Finance will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:
- Appropriate and expend $3,000 from Handicapped Parking Fines-Disability Commission Receipts Reserved for Appropriations Account to conduct the 2023 Holiday Targeted Enforcement of the accessible parking violations, “Operation Access,” to cover overtime pay for the Newton Police Department from November 24, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
- Accept and expend a $68,000 MassDEP Recycling Grant for the purpose of aiding waste diversion efforts, grant-eligible recycling services at the Resource Recovery Center, equipment to improve the City’s recycling and organics collection infrastructure, educational materials, and outreach activities.
- Appropriate $1,967,119 in Community Preservation Act funding, with $562,034 from the FY24 Community Housing Reserve Account and $1,405,085 from FY24 Unrestricted Funding Account, to provide funding to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust for future projects that meet one or more of the CPA’s eligible funding categories for Community Housing projects.
- Transfer $446,104.67 from June 30, 2023 Certified Free Cash (0001-3240) into Health & Human Services Department for purposes of opioid mitigation (see Fig City News article).
- Transfer $130,000 (from personnel vacancies) into Clinical Health-Temp Staffing to address a few school nurse vacancies with agency nurses.
- Appropriate and expend $612,134.74 June 30,2023 Certified Free Cash to Legal Claims/Settlements account for full and final settlement of the case of Anastasia et al. v. City of Newton (Middlesex Superior Court Civil Action No. 2082-CV-01172). NOTE: This lawsuit was filed against the City by ten current and former employees of the Newton Police Department alleging violations of the Massachusetts Wage Act. The City’s Law Department wrote this letter to the Mayor saying it believes the settlement is reasonable. This item will be discussed in Executive Session, as it relates to litigation and personnel matters.
Zoning and Planning will meet in person (City Hall, Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, November 13 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Joint Public Hearing with the Planning and Development Board on a petition to amend the City of Newton’s Zoning Map by changing the current zoning of 132 Charles Street – Section 41, Block 06, Lots 14 currently zoned Multi-Residence 1 and Manufacturing and Section 41, Block 06, Lot 26, currently zoned Manufacturing to Mixed Use 1. See Planning Memo.
Chair’s note: There is no word yet from DOER regarding whether our proposed ordinance is satisfactory. The committee will discuss when to close the public hearing and send this item forward into the next term.
- Request for an update and discussion with the Sustainability Director on the requirements under the Ten Communities program, that would allow Newton to require electrification of all new construction and substantial renovations, and to consider adopting such an ordinance.
Chair’s Note: The Sustainability Team, joined by members of the Citizen’s Commission on Energy, will provide an overview of the draft Newton BERDO ordinance, key elements of the program, lessons learned from outreach to property owners, and proposed program administration. The committee will discuss public education, and consider timing for setting public hearing in 2024. - Request for a discussion and an ordinance that would require large property owners (campuses and large commercial buildings) to report energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions annually to the City of Newton, to be used to encourage reductions in said energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in accordance and support of the goals set forth in the Newton Climate Action Plan.
- Request for an update from the Sustainability Team and appropriate staff on the status of implementing Climate Action Plan measures, expanding municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy programs as follows:
Newton Power Choice participation rates, municipal power purchasing contracts for gas and electricity; Solar Power Purchase Agreement including operational and PV installations under construction, municipal energy consumption (DOER report) Green Communities grant funded efficiency projects to date, Energy Coach/ “4 our Future” program and zoning ordinances both to increase building energy efficiency/renewables in the private sector and foster sustainable development patterns.
Land Use will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, November 14 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:
- Amend a previously approved Special Permit to allow a medical marijuana treatment center (formerly known as Registered Marijuana Dispensary or “RMD”) at 1089 Washington Street – see Special Permit documents.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to enclose two open porches, further extending the nonconforming use at 27-29 Kilburn Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a covered farmer’s porch at the front entry, further extending the nonconforming front setback and lot coverage at 62 Maple Street (Newton Corner). See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Aporoval to legalize paving at the rear of the property, resulting in a reduction in the site’s open space at 35- 37 Williams Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to legitimize the current uses on site, to allow for proposed for-profit and non-profit educational tenants, to allow for farm-share distribution use, and to waive required parking stalls at 297 Lowell Avenue. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to demolish the existing dwelling and detached garage and construct five residential dwelling units in three buildings with dimensional waivers and allow for a waiver from the required number of parking stalls at 290 Watertown Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to modify the definition of “formula business” as it relates to Condition #3 at 839-853 Washington Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo,
Special City Council Meeting in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, November 15 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:
- Request for a review, discussion, and possible ordinance amendments relative to Chapter 30 zoning ordinances pertaining to Mixed Use, business districts and village districts relative to the draft Zoning Ordinance. NOTE: This item was chartered at the last City Council meeting on November 6. (See Recent documents related to VCOD and Planning Memo.)
Traffic Council will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, November 16 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following requests:
- Close Centre Street to the south of Walnut Street to all vehicles except bicycles
- Remove one metered parking stall at 195 Sumner Street to improve sightlines
- Add 15 newly installed Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) to the TPR:
- 1320 Centre Street
- Adams Street at Middle Street
- Beacon Street at Cold Springs Park
- Beacon Street at Newbury Street
- Centre Street at Allerton Road
- Centre Street at Newtonville Avenue
- Chestnut Street at Amherst Road
- Commonwealth Avenue at Irving Street
- Commonwealth Avenue at Manet Road
- Cypress Street at Braeland Avenue
- Lexington Street at Auburn Street
- Parker Street at Browning Road
- Tremont Street at Hibbard Road
- Walnut Street at Duncklee Street
- Waverly Avenue at Lorna Road
- Add a RRFB to the intersection of Crafts Street at Albemarle Road.
- Permanently close the northbound block of Albemarle Road to vehicular traffic, in both directions, between Crafts Street and North Street, except for bicycles. NOTE: This portion of Albemarle Road has been closed since September 2020 as part of an on-going Traffic Council trial.
- Consider a trial to close Albemarle Road, southbound at North Street between North Street (Newtonville) and Maynard Street.
- The following changes for the block of Albemarle Road between North Street and Crafts Street (western leg):
- Convert to a 2-way traffic circulation pattern;
- Add a “Do Not Enter” restriction at the intersection of Albemarle Road at Crafts Street;
- Add a “right turn only” restriction from Albemarle Road Southbound onto Crafts Street; and
- Add a stop sign at the intersection of Albemarle Road at North Street.