What’s Up in Newton this week – 4/30/2023

=>Key Points this Week<=

Mayor Fuller will present the FY2024 Municipal/School Operating Budget and the FY24 – FY28 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan after first call of Reports at the City Council Meeting TONIGHT.

City Council to vote on $1.15M for Franklin School feasibility study and ordinance regulating embodied carbon in new construction.

City Council will meet as a Committee of the Whole to discuss the Retirement Board’s request to increase Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) base for retirees and have a discussion with the Mayor regarding all one-time funds.

A citizens group has filed a petition to place a nonbinding advisory question on the ballot regarding the adoption of new zoning laws.

City Council

The Full City Council will meet TONIGHT and is expected to vote on the following:

Request for a free-standing sign at 1010 Chestnut Street
Request to add 40 patio seats and remove six parking stalls at 344-346 Elliot Street/Dunn Gaherins
Request to further increase FAR, allow an accessory building > 700 sq. ft. and a dormer at 20 Norwood Avenue
Request to allow four single-family attached dwellings in two buildings at 77 Hartford Street
Appointment of Joel Shames to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
Request for an ordinance to regulate embodied carbon in new construction
Recommendation to approve 2023 Preliminary Election date – Tuesday, September 12
Request for a grant of location to install and maintain a gas main in Parker Avenue
Approval of roadway infrastructure improvements for the Ablemarle Traffic Calming Project
Reappointment of Robert Hnasko to the Design Review Committee
Appropriate $1.15 million for Franklin Elementary School
Acceptance of two Dynamic Speed Feedback and School Zone Speed Limit Sign Assemblies through the MassDOT Safet Routes to School Program
Authorization to enter into a 5-year contract – Parking Enforcement Services Vendor
Authorization to enter into a 5-year contract – investment management services for the John C. Chaffin fund
Request to transfer $150,000 from Law Department Full Time Salaries to retain outside counsel to continue work of Deputy City Solicitor Jeffrey Honig
Acceptance of Submittal of the ACFR, and external audit reports

The New Docket includes the following:

Special Permit Requests:
- Request to use existing “shell space” for a 24 in-patient beds at Newton Wellesley Hospital
- Request to construct an attached two-car garage with living space at 46 Valley Spring Road
- Request to convert the personal training facility to a physical therapy office at 552-564 Commonwealth Avenue
- Request to construct a detached garage structure at 50 Elmore Street
Citizens Group Petition to place a nonbinding advisory question on the ballot regarding the adoption of new zoning laws
Request for a home rule petition to extend the ground lease with the Newton Community Development Foundation for Warren House for an additional 34 years
Appointment of Alexandra Fuchs as a Newton Library Trustee
An appeal of the approval of a stop sign at the northwest corner of Clark Street and Rowena Road
Request for a discussion regarding security measures and incidents during the 2023 Boston Marathon
Request for a discussion regarding the residential parking program
Submittal of semi-annual public auto inspections
Request to appropriate $55,000 for settlement – Alison Larkin v City of Newton – (C.A. No 2085-CV-00283)
Request to appropriate $525,000 for settlement – John Doe, Jane Doe, and David Doe v Newton Public Schools – (C.A. No. 19-CV-12293-PBS)
Request to transfer $200,000 for the Newton Free Library HVAC system
Request to transfer $1,500,000 from Reserve for Snow & Ice Removal and $250,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to the Rainy Day Stabilization Fund
Request to appropriate $140,000 from the B.A.A Marathon to a Parks, Recreation & Culture Account to fund a “Heartbreak Hill” banner and playground improvements.
Request to transfer $1,500,000 from DPW Admin-Full Time Salaries to improve the City’s roadways, sidewalks, and ramps to reach the target spending of $9.5 million for FY23
Request to appropriate $1,000,000 from June 30, 2022 Free Cash to DPW’s Vehicle Equipment Account to fund the vehicle replacements
Request to appropriate $9,099,787 to the control of the Planning & Development Department from the Community Preservation Act Funds with $4,099,787 from the CPA’s Unrestricted Prior Year Fund and $5,000,000 for the Athletic Fields CIP Construction Phase III project
Submittal of the FY24 Municipal/School Operating Budget
Submittal of the FY24 – FY28 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan
Request for a comprehensive discussion with the Mayor regarding all one-time funds
Request to transfer $21,950 to fund the purchase of an Online Code Management program
Acceptance of a $2,500 grant from the Mass Cultural Council to support Family FunFest – May 13 -14
Acceptance of a $15,830 grant from the Mass Cultural Council to support the Cultural Development’s recovery efforts due to COVID-19 pandemic
Request to appropriate $250,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to Clerk of the Council-Election Equipment to replace 32 current machines as well as one high-speed tabulator to address the increase in vote-by-mail processing
Request to appropriate $1,500,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash for Fire Rescue Overtime
Request to appropriate $750,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash for the Newton Free Library’s HVAC system

