[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5982284,"mediaKeyId","5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab","parentId",5767017,"title","Brookline accepts Mass EVIP grant for Baker School chargers, sets school charging fee at 35'¢/kWh","audioSeconds",1147,"startMs",11516000,"endMs",12663000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab&start=11516&end=12663","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab/thumbnail_11516000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5982284/Massachusetts/Brookline-accepts-Mass-EVIP-grant-for-Baker-School-chargers-sets-school-charging-fee-at-35kWh","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982284-0e2b9e619afbf852cbc67204ff485d51/orig.mp4?Expires=1770568657&Signature=MaXsUl6-dk92Bqx2By4236HowmbUZ2HNQVtVb4J0yQu8YEmHlNLL9X7VJiVcnDL3oPRjicTQhF3qXjKUp2r9O0xdPjaFqyZcy8Du1OObe-s3zMGz-6nLoONhODNopEe9GBfkgVBUpnmPWoZEiEynWSPSucOUjm02jGOKVmwV2k-vrIMA0XpCliXL4fwBOm9ruObxwVZGK1BxjTgjfLhMueL0NdkjnGf51Fyu96KU3~UXyUpiSzZ0flNQeF~4cAuetAESM8K-VtnDeLdle4yKxDMr5HxBcAbayXF-~jpC5dtFW25hZf6h4cBkWKKvNSU6dBH7prYAM9DS~tfrxdyZwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Brookline, MA","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Brookline Select Board voted Sept. 16 to accept a Mass EVIP grant of $48,493.20 to subsidize the installation of a two‑station (four ports) high‑output Level 2 electric vehicle charging installation at Baker School and to set a charging fee of 35¢ per kilowatt‑hour for the town's school charging locations (Baker and Driscoll). The School Committee reviewed and endorsed the Baker site selection, town sustainability staff said.

Town sustainability director Alexandra Vecchio said the chargers are high‑output Level 2 units rated at about 19 kW per port (faster than a typical 7 kW Level 2) but not DC fast chargers. Project costs were described as approximately $100,000 in one explanation and as $82,980 in another; the MBTA grant award covers $48,493.20 and the town will fund the balance from prior EV charging reimbursements and the town's EV revolving fund. Town staff said the higher output Level 2 units represent the fastest alternating‑current option before switching to DC fast chargers, and that Level 3/DC fast chargers would require major electrical upgrades at the school and could raise project costs into the several‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar range.

The board also reviewed operations: the town uses ChargePoint as its station vendor and operator on town‑owned stations; vendor fees and cloud service costs account for part of the per‑kWh charge (town staff said about 10% of revenue covers vendor/operational fees). The fee structure is intended to make the charging network self‑sustaining; the EV revolving fund pays for electricity, maintenance and cloud services.

Select Board members asked about utilization and siting strategy; transportation staff said utilization varies by location and earlier chargers in certain municipal lots were built at a higher quantity than current demand warranted. Town staff said they now site chargers with a corridor‑level view and monitor utilization, and that units at Baker will serve school staff and the neighborhood (playground and courts) in addition to occasional public use.

The Select Board approved both acceptance of the Mass EVIP grant and the 35¢/kWh school charging rate by unanimous vote (motion carried, 5‑0). Town staff said they will proceed with procurement and installation and will continue to monitor station utilization and maintenance needs through the EV revolving fund.

