Brookline Recorded Vote Coalition
November Town Meeting
Candidates for Recorded Votes
The Recorded Vote Coalition urges recorded votes on motions that are
particularly important and controversial. On the basis of an exchange of
ideas among members of the Coalition, the following are observation
about articles for the Fall 2011 Town Meeting
*Article 5 Neighborhood Conservation Districts*
The proposed bylaw is important both for the proposed Hancock Village
neighborhood conservation district and for residential neighborhoods
throughout Brookline. Because there is some controversy about the bylaw,
the main motion is a very good candidate for a recorded vote.
*Article 6. Hancock Village NCD*
The article is very important to residents of Precincts 15 and 16. Since
there has been very little opposition to Article 6, it is an unlikely
candidate for a recorded vote.
*Article 9 Seasonal Ban on Leaf Blowers*
The last time that Town Meeting was asked to vote on a bylaw banning
off-season use of leaf blowers, the vote was close. Andy Fischer will
move the bylaw he has proposed. The important vote will on an amendment
proposing a resolution to substitute for the bylaw. Perhaps the debate
in Town Meeting will provide a basis for judging whether this subject is
important enough to merit a recorded vote.
*Articles 11 and 12 Norfolk County*
These articles will be controversial. The Board of Selectmen and
Advisory Committee are divided in their recommendations: BoS urges "no
action"; AC recommends favorable action. We had a recorded vote on this
topic in the Spring Town Meeting. The vote was overwhelming favorable
for a resolution than had been amended to eliminate controversial
language. Further recorded votes on this topic do not appear to be
needed at this point.
*Article 17. Pledge of Allegiance in Schools*
The School Committee's policy regarding recital of the Pledge of
Allegiance in schools continues to be controversial. The resolution
attracted a good deal of discussion on the TMM list serve. BoS recommend"no action"; by a 14-11 vote, the AC recommends favorable action. The
language of the motion has been modified to make it more conciliatory. The proponents consider the topic to be very important. Petitioner Marty
Rosenthal has taken the unusual step of asking that there be no recorded
vote.
*Article 18 Political* *Robo Calls*
The resolution is controversial. The BoS unanimously recommends
favorable action; the AC recommends "no action" by a 17 to 8 vote. The
Coalition offers no opinion on whether the resolution is important
enough to merit a recorded vote.