Category: Select Board

I’m Just A (Belmont) Bill! A Simple Change To Make Town Meeting Work Better.

I’m Just A Bill!

Remember that cartoon bill in the Schoolhouse Rock! video? Sitting up on Capitol Hill, singing about the long, long journey to reach Congress? Belmont doesn’t have Congress. But it does have its own legislative body: Town Meeting. Town Meeting is…

Make Hybrid Town Meetings Permanent in Belmont

Belmont Moderator Michael Crowley

Belmont Moderator Michael Crowley details a new citizens petition asking Town Meeting to authorize the Select Board to seek special state legislation that would allow Belmont to hold hybrid and remote Town Meetings on a permanent basis.

A Tiered Override Won In Melrose. What About Belmont?

Yes For Melrose Sign.

Melrose’s successful $13.5 million override vote in November holds valuable lessons for Belmont, which – commercial development or not – will need to keep passing overrides to fund our Town.

IF I MAY: Keeping Belmont’s Democracy Alive

Viglirolo Rink

In her latest If I May opinion piece, Judith Feinleib calls out the town’s political leadership for what she describes as efforts to dismiss contrary voices and opinions. Feinleib calls on residents to speak up.

My Advice On The Rink? Skip It!

Select Board Caught In The Net

The needlessly long and toxic debate over the rededication of the ice rink is sowing anger, discontent and distrust in the Town’s leadership when they can least afford it. The solution to the rink problem? Skip it!

Opinion: Safeguarding Independent Processes in the 3A Universe

Leonard Street paved with Ben Franklins

Now that Belmont has approved its plan for the State’s MBTA Communities Act, it faces a critical issue: how to increase commercial development even as it obeys the requirements imposed by the state’s one size fits all law.

Opinion: Select Board Town Meeting Decision Oversteps Boundaries

George Washington thumbs down image

In a blatant display of the dangers inherent in concentrating power in the executive, the Select Board eliminated hybrid town meetings for both the May and June sessions citing misleading information, and silenced one of its members, writes Town Meeting Member Judith Feinleib.

Vote For Change: My Picks For The April 2nd Town Election

Vote for Change Belmont

For the first time in years, voters have the opportunity to enact big changes to Belmont’s leadership. It’s not an opportunity we should pass up. Change is on the ballot, Belmont. Let’s make it happen! Here are my picks for the April 2nd 2024 Town Election.

Belmont: 3 Reasons To Vote Yes On Question 1

Vote Yes on 1 lawn sign

On April 2nd, residents will be asked to approve Question 1, which raises our property tax levy to fund critical Town- and school operations. Check out the top 3 reasons that I am going to vote YES.

Belmont Educators: Speak Up To Save Our Public Schools

Belmont Middle School

Editor’s note: the following blog post was submitted to Blogging Belmont by Belmont Public School educators. In it, the educators update readers about the financial challenges facing the school, identify some important, upcoming meetings where those challenges facing the school…