Brookline Officials Share Their Goals For 2020

BROOKLINE, MA — January is a time when many are thinking about their goals for the year ahead. Often resolutions center on getting healthier or dialing back on the indulgence that monopolizes the winter holiday season. But this is also a season when we task ourselves with accomplishing something meaningful related to work. Patch reached out to local officials to get a sense of what their top goal was when it came to Brookline this year.

Many of them couldn't pick just one. Here's a look at what they had to say:

Bernard Greene, Select Board Chair

I have a zillion goals. The budget one may be my top priority, though. In no real order: My goal is to successfully put forward Newbury College warrant articles so that the Newbury property can be developed for senior living and so that the town can acquire the west side for its own purposes. A second goal; to work with the schools to address enrollment issues and other related financial and budgetary issues that the schools and the town share. (We share certain financially and budgetary concerns, so I want to work with them on that.) Goal 3: To begin the process of addressing housing in Brookline, and by housing I mean, not just affordable housing but middle class housing for families and work force housing, so we support a vibrant middle class in Brookline. Four: This is the big one: My goal is to ensure that the town presents this year's budget, fiscal 2021, in such a way that people understand the stresses that the budget is under and the need to balance the various interests and needs, and there are many. Town meeting gave us mandates and resolutions that will impact the budget and I don't think people realize that budget is finite, and that means when we take money to give to one program it likely has to come from another program.

Raul Fernandez, Brookline Select Board

Economic justice – I’m committed to moving forward efforts to increase affordability in housing, childcare, and transportation for those who need it most. This means increasing our inclusionary zoning, ensuring that affordable, high quality childcare is available to all low-income families, and piloting fare-free MBTA bus lines in Brookline.

Ben Franco, Brookline Select Board

My goal for 2020 is to assist the Brookline Fiscal Advisory Committee (BFAC) complete its report and deliver it to the Select Board and School Committee. Brookline is known for its high-quality school system and municipal services, and for active residents who advocate Town government implement policy proposals - large and small. In order to maintain our community's established strengths and to be able to continue to respond to resident requests, Brookline's finances must be strong. BFAC is working to ensure that the Town is well positioned financially not just for the new year and decade but also for the next generation.

Heather Hamilton, Brookline Select Board

We need to have a serious conversation about zoning and density. There are numerous benefits to smartgrowth; efficient public services, more commercial tax base to help pay for the ever-increasing expenditures, and potentially diversifies AND expands housing stock so that more people who want to live here can afford to do so. I also want to pursue more pilots regarding transit and transportation. More on that later in the year.

Mike Sandman, Brookline Advisory Committee

I’d like to make sure Town Meeting members (and residents) have the information they need to balance what Brookline wants with what Brookline can afford.

Andrew Lipson, Brookline Police Chief

Reduce crime and victimization.

Michael Burstein, Town Meeting Member, Library Trustee

I'd like to see the library be able to expand its hours and services to the town.

As a Town Meeting Member, my main goal this year I suppose is to get re-elected. I've been serving this town for 19 years as a Town Meeting Member, and in all that time I have *never* missed a night.

My main political goal is to get Jesse Mermell elected as our congresswoman.

Neil Gordon, Town Meeting Member, Advisory Committee Member

I continue to focus on bylaw improvements. Currently working on possibly codifying rules for Election Day campaign signs... technically not allowed, but by custom not enforced.

Tommy Vitolo, MA Representative for the 15th Norfolk District

Several pieces of legislation to promote social and racial justice passed the State Legislature and became law in 2019, including bills supporting women, foster children, low-income families, and the LGBTQ community. Several weeks ago, a landmark education funding bill was passed by the legislature and signed into law. In 2020, my goal is for a significant climate pollution reduction bill to become law in Massachusetts.

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