June 15, 2021

“Voted to urge the Select Board not to abolish either program and await further input from the Housing Authority, the Superintendent, and School Committee to provide recommendations on what positive aspects of the programs should be maintained and/or developed. Aye: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc Against: Raul Fernandez, Miriam Aschkenasy, Heather Hamilton - Motion fails 2-3.”

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

“Voted to add language that the SRO program ends upon the completion of the current school year Aye: Raul Fernandez, Miriam Aschkenasy, Heather Hamilton Against: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc.”

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

“Voted to request that the School Committee comes back with a detail plan before the reopening of the schools related to the replacing the School Resource Officer program as indicated in their memo: The School Committee would like the Public Schools of Brookline Administration to provide the following information to help plan the next phase of how services currently provided by SROs might be provided to students going forward: 1) a review of the roles that SROs play in the school buildings currently; 2) whether those roles need to be performed; 3) who would be best to carry out those roles based on skills and expertise required (e.g. guidance counselors, health educators, social workers, police officers, etc.); and 4) where funds would come from to fund those activities Aye: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Heather Hamilton Against: Raul Fernandez, Miriam Aschkenasy.”

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

“Voted to accept the recommendation of the School Committee to end the School Resource Officer program upon completion of the current school year, and with the following amendment: To request that the School Committee comes back with a detail plan before the reopening of the schools related to the replacing the School Resource Officer program as indicated in their memo Aye: Raul Fernandez, Miriam Aschkenasy, Heather Hamilton Against: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc.”

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

“Voted to accept the recommendation provided by the Brookline Housing Authority Commissioners provided in their memo: Therefore, the BHA urges the Town of Brookline and Brookline Police Department to consider the following Proposal: 1. Refocus the Walk and Talk program around relationship building, "The Talk", and eliminate practices that border on unwarranted surveillance, "The Walk". Given the change in crime rates at BHA properties from the 1990s to a point where current crime statistics are indistinguishable from the rest of Brookline, the focus of the program today should be about making officers approachable to residents and building relationships. This can be achieved through activities including but not limited to coaching youth sports, community events held for residents (families and seniors), without patrolling properties in a manner that may be perceived as surveillance. 2. Assign the same group of officers to be responsible for responding to BHA calls and consider increasing the number of officers assigned to emergencies on BHA properties. There is a clear benefit to residents in crisis and to BHA staff when the same police officers respond to emergencies. Assigning the same group of officers to respond to BHA calls would allow residents and police to become familiar with one another without the stigma of surveillance that is felt by some of our tenants, particularly those of color. With eleven BHA properties in Brookline, three officers may be insufficient to consistently respond to emergencies at BHA properties. 3. Rename Walk and Talk Program with Focus on Relationship-Building. Police walking around BHA properties lead some residents, particularly residents of color, to feel stigmatized. If the focus of the program going forward is to build meaningful relationships in community settings (team sports, teen center, community events, senior center, etc.) and to provide a consistent group of officers when responding to emergencies at BHA buildings as described above, the name "Walk and Talk" no longer describes the program. Going forward walking around BHA properties without responding to an emergency call or hosting a community event should no longer occur. The new name should reflect this new orientation. 4. Create a mission statement identifying the goals/objectives of a future renamed and refocused program and regularly evaluate the program's effectiveness. The BHA welcomes the opportunity to work with the Town on this mission statement and objectives document. After initial review, the program should be evaluated at least annually and adjusted as circumstances warrant. 5. Implement proposed changes within next six months. Given that revisions to the Walk and Talk Program are considered a high priority, we would recommend that these proposed changes should occur within the next six months and receive an initial review at the end of the calendar year. To allow for a meaningful evaluation, statistics regarding all calls specific to BHA properties should be readily available as well as a listing and narrative for all events and activities held, and regular surveys of BHA residents.”

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

“Voted to direct Chief Morgan to come back to the Board with a refocus program on Brookline's senior population. Aye: Raul Fernandez, Miriam Aschkenasy, Heather Hamilton Against: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 13 (PDF)