Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Town Meeting votes to bring up the cost of living adjustment for retirees, despite some concerns about how to pay for it.
Of the 30 warrant articles for this year's Annual Town Meeting, only one prompted demonstrations. Town employees from a number of departments came out last Tuesday night with signs urging Town Meeting to vote for article 21. Article 21, which passed, increases the base on which the cost of living adjustment (COLA) is calculated for every retiree. For Selectman Benka, speaking for a divided Board of Selectmen, the concern is the "future operating needs of the town and schools." "We have to consider future pension funding, we can’t just kick the can down the road," Benka said. The Board had voted against it, three to two, because of the financial implications. The increase would amount to "a lousy $30 a month" (as one retiree who called …
Five things on JFK's birthday today: speeches from the Kennedys, a singer at EPOCH, and a writer with a hilariously unconventional love life.
1. According to the National Weather Service, it looks like rain. There is a 40 percent chance of heavy rain during the day, and then a 70 percent chance in the evening. There is also a chance of strong thunderstorms, which the NWS has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook about. High of 82ºF, low of 67ºF. 2. The speeches of John, Robert and Edward Kennedy are memorable, powerful and being examined at Coolidge Corner Theatre, when The Kennedy Brothers Speak at 10 a.m. this morning. RSVP ahead of time, by e-mailing RSVP@NorthHill.org. Coincidentally, today is also JFK's birthday, and the Theatre is a few blocks from his birthplace. 3. EPOCH Assisted Living at Boylston Place has The Singing Trooper coming by to perform. Dan Clark, the Singing…
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Trader Joe's chocolate chip change worries local kosher community, Elizabeth Warren stops by, Mitt Romney raises funds in Chestnut Hill, Town Meeting works through two-thirds of the Warrant Articles.
Monday, we checked out the new See Say app from the MBTA. The Norfolk District Attorney's office is putting in some cash for the After the Prom Party. We kicked off our Where Do You Go for the Best Live Events in Brookline poll, including some names like Brookline Booksmith, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Puppet Showplace Theatre. Brookline Police Log featured an armed shoplifting incident at TJ Maxx. To prep for Town Meeting, we showed you our Brookline Town Meeting 2012 Warrant Article Roundup Tuesday. We learned that a Brookline High Alum will take the helm of the Teen Center. There was a drug bust (allegedly) in the Brookline Arrest Log. We saw a few new photos from the Walk to End Hunger. It was also night one of Town Meeting. Wednesday, …
Friday, May 25, 2012
Article 27, regarding slavery in the past, and nine other articles discussed by Brookline Town Meeting.
Town Meeting returned to the remaining 30 warrant articles, and began the evening discussing article 27, which acknowledges Brookline's slave-owning past. Annual Town Meeting continues Tuesday Night at 7 p.m., again at the Brookline High School Auditorium. Articles 12 and 28 will be the first aritcles discussed, to accomodate the high school petitioners' schedules.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Five things
1. The National Weather Service tells us that we'll have showers for most of the day, a 30 percent chance day and night--mostly between 3 p.m. and 1 a.m. The highs should range between 73ºF and 57ºF. 2. Handcrafted marionettes perform in the Fairy Circus (by Tanglewood Marionettes) presented by the Puppet Showplace Theatre. Entrance to the big top is $10, and the show starts at 10:30 a.m. If you can't make it, the circus is still in town this weekend. 3. Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren is visiting Brookline today, according to an e-mail her campaign sent last night. At around 12:15 p.m. she will be talking to people at Jimmy's Bar and Oven to talk about concerns residents may have with big banks on Wall Street, and how stronger …
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Brookline Town Meeting votes to put the question of open town meeting hearings to a Moderator's Committee.
The question of public hearings on warrant articles has been sent to a committee, with an answer to come back later this year. A majority at Brookline Town Meeting voted to refer article 9 to a Moderator's Committee. The article would require town committees considering warrant articles to hold public hearings about those articles. The Committee will bring their conclusions to the Special Town Meeting in fall. Petitioner, and Precinct 10 Town Meeting Memeber (TMM) Jonathan Davis explained his article, "It is a simple premise: if there is a commitee taking a voted position on an article, the commitee must hold a noticed public hearing." He went on to say that currently, public comment "can be allowed at will or whim of a chairperson [on a…
The first nine Warrant Articles at Town Meeting discussed by the Town Meeting Members. Town Meeting continues on Thursday night.
Town Meeting covered the first nine of 30 warrant articles, including the fiscal 2013 budget article. The Budget includes a $15,000 appropriation by the Library Trustees to remain open in the summer, an increase of $8,000 from the plan originally voted by the selectmen. Annual Town Meeting continues Thursday Night at 7 p.m., also at the Brookline High School Auditorium, where many of the remaining warrant articles will be discussed and voted. [Update: The Town Meeting Results PDF from the Brookline Town Website is available for viewing on the right. 12:18p.m.]
Town Meeting votes to give Brookline Library $15,000 to keep the place open on Sundays throughout the summer, up from $7,000 needed to keep it open through July.
[Clarification: The Library Trustees currently plan to have the Coolidge Corner Branch Library open through July. They will debate and vote on staying open in August at an upcoming meeting. 9:21 a.m.] Brookline Libraries are hoping to help patrons beat the heat by staying open all summer, and Town Meeting is cool with that. At the opening evening of Town Meeting, May 22, after about an hour of discussion the Library trustees were given an extra $8,000 over what the Selectmen voted in April. The Selectmen's amendment, which would give them only $7,000 to open for the month of July was voted down, 49 to 170, with two abstaining. This means the Library's original request for $15,000 was approved when the full fiscal 2013 budget passed …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Brookline Town Meeting is coming up at the end of the year, and there is a slew of articles to be discussed.
Town Meeting starts tonight, hear some music, and an inside look at the DPW. If that stresses you out, we have some tips on managing that, too!
1. Highs of 70ºF, lows of 58ºF according to the National Weather Service. They are also predicting a 40 to 30 percent chance of showers during the day and evening. 2. If you've always wanted to get up close and personal with some of the Department of Public Works' equipment, head to their Open House. Starting at noon today, the 870 Hammond Street building is open to the public, and welcoming third graders to check it out. 3. EPOCH Assisted Living at Boylston Place is welcoming performer Bill Foley, a guitarist and Boylston Place regular. He's starting his gig at 3:30 p.m., and the show is--as always--free, but with limited space, you should call ahead. 4. How stressed would you say you are? Do you know how to manage your stress, even …
MoonBeamWatcher
11:30 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Shame on the SELECTMEN! 3 cheers for Town Meeting members! The compromises Town workers have made in health care coverage and the WINDFALL Brookline gets because of entering into the GIC more then offsets this slight increase. more ›