Good evening. I'm Bernard Green, chair of the Brookline Select Board and this is the regular meeting uh which will be remote of the select board for January 27, 2026. Uh first item is going into executive
session. I move that the select board go into executive session for the purpose of approving executive session minutes and discussing strategy related to real property and discussing strategy related to litigation. Uh the litigation and
real property matters are being held in executive session because an open meeting discussion of the uh acquisition, lease holding or disposition of real property or the negotiating position of um uh the board
uh in litigation uh will have a detrimental effect on our position and the chair so declares an executive session therefore to be necessary. Uh let's um move to to a vote. All in favor please indicate by saying I.
>> John Vancoyak >> I. >> Paul Warren >> I. >> David Hurlman >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein >> I. >> Chair votes I. Okay. Melanie put us in executive session.
>> Okay. I'm going to stop recording and move guests into the waiting room. Please wait one second. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Good evening. This is Bernard Green
again, chair of the Brooklyn Select Board, and this is the open meeting of the select board for and regular meeting of the select board for January 27, 2026. Let's start off with um announcements or
updates from the select board. If you don't mind, I'd like to start off with an announcement. Not an announcement, but uh just an update myself. So, Michael and I attended the Mass Municipal Association meeting this weekend along with many uh staff members
from Brooklyn. This annual meeting is well worth the time of elected municipal officials. We learn from the programs and from the people in different municipalities who are confronting similar or unique challenges as are we. We can learn from those interactions a
lot. Uh the keynote speakers uh or the keynote speaker on Friday morning was Timothy Shriber and the speaker of the women elected municipal officials lunchon was Tammy Piper. Both of whom were excellent and talked
about ways to reduce our toxic political environment nationally. And of course, what they said applies locally, believe it or not. Timothy Timothy Shrivever urged the audience to avoid thinking that strength is macho and that you can
achieve your goals by fighting fire with fire rather than strength being leading with dignity or confronting injustice with consistent nonviolent action as reflected in the examples set by Martin
Luther King and the civil rights movement. This applies to the national scene we are going through today and in different ways to how we interact with each other at the local level. You know, we have proof that Shrivever
was right in Minneapolis where the consistent discipline and persistent nonviolent action of just regular people on the streets while the big political stars kept quiet.
people who were outgunned and on three occasions gunned down, but nonetheless persisted and forced the Trump administration to back down to some degree. We don't know for how long or how sincerely, but we do know that the
peaceful, persistent, nonviolent action of the people of Minneapolis and throughout the country did prevail over the violence of the Trump administration, at least for now. But that's a lesson that I think we should
be bear in mind a as we continue to uh struggle with um this terrible situation we're facing in this country. Um I would um one way that you can find
information from this presentation by Timothy Shrivever is go to the website of uh his organization called dignity. us. I think it's worth it to take a look at that. Uh I found it very very interesting, very very helpful and um
you know including information that is useful uh uh here in Brooklyn as well as elsewhere. So any other uh comments from the select board? Uh David?
>> Yes. I'd like to mention that uh today, January 27th, marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the 1945 liberation of the Ashawitz Burknau concentration and death camp. While centered on the six million Jews
murdered by the Nazis, this day also honors millions of other victims, including the Roma and Cinti, persons with disabilities, Soviet prisoners of war, Poles, LGBTQ individuals, political dissident, and other religious
minorities. Educational initiatives led by organizations like UNESCO emphasize the urgent need to combat rising anti-semitism and to protect universal human rights today. >> Thank you, David. That's an important u
u thing to mention to people because I have not seen as much about it in the press as I would expect to have seen. So, uh John Yes, thank you very much. I'm perhaps
our chair is is too modest to have mentioned this himself, so I'm going to mention it that um I thought the the Martin Luther King Day observances in Brooklyn um as always they have been uh were once again um you know very well
worth attending uh and uh very fitting uh especially in the current circumstances. uh an an excellent program including um uh two two poet poetry uh readings or um you know
examples of uh one reading uh and one performance um including our um uh own Brooklyn poet laurate and also the Massachusetts poet laurate. So you couldn't ask for a more all-star lineup and I thought it was a
great program. Um, the other one thing I want to say quickly is someone who I had the um the privilege to know back in the day when he was very much involved on the Brooklyn scene as the head of the Brooklyn Police Association. Uh, Mel
Seabolt has passed away and his passing has been noted by some people on the town meeting member list serve who spoke eloquently about what he meant to Brooklyn. He really was an outstanding public safety official and also um an
outstanding leader of uh the Brooklyn Police Association. So sorry to read about the passing of of Mel Seabolt >> Paul. >> Yep. Uh thanks Bernard. Um I just wanted to uh give a shout out to all of our
town employees. Uh we just had the most significant snowfall in a long time. Um, and you know, I I personally was out most of the night because I I love the snow. Um, and I saw DPW uh doing the
work to get our our streets cleared. Um, working to get sidewalks cleared. I know there's a there's still a lot to do. Uh, but it was really an overwhelming uh amount of snow. Um, and I was heartened as I walked around my neighborhood and then did some driving today to see the
number of fire hydrants that were shoveled out. Uh this is, you know, something that we sometimes forget that those fire hydrants are really critical. Um and the number of people that were helping neighbors. Um you know, I think there's there's something going on with the supply uh of of folks that can come
out and help um you know, people shovel their driveways or their their walkways and such. Uh just because we've had such an inconsistent um uh snow season over the past few years and there just not as many people doing it. So, um I just I
want to say thank you to all those who have uh answered the Facebook calls for please come and help me shovel my car out. I did see a lot of neighbors helping neighbors. Um there's still a lot of outstanding requests I think on uh on Brook online where people are
seeing unshoveled sidewalks. I just I would just ask people be patient. Be patient with their neighbors. Uh be patient with the town. It was a huge amount of snow uh that came down and we certainly are feeling a crunch of supply. But overall, Chaz, I just want
to say thank you to you to police, fire, uh DPW for all all the work that they're doing. I know they're doing a lot of work tonight to get ready for school to open tomorrow. I hope uh to you know, two days of sledding. Uh I've had about enough. I'm hoping the kids can go to school tomorrow. So, thank you so much.
>> Okay. Uh Chaz, did you want to add something? I see your hand was up. >> No, I'm gonna let John go ahead of me. Thank you. >> Okay, John. >> Well, yeah, I apologize. I took my turn already, but I can't resist adding to the list here. Um, congratulations to Brooklyn's own um, craft family, but
also congratulations to every resident of Brooklyn who is is a true blue uh, Patriots fan because um, we've got some exciting an exciting game coming up in a couple of weeks and not for the first time that we've been able to sort of claim a a little bit of association with
the success of the New England Patriots. >> Okay. Uh, Chaz >> very much. Um, I want to thank Paul and everyone for the kind words. Um, the team has really been working very hard out there. We appreciate everyone's patience and forbearance as we work
through this. It is a huge undertaking to get the roads clear and then the snow has to go somewhere. Uh and that's the kind of second aspect of this that we're really working on is getting the immediate roads clear, then widening the streets so that everything can get clear
so that the you know people are safe when they're out on the road. Um and then clearing out um the large snow drifts and the sidewalks and so and the parking lots and all of those things. Um there's going to be a lot of people working overnight tonight um after having worked a long time on the
weekends uh to make this happen. So thank you all very much. Uh thank you to the entire team and to the combined snow response teams from police, fire, health, buildings, and especially TPW who are the leaders and coordinators on this response. So thanks. Um I also want
to flag um in terms of Brookline self- congratulatory. Um we're finally allowed to announce this after the Mass Municipal Association contest. Brookline won not one but two awards this year. Uh we won came in first place. We have the best municipal website uh for a
community of over 60,000 people and we have the best annual report um for a town of over 60,000 people. Um this is a real tribute to um Christina Metaf, our chief communications officer who has really taken on this work with um a lot
of um uh uh excitement and also you know dedication and grace and moving through this stuff. So, I really want to um shout out Christina for the hard work that she did. Um I said when we hired Christina, I said, "If we don't win this annual award next year, I'm I'm I'm filing an official protest. Um and she
she won it." Um so, I'm very grateful for all the hard work that she's done. Um really, you know, making our making our communications more effective. That's really what this is about. It's not just a pretty website or a pretty report. when you read the annual report, you realize, wow, there's a lot of good
information in here that's very clear, very concise, and very easy to read. Um, and that's a tribute to that work. But I also want to thank Fang Yang, our uh our IT our CIO. Um, and James Paleo, who's who our one of our web designers. Um, their work was and but you know, the
whole IT team, the whole web team really just an incredible amount of effort um to make the website what it is now. And it's still, you know, more more to come. Um, we're continuing to improve our processes and our procedures. Um, it's an ever it's an ever refining process. So, thanks to everyone. It's really nice
to get these awards. Uh, and it's really nice to recognize what they mean in terms of being able to provide clear and and meaningful information to the people who live and work and want to come here. So, thanks everyone. >> Okay. Thank you. And thank you uh Aaron
and all the other town departments who did such a spectacular job. And get ready for next week because it's coming again, I hear. Okay. Um and no other comments. Let's move on to public comment. Um Melanie,
could you uh open up public comment and um lay out the rules? And I'd like to u um read a statement from someone who asked for public comment but is uh not in the audience I don't believe because
of a conflicting meeting. Um but Melanie >> Okay. Thank you for joining us for public comment. This is an opportunity for us to hear your perspective on the issues in Brooklyn that matter to you. Each person speaking tonight is limited to three minutes. You don't need to use
the entire time, but you may if you like. Once 15 minutes has been met, there'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 one minute remaining and red when your time is nearly up. Please conclude your remarks at that time. If you have more to say, you're welcome to send an email
to board members expressing your thoughts in greater detail. Any person wishing to speak must begin their comment by identifying themselves with their full name, either their Brookline precinct number or street address, and the specific topic on wish on which they wish to speak. The board encourages but
but does not require that remote users turn their video on when commenting. Since we are remote, anybody wishing to speak, please use the raise your hand feature. Okay. Uh Melanie, can I use the privileges of being the chair to uh
start off by reading a short statement that Neil Gordon asked me to read if he couldn't appear uh on Bill McGory? Um doesn't appear that Neo is here, so I'll I'll read it. Uh Neil Gordon, precinct one town meeting member and member of
the advisory committee. I'm a Vietnam veteran and a member of Brooklyn Steven L. F. Rutledge, VFW Post 864. I thank the select board for adding a resolution acknowledging our retiring veteran services director to its agenda. The
draft resolution cites many of Bill's accomplishments. I'll summarize them by just saying this. Those who have worn the uniform know the difference between those who do their jobs well and serve with honor and those select few who do so above and beyond. It's above and
beyond that defines the dedication of Bill McGory to Brooklyn and his veterans. For that, I publicly offer him my personal thanks. Okay. And um later on I I'll read the resolution that we uh will vote on for
Bill Morardi. Okay. Okay. Melanie, >> we have one person raising their hand. Um Okay, you have been promoted. >> Hi, thank you so much. My name is Jordan Garrett. I go by JT over here at 40
Center Street in Brookline. Um, I want to repeat what Paul said. A huge shout out to all the DPW workers who've been working so hard overnight all the time. That's been great. Um, I would also just
kind of ask this board and DPW leadership to think every single time this snow clearing has been talked about online at this meeting, it's always streets, then remove snow then sidewalks, streets, remove snow
sidewalks. Um, there are multiple areas where the town is respons responsible for sidewalks that clearing hasn't started and that makes certain roadways completely impassible. We've got pedestrians out here going into slick
roadways. Um, people with infants and strollers who have to go around, people who don't have cars because, you know, maybe we can't afford the privilege of having cars over here. So, I would just really appreciate if the board DPW
leadership could take a second sometime and think about how could we think about snow clearing in a way that at least appreciates the fact that some people's primary transportation is on foot in a snow emergency and after a snow
emergency. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Okay. Any other um public comments? Uh Melanie, >> I don't see anybody raising their hand.
>> Okay. So, let's move on to um to our miscellaneous calendar and start off with question of approving the meeting minutes from January 6, 2026. Any uh corrections to those minutes? I send Kate some minor
corrections. Uh any other corrections that haven't been uh conveyed to Kate? No. Okay. So, I move approval of the me meeting minutes for January 6, 2026 as amended. Um
uh all in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vansak. I. >> Paul Warren. I. David Pearlman. Looks like he said Iel Rubenstein >> I. >> And chair votes I. Okay. Next I'd like
to take item 6B through 6S in omnivous fashion except for item 6D I think it is. Um which is the resolution u commending uh Bill McGraardy which I'd like to read. Um
uh so let me start off with that and then we'll vote on all the items unless someone else would like to pull something out. And I want to read this uh because you know Bill McGroy was an incredible um uh
is an incredible uh staff person here in Brookline and I'm not sure that everyone knows all the things that he does other than MCing Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Those are just one of the one of the things or two of the things that uh
he does and people should really know how critically important the other work that he performs for veterans and others uh are. So uh this is a resolution of Brooklyn Select Select Board expressing its appreciation to William T. McGory
for his exemplary service to veterans in the town of Brooklyn for 21 years as the director of veteran services. Whereas the Brooklyn Select Board rightfully honors those Brookline employees, residents, and other individuals whose
service, civic commitment, and leadership have been shining models of public service that have enriched the lives of residents and enhanced the civic life of our town. And whereas William T. Bill McGroy has been a
paradigm of those qualities for 21 years as the Brooklyn Director of Veteran Services. And whereas Bill McGraardi served his country for 26 years prior to joining the town of Brooklyn in the Army and the Army National Guard,
achieving the rank of major in the Army Reserve. And whereas Bill McGor's military service included deployment to Fula, Germany on the border with East Germany as a border officer in November 1989, the historic period when the Berlin Wall
fell and the border between East and West Germany was open. And whereas upon retiring from the military, Bill McGroy began his public service as veterans outreach coordinator for the Massachusetts Division of Employment and Training and later as director of
veteran services for the city of Gloucester and beginning in 2005 as director of veteran services for the town of Brooklyn. And whereas Bill McGory as director of veteran services ran a comprehensive social services office for veterans and their dependent.
And whereas the invaluable services of Bill McGory provided to Brooklyn veterans and their dependent included in assistance in filing for state benefits under master law chapter 115 and federal benefits such as veterans administration
medical care for service connected or non-service connected disabilities and compensation as well as general assistance to veterans readjusting to to civilian life. Whereas Bill and whereas Bill McGory also provided assistance in
obtaining financial resources such as social security benefits, emergency funds, and unemployment compensation, social services such as counseling, educational benefits, job searches, housing, medical care referrals, and other social service needs of veterans
or their dependent. and important support and assistance such as help obtaining military records and assistance in obtaining burial allowances and widows pensions. And whereas Bill McGroy organized and led the highly appreciated Veterans Day
and Memorial Day celebrations of the town of Brooklyn. And whereas Bill McGory continues to work closely with Brookline American Legion Post 11 and VFW Post 864 to support their outreach to veterans of all generations and
multiple armed conflicts and to connect them to the services offered by the Town of Brooklyn's veteran affairs office. And whereas Bill McGory supported the town of Brooklyn in multiple ways. In addition to serving as director of veteran services, including as acting as
the coordinator of the comprehensive emergency management plan, serving as the town's measurer of Wood and Bark and providing overall support and relevant advice in a supportive manner to Brooklyn veterans and other residents and to staff and leadership of town
departments. Now therefore, in consideration of the foregoing on this 27th day of January, 2026, the Brookline Select Board on behalf of the town of Brooklyn hereby acknowledges, commends, and expresses
its deepest gratitude to EMTT. Bill McGraardy for his many outstanding and sustained contributions to Brookline's veterans, for his many contributions to the general well-being of the town and its residents, and for his meticulous
and diligent work for 21 years as the director of of veteran services for the town of Brooklyn. So, sorry for the long uh reading, but you know, Bill is such an important uh uh person here in Brooklyn. I think it's really important
for people who may not know him except for as I said veterans and V veterans day and Memorial Day to know in detail the the work that he has done for veterans and others here in our town. So I apologize for the length but
>> I think there's a good reason. Uh, Paul. >> Yeah. Uh, Bernard, you missed one whereas clause. I know you covered a lot. Um, but you know, whereas Bill McGuardy is probably one of the nicest human beings I've ever met. Um, he he
really is just generally a very lovely person and, you know, we need to include his daughter in that because she really helped him a lot um, >> you know, annually when when when we're doing the ceremonies and stuff. So, uh, you know, thank goodness for Bill, but he really is a super nice guy.
