Brookline Select Board approves tree‑preservation rules, 3.5% water/sewer increase and $106.33M bond; delays Vision Zero adoption

The Brookline Select Board on June 10 approved detailed rules to implement the town’s new tree preservation bylaw, adopted water and sewer rate changes that raise bills by about 3.5% on average, authorized a $106.33 million general obligation bond sale and approved a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) agreement with Boston University. The board granted a noise‑bylaw exemption and a related roofing contract for Brookline High School and extended, for a limited period, the license for Mission MA, a local cannabis retailer while the board considers a hearing officer’s report.

The actions follow public hearings, multi‑department presentations and extensive public questions, particularly about the town’s new tree permit process and the details of the water and sewer rate model. Town officials emphasized implementation steps and the need to pair regulations with outreach and staffing to enforce them.

Why it matters: The tree rules create a stand‑alone permit for removal of protected trees and a mitigation framework that will change how private property owners and builders handle significant removals and construction near trees. The water and sewer vote preserves the enterprise’s reserve trajectory while keeping rate growth below recent national averages. The bond sale funds school and fire‑station projects; the BU agreement locks in a predictable PILOT payment stream. The Mission MA action preserves administrative options while the board schedules further review.

Tree preservation rules and permit process

The Select Board voted to adopt the rules and regulations that implement the tree preservation bylaw passed at Town Meeting earlier this year and approved by the Attorney General. Erin Chute, commissioner of public works, and Alexandra Vecchio, director of sustainability and natural resources, described the new, stand‑alone tree‑removal permit, the mitigation formula and reporting requirements.

“The tree preservation bylaw . . . has been in effect since 03/27/2025,” Vecchio told the board as she outlined permit filing, abutter notification and mitigation options. Under the bylaw, privately owned trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or larger are “protected” and cannot be removed without a permit; the rules establish a sliding permit fee and require mitigation by replanting or payment to a tree fund unless an exemption applies.

Board members asked detailed implementation questions about: who counts as a direct abutter and how notice is proved; how tree save areas that cross property lines will be handled; the definition of excavation (the bylaw defines excavation as removal of 12 or more inches of earth for construction); and how exemptions (for affordable housing, disaster damage, utility and solar installations, or dead or diseased trees) will be applied.

The board approved the rules with a conditional vote asking staff to revise and circulate clarified language on definitions (for example, excavation and demolition) before final publication. The motion passed unanimously (Paul Warren, David Perlman, Michael Rubinstein and Chair Bernard Green voting aye). The board directed staff to post final language to the town website once the edits are incorporated.

Water and sewer rates: 3.5% increase adopted

The board completed its annual water and sewer rate hearing and voted to set a 3.5% rate increase, effective July 1, 2025. Commissioner Chute and Jay Hirsi, director of water and sewer, presented the operating budget and capital needs; Dave Fox of Raftelis, the town’s rate consultant, presented the financial model and recommended a 3.5% increase to sustain reserves and capital plans.

Raftelis and staff said the increase is below national multi‑year averages because the utility has reduced wastewater inflow through sewer lining and other capital work and has secured grant and low/no‑interest financing in recent years. Raftelis emphasized maintaining a multi‑month reserve target to protect the enterprise against revenue volatility caused by weather or conservation trends.

Raftelis presented typical bill impacts. Under the 3.5% increase, a low‑volume single‑family residential customer (about 10 CCF per quarter) will see an annual combined water and sewer increase of about $28.51 ($7.13 per quarter); a typical single‑family household (about 18 CCF/quarter) would see roughly $43 more per year. The board also voted to continue the senior discount program (50% of the water and sewer base charge) with eligibility tied to existing property tax exemption criteria.

Votes on rates were taken in multiple parts (volumetric charges; meter‑size base charges; irrigation rates; fire service charge); all passed unanimously. The motions and vote totals were read into the record and adopted: yes—Paul Warren, David Perlman, Michael Rubinstein and Chair Green.

Noise exemption and roofing contract for Brookline High School

The board held a public hearing on a request from the School Department and the town’s director of public buildings for a temporary noise‑bylaw exemption to permit roofing work at Brookline High School between June 20 and Aug. 15, 2025, with proposed work hours beginning as early as 5 a.m. (requestors said crews would likely start later but sought flexibility to recover schedule lost to rain). Neighbors asked questions about timing and notice.

