In addition to the curb cut debate, the meeting also delved into various aspects of community planning and operations. The new assistant Town Administrator for operations, Timy Oliva, was introduced, and Police Chief Jen Pastor was commended for her master’s degree achievement, emphasizing her role in leading the community policing focus.

The utility debt forgiveness program was approved by the Select Board, aimed at alleviating financial burdens for residents with outstanding utility bills from the pandemic period.

The Select Board further discussed long-range strategic planning and the importance of setting concrete goals and objectives. The conversation highlighted the need for a structured approach to identify yearly goals, the potential establishment of a revenue working group, and the comparison of Brookline’s budget and services to similar municipalities. The board also debated the frequency of summer meetings, with some members advocating for a reduced schedule to accommodate staff vacations, while others emphasized the necessity of maintaining regular updates for the public.

Concerns were raised by a public attendee about the transparency of executive sessions and the practice of using an Omnibus item for warrant articles without specifying the items being voted on. The board addressed these concerns by stating that an amendment had been received and that they would meet prior to the town meeting to discuss this further.

The meeting included discussions on a proposed budget amendment aiming to add $1.79 million to the school department’s budget for the World Language program. The late submission and lack of a clear funding source for the amendment led to discussion among the board members. While the importance of the program was acknowledged, the board ultimately decided to take no action on the proposal, citing procedural and financial concerns.