>> Yeah, we all agree. Okay. Um, let's move on then. I'd like to take items 6B through 6 S in this fashion. Uh, unless someone wants
to take another item out for discussion. If not, uh, all in favor of approving items 6B through 6S, please indicate by saying I. John Vanscoyak, >> I. >> Paul Warren, >> I.
>> David Pearlman, >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein, >> I. >> And chair votes I. Okay, that uh ends the miscellaneous calendar. Let's go to the main calendar. And the first item is boards and
commissions interviews. Uh we have a um we have an an applicant for the commission on diversity, equity, inclusion, and community relation. Um
uh Zarana Kardashian Zone Jones. And I'm missing something that I need to read. Well, I don't have it in front of me. Um, as I usually say, let's see if it's on this.
Bear with me, please. Oh, here it is. Okay. As I have done before, I'd like to begin with what I think the select board should be looking for in candidates for public bodies. In general, we should be looking for four things. Does the applicant have the skills and background
that is required to be successful in 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 the town staff that will be working with the public body to evaluate candidates. We will gather
information on these areas from the application submitted the interview and from town staff or current members of the relevant public body. So, um, with that, let's, uh, start
with, u Miss, um, Kardashian Jones. Um, let me, hold on. Let me get get my notes in line here. Excuse me. Bear with me. Okay. Um, Miss Kardashians, uh, Jones,
uh, could you please introduce yourself and, uh, tell us why you're interested in being a member of the diversity, equity, um, inclusion, community relations commission. >> Yeah. Um, first of all, I just want to say um I know like they sound alike and
as much as I want to be a Kardashian because of economic reasons, I'm not a Kardashian. It's okay. Um, my name is Zariana Kadakashian. You might be better than Kardashian. >> No, no, no. My name is Ziana Mahammadi
Kadakashian. Um, there's no D, it's a K. Um, Jones, but people best know me as Zarya Kadakashian Jones. It's a little easier to pronounce and remember. I also go by Zarya Jones if you just cannot do that K name. I get it. I really do. Um,
I have a quick speech. Uh, my grandma says that she knows I'm going to be a good lawyer in the future because I never get tired of my own voice, which I think means I talk too much. So, I'm going to try and limit this to a minute or less, but we'll see. Um, so, thank you all so much for having me tonight.
Um, I want to start by saying I've been following the interviews of other candidates very closely and I've been genuinely inspired by how many people um care about Brookline and how many different paths have brought people here. Um, one story in particular that has stayed with me was Masha's story
from a few weeks ago. um hearing Masha share um about immigrating from the USSR and how they were able to find community in Brooklyn, especially alongside other immigrant communities who were building roots here at the time, um was really moving. Um it reminded me of what
Brookline can be um at its best, a place where people arrive carrying so much history um and culture and still find belonging. Um, I want to help ensure that everyone can have a positive experience and be embraced by our community in the way that Masha was. Um,
but Masha's story also stayed with me because my family's experience here was very different. Um, my black and brown family found a home in Brooklyn after being displaced by a devastating fire that ruined the two brownstones they lived in in the south end of Boston. Um,
they moved here in 78 and at that time were one of two black families in town. Um, my mother and her siblings remember very vividly being targeted by white students called the n-word. Um, having sticks and rocks thrown at them and feeling like there were certain parts of
town they couldn't safely go to. Um, they remember the scrutiny that my mother faced because of the texture of her hair. Um, and also because my family was interfaith, which was not very common back then. Um those experiences shaped my mom, they shaped my
grandparents and they shaped how they raised their children and grandchildren, including me. Um not as a lesson in fear, but as a lesson and responsibility to protect each other, to build community, um on purpose and to refuse to accept that harm is just how things
are. Um I was introduced to activism and civic engagement at a very young age. My grandfather used to tell me that if you're not an active participant in your community, you're doing a disservice to everyone who came before you, everyone who fought so you could live, work, and be seen in the place that you call home.
Um that ethic has guided me in my volunteering and organizing from supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood, Baggley, Jimena which stands for Jews indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. Um the ACLU, the Trevor Project, and to creating my community group with my friend Adena
Brookline for the culture. Um that work has included building community spaces where people of color and people from other marginalized communities are celebrated. um and pairing celebration with education because we can't honor a history like Junth without telling the
truth about it. Um and it's also meant um stepping up in a tangible way local ways like supporting mutual aid efforts in Brookline including the community fridge network that I help manage um to keep neighbors fed. Um I also want to name that I bring both lived experience
and a deep commitment to learning and public service. you have my resume, so you know my educational background, but I have an associates in economics. I double majored in history and polyai at TUS um with a Middle Eastern concentration along with some Eastern
European concentration work. Um and I have an MS in global public policy from Suffach University which primarily focused on governance, conflict, migration, and political economy in the Middle East. Um, I'm seeking a seat on the diversity commission in particular because I will bring to this work a
combination of perspective and practice. Um, as a black MRAI Jew, which is not something people have heard of before really, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a lifelong Brooklyn resident and organizer, I understand how policy, culture, and everyday experiences collide, especially for
people who are marginalized or feel unseen. And I also understand that real equity is not a slogan. It's a measure measurable thing that is built through listening, accountability, and concrete actions that make people safer, more included, and more able to thrive. Um,
if selected, I'll always show up prepared, collaborative, and committed to outcomes. And I will carry with me both Masha's story of belonging and my family story of what it is taken to demand it. So, thank you.
>> Thank you. That was pretty thorough. And I'm sure we still have questions. So I I'll start off with um with um asking you you what are some of the issues that you see uh in terms of cross collabor
crosscultural collaboration in a town like Brooklyn? >> Um can you rephrase that question? Sorry. what what are some of the uh issues that you see uh in terms of impeding or
facilitating cross-cultural collaboration in in Brooklyn or a town like Brooklyn? >> Yeah. I think the main issue that I have found is that just no one wants to feel left out. So even when we have proposes
about celebrating certain holidays or um cultural convenings, a lot of people push back against those things because they're not something that comes from their similar background or it's not something that they understand. Um but also I've just found that we're not able to have really conductive community
conversations right now, mostly because a lot of them are taking place online. Um and it it's just a very toxic environment right now. And so I'm hoping by having more cultural convenings in public that people can start to kind of break down some of those um guard rails
that we've built up amongst community members. >> Thank you. Uh Paul, you have your hand up. >> Thanks Bernard. Hi Ariana. Thank you for uh for your application. Um and great opening statement. I really >> Thank you. >> Um you have a great background. So, um,
tell me a little bit about like what's the one or two things you'd love to accomplish while while being on the commission? You know, where where's the gap? I love this idea about in person. I think we need to get more face to face than keyboard to keyboard. But, you know, could you talk a little bit about
that? >> Yeah. So, um, there's mostly two things that I really would like to see happen if I was selected to be on the commission. So, the first um is to helping Brookline build a stronger coordinated approach to commemorations and celebrations so that communities as
I said aren't fighting for visibility over one. Um and so the town isn't kind of reinventing the wheel each year. Um you know, War Cardo 15 is a perfect example of how we can do that. um centralized planning, clear responsibility through the ODICR and the
commission and obviously having adequate funding to celebrate um those celebrations. And second, I really want the commission to be known for outcomes and not just like drama unfortunately I think has overshadowed a lot of the work of the commission over the past couple
years. So um things like toolkits and trainings and system that departments and community members can actually use like guidance on inclusive language, community engagement practices and how to respond when harm does happen to community members. Um something that was
super helpful for me which actually came from the ODICR is the large event planning guide which I didn't know we had. Um but that's an example of like a toolkit, something that we can utilize to improve community celebrations across Brooklyn. >> Cool. Thank you. Outcomes. I like it.
>> Uh Michael, >> um thank you very much. Sorry, Anna. Um for your application. Uh uh you you've already mentioned the warrant article 15 and I was going to ask you
about that, but um I appreciate your inclusive centralized approach to that. I don't know if you have any other specific comments about um the celebration of LGBT LGBTQIA plus pride month and the number
of holidays that were uh mentioned within within Ward Article 15. >> Yeah, I have so much that I've wanted to say about this and I'm I'm so glad that this was passed. It was something that was really needed in our community. Um I'm also happy to announce that Brooklyn for Culture is actually going to host
the first townwide pride events on June 27th. This will be a Saturday, so you'll hear more about that in the next coming months. Um, but the thing that I'm really interested, you know, I just mentioned something about outcomes. I really want us to emphasize more speakers and education angles when it
comes to Pride events. Um, trained speakers, educators, clinicians, youth development professionals to offer guidance on more genderneutral, gender- inclusive language. Um, and also I think Pride Month should include education,
just as we've tried to add an education element to events like Junth, um, including sex education, which is something that everybody doesn't want to touch for some reason, which I think is weird. Um, but sex, um, education initiatives that aren't only catered to or centered on cisgender and
heterosexual people, um, you know, the article calls specifically for pride observation and instruction in public schools. So I think this could be a really great opportunity to focus on LGBTQIA plus history and contributions and I think that we can extend that into
age inclusive and age appropriate um health education and safety. >> Okay. Um and the other question that I have um and I I was actually inspired um at the MMA conference when Timothy Shrivever talked about how we are
judging people all of the time um just as a part of our relationships. How do you think about incorporating a person's intent and a person's impact when judging their words and their actions? >> Yeah, this is a really great question and and something that we all kind of
have to learn. Um, so I tried to my best to like hold two truths at once, which is intent matters, but impact matters a little bit more in my opinion, especially in a town like Brooklyn, um, where our words can affect safety, belonging, and trust amongst community
members. So I start by listening, you know, for what the person meant. Um, but obviously it's not enough just to listen. You think about who was harmed behind the statement. What message did that statement send? Um, will that statement discourage people from speaking out against certain things? Um,
you know, obviously it's okay to disagree with people and have a difference in opinion, but going straight to labeling someone as malicious is a little harmful. Um, so focusing on accountability, um, you know, all of our moms say it's not what you say, it's how you say it. Um, and for me, um, people might disagree. My
goal is really not to win arguments or to prove that I'm correct. Um, it's mostly just to reduce harm, which I think is something that we need to be emphasizing particularly over the last three years or so. >> Thank you, >> John.
>> Thank you. Um, and and thank you, Zarya, for uh for applying for the commission. Um, I have to say I I have been so impressed with um the more recent years uh of the uh Junth observances and and
the celebration at Lorita Ruff and Ridley. And I wonder if you could just g give a give folks a little bit of insight as to how that came together um and your role in it because I I know from personal experience you were very
very much in it and um I I was very glad to see how successful it turned out to be and if people didn't sort of experience this themselves. Was it the most recent one or the one before that that the temperature was like 99°? It's been 99 or above the last two
years, so fingers crossed it's not this year. >> The crowds that turned out and they had fun. I mean, it was really it was an amazing event. >> Thank you so much for that, John. Um, first I I want to start by just thanking
you all so much for all of your continued support. um particularly Chaz and Bernard who had to kind of wrangle some of us behind the scenes a little bit but we were able to get on track. I think that's an understatement. Um but no um I had been celebrating Junth all
my life. My mother's father is originally from North Carolina um and originally from North Carolina and then spent more of his formative years in Detroit, Michigan. Um, Junth was always a holiday that we celebrated and so I thought that having a Juneenth celebration in Brooklyn would be really
remarkable for people who haven't been able to experience a Juneenth on their own. Um, so I threw the first Junth celebration back in 2020 before it was actually a federal holiday. Um, and it was really great. Um unfortunately, you
know, we did not have as many people um because we were in the middle still in the middle of a pandemic, but at the height of the pandemic, but we had a really great turnout. Um and through that, you know, the town of Brooklyn and um obviously with the holiday becoming a federal holiday, fingers crossed it remains a federal holiday, but we shall
see. Um began to celebrate Junth year after year, and there were multiple groups that were celebrating Junth in different um ways. And it just shows how um much enthusiasm the holiday has gained over the years. And over the past
three years, Brookline for the Culture um has been one of the leading organizations and community groups helping plan that event. Um there's so much work that goes into that. I think we start maybe four to five months. We actually just had our first meeting on Sunday. Um we try our best to start
about four to five months before to make sure that we have everything planned including safety plans. We have ADA accessible equipment for people who need special bathrooms. Um making sure that if we are going to have a 100 degree day, which we have had the last two
years in a row, um that we have wet slip and slides for the kids so that they're not burning in the summer. Um and yeah, so there's a lot that goes into all that and I'm always happy to speak about that and other programming that we offer and other events that we plan throughout the community, but really um it's a big
thank you to the town and um parks and recck ODICR in particular. Sarah Kaplan's been really great. So yeah. >> Well, and thank you for bringing it off so beautifully um last couple of last several years. Um thank you.
>> Thank you, >> David. Hi, thank you for your application. I notice in your resume you mentioned that you have managed over a dozen high impact projects that increase civic engagement and strengthened
organizational equity outcomes. I'm wondering if maybe you'd like to highlight a couple of those and what it is you did to achieve it. >> Yeah. Um, I mean you all, well you I don't know if you all I shouldn't say you all but for most of you you know that I worked at the Brooklyn Community
Foundation for four years. I actually just left. Um, my transition to a new role at the Boston Foundation. Um, but one of our biggest programs was the racial equity grant program which aimed to support the BIPO community following the CO 19 pandemic. Um, so it was the
first time that we had um something called participatory grant making. Um participatory grant making means that you are taking people from the marginalized communities that you are aiming to serve and kind of putting them into the decision-making chair. Um so we took a number of BIPO community members.
We um paid them almost like on a focus group um initiative to hear the direct feedback about needs that they were experiencing um gaps in social services, social networks throughout the community here in Brooklyn um that they needed assistance with that their communities
needed assistance with. We took all of that feedback and we built out the racial equity grant committee. So again, bringing people from marginalized communities, um, putting them in the decision-making seat, letting them know that they do have power even in a community like Brooklyn where I think
the black population is about 1%. Um, I don't have the exact numbers on me for the other BIPO communities. Thank you. 3.7%. Um, so it's gone up a little bit. Um but yeah, so there's a number of initiatives that like that that I've
done at the Brooklyn Community Foundation. I was also the lead project manager behind our guaranteed income pilot that we launched in collaboration with the Brooklyn Housing Authority um and UP together, which is um a nationwide um guaranteed basic income
program institution that helps organizations like the Brooklyn Community Foundation launch guaranteed basic income programs. Um, and hopefully you all will get to see um those results um through our Arbor reporting um soon if you haven't already um so that you
can hear about the impact of some of those programs on our neighbors here in Brooklyn. So, >> great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, um, Zarya, thank you for your, um, answers to the questions as
well as your introductory remarks, which, um, were very thorough and, um, told us a lot. We will be making, um, appointments to the, uh, commission at some point in the future. We'll let you know.
