City offices are closed on Monday in celebration of Juneteenth. Curbside collection of trash and recycling will NOT be delayed this week, but collection of Yard Waste will be delayed one day.
City Council
Zoning and Planning will meet on Tuesday before the regularly scheduled Full City Council meeting to provide an update to the Full Council on Village Center Zoning in preparation for the public hearing on June 26. See Memo.
The Full City Council will meet on Tuesday. Items the Council will vote on include:
- Special Permit Approvals
- Sunroom addition at 76 Drumlin Road
- Half-story addition on an existing detached accessory structure at 231-233 Tremont Street
- Oversized second principal sign for the medical office at 714 Beacon Street
- One-story rear addition to provide an accessible living space at 25 Breamore Road
- Drive-in business and associated parking waivers at 940 Boylston Street – Dunkin Donuts
- Administrative Site Plan Approval to convert the basement space for use as a church with classroom space, as well as a 72-seat café which will be open to the public, and a waiver of 64 parking stalls at 1173 Walnut Street
- Appointments
- David Weinstein to Newtonville Historic District Commission
- Sean Dazet to Dogs Off-Leash Advisory Committee
- Stephen Logowitz and Harold W. Adams to the Community Education Commission
- Reappointments
- John Martin and Jim Gross to Newtonville Historic District Commission
- Michael Rossi, Jennifer Pucci, and Stuart Snyder to Zoning Board of Appeals
- Tamirirashe Gambiza, Ann Houston, and Peter Sargent to Newton Affordable Housing Trust
- Grant Acceptances
- FY23 state “One Stop” grant for $100,000 to continue the Council’s Village Center/MBTA Communities zoning consulting work
- $340,298 from the Fy23 State MassTrails and $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 a new community garden at Spears Park
- $400,000 in a state budget earmark to help fund the Gath Pool Improvement Project 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.
- Increase the spending limits of the (1) Senior Citizen Programs, (2) Environmental Science, (3) Off-Leash Dog Administration revolving funds.
- Transfer $50 from the Purchasing- Office Supplies Account to the Purchasing- Full-Time Salaries Account to cover an anticipated shortage in the department’s payroll budget
- Appropriate $136,020 from the Water Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to cover outstanding debt service.
- Transfer any unexpected unexpended General Fund municipal health insurance funds remaining as of June 30, 2023 into the Health Insurance Trust Fund.
- Appropriation/Transfer Requests
- Salary increase for City Clerk/Clerk of the City Council
- Appropriate $250,000 from Free Cash for Election Equipment
- Appropriate $9,099,787 from the Community Preservation Act Funds ($4,099,787 from the CPA’s Unrestricted Prior Year Fund and $5,000,000 from general obligation borrowing) for Athletic Fields CIP Construction Phase III project
- $300,000 from Free Cash to replace Fire Emergency Response Unit
- Transfer $280,000 from June 30, 2022 Certified Free Cash to Snow & Ice Vehicle Rental/Contractors to fund the anticipated remaining contractor invoices that the City has not yet received.
- Transfer $100,000 from Snow & Ice Overtime to Snow & Ice Vehicle Contractors to “true up” the legal level of control for the cost of employee overtime versus contracted work for snow and ice removal.
- Appropriate $30,000 from the Micro/Network-Full Time Salaries Account for an IT Risk Assessment
- Transfer $200,000 from Main Library- Full Time Salaries Account to the Library Building Maintenance – Electricity Account to supplement the FY23 and FY24 Library Electricity budget to cover overruns due to the failing HVAC system.
- Appropriate $750,000 from Free Cash to fund the replacement of the Newton Free Library’s HVAC system as detained in the FY-24-FY28 CIP.
- Denials
- Special permit amendment request allowing for a larger driveway entrance width at 63-65 Broadway
- Appeal of the approval of the Traffic Council decision for a stop sign on the traffic island at the northwest corner of the Clark Street and Rowena Road intersection
- No Action Necessary
- Citizens Group Petition to place a nonbinding advisory question on the ballot re: Village Center Zoning
- Request for discussion on EV battery fires with the Fire Chief
- Acceptance of Semi-annual public auto inspections reports
The City Council’s New Docket includes the following requests:
- Class 2 Auto Dealers License – Yes Auto Sales Group Inc – 454 Watertown Street
- Allow parking in the front setback and reduced stall depth at 437 Parker Street
- Allow two attached garages accommodating four vehicles with more than 700 square feet total and an oversized dormer at 70 Suffolk Road
- Allow a 4-unit multi-family dwelling, to extend a nonconforming front setback, dimensional waivers for parking, and a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at 107-109 Elliot Street
- Allow ground floor residential use, to allow three stories and a 35.3-foot height, to alter and extend a nonconforming side setback, and to exceed FAR at 20 Clinton Street
- Amend Chapter 30, Sect. 6.7 and Sect. 3.4.3 to allow honey beekeeping
- Home rule petition to extend the lease term with Newton Community Development Foundation for Warren House for an additional 34 years.
