City Council Reports - 6/19/2022

Public Safety and Transportation and Finance – June 6, 2022 – Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The item to review and possibly amend the Tiger Parking Permit program was held.

Land Use – June 7, 2022 Committee Report (Report not posted in the Friday packet) – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Land Use Committee voted to approve the following:

Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raise a portion of the roof and allow construction of a furnace, further extending the nonconforming height at 33 Industrial Place – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a new parking area allowing for parking stalls within the front setback at 326 Lake Avenue – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a second‐story sunroom within the existing footprint, further increasing the nonconforming FAR at 58 Greenlawn Avenue – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order
Request for a Two-Year Extension of Time to exercise a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to allow expansion of a garage to create a two‐car a detached garage, in excess of 700 sq. ft. and to allow dormers with widths exceeding 50% of the length of the wall plane below at 449 Commonwealth Avenue– See Special Permit documents
Request for an Extension of Time to exercise a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to raze the existing single‐family dwelling and construct seven single-family attached dwellings in three buildings, to reduce the frontage requirement, to reduce the side setback requirement, to allow three‐stories, to exceed maximum lot coverage, to allow a retaining wall greater than 4’ in the setback and to allow a driveway in the side setback at 956 Walnut Street – See Special Permit documents
Request for an Extension of Time to exercise a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to convert a two‐family dwelling into a three‐unit multi-family dwelling by converting the existing attic space, allow parking within 5’ of residential dwelling units, to waive the minimum aisle width requirements, to waive driveway width, and to waive lighting requirements at 20‐22 Circuit Avenue – See Special Permit documents

Public Safety & Transportation – June 8, 2022 – Committee Report (Part 1)– Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted to approve the following:

Request confirmation of Greg Gentile as Newton’s Fire Chief pursuant to Section 3-3 of the City Charter.
Request to appropriate and expend $1,625,000 from the June 30, 2021, Certified Free Cash Account to Fire Rescue Overtime Account. See Free Cash Expenditures List.
Request to amend Chapter 19, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Sec. 19-1. Definitions to include Live Parking: The parking of a vehicle with a driver or operator in attendance.
Request for a Public Auto License – Mindful Livery LLC
Request for triennial renewal of two Needham Shuttle Bus Licenses – 128 Business Council
Submission by Police Department of semi-annual taxi license/public auto inspections for review
Submission by Police Department of semi-annual taxi license/public auto inspections for review

All other items were held.

Public Facilities – June 8, 2022 – Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here The Public Facilities Committee voted to approve the following:

Request to transfer and expend $175,000 from Snow and Ice Overtime ($45,000) and June 30, 2021, Free Cash ($130,000) to Snow and Ice Vehicle Rental/Contractors Account. See Free Cash Expenditures List.
Request to transfer $1,000,000 from DPW Street Division Full-Time Wages Account to support the continuation of the improvement of the City’s Transportation Network/Roads Program.

The Committee voted No Action Necessary on the following items:

Request for a discussion with the Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Inspectional Services Department regarding sidewalk obstruction, enforcement, regulation, and operating procedures during construction used to ensure safety for non-motorized road users.
Request for a discussion with the Department of Public Works and the Planning Department regarding Traffic Calming prioritization, selection of methods, the effectiveness of completed projects, pending requests, adequacy of current funding and personnel, and timetable for addressing pending and new requests at current resource levels.

All other items were held.

Programs and Services – June 8, 2022 – Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Programs and Services Committee voted to approve the following:

Request for a discussion of possible amendments to strengthen the ordinances relating to leaf blower activity, including adjustment of fines to $300 after a warning, [and consolidation of leaf blower violation fines in one section].
Request for a discussion of possible amendments to strengthen the ordinances relating to leaf blower activity including clarification of alteration of the manufacturer’s label as an offense.
Request to transfer $125,0000 from Current Year Budget Reserve to fund engineering consultants required for the design of the turn fields at the high schools.
Request to appropriate and expend $184,244 from June 30, 2021, Certified Free Cash to resurface the tennis court complex (10 courts) at Newton North High School.
Request to transfer $80,000 from the PRC Public Grounds Maintenance Full-Time Wages Account to the following accounts: Beaut-Grounds Maintenance – $12K; Pub Grounds Maintenance – $13K; Pub Grounds Maintenance – $30K; Rec Buildings Electricity – $15K; and Rec Vehicles – Gas/Diesel – $10K.
Request to transfer and expend $360,000 from the following accounts: Financial Services – Savings from Attrition – $280,0000; and IT – Savings from Attrition – $80,000 to a Parks, Recreation, and Culture project account to fund the resurfacing of the Newton Centre Playground.
Reappointment of Eileen Sandberg to the Commission on Disability
Three Reappointments to the Newton Free Library Board of Trustees:
- Sharon Stout
- Jean Notis-McConarty
- Geline Williams

All other items were held.

Finance – June 13, 2022 Committee Report – The Finance Committee voted to approve the following:

Request to accept, appropriate, and expend $58,239.50 from the Mass Department of Public Health to be used in the City’s efforts to enhance the COVID-19 public health response
Request to accept and expend a $198,605 MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Grant for the Albemarle Traffic Calming and Bike Lanes project
Request to accept and expend a $48,000 MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Grant for the installation of four Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Request to appropriate and expend $1,625,000 from the June 30, 2021, Certified Free Cash account to Fire Rescue Overtime – See Free Cash Expenditures
Request to transfer $75.000 from Human Resources Full-Time Salaries account to a project account to provide technical support to the Newton Police Department
Request to transfer and expend $175,000 from Snow and Ice Overtime ($45,000) and June 30, 2021 Free Cash ($130,000) to Snow and Ice Vehicle Rental/Contractors Account. See Free Cash Expenditures List.
Request to transfer $1,000,000 from DPW Street Division Full-Time Wages Account to support the continuation of the improvement of the City’s Transportation Network/Roads Program.
Request to approve certain sidewalk/driveway apron and/or curb betterments; said betterments to be levied under the provision of MGL Chapter 83, Sec. 26, authorizing the assessments of betterments for construction (see agenda for list)
Request to transfer $50,000 from the Main Library Full-Time Salaries Account to the Library Building Repairs and Maintenance Account to fund the emergency repairs to the Library HVAC system
Request to transfer $24,000 from the Municipal Building Maintenance Building Improvements Account to the Public Building Maintenance Overtime Account
Request to transfer $220,000 from the Maint Library – Full-Time Salaries Account to the Building Demolition/Other Repairs for the emergency demolition of a residential structure located at 91 Newtonville Avenue
Request to transfer $125,000 from Current Year Budget Reserve to fund engineering consultants required for the design of the turf fields at the high schools.
Request to appropriate and expend $184,244 from June 30, 2021, Certified Free Cash to resurface the tennis court complex (10 courts) at Newton North High School. See Free Cash Expenditures
Request to transfer $80,000 from the PRC Public Grounds Maintenance Full-Time Wages Account to the following accounts: Beaut-Grounds Maintenance – $12K; Pub Grounds Maintenance – $13K; Pub Grounds Maintenance – $30K; Rec Buildings Electricity – $15K; and Rec Vehicles – Gas/Diesel – $10K.
Request to transfer and expend $360,000 from the following accounts: Financial Services – Savings from Attrition – $280,0000; and IT – Savings from Attrition – $80,000 to a Parks, Recreation, and Culture project account to fund the resurfacing of the Newton Centre Playground.
Request to appropriate $4,632,500 from June 30, 2021, Certified Free Cash to ATB Interest to hold in reserve for potential liability for an Appellate Tax Board Case filed by Eversource – See Free Cash Expenditures
Request to appropriate and expend $161,502.03 from the Law Department Full-Time Salaries Account to an account that will cover the Newton Lease Settlement Assessment that has been charged to the Newton Public Schools as part of the dissolution costs incurred by the EDCO Collaborative
Request to appropriate and expend the following amounts to cover the full cost of the FY2022 Non-Contributory Retirement System appropriate for each of the Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Enterprise: Current Year Reserve – Water – $69.095
Current Year Reserve – Sewer – $32,225
Current Year Reserve – Storm – $5,200
Request to transfer and expend $200,000 from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to the Newton Communications Access Center, Inc. (NewTV) to be used by NewTV to maintain a high level of services, including governmental services at City Hall during this period of declining cable TV revenues.
Request to provide a supplemental appropriation to the Newton Public Schools in the amount of $538.589 which is equal to the reimbursement that the City has received to the General Fund from the Mass COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave.