>> Great. Thank you all so much um, for having me and I hope you all stay warm. It's really cold outside, so >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Next uh
is a grant of location. Uh it's a 7:00 uh hearing. We're a little late. I apologize. Grant of location for Edgemont Street. Uh a public hearing. Um so who is going to This is an NSAR
electric company doing business as Eversource of course. Um and they're putting in an underground conduit on Amory Road or Amory Street um and uh Edgemon Street
and um I guess I'll read I'll read I'll read the question before it's question of approving the petition of NSAR electric company doing business as Eversource Energy for permission to construct any location for underground conduit on
Amory Street southwesterly. and northwesterly from the existing manhole number 9500 at the at the intersection with Edgemont Street a distance of approximately 15 ft to Edgemont Street and in Edgemont Street northwesterly and
southwesterly from Amory Street a distance of approximately 137 ft to private property at 14 Edgeon Street. I hope that's informative. Um, so who do we have from from uh uh
Eversource to speak? >> Hello, this is Chanel Grant from Eversource Energy. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Although if you can speak a little louder, I think it'd be better. >> Oh, okay. Let's see.
>> Okay. Turn it up a little more. >> Okay. Okay. Can you hear me now? >> It's a little better. >> Okay. So, this is a continuation from the last hearing. Um, yes, we're installing 154 ft of conduit from um
the Wesley um manhole 9500 and street on togg street to private property at number 14 installing 154 conduit. So, we did hear back from Mr. Ballinger
and they would like to move forward this project and we did speak with him and we answered a lot of his questions and um they would like to move forward on this project. >> Okay. Mr. Ballinger was a a butter or
not a butter member of the condo association that raised some questions. Um and uh Chaz is indicating that uh as you said they were they were resolved and um you know we can move forward with
this uh with this grant allocation. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Hi uh thank you. Thanks you Chanel. I just that was I wanted to just get some clar clarification on this. Typically these are handled um at you know the the public hearing the subcommittee whatever
we're calling it. Um, and this was brought forward. Why was it continued, Chaz? >> So, yeah. So, we held a public hearing on this and at this public hearing, uh, a member of the public stood up and said, "I'm the chair of the, uh, condo association for this building." And I
don't recall us applying for this. Uh, and so it was a it came as a surprise to the condo association that Eversource was talking about building this upgrade. And of course, there would be a cost to the condo association. So, they um, we said, "Let's put this on hold. Let's figure let's get to the bottom of who
applied for this and why. Um let's make sure that the that the building this build buildings that it's meant to benefit actually want the benefit. Um and if so, you know, are willing to pay the cost and do all of those things. Maybe, you know, our our guess at the time was, well, maybe an eager resident
said, "Well, I really want to upgrade my um the power grid." And um you know, put in the request to Eversource and Eversource started doing the work, not realizing that it wasn't the condo association making the request. Um but ultimately my understanding is after conversations between Eversource and the
condo association as well as with some of the abutters who are just concerned about the scale of the project um that ultimately those concerns were addressed. But you know we said let's continue the public hearing so you will have an opportunity if there are members of the public that wish to be heard on
this. Um but yes this is one of those instances where when the licensing panel encounters something that we can't resolve or we think that is worth escalating, we escalate to you. And so that's where we are here. >> So who so who's the requester?
Who's requesting the upgrade? Was it the condo association or someone else? >> So officially the condo association is now requesting the upgrade. But Kellyanne Korea is also from Eversource and she can speak a little bit about the the mystery here. Although we have to be we can't you know my understanding is that Eversource can't necessarily
provide us with the details of of you know private applications but they can give us a little bit of the Eller on this. >> Okay. >> Okay. Kelly Anne Korea. >> Um, hi, this is Kelly Korea from Eversource. So, basically, um, as it was
explained, the public hearing was opened. The member of the condo board didn't realize they were going forward with it. So, originally what happened was the association was interested in possibly upgrading their network and bringing EV charging stations. So, they
did contact Eversource. We met on site with our customer care person, our engineer, their electrician, and a member of the condo board. So, it kind of just progressed from there. We went ahead and designed everything. They've had some of the paperwork there. Um, I
think it just progressed without realizing they hadn't actually confirmed, yes, go ahead and do this. So, at the public hearing, that's what was brought up. So, we did ask to have the hearing continued to the select board meeting tonight. We had originally intended to ask you guys to continue
this hearing to the end of February because they had a condo association meeting and then an owners meeting coming up within the next couple of weeks. However, the condo board contacted me this morning and said they did speak with all the owners and the association has agreed they do want to
move forward with the project. So, I did also speak with the abutter who had some questions. I submitted written answers to those questions also to the town today. So, I think we've addressed everybody's concerns as to the scope of work, what the project is. The board has
agreed they want to move forward. So, now we're just respectfully requesting our grant location be approved. >> Bernard, can I ask one follow-up question? >> Sure. >> Uh, so thanks, Colleen. That's really helpful. Um, and I can hear you, which is great. Um, so did the Abutters get
can they also take advantage of the increase in the capacity here if they want to do EV charges as well, or is that a would that be a separate project? >> So, yeah. So that was Mr. Franco's question. The abuter to this property that appeared at the hearing before. Um
this upgrade will address the condo units for Thatchmont condominiums. There will be charging stations in the parking lot there between the two buildings. As far as any kind of upgrade to the Amory condos or apartments that Mr. Franco
lives in, it they would actually have to contact Eversource and say, "Here's what we want to do on our property." And then we would take a look and see what our network is. Maybe they're fed from the same manhole we're digging from right now and the capacity will be there that we can use those conduits we're installing now. But if they're fed from
a different direction, a different manhole on the other side, um it's that's something we just explore at the time they ask and it would depend on the load and what kind of services they're requesting. I actually did have that conversation with Mr. Franco and I did send him the information on how to
initiate an inquiry or a work order with our company if they are interested. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Okay, unless there are any other questions from the select board, I'd like to Oh, I see Michael Rubenstein. >> Michael, you're Yeah, I just I just have
a procedural question. Um and that is um since we are continuing the public hearing, do we have to like reopen the public hearing and offer opportunities for the public to speak now? >> Yeah. Go ahead, Jess.
>> That's that's that's how it works. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Unless there are any other questions, um Melanie, let's open up the public hearing and let's see if anyone wants to speak. I don't see anyone raising their hands
to speak. >> Okay. Uh okay. So there no uh no no one wanting to speak. I will close the public hearing and um see if the board
has any further questions. If not we will go for a vote. Okay. Seeing none, I move approval of the petition of NStar Electric Company doing business as Eversource for permission to construct and a location
for underground conduit um as was described by uh Eversource. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. John Vansoy. I
>> uh Dave uh Paul Warren. David Pearlman. Looks like David's saying hi. For the record, he said I. Okay. >> Michael Rubenstein. >> I >> and chair votes. I thank you.
Okay. Next item is >> Thank you everybody. >> Okay. Next, next item is discussion of fiscal year 2027 budget processes, timelines, and calendar. Chaz,
>> thank you. Um, just wanted to provide an update to the board uh because I know there's been um just questions of um that that go on um in terms of where we are with the budget uh and the how the budget process intersects with the work
of the expenditures and revenue study committee. that's currently ongoing. Um, as many on the board know, um, the expenditures and revenue study committee is currently operating, um, three separate subcommittees addressing questions about the town, the schools,
and things beyond the kind of horizon of, you know, in the immediate next three years. Um, what are, you know, called the future subcommittee, you know, what are what are things that can be done in the long, you know, long-term investments that could be made in terms of fiscal stability for the town. um
those subcommittees are producing um segments uh of subcommittee reports um that would come back to the main committee. The main committee would then review that uh and produce um its own you know central report with the likely with those um subcommittee reports as
appendices um along with any minority reports and additional information they may wish to provide. Um the end goal of that uh and I as as the committee has continued to discuss there has been some appetite for that committee uh which was
um not initially intended to be a standing committee to potent to potentially um continue on in some fashion um and potentially continue on in terms of just oversight and um providing support um in terms of the recommendations that it's making uh to
ensure public followup uh what the community is asking uh is being done. Um and so that work is continuing. Um but along with that in parallel is the traditional budget process that we go through uh in preparation for fiscal
year 27 which begins on July 1st of this calendar year 2026. So our budget process h will kick off in earnest I mean our budget process kicked off in earnest in September. Uh, so let's be clear, we've been working for
for some time on the the the budget. Um, and even prior to that, we've been having conversations about what capital projects are coming up on the horizon and so forth. But what really triggers um, for bylaw purposes, the budget
starting gun is the publication of the governor's budget. The governor is obligated to produce a budget on the fourth Wednesday of January, which if you're keeping score is tomorrow. Um the governor previewed that budget in as much as it applies to towns and cities
uh at the masses municipal association cont uh conference and then the so-called cherry sheets were published that gave us a sense of how much traditional unrestricted government aid and chapter 70 funds we're getting. The chapter 70 funds are intended to fund schools. Unrestricted general government
aid is intended to fund municipalities at large. Um, Brookline, as you know, goes through this process of combining those funds into general revenue and then allocating them according to the town school revenue split, uh, which gives roughly 59% to the schools and 41%
to the other municipal departments. Um we once that happens according to our bylaws we have two weeks um to produce uh the um uh uh the budget or the budget
book um which is the product of uh the time administrator team uh and the budget staff. Um and so we are in the process of making that happen with the assumption that the 11th is likely going to be the date that we're uh moving forward on that. um publishing that we
tend to publish that both online uh through open gov and in a um hard copy book for anyone who wants it. Uh we published that to the advisory committee and in the select board, but it is a public document. It's readily available. Uh members of the public can look at
that. As part of that document, we will be framing out an initial recommendation for a potential budget override. Um, this is not the final version of an override. It is not even the final version of a recommendation of the
expenditures and revenue study committee. So, I want to be very clear. We are not trying to step on the toes of the ANRSC process. It's just that by law, we have to publish a budget. Uh, the budget has to balance. Uh, and so this budget process will really be um um
two um two documents. And I'm sorry, I just realized um we're not on the 11th. Um, I actually think we're the deadline is on the um is over the weekend. So, we are going to aim to publish um on the 13th, not the 11th. Uh, I apologize. I
misread the the bylaw there. Um, but so we will be publishing um and then printing the document over the weekend. But as part of that, we are effectively putting two budgets together. Um, one of these is a budget that we would have if
no override was on the ballot or no no override passed. Um, and one would have a recommendation for if there was uh an override question on the ballot, how much of that um would go to the town and what would it fund? Um, as we've been
saying um during the expenditures and revenue study committee process, this is not a uh Cadillac override. This is a This is a Ford Taurus override and this is a meat and potatoes override um proposal. Um the town's uh budget the
town's stated budget gap has remained relatively stable as we've seen numbers come in. Um the governor's budget has not provided meaningful relief in that regard. um you know the despite the Massachusetts Municipal Association
flagging that uh in real dollar terms the um the amount of unrestricted general government aid has actually decreased over the last 20 years. Um the reality of the situation in the state is that we are in a terrible budget crunch. Um and so the state is not running to
our rescue. Um and so we are still in that 2.8 $2.9 million range without taking um initial sort of um counter measures. Um but what I will say just to preview for the community and to you as the select board
>> is that as part of this budget we are going to we're going to shift our assumptions. There are two big assumptions that we have not been making in talking to the public that we are now going to make in the budget book. The first is that we will reduce the capital
improvement plan allocation from revenues from 6.6% which is the policy target that the select board recently increased and set back down to 6% which is what it was beforehand. As a practical matter, this frees up revenue that then goes into the general revenue
fund, but it tightens the CIP considerably, the capital improvement program quite considerably um at a time when there are a lot of competing asks on that program. Um but under the circumstances we think that that's the balance that we need to strike. Um and
we will um discuss that more in the budget book. But I just want to flag for people that it when we have talked about our gap of around $2.9 million. Um we've not been pulling that lever. Um when we pull that lever, the gap is going to drop. Um it will come out to something
more like 2.2.1 million. um because that's a significant amount of revenue that then flows back through the town school revenue split um and into the town side of the uh into both town and the school side. The other recommendation um that we've not
factored in that we are going to make the assumption of in the budget book is that we will hold our op contribution stable rather than increasing it. Um our other um um our other
post-employment uh benefits opeds um is predominantly healthcare for retirees. Um we are significantly behind uh in terms of fulfilling our oblig our ongoing obligations there and so we have to continue to spend money to in order
to you know get the money necessary to fulfill those obligations. our our balance is, you know, around 30%, a little bit higher than 30%. Um, of the total amount uh of the of the fund that needs to be uh fully funded there. Um
but um among other things, one, even though that sounds dire, it's actually better than some other communities. Um two, stopping um holding uh the policy is to increase by $250,000 every year.
So if we don't do that, um it's not stopping contributions altogether. It's not dropping them to zero. It's just holding at where we currently are. Um which still means that we are making payments towards that that liability. We're just not increasing our
contributions. So we making that assumption and that frees up on the town side about $100,000. So again talking about going down from 2.9 to around 2.2 2 to 2.1 million in terms of where the
gap is. Again, balancing that out with, you know, we will be tinkering with that number right up until the book is published. Um, you know, we continue to do what we can to evaluate where we see revenues coming in, where we see potential expenditures hitting
us, um, you know, where we think our health care costs are going to be. Um the big sort of sort of damocles that is going to be hanging over this budget process that we are not going to know by the time this book is published is how
much our health insurance rates are going to go up. Um we have a a firm estimate from our consultants that that number would be around 12% and will be 12% going forward. Um that makes the assumption that a lot of things stay the
same. um that we are a part of the uh of the GIC, you know, this group insurance consortium that really um uh you that basically pulls together um the risks of several communities uh and state entities uh in order to get a more
favorable insurance rate. Um that has stood us in betterstead than some communities that are going it alone um or are part of a different consort part of different consortiums. Um with that said, GIC is considering changes to its programs. The most the largest of these
changes would be to stop um offering um GLP-1 drugs for weight loss altogether. Um currently the uh consortium does have that uh they run it through a program that ensures that people who want to be on these drugs or who need to be on
these drugs follow a regime of um an appropriate healthcare regime and stay on them for as long as they need to but also are you know they're held to a standard. You don't just get the drug if you want it. Um you have to be uh part of this program. Um but it's my understanding that at this point GIC is
considering going the way of several other um healthcare companies and stopping coverage um of GLP1s for weight loss. Uh they would still be covered for diabetes and other medications that they're indicated for but not for weight loss. Um and if that were to happen uh
that would be a significant shift in our healthcare liability. Um it wouldn't solve our budget problems. There's no one silver bullet that's going to solve our budget problems, but our numbers would look different. We don't know how different. Um, but it would bring the
percentage growth in healthcare costs down. Now, the question is really, is that benefit worth it? Um, given the benefits that our employees have seen from these drugs, the fact that uh, you know, even as as early as this year, member, you know, the leadership of the
GIC was saying, look, you pay for these people now or you pay for them later. you pay for people who need this health care now or you will pay for their the coorbidities of folks who can't lose the weight um suffering those consequences. Um and so I don't know where they're
going to come out on that. But I do want to flag for folks that that is an area of uncertainty that we are tracking in the budget and that we will not have that information by the time we publish the budget book. Um and so that's just a flag and we will see where we go from there. I'm just going to pause here um
before we talk about the rest of the budget process because I see Paul has his hand raised. I want to make sure if folks have questions about where we how we get to the budget book in the next several weeks that we can answer those. >> Great. Paul, you have a question. >> Uh yeah, and Chaz, you may answer this
if if you continue, but um a couple of quick uh quick questions. I'll I'll give you all them and I'll be quiet. Um the first is the six the reduction in the the CIP in order to fill uh operating
revenue. Um it would be one and also the the holding the uh the OPED stable and not adding the 250 per year. Did that go through the revenue expense committee or is that have they discussed that? Are they going to recommend that? >> So we've discussed it with them. Um it's
part of the town subcommittee report process that's going through now. Um we're making that assumption because in several conversations with folks we have not heard any meaningful objection to that. We've talked it through. Um but we are so we're making the assumption but we are not we again we are not stepping
on the committee process. That is ultimately a recommendation that they make. And and the reason why I I I just raised that and and I know you you you know this but it's it's it's it's worth saying that um a reduction in our our CIP our capital um inevitably ends up
showing up as higher cost of maintenance either it's for roadways or buildings or park whatever it is um you know we kick the can down the road and we have been making some good progress. I was excited to support the 6.6% specifically because of roadways. So,
um, and you don't need to answer now, but it'd be really helpful to understand when this comes to us, what are we giving up? Um, what is not going to be maintained? What's going to be maintained less? And if we can forecast what that may translate into higher expenses. Um, you know, I I'd hate to
see us go backwards. Um, this bill is going backwards to me. Um, and then, you know, the the the I don't the $10 million question. I don't know what what millions of of dollars question it is, but um schools is a huge component of this. And um you know, we're the clock
is ticking on trying to help educate the community as to the what, where, and why of of a school potential operating override. Um where do we stand with that? Um and and I hope we're not going to go to the statutory limit of when a
number can be uh can be put forward. They're great questions. Um I'll try and take them in turn. Um with regard to the CIP, yes. Um it is tough um to try and balance those things out. We are giving up capacity to do other things. But I
think one of the silver linings to this is the process that you Paul and Mike Sandman went through with DPW in terms of the payment management plan. We're seeing dividends in that. We're seeing our money go further. Um whereas before we were not. Um, you say it's not that
we weren't seeing our money, you know, work towards it, but it's that we're we now have a maintenance program for roadways in particular that we think is yielding positive results in terms of the overall condition of our roadways and not just and you know that then has
a knock-on impact for example sidewalks, bike lanes, other forms of transportation. Um, so we are seeing that benefit. Um, and we want to be we want to see more data from that process. This is really the first full year that it's going to be in effect. This past year has been the first full year that
it's been in effect. Um, and we want we want to we want to see how we're doing. Um, so I agree with you that it's hard to think of that in terms of lost opportunity, but I also think um, efficiencies that we are working through um are yielding results. And so
hopefully we're mitigating some of that loss. You know, any dollars that we're not spending on capital is a hard thing. Um given the amount of things that we want to be doing. Um but I will say the efficiencies are are are bearing fruit and that's good. >> We're certainly not going to efficiency
our way out of 50 to 100 million backlog in roadway. So Chaz, just if you can come with a specific list of these are the things that we're not going to do would be really helpful to understand what the trade-off is. >> Sure. Um and then you know the other question is where are the schools on this? Um the superintendent last week
presented um revised projections based on reductions in efficiencies that she wants to make. Um we're still puzzling out we're we're still working with them to puzzle out what that means from our projection standpoint. Um their take on that is it's roughly a $6.5 million gap.
