This is all done from memory. Dates may be slightly inaccurate.

CURRENT POSITIONS

since 1996, School Committee member, When I was first elected to the School Committee, I was generally viewed as "the finance guy," but I actually viewed myself as an all-around policy wonk. Over the years, I have been an active member of three sub-committees (curriculum, finance and negotiations) and have worked closely and contributed to two others (government relations and policy). My formal leadership roles on the Committee are listed below:

• 1996-2001, Chair, Finance Sub-Committee: In this capacity I totally revamped the budget document that the School Committee uses to guide the Superintendent in the development of the School Department budget
• 2001-2004, Vice Chair
• 2004-present, Chair

since 2000, Board of Directors, Brookline Senior Center, This organization is primarily a fund-raising organization that supports the Senior Center. I am a member of the finance committee which is responsible for managing the center's endowment funds.

since 1992, Town Meeting Member, Precinct 9

PAST POSITIONS

2004 Member, Comprehensive Plan Committee, I was very disappointed in the first draft of the plan. Using my power as Chair of the School Committee, I appointed myself to the position of School Committee representative to the CP Committee. I worked to make the final draft much more protective of neighborhoods and to propose structures intended to give neighborhoods more control over development.

1997 Member, Capital Policies Committee, This committee recommended a number of policies that stabilized spending on capital projects. My major contribution to the report was to convince the committee to account for School Building Assistance as a deduction from the cost of the project rather than as a separate "income" item. This meant that decisions about school renovation projects were made more sensibly and helped us to move forward on the Baker and Lawrence renovation projects.

1995. Planning Committee, BHS Renovation and Executive Committee, "BHS Yes!" Although we knew that Brookline would eventually be reimbursed for 61% of the Brookline High School renovation, we also knew that we would not receive any payments from the state for five years. The original plan for debt issue would have required the Town's annual debt service for the project to peak at $5,000,000. I redesigned the financing plan and was able to reduce that peak amount to $3,000,000. An opponent of the project told me that after the new bond plan, his group decided to be much less active in their opposition.

1994. Executive Committee, "No on 9" Although I was a strong opponent of rent control in Brookline, I have also always been a strong supporter of affordable housing. The "Ames-Merrill compromise" which phased out rent control in Brookline had protections for existing low-income and elderly tenants and used part of the windfall that decontrol gave landlords in order to create affordable housing. By outlawing rent control in the state, Question 9 would (and did) end the much wiser approach developed by Brookline.

1994. Executive Committee, "Vote 'Yes' for Brookline" In March 1994, the Board of Selectmen voted to put on the ballot an override in substantially the form recommended by FPAC. I played a key leadership role in the "Yes" campaign. The successful override reversed the deterioration of our public services by increasing funding for teachers, school technology, school supplies, public works equipment, building maintenance and public safety equipment. It also reduced the refuse fee by subsidizing trash collection by $460,000 or about $35 per household. Those of us engaged in the campaign committed ourselves to ensuring that the funds would be spent as promised to voters. For ten years, this promise was kept scrupulously. However, over time it became apparent that the members of FPAC were not clairvoyant. I served on a committee that recommended replacing the commitment spending $100,000 /year on fire equipment and $200,000/year on police equipment to a commitment of $300,000/year on public safety equipment. This reflected that changes in technology have increased equipment needs in the police department but reduced them in the fire department. We also recommended permitting a reduction in spending on public works equipment provided that the funds not spent on DPW equipment were transferred to sidewalk repair.

1993-1994. Co-chair, Financial Planning Advisory Committee (FPAC) FPAC was charged with reviewing the Town's administrative and financial structures and recommending to the Board of Selectman whether or not to place an override on the ballot. In a series of five sub-committee reports and one final report, FPAC recommended significant changes to Town and School Department policies, many of which were adopted and have helped to ensure Brookline's financial stability. FPAC also recommended that an override be placed on the ballot with funds allocated to schools, public works, building maintenance, police and fire.