City Council will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday:

Request by the Retirement Board to approve an increase to the retiree Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) base
Request for a comprehensive discussion with the Mayor regarding all one-time funds,
Request to appropriate and expend $1,400,000 from FY2022 Free Cash to provide a “bridge grant” to Newton Public Schools
Request to appropriate and expend $10,000,000 in FY2022 Free Cash for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School construction project

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following departmental budgets:

City Clerk. Newton History Museum, Library, and Parks, Recreation, and Culture

Public Safety and Transportation Committee meeting has been canceled.

Public Facilities Committee will meet on Thursday, May 4:

Request to transfer $1,500,000 from DPW Admin-Full Time Salaries to DPW Admin – Paving Supplies account to allow DPW to reach the target spending of $9.5 million for FY2023.
Request to appropriate and expend $1,000,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to the Department of Public Works Vehicle Equipment Account to fund the vehicle replacements.
Department Budgets and CIP discussions will include the following:
- Department of Public Works

Schools

The Negotiations Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday: Discussion of Level 3 Grievance filed by NTA.

Boards and Commissions

Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday:

Continued Deliberation/Potential Vote to rezone 11 Florence/318 Boylston to BU4
Village Center Zoning Version 2.0/ MBTA Communities Law Compliance Discussion
Landmark Update

Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday:

CPA Program Presentation: What is the Community Preservation Program and what can it do?
Review of Funding Categories and Project Possibilities

Newton Fair Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday: Housing Navigator Presentation, Fair Housing Training for Landlords and Tenants

Newton Historical Commission will meet on Wednesday:

Determination of Violation at 175 Evelyn Road
Preservation Restriction on a Window Replacement Project – Warren House
Section 106 Review for 1135-1137 Washington Street – West Newton Armory
Settlement of Violation – 8 Central Street
3 Total Demolition Requests: 104 Beethoven Avenue, 38 Kappius Path, 11 Jasset Street
4 Partial Demolition Requests: 7 Kingswood Road, 462 Waltham Street, 14 Crystal Street, and 802 Walnut Street –
2 Waiver of Demolition Delay Requests: 408 Woodward Street and 166 Wiswall Road

WestMetro Home Consortium will meet on Thursday:

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) Update – Fair Housing Testing Program, MAPC Overnight Parking Utilization Study, FY21 and FY22 HOME Monitoring update and schedule, FY24 Annual Action Plan update, HOME ARP-Allocation Plan update and next steps

Newtonville Local Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday:

Installation of a skylight at 58 Page Road –
Installation of a makeup air unit at 218 Walnut Street –

Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday:

Eagle Scout, Nathan Kessler’s boardwalk proposal for the Webster Conservation Area
- Deck and stair replacement project at 39 Vernale Road
- Tear-down of a single-family home and construction of a duplex at 435 Albemarle Road –
- Perimeter fence at 176 Dedham Street
- First and second floor additions and new deck at 370 Quinobequin Road
- Extension request for a Chapter 40B development project at 15 Riverdale

Newton Farm Commission will meet on Thursday:

Financials Q1, 2023, Farm Operations, Solar Installation Update, Opus Blasting, Insurance

Newton Highland Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday:

Northland Charlemont 3D Model
“Needham/Newton Community Way” study
Bicycle/Pedestrian Network Plan
Levingston Cove construction status/timelime
Crystal Lake regulations regarding music and barbecuing
Village Day
Village Enhancement project
Traffic enforcement
Outdoor dining impact on sidewalks
Zoning redesign: Update on fiscal analysis and Village Center / MBTA Communities 2.0 maps

Other

The Newton Schools Foundation will host its speaker-packed fundraiser, Newton Inspires, on Thursday, May 6 at 6PM at Newton South High School. Tickets can be purchased here.

Newton Community Farm will hold an Open House on Saturday, May 6, 4PM-6PM. The event includes a dedication of the Dr. Eugene Rubin Greenhouse and a ribbon cutting for the solar array. In addition, City Energy Coach Liora Silkes, environmental organizations such as the Newton Conservators and Green Newton, and energy vendors Resonant Energy and Ace Solar will be on hand to provide information.