We need to we just need to to work that out with them. We need to and that's for FY27 alone. So, as part of our budget process, you know, their budget book is going to publish shortly before ours does. Um, but we're going to be speaking with them to just true up those numbers,
make sure everything is correct and look at and try and project out from there to FY29. Um, what the number is. So, I know people have been very anxious to see and we've been anxious to see where where is that going to land and what are we going to, you know, what what is that topline
number going to be? Um, I'm hopeful based on those conversations that things are moving in the right direction. I still think it's going to be a significant number. I still think both town and schools is are going to have a significant number. Um, I don't know if we're going to get to, you know, the last override was a $12 million
override. Um, the town's number of 5.3 million is based on the town's number from last time adjusted for inflation. The town's number was 4.995. It was almost 5 million. So 5.3 adjusted for inflation. um and it's structured a little differently and we can talk about
that um in the process as the process continues. Um I think the school's number is going to be a little higher um and so we're just going to need to see what that is and how that ultimately how that ultimately winds up. But the good news is we're you know whereas before we
were hearing nothing now we are seeing concrete numbers and that's that's going to result in concrete ask in the next two weeks. >> Okay. John. >> Uh yes. Yes. Thank you very much. Um o on the OPED uh question. Um help me just
to refresh my memory of how this works. Um we currently are paying $250. We're putting 2 thou $150,000 into the budget over and above what we actually owe we think is we're going to owe in terms of payouts over the course
of a of a year. Is that right? >> No. Sorry. So we we set a we set an amount that we're going to pay out every so we we have both the amount that we're paying to satisfy current liabilities and the amount that we're paying to try and pay the the back liability. Um as we pay that back liability, your policy
says every year increase that payment by $250,000. So you set yourself on a constantly increasing path towards paying that liability down. Um, but what we're recommending through this process is that you pause that you just you keep
that contribution flat rather than increase it by $250,000. H >> have we actually been making progress in in seeing the back viability go down? >> Yes. Yes, we have. Believe but surely. Um Yes.
>> Yes. and and um will will that reverse at this point if we don't put in the additional $250,000 a year? >> No. Um you know, we continue to to try and you know, save that save that back. And I think the other big portion of this is as just as what Paul said with
the gap in terms of, you know, conditions. This gap is large and we know realistically that the biggest dent that you're going to be able to make in it is when the pension outstanding pension liability is satisfied and that's not going to be for a few years yet. Um, so we want to pay that down.
Obviously, we want to get closer and and do what we can. Um but the OPED number is smaller than the pension number. Uh it's just that we're further away from satisfying it. Um and so um we are going
to make progress. It's going to be slow progress and then when the pension liability is satisfied, that progress will increase marketkedly is our hope. >> Would not putting the $250,000 additional in put our bond rating in
jeopardy by you know, at all. >> We don't think so. Um, you know, we we are in constant contact with, you know, Moody's and the other rating agencies and our our take has continually the the response that we get from them is that the name of the game is reserves. Um,
and satisfying your pension liability. Um, having enough money to be to be able to withstand a financial shock. um and being and being mindful in paying down your larger outstanding liability um by the deadline that the state has set for
us to do so. Um there is no deadline to pay down our op liability. Um and so Moody's, you know, obviously looks at that. They don't want us to be paying nothing. Uh they don't want that to just be sitting there because that then just it eats into your eats into what you can
pay uh everything else. Um but um you've you you want to be making progress towards that but they're not it's not like with the state where the state has said by 2040 your pension needs your outstanding pension liabilities must >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. U couple more
questions if I may. So um the the insurance that we offer um through the GSSE is that do those plans have deductibles? >> Yes, >> they do. Um, has any any examination
been made of whether we could cut into the um increase in the insurance impact on the budget by raising the deductibles? >> They set the deductibles. Um, we don't um and that that factors into their
overall, you know, cost increase. Um, and so we'll we'll I will I I will say just based on, you know, anecdotal evidence we're hearing from other communities and from, you know, just people around. Co-pays are going to go up, you know, and and all sorts of, you
know, uh, deductibles are likely to increase depending on the plan you have. Um, but that's not a benefit we typically realize. Um, because it's baked into the whole it's that that's part of the plan structure. We don't pay for we don't see the benefits of that directly. We pay for the plan. Um, you
know, we pay for 83% of the plan and in most cases and our employees pay for 17%. >> And is is that on the table, the 8317? >> We continue to have those conversations. I am, you know, I I I don't want to get ahead of negotiations, but I will say I
I continue to have good conversations. You know, we're we're you know, the history of this has always been can we look at this and the answer has been no. Now the answer is more nuanced. They so it's not a no. It's a what do you what are you actually proposing here? What do
you what do you know what is the benefit you know how how do we sell this to our how how do we how do we make it clear to the community and employees that the benefit here of asking people to take on a little more in terms of what's get
gets pulled out of your um your your take-home pay is actually going to benefit you. So, >> those are the questions we're working through. >> Okay. Thanks, >> Michael. >> Um, so, uh, lifting up on on that
question a little bit, um, can you talk a little bit about whatever sort of risks there are or uncertainties there are with regard to any of our union negotiations over the period of the override?
>> That is a concern. Um, and it's one of the things that I have been trying to build risk into the the uh town side of the override um without necessarily saying in a clear fashion, you know,
this is, you know, this is this is where where we are. This is where we think we're going to be. Um unlike with the schools and with some of the other public sector unions in Massachusetts, if you are a uh public safety union, if you were a police or
fire um and you reach an impass with your um your community, you can take the community to arbitration. Um and that arbitration is binding um in the sense that once a decision is made the community, the town or city that's been
the subject of it can't advocate against it. They have to take it to its the approving body and say we recommend you approve this. Um and only if that body says no, we're not going to approve this uh can it not be approved. And in practice that's it has happened um with
other communities but it doesn't happen often. Um you know the arbitration process does mean that in practice um negotiate you know there there may be uh situations where an outside body disagrees with how much money they think
they can that a community can provide. Um, we try very hard to um argue with uh arbitrators that it's not appropriate to consider whether or not a community would pass an override um in considering
the ability of a community to pay for a um uh a contract. Um but unfortunately they have taken that into consideration in the past. We don't think that's particularly fair. Um but that's the reality of the situation. Um, so in this case, what we've been trying to do is we've been trying to build what we call
an override stabilization fund into the budget, which is we know that there are costs that are not going to come online in this request until later in the the three-year cycle. In particular, the fire contract, um, which that has a long
tail that comes online in FY28. If we tax to the levy limit as opposed to what we've done in the past, which is step it up as we need it um in the first year, that provides us with a cushion uh of funds and override stabilization fund so
that if unexpected expenses hit, like an unfavorable arbitration decision, we're able to pay for that out of that stabilization fund and keep the commitment to the voters saying because I know one of the one of the concerns that people have raised about the prior override is, well, you passed this huge
override. And then the next year you were making budget cuts. And why were you making budget cuts? And the answer was healthcare. And we got a police contract that was very favorable to us in terms of what we wanted it to do, but it cost more than we wanted it to cost.
And it was because the alternative was to go to arbitration and risk an even worse deal. Um that would not have gotten us, for example, out of civil service, which is really what we wanted. Um and so that's that's the aim here um is to sort of a long answer to your
question. I'm sorry, but yes, we know we we we are taking that into consideration. It is an important part of this. It means structuring the potential override a little differently and that's one of the big questions that ENRSC is going to look at and say whether or not does that play out? Does that make sense? Does that is that does
those numbers check out? um or should we recommend what we've done in the past which is more of a tiered phasing in? >> Yeah. Uh David, >> similar question to Michael's. You just addressed uh the implications of union
contracts over the life of the next 3 years on the town side. On the school side, the 6.5 million figure, is that including an estimate of any increases that might result from current negotiations with the BEu?
>> My understanding is yes. >> Okay. But that's it. It's an estimate. They have not settled the contract. Um so, >> okay. Um, we still have a hand up. David, do you
Okay. Any other uh questions or issues to discuss? >> Bernard, I had one if I may. >> Sure. So, um, if I'm understanding correctly, uh, it seems to me we're >> we're maybe going to be in the position
of having to vote, uh, up or down on whether there should be an override on the ballot um, with an amount in it, but without necessarily being able to guarantee that that is the amount that will go on the ballot. >> The good news is no. Um I in terms of
the next kind of steps in this um the expenditures and revenue study committee is working very diligently towards finalizing a report as soon as possible. Um and their target now is early March. Um you the last possible Tuesday that
you could actually it's not just the last possible Tuesday it's the last possible day you could vote to put a question on the ballot is March 31st. Tuesday March 31st. It's our goal to have ENRSC's recommendation to you at the start of March so that you can have
in hand. You can review it. You can hold a public hearing. um you can analyze and have a discussion with those committee members uh about the process and the recommendations and then uh ultimately you can vote if you feel comfortable uh
on the 24th um so that there's room um in the event that there are additional decisions that need to be made um and then if you have if you need to have that fall back date on whether or not to put something on the ballot, you have the 31st, although that would be cutting it very close. Um and so um the target
date for putting something on the ballot is the 24th and the aim is that you will have the the form you know you will you by by that point the process will have concluded you will have the recommendation of expenditures and revenues you will have conducted your own analysis on that and you will have
the final say in what goes on the ballot and at what amount um I will say the one thing that we can't do on a b in a ballot question necessarily is structure it what goes on what goes on the ballot
um can vary it can it can vary and we can have this discussion in more depth as we get closer to it um but usually Brookline's question has been rather simple which is do you approve of adding X to the levy limit um for general
government and school purposes yes or no um and then you know in the just in the materials and the description and so forth. We, you know, the advocacy talks about, you know, do we want that phased in over time? How is that going to impact your taxes and so forth, but what people see in that is a bottom line
number. The last override said, do you approve of allowing the town to raise its levy limit by 11.98 million um in order, you know, X for the schools, Y for the town in order for that to um and you know, there was no discussion in the
question itself of how to phase it in. Um, so I just do want to flag for folks that the ballot the text of the ballot question is important uh and how it is structured um sometimes uh how it's structured versus how it's implemented are sometimes two different questions.
>> Okay, >> Chaz, um if the 31st is the last day that we have to um put an override on the ballot, is that uh do you really mean uh April 1st at 5:00 p.m.
>> Yeah. Or is it 31st at midnight? >> March 31st at midnight. At at 11:59 p.m. is your deadline. >> Okay. And how do we communicate to I guess the clerk that uh >> Oh, I think I I believe last last override you you went all the way to the
wire um or close to it. Um and in that instance, the clerk was standing by. Uh I had been in the room. Uh I I gave him we gave him we gave him the vote and handed it to him. So it was transmitted to the clerk at the at the at that exact moment. So if we need to have that
process um clear, we will make sure that that's there's no room for doubt there. >> Okay. And we can do that before the meeting ends. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh any other questions?
Thank you for a uh thorough discussion of these issues. We'll be back with more and your your meeting with the advisory will uh joint meeting with the advisory committee uh will be on the 17th of February. Uh and that's when the budget book will be presented in full. So
we'll try and make it as entertaining as possible. Um >> can I ask one question, Bernard? Just follow based on what Chaz just said. And CHZ that budget book would be >> if the operating override passed >> it will have it will have both scenarios
in it. We'll have a yes and a no. Superior. >> It will. Okay. So, have both. Thank you. >> Y >> Okay. Uh let's move on to uh our next item, which is the center street lot update. This should be a quick uh discussion.
>> I doubt it. Um okay. Uh is that going to be presented by U Meredith? Meredith, you there? >> You're muted. >> Sorry. >> I think Jessica Doy will be kicking
things off and Mike Sandman and um Chris Dempsey will be presenting. Oh, >> okay. I thought you were going to just sort of introduce them. That's all right. I see Chris Dempsey. How you doing, Chris? >> Mr. Chair, doing very well. Nice to see you.
>> I'm glad to hear that. >> So, who's going to start? >> Jessica's gonna start. We're trying to get her >> We'll get her and Michael Sam promoted. There we go. Apologies, I wasn't able to unmute myself and didn't have access to chat.
