MassVoter.com← Brookline Select BoardBrookline Select Board · 2022–2023 Board · Regular meeting
January 31, 2023
10 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · Agenda
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Present: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Approve the meeting minutes from January 24, 2023
On motion it was, Voted to approve the meeting minutes from January 24, 2023.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the meeting minutes from January 24, 2023. Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Accept three checks from Energy Solutions, rebate checks from National Grid, in the following amounts: $80,200.00 $51,875.00 $12,500.00
On motion it was, Voted to accept three checks from Energy Solutions, rebate checks from National Grid, in the following amounts: $80,200.00 $51,875.00 $12,500.00
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to accept three checks from Energy Solutions, rebate checks from National Grid, in the following amounts: $80,200.00 $51,875.00 $12,500.00 Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Approve the Budget Transfer from Public Buildings in the amount of $150,720 as follows: From account 25002510 510101 Public Buildings Personnel account $50,160 To account 25002540 522400 Town...
On motion it was, Voted to approve the Budget Transfer from Public Buildings in the amount of $150,720 as follows: From account 25002510 510101 Public Buildings Personnel account $50,160 To account 25002540 522400 Town Repair and Maintenance $50,160 From: account 25003430 510101 School Personnel $100,560 To: account 25003430 522400 School Repair and Maintenance $100,560
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the Budget Transfer from Public Buildings in the amount of $150,720 as follows: From account 25002510 510101 Public Buildings Personnel account $50,160 To account 25002540 522400 Town Repair and Maintenance $50,160 From: account 25003430 510101 School Personnel $100,560 To: account 25003430 522400 School Repair and Maintenance $100,560 Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Approve the donation from the SYDA Foundation donation in the amount of $3,000
On motion it was, Voted to approve the donation from the SYDA Foundation donation in the amount of $3,000
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the donation from the SYDA Foundation donation in the amount of $3,000 Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Approve of the Conservation Restriction for 100 Cottage Street as presented by Tom Brady, Tree Warden and Conservation Administrator
On motion it was, Voted to approve of the Conservation Restriction for 100 Cottage Street as presented by Tom Brady, Tree Warden and Conservation Administrator.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve of the Conservation Restriction for 100 Cottage Street as presented by Tom Brady, Tree Warden and Conservation Administrator. Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Approve the fees as presented by Commissioner Gallentine
On motion it was, Voted to approve the fees as presented by Commissioner Gallentine.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted to approve the fees as presented by Commissioner Gallentine. Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
The approval of transmitting a recommendation to the Community Preservation Committee that identifies the Bridle Path as the Select Board's top priority under the "recreation" category of CPA...
On motion it was, Voted the approval of transmitting a recommendation to the Community Preservation Committee that identifies the Bridle Path as the Select Board's top priority under the "recreation" category of CPA funds and asks the committee to allocate 1 million dollars to the federal match to complete the restoration.
From the minutes
“On motion it was, Voted the approval of transmitting a recommendation to the Community Preservation Committee that identifies the Bridle Path as the Select Board's top priority under the "recreation" category of CPA funds and asks the committee to allocate 1 million dollars to the federal match to complete the restoration. Aye: Heather Hamilton, Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman.”
Support Harvard Street as an MBTA Communities mixed-use district, B. Create building/architectural standards, design review safeguards for as-of-right projects, C. Maintain in base zoning the...
Support Harvard Street as an MBTA Communities mixed-use district, B. Create building/architectural standards, design review safeguards for as-of-right projects, C. Maintain in base zoning the four-story scale currently allowed under Zoning, and D. Achieve compliance with the MBTA Communities statute by the December 2023 deadline. Overview of the MBTA Communities Act: On August 10, 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) released their final Guidelines for the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities. Multifamily is defined by DHCD as three or more units on a lot. The as of right zoning in Brookline must technically permit 6,990 multifamily units, independent of the number of housing units already in place nor how many units actually get built. The final guidelines have reduced the minimum land area for the multifamily districts from 50 acres to 41 acres, and have clarified that communities may have more than one zoning district that cumulatively meets these requirements. Additionally, the guidelines clarify that multifamily districts may permit, but cannot require, commercial use. This new regulation requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right (i.e., does not require a discretionary permit such as a Special Permit) and meets other criteria set forth in the statute:
Yes: Greene, VanScoyocNo: Aschkenasy, HamiltonAbstained: Sandman
From the minutes
“a. Support Harvard Street as an MBTA Communities mixed-use district, B. Create building/architectural standards, design review safeguards for as-of-right projects, C. Maintain in base zoning the four-story scale currently allowed under Zoning, and D. Achieve compliance with the MBTA Communities statute by the December 2023 deadline. Overview of the MBTA Communities Act: On August 10, 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) released their final Guidelines for the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities. Multifamily is defined by DHCD as three or more units on a lot. The as of right zoning in Brookline must technically permit 6,990 multifamily units, independent of the number of housing units already in place nor how many units actually get built. The final guidelines have reduced the minimum land area for the multifamily districts from 50 acres to 41 acres, and have clarified that communities may have more than one zoning district that cumulatively meets these requirements. Additionally, the guidelines clarify that multifamily districts may permit, but cannot require, commercial use. This new regulation requires that an MBTA community shall have at least one zoning district in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right (i.e., does not require a discretionary permit such as a Special Permit) and meets other criteria set forth in the statute:.”
Board member VanScoyoc made an amended motion
Board member VanScoyoc made an amended motion.
Yes: Greene, VanScoyocNo: Aschkenasy, Hamilton, Sandman
From the minutes
“Board member VanScoyoc made an amended motion. On motion it was, Moved to authorize the Department of Planning and Community Development to solicit the Advisory Committee for a transfer in the amount of $277,000 from the Reserve Fund to the Department's Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for the purposes of engaging a consultant to help develop a form-based zoning district compliant with the MBTA Communities Act along Harvard Street. Aye: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc Against: Heather Hamilton, Mariam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman Motion failed.”
Allocate $277,000 from the Town's currently unallocated competitively available American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Department of Planning and Community Development's Fiscal Year 2023 operating...
Voted to allocate $277,000 from the Town's currently unallocated competitively available American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Department of Planning and Community Development's Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for the purposes of engaging a consultant to help develop a form-based zoning district compliant with the MBTA Communities Act along Harvard Street.
Yes: Aschkenasy, Hamilton, SandmanAbstained: Greene, VanScoyoc
From the minutes
“Voted to allocate $277,000 from the Town's currently unallocated competitively available American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Department of Planning and Community Development's Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget for the purposes of engaging a consultant to help develop a form-based zoning district compliant with the MBTA Communities Act along Harvard Street. Aye: Heather Hamilton, Miriam Aschkenasy, Michael Sandman Abstained: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc.”
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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