City Council
Full Council will meet TONIGHT and vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Request to allow six single-family attached dwellings at 71 Commonwealth Avenue and 15 Algonquin Road
- Request for an extension of time to exercise previously approved special permit (2nd story addition) at 12 Cochituate Road
- Request for a nonconforming front setback (reconstruction of garage) at 80 Highland Avenue
- Request to extend a demolish an existing one-story dwelling and construct a nonconforming two-family dwelling at 152-154 Lexington Street
- Request to amend previously approved special permit for conversion of office building to residential use at 46 Farwell Street
- Two reappointments to Urban Design Commission: William Winkler and James Doolin
- Amendment to require permitted haulers to provide bundled trash & recycling service
- No Action Necessary on an ordinance request to require a universal recycling service
- Two reappointments to the Conservation Commission: Susan Lunin and Jeffrey Zabel
- Reappointment of Beth Wilkinson to the Urban Tree Commission
- Requesting authorization for Home Rule petition to allow the Mayor to appoint retired Firefighters, to be able to perform fire details and to perform dispatch duties
- Request to transfer $450,000 to Traffic Safety – Regular Salaries to fulfill two 3-year agreements with AFSCME 2913 spanning FY2019-2021 and FY2022-2024
- Request to appropriate $244,821.31 from FY2022 Free Cash for Homeless Student Transportation
- Request to transfer $125,000 from Human Resources Full -Time Salaries Account to Human Resources Department Consultants Account
The New Docket includes the following:
- Request to allow four single-family attached dwellings in two buildings at 77 Hartford Street
- Request to further increase nonconforming FAR, to allow an accessory building with a footprint exceeding 700 square feet, and for a dormer within three feet of the intersecting wall at 20 Norwood Avenue
- Request to add 40 patio seats and remove six parking stalls, and amend a previously approved Special Permit at 344-346 Elliot Street (Dunn Gaherins)
- Four Reappointments and one appointment:
- Julie Winsett to Urban Tree Commission
- James Harper to the Farm Commission
- Gary C. du Moulin to the Biosafety Committee
- Carl F. Valente to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee
- Appointment of David R. Gane to the Design Review Committee
- Recommendation to approve 2023 Preliminary Election date: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
- Request for postponement of further financial commitments on future artificial turf projects
- Discussion on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan and the Sustainable Materials Management Division and Countryside School Project
- Request for Approval of roadway infrastructure improvements for the Albemarle Traffic Calming Project
- Request for a grant of location by National Grid for gas main installation in Valentine Street
- Appropriation Requests:
- $1.15 million for Franklin Elementary School
- $1,400,000 from FY22 Free Cash for “Bridge Grant” to NPS for out-of-district placement costs for FY2024
- $10,000,000 from FY22 Free Cash for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School construction project
- Discussion on the percentage growth rate to fully fund the Pension Trust and its impact on the City Budget
Land Use will meet on Tuesday and discuss the following:
- Request to amend a previously approved special permit to allow for the construction of two dormers at 12 Lake Terrace
- Request to further extend nonconforming FAR with front and rear additions at 6 Ferncroft Road
- Request to exceed FAR by raising the ridgeline, increasing the roof pitch, and constructing two-story additions at 49 Lenox Street
- Request to amend a previously approved Special Permit to allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height in a setback at 44 Ballard Street
There will be no City Council committee meetings (Programs and Services, Public Safety and Transportation, and Public Facilities) on Wednesday (see Meeting Cancellation Notice).
School Committee
Negotiation Sub-Committee will meet in executive session on Monday, April 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA
School Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday, April 3 to discuss the following:
- Interim Superintendent Update: Budget Overview
- Approve 1-day Liquor Licenses for Cabot and Zervas. See Cabot letter and Zervas letter.
- Approve Out-of-State Field Trips. See Memo.
- Discuss the Superintendent’s FY24 Budget – Elementary and Secondary Education. See FY2024 Superintendent Proposed Budget.
Negotiations Subcommittee will meet in executive session on Tuesday, April 4 to conduct a collective bargaining session with the NTA, Units A-E, and discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA.
Boards and Commissions
Planning and Development Board: Public Hearing on FY2024 Action Plan and deliberation and potential vote on the request to rezone 11 Florence Street/318 Boylston Street for a Sunrise Senior housing with services complex (5-story building with 120 beds/95 units, and 46 parking spaces).
Newton Housing Authority: acquisition of property.
Countryside School Building Committee: Design Options Review
Human Rights Commission: Student Reports, Police Reports, and Complaints received
Fair Housing Committee: Review Draft Comments to HUD on the proposed rule on Affirmatively
Furthering Fair Housing; Affordable Lottery packet for Riverdale – Allee on the Charles
Commission on Disability – Newton-Wellesley Hospital Subcommittee: Accessibility and project updates
Retirement Board: Evaluation and discussion with actuary, Kathy Riley regarding possible changes to the pension funding schedule
Newton Highlands Area Council: 1149-1151 Walnut Street sold on March 31st, Levingston Cove, Village Day, Zoning redesign, Village Enhancement Project
Other
Interim School Superintendent Kathy Smith released the proposed NPS FY2024 Budget. Cuts include 56.4 staff, despite the addition of $9.775 million plus an additional $1.4 million bridge grant from the City for out-of-district tuition.
Gath Pool Project advances as the site plan was approved last week by the Design Review Committee (see Meeting Recording).
The Resource Recovery Center spring hours are now in effect: open Monday – Saturday 7AM – 2:30PM. Closed Sundays and Holidays, including Monday, April 17 in observance of Patriot’s Day.
This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.