Um, so good evening. Uh, my name is Jessica Doy. I'm senior economic development and um, long-term planner for the town of Brooklyn. Um, here tonight to um, help answer questions and um, do the slide deck administration for
Mike Samman, who was the chair of our center street lots committee that was appointed by select board about a year ago. Um we've hit the ground running for the last 12 months or so to complete the center lot study and are here to um
present the the process that we have gone through and what our findings are. So I will turn it over to Mike Sandman and get this um screen shared. >> There we go. Um okay. Uh thank you. Uh
also, um I'd like to make sure that um my co-chair Shauna Gora Gorine is uh promoted as well because she is going to be speaking. So, if we can take a moment for that, and
>> is China there yet? I can't see the poll. >> I'm to have been promoted. Yes. Thank you. There we go. Okay. Um, so good evening. Uh I'm Mike Sandman, uh chair of the center street parking lot study
committee, and with me now are, uh committee vice chair, uh Shauna Gora Gorfin, uh economic development long-term planner, Jessica doy, who you've just met, and Chris Dempsey, uh whom I think you know well. Uh Chris has been our consultant and is a partner in
Spect Dempsey. uh uh every uh member of our committee I want to say committed really very very thoughtfully. I think this is one of the best committees I've ever had the pleasure of working with in Brooklyn. We we had uh in addition to that input from hundreds of people
through a survey and a presentation that filled the Koolage Corner main theater number one uh last September. Uh and we came out of this envisioning that a public private partnership with the developer uh would be possible uh so
that a developer would incur the preponderance of development costs for the concept that the committee endorsed I believe by a vote of 10 to two uh and the developer would lease the land. And we think we have something that's really exciting for Brookline to work with and
we're asking you to take the first of several steps further to move along the path outlined in our report. Shauna and I are going to be a tag team through 14 slides and then we'll respond to your questions. So Shauna, >> thank you so much Mike. Um it is my
pleasure to present to you this evening after our committee's year-long study of the Center Street East and West lots this evening. We are excited to present the center street lots final report and the committee's recommendation. We're requesting the select board's endorsement of the side lock design
concept which you'll see shortly and approval to proceed with the consultants implementation roadmap. We're also recommend developing and implementing a wayfinding system based on the coolage corner parking study to determine the actual parking need of whatever is
eventually built here in the center street lots. Um could I have the next slide please? Thanks. As one of our first orders of business um our committee refined and adopted a set of five guiding principles which you have in your agenda packet. Um broadly these
address continued access to the lots for business owners and other lot users. Inclusive community engagement, environmental sustainability, alignment with Brookline's plans and priorities including the comprehensive plan. um and
a pragmatic fiscal approach which Mike alluded to um in terms of a public private partnership. Throughout our public engagement process, our committee and the consultant team identified three universal characteristics that were to be incorporated into the design concept
in preserving the available parking supply, maintaining space for the Brookline Farmers Market, and enhancing the overall public realm, including walkability and ADA accessibility through Koolage Corner.
Mike, would you like to? Um, so this is a map of the study area, uh, covering just under two and a half acres with 192 parking spaces between the two lots. U, to help orient you, Beacon Street runs along the lower right. Uh, at the top
are the arcade, CVS, and other stores uh, facing Harvard Street. And down toward the bottom is the center street lot where the farmers market takes place. Uh, next slide, please. Um the set of street lots were designed
with pedestrian access in mind and you can see that there are several through routes for pedestrians but those routes are interrupted by parked cars by the curbs that divide the parking bays. Uh and even though it's the most widely used public space in Brooklyn, the
center street lots are the least pedestrianfriendly public spaces in the town. Pedestrian access is really fundamental. It's not just for people who have uh uh mobility issues of some sort when we get out of our cars. All of us are pedestrians. Um
the concept the committee recommends would restore through walkways for pedestrians, make those walkways accessible for all ages, people with mobility limitations, people wishing um strollers. So I'm going to let that sit there just for a second.
Okay, next slide, please. Uh, the committee recommends that you >> Oh, sorry. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Sorry, Mike. Oh, sorry. The committee recommends that that you, the select board, endorse the sidelock design scenario through the implementation
phase um asking both for-profit and non-for-profit developers to respond to a non-binding request for information. Our recommendation is based on public support for this design, numerous benefits in the areas of housing,
walkability, expansion of our commercial task space and alignment with the town's planning and policy objectives. On the next slide, I just urge you also to read the two minority reports that were included in your agenda packet.
These reports are helpful in demonstrating the wide range of experiences and perspectives that were included on our committee. And this committee now seeks to sustain the momentum built throughout the study process, including our walkable line
event at the Koolage Corner Theater last September, which was attended by over 250 members of the public. That evening we heard overwhelming support for the sidelot design scenario which Mike will present to you now. >> Okay. Uh so first of all I want to
emphasize that this is a concept. It's not a project plan. I'll say that again. It's a concept not a project plan. It's not a construction proposal. Lots of people have asked well you know when is this going to start? Well this is not going to start. It it's uh it's been put
together by our consultants. Um it's a scenario that you the scenario that you see here preserves all existing public parking capacity through um a garage at the uh upper left of the drawing. Uh it includes a commercial tax base by
providing for residential sorry for retail uh space at the ground floor facing the open plaza. So it increases commercial tax base. It adds housing in a transit-rich neighborhood through the building that is on the west lot uh and
the building that is to your right uh which would be a multi both multi-story buildings and possibly some rail houses on the west lot. Uh and uh it adds that plaza which is exceptional new public space really in the heart of Brookline and we're really very interested in
making sure that that in particular uh is carried through. Uh next slide please. Um these are estimated costs provided to us by our consultant uh for this particular scenario today. Uh the design
could add anywhere from a small number to up to a 100 new parking spaces uh which will be determined when the concept is turned into a detailed design and hopefully informed by information that we get after the uh the wayfinding
project is in place. And again, note that we're expecting the preponderance of costs to be contributed by a developer via public private partnership. We may even be able to realize some income from the town uh through a long-term land lease.
Uh next slide. Uh now that the study is concluded, the next step is to move to implementation, which is on the next slide. Uh what we're requesting from you tonight uh is select board approval to proceed with a request for interest
request for expressions of interest from developers. Um, and we recommend including the Babcock Street uh lot in the RFI and so possibly including uh an one of the other concepts that uh that came out of the uh the work that our
consultant did sort of a mix of uh the side lot with uh a a more open plan for the center street lot. Uh, an RFI will gather responses from both profit uh uh for-profit developers and nonprofit
developers to aid in preparation of an request for proposal for firm proposals to build something specific um which would include a private public private partnership ship and the topics in the U RFI would be well preferred give us that
your preferred financing your ship structure uh what kind of zoning and permitting needs do you need? uh what's the allocation of parking spaces? What's the scope of your site concerns? For example, uh soil and and so those are
the topics that would be included in a request for information. Um the uh the Koolage Corner uh parking study concluded that there is
sufficient parking in Koolage Corner, but that a wayfinding system needs to be created to aid in financing parking outside and finding parking outside the center street lot. So we hear a lot about well there's a lot uh parking garage under the Marriott but very few people know about it and the signage for
getting there is almost non-existent. Um so the committee strongly recommends the prior priorization of the development and imple implement of a wayfinding system which is a to some extent a fancy word for signs although it needs to go or could go well beyond that with uh
signs that are responsive to the number of spaces that are available in a particular place. and it will provide a clearer picture of parking demand. Uh if we see that with a good wayfinding system, uh there isn't as much pressure on the center street lot as there currently is then we can take that into
account in deciding how many spaces need to be there uh in a future development. Uh it will inform the appropriate scale of future on-site parking as I've said address public concerns about overbuilding parking which is something that u that one of the minority reports
emphasized and ensure that the final designs are really evidence- driven and are fiscally responsible. Uh this is the implementation time we've been working with this uh it was prepared by our consultants and where the star is is where we are now. we need
your approval uh in order to go forward with a request for uh interest from uh from developers. Uh once that happens uh presuming that it does uh there's still quite a process uh public process to go through uh it represents the quickest
possible timeline uh which means that we would have a development agreement at the end of 2027. Um the center street light committee study was conducted over the last year. um done with this phase at least of our
work. Um and if you move forward uh the uh prep preparation of a request for information will begin as early as next month and the RFI would be issued in May giving developers the summer to respond before a September deadline. Uh so um
next slide please. We are um here to take your questions and uh hopefully be able to give you whatever information you need in order to make a decision on allowing us to go forward. >> Bernard, you're on mute.
>> How did that happen? >> Okay. the the wayfairing uh signs will direct people to parking opportunities in the Coolage Corner area. Other than uh the Marriott, what what parking and other than just on street parking, what
parking options are there in that area? >> Um there are several. There's Well, first of all, the Badcock Street lot is the is the largest. Um and then there's one a smaller lot on Webster Street. Uh and uh >> is that the bank lot? Pardon me.
>> Isn't that the bank's lot? >> No, there's a farmer. >> There's a tiny public lot there with, in fact, it has a a charging station at the back of it. Um, and on John Street, uh, there's a a small lot. There's there are
some little vest pocket lots, but Babcock is probably the largest one in addition to the Marriott. And there is actually many times when I visited the center street lot. Rather than make, you know, two or three loops to find a space, I'll make one loop and then I go up center street a little way and there's parking along center street and
particularly on the side streets between center and harbor street. Just have to walk just a little bit further and know that those spaces are there. >> Okay, David. >> Uh, couple questions I have. First, what led the committee to recommend that the
Babcock Street lot be part of the RFI? >> Good question. Good question. Uh, the Babcock Street lot was the subject of some discussion, I think, two or three years ago, and in fact, the committee was appointed to take a look at uh constructing affordable housing over the
Babcock Street lot. It was a bit of a it was sort of a follow on to the um discussion about the lot between Kent and Station Streets where the the same concept was considered but or grade issues and neighboring buildings and so forth that made that um a difficult
difficult site. So that concept was carried over. on nothing for nothing follow was followed up uh on Babcock Street and Babcock Street wasn't part of our discussion until towards the end when we realized that well that might
provide an opportunity for staging uh construction uh in a way that uh got people adequate parking space or a reasonable amount of additional parking space fairly close to Harvard
uh while the construction was going on on the center street lot. >> So uh staging that leads to my next question. So during the construction phase, what would be the plan for temporary parking? So you're referencing possibly
uh utilizing the Babcock Street Lot for staging, but where do people park? >> Uh no, no. The Babcock Street wouldn't be used for staging. The Babcock Street would be used Babcock Street would be used for parking. stage and would be on the center street site. >> Yeah. I also I think it might just it's
important to clarify we're several steps away from actual construction, but part of the plan that we envisioned is that whatever happens that if there's a above above ground parking structure, that piece gets built first. Um and so there is a temporary parking
crunch, which I think would happen in any scenario, even if you're just improving the lot. But once the parking structure is in place, that's there as the rest of the construction goes up. So you have your parking um available while the rest of construction continues.
>> Right. But while that's being constructed, there are still some spaces lost. And obviously that's the nature of construction. I'm just assuming that when if when this proceeds to the construction phase, there would be a plan to try to minimize the amount of
lost parking for area businesses. construction could take two, three years >> certainly. Um I I think it's imp it's impossible to know for sure what it would be until we know what else is or isn't available at any given time, right? Like so for right now or Waldo
Duran is that could be parking if we were doing this construction tomorrow, right? Because they're not building that right now or we're not doing the construction tomorrow. I think it's just we're so many steps away from putting a shovel in the ground, >> right? And then my last question for
now. So, the open space plaza concept, and I'm definitely a fan of open space, but just objectively speaking, what are the opportunity costs by committing to that much open space? And what did the committee consider? >> Do you want ahead?
>> Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Do you want to take this mic or would you like me to? >> Oh, go ahead. you're you're >> I think it was pretty clear um early on in the committee's work that not preserving space for the farmers market would be a non-starter. Um there was a
really strong push to preserve a very longunning Brookline institution and there's certain space requirements that they needed. So one way or another that was going to be necessary. Right now they occupy the Center Street West lot for almost half of the Thursdays of the
year. So, we are already you're already in a sense paying that opportunity cost. Um, anything else that would go there? We're talking about more density. So, I can't um I'm not entirely sure what you're asking. We wouldn't want to
build a solid block of retail and a solid block of residential above it. Um, I I guess I'm not understand what you're saying in terms of opportunity cost. You mean as opposed to a playground or as opposed to more buildings? as opposed to more park having more parking as opposed
to >> so s so of the different plans we looked at and I'm sorry I can't remember David if you were at the event at the coolage or if you had an opportunity to watch the recording but we did present and explore um an all surface parking
concept which was known as the grove. Um, we looked at two different above ground structure concepts, one of which was the side lot, another was somewhat more creative. Um, but I think that might have scared a few people off. And we looked at underground parking. If you do all surface parking, um, and perhaps
Chris Dempsey can speak up about this one, but if you try to preserve the number of parking spaces, there's very limited opportunity to develop anything else. Um, Chris, could you summarize a little better? Yeah, Sean, I think you summarized it pretty well. Um, everything here is
going to be a trade-off and what we tried to do across the process is, as Shauna said, show different options that um kind of maximize certain things. So, there was one that had a lot more housing, one that had uh really much
fewer buildings and was just a service lot, and a couple that were in between. And there's always going to be a trade-off. I think the the committee and the public responded to the sidelot because it's a good mix of a lot of different things that people want in
Koolage Corner. It adds to the amount of parking in Koolage Corner, not by a lot, but by a little, and at least preserves the public parking that's there. It creates new housing uh and likely uh mixed income housing. Uh it creates some
new retail space and it creates a really exceptional public plaza for the farmers market. And we think that that plaza um can be home to the farmers market but can be really much more than that and be kind of a a center of not just Koolage Corner but of the entire town and a
space that's used for civic events and fairs and festivals and musical performances and theater performances kind of you name it. It can be an active square could have a winter market. um it can have something active going on for much of the year and become kind of a a
new centerpiece of a a neighborhood that's already wonderful um but that could maybe be even better with some more public space >> it David >> just one last question sorry so regarding the additional parking that
would be provided uh what percentage of that additional parking do you anticipate would be used by the new housing units In essence, is it really additional parking for uh patrons of area businesses? >> Well, we uh I I have to say, we don't
know. Uh we that is we don't know uh the extent to which we'll need to or want to provide additional parking for residences. Uh one of the questions that we have is well, we're are in perhaps one of the most transit-rich districts that one can imagine um unless you were
standing on Washington Street in downtown Boston. uh and u uh a lot a substantial number of the residents in the Koolage Corner area don't have cars. So, do we need to provide uh one space for every additional residents? Uh we
don't know the answer to that. It really depends on the kinds of of of housing units that are built there to some some extent, big they are and you know how many bedrooms and so forth and uh and how likely you you are to attract um um
uh families. So really can't answer that question. What we can say is that all of the parking for uh that exists for uh business uh businesses now for their employees uh and for their customers
will be preserved plus some. So uh if you if you're concerned to add more parking than um than that uh uh concept shows, you can add another floor to the uh the garage. If you're concerned that we're adding too much parking and we
find that we don't need as much parking included corner after we analyze uh data from uh the results of a of a wayfinding project. Um you can reduce the amount of parking. There's some flexibility in there. >> Uh Michael,
>> I think I was next. Bernard, but Michael, you can go. >> Um okay, raise your hand, Paul. >> It was up. Oh, it came down. Go ahead, Michael. Let me put it back. >> I think Paul's hand actually was up. I think it went down as >> Go ahead.
