Okay. >> Okay. Give me the countdown. >> Um, and we'll begin in five, four, 3, two, one. >> Good evening. I'm Bernard Green, chair of the Brookline Select Board, and this is a special meeting during our regular
scheduled day of the select board for June uh 17, 2025. Let's start off with announcements and updates from the select board. And I'd like to uh start off with a statement
that the select board has agreed to issue regarding the incident at the butchery on Sunday morning. The brick thrown through the window of the butchery Sunday morning was an egregious act of violence and
intimidation against an important Jewish business that provides a vital service to Brooklyn and the entire Boston region. The select board condemns this act and urges all of Brooklyn to condemn it with a loud and united voice. We also
condemn all acts of hatred, especially in this moment, anti-themitism that are directed at any of the many and diverse communities of Brooklyn that are targeted by those who are driven by hate. In today's dark and perilous
environment, any single attack on any one targeted group portends more attack on that group and on every other targeted group. It is easy to condemn, but the hard part is standing strong and
united for our values and principles against the hatred that is increasingly becoming normalized in America. As the executive body of town government, the select board will assure or ensure that all necessary resources
are available and used to defend our town and its residents from external or internal efforts to divide us and threaten individual Brookline communities. As the town administrator said regarding the butchery attack,
the police department in coordination with state and federal law enforcement are providing enhanced support for Jewish community groups here in Brooklyn. We stand with our Jewish community members and will not waver in our commitment to protect them. If you
have any information about this crime regarding the butchery, please contact the dete the detectives division at 6177302711. So that is the statement that uh select board is going to issue. Um
any questions or anything anyone wants to add? >> Paul? >> Yep. Thank you, Bernard. Thank you for uh reading and sharing that that statement. Um, I just wanted to make a couple of quick uh points about this. First, I want to thank um um our chief
of police and our entire police staff for their uh their quick response um into this um you know, rapid response and a sensitive response to the incident that took place. Um it it it was a a very important um uh show of our
commitment to protecting all part everybody within our town uh no matter what you know what their persuasion is or religious beliefs or whatever. Um so I think that's really important. I just want to thank them. I also want to thank you uh and the town administrator Chaz as well as the other members of the select board that issued statements um
individual statements I think more to the town meeting list um and and showing our support there. Um, and I also I want to thank the community. The the coming out and holding the a rally in support um in front of the butchery was I think
really moving uh for much of the community to show that support and the way that we've also done that for other groups uh that have had challenges. So, um I'm I'm proud to be in this uh live in this community and serve it as I know you are as well and ensuring that um we
always uh you know combat this type of hate and violence is really important. So that's all I I wanted to add. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments or updates from the select board? Yes, Bernard, if I may, just also on
that uh >> incident, I I want to echo what Paul just said. Uh it was very heartwarming and inspiring to see how many people responded with emphatic condemnations of the anti-semitic act that occurred, how
an impromptu rally was so uh put was put together so quickly. uh was very well attended and the community really stood together with a lot of strength to show that we stand by uh our Jewish community
that we do not tolerate hatred and that we want to support the business that was victimized uh by this act of anti-semitism. Uh so I I similarly want to thank you Bernard and Chaz and everyone else who has been involved in
the swift response. Thank you. Okay, unless there are any other comments, I'd like to move on to public comment. >> One quick thing, B, I'm sorry. Um, I did want to call to the community's attention that Thursday is Junth. Um,
the celebration Brooklyn for the culture is going to uh continue and we're excited to have that uh move forward and that is another celebration of the diversity that makes Brooklyn such a great place. Um, we're really thankful for the community's partnership in that and we're really excited to go. So, I'm
excited. Um, and I'm looking forward to being a part of that as I know the board is. >> Great. At the Florida Riff Ruff and Ridley School, >> correct? >> Beginning at it's 11 a.m. >> That's right. Yes. 11 a.m.
>> Okay, good. I'll be there. Okay. Okay. Uh Tiffany, could you um uh open up the public comment with uh the rules of the engagement? >> Yes. Um now that the chair has opened up the public comment, uh thank you for joining us for public comment. This is
an opportunity for us to hear your perspective on the issues in Brookline that matter to you. Each person speaking is limited to 3 minutes. You don't need to use the entire time, but you may if you like. Once 15 minutes has been met, there's an opportunity at the conclusion of the select board's business. Well,
actually, there's not an opportunity at the end of this meeting because we will not be returning to open session after the executive uh e executive session. Um, but 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. Um, we'll let you know when you have 30 seconds remaining, and when your time is up, please conclude your remarks at that time. If you have more to say, you are welcome to send an email to board members expressing your thoughts in greater detail. Um, any person speaking should begin their comment by identifying themselves with their full
name and either their Brookline precinct number or street address. Um, we did have Zeriana sign up uh to speak during public comment. Zeriana, I am promoting you now and I apologize if I'm pronouncing your name incorrectly. You should be able Yep, there you go.
