40 Warren: What Comes Next

This week, the Charlestown Neighborhood Council agreed to give opponents of the another chance to speak their minds.

The development subcommittee all interested parties to a Jan. 5 meeting, which could change either the building’s plan or the committee’s recommendation on the plan.

If either happens, it creates a logistical snag for the council.

“If the project changes, then the neighborhood council needs to revote on the merits of the project,” said Councilman Mark Rosenshein.

However, following the Jan. 5 meeting, the full council will next meet Feb. 7, which is two weeks after the project’s next scheduled appearance before the .

The solution, Rosenshein said, will come from the council’s five-member executive board.

The board has the authority, he said, to ratify decisions on behalf of the full board between regular meetings. That vote would have to be announced at the beginning of the next full meeting, Rosenshein said, but he expects the decision in this case to be well publicized.

He also expects the board to be prepared for the decision. Most if not all of its members are likely to attend the special meeting, he said.

And that decision will include at least some input from the rest of the council, according to Council Chair Tom Cunha.

Cunha said at Tuesday’s meeting that he planned to set up a “phone tree” to get a sense of what the rest of the assembly feels about any changes.

“My concern here is that the integrity of the vote stands,” Cuhna said. “If there’s a change, then we’re obligated to vote on the change.”

However, if neither the project nor the committee’s recommendation changes, he said, the council’s original vote in support of the project will stand.