Ending: The board asked staff to continue to track utilization, revisit signage and restrictions where underutilized networks exist, and return with updates on systemwide charging performance as the program grows.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brookline Select Board Meeting - September 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Select Board accepted a MassEVIP reimbursement award to install two dual‑port Level 2 chargers at Baker School and approved a 35¢ per kilowatt‑hour fee for school EV charging stations, aligning Baker and Driscoll rates.","taxTitle","Town of Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",79239,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982289,"Brookline Select Board adopts FY2027 goals and objectives to guide budget process",688,3285000,3973000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab&start=3285&end=3973","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab/thumbnail_3285000.jpg","/articles/5982289/Massachusetts/Brookline-Select-Board-adopts-FY2027-goals-and-objectives-to-guide-budget-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982289-a8cc3713676cf3b06cd018c62fd74cc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770568657&Signature=JnzQcnwzjEB5YuMMmRgF6xtGEQNcVqsitkLHvvfcq2~S8JqXzubn0da1lcherKK6E6qEDxRygYGo1rxtxGt~-SdcDjgUVaN-v4vreTecqI6qaCiUHEAHpBunN48cl5cccnaEV6NL9YPi1wCACP81tRzOcTf0NS5PFxjef3hUSrTaajRv5kn~99XLqkPjf9C77dZcRF-c1otaNHVHKSxBpx5JwgoM58tnXW2z5b-hQj5nxOga1VcpMqLNXO0Wae0KsOc0gNtBY3kjRM-ASw4PArLElT0chDnn4-r5jumu~-asONujDNsgW3~NuGtCS1pbx57~KvqhZKgY2fMcILZKZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brookline Select Board voted unanimously Sept. 16 to adopt a refined set of fiscal year 2027 goals and objectives that will inform departmental budget proposals and the town's financial plan. Chair Bernard Green said the document is intended to make the board's priorities clearer to staff and residents as the budget process advances.

The goals, revised by Select Board member Michael Rubinstein following earlier discussion, foregrounded specific reasons for each goal and more measurable objectives for staff to incorporate into their budget submissions. Rubinstein said the changes are meant to improve transparency and allow town meeting members and the public to track the board's intentions as the fiscal year budget is developed. \"It is my hope that this document serves to communicate to both town meeting and the broader public the Select Board's intentions and foci over this budget cycle,\" Rubinstein said.

Board members discussed the tension between high‑level, widely shared goals and more specific, measurable pledges. They agreed the FY27 document strikes a balance by including benchmarks the board can use to measure progress a year after adoption. The board also added an item urging improvement in town governance through community input.

The Select Board instructed staff to publish the goals on the board's web page and include them in the financial plan that supports the May budget votes. The board voted to adopt the FY2027 goals and objectives unanimously (motion carried, 5‑0).

Why it matters: the goals precede departmental budget proposals and are intended to shape both staff guidance and public engagement during the budget cycle. The Select Board emphasized the document is a live tool to be refined as the budget develops, and asked residents to review and comment.

Ending: The adopted goals will be included in the town's budget materials; board members said they expect to revisit and refine the goals as staff proposals and metrics become available.","The Select Board approved a clarified set of fiscal year 2027 goals and objectives intended to guide department budgets and public engagement during the coming budget cycle.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982294,"Select Board affirms MBTA plan for C‑branch accessibility after debate over Pin Oak removals",3076,2368000,5444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab&start=2368&end=5444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767017-00a7d8434ba9676778d66c1db38eb5ab/thumbnail_2368000.jpg","/articles/5982294/Massachusetts/Select-Board-affirms-MBTA-plan-for-Cbranch-accessibility-after-debate-over-Pin-Oak-removals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982294-80543ab4dfe1ee4c69f030b112aeaa94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770568657&Signature=EYR9JpfWYpZuQArpDLQ5LF8jxsKg5FTt3dFUcc-NWF~5~CKCEFx3cGz85n0igm86yPFqeO5MKPPX3evSyUBiEVc9M3RzYTAv6BpEbOtIP4AWev4OVlosQwDOc0mHQHog12cRVfPYCYE9WIiy3iva3nFJ5tPVgaHhO~bKoxkVMsqu~E4Vln6XYrh01d-LbZUyuYeIgAFxIbJAAWuqzneG19Ut9kkeeATHvD8kR2W9Ksslm8pevyEfD1-vOKKVscwqx9FYFM61oNAmLWtUXEmenaFSAUw55l5mnjdVzyumVQ3T1v3cZiXq4xHi8xuKIOL7m-KPluwJ-Doa9faL8lRqxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brookline Select Board on Sept. 16 heard the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's presentation on a Green Line C‑branch accessibility project and affirmed the Tree Planting Committee's decision permitting the removal of nine public shade trees at the Tappan Street and Englewood Avenue stations, directing the MBTA to return to the board on Sept. 30 for a formal grant of location hearing. \"This project will upgrade six stations by raising the platforms to 8 inches,\" MBTA planner Matt Conover told the board, describing platform changes, station consolidations and design work meant to make the entire C branch accessible.

