← Brookline Select Board

Brookline Select Board · 2018–2019 Board · Regular meeting

January 22, 2019

14 recorded votes, 5 with disagreement.

Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda

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Attendance

Present: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton

Absent: None

During the meeting:

  • Neil Wishinsky is listed as absent for at least one vote.

Every vote, in order

Enter into executive session

Minutes, page 2

ProceduralPassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was voted to enter into executive session.

From the minutes

“On motion it was voted to enter into executive session. Roll Call: Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Approve the minutes of January 8, 2019 as amended

Minutes, page 2

ProceduralPassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted to approve the minutes of January 8, 2019 as amended.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to approve the minutes of January 8, 2019 as amended. Voted to approve the minutes of January 15, 2019 as submitted. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Approve the minutes of January 15, 2019 as submitted

Minutes, page 2

ProceduralPassed · Unanimous, 5 present

Voted to approve the minutes of January 15, 2019 as submitted.

From the minutes

“Voted to approve the minutes of January 15, 2019 as submitted. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Accept a gift in the amount of $3,000 from the Siddha Yoga Ashram in Boston (SYDA). $1,000 for the General Fund, $1,000 for the Police Department and $1,000 for the Fire Department

Minutes, page 3

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted to accept a gift in the amount of $3,000 from the Siddha Yoga Ashram in Boston (SYDA). $1,000 for the General Fund, $1,000 for the Police Department and $1,000 for the Fire Department.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to accept a gift in the amount of $3,000 from the Siddha Yoga Ashram in Boston (SYDA). $1,000 for the General Fund, $1,000 for the Police Department and $1,000 for the Fire Department. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Approve and execute a Chapter 90 Reimbursement Request in the amount of $1,642,507.52 to Massachusetts Department of Transportation/Highway Division for funding related to "Reconstruction of...

Minutes, page 3

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted to approve and execute a Chapter 90 Reimbursement Request in the amount of $1,642,507.52 to Massachusetts Department of Transportation/Highway Division for funding related to "Reconstruction of Babcock Street" Contract No. PW/18-25.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to approve and execute a Chapter 90 Reimbursement Request in the amount of $1,642,507.52 to Massachusetts Department of Transportation/Highway Division for funding related to "Reconstruction of Babcock Street" Contract No. PW/18-25. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Grant two (2) Temporary All Kinds Alcoholic Beverages Non-Sales Licenses to Larz Anderson Auto Museum at 15 Newton Street as follows: 1) For a Product Launch Reception to be held on Friday,...

Minutes, page 4

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted granting two (2) Temporary All Kinds Alcoholic Beverages Non-Sales Licenses to Larz Anderson Auto Museum at 15 Newton Street as follows: 1) For a Product Launch Reception to be held on Friday, February 1, 2019 from 6:30pm10:30pm. 2) For an Annual Members Party to be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 5:30pm10:30pm.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted granting two (2) Temporary All Kinds Alcoholic Beverages Non-Sales Licenses to Larz Anderson Auto Museum at 15 Newton Street as follows: 1) For a Product Launch Reception to be held on Friday, February 1, 2019 from 6:30pm10:30pm. 2) For an Annual Members Party to be held on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 5:30pm10:30pm. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Approve the revisions to the Charge to the Newbury Acquisition Committee

Minutes, page 4

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted to approve the revisions to the Charge to the Newbury Acquisition Committee.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to approve the revisions to the Charge to the Newbury Acquisition Committee. Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and...

Minutes, page 5

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

VOTED: To call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and close the Warrant; and to insert in the said Warrant the following articles: ARTICLE 1 Submitted by: Select Board To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate from available funds, a sum or sums of money to fund the cost items in collective bargaining agreements between the Town and various employee unions; fund wage and salary increases for employees not included in the collective bargaining agreements; and amend the Classification and Pay Plans of the Town; or act on anything relative thereto. ARTICLE 2 Submitted by: Select Board To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to acquire, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, in fee simple, all or some of the parcels of land comprising the real property of Newbury College located at 110, 117, 124 and 150 Fisher Avenue, 124 and 125 Holland Avenue, and 146 Hyslop Road, Brookline, Massachusetts, as shown on the plan attached hereto and on file in the Office of the Town Clerk, including all buildings and structures thereon and all privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging, as well as all trees and shrubs thereon, consisting of up to approximately 342,943 square feet, for general municipal and/or educational purposes, and for all purposes and uses accessory thereto, and that to meet such