>> Go ahead, Michael. No, Michael. Go ahead. >> Don't find >> Okay. Um, so a couple of questions. Um, the first is when I looked at the the RFI and you it's you described all the topics that the RFI would include, one of the things that I noticed that it
didn't include was any any conversation about like what would actually go into the space. So um just in your list and that may be obvious so you didn't feel the need to mention it but it I wasn't sure. Um so my question is from the
committee's perspective when you produce the RFI are you presuming that all of the expressions of interest that come back are going to be expressions of interest in producing something that is basically the sidelot uh program with
the housing and the parking and the plaza etc. or are you expecting RFIs to come um with sort of other ideas? And in parallel with that um what ideas
do you expect to get or not get with regard to the Babcock Street parking lot if that also gets included? >> So >> Mike, I can take this one if you want. >> Oh, okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. So um the RFI is intended to encourage the developers to look at the
sidelock design sidelock design as a starting point. Um obviously will include certain things that we would consider requirements or needs. Um parking approximate minimum um that's farmers market space that there should
be a mix of residential and commercial. But we're truly hoping at this phase that the developers will be encouraged to think more broadly themselves and to present other options that are of a similar scale for the space. Um perhaps help us think about things we hadn't
thought of before and understand what is currently out there in the building community. Um, in terms of including the Babcock Street lot with part as part of the RFI, we want developers to think about that space as well. Incorporating the Babcock Street Lot and Center Street
together as a unified project could promote, for example, mixed income housing throughout all of the sites, which is a wonderful way to enhance community rather than putting affordable housing over here and market rate over here. It's great to have it all mixed
together. um allow the developers to also let us know where they think parking would be most effective um both from a fiscal sense and in terms of keeping the space active and engaging. Um and we think this a great way to bring Babcock Street online and a
reasonable time frame instead of kicking it down to be affordable housing at some point in the future. >> Does that answer your question? >> Uh yes. Um the second question I had had to do with the with your uh
recommendation around the wayfinding. Um uh it seems like uh you're you're trying to get information from uh the wayfinding uh implementation to inform
the RFI and the RFP process. So I just have a timing question. So, for example, uh do you know if uh if the wayfinding is potentially budgeted for fiscal year 27, what the costs would be? You know,
how um how those details would be needed uh needed to be worked out. Um, and if if you can't get the wayfinding information, how will that impact your ability to um
evaluate the RFIs and the RFPs? Because you know if some developer says oh you don't actually need this much parking or oh you actually need a lot more parking and you need the wayfinder uh uh implementation to validate those claims and you don't have that then how do you
sort of process your way through through that conundrum. >> So I think it's a twoperson answer. Um Jessica do you want to >> handle the budget piece first and I'll do the other >> part. Sure. Um, so I would say that the reason we're specifically calling out
the wayfinding as one of the things that we want to do first is throughout the entire community engagement process as well as throughout all the committee meetings, the biggest conversation piece has been whether or not we really need this much parking. We have Brooklyn's vision zero and other goals that we're trying to reach where we really want to
make it more walkable, a little less cars on the road for um gas emissions and things like that. So if we implement this way finding which was a big recommendation within the Koolage Corner parking study and seems to be coming out the same way for the Brooklyn Village
Square studies that we're wrapping up this year. Um it would be a great way to tell whether or not we really need more parking or the same amount of parking or if it's just a matter of people being more aware of what already exists. Um, based off of the parking data that was
collected by our consultant, Catech for that parking study, it seemed as though based off of when they did the parking counts during the school year on a day that wasn't a big festival or the farmers market that we do have sufficient parking if you include some of those side streets that um could be a
little bit more residential but do fall into that 2-hour town parking rule that we currently have in place. Um, in terms of timeline, the sooner we can do this, the better. Um the planning department um through economic development did
submit a ones up for growth application through the state last year um through the application process that was due in June and we would have been awarded in October, November of this past fall. We unfortunately weren't selected. There was a very large number of applications
and wayinding is one of the largest ones for this particular smaller grant within the mass development programming. Um it's for $30,000. We are going to try to do that again. The reason we want to suggest select board move something forward is the $30,000 would just be for
a specific commercial area, not for the entire town and it would just be the development plan phase. So no implementation, no sign fabrication or anything of those of that nature. It would just be for developing a plan for one commercial area. In this case, we
would be focusing on coolage corner since that's where our our project is. Um, and the timeline for that, we wouldn't be able to get started until about a year from now. Um, because the application is now open due in June. We would be awarded in October and November
this fall with a contract and starting date of between January and February of 2027. So, that would delay us and that would just be for planning and we wouldn't wrap that up until summer next year or so. So, it's usually about six months
depending on how big the area is and how fast they can move the process along. If we do it ourselves through our own allocation for the entire town, um so if we do it just just as cool as corner, it would be $30,000 for the plan. If we do
townwide, it would be that times the number of commercial areas we have because it would branch out to include the rest of the town would be about $100,000. the fabrication piece for actually creating the signs. If you're looking at just the granulated standard um traffic
signs that we have up for stop signs and things like that kind of material, it's about $300 per sign. And that's just to fabricate, not to actually install these signs. Um and that would also depend on whether or not we were doing more of the big town lot signs if we wanted to have
the more intricate parking lot signs. Some people have mentioned throughout the community engagement. They would love to see how many spots are actively available if that's possible. Um that's something that um has been a little bit more complicated given that we live in
New England where we have a lot of weather um weather situations like this past weekend where um having the things that go underneath of the con the um the asphalt that would actually signal whether or not a space is available might be more difficult in terms of being able to do that on the side
streets, but could be something we could do in parking lots. Um, so we're looking at $100,000 if we do it townwide for just the planning, $300 per sign for fabrication, and then
if DPW internally can install, that would save on cost, but if we need to hire somebody externally, um, that would depend on their individual fees. >> Okay. Okay. I would recommend >> so I think there's probably I think there's probably about as much uh as we
information as folks can can absorb, but I Let's see if we've answered that to the >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I I thank you there. You've obviously have a lot of this information. It's really helpful. Um I would I would I would urge you in your
timeline to include the wayfinding pieces um so that we know sort of how those interle. Um >> so can I I just I do want to just speak to that very briefly. Um, if I and I know that Jessica gave you a lot of very good detailed information in terms of
cost, but you also asked about how it fits in. And I think it's important to note that the RFI phase of this, which is really just gathering information from developers and getting a sense of what can be done there, should be done in parallel with the wayfinding. We shouldn't be putting that off because
let's say we come, they come back with something that's similar to that sidelot plan and that's where we ultimately land. There's parking flexibility built in there and our RFI that we put out can even include and the request to developers, let us know if we want to
reduce parking by 100 spots or 50 spots, if we want to increase by 100 or 50 spots from what the number we gave you here, how would that affect other parts of your suggested plan? So, I think we can gather that information while we're also improving parking access. And then
all of that data comes together when we get to the RFP phase. And nothing is nothing is fixed in terms of parking until the developer locks in a plan. >> Okay. Um I I have one other question, but I want to let the other board members answer.
>> Did you have something you want to say? >> Um wayfinding is in the CIP town by wayfinding. We realize that that's a priority and we are funding it. So it is really important for us. um particularly after the Washington Street discussion and the wayfinding there, we're funding
wayfinding projects through revenue and through capital improvements wherever we can. So that's going to be part of our process moving forward regardless of this. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um Paul, you had your hand up for
a long time. That okay, John? >> Oh, absolutely. No, absolutely. >> Thanks. I think when you unmute yourself, your hand comes down automatically. It assumes you're speaking. So, um, thank you. So, um, there's a lot of information here. You're starting to make my brain hurt a
little bit. Um, and I'm hoping we can keep it high level. Um, I first I do want to say I'm not in a a sense of rushing to get 30 grand for a wayfinding study. Um, without thoughtful consideration about what what's being proposed. Um, could someone put the the
diagram up that shows the Center Street lot, the Babcock, you know, the whole picture? Um, because I'd like to speak to that for a minute and it'll help orient my question. >> You're looking for the slide that shows the where the uh lots are today. >> Yeah, the lots with the parking garage,
the the multiple housing develop concept. Okay, sure. Yeah. Jessica, can you can you get that out? Keep going. There's one where the It's There you go. Uh yeah, that one there. Okay. And we And uh Babcock Street's not
on there, right? That would Oh, you lost it. >> There you go. Okay. And Babcock Street is is on the north portion. >> That's right. It's It's beyond the uh >> Yeah. Be slightly Well, actually barely see the top of the >> Oh, yeah. So, I'm going to ask a
sequencing question. Um, and I don't mean to turn you upside down on this, but it is a sequencing question. Um, so based on what you're asking is you want an RFI for um, and I forget what this you call this. Is this the south lot?
What's the one that you're >> asking? These are this is the east and west center lot, both of them together. >> Okay. So So the one where the farmers market currently is today. need like an RFI for that for housing and some commercial on the first floor and then also at the same time housing and potentially commercial for Babcock.
That's correct. >> Those two lots must be considered together. >> Okay. Okay. So, my question is that here's my concern. Uh my concern is we get that and we never get the rest of it. Okay. That that you know the thing that's most attractive to me frankly on
this entire picture is that beautiful parking garage. Okay. The >> Oh, no. Those are all together. >> So, Paul, you're um um So, when we talk about the center street lots, the the core of the RFI is the big open center
street lot that we now have right back of CVS, the arcade, and the west lot where the farmers market is. Badcock Street is an add-on. >> Okay. Okay. So, so you're actually getting an RFI for the entire project, not for just
>> the east and west are together. They must be considered together. >> Okay. >> So, even if we and this is what you see in the picture here, for example, is the center street west lot. Though, that housing might not have any parking attached to the house. that might be
only for people who want to walk across the street to their garage or have a no parking spot housing, but it's only part of the project with that lot. >> So, a developer either says, "I believe we can have no parking residential or I
will provide the spots over here or I have some other suggestion for where they go." >> Okay. So, let me So, let me I just want to make sure I'm clear. I'm sorry. I'm asking a very basic question. >> Oh, it's fine. Um, so is there a is there a scenario where we end up with the Babcock Street lot developed and the
West lot developed and the center street parking lot stays the same? >> No, because the center street lot parking has the the center street parking has to be dealt with first. The garage is the first thing that happens. >> Okay. Thank you. That's that's it was
unclear the way you talked about it. It seemed like the the two the West uh lot and the Babcock Street were first going to be going being done together. Okay. So, maybe just make that really clear. Um it confused me. So, uh I'm sorry
about that. Um but I do I do like uh I I know there's a minority report and I respect uh the the individual who wrote it, but I do think um it's critical that we maintain access to parking. Um, and frankly, at least what we have are a
little bit more because I do think adding the housing units, while we we do we would hope that people would walk. Um, a lot of them will still have cars. Um, it's just the way it's just the way it is. Um, and so I I do uh I I would encourage uh that that parking garage
does get built. And again, it's my it's one of my favorite things on the picture. So, >> John, >> thank you very much. Um, could I just ask for a refresher as to how many units of housing are we talking about in this?
>> That's the next slide. >> Well, how about we go to the next slide? >> Yeah, that that's that's why I said that, John. >> So, this this is an these are all estimates. And again, the sidelot design concept is just a concept. I think Mike made that very clear. But in terms of a
broad plan, this would have been somewhere between 80 to 100 housing units. It depends on are you doing mostly studio and onebedroom? Are you doing mostly two and threebedroom? Um and that number of parking spaces you might recall the current total number of
parking spaces across both lots is 192 and that includes a significant number in the west lot that are reserved for um employee permits for various area businesses. So this design has a range
of 300 to 335 spots. I think we got to that number by having a one spot per unit estimate for the residential, but that doesn't have to be exactly where it lands. >> Thanks. Thanks, Shann. And I see on that very same slide, uh, estimated cost $29
million. Is that the cost of building the garage? >> No, no, that's the project cost. >> Project cost most that we expect would be largely absorbed by the developer as part of the public private partnership. >> Well, well, yeah, I'm sorry. I'm getting your answers are leaving me more
confused. Project cost um to Brooklyn. >> No, no. The project cost of constructing what you see on that on the previous slide, the whole package. >> Just just to just to clarify that and sorry to jump in. >> Yeah, that's the estim that's the
estimated cost of the the parts of construction that would end up being owned or controlled by the public. So that includes the parking structure with the assumption that the town would still own or control the parking structure that um Paul was mentioning as well as
the public plaza um but not the cost to construct the housing or retail which would be borne by the developer. We also expect the developer would bear much or all of the cost of the public components of this as well in exchange for the use
of the land. Um, but this estimate is is basically the parking structure and the plaza is essentially what you're getting for that number. >> Okay. Could you make that clear going forward? >> What? >> I'd just like to make it clear going forward because this this uh slide
doesn't say that. Well, and I'm still confused because um I I I've heard it said that it it is the cost of constructing the garage and it will be a garage on public property and
a and a and a publicly managed garage. So, who's paying to build this public garage on public property if not Brooklyn? So the uh the the the whole or the whole concept, John, is that um
there's a substantial piece of land there, almost two acres. Um if a developer were to try to acquire that two acres, the cost would be enormous. Um instead, they're going to be leasing that land at a very low cost. Um, and in
return they're expected to put the money that they would otherwise have to put into purchasing land into building that garage. So there, if you're asking how much is Brookline going to need to pay, it's a very small amount uh related
to assessing what um what uh developer proposes uh doing, I'm sure, some um some uh investigative work of its own to make sure that we're uh doing the right thing in terms of uh you know, we will need consultant to help help us with
zoning and so forth, But um and there may be some costs around the edges of the project itself, but we're expecting the vast majority of the uh of the cost to be borne by the developer, including
the cost of the public garage and the public. >> Okay. >> But for Brookline to participate in this, has anyone worked out a budget as to what it will cost us? Um, I think it's a little it's a little
early to do that except to say that it's going to be an extremely small amount in comparison to well, not just in comparison. It's going to be a very a very manageable amount. The it's the same sort of package as we uh offered to the Marriott when the Marriott was constructed. We owned the land. They
built the hotel including a garage that they promised to give access to where they promised to give access to the >> I would just add to Mike's answer uh Mike's answer to your question John that um that is why we have recommended to go to the next step of a request for
information because we don't have perfect insight into the economics of every single developer out there public uh public developer private or I should say private developer nonprofit developer affordable housing developer, they know their costs and their
potential uh proforma much better than we do. And so by going to them and saying what would this look like for you and having them come back to us, it gives us a much better sense. It is entirely possible that the result of the RFI says that there are no developers
interested in doing this at all and the only way it would be done would be with a large subsidy of tax dollars. And that probably ends this conversation and that's up for you to decide, not for us. But that could be the outcome. We don't expect that based on the the sort of basic economics you see here. You could
imagine a developer being pretty excited about being able to construct 100 units in an incredibly desirable neighborhood. We all know how amazing Kage Corner is as a neighborhood and what that could generate in value. and they the town then gets to own a big chunk of that
value and turn it into a public parking garage which we know many merchants have been asking for for many years. >> Okay. Um, thank you for those answers. Uh, I I need more time if you don't mind, Bernard, because I've got more questions here. Um,
I I I'll tip my hand. I I'm not ready to vote on this tonight and I'm not ready to vote on this for a lot of reasons. Um, and one of them was just explained, we don't really know what it will cost us to continue to pursue this for a while.
And pursuing it for a while could end up uh with us eventually dis uh finding out that there are no no developers interested in doing this. And meanwhile we will have invested a fair amount of money you know planning department time
that's money um in this um but we haven't been told how much money and how much time. Um then we've also been sort of assured that this is the result of uh a really extensive public process that came to a
very con uh clear conclusion as to what the people of Brooklyn want. And I, you know, I don't question anything that's been said so far as to what occurred during the public process, but I would
have to say that's unlike any public process I I I've ever sort of witnessed with as much at stake as making decisions about the future of the key parking lot in our key
commercial area in the town, which we are either going to at some point in the future, if any of these plans are realized. um essentially take away virtually all of the surface parking for cars, which
is very successful right now at feeding customers into the retail operations all up and down Harvard Street and on that section of Beacon Street and instead offering people uh parking in a garage.
Uh that's a huge decision to make and I'm not aware of any clear survey that has been done as to how many of the customers that use that that center street parking area surface parking area every single day, every single week,
every single month, every single year would come back and still shop at Koolage Corner if they had to park in a garage. So that's an open question as far as I'm concerned. May maybe we'll we'll gather some evidence on that, but we haven't gathered any evidence yet.
