Brookline Town Meeting 2004: Discussion of the Warrant Articles

Here are the 25 Warrant Articles for the Annual Town Meeting. Also, here are the Town Meeting Members, which include 240 elected members and 8 at-large. The articles sure to generate the bulk of the discussion are #7 Underground Utilities, #11 on the cell tower (even though it recommends passing to a committee), and #21, a study to overhaul the 2-hour parking limit. I'm leaning against $7 for the cost. The Griggs Park Neighborhood Association is in favor of it. I'm willing to hear both sides. I thought I'd list all the amendments below, even though most don't need any debate. I've added some comments to them, but I really can't do justice to most of them, as I'm cramming here. Several of them simply pass a decision onto a committee. Feel free to comment on them or add your viewpoints (that's why I wrote this software). The Town Meeting commences in about 17 hours, but it could well go on to a second evening as it usually does.

Article 6: Continue to ban residence picketing -- YES

This would extend the sunset date on the Town's Focused Residence Picketing By-Law, which would expire this year. There are people who picket private residences of abortion providers. The nerve! A 1988 Supreme Court decision in Frisby v. Schultz held that such an ordnance is constitutional as it leaves ample means of alternative channels of communication. (6-3, you can look it up and find out where you favorite judges sit. You may be surprised.) ABSOLUTELY.