The Finance Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch video on NewTV):
- Request to appropriate and expend $12,000 from Special Permit Fees, Langley Account for the installation of two speed feedback signs on Langley Road, consistent with the intent of Special Permit #285-17, Condition 9.
- Request to appropriate and expend $11,926.50 from Special Permit Fees, Langley Streetscape Account to make repairs to ADA ramps, curbing, and sidewalks on Langley Path, consistent with the intent of Special Permit #285-17 Condition 17. The original request was for $25,000 but it was determined that the City could do the work in-house and the item was amended.
- Request to accept and expend a $272,000 MassDOT Community Connections Program grant for the Bluebikes bike share in Newton, Arlington, and Watertown Project. The Director of Transportation Planning, Nicole Freedman explained that this would allow for 2 -3 additional bike stations in Newton and discussions are ongoing on where to locate them. She responded to several questions saying that they have not located these bike stations near schools because the minimum age is 16 but are considering locating them near high schools because NewMo ridership is high and that the Planning Department works with DPW, and Parks, Rec, and Culture to determine locations and then Planning reaches out to Ward Councilors and abutters.
- Request to accept, appropriate, and expend $60,000 as a contribution to the City of Newton for the NewMo program by UMASS Amherst-Mount Ida. This item was amended from donation to contribution.
- Request to appropriate and expend $950,000 and authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the purchase of a simulcast public safety radio infrastructure 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. The Chief explained that this is the same system Boston has been using for 10 years and Quincy just switched to this system and believes it will last for 10 – 20 years.
- Request to accept, appropriate, and expend $635,454.54 from a reimbursable Assistance to Firefighter Grant through the Department of Homeland Security. The Chief explained this is the 6th year they have received this grant and it is for officer training, a confined space training course, technical rescue equipment, and for heart and cancer screening.
- Request to appropriate and expend $25,000 from Workers’ Compensation – Municipal Employee Claims and Settlements to settle a workers’ compensation claim against the City. The Workers’ Comp and Safety Manager were on hand to explain that this claim (bilateral carpel tunnel claim) was initially denied by the City and has been in litigation since March 2021. The initial demand was $50,000.
- Request to approve a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) recommendation to appropriate $486,500 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds from the FY23 Unrestricted Funds to complete Phase II of the Gath Memorial Pool Renovation Project, including the completion of construction and bidding documents, project permitting, and any other work necessary to make the project “shovel-ready”. The Building Commissioner and Parks, Recreation, and Culture Commissioner were on hand to discuss along with Lara Kritzer the CPA Program Manager. The approximate total cost of the project is estimated at $6 – $8 million. They hope construction will begin at the end of next summer because of increasing water loss and chemical usage. They are working with the NECP project and the Albemarle Park project and researching what can be done with stormwater runoff.
- Reappointment of Shawn Murphy as Constable.