Um, and then I want to cite something which I I sent a request to a couple of people. Could you get this up on a slide while I talk? Um, and uh I don't know if they were able to do it, but what it is. >> Okay. So, I'll wait for you to just put
it up there. Um, what it is is an example of how the event at the Kulage Corner Theater was promoted. And I won't expect people to be able to read that. I can tell you one thing right away. It doesn't even mention the word housing. Um, the the event at
College Corner, it was titled A More Walkable Brooklyn, and it featured the very talented, and I mean that sincerely, um, Chris Dempsey and Jeff Spec. And at the beginning, and I give them credit for this too, they ask the audience, "How many of you are here
expecting uh you know a talk about sort of urban design issues and a more walkable Brooklyn and more walkable cities, which is the area of expertise for these this team um in addition to other areas of expertise." And about
half of the crowd, if not more than half, said they were there for a talk on Walkable Brookline um uh and and the other half, you know, uh slightly less than half, that's my recollection of it,
said that they were expecting to hear something about a plan to redo the Center Street lots. So in this crowd of I don't know some 200 um half weren't even expecting to come there to weigh in on on the future of the center street
lots and then in the course of one um brief evening they were shown four visionary plans for the center street lots and asked to vote that those were the only four you know choices they were given and sure
there turned out to be one that was preferred uh over the others. But that isn't the way we usually do public engagement. uh with a lot of people, some of whom weren't even from Brooklyn and many of whom didn't even know they were coming
to a meeting that would decide that there might be a uh a whole process set in motion that could result in uh complete transformation of the Center Street parking lots, including a parking garage instead of surface parking, and
including a lot of housing that we haven't sort of had any kind of clear hearing. The select board certainly hasn't had any kind of a hearing to ask the people of Brooklyn, do they think that the public properties uh of the
center street parking areas should be made available to developers um a at the at the cost of losing the surface parking there and replacing it with a garage. So, you know, I'm not going to say that any of the I'm not
going to say what the answer to any of those questions could turn out to be. I'm just pointing out we haven't done the real process that that is a familiar process in Brooklyn of giving people all the details of what we are suggesting
might ultimately be done and then making sure that that they all weigh in uh not just a random group of people who showed up for a talk. uh at the Coolish Corner Theater. Uh all the people, all the stakeholders, all of the commercial
property interests in the area, all of the people who shop there, both by car and on foot. I I didn't see that happen. So, as a select board member, I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to, you know, give this the thumbs up to go to the next
step tonight. And and for starters, the next time we discuss it, I would like to see a budget U do you want to respond anyone? >> No, not a bit. Thanks. >> Okay. Uh I think uh Paul is next.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Bernard. Um and and I I you know, John did raise some some I think some valid points. Um but I I had uh two quick questions and then I'll I think I'll I'm going to comment on what John said. Uh the first question
is on the slide, you don't have to put the slide back up, but it said 80 to 100 housing units. Is that between the three residential developments? That would be So that's a total. Okay. >> Well, when you say, for clarity, when you say three, what are you talking about? >> Well, so in my head, >> it does not include Babcock. That's just
the two center street. >> Oh, okay. It's just the two cent. >> None of these include Babcock. That was sort of a >> What do we think Babcock might Do we have an idea? Who knows? All right. >> We didn't look into that. We just thought it would be a good idea. >> But it could be another could be a developer say something. >> It could be another 40 or 50. So you
could have 150 housing units potentially. >> It could be it could be 20. It could be 50. >> Just we don't know. >> Trying to get it in my head. Okay. Uh so that's the first thing. And then do you have a sense of um this my second question then I'll have a comment that you know using public land for market
rate housing or h how do you envision this uh type of housing? Certainly, we wouldn't want it to be luxury housing, but do you have an idea of what the what uh this public private partnership might be able to support? >> So, I think part of what we're looking
again for is for the developers to let us know what they would need in order to make it viable. And I think we do want to, and this is part of where Babcock comes in, is we want there to be a mix of affordable in there and market rate is market rate. And I mean, luxury is
all the way at one end, but there's nice housing also. And then we don't know whether it's one-bedrooms, it's efficiencies, it's something families could live in. >> Yeah. I just I just I guess I just I worry that it'll be interesting to see what comes back, but I worry that any
developer is going to want to put luxury housing there. >> So, we can certainly certainly the RFI, I imagine, can include a list of our priorities and indicating Yeah. >> What we want to see there, but this is to help us craft an eventual request for
>> But you did but you did say that one of the guiding principles of this is consistency with the comprehensive plan. And it's very clear out of the comprehensive plan. We don't need a lot more luxury housing, right? We don't need two and three million condos or apartments that are renting for, you
know, $6,000 a month. we need we need more middle inome workforce housing smaller units and afford and frankly some deep restricted affordable units. So just that's really coming clear out of the the comprehensive plan. So I hope that will be kept front and center. And then just my comment my comment about
John's feedback and I really appreciate what John's saying. Um, I do think that that some of the process caught people by offguard. Like I thought it was more going to be a presentation about themes of walkability and I frankly I didn't attend. Um, and housing was not a point.
I don't think that that we toss everything out though. Uh, we don't toss a baby out with a bath water. There is a concept uh that is probably as good as any other concept that might come up for a vision for that area. Um, and I'm not
certain a request for information would commit us uh to doing anything. It's if anything, it's to educate us and also uh the the development community about what could be possible. And as Chris said, which I think is correct, you know, we're going to quickly find out whether
this is feasible or not. Um, and I think that's that's a good way a good way to test it. Um I assume that anything that gets done there would still need approval of the select board and also going some of it would need to go through town meeting. Correct. >> It would need town meeting. Um so um I'm
I'm not as although I completely understand what John's saying that some people didn't know to show up because you weren't talking about parking, you were talking about walkability. Um I wouldn't necessarily give up on the idea of asking the development community for feedback.
Michael. >> Um, so thank you. Um, first, um, uh, I I I take John's point about making sure that we're being prudent about, uh, the money that we're spending. I, but I
also think that, you know, in terms of budgeting out this process and understanding sort of what this eventually will cost the town, that we can take that process in steps. So for example, the relevant question at this moment might be what is the expected
budget just for running the RFI, collecting that information and and going forward. That would be that would certainly be useful information. Um I agree I I think that's relatively short money. Um but we should we should just
have a good understanding of that. Um second um I wholeheartedly agree with Paul in the sense that um we have gotten some information. We are looking to get more information through this RF RFI process especially in terms of economic
viability. Um I will um and and I think gathering that information sooner rather than later will actually make us uh more efficient in terms of of what's moving forward. Um, I think that the timeline that you've laid out actually between
the RFI process and the zoning warrant article, um, I suspect that's actually where you have more risk that that's going to take more time. Um because once those RFIs come back and you look at those RFIs and determine what the zoning
is that you're going to need to put into this very sensitive space, then a lot more people are going to um come out of the woodwork and have opinions and thoughts and perspectives on on the zoning. So, um I'm not sure that you've actually left enough time for for that
phase of the process, though I realize that that process has to follow a cadence because it has to go to town meeting in May or November um typically and um so so you're sort of uh caught a little bit within that structure. Um,
one other comment that I would make, um, and and I'm speculating here to some degree, but you had mentioned that there was the possibility of for-profit or nonprofit responses to this RFI. Um, and one of the reasons why I asked about
sort of what the what the range of flexibility was on the design is that I have trouble imagining that a nonprofit developer, particularly somebody who's focused on um, affordable housing, um,
would have the capacity or necessarily the interest for building such a large garage structure and sinking that much money. Um, on top of the the cost of the affordable housing
because affordable housing developers typically have very complicated financing stacks anyway, just with something even something as simple um as uh the the project that was next to KI that had senior housing on top of uh
some ground flooror commercial. you know, the financing stacks there and the requirements then for town contributions, etc. are really really complicated and um I expect that adding a garage um to that uh process um is
going to is going to sort of uh knock out those uh those developers from uh consideration. I would be happy to be proven wrong, but it wouldn't surprise me if most of your RFI feedback was for for-profit developers. interesting point. Thank you.
>> Okay. Pardon me. >> I that's that's an interesting point and interesting perspective uh about nonprofits. I appreciate that. >> Okay. David, >> sorry about that. So, I also agree with Paul and now Michael. I think it would
be prudent to proceed with an RFI so that we're in a position to make more informed decisions about the future of the center street lot and viability for proposals such as or appro or concepts such as what's been presented to us
tonight. Uh there are certain details that maybe I'd want to change but at this stage it's more about information gathering uh understanding viability more broadly. We're talking a lot in town about economic development opportunities, about revenue generation,
about increasing housing, and this fits into that. And I don't think that taking a pause on mere information gathering is going to help us. I I think we would actually lose some important momentum if we didn't take the step of pursuing an
RFI. that doesn't require us to proceed if we don't like the uh responses that we receive or that we find that it's not viable. Uh that being said, there's something that John mentioned and maybe Chris would be in the best position to answer this that I found intriguing,
which was regarding the difference between garage parking and surface parking from the perspective of uh both business owners and customers. Are there studies as to whether people prefer surface parking and are somehow maybe
intimidated by garages? Is it just about price structure? >> Yeah, it's agree. >> Can I can I add something to that? And that is um differences with respect to seniors and people with disabilities.
are they more likely to want to park on a a surface lot as opposed to, you know, a high-rise parking lot, too. >> So, these are really great questions and Bernard, I'm glad you brought up the question of accessibility. Um, Mike sort of mentioned this. His phrasing is a
little different than the way I describe it, but I think um I'd like to sort of restate it. Uh, I I believe the Center Street Lots is the least accessible, widely used public space in Brooklyn. If
um the the lack of ADA accessibility of the Center Street lots uh were existed in a building, we would not allow it in Brooklyn. We would close that building down until improvements were made. Um, but because it's a parking lot, we seem to hold it to a lower standard. And um
I'm fortunate to work in Koolage Corner in the arcade building. So I walk through their center street lot basically every day, twice a day. Um and am regularly seeing people who utilize wheelchairs who are driving in the main park the main driving area because there
are very few curb cuts and no pedestrian paths. Um many of the sidewalks have telephone poles or light poles in the middle of them. So there's no way that a wheelchair can get through. So, no matter what the town does, uh we would recommend action to address accessibility. On the more specific
question of the pros and cons of a surface lot versus a structured parking lot and people's preferences, um I haven't seen a particular study on that. I think uh it the answer is sort of it depends. Uh there are certainly times where it will feel more convenient to park in a surface lot and not not have
to navigate stairs or elevators. Uh, on the other hand, on a um a snowy day or a rainy day, it might be really nice to park your vehicle um under a structure and not have the rain pouring on you. You'll have better lighting in a surface sorry, in a structured parking lot um
typically than a surface parking lot. So, there's there's really pros and cons and no definitive way to say it, but it's the kind of thing that I think the community can have a conversation about, you know, if the select board decides to advance the conversation um in many other public forums.
Okay. Uh Meredith, but uh first uh can can we say that uh if we issue this RFI that we can um specifically identify um uh information that we want to make sure
uh is included in the answer. um such as the issue of uh middle and low-income housing or affordable housing that someone mentioned uh uh uh issue of preserving parking um you know which a number of people have raised particularly uh given that this is going
to be a destination location and you know people are going to be coming from all over hopefully uh so you know cutting back parking doesn't seem to be consistent with that idea uh and of course you know needs of senior seniors
and um people with disabilities. >> Yes, certainly. So, um I I did just want to jump in and um to your point, Chair Green, and um you know, the excellent point about uh you know, preferences around housing types and affordability
in moving forward with the RFI, you know, there'll be this process and we'll be sort of making the rounds to various boards and committee to get input on, you know, what are some important pieces of criteria that we really want to underscore and make sure that developers address in the RFI. Um, and I think we've talked about some of those this
evening. So, that will certainly be part of that process. And then there were also some questions just in terms of the costs associated with moving forward with this process. Um, so I we I would ballpark somewhere in the neighborhood
of 30 to $40,000 for some um consulting support services to help us prepare the RFI. Um but you know it will largely be a lot of planning staff time in um facilitating those conversations with boards and committees and working with the consultant to get the RFI prepared
and out the door. Uh and um you know I also think it is important you know there was an extensive amount of work. I know we've talked a lot about the walkable city event which was very successful well attended um and I I hear sort of the feedback um criticisms in terms of some of the event promotion.
that was one piece of a much broader community outreach engagement process. Um, and so I um I did just want to um reassure everyone that there was a you know robust engagement, multiple rounds of surveys and a lot of information for the committee to consider um as they
sort of honed in on the sidelot option. Um and uh and then also just to reassure um because I I hear where John is coming from particularly as the select board representative on the small business development committee about being very protective of that critical parking
resource that you know supports our small business community. There is a Koolage Corner uh merchant association representative on the committee uh and uh David Lashinsky uh president of the Koolage Corner Merchant Association has also been very invested in this process um and is encouraged by the direction that the
project is moving um forward with. So um you know we're very sensitive to the needs of the business community and um in terms of feedback that we would be looking for developers from it would be the potential to phase the project to minimize the amount of parking that could be taken offline and disrupt business operations.
Um, so and then just the last point, a lot of community engagement. There is a certain amount of momentum and community awareness that I do think it's important for us to capitalize on and try to push this process forward and get additional information um through the RFI process so we can come back and answer some of
these very good questions about, you know, what are we talking about in terms of budget and implications for the town. >> Okay, I think John had his hand up next. Um thanks again and thanks again to everybody for the for the answers. Um I
think they're all very good answers. Um I will uh comment simply on one of them which was uh you know the the question of the garage versus surface parking. Um it's not just a question of garage
versus surface parking. It's also a question of garages, you know, categorically as uh the way forward um for cities or the way of the past. And there's a lot
of reason to believe maybe it's more the way of the past than the way forward. Um and in fact, when this came before the transportation board uh recently, um I hope Brian doesn't mind if I quote him on this. You know, Brian Kaine, the
chair of the transportation board, said it flat out. I'm not a fan of garages. So, uh, and he and he explained why. Uh, and you know, are are we going to actually invite in, uh, Brian to discuss why he made that statement at the
transportation board discussion of this? And are we going to explore a little bit further? You know, the whole question of whether a garage is going to end up being, you know, sort of a dinosaur um and a very expensive one at that. Even
as we are reading headlines daily of the uh neglect that plagued the alewife garage and has led to a ridiculous situation where millions and millions have been spent trying to figure out how to salvage that garage 30 or 40 years
after it was first open. Um you know do we want to invest in a garage at this point in in Brooklyn's march to the future? It doesn't look very forward thinking to me. So anyway, I'm I'm raising these questions only because I I
don't like the fact that we're being asked for a decision tonight when we routinely say at our meetings, well, we brought up something new tonight and we had a chance to introduce it, but we're not going to vote on it tonight. And
there's a good reason for that. And this is huge. This is really huge. and we shouldn't be voting on it the first night that we actually are presented the the proposal. Um I think there's a lot more people we need to hear from and we
need to proceed a lot more deliberately in this. >> Hey, Michael. >> Um so um I'm actually surprised at the idea that the select board would vote on this uh the night of the night of this presentation. My recollection from
having been on the select board is very often you take the these sorts of things under advisement and you vote in the following week. >> Yeah, I think that's >> and that that's certainly fine as where as as far as we're concerned. Um I do want to come back to
the question of public uh engagement. Um there was a survey that uh was basically advertised on um on notice boards in uh in College and uh in the Brooklyn in Brooklyn. I believe
and elsewhere. Uh and uh uh I don't recall the number of people who responded to that survey, but uh Chris, you you may have that in your head. Uh but >> it's it's n 9 uh sorry 783 responses. um
93% of them were from one of Brooklyn's three zip codes and the other 7% were from surrounding communities. >> Okay. So that gives us a sense of the level of public engagement. 700 people is not 66,000 or 62,000 whatever we
have. I'm not quite sure how broad a net one can cast for these things. But I do want to emphasize that we uh heard u from a lot of people who live in Brooklyn come to Kulage Corner um use the center street parking lot. Uh so uh
that's important to to recall. >> But Mike, if I may, those 700 were not shown the same four uh visions that the audience at the College Corner Theater were shown, right? That wasn't a survey that tested whether they would prefer
this plan that we're talking about tonight. >> No. Uh you're right. Uh that was uh the questions were how do you use the lot? What do you you know what are your ideas about what are the the good things and the bad things about the lot. So that was the beginning of a collection of
information, a collection of of of data from people um in order to form uh the we actually looked at five different concepts uh for the the lot and this is the one that emerged both within the committee and then out of the
250 plus people who came to the Kors corner theater. Um when we started this process, I personally thought and I think that I can speak for Chris as well to say that what we expected was that um the uh end the end result would be a
proposal to um improve the existing surface lot and there is something called a concept called the grove that uh is in the report that um that Spect has prepared that uh uh that uh does
exactly that that was not what the committee wanted. It was not what we heard uh from the uh from the public in the in the outreach that we did. So, uh we didn't start with the idea that oh well, we're going to come in with a garage. The garage was sort of born out
of the the process collecting information and input and the process of discussion uh in the committee. >> Did did the survey ask the 700 people if they wanted a garage? >> No, I I asked that question. >> So I I have the data I have the data
right in front of me. >> Thanks Chris. >> We we asked many questions. Um John is right that we did not ask about the options because the options had not been developed yet. The purpose of the survey was to try to get a broad sense of the community's feelings so that we could then use that information to develop the
different options that we put in front of the committee and then again in front of the public at the event. Um but um of the for the question that is maybe most relevant here. We asked what would be your top priority for the lots if they were changed. What would be your top
priority? Um and 47% of those 783 respondents said green space, open space, and public plaza. 22% said housing, 9% said retail, and 7% said more parking. And so the I think we were
in some ways we were not surprised that the sidel lot was the preferred option of both for the committee and the public at the event because it does have a mix of those things. It creates an exceptional new public space. It also creates more housing. It also creates more retail and at least in some scenarios depending on how you allocate
that parking it creates more parking. So, it seems to achieve all the different priorities that were stated as the top priority by those 783 survey respondents, again, 93% of whom were proclined residents. >> Chris, was there a question about um
keeping the current level of parking? >> Um so, uh 5% of respondents said do not change anything. >> So, flat out don't change anything. Right. >> Correct.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All >> so, uh, just a quick question then a comment. Um, and I'll ask Chris. Chris, are we um given the number of parking spaces that we have today, the proposal, are we adding, keeping the same or
decreasing the number of parking spaces? >> The the total number of parking spaces would be increased >> by um, you know, roughly a 100 spaces, maybe a little bit more. But then you have to account for the fact that this would require some new housing because you would need the developer to make
some money to want to build the parking garage. So the total number of spaces increases. >> The question of how many of those spaces are available to the public is not clear, but the committee did make preserving parking a real priority in its process. And we heard loud and clear for merchants that they do not want to
lose parking. And so the sidelot preserves the parking that's in place today. >> Gotcha. Okay. So, uh, and just here's my quick thoughts. And again, I really appreciate John uh his perspective in that um you know, he John often helps us be cautious. Um which I I I greatly
appreciate um his questions. Um I will say on every committee I've served um there's been criticism. You didn't talk to enough people. You didn't talk to the right people. You did the meetings at night. You did them in the morning. Uh you asked the question the wrong way.
