Brookline Town Meeting will consider reimbursing approximately $24,000 in legal fees to five members investigated over their opposition to privatizing the town’s trash collection.
Two articles on the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, which begins Nov. 17, would provide funding and urge the Select Board to approve repayment. Payment would require the board’s authorization and settlement agreements acceptable to the members and the town.
According to the petitioners’ explanation, the five members incurred the expenses defending themselves in a town-commissioned investigation that cleared four of them and cited the fifth for an alleged ethics violation they dispute.
The Advisory Committee’s Schools Subcommittee was scheduled to review Article 5 and proposed revisions Thursday, Oct. 15.
Investigation followed trash collection dispute
The investigation stemmed from the members’ activities surrounding an Article 9 budget amendment at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. The amendment sought to preserve town-operated solid waste collection rather than fund an outside contractor.
The petitioners say the five were notified of complaints in June 2025 and hired legal counsel because of concerns about possible consequences from the investigation. The town’s outside investigator cost taxpayers approximately $31,000, according to the Article 5 resolution.
The resolution says four members were exonerated. It disputes an alleged ethics violation involving the fifth member’s brother, a Department of Public Works employee.
The petitioners argue that the investigation improperly scrutinized legislative research and advocacy. Those assertions are their position in the reimbursement dispute.
Two articles address repayment
Article 4 proposes reducing the town’s reserve fund by $24,000, or another amount approved by Town Meeting, and transferring that money to the claims and settlements account.
Article 5 would urge the Select Board to approve reimbursement. It was submitted by Catherine C. Anderson, John Bassett, Michael A. Burstein, Carol Caro, Amy Hummel and Kim Smith.
The resolution cites an April 23 Advisory Committee resolution supporting repayment and a July 1 letter signed by 161 Town Meeting Members urging reimbursement.
The petitioners also invoke Article 21 of the Massachusetts Constitution, arguing that protections for legislative speech and deliberation should apply to the members’ activities.
According to their explanation, the Select Board has declined reimbursement. The posted draft does not include the board’s formal recommendation on the funding article.
The Special Town Meeting opens at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Brookline High School auditorium. Additional sessions are scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 and Dec. 1, 2 and 3, as needed.
