The Burlington Brief

The Burlington Brief

• H.A.G.S. (Have A Good Summer) June 6, 2024
  The Burlington Brief is going on hiatus for the summer, but we're sending you off with some events to keep an eye on and some stories to track while we're away.
• Burlington Passes MBTA Communities Compliance Plan May 23, 2024
• Burlington Gets A New Police Station May 16, 2024
  Sydney and Sarah break down the first two nights of May Town Meeting, including a new police station, a FY25 budget at about $14 million in Free Cash expenses. Plus, a live fact-check.
• Here's What To Expect At Town Meeting May 9, 2024
  Town Meeting is set to consider a number of articles that could have a major impact on life in town, from a new police station to the MBTA Communities Act compliance plan.
• Inside A Manual Count Of Votes May 2, 2024
  Hear what it was like in the room where Town Clerk Amy Warfield and clerks from other towns counted 116 votes that got missed in the April 6 local election.
• A Partial Election Recount And May Town Meeting Articles April 25, 2024
  In a kind of mammoth local news week, Sydney and Sarah talk about Town Meeting warrant articles from Parks and Rec, the MBTA Communities Act proposal, and news of a partial election recount impacting Precincts 1 and 5.
• Cawley, Nawoichik and Sickler Join Boards April 11, 2024
  Sarah Cawley, Meghan Nawoichik and Eileen Sickler have assumed seats on the Select Board, School Committee and Housing Authority, respectively, and there's been significant reorganization of the boards. Plus, eclipse talk.
• How To Relocate A Police Station April 4, 2024
  Sydney Boles and guest host Chris Flaherty dig into the latest developments in the effort to redevelop the Burlington Police Station.
• How Burlington Hopes To Pay For Fox Hill and the Police Station March 28, 2024
  Sydney and guest host Chris Flaherty dig into the latest plans to finance the Fox Hill Elementary School and the new Police Station, both of which would be the largest capital project Burlington has ever done. Plus, a new model for providing mental health care at Burlington High School.
• Your School Committee Debate Rundown March 21, 2024
  Incumbent Martha Simon and challenger Meghan Nawoichik joined a press panel for a School Committee debate this week, and Sarah and Sydney break down what you missed. ***CORRECTION: In this episode, Sydney says the Council on Aging candidate forum is on Wednesday, March 27... that's wrong! The forum is actually Tuesday, March 26 at 1 […]
• Select Board and Moderator Candidates Compete For Your Vote March 14, 2024
  Sydney Boles and Sarah Eshelman break down BCAT's political debates this week.
• Lead Instructional Coach for What Now? March 7, 2024
  BPS has listed a job posting for a Lead Instructional Coach for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the high school. Sydney and Sarah dig into why it matters and what led us to this moment. Plus, Super Tuesday was, well, super predictable.
• The Fascinating Story Behind Rising Water Rates February 29, 2024
  On this episode, Sydney and Sarah talk about rising water and sewer bills, which sounds dry but is in fact a story of office space, PFAS and more.
• Winn View Heights II Comment Period and the MBTA Communities Act February 22, 2024
  Sydney Boles and guest host Chris Flaherty dig into the latest major news in Burlington, including the comment period for the Winn View Heights II development, the final local election ballot, and the MBTA Communities Act.
• Elections, Elections, Sort Of Elections February 15, 2024
  Sydney and Sarah tackle three stories this week, and most of them are mostly about elections: contested races, debt exclusion votes, and the possibility of precinct captains for Town Meeting.
• Welcoming Newcomer Families To Burlington February 8, 2024
  With Massachusetts continuing to reckon with an increase in migrants seeking shelter in the commonwealth, many communities, including Burlington, have welcomed families to stay in hotels while they figure out their next steps. Sydney and Sarah talk about what that looks like here, and how community leaders are responding.
• The Grab Bag: Housing, Environmental Contamination, A New Bar, Oh My! February 1, 2024
  It's a grab bag, or a grab-mug episode as Sydney and Sarah tackle all kinds of local happenings, from charity efforts to a new music venue to a working group meeting on a state law.
• Town Meeting Nixes Kia Expansion, Opposes Winn View Heights II January 25, 2024
  At January's Town Meeting, members said no to Herb Chambers Kia of Burlington's plan to expand its dealership, and voices their opposition to a senior housing development. Plus, Sydney shares the story of a local family running the Boston Marathon for a cause close to their hearts. Learn more about The James Gang and support […]
• Your January Town Meeting Preview January 18, 2024
  The first Town Meeting of 2024 is coming up next week, so Sydney and Sarah bring you a rundown of the major warrant articles that will have an impact on life in Burlington.
• Pig Sculptures Coming To Town Common January 11, 2024
  A school climate report shows majorities of students, families and staff feel positively about Burlington schools, but interesting and important disparities remain. Plus, Sydney and Sarah talk about a Sculpture Park fundraiser that's planning to bring 10-15 pigs to Town Common.