You didn't smile when you asked. I mean, whatever it is, right? There's it's just the way it's the it's the nature of committee work. Um the re look I don't know every single person that's on this committee, but I know we were thoughtful about appointing it. Um you know they they bring they many of them bring
unique perspectives. They're all well thought of. Um you know Chris and his team are are well respected. um you know and and not everything comes to a 63,000 resident vote as to what we we do depend upon our committees and the adviserss
that help our committees to make the best recommendation based on the information that they gather. Um is it perfect? It's not perfect. It's never perfect. But you know this committee, right or wrong, they're putting forward the recommendation that they think makes sense. I don't know yet if I agree with
it. Um, but I do think it's low risk to go out and issue an RFI to get more information about whether this whole thing, this scheme is even, you know, uh, feasible uh, from a financial perspective for our vision. We may we may get feedback and say, "You're nuts.
We can't do it." And we'd have to go back and and rethink it. But, um, we don't need to vote tonight. I don't I I didn't think we're going to be voting tonight, but I do want to say that I'm reasonably comfortable uh in in supporting the issuance of an RFI based
on the work. You know, this is not a fly by night committee that just pulled something out of their hat. Um they certainly went through a process. It wasn't perfect, but you know, it's pretty darn good. Um so, you know, I'm I'm supportive of issuing the RFI and we'll see what we get back. Um and I'm
happy to vote tonight. Probably not, but you know, a later date. Now our our typical uh pattern is to uh give ourselves an opportunity to digest what we've heard great >> and come back later on with um you know our thoughts and and a decision. Um
okay with that uh are we going to get a I guess a draft or summary of the RFR before um we meet next? No, we uh what we're looking for is permission to um to go ahead and and
write an RFI. Um I think uh I would say >> I guess I'm asking you know are we going to get a sense of you know what is going to be uh the sort of the thrust of the RFR before? Well, I I hope that we've uh I
hope we've given you that tonight in the sense that um we've uh Shauna described the key things that will be in the RFI. We talked about uh including uh some uh uh some direction in terms of the kind
of housing that we're looking for. Um and the fact that we're here's the sidewalk concept, but think more broadly uh if you'd like or just respond to the sidelock concept. So, um I hope we've given you the broad outlines of it, but uh I I kind of imagine that you would
want to um >> Well, I guess >> and then come back and have you line edit it. I think you'd go out of your minds with that. >> Yeah. >> Make sure that we we memorialize the concerns that people have raised somehow. Um so that uh you have
direction in terms of drafting the RFR RFI. I think we can certainly give you a summary back of what we've uh what we've heard and what we uh will into the RFI. That's >> okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Michael, you have your hand up again. >> Uh yeah, I ju I just wanted to add to to
your comment uh chair um with regard to one of the reasons to delay the vote and that I I'm noticing that there are a number of members of the public who are interested in this. Um, and the other thing that delaying the vote does is it gives those members of the public an opportunity to send the select board
feedback um, as well. Um, and so that is another uh, thing that the select board can weigh in in terms of this information which I personally uh, deeply appreciate. >> Yep. Great. John, you have your hand up still?
>> I'm afraid I do, but I promise this will be brief. I I I I I worry that people might be a little confused about the results of that survey that has been mentioned. And I'm looking at a pie chart from the survey and I'm just going
to quote it back for everybody. Uh 10% answered uh it says, "Choose which option best describes your perspective on the Center Street lots." And 10% said, "I don't think the lots should change at all." 10%. Um, the next group,
uh, 8% said, "I think the lots should be renovated to be nicer parking lots." The next group, um, 49% said, "I'm open to the concept of changing the lots, but not at the
expense of less parking." That's 49%. And then the final group, uh, 33% I'm open to the concept of changing the lots and would be okay with some parking going away to accommodate other uses.
Other uses, that's all. So, I urge people to look at the survey um because and I think we need to hear more about the results of the survey. Maybe we could um, you know, review them at our next meeting. But I also think we should hear from the minority members of the uh
committee. Um two two of whom filed minority reports. And I would love to hear from Brian Kaine. I'm sorry to keep putting the pressure on Brian Kaine, but you know I think he made an important statement and I think we should hear it um and explore it a little bit.
>> Okay. Um you want to hear from the minority report tonight or you mean our next meeting? Uh it it's up to you. It's up to the chair and the other members of the committee. I should of the select board, I think. >> Yeah.
But what do people think? I' I'd like to end the meeting. >> Yeah. Well, Bernard, I I think in fairness um to our colleague John and also to I think that those who wrote the minority reports um you know, since we've heard
so much from from the committee, it would be helpful uh personally for me tonight just like you have it all in my head be it may explode, but I'd like to have it all in my head at once. Um can can can each can each speaker of the minority report give you know a three to
five minute summary of what what their report is about? Um you know this can't go on for another hour. So if we could get a quick summary from I think there's two >> we have a summary. >> Well the verbally >> okay good that's fine. Uh wait Sherry uh
Gersinfeld has her hand up and who are you? Is that a member of the committee, Michael? >> No. >> Okay. Well, >> uh, we're not taking public comment, so >> No. >> Okay. >> You do have, um, members who submitted
minority reports here, though. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I see Marian Freriedman Gersian. Um, do do you want to speak? Uh, Marian. >> Yes. Um, so my concern was one Chris had raised about accessibility.
um the light stansions whatever this process if it goes forward will take a few years and I think we should be thinking about doing something now I'm very concerned about accessibility and the parking garage although I think we
need more parking we did not the I'm not sure whether the um professionals who are in 1330 Beacon are part of the merchants association or not but I think their customers, their professional
offices, a lot of acupuncture, physical therapy as well. Dentists um are people who want be a long walk, not uh from the parking garage to that build to the
entrance to that building. So, I think we they need to be put in there. Um I I agree with the need for more stakeholders. And finally, my main concern was um the public private, you
know, how you do it and still make sure you have affordable housing and that you don't have a parking. You're not funding the thing out of very high price parking rates. This is not This was done by the
economic development committee, but Kage Corner is also a residential neighborhood. Um, we depend I live in a building. There are eight 19 units on my building. None of us have parking. We depend on the parking lot for our
visitors for daytime parking and for overnight parking. And just because it's snowing, I think we have to have a year round perspective. There's not going to be parking on Wellman Street for another month unless the town decides to haul
the trash away. I think uh it was plowed. The parking spaces are just covered with snow. They're not it's not going to melt soon. Um so I think the re the impact on residents um needs to or needs to be considered.
But I mainly uh I'm concerned about accessibility. Um I think we could have parking garage, but we also need some surface space. And I'm concerned about the winter. I mean, I really think we have to think of this as four season. What does an open space
mean on a week like today? >> All right. Thank you. And can I um can I add and maybe ask Chaz, can we do something about the inaccessibility of that lot? I mean, I I I
don't usually think about it, but when Chris raised this, um I mean, I had problems when I was uh hobbling around after my hip replacement. So, I can imagine what, you know, people in wheelchairs or um others are facing. And
I think what Marian is saying is that, you know, that that should be something we should try to do as soon as possible. And it's really separate from from everything else. And then I think the question is >> money. I know >> money and and and time and efficiency
and also the sense of if you make more spaces accessible that require wider spaces and there's less there's not enough space on the surface to do all of what the community is asking. Community wants more parking in that lot. Community wants more accessible parking
in that lot. Um those two are incompatible. Um if you you want wider spaces. I know you know it's it's incredibly important if you are wheelchair bound or if you are using some sort of mobility assistance um you
can't park in a normal space. Um especially not those narrow spaces in the center street lot. Um and so thinking about how that works in practice is is really important. But then the question is, do you want to do that now and spend money, a lot of money
to do that, or do you want to spend money thinking more holistically about that space? And that's really what the point of the Center Street Lot Committee has been is do you want to think holistically about that space? And I think what Marion is saying, and I think it's a it's an entirely valid point, is we've thought holistically about that
space, and what we want is this immediate investment. That is one point of view. and then the other point of views are expressed in the other minority report and in the committee report. Um, and that's really what's before the board is thinking about what that basic next step is in terms of get
gathering more information. So, could we do something immediately? Could we repaint that lot? Yes. Um, it would require a study >> or give access curb cuts and not curb cuts but give you know, pardon me.
Yeah. Uh or make it easy for for wheelchairs, for example, to get up on the sidewalk. >> I mean, simple things like that. >> Yes, we could we could do that. But it's also you got to realize a curb cut is never as simple as people think it is,
right? It is it is a significant investment in time and money and effort. And if that's going to go away in the next 5 years, is is that is that the highest and best use for the people who need it? Um because if for the people who need it,
if it's just a temporary solution, um and I mean if the answer is yes, then yes, we can do it. But I think that's the level of consideration that we need to have here. >> Okay. Mary, did you have your hand up? wanted to say there are handicap spaces
and they are wide enough. It is the crosswalk. It is the sidewalk that disappears that you can't get from one sidewalk to the other. That's all. >> So Bernard, I just wanted to add I mean it might be worthwhile and Chaz, I totally I I hate to put money in it and
throw it away. It's in five years, but if if maybe we could have someone look at it and say, "What's the lowhanging fruit here? Are there a few tweaks that we could make? Does it need to be beautiful? Does it need to be granite? But is there something that we can do to, you know, to to improve line, you
know, uh crosswalks, ramps? Not a huge investment. I know it's it's still money that you'd throw away, but um it might be helpful because I do think that this process has highlighted a real serious issue in that lot. Um and frankly, it I feel dangerous
when I walk through that lot. Um and I don't have limitations. So maybe we could take a look at it and say what, you know, what can we do on uh quick and dirty, so to speak. >> We're happy to do that. And I I think that's that's a that is a great point. Um we don't we don't view those investments
as as, you know, intory or anything. It's really important for folks to be able to get around. I mean, you heard that comment from the public commenter, you know, someone who we haven't seen here, you know, show up and say, "Hey, listen. Can you keep the sidewalks clear for people who need it?" Um, we take
that seriously and so happy to do that. >> Okay, great. Okay, unless there's any anything else that >> Len Holy, I apologize. >> Yeah, Len wrote the uh one of the
minority reports. >> He's waving and putting his thumb up at the same time. That's >> okay. And Len, go ahead. Does he need to be promoted? >> Promoting him now.
>> Hello, my name is Glen Woolly. I'm a town meeting member of precinct 11 and member of the transportation board. But speaking on behalf of myself, we already have a parking garage with 141 spaces at the Courtyard Marriott that is frequently over half empty. To
build this garage is an investment. Is this an investment that we want to make and continue to pay for in the future with replacement and refurbishment costs. Brian Kaine said that this cost could potentially be up to 60 to 70 million.
I'm in favor of more housing and more green space, but we should maximize the use of our available parking first before building a garage. >> Thank you. Um, is uh
the other minority uh report person? >> No, no, that was Marian. >> Oh, no. Um it was Lynn Wley and um someone else who >> Mosha Bedaka and Len Holy jointly submitted one minority report.
>> Okay, great. Okay, uh we're sort of at the end. Why don't we take public comments because I see a hand that's been up uh for quite a while. Um Sherry Gersonfeld,
Jazz, can you promote her? You got her and your three minutes will begin when you're ready. >> Yeah, three minutes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I uh I'm actually the wife of Mosha Beniba who can't be here tonight because he's in a different
uh time zone that doesn't permit him to be awake right now. Um, so, um, I'm not speaking on behalf of him, but I, um, I just want to like really encourage all of you, if you haven't already done so,
to read, um, Mosha and Len's uh, minority opinion. And it's not um just that they are opposing the construction of a multi-level garage in this very
unique parcel of land in right in the heart of Kulage Corner. And I I know one of you I guess Mr. Warren referred to it as a beautiful parking garage. I mean I have to really take issue with that. I I
I think it's a travesty. I I speaking for myself now. I think it's a travesty to be putting that in this space, which could be so much more. Um but just getting back to the minority opinion, um
Len and Mosha also each offer an alternative um vision of what could be done with this space. And I I just really think it behooves everyone uh and and their their um their alternative
visions were not considered by uh the committee or the consultant and were not presented to the public. And I think that um you should all consider them be and and think about what really could be
done with this space which is uh owned by the town and should be used for the benefit of all Brooklyn residents, not just people who drive their cars or who like to park there um or who want to buy
a condo and live in the heart of uh Kulage Quaner and um and especially um for the younger and future generations who are, you know, going to be stuck with a parking garage that it's
going to be a really long time before that'll come down. Um and um and the younger generations are not even going to have as much demand for parking um because they're not getting driver's
licenses at the same rate that all of us were. They aren't driving cars. They're taking transit. They're using ride sharing. There's going to be autonomous vehicles. And um I think you probably need to hear from a lot more younger
people about what they'd like to see have done with this uh this land. I mean we don't have a town square in Brooklyn. Um there you know there are ways that this land could be used even retaining
some times up. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. But anyway, please just read uh the minority opinions. >> Got it. >> Okay. Um anything else in the slight board? If not, uh I will end this
meeting. Thank you. Recording stopped.