MassVoter.com← BrooklineMunicipal votes · 2019–2020 Board
Brookline Select Board
How the Brookline Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Raul Fernandez joined the board after the May 2019 town election; Neil Wishinsky did not run again. On May 8, 2019 the board chose Bernard Greene as Chair (5-0 roll call). Covers 58 meetings, May 8 to June 2, 2020.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetYour Brookline ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
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Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
Members
Raul FernandezMember · Elected townwide · at 57 of 58 meetingsBenjamin FrancoMember · Elected townwide · at 55 of 58 meetingsHeather HamiltonMember · Elected townwide · at 55 of 58 meetingsNancy HellerMember · Elected townwide · at 56 of 58 meetings
"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Select Board minutes from January 2, 2018 through September 15, 2026, from the town’s CivicClerk meetings portal, which holds Select Board minutes back to 2005 (MassVoter has loaded 2018 on). The minutes are typed files with a text layer. Not here: meetings with an agenda but no minutes online, including December 18, 2018; several May and June 2019 sessions; January, March and September 2020 special sessions; July 26 and 28, 2021; January 23, March 19, April 2, 9, 16 and 17, May 21 and 29, June 11 and December 10, 2024 (for January 23, May 21 and December 10, 2024 the portal holds a copy of another meeting’s minutes instead); November 14 and December 23, 2025; and meetings after September 15, 2026. The Select Board Licensing Hearing Panel (one board member and town staff, whose recommendations go to the full board) is not included. Brookline’s minutes record almost every vote as a roll call naming each member (“Aye: … Against: … Abstained: …”), so we show each member’s vote as recorded. Members listed as absent for a vote are left out of it. Where a roll call names a member the minutes do not show as present, lists a member twice, names someone who is not a board member, or does not match the count written in the minutes, we show the count only (or the result only when no count is written) and add a note. A few votes have no roll call or count written down; we show those as passed or failed with no count. The minutes rarely say who made or seconded a motion, so no mover is shown. Votes taken by other boards at joint meetings (School Committee, Advisory Committee, Library Trustees) are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
May 19Favorable action on Article 13 -Motion: On motion it was, Voted 2-3 Favorable action on Article 13…Failed 2–3 · No: Fernandez, Franco, Hamilton
May 19, 2020: Favorable action on Article 13 -
On motion it was, Voted 2-3 Favorable action on Article 13 - motion fails
Yes: Greene, HellerNo: Fernandez, Franco, Hamilton
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted 2-3 Favorable action on Article 13 - motion fails Aye: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller Against: Benjamin Franco, Heather Hamilton, Raul Fernandez.”
May 19Approve the FY2021 Permit Parking fee increases as approved…Motion: On motion it was, Voted to approve the FY2021 Permit Parking…Passed 4–1 · No: Fernandez
May 19, 2020: Approve the FY2021 Permit Parking fee increases as approved by the Transportation Board: Commercial On-street Permit Rate $500 per year changed to $600 per year ($100 increase) Commercial Daytime...
On motion it was, Voted to approve the FY2021 Permit Parking fee increases as approved by the Transportation Board: Commercial On-street Permit Rate $500 per year changed to $600 per year ($100 increase) Commercial Daytime Lot Permit Rate $78 per month changed to $100 per month ($22 increase) Tradesman Daytime On-street Permit Fee $0 per day changed to $5 per day ($5 increase) Resident Daytime On-street Permit Fee $25 per year to $30 per year ($5 increase)
Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNo: Fernandez
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the FY2021 Permit Parking fee increases as approved by the Transportation Board: Commercial On-street Permit Rate $500 per year changed to $600 per year ($100 increase) Commercial Daytime Lot Permit Rate $78 per month changed to $100 per month ($22 increase) Tradesman Daytime On-street Permit Fee $0 per day changed to $5 per day ($5 increase) Resident Daytime On-street Permit Fee $25 per year to $30 per year ($5 increase) Aye: Bernard Greene, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Heather Hamilton Against: Raul Fernandez.”
May 5Approve the revised hours for the Annual Town Election…Motion: Voted to approve the revised hours for the Annual Town Election…Passed 3–2 · No: Fernandez, Franco
May 5, 2020: Approve the revised hours for the Annual Town Election on June 9th from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. to accommodate for training and cleaning…
Voted to approve the revised hours for the Annual Town Election on June 9th from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. to accommodate for training and cleaning related to COVID19.
Yes: Greene, Hamilton, HellerNo: Fernandez, Franco
From the minutes
“1. Voted to approve the revised hours for the Annual Town Election on June 9th from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. to accommodate for training and cleaning related to COVID19. Aye: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller, Heather Hamilton Against: Benjamin Franco, Raul Fernandez.”
Apr 28Approve the following Legal Department budget transfer: From: 14101410…Motion: On motion it was, Voted to approve the following Legal Department…Passed 4–1 · No: Fernandez
April 28, 2020: Approve the following Legal Department budget transfer: From: 14101410 510101 Perm
On motion it was, Voted to approve the following Legal Department budget transfer: From: 14101410 510101 Perm. Full-Time $31,500 To: $31,500 14101410 524008 General Consult Services
Yes: Franco, Greene, Hamilton, HellerNo: Fernandez
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the following Legal Department budget transfer: From: 14101410 510101 Perm. Full-Time $31,500 To: $31,500 14101410 524008 General Consult Services Aye: Bernard Greene, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller, Heather Hamilton Against: Raul Fernandez.”
