalk. It was more quality of life and accessibility versus
um I didn't hear you say that they were very concerned about the loss of the tree canopy. They were looking for the trees to be replaced. Is that an accurate um >> I I think they were looking for like the can I remember a conversation like again can you move the sidewalk like why do
you need to remove that retaining wall move the sidewalk and keep them and then it once we walk through in >> the construction and the the imp the reality of construction >> right right >> okay okay I just I'm I'm surprised that we're not seeing some of the folks that would
be speaking for uh retaining the trees that they're not they're not here tonight. I don't know if they >> I would just add that another huge thing um Paul about that was that people were so excited to see that onsite there was going to be so many trees added and so much green space that people could enjoy
and I think that helped a lot. >> Yeah. Well, I I for one um value the accessibility and certainly the affordable housing and the expansion and accessibility affordable housing. So, um I'm in support of uh of the the proposal
to remove and replace the trees. >> Okay. Uh Charlie, um just let's uh make sure no one else um is raising their hand online. Folks online, uh if you wish to speak at this public hearing, please use the raise the hand feature at the bottom of
the screen and we will promote you to speak. There are 20 participants online and nobody has indicated their desire to speak. >> Okay, let's close the public hearing and I move approval of the um removal of the
public uh shade trees pursuant to MGL chapter 87 um which is following written appeals received during the tree planting committee's tree removal hearing. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak. Hi
>> Paul Warren. >> Hi >> David Torman. >> Hi >> Michael Rubenstein. >> Hi. >> And chair vosai. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks everyone.
>> Next I see we have our town clerk in the audience who's going to talk to us about a couple things coming up. Um first uh we have the town election. uh question of voting on the items related to the May 5th, 2026 annual town
election. Um that the annual town election is called for Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. And um it be held at the times and locations as detailed in the town clerk's memo.
and that lease details for the 2026 annual town election be assigned and as detailed in the town clerk's memo. So, we'll vote on each one of those separately, but have your say. >> Certainly. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair, and I'm happy to to discuss all of them at once because they're all kind of uh kind
of grouped together. Uh we have the annual town election coming up uh in May of 2026, the first of a three election year uh with elections in September and November as well. Um the select board uh according to our town's bylaws must vote by the third Tuesday in January to set
the date for that election. We're asking you to set it a little bit early primarily because we're currently in the process of finalizing the annual town census which is mailed out to every household in Brookline uh including every household that has a registered voter in it. And if we have the date set uh tonight's meeting, we're able to
include that information with the annual town census. we usually include a one-pager from the clerk's office detailing elections in the upcoming year so that people have that information. So that's why we are coming to you a couple weeks early than uh is prescribed by the bylaw. Um the votes before you uh that were described by the chair uh the first
is to set the date of the town election for May 5th which is the first Tuesday in May. The second is to set the dates for the uh early voting period for the annual town election. Uh early voting is required at state elections and state primaries. However, it is optional at
local elections. So, it must be approved by the select board to be held. Uh we've seen uh high usage uh not necessarily in state primaries. Uh but especially at local elections and at um state elections, we've seen a high usage of early voting in person. So, we're maintaining the same level that we have
in previous years. one full week of early voting during the regular business hours of the clerk's office as well as the Saturday and the Sunday at the beginning from 10:00 a.m. to 4 pm all three locations at Brookline Town Hall as well as at the Kulage Corner Library and at the Putterham Library. Um, a
quick note uh which was actually flagged for me by select member Rubenstein uh is that uh in the uh proposed calendar that we had there was a typo where it actually said early voting on that Friday ended at noon. It actually ends at 12:30. Uh so just as a note uh for uh for the board. Um and then the final
vote is the uh vote to assign police details for the elections. Uh when the votes act was passed in 2022, it required that the select board vote to appoint police details for all of our elections. And our police uh details are an incredibly valuable part of our
elections team. Uh they uh ensure the security of our elections. They have an important role as sworn officers who are sworn to uphold the elections and uphold um the laws that have been passed in Massachusetts. Um and they also serve as a resource for a lot of our pole workers. They tend to be people who have
