Select Board approves emergency-management plan, Center Street committee and several routine items; hearing continued

The Town of Brookline Select Board on the evening of a January 2025 meeting voted to adopt an Emergency Management Program strategic plan, approved the charge for a new Center Street Lots study committee and handled a set of routine administrative items, while extending a retail-marijuana-license hearing to Jan. 28.

The board voted, by voice, to approve the emergency management strategic plan after a presentation and questions from select board members. The plan lays out four goals for the next five years, including finalizing a comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP), developing emergency operations center capabilities, building a cross‑functional training and exercise program, and pursuing grant funding.

The board also voted to establish a select‑board‑appointed Center Street Lots Committee, approving a charge that will guide a roughly one‑year public study of the town‑owned Center Street parking lots in Coolidge Corner. Select board member Mike Sandman will chair the committee; staff said the study is funded with ARPA money and the contract with consultants is already in place.

Other actions taken by the Select Board included approval of the minutes for Dec. 17, 2024; omnibus approval of miscellaneous items (3b–3m in the packet); a temporary continuance and license extension for a marijuana retail establishment hearing to Jan. 28; scheduling the 2025 annual town meeting to open the warrant Jan. 29 and close Feb. 26 with tentative meeting dates beginning May 27; and one appointment to a town naming committee. All recorded votes during the meeting on these items were approved by the board.

Why it matters: The emergency management plan sets town priorities for disaster readiness and recovery and was explicitly described by staff as a living document that will be updated as work proceeds. The Center Street Lots study will drive community engagement and potential long‑term planning for a high‑visibility town asset and could influence parking, public‑space and development decisions in Coolidge Corner.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (Dec. 17, 2024): Approved by voice vote. - Omnibus approval of items 3b–3m (miscellaneous administrative matters, including donations): Approved by voice vote. - Continuance and extension of a conditional retail‑marijuana license hearing to Jan. 28, 2025: Motion approved by voice vote to continue; license extended to the new hearing date. - Emergency Management Program strategic plan (5‑year strategic priorities): Approved by voice vote. - Center Street Lots Committee charge (create a select‑board committee and accept proposed charge): Approved by voice vote. - 2025 Annual Town Meeting scheduling (open warrant Jan. 29; close warrant Feb. 26; town meeting starting May 27, possible additional nights): Approved by voice vote. - Appointment to the town naming committee (Helen Chorlupski): Approved by voice vote.

What the board said and next steps Town staff noted the Emergency Management Program strategic plan is intended to be dynamic; the Select Board approved the plan and asked staff to bring the operational Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) back for detailed review later this year. For the Center Street Lots study staff said consultant work is under contract, the ARPA allocation is $225,000 for the project, and some additional parking analysis funding has been redirected to continue technical work on parking scenarios.

The marijuana license matter will return at the Jan. 28 hearing. The select board scheduled the town meeting warrant window and tentative town meeting dates, and appointed a member to the naming committee. The board did not make any final land‑use or zoning decisions related to the Center Street lots; the charge authorizes public study and recommendations.

Source notes: Actions and votes recorded on the Select Board audio/transcript for the January 2025 meeting.