Apr 16Remove the Debt Exclusion Referendum Question from the June…Motion: On motion it was, Voted to remove the Debt Exclusion Referendum…Passed 3–2 · No: Fernandez, Hamilton
April 16, 2020 (Special meeting): Remove the Debt Exclusion Referendum Question from the June 9 Annual Town Election Ballot
On motion it was, Voted to remove the Debt Exclusion Referendum Question from the June 9 Annual Town Election Ballot
Yes: Franco, Greene, HellerNo: Fernandez, Hamilton
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to remove the Debt Exclusion Referendum Question from the June 9 Annual Town Election Ballot Aye: Bernard Greene, Benjamin Franco, Nancy Heller Against: Heather Hamilton, Raul Fernandez.”
Apr 14Reconsider the Board's vote on April 7, 2020Motion: On motion it was, Voted to reconsider the Board's vote on…Failed 2–3 · No: Fernandez, Franco, Hamilton
April 14, 2020: Reconsider the Board's vote on April 7, 2020
On motion it was, Voted to reconsider the Board's vote on April 7, 2020
Yes: Greene, HellerNo: Fernandez, Franco, Hamilton
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to reconsider the Board's vote on April 7, 2020 Aye: Nancy Heller, Bernard Greene Against: Benjamin Franco, Heather Hamilton, Raul Fernandez Motion failed.”
Apr 7Indicate to the Transportation Board that the Select Board…Motion: Voted to indicate to the Transportation Board that the Select Board…Passed 3–2 · No: Greene, Heller
April 7, 2020: Indicate to the Transportation Board that the Select Board is favorable to strategy number one, and would like it to be accompanied with essential transportation and other activities in the...
Voted to indicate to the Transportation Board that the Select Board is favorable to strategy number one, and would like it to be accompanied with essential transportation and other activities in the expanded areas.
Yes: Fernandez, Franco, HamiltonNo: Greene, Heller
From the minutes
“2.Voted to indicate to the Transportation Board that the Select Board is favorable to strategy number one, and would like it to be accompanied with essential transportation and other activities in the expanded areas. Aye: Benjamin Franco, , Heather Hamilton, Raul Fernandez Against: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller.”
Mar 31Approve the submission for Special Legislation to the Legislature…Motion: Voted to approve the submission for Special Legislation to the Legislature…Passed 4–1 · No: Heller
March 31, 2020: Approve the submission for Special Legislation to the Legislature for Brookline to hold an all-mail in election
Voted to approve the submission for Special Legislation to the Legislature for Brookline to hold an all-mail in election.
Yes: Fernandez, Franco, Greene, HamiltonNo: Heller
From the minutes
“2. Voted to approve the submission for Special Legislation to the Legislature for Brookline to hold an all-mail in election. Aye: Bernard Greene, Benjamin Franco, Heather Hamilton, Raul Fernandez Against: Nancy Heller.”
Mar 10Approve Rygan HPGX Geothermal Wells as a proprietary item…Motion: On motion it was, Voted to approve Rygan HPGX Geothermal Wells…Passed 3–0 · see note
March 10, 2020: Approve Rygan HPGX Geothermal Wells as a proprietary item for the Driscoll School Project
On motion it was, Voted to approve Rygan HPGX Geothermal Wells as a proprietary item for the Driscoll School Project.
Yes: Greene, Hamilton, HellerBenjamin Franco is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve Rygan HPGX Geothermal Wells as a proprietary item for the Driscoll School Project. Aye: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller, Heather Hamilton Absent: Benjamin Franco, Raul Fernandez.”
Mar 10Approve $125,000 in budget transfers within the Building Department…Motion: On motion it was, Voted to approve $125,000 in budget transfers…Passed 3–0 · see note
March 10, 2020: Approve $125,000 in budget transfers within the Building Department appropriation as follows: From:25003430 510101 full time salary $56,250 To: 25003430 522400 repair/main $56,250 From: 25002510...
On motion it was, Voted to approve $125,000 in budget transfers within the Building Department appropriation as follows: From:25003430 510101 full time salary $56,250 To: 25003430 522400 repair/main $56,250 From: 25002510 510101 town full time salary $18,750 To: 25002510 522400 town repair/maintenance $18,750 From: 25002540 510101 town hall full time salary $50,000 To: 25002540 523590 town hall cleaning services $50,000
Yes: Greene, Hamilton, HellerBenjamin Franco is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve $125,000 in budget transfers within the Building Department appropriation as follows: From:25003430 510101 full time salary $56,250 To: 25003430 522400 repair/main $56,250 From: 25002510 510101 town full time salary $18,750 To: 25002510 522400 town repair/maintenance $18,750 From: 25002540 510101 town hall full time salary $50,000 To: 25002540 523590 town hall cleaning services $50,000 Aye: Bernard Greene, Nancy Heller, Heather Hamilton Absent: Benjamin Franco, Raul Fernandez.”
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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