The City Council voted to move forward with the request to appropriate $3,240,000 in FY2022 Free Cash for synthetic turf carpet and infill materials, installation, and construction oversight to replace the two synthetic turf fields at Newton South High School and to resurface the perimeter track at the school’s Winkler Stadium. (Video of the meeting is on NewTV.)
Councilor Downs made a motion to delay the item in anticipation of a 50-person/resident petition expected to be docketed (in accordance with Article 10, Section 10-2 of the Newton Charter), calling for the Council to postpone any immediate action for new or replacement artificial turf anywhere in Newton pending the completion, public presentation, and public hearing to study the use of playing fields and learn more about and discuss the health, environmental, and economic costs of grass vs. turf fields.
The motion failed, with 10 Councilors voting in favor of delaying the vote: Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Wright, Albright, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, and Norton. Various procedural motions were then made to move the item forward. Councilor Humphrey called the question despite Councilor Norton chartering the item (NewTV video begins at 1:13:24). President Albright ruled that because Councilor Norton was not recognized before Councilor Humphrey, the vote could proceed. Councilor Downs asked for a vote on whether to call the question, which passed (17-7), and the Council voted to approve the appropriation 19-5 (Downs, Wright, Kelley, Malakie, and Norton). Councilor Noel then moved to reconsider the vote (which means to call for the vote to stand so that the item cannot be discussed again), and that motion to reconsider failed 24-0.
