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City Council Meetings – Week of April 10th

By Amy Sangiolo on April 18, 2022

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. (Typo in the agenda).

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

The agenda includes the following:

Request to transfer $50,000 from Elections-Work by Other Depts. to fund the reconfiguration of some of the office space in the City Clerk’s Office
Request to transfer $80,000 from Full-Time Salaries, Clinical Health, to fund the reconfiguration of some of the office space in the Health & Human Services Department
Request to accept and expend $49,340 from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Grant to be used for the solar project at 303 Nahanton Street at Newton’s Angino Farm consisting of 30 solar panels (10.1 KW) to be mounted on the roof of the barn.
Request to transfer $20,000 from the City’s Energy Stabilization Fund for the required City matching share to complete the solar project at 303 Nahanton Street at Newton’s Angino Farm
Recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee to appropriate $88,554 in Community Preservation Act funds from the FY22 Unrestricted funds to the control of the Planning Development Department for a grant to the Newton Community Farm for the rehabilitation and restoration of the ca. 1855 farmhouse including excessive water and moisture remediation and the installation of a new electrical system, water heater and kitchen ceiling.
Request to accept and expend an $81,250 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.
Request to establish a departmental revolving account within the Department of Public Works Fleet Division per MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2. The revenue is being generated from the sale of surplus Public Works equipment and parts through government auctions. The Department would like to request an annual spending limit of $200,000.
Request to establish a departmental revolving account within the Department of Public Works Engineering Division per MGL Chapter 44, Section 53E1/2 to allow for National Grid payments-owned road repairs. The account would have an annual spending limit of $500,000.
Request to appropriate and expend an amount of funds and authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the replacement of the residential water meter system and project oversight and authorization to apply any premium received upon the sale of the bonds or notes, less the cost of preparing, issuing, and marketing them, and any accrued interest received upon the delivery of the bonds or notes to the costs of the project and to reduce the amount authorized to be borrowed for the project by a like amount. NOTE: The Public Facilities approved as amended to $16,625,000

Zoning and Planning Committee

The Zoning and Planning Committee will meet virtually on Monday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

The agenda includes the following:

Appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals
- Jennifer Pucci
Two appointments for Alternate membership to the Newton Historic Commission
- John Sisson
- Anne Marie Stein
Request for review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, business districts, and village districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance. (formerly #88-20) – See Zoning and Planning Slides
Request for review of and possible amendments to, Section 6.7.1 Accessory Apartments, to remove barriers to creating accessory apartments – consider conditions under which detached ADUs may be allowed by right, and under which ADUs may be permitted as part of new construction. See Planning Memo
Request on behalf of the Climate & Sustainability Team, for a discussion with the Sustainability Team and Planning Department, and to amend the zoning ordinance (Section 5.13, notable 5.13.4.D Reserved) to regulate embodied carbon in large new construction, to further the objectives of the city’s Climate Action Plan. See Planning Memo
Request a Resolution from the City Council confirming its support for pursuing an ordinance that would require large property owners to report annual energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and then reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions over time, to further the objectives of the Newton Climate Action Plan.
Request for a discussion and possible ordinance amendments with the Planning Department and the Sustainability Directors regarding allowing the utilization of electric vehicle charging stations on private commercial parking lots BY CITY ORDINANCES, including but not limited to the use of digital advertising to pay for the stations and provide free charging to customers. (formerly #340-21)

Land Use Committee

The Land Use Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 15th at 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

The agenda includes the following:

Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow an updated Comprehensive Sign package to include relief as follows; to allow freestanding signs, to allow a freestanding sign exceeding 100 square feet, and to waive the definition and maximum size of directional signs at 1‐55 Boylston Street – See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to convert a detached garage to an accessory apartment that reduces side and front setback requirements at 88 High Street – See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a two‐story addition and single-story one‐car garage addition, exceeding the maximum allowed FAR, reducing the required setback, and to construct a retaining wall within a setback exceeding the maximum allowed height at 42 Oakwood Road – See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a new garage greater than 700 sq. ft. with accommodation for more than three vehicles, and to waive end stall maneuvering space at 244 Dudley Road – See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raze the existing structure and construct a three-story single‐family dwelling, exceeding the maximum allowed FAR at 115 Elinor Road – See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo

Joint Finance and Programs and Services Committee

The Finance Committee and the Programs and Services Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 13th at 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

Chair’s Note: If necessary, this meeting may be continued on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 7:00pm.
Please see the Finance and Programs & Services Committee Agenda for the April 14, 2022 meeting at
the following link: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/city‐clerk/city‐council/friday‐packet. (Link doesn’t work for me).

The agenda includes the following:

DEPARTMENT BUDGET & CIP DISCUSSIONS:
School Department

See the following:

Submittal of the Fiscal Years 2023 to 2027 Capital Improvement Plan pursuant to Section 5‐3 of the Newton City Charter
Submittal, in accordance with Section 5‐1 of the City of Newton Charter the FY23 Municipal/School Operating Budget, the passage of which shall be concurrent with the FY23‐FY27 Capital Improvement Program – NOTE: EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUBMISSION 04/19/22; LAST DATE TO PASS THE BUDGET 06/03/22
Submittal of the FY23 – FY27 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan.

In addition, the Finance Committee will take up the following:

Councilor Norton requesting a discussion regarding the school finance shortfalls and how that has impacted the schools and the city budget.

Joint Finance and Programs and Services Committee

The Finance Committee and the Programs and Services Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, April 14th at 7:00 p.m.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

Chair’s Note: If necessary, this meeting shall be continued from Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

The agenda includes the following:

See the following:

Submittal of the Fiscal Years 2023 to 2027 Capital Improvement Plan pursuant to Section 5‐3 of the Newton City Charter
Submittal, in accordance with Section 5‐1 of the City of Newton Charter the FY23 Municipal/School Operating Budget, the passage of which shall be concurrent with the FY23‐FY27 Capital Improvement Program – NOTE: EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUBMISSION 04/19/22; LAST DATE TO PASS THE BUDGET 06/03/22
Submittal of the FY23 – FY27 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan.