Braintree Council Retires Founding Member, Votes New Veterans Tax Relief

BRAINTREE -- December 16, 2025, Braintree's Town Council bid farewell to founding member Council President Charles B. Ryan and unanimously expanded veterans property tax exemptions at its December 16 meeting. Ryan, who served 18 continuous years as a councilor-at-large and three terms as council president, was the last remaining member of the inaugural 2008 council formed under the town's mayor-council charter. Former Mayor Joe Sullivan attended in person to honor Ryan, calling him the longest-serving councilor in the town's history, and Mayor Erin Joyce presented a formal certificate recognizing "over 20 years of service." On the policy side, the council voted 7-0 twice to adopt local options under the Massachusetts HERO Act: one motion doubles existing veterans real estate exemption amounts by 100 percent beginning in fiscal year 2027, and a second adds an automatic annual Consumer Price Index adjustment going forward. Finance Director Mike Esmond estimated the combined cost at roughly $235,000 per year, to be funded through the overlay reserve, with about 250 veterans or their survivors currently eligible. Two new councilors will be sworn in at a reorganization meeting January 2, 2026.