[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6582914,"mediaKeyId","3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda","parentId",3154536,"title","Votes at a glance: Braintree Town Council meeting, April 29, 2025","audioSeconds",96,"startMs",719000,"endMs",815000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda&start=719&end=815","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda/thumbnail_719000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582914/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Braintree-Town-Council-meeting-April-29-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582914-7129b651f577af9149c710b99269a096/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192449&Signature=F6f96B~NiOagsIXR0zVzVMuBz8fSDhL8CeGKDhf1puad3JPEVUZOm7ocWyZHjlmSuD3i50D5LY4qqa2wBp9vorO9BGaFOaKsCXqh~UFrF9csZkW8i1J0hiQRPMzSZS6a4mPOud0D3GihDc80t5vcqw67e0GCWiIsalLQRnQ6CcO51EcAN7lSCh9~jrFt~kPBJad8siY8lDx5-mzx9apr3TfOKgXJT4ahBNAwgVNxp~zQ~8JAmwQJEwe5VHjQGPnkB5uQu3fd5nVGxJ2FuhXR5Fv1ni1RTTdg0NwIFM8b0jK84md3TLTcOxExGDCHb30pA5hbIAwshduZ8VX2P03qkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Braintree, MA","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","This 'Votes at a glance' summary lists formal motions, votes and procedural actions recorded at the Braintree Town Council meeting on April 29, 2025. Where the transcript did not name a specific mover or seconder, the entry notes that fact.

1) Approval of minutes (unanimous)
- Motion: Approve minutes of February 25, March 4 and March 18, 2025, all at once.
- Outcome: Passed unanimously by voice vote.

2) Same-night acceptance of donation: Nelson Chin Memorial Fund (unanimous)
- Motion: Accept a $25,000 donation from the Nelson Chin Memorial Fund to the Recreation Department for the \"Nelson's Neighbors\" six-week program (covers transportation and staffing to keep the program affordable for families with neurodiverse individuals).
- Outcome: Approved unanimously by voice vote.
- Note: The council asked if anyone objected to same-night action before voting; no objections were recorded.

3) Petition to expand gas service at 899 Washington Street (unanimous; details in separate article)
- Motion: Grant petition to allow National Grid to open the street under moratorium to expand gas service to 899 Washington Street, subject to DPW-recommended restoration and traffic-control conditions.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

4) Public hearing continuations (unanimous procedural votes)
- Order 25003: Zoning ordinance text amendments for accessory dwelling units (to comply with MASA Affordable Homes Act) — public hearing continued to June 3, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.; motion to open and to continue passed unanimously.
- Order 25006: FY25 supplemental appropriation No. 2 — public hearing continued to May 27, 2025; motion to open and to continue passed unanimously.

5) Personnel policy item (procedural)
- Item 02824 (vacation carryover, comp time, overtime): Taken off the table for further review; motion to take off the table passed unanimously; committee review requested. A subsequent procedural motion to place it back on the table was also handled by the council.

6) Referrals to committees (unanimous)
- Several agenda items were referred to relevant committees by a single consolidated motion; the consolidated referral motion passed unanimously.

7) Executive session vote (roll call; unanimous)
- Motion: Enter executive session under the open-meeting law exemption for discussion of deployment of security personnel, devices or strategies (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A §21(a)(4)); after executive session the council will adjourn and not reconvene in open session.
- Vote: Roll-call vote taken; all councilors present voted 'Aye' to enter executive session.

Ending: Several substantive items (the FY26 budget submission, the DPW petition approval and the audit presentation) remain in committee or are informational and will return to the council for formal deliberation and votes as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Braintree Town Council Meeting 4.29.25","oneSentenceSummary","Summarized outcomes of votes and procedural actions taken by the Town Council on April 29, 2025, including minutes approval, donation acceptance, moratorium waiver, public-hearing continuations, referrals, and a roll-call vote to enter executive session.","taxTitle","Town of Braintree , Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",57175,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582919,"Independent auditors give Braintree an unmodified FY24 opinion; report notes legal settlement and pension/OPEB updates",990,2870000,3860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda&start=2870&end=3860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda/thumbnail_2870000.jpg","/articles/6582919/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Independent-auditors-give-Braintree-an-unmodified-FY24-opinion-report-notes-legal-settlement-and-pensionOPEB-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582919-94f10f107e994c36cc01fcb6237e9924/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192449&Signature=dzm3fhWeVdfihfiMGWzaZAqK-iieOAZHBYWWbFj1tvZZ9itgPTn8iH3IDyZtEMpNa5YhmQdVVvo74pcIvqJbemS8qyNqW1026dWoHKCZufyZwwzTqJEVpsoZOpuaB5xRMUS8B22JsYekEg-YM1sMBmzejpU1vtDgJObR1rhPpSjlIfKf~R2MKq7yo4hMTMuoHAzvMPf3ItZaPTl8Kn58ARtz-oWRFBXUHL3v8xuXMju8BPMmlUTR6pU3o84s4ShXcKh73t51i5QRG-tTDM68ctKaXXyjumFa85l~dgj6iMUWV-vMcTr9GN8C5gNaWQXk3rX0QM9X5nf1BbwNAxtPag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auditors from CBIZ presented the Town of Braintree's draft FY2024 annual comprehensive financial report to the Town Council on April 29, reporting an unmodified (clean) audit opinion.