extra tools in their tool belt to help diffuse situations, resolve issues, uh something as simple as extra height to pull down a sign that's been placed inside the perimeter. uh up to uh reports where we've had officers who speak a second language who've actually helped translate for voters uh who are
trying to communicate with poll workers. So, they're really a valuable uh asset uh on our team. Uh and the police details are laid out there. It's essentially one officer for each location, some extra officers in a couple of places where we know we've had issues in the past with parking or with concerns in schools around school
safety. Um as well as officers assigned to town hall. And then finally, a kind of coverall uh option for the clerk to assign additional police officers uh if it's deemed necessary uh in case a situation should arrive where an extra detail officer might be uh helpful. Um
and uh we work closely uh with the police department and with the chief to ensure that we're able to do that staffing. So those are the three votes that are before you and happy to discuss answer any questions. >> Any questions? >> I one question Bernard. Um we are always
uh thinking about things that we want to share with um community members. Um and with the annual census going out, I appreciate that you're want to make sure we've got this the calendar down so you can include something about voting. Is there anything else uh town
administrator Carrie that we would want to stick in that envelope if we can for the census? Well, I mean, one of the other the other thing that you have to remember is to send a piece of paper out to everybody. Um, even just the printing of that winds up being expensive. And
so, the question is, do we have a message that is so important that we think it's wild? >> That's why that's why I ask if if we're going to pay for the stamp, it might be >> do we want to put something else on that envelope? That's all I suggest. And so I I think at this juncture and you also
have to be cognizant of the messaging and you know how what you what you put out there. I think given the what we've done in terms of the community surveys that we've done. We've done our annual survey. It's still relatively fresh. It's from 2024. I don't think there's
anything out there that necessarily we need to make in terms of this mass communication. But I defer obviously to the clerk too if there's anything >> in the >> So actually I will note there are there are two other departments that do include uh materials uh in it. Uh one is the office of emergency management uh
always includes uh a little one pager and information about emergency management and then the uh sustainability division of department of public works uh includes uh something usually related to uh composting or recycling or waste management efforts that they are doing over there. Uh in prior years the planning department did
uh include in their one pager about um the uh the survey um which has also been helpful. Um as town administrator says there's a cost uh there's essentially a >> getting a thick envelope. >> Yeah. A three sheet limit on the envelope is what we're able to uh to accommodate. Uh after that then the the
cost starts uh going up fairly considerably. >> U Michael >> uh thank thank you very much. Um, my name is Michael Rubenstein, not Rubenstein. Um, but I just I assume that the Michael I'm sorry.
>> Oh, sorry. >> I'm sorry. Um, when you mentioned emergency management, I assume that you're talking about either Smart 911 or some of the other programs, Alert Brookline to connect people on that.
>> Uh, yes, that is correct. So, first I apologize for the mispronouncing of your name. uh as somebody who goes by Kaufman with a father who goes by Calfman, I'm quite familiar uh with with the issue. Uh yes, the uh it is the alert 911, the smart 911 uh alert Brooklyn uh uh signup is what census.
>> Great. Thank you very much. >> Uh John, I hope I didn't miss it. Is there any reference in all of this to mailin voting? >> Uh so the mail-in voting is uh standard for uh town elections. Uh you the select board has to vote to opt out of mail-in
voting, right? Uh so if the select board doesn't take action on mail and voting then they do not. Uh we will be coming to the select board uh probably in uh February once we have the numbers uh for the cost of doing those postcards that are sent out. Those postcards are done every year by the state for state
elections but locally those have to be paid for by us. Uh we just haven't yet gotten the estimates from the printer. So uh that'll be a later one. But in terms of authorizing vote by mail uh author vote by mail is authorized unless the select board votes otherwise. And are those dates uh known? I mean, are
they set up? Are they sort of um baked in? >> In terms of when ballots are available, it is it is tied to when the ballot actually closes, which is 35 days before the election. Um that is the deadline for the board to submit ballot questions and the deadline for candidates to withdraw. So that is what then actually
sets the ballot and then it goes to the printer from there. So we usually end up getting the ballots in the first or second week of April. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Hey, you're setting the election date for May 5th. Um, just so no one thinks we uh overlook
this, we do have an option of setting it at a later date. Um, so any question or I or comments from the select board on that issue. Okay, good. Okay, let's start voting.
