Soon after being sworn in by Mayor Fuller on January 4, the Newton Highlands Area Council elected officers for the new term: Jeremy Freudberg, President; Barbara Darnell, Vice-President; Groot Gregory, Treasurer; and Srdjan Nedeljkovic, Secretary. City Councilors Bixby, Farrell, Getz, Lobovits, Lucas, and Wright attended the meeting.
The Area Council is an official elected body charged with facilitating communication between Highlands residents and other City organs. Meetings occur at Brigham House (20 Hartford Street), originally the home of the founders of Brigham’s Ice Cream. (Newton Highlands was home to the first Brigham’s, located where the Dining Car restaurant now operates.)
At the January meeting, the main discussion related to the significantly worsening traffic situation at the intersection of Route 9 and Centre and Winchester Streets. The Area Council agreed that the change was due to the timing of new traffic lights installed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Highway Division (MassDOT Highway), and that the traffic there caused other traffic problems in the Highlands. Several City Councilors will seek the assistance of Mayor Fuller and the state representatives, who may have influence over MassDOT Highway.
Also, the Area Council addressed planning for 2024 Village Day, goals and priorities for the new term, and the results of a speed study conducted by the Newton Police Department on Lincoln Street during December. In the study, based on a request by the Area Council, the Department tabulated the average, high, and low speeds at all hours of the day. The Department determined that there is no current need for speed-reduction interventions. However, several Council members continued to express concern about pedestrian safety on Lincoln Street.