- Set the early voting hours for the September Preliminary election and for the November Municipal Election
- Move polling locations for Ward 1, Precinct 4, and Ward 2, Precinct 1
- Appoint Maurta Vitols as a Jackson Homestead Trustee
- Discussion regarding safety measures in Newton Public Schools
- Eversource petition for Grant of Location in Nevada Street
- Appoint Alexander B. Jablon to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee
Programs and Services Committee will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:
- Appointment to the Biosafety Committee
- Two Home Rule petitions (extension of lease term for Warren House, and prohibition of certain rodenticides)
- Setting of early voting hours for September preliminary election and November Municipal election
- Moving polling locations for Ward 1, Precinct 4 (Pelligrini Playground) and Ward 2 Precinct 1 (Albemarle Rd to Scandinavian Living Center on 206 Waltham Street)
- Appropriate $140,000 from the BAA Marathon Account to a Parks, Recreation & Culture account for a Heartbreak Hill banner and playground improvements
- Three discussion items related to athletic fields: maintenance, cost-benefit analysis on grass fields, and strategic and operational plan for capital improvements.
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday and discuss the following:
- Grant of location for Eversource in Nevada Street
- Appointments to Citizens Commission on Energy and to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission
- $1,000,000 appropriation request for the Washbay Project at Crafts Street
- Temporary construction easements for the Commonwealth Avenue Project
- Request for an update on the implementation of the Climate Action Plan
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday and discuss the security measures and any incidents during the 2023 Boston Marathon, the residential parking program, and an update on the Weston Newton Square Enhancement project.
School Committee
The School Committee will meet on Tuesday.
- Executive Session (5:30PM) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA, NESA & Custodians.
- Regular Meeting (6:30PM) to discuss the following:
- Recognition and Farewell to Interim Superintendent Kathy Smith
- Franklin School Educational Design and Enrollment Plan
- Student Services Update
- Fiscal/Operational/Facilities Update
- Calendar Committee Presentation
- Draft School Committee Calendar
- PTO Equity Spending Guidelines
- Interim Kathy Smith’s Farewell Message
Negotiation Sub-Committee of the School Committee will meet in Executive Session on Thursday:
- Discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NESA (1:30PM)
- Conduct a collective bargaining session with NESA (2:00PM)
Boards and Commissions
Newton Citizens Commission on Energy will meet on Tuesday to discuss the following:
- Implementation of Recommendations #1 and #3 for the Residential Sector
- Announcement of the Green Newton Board’s vote on engaging in retrofitting homes
- Ad hoc Gas Infrastructure Working Group: Vote on Associate Members and the rules of engagement
- Time permitting: Update on the BERDO and Residential EUI ordinances
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday to review the following:
- One-Day Temporary Entertainment License (Party at Windsor Club)
- 7 Requests for a One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License (6 for Church of the Redeemer and 1 for Party at Auburndale Cove)
- Request for 5 One-Day Temporary All Alcohol and Entertainment License (St. Mary of Carmen Society)
- Request to Change On-Site Manager (Cheesecake Factory)
- Request to Transfer a Package Store License (Waban Market)
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to review the May 2023 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Election Commission will meet on Wednesday to discuss polling location change moving Ward 1 Precinct 4 out of Pellegrini Fieldhouse
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday and discuss the following:
- Request for a Waiver of Demolition Delay for New Construction at 27 Rosalie Road
- 2 Requests to Accept Landmark Nomination: 2-12 Windsor Road; 19 Highland Avenue
- 7 Request for Total Demolitions – 209-211 Adams Street; 233 Wiswall Road; 949 Dedham Street; 38 Indian Ridge Road; 90 Auburndale Avenue; 213 Adams Avenue
- Request for Partial Demolition: 177 Park Street (National Register Property)
Other
The Juneteenth celebration on Monday will NOT delay curbside collection of trash and recycling by one day this wee, but collection of Yard Waste is delayed one day. See Holiday Waste Collection schedule.
The Planning Department issued this memo on the Northland 140 Charlemont/40B development project.
This week’s road construction schedule.
