What’s Up in Newton this week – 5/13/2023

=>Key Points This Week<=

Mayor Fuller issued this Summary Page to illustrate how the initiatives she is taking will help support the finances of Newton Public Schools. See Fig City News article.

Council President Albright sent this request to meet with the Retirement Board to discuss the possibility of offering additional COLA payments balanced against a slightly slower rate of growth. See Fig City News article.

The City Council will meet TONIGHT for public hearings on water and sewer rates, the Capital Improvement Plan for FY2024-2028, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for FY2024-2028. A vote is then expected on the Site Plan and $5,834,362 funding for Phase III of the Gath Pool Renovation Project.

See the committee meetings below for the following Budget Reviews this week:

• Programs and Services: Information Technology, Veterans Services, Health & Human Services, Senior Services, City Solicitor
• Public Safety and Transportation: Fire Department, Police Department

City Council

City Council will meet TONIGHT, first as a Committee of the Whole for a public hearing on Water and Sewer Rates, then the Capital Improvement Plan and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan, followed by a regular City Council meeting. Votes expected in the City Council meeting include:

• Request to transfer $1,500,000 from DPW Full-Time Salaries to DPW Admin-Paving Supplies to allow DPW to reach the target spending of $9.5 million for FY23
• Request to Appropriate $1,000,000 from Free Cash to DPW’s Vehicle Equipment Account
• 5-58 Site Plan Approval for Gath Pool and a $5,834,362 funding request from CPA funds to fund Phase III of the Gath Pool Renovation Project
• Acceptance of two grants from the Mass Cultural Council:
  • $2,500 for the Family Fun Fest that occurred this weekend
  • $15,830 to support the Cultural Development’s recovery efforts from negative COVID impacts
• Request to transfer $21,950 from City Council Full-Time Salaries Account for an Online Code Management Program
• Two requests to utilize Free Cash to pay for two legal settlements involving NPS
  • $55,000 for the full and final settlement of Alison Larkin v City of Newton
  • $525,000 for the full and final settlement of John Doe, Jane Doe and David Doe v Newton Public Schools
• Two requests to utilize Free Cash for NPS
  • $1,400,000 to provide a “bridge grant” to NPS for the increase in student out-of-district costs in FY24
  • $10,000,000 for the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School construction project

The New Docket includes the following:

• Appointments:
  • David Weinstein to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
  • Sean Dazet to the Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee
  • Vincent McKay to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission
• Reappointments:
  • John Martin and Jim Gross to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
  • Michael Rossi, Jennifer Pucci, and Stuart Snyder to the Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Tamirirashe Gambiza, Ann Houston, and Peter Sargent to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
  • Nancy Levine and John McDermott to the Election Commission
  • MaryLee Belleville to the Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee
• Discussion and possible amendments to multi-residence zones
• Citizens Group Petition to place a nonbinding advisory question on the ballot regarding adoption of Zoning Laws
• Discussion regarding enforcement of the Stormwater Ordinance
• Acceptance of grants:
  • $340,298 from the FY23 State MassTrails and accept $20,000 in donations from the Newton Conservators and the Solomon Foundation for the Marty Sender Greenway Phase 2 Restoration project
  • $75,000 earmarked in the Massachusetts State Budget to assist the City in funding the construction of a new community garden at Spears Park on the north side
  • $135,000 from the Friends of Wellington Park to add a sensory dome play structure for children of all abilities within the Wellington Park playground
  • $400,000 in a state budget earmark to assist the City in funding the improvements project at Gath Pool, including two pools and a splash pad
  • $125,000 in donations from the Friends of ColettiMagni Park to beautify the park and improve electrical infrastructure
• Expansion of Notification for Zoning Changes to each property owner and tenant (and their immediate abutters and abutters of abutters), whose property (whether owned or occupied) is being considered for inclusion in the new Village Center and/or MBTA Communities zoning districts and potential changes to the zoning code that may result in the creation of a new zone (including an overlay district), substantial revisions to the rules for the currently existing zone, and/or a change of zone for the property.
• Requests to appropriate:
  • $640,000 from Free Cash for the Newton Police IT Department
  • $250,000 from Free Cash for Police Patrol Overtime
  • $30,000 from IT Micro/Network-Full Time Salaries Account for an IT Risk Assessment
• Request to transfer $100,000 from Snow & Ice Overtime to Snow & Ice Vehicle Contractors
• Request for a discussion regarding the status of the property tax overlay surplus account including an estimate as to how much money is available to be declared surplus, and eventually free cash, as of 5/1/2023.

