Brookline Town Meeting Night 5: Lawsuit Power And Budget Equity

BROOKLINE, MA — Wednesday night Brookline's elected representatives will reconvene online for the fifth night of the fall Town Meeting.

The town's leaders will take up a proposal that would require all Town Meeting Members, Advisory Committee Members and other elected officials and individuals appointed to any Board or Commission to fulfill a fiscal education requirement.

Legislators are also set to revisit the case of former firefighter Gerald Alston who reported racial harassment and then retaliation before he was fired in 2016. That case has been locked in lawsuits, but in June, Town Meeting passed a condition of appropriation limiting the further expenditure of funds on the case by a vote of 112 in favor, 106 opposed and 18 abstaining.

The Select Board cited counsel, saying Town Meeting didn't have power to do that.

Petitioners said they found a simple solution. came up with a way to force the Select Board not to spend more money on contesting the Alston case.

"If it is true the 'legislature has specifically conferred the authority for such actions to the executive branch' via Town Bylaw 3.1.3, then Town Meeting may by amending the bylaw take back that authority," petitioners wrote.

Warrant article 31 proposes to do that.

The annual Fall Town Meeting began Nov. 17, with the town's legislative branch approving spending an extra $33 million on the renovations at the high school; and then, despite pushback, the 2.5 percent wage increase for the Brookline Police Department.

On Night 2 they approved adjusting rules surrounding affordable housing; and a long-awaited decision about short term rental use in town, such as Airbnb, was sent to be discussed at a moderator's committee.

On Night 3, the town approved asking the state if they could effectively put a cap on smokers in town and then approved removing all gendered pronouns in its bylaws and general laws and limited the town's power to make nondisclosure agreements a condition for settling some lawsuits when they involve harassment or police. Night 4, Brookline joined Cambridge, Amherst to approve rank-choice voting during town elections.

The town leaders still have two nights of voting.

Watch, courtesy of Brookline Interactive, here:

What else is left to vote on:

Article 12: Enable the Town to Accept the Community Preservation Act ( Thursday)

Article 27: Related to parking rules with Micro Unit Dwellings, or homes less than 500 square feet (Thursday)

Article 28: Proposal to establish a fiscal education requirement for all Town Meeting Members, Advisory Committee Members and other elected officials and individuals appointed to any Board or Commission.

Article 31: Amend article 3.1 of the Town's General By-laws, litigation and claims.

Article 32 Resolution regarding budget equity

Article 33 Resolution regarding the Town/School Partnership

Article 34: Resolution to increase in housing and inclusive and climate friendly zoning strategies in Brookline (Thursday)

Also articles 36-39.

Read more:
Night 4: Brookline To Vote On Whether To Stop Voting For Town Clerk

Night 3: Brookline Town Meeting Passes Proposal To Phase Out Tobacco Use
Night 2: Brookline Town Meeting Adjusts Affordable Housing, Eyes Airbnb
Night 1: Brookline Town Meeting Approves $33M For Brookline High School
Read more about the full docket at Brookline Fall Town Meeting 2020.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.