The Public Facilities Committee voted to Approve (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Approval for a Conceptual Design for the Washington Street Pilot project. According to the Report, Public Facilities approved conceptual plan #3 with a shared use path on the South side. #3 was the preferred choice of the City and neighborhood residents, business owners, walkers, bikers, and drivers. A neighborhood dog park opposite Brookside Avenue is part of the proposal. The plan will be advanced to 25% design in the Spring, including a cost estimate, with public meetings to follow. The Planning Department hopes to have the pilot implemented by 2025. The pilot is expected to last 3-4 years. Construction is to be paid for with ARPA funds that must be spent by the end of the calendar year. Temporary materials will be used, to allow for changes if needed. Some councilors expressed concerns about electric bikes and scooters using the shared path and a desire for permanent, not temporary, trees in the boulevard between the shared path and the vehicle road. The Committee voted to approve 8-0.
- Appropriate $11,475,000 for Newton Public Schools and Municipal Infrastructure from June 2023 Certified Free Cash.
- Newton North Pool – Air Handling Unit ($425,000)
- Replace Entire Roof System – Peirce Elementary ($1,200,000)
- Replace Entire Roof System – Mason Rice Elementary ($1,100,000)
- Repave Parking Area – Brown Middle School ($300,000)
- Replace Chiller – Newton South, Building H ($350,000)
- Repair Auditorium Ceiling, Playground Improvement and Toilet Room Installation – Williams Elementary ($325,000)
- Install PA Systems – Bigelow & Brown Middle Schools ($300,000)
- Toilet Room Upgrades – Day Middle, Mason Rice, Bowen, Memorial Spaulding, and Peirce Elementary Schools ($1,275,000) to replace finishes, including flooring, ceilings, light fixtures and paint, to make the bathrooms “less gross for students”
- Paving, Road Improvements & Traffic Calming ($5,250,000)
- Police Headquarters – Repave Parking Lot & Fencing ($600,000) to keep pedestrians out of the lot for safety reasons
- Fire Station 2- Heat Pumps for staff area HVAC ($350,000) current boiler is 65 years old. Fire Station 2 will be converted to all-electric heat pumps.
If approved, work can begin immediately. The Committee voted to approve 8-0.
The Public Facilities Committee voted to Withdraw without Prejudice the following item:
- Request for water main extension and main drain extension, and granting of water easement and main drain easement in Chapin Road (8-0)