Zoning and Planning – June 13, 2022 Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Zoning and Planning Committee voted to approve the following:

Two appointments to the Planning and Development Board
- Lee Breckenridge
- Amy Dain
Appointment of Harvey Schorr to the Newton Historical Commission

The Committee will meet jointly with the Planning and Development Board for a public hearing on the following item:

Request to amend Chapter 30, Section 5.2, Signs regarding the regulation of non-commercial signs. See Planning Memo
Request to approve the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee to appropriate $133,002 in Community Preservation Act funding from the Unrestricted Prior Year Funds to the control of the Planning & Development Department for the completion of the 100% design of the Commonwealth Avenue Carriageway Redesign project in Auburndale
Re-appointment of Paul Snyder to the Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission

Land Use – June 14, 2022 Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Land Use Committee voted to approve the following:

Request for a Consistency Ruling relative to the Washington Place (TRIO) Special Permit’s condition #8 – Transportation Demand Management (TDM)Subsidy Program – see Memo from Planning and Letter from Mark Development attached to the agenda.
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to reconstruct the roof and add front and rear dormers, further increasing nonconforming FAR at 73‐75 Ripley Street – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order
Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit/Site Plan Approval and to amend the Restrictive Covenant recorded at the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds and request an additional waiver of parking stalls at 148 California Street – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order and Draft Council Order – 2
Request for a Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to install a free‐standing sign and to allow exceptions to the number and size of secondary signs at 1210‐1230 Washington Street – See Special Permit documents and see Draft Council Order

Real Property Reuse Committee – June 15, 2022 Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Real Property Reuse Committee held the only item on its agenda: A request by the Director of Planning and Development to make available for sale or lease, an 1157 sq. ft. City-owned parcel of land located on Whitlowe Road –

Public Facilities and Programs and Services – June 16, 2022 Committee Report – Watch the meeting on NewTV here. The Public Facilities Committee and the Programs and Services Committee voted to approve the following:

Request for 5-58 schematic design and site plan approval at 150 Jackson Road for the demolition and replacement of the existing former chapel and convent structures with the design of a new 24,000 SF addition and to renovate the remainder of the former Aquinas Junior College to become the new location for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School.

Traffic Council – June 16, 2022 Report: The Traffic Council voted to approve the following:

Request to review and potentially change the parking regulations along all or a portion of Gardner Street, in order to balance resident parking needs with current and future school-related parking needs. NOTE: The Council held this item for a trial of Option 5 which removes all existing parking regulations on Gardner Street. Option 5 adds the following parking regulations on Gardner Street:
- Parking prohibited, all times, all days, east side;
- Parking prohibited, all times, all days, south side;
- No restrictions, any time, north side (remove all posted signage); and
- 15-minute limit, school days
Request for discussion and possible action to relocate the accessible parking space currently located on the south side of Gardner Street, in front of 22 Gardner Street, across the street to the north side of Gardner Street, as a safety improvement
Request to add ‘STOP’ signage to the Silver Lake Avenue eastbound and westbound approaches to Adams Street.
Request to add a STOP sign to the Grove Hill Avenue southbound approach to Lakeview Avenue.
Request to add a STOP sign to the Prospect Street westbound approach to Beaumont Avenue – Approved as Amended
Request to add a STOP sign to the Adena Road northbound and southbound approaches to Derby Street.
Request for a parking restriction near the site driveway of the proposed cannabis dispensary at 131 Rumford Avenue. In the event said restriction is approved, a new sign will be installed at the petitioner’s expense east of the driveway reflecting said restriction; in the event the proposed new restriction is not approved, a new sign will be installed, at the petitioner’s expense, west of the site driveway reflecting the existing parking condition.
Request for a long-term and flexible trial to be followed by potential changes to the official Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) for Bridges Avenue. These changes were made to support the opening of the new Cabot School and include changes to various elements of the TPR such as parking regulations and direction of travel. NOTE: This item was held in 2019 for a trial.
Request for a long-term and flexible trial to be followed by potential changes to the official Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) for East Side Parkway. These changes were made to support the opening of the new Cabot School and include changes to various elements of the TPR such as the implementation of a blue zone and changes to parking regulations. NOTE: This item was held in 2019 for a trial.
Request for a long-term and flexible trial to be followed by potential changes to the official Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) for Parkview Avenue. These changes support the opening of the new Cabot School and include changes to various elements of the TPR such as closing the connection to Cabot Street, removal of the old blue zone and stop sign, and changes to parking regulations, access, and circulation. NOTE: This item was held in 2019 for a trial.
Request for a long-term and flexible trial to be followed by potential changes to the official Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR) for Norwood Avenue. These changes support the opening of the new Cabot School and include changes to various elements of the TPR such as parking regulations, access, and direction of travel. NOTE: This item was held in 2019 for a trial.
Request to update the TPR to add a stop sign at the intersection of Melrose Street at Ash Street, to match existing posted signage. Note that this item makes no change in the field and fixes an omission in the Traffic and Parking Regulations.

City Council Reports – 6/19/2022

...Other News...