From the minutes

“VOTED: To call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and close the Warrant; and to insert in the said Warrant the following articles: ARTICLE 1 Submitted by: Select Board To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate from available funds, a sum or sums of money to fund the cost items in collective bargaining agreements between the Town and various employee unions; fund wage and salary increases for employees not included in the collective bargaining agreements; and amend the Classification and Pay Plans of the Town; or act on anything relative thereto. ARTICLE 2 Submitted by: Select Board To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to acquire, by purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, in fee simple, all or some of the parcels of land comprising the real property of Newbury College located at 110, 117, 124 and 150 Fisher Avenue, 124 and 125 Holland Avenue, and 146 Hyslop Road, Brookline, Massachusetts, as shown on the plan attached hereto and on file in the Office of the Town Clerk, including all buildings and structures thereon and all privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging, as well as all trees and shrubs thereon, consisting of up to approximately 342,943 square feet, for general municipal and/or educational purposes, and for all purposes and uses accessory thereto, and that to meet such expenditure to appropriate a sum of money to be expended at the direction of the Selectmen to pay the costs of acquiring said property, and for the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto, and to determine whether such amount shall be raised by taxation, transfer from available funds, borrowing or otherwise; and to authorize the Select Board to apply for, accept and expend any grants from any source whatsoever that may be available to pay for any portion of said real property or to take any other action relative thereto. Land Description: Seven parcels of land with the buildings thereon known as and numbered 110, 117, 124 and 150 Fisher Avenue; 124 and 125 Holland Avenue; and 146 Hyslop Road, Brookline, Massachusetts situated in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, and bounded and described as follows: ARTICLE 3 Submitted by: Select Board To see if the Town will adopt the following Resolution: Resolution Calling for the Town of Brookline to Pursue the Acquisition of the Newbury College Campus for Municipal and Other Purposes, Including the Siting of an Elementary School. WHEREAS, within hours after the close of the December 13th 2018 Special Town Meeting, Newbury College, situated in the center of the Town, announced it was closing its doors and selling its nearly 10-acre campus; and WHEREAS, there is broad town-wide interest among residents in the Town for the acquisition of the Newbury College campus; and WHEREAS, the Town is engaged in a process to develop additional elementary school capacity; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Newbury Campus provides the Town of Brookline with flexibility, including opportunities for many municipal needs; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Brookline Town Meeting calls on the Select Board to pursue the acquisition of the Newbury College campus with diligence, good faith and with all deliberate speed..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and...

Minutes, page 7

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 5 present

On motion it was, Voted To call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and close the Warrant; and to insert in the said Warrant the following article: ARTICLE 1 To see if the Town will raise, appropriate or transfer a sum of money to fund the costs adequate to appropriate some or all of Newbury College property or properties to situate an elementary school,

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted To call a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. at the High School Auditorium; to waive the requirements of Sections 2.1.2 through 2.1.4 of the Town's By-Laws; to open and close the Warrant; and to insert in the said Warrant the following article: ARTICLE 1 To see if the Town will raise, appropriate or transfer a sum of money to fund the costs adequate to appropriate some or all of Newbury College property or properties to situate an elementary school, Aye: Neil Wishinsky, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Grant the petition of Verizon New England, Inc. and NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to relocate a joint pole and two petitions of Eversource to construct, and...

Minutes, page 8

ApprovePassed · 4–0

On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of Verizon New England, Inc. and NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to relocate a joint pole and two petitions of Eversource to construct, and locations for, such lines of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Thorndike Street - northerly side, relocate pole 143/7 approximately 45 feet northeast of Harvard Street 55 feet to the northeast Thorndike Street - conduit northeasterly from MH3671 at Harvard Street install a distance of about 153 feet to relocated pole 143/7 Thorndike Street - conduit northeasterly from MH3671 at Harvard Street install a distance of about 167 feet to 455 Harvard Street. * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location.

Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNeil Wishinsky is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of Verizon New England, Inc. and NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to relocate a joint pole and two petitions of Eversource to construct, and locations for, such lines of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Thorndike Street - northerly side, relocate pole 143/7 approximately 45 feet northeast of Harvard Street 55 feet to the northeast Thorndike Street - conduit northeasterly from MH3671 at Harvard Street install a distance of about 153 feet to relocated pole 143/7 Thorndike Street - conduit northeasterly from MH3671 at Harvard Street install a distance of about 167 feet to 455 Harvard Street. * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location. Aye: Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton Absent: Neil Wishinsky.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

On the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the...

Minutes, page 9

ApprovePassed · 4–0

On motion it was, Voted on the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Coolidge Street - northeasterly from MH10638 120 feet southwest of Harvard Street install a distance of about 37 feet of conduit. * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location.

Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNeil Wishinsky is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted on the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Coolidge Street - northeasterly from MH10638 120 feet southwest of Harvard Street install a distance of about 37 feet of conduit. * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location. Aye: Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton Absent: Neil Wishinsky.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under...

Minutes, page 10

ApprovePassed · 4–0

On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Pearl Street - southerly from MH25043 approximately 192 feet north of Washington Street a distance of 95 feet * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location.

Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNeil Wishinsky is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Pearl Street - southerly from MH25043 approximately 192 feet north of Washington Street a distance of 95 feet * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location. Aye: Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton Absent: Neil Wishinsky.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

ApprovePassed · 4–0

On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Dummer Street - northerly from MH9538 approximately 173 feet west of Cottage Farm Road a distance of 18 feet * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location.

Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNeil Wishinsky is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Dummer Street - northerly from MH9538 approximately 173 feet west of Cottage Farm Road a distance of 18 feet * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location. Aye: Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton Absent: Neil Wishinsky.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

ApprovePassed · 4–0

On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Harvard Street - easterly from MH12806 at the intersection Auburn Street a distance of about 20 feet to 127 Harvard Street * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location.

Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNeil Wishinsky is listed as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“On motion it was, Voted to grant the petition of NStar Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for permission to construct, and a location for, such a line of conduits and manholes with the necessary cables therein under the following public way: Harvard Street - easterly from MH12806 at the intersection Auburn Street a distance of about 20 feet to 127 Harvard Street * with the following condition: The grant of location is approved on the condition that no street opening permit is issued by the Department of Public Works until such time as the area to be excavated is tested by National Grid for natural gas leaks. In the event that there is a gas leak, the leak must be repaired in coordination with the excavation associated with this grant of location. Aye: Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene, Heather Hamilton Absent: Neil Wishinsky.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

From the Brookline Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s CivicClerk meetings portal. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Brookline.News (candidate profiles, 2024 and 2026) and the Michael Rubenstein for Brookline Select Board campaign website.

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