On Brookline

After weeks of my asking, Brookline Selectman Betsy DeWitt still refuses to release the results of the poll conducted by “Yes for Brookline” prior to the crafting of the May 6th override ballot. (Note: It was DeWitt who introduced the language which the selectmen approved.)

I’ve been told by the state’s public records division—based on an appeal I made to them—that Town Counsel Jennifer Dopazo says DeWitt has not shared the results with other members of town government and that she (Dopazo) wrote the ballot language without any regard to what the survey found.

I’ve asked Dopazo to put all that in writing. I’m still waiting.

Archie raises some interesting questions. All I can say in answer is that I was told that Dopazo told a PR Division attorney that DeWitt did not share the results with anyone in town government…and that Dopazo wrote the ballot question without benefit of the survey. My response to the PRD lawyer (and to Dopazo) was “let’s see it in writing.” I even asked the Selectmen to require Dopazo to commit her representations to writing. Nothing’s come in the mail.

Jim,

Does Town Counsel specifically deny that she had knowledge of the survey findings, whether before or after she “wrote the ballot language without any regard to what the survey found”? Prior to the formal approval of the override ballot by the Selectmen, did Town Counsel consult or otherwise discuss with Selectman DeWitt or any of the other Selectmen the ballot language she wrote? Were any changes made by the Selectmen or Town Counsel after the latter initially submitted the ballot language she wrote? Were the survey findings available before Town Counsel wrote (or rewrote) the ballot language? In the course of the preceding, was the Open Meeting Law complied with? If so, is such reflected in the minutes required to be maintained by the Selectmen? Or are we in for another episode of the Brookline version of TV’s “Family Feud”?

Archie Mazmanian