Brookline's Select Board took up a $3.35 million road contract, the future of the Gateway East bus lane pilot and a new Veteran Services director at its Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting. Official minutes had not been posted as of Saturday, Aug. 15.
The posted agenda listed more than a dozen action items for the five-member board, chaired by David Pearlman, with Vice Chair Michael Rubenstein, Bernard W. Greene, Amanda Zimmerman and Anthony Buono present. Town Administrator Charles Carey also participated.
Hammond Street contract
The board was set to award a $3,353,174 contract to J. Marchese & Sons, Inc. of Everett for Hammond Street intersection, signal and corridor improvements stretching from Newton Street to Boylston Street.
Gateway East bus lane
The agenda included an update on the Transportation Board's vote to remove the eastbound bus lane while keeping the westbound lane and the segment between Station Street and Route 9. The Select Board was set to vote on authorizing Carey to execute an updated Traffic Control Agreement with MassDOT. The Transportation Board first discussed the pilot's future at its July 15 meeting.
Appointments and personnel
SueAnn Chueng was slated for appointment as Veteran Services Director. The board also planned interviews for vacancies on the Board of Assessors, Conservation Commission, Brookline Commission for the Arts, Advisory Council on Public Health and the Naming Committee. Candidates Nick Fetzer (Police Commissioners Advisory Committee), Jeffrey Berry and Leslie Reid (Housing Advisory Board), and Kailey Bennett and Kiran Bhatia (Brookline Commission on Disability) were scheduled for interviews.
Other notable items
The agenda was packed. Among the remaining items:
- A $493,000 contract with WCI Corp for the Eliot Recreation Center renovation.
- Acceptance of a $248,276 state 911 grant for enhanced emergency services personnel costs.
- A $125,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources for energy-conservation measures.
- An amendment to the Affordable Housing Restriction with 90 Longwood LLC at 90 Longwood Avenue.
- Extra work orders totaling about $204,000 for Amory Playground and Amory Fieldhouse improvements.
- Maintenance contracts with Park Landscape Associates totaling roughly $246,000 for Skyline Park and school grounds.
- A public hearing at 7:15 p.m. on MBTA Beacon Street shade tree removals.
- A continued lodging house license violation hearing for 1459 Beacon Street at 7 p.m.
- Police and Fire command staff salary adjustments funded by the 2026 override.
- Release of executive session minutes from January through early March 2026, with minutes from late March through June withheld.
The board also reviewed its policy on exigent statements and ratified the town's endorsement of a letter supporting Temporary Protected Status extension for Haiti.
What's next
The Fall Town Meeting warrant remains open for resident filings through Thursday, Sept. 3. The Select Board's next regular meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 25. A recording of the Aug. 11 session is available through Brookline Interactive Group.
