On Brookline

Looks like Brookline Police Chief Daniel O’Leary’s ringer [see previous post] on the police policy review panel — Attorney Douglas Louison — will appear before the selectmen, to disclose his financial interest in representing Brookline police officers.
The reason for this is because the Massachusetts Ethics Law requires “special municipal employees” to disclose any potential conflict [...]

For the love of God people near St. Aidan’s, save yourselves. The Boston Archdiocese is stirring up the lead (in paint) and asbestos in the area and your only hope is that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection sees that this material is removed properly. No one else is going to, that’s for [...]

I was interviewed by a reporter today on the St. Aidan’s project, who asked: What is the plan for lead and asbestos removal at the project?
Beats me.  There are all kinds of rumors swirling around (spawned by the developer announcing the start of construction which has as its first major project the demolition of the [...]

So, here I am thinking that the director of the town-run Soule Day Care Center was put on “administrative leave” out of concern for her safety/mental health following receipt of a racially-motivated death threat [see TAB story].
Not so. Administrative leave is invoked when an employee is suspected of misconduct or malfeasance. [...]

Over the past few days, I’ve been receiving messages and phone calls concerning another altercation (potentially motivated by race) within the ranks of town government.  I’m working to confirm the story, but let’s just say it’s not looking too good — once again — for the Town Hall Team.

Remember when the pro-override organization “Yes for Brookline” (founding member Selectman Robert L. Allen, Jr.) announced that they have “broad support” for an override in Brookline? Remember that?
Well, I had heard that the organization headed by Selectman Betsy DeWitt and School Committee members Alan Morse and Judy Meyers had been polling the ballot (adios [...]

Those preparing to watch the Boston Archdiocese and the Town of Brookline tear down one of Brookline’s oldest buildings — the rectory at St. Aidan’s — will have to wait awhile.  The demolition is not a go for this week after all.
See, there’s this requirement that demolishers tell environmental agencies how they plan to protect [...]

At tomorrow’s selectmen’s meeting, Brookline Police Chief Danniel O’Leary will, “appear to review the updated Police Department Rules & Regulations/Policies & Procedures and 2007 Crime Statistics and 2007 Race/ Gender Data Report.” [I guess he's not going to wait for the policy review panel he helped assemble to issue its report before he reviews the [...]

Nobody covers the Commonwealth’s Urban Ring project as does Archie Mazmanian.  And after attending last Monday’s citizen’s advisory committee meeting on the project, he drops a “bombshell”: plans to send rail traffic over the CSX lines and those of other rail interests are not being met with enthusiasm by the rail owners.  Read the recent [...]

Take a look at the override bailout ballot the Brookline Selectmen ginned up for the May election. Does it look to you like the $150 thousand in funds for “fire” is going to go to new equipment and/or additional members on the force?
Then you’re wrong. In essence, the $150 thousand restores the same [...]

According to the TAB, the pro-override campaign effort has been launched and it’s a doozy. The TAB runs the press release which features the announcement of a Web site, and that Selectman Robert Allen is a “founding member” of the committee. Co-chairs are Selectman Betsy DeWitt and School Committee Chair Judy Meyers.
Of course [...]

If it’s not apparent what the latest brouhaha over the St. Aidan’s housing project is about, let me spell it out. The church rectory is nearly a century and a half old; it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and it housed the clergy who ministered to Bobby and Jack Kennedy. [...]

Say goodbye to one of the oldest buildings in Brookline — word on the street is that the St. Aidan’s rectory is scheduled to begin tear down next week. We’ll have to look into the plan filed with the DEP to remove the significant amount of asbestos on the building.
A building listed on the [...]

Remember Brookline Town Administrator Richard Kelliher’s budget presentation and how he told the selectmen that his revenue projections included cash from casinos [see previous post]?
Well, now it looks like the Massachusetts House is going to bust the casino plan in a vote sometime this month [see Globe story].
Now what? Kelliher is another $500 thousand [...]

Two things are clear from Tuesday’s vote on a bailout ballot by the Brookline Selectmen. One, town government knows it would lose in an up or down vote to cover their so called structural deficit. And second, those pushing for a World Languages program in the schools got screwed by the selectmen and [...]