Brookline Selectboard advances $250,000 transfer from Melendy Pond fund, moves to split land‑use change tax revenue

The Town of Brookline Selectboard voted on Jan. 20 to add a warrant article transferring $250,000 from the Melendy Pond Revolving Fund to the Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund, a move the board said would address urgent facility repairs without raising property taxes. The motion, made by Vice Chair Brian Rater and seconded by Selectboard Member Ed Perry, passed 5-0.

The decision followed discussion of several cost‑saving proposals Rater presented when the budget hearing resumed at 7 p.m. Rater said the Melendy Pond fund, originally established to hold lease payments for future costs tied to Melendy Pond properties, has grown faster than projected and currently holds roughly $350,000; he proposed reallocating $250,000 while leaving a balance for the fund's intended purposes. The board recorded that additional Melendy Pond revenues are expected over the next six years.

The Selectboard also voted 3-2 to advance a warrant article that would split Land Use Change Tax (LUCT) receipts 50/50 between the Town and the Conservation Commission, directing the town share to a proposed Public Works Equipment Capital Reserve Fund. Supporters argued the split would provide steady funding for Public Works equipment needs and reduce the need for a $50,000-per-year warrant article; opponents warned the change could affect the Conservation Commission's ability to meet bond obligations tied to recent land purchases and urged consultation with the Commission before finalizing the change.

Citizen Drew Kellner urged caution, noting the Conservation Commission relied on LUCT projections when accepting a bond for the Martin‑Cummings property and that last year the Commission received about $100,000 in LUCT proceeds against roughly $50,000 in bond payments. Kellner suggested alternatives such as sharing timber tax proceeds with the town.

The board also approved a warrant article allowing timber harvesting on Conservation land with net revenue to be split 50/50 between the Town and the Conservation Commission after trail maintenance costs; the motion passed in a final motion recorded as unanimous. Additional budget adjustments included moving $20,000 for a new police cruiser to be covered by the traffic‑detail account (Chief Hebert had offered to cover $20,000 from that account), reducing the moderator stipend from $400 to $100, funding Annex maintenance at $40,000 for 2026, and accepting a $1,500 reduction in the Conservation Commission's maintenance budget.

Those changes produced a proposed town budget of $8,969,586.48, which the Selectboard described as a 5.78% increase over the prior year (3.8% if all warrant articles pass). Board members debated using a portion of the town's Unassigned Fund Balance (UFB) to lower the tax impact; Finance Committee members favored some use of UFB, but the Selectboard ultimately declined to draw down reserves, citing the need to maintain at least a 5% reserve for cash flow and unplanned expenses.

The board instructed staff to post public hearings on bonded warrant articles by Jan. 27 and scheduled a Feb. 2 hearing for bonded articles and a Feb. 17 hearing for petition warrant articles. The budget hearing closed at 10:10 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Jan. 5: 5-0 (motion passed) - Approve nonpublic minutes (1/5 #1-5 and 12/22 #1-10): 5-0 (motions passed) - Approve warrants (general $377,521.38; payroll $103,268.43; detail $4,437.50): 5-0 (motion passed) - Add warrant article to transfer $250,000 from Melendy Pond Revolving Fund to Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund: 5-0 (motion passed) - Advance warrant article to split LUCT 50/50 between Town and Conservation Commission directed to Public Works Equipment CRF: 3-2 (motion advanced) - Add warrant article to allow timber harvesting with net revenue split 50/50 after trail maintenance: final motion recorded as passed

The Selectboard said it will consult affected committees and follow DRA guidance where needed in preparing warrant‑article language for the town meeting warrant.