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Voting Record​
Marissa's voting record can be found on the Town's website. Full voting records for each Town Meeting are linked below, as are detailed descriptions of Marissa's positions on selected warrant articles for each Town Meeting (positions are posted in advance where possible).

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June 2020 Annual Town Meeting

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November 2020 Special Town Meeting

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May 2021 Annual Town Meeting

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​October 2021 Special Town Meeting

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November 2021 Special Town Meeting

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May 2022 Annual Town Meeting

  • Excel file, all nights

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November 2022 Special Town Meeting

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January 2023 Special Town Meeting

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November 2024 Town Meeting Warrant Articles 

please see this Google document for my voting plans and positions

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November 2022 Town Meeting Warrant Articles​ (last updated November 15)

​Here are my expected voting position on selected Warrant Articles for the November Town Meeting:

  • WA 9, updating our sidewalk snow removal by-law: I am proud to be a co-petitioner on this article and will be voting yes on the petitioner's motion 

  • WAs 11-13, expanding demolition delay and requiring design review: I expect to vote no on these articles. I support some design review requirements like ensuring buildings do not cast excessive shadows on neighbors and that new construction does not destroy trees. However, I don't believe that we should regulate aesthetic qualities, which are a matter of preference, and I think the demolition delay is unnecessary and will make new development even less affordable.

  • WAs 21, 25, 26, 28, and 29, home rule petitions asking the state to allow Brookline to provide various incentives and increased taxes, with the goal of making our buildings and vehicles fossil fuel free: I support these articles and will vote in favor, though I am concerned that some of the costs will be disproportionately felt by renters and people with limited income and resources

  • WAs 34 & 35 to require Town Meeting Members to disclose financial interests when speaking and to abstain from voting when they have a financial interest: I am the lead petitioner on these articles and will vote yes. Town Meeting Members are not subject to the state ethics law in the same way that other elected or appointed town officials are, so these articles would simply apply the basic principles of the state ethics laws to TMMs.

  • WA 39, resolution calling for studying the use of the public golf course: I will vote yes on this. I believe there are better uses for the land than a golf course, and passing this resolution 

  • WA 40, resolution calling for a feasibility study for an outdoor pool: I will vote yes. Brookline needs an outdoor public pool, and should expand our indoor pool as well, to meet the recreational needs of all residents and to ensure equitable access to swimming lessons for kids.

(More to come)

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May 2022 Town Meeting Warrant Articles

​I was proud to file a successful amendment to the budget increasing the amount of money allocated for sidewalk repair. I was also proud to be the lead petitioner on WA 35, a resolution calling for the Town Meeting listserv (emails shared among all Town Meeting Members) to be made publicly readable so that the public can be made aware of the business before Town Meeting and the views of their representative Town Meeting Members. WA 35 was approved by Town Meeting by a vote of 113-98-23 but, unfortunately the Town Meeting Members Association overrode that decision and has decided to keep the listserv contents hidden from the public.

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November 2021 Town Meeting Warrant Articles​ (last updated November 15)

​Here are my expected voting position on Warrant Articles for the November Town Meeting:

  • WA 1, STM 2: Yes on items 1-3, no on item 4 ($198k for Spiegel indemnification) - as written, the AC amendment does not require a third party review of whether the $198k in legal fees were appropriate so I cannot support the warrant article

  • WA 4, delegating Select Board licensing authority: undecided

  • WA 6, sidewalk obstructions: Yes. This warrant article is important because it clarifies that vegetative sidewalk obstructions are prohibited and sets the amount and schedule of fines when the by-law is violated. The Pedestrian Advisory Committee has discussed this topic at length and I am happy to see these changes being made to our by-laws.

  • WA 10, hybrid Town Meetings: Yes. This WA, along with WAs 11 and 12, are important steps toward ensuring that public body meetings are accessible to all members of the public.

  • WAs 11 and 12, enabling remote meeting participation: Yes (I am a co-petitioner)

  • WA 13, roll call votes: Yes

  • WA 15, language access: Yes

(More to come)

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May 2021 Town Meeting Warrant Articles​ (last updated May 19)

I am still in the process of reviewing the Select Board and Advisory Committee reports and amended warrant articles, reading email questions and feedback from fellow TMMs and residents, and I plan to listen carefully during the Town Meeting debate. With that said, here are some of Marissa's current positions:

  • WA 11, statement in Town Meeting Procedures acknowledging the history of Indigenous people in Brookline - I intend to vote favorable action on the petitioner's motion 

  • WAs 14-17, short-term rentals (STRs) - I have deep reservations with some of the provisions in these articles, including the fact that folks who rent their home (who represent about half of Brookline residents) are completely disenfranchised, and the so-called "Pehlke/Karon" amendment that requires condo associations 

  • WA 18 (Lawrence Historic District extension) - I love old historic buildings but I want to ensure that we are not prioritizing preserving buildings rather than providing housing, especially potentially affordable housing, for people. Several of the lots in this area are quite large and I am concerned about indefinitely maintaining such low housing density in this transit-rich, walkable area.