Why it matters: the MBTA said the upgrades are part of systemwide work required by federal funding and legal agreements to make rapid transit accessible; town residents raised concerns that the work will remove mature roadside trees that contribute to Beacon Street's character and climate resilience. The Select Board and town staff pushed the MBTA for details on tree impacts, parking losses and changes made to generators and planting plans.

MBTA presenters described consolidated platforms, raised 8‑inch boarding platforms used elsewhere on the system, added wayfinding and lighting, and a plan to combine some stops to improve travel times. The agency said the new Type 10 low‑floor vehicles have a wider undercarriage that, in a few locations, conflicts with existing curbside trees. For Tappan Street the MBTA's engineers and an on‑track physical test identified a clearance conflict near the base/root flare of a 36‑inch diameter pin oak. The MBTA presented a lidar survey and a night‑time physical device run that it says measured a contact with the tree's root flare; staff said the device showed \"about 2 and 3/8 inches\" of overlap with an element representing the new vehicle undercarriage.

Brookline's urban forestry manager, Josh Schleifer, told the board the tree's root flare is structurally important and that excavating roots on multiple sides, or leaving the tree after root loss, could destabilize it. \"I personally would not be comfortable with this significant of an interference between the train and the tree,\" he said.

Tree Planting Committee Chair Liz Erdman summarized the committee's hearing and its unanimous vote to permit the removals with a request for additional information on the pin oak; after receiving supplementary materials the committee kept its approval. The MBTA had described mitigation plans to replant trees and to install structural soils and fresh loam at planting beds; presenters said Englewood would receive 20 new trees in the work area and Tappan 10 new trees, with a one‑year maintenance/warranty period by the MBTA.

Disability advocates, including Jim Lee, chair of the Commission on Disability, urged swift action. \"We support this project,\" Lee said, noting the long history of legal and federal pressure to make transit accessible and arguing that accessible platforms reduce safety risks and expand mobility for people with disabilities.

Residents and local groups pressed for more documentation of the MBTA's vehicle clearance testing and asked whether the agency had explored further design alternatives to save particular trees. The MBTA and town staff acknowledged those concerns; MBTA officials said they had explored many station locations and alignment options and had reduced projected parking losses and other impacts in response to town input.

After hearing public testimony, Select Board members asked detailed follow‑ups about the MBTA's tests, replanting specifications, the number of trees potentially affected by the corridor project and how the project fits with the town's bridle path plans. The board voted to affirm the Tree Planting Committee's decision to permit the nine removals at Tappan Street and Englewood Avenue (motion carried, 5‑0). The board also noted several associated meetings: the Commission on Disability and the Transportation Board were scheduled to review the project on Sept. 17; the Select Board will hold the grant of location hearing on Sept. 30.

What the vote does and does not do: the board's vote affirms the tree committee's approval of removals and the MBTA's replanting plan for these two stations; it does not approve a grant of location for station construction (that hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30). The MBTA said construction could begin as early as this fall if approvals move quickly or in spring if scheduling requires.

Looking ahead: MBTA staff said the corridor project has been through a multi‑year design process with 12 public engagements to date and that most of the C branch will be upgraded to accessibility standards when complete. The board and town staff asked the MBTA for continued coordination on tree protection measures during construction, a firm count and condition list for trees affected across the corridor, and clearer documentation on the physical testing relating to the Type 10 undercarriage clearance.

Ending note: Select Board members and town staff emphasized they will continue to press the MBTA on contractor protections for surviving trees, on long‑term maintenance of newly planted trees, and on coordination to minimize impacts to parking, the bridle path concept plan and neighborhood circulation.","At its Sept. 16 meeting the Brookline Select Board heard a full MBTA presentation on Green Line C‑branch accessibility upgrades, held a public hearing on proposed removals of nine public shade trees at Tappan Street and Englewood Avenue, and voted to affirm the Tree Planting Committee's approval of the removals and replanting plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brookline accepts Mass EVIP grant for Baker School chargers, sets school charging fee at 35'¢/kWh

Brookline Select Board adopts FY2027 goals and objectives to guide budget process

Select Board affirms MBTA plan for C‑branch accessibility after debate over Pin Oak removals