Um, I move that we uh let's see. I move that we set uh annual town election um for Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak, >> I Paul Warren, >> I. >> David Pearlman,
>> I. >> Michael Rubenstein, >> I >> and chair votes I. Um, I move that we set the early voting for the 2026 annual town election to be held at the times and locations as detailed in the town
clerk's memo that's in our packet. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak >> I. >> Paul Warren. >> Hi. >> David Pearman. >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein. >> I. >> Chair votes I. Finally, I move that the
police details for the 2026 annual town election be assigned as detailed in the town clerk's memorandum uh in our packet. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vancoyak >> I. >> Paul Warren >> I. >> Michael I'm sorry. David um Perman
>> I. >> Michael Rubenstein >> I. >> And chair votes I. Thank you for that. Don't go away. >> Thank you Mr. uh Mr. Chair. If I actually can just on the elections, I know I'd mentioned it at the beginning, but I always like to remind people that we have three elections this year. So, in addition to making sure you have a
plan to vote for May, there's also going to be an election in September and an election in November. So, make sure you have all of those uh dates blocked off. And Rene, all of those will be included with the census mailing. And I am happy to stay, but I will say I am actually not the one proposing the dates for the annual town meeting. So,
>> Oh, that's that's Melissa. >> I will I will not take credit or uh whatever the alternative is for those. Um, >> thank you. >> Okay, Melissa, talk to us about town meeting. >> Sure. >> Uh, you have in your packet the uh draft
schedule for town meeting. Um, we are looking to have an opening um an opening warrant of January 28th, which is a Wednesday, and then the warrant closing on February 25th, which is also a Wednesday. And that would be at noon, the closing of the warrant. Um, if you
count 90 days from that date, that puts us at a town meeting of May 26, which is Tuesday. Um, we are still look working with the school department on a potential conflict for the second night of town meeting, but it's really just the first night that the board uh sets and then, you know, we set the
expectation, but town meeting will ultimately decide um what the schedule is. So, um, if you have any questions, this has been run by the moderator and the town clerk. Uh, the two critical components to running the town meeting. Uh and if you have any questions, uh please let me know.
>> Any questions? >> Any predictions on whether the twoight town meeting would be repeated in the annual town meeting? >> Highly doubted. >> Okay. Yes. Um, Michael. >> So, so, uh, following up on Paul's question, sort of on the other end, um,
if it turns out that we need to actually extend beyond six days to the following week, is that something that the moderator has to takes care of or does that come back to us? Do we have to authorize additional days? >> You just set the first night. So, and
then town meeting essentially the schedule is dependent on town meeting kind of moving that the the night that they're carry over their business to the you know the following Wednesday and etc. So, >> okay. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Okay. I
move approval of the um I move approval of setting the dates uh for the 2026 annual town meeting as um let's see opening the warrant on January 28th and closing the warrant on February
25th. Um and a town meeting that starts on May 26th, my birthday by the way. Um, >> I think we can take all those together. Uh, all in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Bencoyak,
>> I. >> Paul Warren, >> I. >> David Pearlman, >> hi. >> Michael Rubenstein, >> I. >> And chair votes I. >> Thank you. And unless there's someone in the audience
hiding behind one of the chairs uh or someone online that would like to uh provide public comment at this point. Is there anyone uh Charlie? >> Folks in the audience online can use the hand raise feature at this time if you'd
like to make a public comment at the end of the select board's meeting. >> Okay. Hearing none. Uh I will end the meeting. Thank you everyone.