Brookline Town Meeting recap: Budget, bark and Gerald Alston Wicked Local Brookline officials took care of some housekeeping items and delved into the municipal budget on the first night of annual Town Meeting Wednesday, once again held remotely over Zoom. Here are some of the highlights: That's madam moderator, to you Newly elected, Kate Poverman took the podium Wednesday as the town's first woman moderator. Poverman succeeds longtime Moderator Sandy Gadsby, who held the position for nearly 30 years and returned as an assistant to Poverman this time around. Poverman asked to be called "Madam Moderator." She also clarified she will refer to Town Meeting members as "Mr." "Mrs." or "Ms." depending on the person's preference.