I haven't been on here in a while and kind of lost my bearings - is anyone on here interested in #BrooklineTownMeeting updates? I'd normal post on twitter but would really like to continue avoiding it if possible.

Do you have an idea for improving Brookline's by-laws? With yesterday's "opening of the warrant" - which goes until March 9 - articles, or proposed legislation & budget changes, can be submitted for the 2023 Annual #BrooklineTownMeeting.

Learn how here: https://www.brooklinema.gov/275/Submitting-Articles

You don't have to be a TMM to submit an article -- all you need is signatures of 10 registered Brookline voters! But if you're interested in running for Town Meeting you have until March 14 to submit nomination papers.

The 2023 Town election has been set for May 2, 2023! 🗓️🗳️

Thinking of running for #BrooklineTownMeeting or another townwide office (Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustees, Constable)? Nomination papers are now available from the
Town Clerk's office.

Tonight there will be a special #BrooklineTownMeeting with just two items:
1) Adopting MA's new specialized stretch building code to reduce fossil fuel use, aiming for a net-zero state by 2050
2) Adopting state law so the town can send non-partisan info about local ballot questions to residents

More details on both articles, particularly the specialized stretch energy code, and reports from various Town committees have been posted: https://www.brooklinema.gov/1020/Town-Meeting-Files

Both articles are expected to pass.

🚨 There will be a special Brookline Town Meeting on Jan. 10, 2023 with just two items:

1) Adopting MA's new specialized stretch building code to reduce fossil fuel use, aiming for a net-zero state by 2050
2) Adopting state law so the town can send non-partisan info about local ballot questions to residents

More details here: https://www.brooklinema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/38092/Article-Explanations-January-10-2023-STM
and https://www.brooklinema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/37984/WARRANT-Jan-10-2023-Special-Town-Meeting #BrooklineTownMeeting

Thanks to (the extremely small number of) folks who put in the effort or used ice melt, like on this beautiful sidewalk, to make the morning commute a little more safe.

Clear streets but icy sidewalks is a policy choice.

I’m still extremely disappointed that #BrooklineTownMeeting adopted the extremely watered-down version of our article that sought to update the town’s sidewalk snow removal by-laws. We chose convenience over safety & accessibility.

The last night of #BrooklineTownMeeting is underway. WA 37, a resolution for the finance committee to hire a consultant to review the school department budget, failed 58-179-8. It was a brazen attempt by the (appointed) finance committee to seize control of the school budget from the elected School Committee, with the intent to cut programs like METCO, over unhappiness that the schools take ~60% of the town budget, although that's in line with neighboring communities:

Tonight, #BrooklineTownMeeting will be voting on a resolution calling for an affordable housing overlay district study committee (this is good!)

The Advisory Committee is proposing an amendment, in which they remove a single line:

"WHEREAS exclusionary zoning disproportionately harms buyers and renters of color"

There is no logical reason to remove this clause – it's 100% true and relevant to the article. I'm extremely curious to see who ends up voting for this amendment. 👀

Tonight #BrooklineTownMeeting will vote on Articles 34 and 35, which seek to introduce a financial interest policy for Town Meeting. I am the lead petitioner on these articles, which would require Town Meeting Members to abstain from voting when they have a financial interest in an article, and require Town Meeting speakers to disclose any financial interest before their remarks.

#BrooklineTownMeeting night 7(!) begins now. You won't bee-lieve what's on the agenda. Stream on youtube with the Brookline Interactive Group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qykAk8DsV9U

Article 28 (home rule petition to create an emissions reduction fund through a property tax surcharge of up to 3%) narrowly failed, 117-120-7. This was the first ZEAB (Zero Emissions Advisory Board) article to fail so far (4 passed, one remains -- starting debate now). #Brookline #BrooklineTownMeeting

Night 6 of the #BrooklineTownMeeting is underway -- hopefully finishing the ZEAB articles (home rule petitions to levy fees/taxes to fund carbon emission reduction efforts).

The article unfortunately didn't pass. A couple Town Meeting Members who are golf enthusiasts took this opportunity to:

1) pump fists in celebration and give the finger to the camera on the public zoom meeting,

2) post on social media relishing in the failure of those who supported the article, and

3) call someone an asshole on the town meeting listserv.

Really top notch, respectable people we're electing to #BrooklineTownMeeting. Great representation for golfers, too.

The article unfortunately didn't pass. A couple Town Meeting Members who are golf enthusiasts took this opportunity to 1) pump their fists in celebration and give the finger to the camera on the public zoom meeting, and 2) post on social media relishing in the failure of those that supported the article. Really top notch people we're electing to #BrooklineTownMeeting. Great representation for golfers, too. Sheesh.

#BrooklineTownMeeting adjourned early, after passing WA 26 (133-112-8) as amended to require an affirmative vote of the electorate before adding a gas utility surcharge. I voted in favor of WA 26 -- and on all of the ZEAB articles so far -- because we are facing a climate emergency that requires urgent action. While we wait for the legislature to approve these home rule petitions we can - and should - work out the details to ensure the taxes/fees will be levied in a progressive way.

WA 39, the resolution to consider other uses for the municipal golf course land, failed 85-147-15. I voted yes -- the golf course is the largest part of Brookline's open space and we should consider other uses & whether they would better serve the public #BrooklineTownMeeting

We're now discussing WA 26, one of the ZEAB articles, aimed at creating a gas utility surcharge that would be used to fund emission reduction programs.

I wish so badly that I could vote right now in favor of having #Brookline to consider additional uses of the town golf course. #BrooklineTownMeeting

#BrooklineTownMeeting continues tonight with a resolution to reimagine uses for the public golf course and the back half of a series of home rule petitions from the Zero Emissions Advisory Board seeking to apply taxes/fees on fossil fuel infrastructure and vehicles.

Details in documents posted here: https://www.brooklinema.gov/1020/Town-Meeting-Files

#BrooklineTownMeeting is going on now, and I've been keeping track of warrant articles in a public document: https://elizabethschafer.notion.site/November-2022-Special-Town-Meeting-e1eaa13a4ec4413f90cd1656a2fb578d

A number of people in town have a hard time navigating the single ~700 page pdf the town produces for Town Meeting, so I made this site to break things down by warrant article and make it easy to see the most important info (motions, recommendations, etc).

Other towns: I want to know how you make things easier to follow!

#MAPoli #TownMeeting

#BrooklineTownMeeting is going on now, and I've been keeping track of warrant articles in a public document: https://elizabethschafer.notion.site/November-2022-Special-Town-Meeting-e1eaa13a4ec4413f90cd1656a2fb578d

A number of people in town have a hard time navigating the single ~700 page pdf the town produces for Town Meeting, so I made this site to break things down by warrant article and make it easy to see the most important info (motions, recommendations, etc).

Other towns: I want to know how you make things easier to follow!

#MAPoli TownMeeting