After public comment and exchange with the facilities team, the board granted the noise‑bylaw exemption for the stated date range and hours. The board then approved a contract with Corolla Contracting Inc. to replace rubber roofing at multiple Brookline High School buildings in the amount of $1,111,011. The votes were recorded as unanimous.

Bond issuance: $106.33 million approved

Finance Director Lincoln Heinemann presented results of the town’s bond sale and asked the Select Board to authorize $106,330,000 in general obligation bonds from a May sale. Heinemann and bond counsel said the transaction preserved the town’s AAA rating with Moody’s and improves the town’s available fund balance ratio to about 27.1% of prior year net revenue, up from about 23.1% previously.

Heinemann said the issuance finances multiple capital priorities, including continuation of fire station renovations and a large tranche for reconstruction and renovation of the Pierce School. The board voted unanimously to authorize the bonds and to complete the required post‑sale paperwork.

Boston University PILOT renewal

The board approved a five‑year renewal of the town’s PILOT agreement with Boston University for fiscal years 2026–2030. The university’s FY25 payment was listed in the packet at approximately $1,222,000. The updated agreement keeps BU’s cash payment schedule but limits any in‑kind contributions to no more than 10% of the total annual obligation; town staff said BU has historically paid the cash amount rather than substitute in‑kind services.

Mission MA cannabis license: extension pending further review

The board considered a report from an independent hearing officer (retired judge John Kratzley) who heard factual testimony in a dispute over Mission MA’s operations and whether the retailer had voluntarily surrendered its license. The hearing officer concluded the board retains discretion in the matter and noted errors on both sides during prior exchanges. Mission’s attorney told the board the retailer would take action with respect to its license by June 30 and asked for a short additional window to present a plan.

The board voted to extend Mission MA’s license through two weeks following the Select Board’s conclusion of consideration of the hearing officer’s report, preserving administrative flexibility while allowing time for Mission to indicate its intended course. The motion passed unanimously.

Vision Zero action plan and emergency management plan: more time requested

Staff presented the town’s Vision Zero Action Plan (a road‑safety plan that aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries) and a draft comprehensive emergency management plan. Several board members and committee liaisons praised the work but requested more time to review both documents and recommended additional public outreach and clearer presentation of how the plans address automobile drivers’ safety concerns alongside vulnerable road users. The board did not adopt the Vision Zero resolution at this meeting and will revisit the item at a later meeting; the emergency management base plan was likewise left for a future vote to allow public review and minor clarifications.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes of 06/04/2025 (as amended): unanimous (Warren, Perlman, Rubinstein, Chair Green). - Omnibus approval of agenda items 6b–6n: unanimous. - Approval — Tree preservation bylaw rules & regulations (with conditional edits to definitions such as “excavation”): unanimous. - Noise‑bylaw exemption for Brookline High School roofing, June 20–Aug. 15, 2025 (possible start at 5 a.m.): unanimous. - Contract award to Corolla Contracting Inc., $1,111,011 (roof replacement at Brookline High School): unanimous. - Water & sewer rates (combined set of motions: volumetric rates, quarterly base charges, irrigation rate, fire service charge; continuation of senior discount program): unanimous. - Authorization of $106,330,000 general obligation bonds (May sale; awarded to Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC per sale documents): unanimous. - Approval — Boston University PILOT agreement (2026–2030), limiting in‑kind contributions to up to 10% of total obligation: unanimous. - Mission MA license extended through two weeks after the Select Board’s conclusion of consideration of the hearing officer’s report: unanimous. - Appointments to boards and commissions (items 17a–17j): unanimous.

What’s next

Town staff said they will post updated, clarified tree preservation rules online after the revisions requested by the Select Board; continue outreach and training for permit implementation; proceed with water and sewer implementation and reporting as part of the town’s capital plan; finalize bond closing paperwork; and publish the updated BU PILOT agreement. The board asked for more time and clearer materials before taking a final vote on the Vision Zero resolution and asked staff to solicit public feedback on the town emergency plan before returning it for approval.

Ending

The Select Board concluded its business shortly after 9:00 p.m. and scheduled follow‑up reporting and additional material for the next meeting.