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November 2020 Town Meeting Warrant Articles​ (last updated Nov. 16)​

Marissa is still in the process of reviewing the Select Board and Advisory Committee reports and amended warrant articles. on the fall Town Meeting Warrant Articles. She welcomes feedback from precinct 4 residents and will listen carefully to the debate during the Town Meeting. With that said, here are some of Marissa's current positions:

  • WA 2, Retroactive 2.5% pay increase for police for FY20 - Marissa supports equitable pay increases for all Town employees (including police, fire, schools, and other Town employees).

  • WA 8, Housing Advisory Board membership - Marissa supports reserving several voting seats for Brookline Housing Authority residents.

  • WAs 9-11, Short Term Rentals (i.e. AirBnBs) - Marissa intends to support these articles. While there are reasonable arguments both for and against STRs, it is important to note that many STRs currently operate in Brookline but are unregulated. Marissa supports these warrant articles because they provide needed regulation, but she has reservations about some provisions in some of the articles and hopes these issues can be addressed at a future Town Meeting.

  • WA 12, Community Preservation Act - Marissa intends to support this article

  • WA 13, Senior Property Tax Exemption - This article aims to decrease the property tax burden for low income seniors who do not qualify for the senior tax deferral program because they have a mortgage on their home. However, this would shift the tax burden from seniors who own their home (and may have a considerable amount of home equity) onto other residents, including other low income residents and seniors who do not own their home. Additionally, the article does not specify what would be considered "excessive assets" that would disqualify someone from this exemption. Marissa would support an income based property tax exemption or other housing cost assistance that would help all residents, including low income seniors, but does not support this warrant article. 

  • WA 14, Tobacco Age Restrictions - This warrant article would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2000. Marissa would be willing to consider a full ban on tobacco sales but does not support restricting sales based on birth year.

  • WA 18, Ranked Choice Voting - Marissa supports ranked choice voting, and so do a majority of Brookline voters

  • WAs 22 & 23 Gender Neutral Pronouns - Marissa supports modifying the language in our Town bylaws to reflect the values of equity and inclusion, and she supports these warrant articles.

  • WAs 24 & 25 Require Notices to Tenants and Residents - Marissa supports updating our Town bylaws to give abutter notices to tenants and residents, not just property owners. 

  • WA 27 Microunits - Marissa supports this warrant article.

  • WAs 36 & 37 Stipends for Select Board and School Committee - Marissa supports these articles 

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June 2020 Warrant Articles​

The warrant articles and warrant article explanations for the June 2020 Annual Town Meeting, which was rescheduled from May due to COVID-19 and will be held virtually, are available on the Town's website. According to an email from Moderator Sandy Gadsby to current and prospective Town Meeting Members, "the agenda for this year’s virtual Annual Town Meeting will be limited to articles 3-6 (routine annual items), 7 (High School project), 8 (the budget), 9-15 (Newbury articles), 18-19 (Affordable Housing Trust Fund) and 25 (reallocation of liquor licenses)" due to the challenges of hosting a large virtual meeting.

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Here are Marissa's current positions on the articles that will be considered in June (articles 1-6, 18-19, and 25 seem fairly mechanical/uncontroversial so are not mentioned here):

  • Article 7: Marissa supports the expansion and renovation of Brookline High School but is concerned about the possibility of additional budget overruns. Marissa will likely support this warrant article but looks forward to hearing more details about how the Town will mitigate the risk of future overruns in this and other projects.

  • Article 8: Marissa is still reviewing the Town budget but expects there will be significant changes and some tough decisions to make given the revenues reductions due to COVID-19. 

  • Articles 9-15: Marissa is tentatively in favor of the Town's acquisition of the former Newbury College site but needs to review the budget and the Town's financial situation. This is a unique opportunity and the Town has identified many possible uses for the site. However, it is not yet clear whether the location and cost are appropriate for all of the proposed uses (for example, an indoor skating rink and hockey facility would be nice to have, but given the upcoming budgetary shortfalls due to COVID-19 it is not clear that this should be a priority). Marissa is also concerned about accessibility (walking, bike, transit) to the site, which has a "somewhat walkable" walk score, which might make its location non-ideal for some of the proposed uses by the Town. Marissa is tentatively in favor of the proposed senior housing development because it will also contribute affordable housing and includes a thoughtful transportation plan that encourages public transit and cycling.

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