The Public Facilities Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch video on NewTV):
- Request to appropriate and expend $4,120,000 and authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the construction and engineering services for the City of Newton Pump Station Rehabilitation CIP Project 1 and design for Project 2 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 like amount – (amended to $4,127,000 due to a typo in the original request)
- Request to amend the City of Newton Ordinances regarding trash and recycling (Chapter 11 and Chapter 17) to allow the City to create a mattress recycling program needed to comply with a significant upcoming change in MassDEP regulations for mattresses. Sustainable Materials Management Director, Waneta Trabert explained that the City must create a mattress recycling program because Mass DEP will begin banning mattress disposal beginning November 1, 2022 (see Mattress Recycling, and Mattress and Textile Waste Ban FAQs). She reported that they have selected a vendor (selected from one of five Massachusetts contracted vendors) who will provide services at a fixed price for 2 years. Residents will be able to drop off mattresses and boxsprings at Rumford Avenue at a cost of $35/item or can elect to have curbside pick up at a cost of $50/item. The program is anticipated to begin before November 1st.
- Requesting authorization to transfer $250,000 from the Building Improvements Account (under $75K projects) to a new account.
- Request to approve a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) recommendation to appropriate $75,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding from FY2023 Historic Resource Reserve Fund to complete the first phase of the Jackson Homestead Basement Restoration Project by hiring a preservation consultant to develop plans to remediate the existing water and humidity issues in order to preserve the historic structure and protect its important collections.
The Request to appropriate $50,000 from the Special Permit fees, Austin and Lowell Account, to improve safety for all users by constructing traffic flow changes at two intersections on Lowell Avenue, was held. The Director of Transportation, Jason Sobel, explained that this is a traffic calming project at the intersections of Austin Street and Lowell Avenue and Hull Street and Lowell Avenue and will consist of bump outs and medians. The Administration is requesting to use $50K from the Special Permit account and the remaining to be paid out of the operating budget. Councilors expressed concern about where the rest of the funds would come from, requested additional information, and held the item.