[Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Brookline 5-19-2021 ATM by Art. 33. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DISASTER FUNDS
Refer to a specific allocation of government monies made available to communities that have experienced losses due to disasters. A "disaster" refers to a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community's or society's ability to cope using its own resources. Disasters can mean both human-made and natural catastrophes.
EMERGENCY FUNDS
Refer to a specific allocation of government monies made available to communities that have experienced an emergency. An "emergency" is a sudden, unforeseen happening requiring action to protect lives or property.
INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON THE FUND
Refers to the name of the fund, the name of the government funding source, the allowable uses of the fund and if the Town has any discretion on uses, the amount the Town of Brookline is eligible for, any obligation and expenditure deadlines, and if the Town of Brookline intends to accept the funds and web links to the statutory and regulatory requirements governing the funds.
QUALIFYING EMERGENCY, DISASTER, AND STIMULUS FUNDS
Are those that are not in response to one-time weather events that are declared an emergency by the state or federal government.
QUALIFYING EMERGENCY, DISASTER, AND STIMULUS FUNDS
A. 
Are those that provide the Town with $500,000 or more in a specific allocation of government monies to be used to respond to a government-declared state of emergency, or government-declared disaster or national or global financial crisis.
B. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, stimulus funds shall not include monies made available under the annual Community Development Block Grant or other annual federal or Commonwealth of Massachusetts monies made available to the Town outside of emergencies or disasters and shall not include any funds provided to the Public Schools of Brookline.
STIMULUS FUNDS
Refer to a specific allocation of government monies made available to communities that are designed to generate or increase economic activity linked specifically to a government-declared state of emergency or government-declared disaster or national or global financial crisis.
The Town of Brookline shall, in the event of being eligible for an allocation of emergency, disaster or stimulus funds from the federal, state, or county government or a combination thereof:
A. 
Within 10 business days of the Town receiving written notice of funding eligibility post on the Town's website or the relevant Town department website with a link provided to it on the Town website the information for the public on the fund, insofar as the information is available.
B. 
Within 10 business days of the Town receiving written notice of funding eligibility, send a notification via email or other means containing the information for the public on the fund to the following groups: Town Meeting members, Advisory Committee, the Select Board, and the School Committee. The Town will include in the notifications where on the Town website or relevant Town department website the information for the public on the fund can be found and, if available, the contact information of the Town employee who can answer questions about the fund.
A. 
Within 30 days of filing a required report to the granting or funding authority, the Town will post a report on the Town website listing the information for the public on the fund. The report will include a table on how the funds have been obligated and expended by Town departments, and said table shall provide reasonable detail on how the funds were obligated and expended, including dollar amounts.
B. 
Within 30 days of all funds being expended, a final report similar to the previously filed reports will be posted on the Town website and notification via email or other means will be provided to Town Meeting members, the Moderator, the Advisory Committee, the Select Board, and the School Committee.
For emergency, disaster or stimulus funds that provide the Town with any flexibility in how the funds are spent, within 30 days after 30% of the funds have been obligated in a manner that has been determined to qualify for expenditure, the Select Board or their designee will hold a public hearing to receive public comment on the funds. Only one such public hearing shall be required. If a report as specified in Section 4.10.3 has not been issued prior to the public hearing, the Town will post a report similar report five business days prior to the hearing. The Town is not required to halt spending of the funds while the Town holds the public hearing and prepares the reports.
All of the requirements in the by-law shall take effect July 1, 2021, or approval by the Attorney General, whichever is later, and shall apply to all emergency, disaster or stimulus funds received since February 2020.