MassVoter.com← BrooklineMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 Board
Brookline Select Board
How the Brookline Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Michael Rubenstein joined the board after the May 2025 town election; Michael Sandman left. On May 13, 2025 the board chose Bernard Greene as Chair and David Pearlman as Vice Chair (each 5-0). Covers 40 meetings, May 13 to April 28, 2026.
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
ChairBernard GreeneChair · Elected townwide · at 39 of 40 meetings
Vice-ChairDavid PearlmanVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 40 of 40 meetings
Michael RubensteinMember · Elected townwide · at 40 of 40 meetingsJohn VanScoyocMember · Elected townwide · at 37 of 40 meetingsPaul WarrenMember · Elected townwide · at 37 of 40 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.
Apr 28Favorable action on Article as outlined in the table…Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable action on Article as…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Warren
April 28, 2026: Favorable action on Article as outlined in the table presented by the Town Administrator
On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable action on Article as outlined in the table presented by the Town Administrator.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyocAbstained: Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable action on Article as outlined in the table presented by the Town Administrator. Aye: John VanScoyoc, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein, Bernard Greene. Abstained: Paul Warren.”
Apr 28Favorable Action on the Article as presented by CTOSMotion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on the Article…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Warren
April 28, 2026: Favorable Action on the Article as presented by CTOS
On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on the Article as presented by CTOS.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyocAbstained: Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on the Article as presented by CTOS. Aye: John VanScoyoc, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein, Bernard Greene Abstained: Paul Warren.”
Apr 28No Action on Article 12Motion: On motion, it was, Voted, 4-0-1-No Action on Article 12.Passed 4–0 · see note
April 28, 2026: No Action on Article 12
On motion, it was, Voted, 4-0-1-No Action on Article 12.
The minutes give the count as 4-0-1, but the roll call reads: John VanScoyoc yes, Michael Rubenstein yes, Bernard Greene yes, David Pearlman abstained. Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted, 4-0-1-No Action on Article 12. Aye: John VanScoyoc, Michael Rubenstein, Bernard Greene Abstained: David Pearlman.”
Apr 28Favorable Action on Article 14Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 14.Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Warren
April 28, 2026: Favorable Action on Article 14
On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 14.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyocAbstained: Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 14. Aye: John VanScoyoc, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein, Bernard Greene Abstained: Paul Warren.”
Apr 28Favorable Action on the revised Article 21 as recommended…Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on the revised…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: VanScoyoc, Warren
April 28, 2026: Favorable Action on the revised Article 21 as recommended by the Advisory Council on Public Health and removing the last whereas clause
On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on the revised Article 21 as recommended by the Advisory Council on Public Health and removing the last whereas clause.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, RubensteinAbstained: VanScoyoc, Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on the revised Article 21 as recommended by the Advisory Council on Public Health and removing the last whereas clause. Aye: David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein, Bernard Greene Abstained: John VanScoyoc, Paul Warren.”
Apr 14Favorable Action on Article 17 as revised and supported…Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 17…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Warren
April 14, 2026: Favorable Action on Article 17 as revised and supported by the petitioners
On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 17 as revised and supported by the petitioners.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyocAbstained: Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 Favorable Action on Article 17 as revised and supported by the petitioners. Aye: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein Abstained: Paul Warren.”
Apr 14Favorable Action on the Article with Paul Warren's revisionsMotion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-1 Favorable Action on the Article…Passed 4–1 · No: Rubenstein
April 14, 2026: Favorable Action on the Article with Paul Warren's revisions
On motion, it was, Voted 4-1 Favorable Action on the Article with Paul Warren's revisions.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, VanScoyoc, WarrenNo: Rubenstein
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-1 Favorable Action on the Article with Paul Warren's revisions. Aye: Bernard Greene, John VanScoyoc, Paul Warren David Pearlman Against: Michael Rubenstein.”
Apr 14Article 25. Resolution requesting the discontinuance of state and…Motion: Article 25. Article 25. Resolution requesting the discontinuance of state and…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Greene
April 14, 2026: Article 25. Resolution requesting the discontinuance of state and local collaboration with Federal Immigration Enforcement and participation in related information-sharing programs (Lebovitz,...
Article 25. Article 25. Resolution requesting the discontinuance of state and local collaboration with Federal Immigration Enforcement and participation in related information-sharing programs (Lebovitz, TMM8; Wu, TMM7, et al.) Public Safety Officials (Fire Chief, Police Chief): Strongly opposed withdrawal from BRIC and ceasing grant participation, citing critical importance for emergency management, regional cooperation, and law enforcement effectiveness. Select Board: Expressed concern that the article would hamstring public safety operations and that allegations against BRIC needed further investigation before any withdrawal. The Board emphasized the need for more information and collaboration with public safety officials.
Yes: Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyoc, WarrenAbstained: Greene
From the minutes
“13e. Article 25. Article 25. Resolution requesting the discontinuance of state and local collaboration with Federal Immigration Enforcement and participation in related information-sharing programs (Lebovitz, TMM8; Wu, TMM7, et al.) Public Safety Officials (Fire Chief, Police Chief): Strongly opposed withdrawal from BRIC and ceasing grant participation, citing critical importance for emergency management, regional cooperation, and law enforcement effectiveness. Select Board: Expressed concern that the article would hamstring public safety operations and that allegations against BRIC needed further investigation before any withdrawal. The Board emphasized the need for more information and collaboration with public safety officials. On motion, it was, 4-0-1 Vote No Action on Article 25 Aye: John VanScoyoc, Paul Warren David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein Abstained: Bernard Greene.”
Apr 7Favorable Action on Article 21 as revised by the…Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on Article 21…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Greene, Warren
April 7, 2026: Favorable Action on Article 21 as revised by the Advisory Committee
On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on Article 21 as revised by the Advisory Committee
Yes: Pearlman, Rubenstein, VanScoyocAbstained: Greene, Warren
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 3-0-2 Favorable Action on Article 21 as revised by the Advisory Committee Aye: John VanScoyoc, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein Abstained: Bernard Greene, Paul Warren.”
Mar 31Place a single full-funding override totaling $23,254,439. on the…Motion: On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 to place a single full-funding…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: VanScoyoc
March 31, 2026: Place a single full-funding override totaling $23,254,439. on the May 5, 2026 ballot
On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 to place a single full-funding override totaling $23,254,439. on the May 5, 2026 ballot. The structure includes the town portion taken upfront and the school portion phased over three years.
Yes: Greene, Pearlman, Rubenstein, WarrenAbstained: VanScoyoc
From the minutes
“On motion, it was, Voted 4-0-1 to place a single full-funding override totaling $23,254,439. on the May 5, 2026 ballot. The structure includes the town portion taken upfront and the school portion phased over three years. Aye: Bernard Greene, Paul Warren, David Pearlman, Michael Rubenstein Abstained: 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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