Brookline's Advisory Committee will review a new draft Code of Conduct for its members at a 7 p.m. meeting Thursday, Sept. 17. The 28-member committee will also begin discussing the Fall 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant.

Town Moderator Neil Wishinsky drafted the code, dated Sept. 16, and circulated it in the meeting's agenda packet. The document sets ethics and conflict-of-interest expectations for the committee, which plays a central role in Brookline's budget process.

The draft is direct. It states that no member's actions should benefit them personally or financially. It requires compliance with the state's Open Meeting Law, ethics and conflict-of-interest statutes, public records law, and Town Bylaw Chapter 2.2.

Members would remain free to engage in political speech, according to the draft, but are expected to put the committee's interests ahead of any outside lobbying or advocacy group they belong to.

The document also underscores the committee's independence. It describes the Advisory Committee as part of Brookline's legislative branch and states that its role is to scrutinize and recommend, not simply approve what the executive branch proposes. The committee's motion serves as the main budget motion at Town Meeting.

Under Town Bylaw Section 2.2.2 B.(2), seven or more unexcused absences from full committee meetings can be grounds for removal.

The second agenda item is the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to the town's meeting files page. The specific warrant articles have not been publicly posted. Thursday's discussion is expected to be a preliminary review before the committee's subcommittees hold public hearings on individual articles.

Advisory Committee Chair Dennis Doughty and Vice Chair Harry K. Friedman will lead the meeting. The session is open to the public and accessible via Zoom through a link on the town calendar. Residents who want to submit written comments must email [email protected] by noon on the day of the meeting.

Subcommittee hearing dates for individual warrant articles have not yet been announced.