>> Uh, hi. Thank you. Um, you pronounce my name totally fine. If it's easier, you can also call me Zarya, which is usually what I go by. Uh, my name is Zarya Kadakashi Jones. I'm one half of Brookline for the Culture. Um, first I just want to thank you all so much for
all of your support and encouragement for the Jewish community following the anti-Semitic attack. Um, it's very unfortunate that something like that happened, especially after we had the beautiful Eid fair at town hall. Um, but we're very encouraged by the continued
support of our leadership um to um ensure that hate like that is not tolerated in our community. So, thank you very much. Um, I'm glad Chaz mentioned Junth. We're super excited to see you all on Thursday and it's actually beginning at 12:00 p.m., not 11:00. Don't show up at 11:00 because we
won't be ready yet. Um, I know there's tons of information online about what's going to be happening, but I just wanted to provide a quick update. Um, I wanted to let everybody know that we currently have over 1,000 people registered to attend, which is really great. Last year
we hovered around about 1,00. So hopefully um we'll have more people show out. Um we also wanted to remind folks um to uh be safe especially following last year's extreme heat wave. Um, while the forecast this year looks
significantly more manageable with projected temperatures between 88 and 90 degrees, that is still hot enough to pose a significant heat risk um and potentially expose people to heat related illness, especially with long periods of sun exposure. To help keep
everyone safe, we're implementing um a few things. One, the hydration water truck will be back, courtesy of the town, which we're super excited for. Um two, there will be shaded cooling stations and extra sunscreen. U misting fans also placed throughout the event
area. Um we're encouraging attendees to bring hats, sunglasses, and reusable water bottles if you have them, and kids to bring their bathing suits. We're bringing back the water um slides this year, which was a big hit last year. Um, and then following that, uh, for older adults, younger children, and anyone
with medical conditions, we recommend attending, um, during cooler parts of the day, which is probably going to be between 1 and 400 p.m. Um, that's it. And I hope to see everyone on Thursday. >> Thank you. Um, there were no other individuals who signed up in advance, but if there's anyone else who wishes to
speak during public comment, please raise your hand using the raise the hand feature at this time. Okay, it looks like we're all set, Bernard. >> Okay, great. Uh let's move on to the uh first topic
uh our first item on our agenda. Bear with me while I try to organize this organize my computer here. Anyway, I'm having trouble with my computer, but
uh the first item is the u is u appointment of uh members of the pier school building committees um um uh committee uh membership role and I see that Lapan is um available and can speak
on this. >> Sure. Um, hi Bernard. How how you doing members of the select board? Uh, so we are asking you to uh approve the roster that was sent to you guys. Uh, I believe Tiffany was sent to you guys. Uh, there's a new roster for the Pierce
School Committee. This project is an MSVA project and uh it requires uh all the uh the appropriate members here to have certain votes um if we're approving uh budgets, change orders uh etc etc. uh
it is kind of a formality because I think everyone knows uh most of the people on on this list uh but uh it is important because uh we are getting ref uh refunds from the MSBA up to 30% for for some of the project uh cost here. So
with that uh I respectfully request that you approve the list here. Uh does anybody have any questions for me? Yeah. >> Any questions from the select board? And uh we we wanted to get uh in particular Helen Chalupsky who's no
longer on the school committee on the board to make sure that we can take advantage of her long years of experience and um actually expertise in in building projects like this. Um she'll be a basically a community member. Um and uh we will be back in
August um to uh redo this because we're going to have a lot of um changes um in the um in the community among school committee or the school district as well as other um positions. So um that's a
couple months off but I just want to let you know that that will be coming back to us. Paul. >> Yep. Just a quick question. Thank you Bernard. I just wanted to understand so there was a peer school uh committee in place right is this and I know you were cheer I think you were cheering it is
this a carryover from that or we adding more members I'm just I'm trying to understand what's new or what's changed >> the main the main ch the main change is that uh Helen is no longer co-chair ra although we probably can make her
co-chair but is no longer member of the school committee so she's not a school committee the appointed member. Uh but we wanted to keep her on. So she's um put into a slot for uh community members so that she can remain.
>> But that's really the the only change to it or >> um Mr. Chair, if I could also add um Tiffany Oliva, assistant administrator for operations. Um we also updated um the school committee rep which was um is now Andy Louu and was previously Helen
Charleky. Um and uh we will probably need to uh take this formality again once a new um uh interim superintendent is in place. >> Right. And that'll be in August. >> And plus another Joe Albuquerque is a
new director of operations for uh for the school. So uh he's also added to this list. >> Okay. So there to answer your question, we are voting to to put new members on here or and rearrange some titles for uh for Helen.
>> Okay, that's helpful. Thank you a lot. >> Okay. Um any further questions? >> Then um I move approval of the revised membership list of the Pierce building committee or school building committee. Uh, all in favor, please indicate by
saying I. Um, Paul Warren >> I. >> Uh, David Pearlman, >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein, >> hi. >> And chair votes I. Thank you, lap. >> Thank you. Have a great night, guys. >> Thank you.
>> That's the only item on our open agenda. So, um, again, let me see if I can give me a second. Okay. So, I move that the select board go into executive session for the purpose of
bargaining with union employees. Bargaining with union employees must be discussed in executive session because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigation on the bargaining position of the town and the chair so declares an executive session
therefore to be necessary. All in favor please indicate by saying I. >> Um Mr. Chair, sorry if I can add to that. Um if you could state that we do not we will not reconvene an open session after the executive session. I usually say that after the vote.
>> Uh my apologies. >> Um okay. Uh all in favor please indicate by saying I. Um Paul Warren >> I. >> Um David Pearlman >> I. >> Michael Rubenstein
>> I. >> And chair votes I. >> So uh Tiffany you're gonna we're okay. You should have received a second an independent invite to the next Zoom. If you have any problems, please text or call me.
>> Okay. Um the select board will not reconvene in open session following the executive session for those in the audience. Um uh this is the end of the meeting for you. Thank you. >> Okay. So um okay, we'll we'll have to
find the uh link and come back.