Land Use will meet on Tuesday to consider five Special Permit Requests:

• Conversion of an existing personal training facility to a physical therapy office at 552-564 Commonwealth Avenue
• Raze an existing detached garage and construct an attached two-car garage with living space above at 46 Valley Spring Road
• Subdivide the current lot into two, with one single-family dwelling each at 19 Staniford Street
• Construct a detached garage structure exceeding FAR and waive the maximum driveway entrance width at 50 Elmore Street
• Allow the hospital to finish 22,000 sq. ft of “shell space” in the Emergency Department for additional inpatient beds at 2000, 2012 and 2014 Washington Street, 1 and 2 Kenney Place, and 1973 Beacon Street

Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday:

• Appointment of Alexandra Fuchs as a Newton Library Trustee
• Appropriate $140,000 from the B.A.A Marathon account to a Parks, Recreation & Culture account to fund a “Heartbreak Hill” banner and playground improvements
• Department, CIP, and Supplemental CIP Budget Reviews: Information Technology; Veterans Services; Health & Human Services; Senior Services; City Solicitor

Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider these requests:

• Grant of location to install and maintain gas main in Valentine Street
• Changes to roadway infrastructure as part of the Elliot Street Traffic Calming Project
• Appropriate and expend $750,000 from Free Cash to fund the replacement of the Newton Free Library’s HVAC system
• Adoption of an Ordinance to prohibit the purchase or application of anti-coagulant rodenticides by the City or City contractors.

Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Thursday:

• Request to appropriate and expend
  • $640,000 from Free Cash to Newton Police IT Department
  • $250,000 from Free Cash to Police Patrol Overtime account
  • $1,500,000 from Free Cash to Fire Rescue Overt
• Department, CIP, and Supplemental Budget Reviewa: Fire Department; Police Department

Schools

The school department has no public meetings scheduled this week.

Boards and Commissions

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the FY2024 Budget.

Newton Parks and Recreation Commission will meet on Monday:

• Public Hearings: St. Mary of Carmen Festival; Indigenous Peoples Day Ceremonial Celebration; and Wayfinding Signage proposal for Cold Spring Park. See Wayfinding Signage proposal; Cold Springs Park SIgn Staff Notes; Gift letter to PRC re signs; and Preliminary Wayfinding Signage & Materials estimate for CSP.
• Informational discussions: Susan G. Komen 3-day event; Wellington Free Little Library (see LFL Proposal; LFL Gifting Letter; and LFL Staff Notes); Overnight commercial vehicle parking
• Reports — Commissioner and Committees: Community Preservation Committee, Urban Tree Commission, Farm Commission, Off-Leash Area Working Group; Arts and Culture

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet on Tuesday:

• Spring Fling; Director’s Update/ FY2023 Remainder; Development Strategic Planning Discussion

Designer Selection Committee will meet on Tuesday:

• Franklin Elementary School Project: Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Selection Review – Score, Rank, and Identify a Shortlist of RFQ Respondents to be Interviewed

Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday:

• Village Center Zoning & Affordable Incentives: Maps, discussion, and affordability bonus
• Elder Housing with Services IZ Section
• Newton Housing Partnership Update: Zoning Redesign and extremely low-income housing strategy
• ARPA Update
• Housing’s role in diversity, equity, and inclusion: Leading change to make Newton more accessible and welcoming to all – policy issues related to property manager tenant selection practices
  • Policy issues related to property manager tenant selection practices
    • Update from Chair
• Project Updates: Northland Charlemont and 528 Boylston

Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday:

• Rescheduled Public Hearing to amend the Board’s regulations to authorize the Health and Human Services administrative staff to review and approve City-sponsored one-day entertainment licenses.
• 1 One-Day Temporary Entertainment License: Party, November 4, at the Windsor Club
• 4 One-Day All-Alcohol License:
  • Red & Gray Society Leadership Donor Reception, May 23 at The Fessenden School
  • Faculty/Staff End-of-Year Gathering, June 9 at Fessenden School,
  • Alumni reunion, June 8 at Fessenden School
  • Fundraiser on May 23 at The Allen Center
• One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License:
  • Party, June 3 at Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
  • Beer Garden on the Green on June 17 with a rain date on June 18 at The Street
  • Exhibition opening reception on May 25 at the New Art Center
  • Opening reception on July 20 at the New Art Center
  • Beer Gardens on the Green to be held at The Street:
    • June 14, July 19, August 23 and October 21 with a rain date on October 22

Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday: Approval of April 2023 Exemption and Abatement Reports

Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Thursday:

• Discussion with U-CHAN representatives on their ideas for supporting the work of the Trust
• Review of funding request of the Warren House Preservation and Rehabilitation Project
• Updates: Other communities’ best practices for application and review processes and requirements, the City’s existing housing projects and initiatives, and new Village Center Rezoning maps

Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday:

• Requests for Certificates of Appropriateness:
  • Installation of a wrought iron handrail at 342 Beacon Street
  • Window replacement at 521 Hammond Street
• Replacement of a slate roof, flat rubber roofs, and repair or replace fascia, soffits, and other trim elements at 9 Lawrence Road
• Request for Final Project Approval: 9 Old Orchard Road and 124 Chestnut Hill Road
• Renewal of Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior light replacement at 67 Old Orchard Road
• Rules & regulations, design guidelines,and discussion of the window application process and submission requirements

Newton Urban Design Commission will meet on Thursday:

• 6 Sign Permits:
  • The Dental Specialists — 271-283 Auburn Street
  • Focus Real Estates — 43-53 Lincoln Street
  • Dearborn Academy — 575 Washington Street
  • TD Bank — 1185-1197 Centre Street
  • Chavanni Salon — 289-291 Watertown Street
  • Allee — 2-4 Los Angeles Street
• Comprehensive Sign Package: 1-55 Boylston Street

Other

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