CBIZ representatives said the audit work included on-site fieldwork in June and August and follow-up work after year end; the firm completed testing across revenues, expenditures and federal awards and described the report as in draft form pending final internal quality-control checks and town review. The auditors noted that a significant subsequent event — the town's legal settlement related to a wrongful-conviction matter — was included in the financial statements because of its materiality, with a net recognized settlement amount of $11,900,000 recorded in the report.

Other highlights the auditors cited: the town's OPEB trust balance rose to about $25.8 million at year-end (up from $22.8 million), and the OPEB liability decreased from about $189 million to $170 million, owing to plan investment returns, updated actuarial assumptions and an increased discount rate. The pension liability decreased from about $103 million to $93 million and the pension plan was 71.1% funded in the auditors' report; CBIZ said the statutory funding schedule requires full funding by 2040. The auditors reported FY24 free cash at roughly $5.5 million and a stabilization fund balance of about $4.4 million (reflecting council transfers). The report also lists federal awards and single-audit testing; total federal-award expenditures audited for FY24 were about $4.5 million (down from a higher prior-year amount that included ARPA draws).

Councilors asked for an opportunity to submit consolidated questions to the auditor through town staff; the auditors said they will provide a final report copy when quality-control work is complete. There were no audit findings reported in the draft.

Ending: The auditors expect to finalize the report in the coming weeks after the town and audit firm complete their remaining review steps; councilors were invited to submit clarifying questions to the finance director and to consolidate comments through town staff.","CBIZ (formerly Powers & Sullivan/Markham LLP) presented the Town of Braintree's draft FY2024 annual comprehensive financial report, issued an unmodified (clean) audit opinion, and included disclosure of a significant legal settlement. Auditors discussed pension funding (71.1% funded) and OPEB trust balances.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582924,"Mayor Joyce presents $175.7 million FY26 budget, flags school and special-education funding pressures",1284,1246000,2530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda&start=1246&end=2530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda/thumbnail_1246000.jpg","/articles/6582924/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Mayor-Joyce-presents-1757-million-FY26-budget-flags-school-and-special-education-funding-pressures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582924-922046d85702f8b4466039938235946d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192449&Signature=J2VrrBygiuTpdRx4bsRtcqCUNjZBKlQ~usGwAz30l~Vs8vsCx6YUVypDdg6Y5uxFUFeGRZzX0eBtx8sRA1a3pfx70lT6JVZ~4EYu3K78yOWt7rdDtkhv5faWsF8V-IdzyB3I-7WDnfCnZILKOe6eCi3P4J6dD7plxvhoRQtkceqHKeReHkPQ6CCBu4VyGIf4PYyV-19DOffidzA0mSo--96tnW1g9NTtoSGFoqmft-3sxo3TxQHeI1RdW35mhTgeG4hzQlsIlIzHFsqdgllA8Vm-Z~Hzfw3t2XeYUcnl-l5LBs3tipLoNmv7d1VOaQXkUTPMPNSA782OgUCztJ--FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Joyce presented the Town of Braintree's FY2026 budget to the Town Council on April 29, outlining a $175,700,000 budget that the administration describes as \"stable, responsible, and balanced.\" The mayor said the proposal preserves current service levels, does not rely on one-time free cash for operations, and directs roughly 60% of town spending toward school-related activity.

Key proposals and assumptions the mayor highlighted include: a projected 2.9% spending growth overall; an assumption of 2% cost-of-living adjustments for bargaining units (collective bargaining remains under negotiation and any settlements above assumptions would affect projections); a proposal to raise the senior property tax work-off credit ceiling from $1,500 to $2,000; a proposal to create a facilities revolving fund to collect and spend user fees for building maintenance and show how those fees are spent; and a proposed special education stabilization fund to be seeded with $600,000 from town land sales to help smooth volatile special-education costs (the mayor said this would be used to offset East Middle School debt service and other special-education budget pressure).

The mayor reviewed fiscal-context risks, including limited growth in local aid (noting an assumption of 0.1% growth rather than 1%), uncertainty in federal funding flows, growing school costs and pension/insurance obligations, and the budget impact from a recent wrongful-conviction settlement. She said the FY26 budget incorporates the new debt-service obligation related to that settlement (the mayor noted a debt-service charge of $786,000 in FY26) and that the town continues to pursue insurance recoveries.

The mayor introduced a new budget book structure and invited Council members to provide feedback; she noted the administration will publish the book on the town website and that the Ways & Means Committee will begin budget hearings in May. Councilors thanked department heads and urged residents to tune in to the committee hearings.

