The firefighters’ contract, ratified for Local 950, spans from fiscal year 2025 to 2027. It includes scheduled wage increases of 2%, 2%, and 1.5% over the three years and introduces changes to the sick day buyback policy. Previously, firefighters could cash out up to 500 hours of accumulated sick time when leaving the department. The revised contract now allows for redeeming one-third of banked sick hours, capped at 2,184 hours, a measure intended to deter excessive sick leave use and tackle overtime issues. The total cost over three years is projected at $4,827,894, with $2.3 million allocated to fiscal year 2028.

An important aspect of the contract is the elimination of the “skeleton day” policy, which had allowed staffing reductions under specific conditions. This policy was unpopular with the union, and its removal was part of the negotiations that led the union to drop some pending grievances. The contract includes a shift differential effective July 2026, designed to reduce overtime by incentivizing staff to work weekends. This differential will not have retroactive pay but will offer a 2% increase for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The committee expressed interest in receiving updates on the impact of this measure on overtime costs.

Following the contract discussions, the committee focused on Warrant Article 15, which proposes that Brookline formally recognize and celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in June. The resolution also recommends acknowledging key dates important to the LGBTQIA+ community. Lead petitioner Kevin McKenzie highlighted the importance of this resolution amid political developments at federal and state levels that might impact LGBTQIA+ rights.

The subcommittee expressed concerns about the broad scope of the proposed article, which could complicate discussions about equity for various groups. In response, an amended version of the article was introduced, emphasizing the Pride celebration and removing redundancies regarding other commemorative events. The estimated annual cost for holding a Pride celebration is between $1,000 and $2,500, covering staffing and materials.

A notable part of the discussion involved adjusting the language of the resolution to provide the select board flexibility in how they recognize these dates. The term “proclaim” was replaced with “officially acknowledge” to offer discretion in implementation. Ultimately, the committee voted 22 in favor, none opposed, and three abstentions on the amended article.

Attention then turned to Warrant Article 18, which focuses on enhancing transparency by making recordings of public meetings more accessible on the town’s website. Currently, recordings are available upon request, but the resolution aims to automate the posting process, alleviating the need for manual staff intervention. Concerns about the burden on staff were addressed, with assurances that posting links would be a minor task. The committee discussed the potential for automating this process through the IT department, which had already developed a system to streamline the handling of Zoom meeting recordings.

The discussion also touched upon the duration for which these recordings should be retained, with a recall of a seven-year retention guideline for public records. There was broad support for making meeting materials available “as soon as practicable but no more than 10 days” after a meeting. This proposal received 24 votes in favor, none opposed, and one abstention.

The meeting concluded with discussions on Warrant Article 17, which involves tree preservation practices. The resolution, developed collaboratively with the Department of Public Works, aims to enhance public notification and involvement when a heritage tree on public property is at risk of removal. The article proposes an arborist review and public notification processes, inviting community engagement in environmental stewardship.