7 Things To Know This Week In Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — There's a lot going on around town and here are seven things you should know: From solar panels to marijuana to something happening at the School Street parking lot.

Two Town Meetings are coming: This Thursday at noon was the deadline to submit Town Meeting warrant articles to be considered at the May Town Meeting. There are two dates to watch for this: Tuesday, April 9 will be the start date for two Special Town Meetings. And then Tuesday, May 21 is the start date for the Annual Town Meeting. Town Meeting is held in the Brookline High School Auditorium, 115 Greenough Street. View all town meeting files.

Run for office: If you're interested in running for office (Select Board, Town Meeting, School Committee, Trustees of the Library, Constable) you can still take papers out at the Town Clerk's office. Elections will be May 7.

School Street Lot: The Brighton District court is moving to the Brookline District court, they're being allowed to park in the School Street lot. It's been prearranged that the court will be paying for every meter for the entire day. Overnight parking won't be impacted. This means the School Street Municipal parking lot will be off limits during the day for the next year, according to Town Administrator Mel Kleckner.

Solar Panels: Remember how the town had an agreement with a company called BlueWave to put solar panels on the roofs of some municipal buildings back in 2014? That company has gone out of business. Another company is in talks with the Climate Action Committee to present another option.

How do commissions get put together? Recently, someone asked the Select Board how one would go about creating a commission, similar to the Women's Commission, but for Black, Latino and People of Color. The answer: The disability commission was implemented because of State law, but the Women's Commission was brought forward by a warrant article proposal to Town Meeting.

Alston decision: The question of invoking a rule of necessity under the state ethics law to allow the Select Board, four of whom are named personally in the lawsuit, to deliberate on and make a decision as to appeal a state decision on Firefighter Alston.

Retail Marijuana: This week one pot shop backed out in St. Mary's and another got the mostly green light from the State Cannabis Commission. Stay tuned for a Grand Opening date to be announced shortly. The commission still has to perform a final inspection, then they'll give a commence operation authorization and most likely the Grand Opening will be a week after that, Select Board Neil Wishinsky told Patch Friday. "They're planning on opening on a Saturday to avoid the rush hour, so hopefully that will help with traffic at least at the very beginning," he said.

Miss the May 5 Select Board Meeting? Catch it here:

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Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).