Why it matters: The budget frames policy priorities—education, infrastructure, community services—and signals where future tradeoffs may occur, particularly if collective-bargaining settlements or revenue assumptions change. The mayor said the budget is designed to avoid the cycle of recurring service reductions and to rely less on one-time revenue.

The council did not vote on the budget at the meeting; the Ways & Means Committee will hold a series of budget hearings in May to review specific departmental requests and assumptions.","Mayor Joyce presented the administration's FY2026 budget book to the Town Council, describing a $175.7 million proposal that preserves services, directs 60% of spending to schools, assumes 2% COLAs, and proposes new funds for facilities and special education stabilization.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582928,"Council waives excavation moratorium to allow gas-service upgrade at 899 Washington Street with DPW conditions",359,863000,1222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda&start=863&end=1222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3154536-a8ff7694a3dddc4741957fe730235eda/thumbnail_863000.jpg","/articles/6582928/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Council-waives-excavation-moratorium-to-allow-gas-service-upgrade-at-899-Washington-Street-with-DPW-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582928-893d1c7b1ffdfcd7f8a4e5b9bf9df779/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192449&Signature=Isw-mL5pZpCcv4~fy0A-FagLdAMj~pyamOyfwqyVK2PZ1RyEDblth1m3oXrgMOscG~9AqMKL6jQrUow6VK-2IbdIetY6PfphGLKg7~jYzfMctsCgUOEyB1QFvJPbhEq2XQ9BjjkRWTSHBrmxj4RkoOXBCVOn9IGjz2neGfJj6pV92YLIf0K6CswR0qJ1~ttAQnS~OkUt5w4f0c3YXE8PgR-QnQ2CzyNHHZwoWekSdcFLtZ5k9gY4yuisN69sHTEPLaHgmjb23VJyzsqLJc56pj1svBUZHG-JrNwy~XzUVOBVf99gnDLvZl~J00zo4OATVmKO~U873Nloh0MwQJFI-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Braintree Town Council on April 29 unanimously voted to grant a property owner petition to allow excavation for a gas-service upgrade at 899 Washington Street, commonly identified in the hearing as Richmond Hardware. The council waived the town's 2015 excavation moratorium for this specific work and approved permit conditions recommended by the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The council's action followed a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Department of Public Works committee earlier the same evening. A town staff representative told the council the gas main sits about eight feet from the granite curb on the same side of the street as the property and that the work will be within an on-street parking lane rather than the roadway proper.

DPW staff outlined required restoration, including an immediate temporary patch after backfill, saw-cut edges, eight-inch compacted backfill lifts, and a one-year maintenance period before final paving. The DPW recommended a permanent patch the following May consisting of a 10-foot-long milled patch from the curb across the parking lane with a minimum of two inches of asphalt applied in two lifts, tack coat and joint treatment (infrared or rubberized sealer), permanent thermoplastic lane markings placed after paving, and replacement in kind of any disturbed concrete sidewalk panels or accent brick. The DPW also required that no contractor close any street or direction of travel without authorization from the DPW director or highway superintendent; the chief of police may authorize closures for emergency public-safety reasons. If a closure is authorized, signage, police officers and other traffic-control measures must be in place per a written plan approved by the police department.

A representative for the proponent confirmed discussions with National Grid and said the proponent understands the cost and restoration responsibilities and is willing to assume them. The council approved the petition by voice vote; the record shows the vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: The waiver allows a commercial tenant to obtain sufficient gas pressure for planned equipment, potentially enabling occupancy of a presently vacant storefront in the South Braintree Square area. The DPW conditions aim to limit long-term damage to the street that is currently under a multi-year excavation moratorium.

Councilors asked procedural and technical questions during the discussion, including whether the tie-in would be in the parking lane (it will) and confirmation that patching will be monitored for settling during the one-year period prior to final paving. The DPW’s restoration specification and the prohibition on closures without authorization were explicitly incorporated into the permit recommendation.

The council made no change to the moratorium ordinance itself; the action was a site-specific waiver with conditions.

Ending: With the motion approved, DPW and the proponent will proceed within the conditions set by the council and the DPW. The council's approval requires the proponent to coordinate traffic control, final paving the following May after a one-year observation, and replacement of any damaged sidewalk or decorative brick features as approved by the highway superintendent.","The Braintree Town Council unanimously granted a petition allowing National Grid to increase gas service to 899 Washington Street (Richmond Hardware), waiving the town's excavation moratorium and imposing DPW restoration and traffic-control conditions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Braintree Town Council meeting, April 29, 2025

Independent auditors give Braintree an unmodified FY24 opinion; report notes legal settlement and pension/OPEB updates

Mayor Joyce presents $175.7 million FY26 budget, flags school and special-education funding pressures

Council waives excavation moratorium to allow gas-service upgrade at 899 Washington Street with DPW conditions