Brookline Bans Fossil Fuels, Renames Coolidge Corner School

BROOKLINE, MA — The Coolidge Corner School got a new name after months of controversy and a heated discussion Wednesday. And Brookline made history by becoming the first town in the Commonwealth to ban the use of fossil fuels in new buildings. The new bylaw bans new gas pipelines and infrastructure in new major construction in town, in a shift away from fossil fuels to electric.

What's in a name

Town Meeting members voted to rename the Coolidge Corner school to the Florida Ruffin Ridley school effective Sept 2020. Of the 11 school buildings in town only one is named for a woman and none are named for a person of color. The Coolidge Corner school will now be named for both.

After an hour of debate and with about 20 more speakers signed up to talk, Town Meeting voted 195 in favor, 15 against and 13 abstained - to the applause of Town Meeting.

Two years ago, after Brookline residents discovered that the namesake for The Edward Devotion School, owned a slave in the 18th century, Town Meeting voted in favor of renaming the school.

In the fall of 2018, the School Committee, the superintendent, educators, Coolidge Corner School students, alumni, and community members came together to create a naming process. They gave recommendations to the School Committee, which in turn, recommended their choice to the Town Naming Committee.

But not everyone agreed. In the weeks leading up to Town Meeting, conversation became harsh and divisive. During debate, several residents argued that the school should be named for Ethel Weiss, who ran Irving's Toy and Card shop for more than seven decades next to the school. They argued that the students tasked with choosing the name only chose it because the two petitioners who suggested it were on the committee with them. Some argued the choice was based on race.

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Greener Brookline:

With little opposition, Brookline voted to ban fossil fuels - or oil and gas piping - from most new construction. The warrant article prohibits the installation of new gas or oil piping in new developments and major building renovations or additions. This means developers can no longer install boilers, furnaces or cook tops that rely on fossil fuels in gut renovations, too.

The bylaw does have a number of exemptions, like gas piping for backup electric generators, propane for outdoor heating and cooking, and lines for gas meters and places where commercial cooking is done.

But, Town Meeting Members said, it's a big step in the right direction.

"When you're in a hole, the first thing is to stop digging,"said Town Meeting Member Tommy Vitolo. This would take away the shovel, he said.

Instead of gas or oil, buildings will now be required to use electricity for heat, hot water and stoves if the Attorney General's Office approves it.

How they voted, Night 2:

26. Rename the Coolidge Corner School the "Florida Ruffin Ridley School"

• Vote: TMM Lee Selwyn's motion to refer:: Fails 31 voted in favor, 185 voted against, and 3 abstained
• Vote: to rename: passes.

27. Rename the Coolidge Corner School the "Ethel Weiss School" (Ruttman)

Vote: fails: 22, 182, 17

• 28. Rename the Coolidge Corner School the "Robert I. Sperber School" (Selwyn)
• Vote: No vote.

Other items voted on:

21. Adoption of a new By-Law prohibiting new fossil fuel infrastructure in major construction. (Gray TMM10)

• Vote: Passes 207 in favor, 3 against, 6 abstaining

7. Resolution pertaining to the maintenance of pavement markings. (Miller)

• Vote: passes 206 in favor, 2 against and 2 abstaining

8. Legislation authorizing the Select Board to offer a senior discount program for water
and sewer rates. (Select Board)

• Vote: passes, majority vote.

9. Resolution on establishing a real estate transfer fee (MacMillan,TMM4)

• Vote: deferred.

10. Amend Article 4.9 of the Town's General By-laws to dissolve the Committee on Campaigns. (Select Board)

• Vote: passes, majority vote.

11. Authorization for the termination and relocation of certain sewer and drainage easements at Kerrigan Place which doesn't actually exist any more. (DPW)

• Vote: passes unanimously.

12. Authorization to enter into Solar Power Purchase Agreements for rooftop solar photovoltaic installations on certain Town properties. (Select Board)

• Vote: Passes unanimously.

13. Amend Section 4.07 of the Town's Zoning By-Law to allow Accessory Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations. (Planning Department)

• Vote: Passes 205 to 1

14. Amend Section 6.04 of the Zoning By-law pertaining to electric vehicle parking (Ananian TMM10).

• Vote: Passes.

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Watch the meeting live, thanks to Brookline Interactive Group:

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).