What’s Up in Newton this week – 4/9/2023

City Council

Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday to discuss the following:

Request to submit the FY2024 Annual Action Plan to HUD for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) funds and the West Metro HOME Consortium.
Metrics to amend version 2 of the Village Center Overlay District including incentivizing affordable units and other standards and how other ordinances control “by-right” development.

Finance will meet on Monday to discuss the following:

Request discussion regarding use of revolving accounts
Request to establish a departmental revolving account within the Department of Public Works Fleet Division (revenue generated from the sale of surplus DPW equipment and parts through a government auction)
Reappointment of Carl F. Valente to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee
No Action Necessary motion to be made on request to approve authorization for Mayor to appropriate state reimbursement for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Transportation.

Financial Audit Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the following:

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to discuss the following:

Appointments: James Cote to the Licensing Board, Harry Meade to the Biosafety Committee, and Bill Dain and Maureen Sullivan to the Human Rights Commission
Reappointments: Julie Winsett to Urban Tree Commission, James Harper to the Farm Commission, and Gary C. du Moulin to the Biosafety Committee
Request to advance the City Seal Working Group’s recommendation to update the City Seal
Transfer request of $150,000 for outside counsel to continue the work of Deputy City Solicitor Jeffrey Honig
Tree Ordinance Amendments – Councilor and Mayor/Tree Warden Version

Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to discuss the following:

Appointment of David Gane to the Design Review Committee
Installation and maintenance of gas main in Valentine Street
Update on the Sustainable Materials Management Division and Countryside School Project
Appropriation and bonding request for $1,150,000 for feasibilitt study for Franklin Elementary School building project

Public Safety and Transportation meeting has been canceled (see Meeting Cancellation Notice).

School Committee will meet three times this week:

School Committee will have a special meeting on Monday to discuss the following: Interim Superintendent Update, Countryside Design Enrollment and Space Program, and the Superintendent’s Proposed FY2024 Budget –Business, Finance & Planning/Information Technology and Library Services
Negotiations Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday to conduct a collective bargaining session with NESA and discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with NESA.
School Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the following:
- Doe V. NPS, Public Hearing on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY2024 Budget, Interim Superintendent Update, Social Emotional Learning Update, and FY24 Budget Review. See Public Hearing Notice.

Commission on Disability will meet on Monday to discuss the following:

Reports on CDBG, accessible fines, Treasurer, ADA Coordinator, Publicity and Logistics discussion on the Me2/Concert, making fairs and festival more accessible and commission goals

Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Monday to discuss the following:

Update on the City’s Existing Housing Projects and Initiatives, the Trust’s Priorities for types of projects to be funded including whether the Trust will fund pre-development proposals, review the application process and deadlines, publicizing the Affordable Housing Trust Program, and update on Village Center Overlay and review of affordability incentives.

Auburndale Historic District Commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss the following:

Installation of heat pump, conduits, and install roof vents at 348 Central Street (see Application)
Renovation of 136-144 Hancock Street, construction of an addition, two duplex townhouses, and site and hardscaping changes at 136-144 Hancock Street and 169 Grove Street, Walker Center.

Licensing Commission will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the following:

One-Day Temporary Entertainment License for a Concert on April 15 at the War Memorial in City Hall

Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss the following:

City Updates, review of Economic Development Strategy to strengthen village centers, zoning update, facilitating owning and operating businesses, bottling of alcoholic beverages, California Street study, and DEI

Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the following:

Public Hearing on the Athletic Fields Improvements Plan Construction Phase – $9,163,911.52 in CPA Recreation Funding review and approval of the length of bond for the Gath Pool Project, approval of the FY24 Budget for CPA Administrative Funds, status report, review of CPA Program Information Session, review of existing and potential future projects and review of current finances.

Conservation Commission will meet on Tuesday to discuss the following:

Informal discussion regarding Gath Pool and park area redevelopment
Addition and landscape improvements – 70 Kingswood Road
Installation of fence in a floodplain – 249 Winchester Street
First and Second-Floor additions at 370 Quinobequin Road
Informal discussion regarding removal of a large oak in riverfront area – 178 Quinobequin Road
Extension on an Order of Conditions for Dunstan East
Request for Certificate of Compliance for a sunroom addition – 56 Roosevelt
Request for Guidance on minimum standards for ‘mitigation’ in Riverfront Area

Design Review Committee will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

Final Design Update for NewCAL
Exterior Design Updates and Lobby/Library Design Updates for Lincoln-Eliot School Project

Youth Commission will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:

Earth Day, Trades Industry Panel, Teen/Parent Workshop with Samaritans, and discussion with Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan

The City of Newton submitted this comment letter to the MBTA regarding the City of Newton FY 2024-2028 Capital Investment Plan Comments.

This week’s road construction schedule can be found here.