City Council
City Council will meet on Tuesday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- 2 Requests for Extension of Time to exercise a special permit:
- construction of additions and dormers at 96 Waban Park
- demolition of existing 3-unit dwelling/construction of 5-unit dwelling at 194 Adams Street
- Construction of additions/conversion of a single-family to two-family) at 300 Cabot Street
- Single-story addition at 21 Marvin Lane
- Retaining wall in the front setback, extension of a nonconforming detached garage, and allow two parking stalls within the front set back at 19 Waban Hill Road
- Appointment of Eliza Spaulding to the Human Rights Commission
- Reappointment of John Neville, Peter Doherty, Arlene Franklin, and Thomas Elkind to Newton Commonwealth Foundation
- 2 Denial recommendations from the Public Safety and Transportation Committee on appeals of Traffic Council decisions:
- Request for a trial that would restrict access to Centre Street, southerly from Walnut Street, to all vehicles except bicycles (Traffic Council voted to deny)
- Request to prohibit parking at all times along the following areas of Farwell Street: south and west side from a point 170 feet west of Farwell Circle to North Street (southerly intersection). This appeal relates to the block of Farwell Street between Joseph Road and North Street (Traffic Council voted to approve).
- No Action Necessary Recommendation from the Public Safety and Transportation Committee regarding submission of the 2023 Traffic Council Annual report
NOTE: The following item was chartered and scheduled to be taken up at this meeting:
- Request approval for a Conceptual Design for the Washington Street Pilot project
The New Docket includes the following requests:
- Amend a special permit to allow a non-profit educational use and to waive 3 parking stalls at 14 Collins Road
- Allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height in a setback at 12 Clark Street
- Construct a two-story rear addition and dormers which will further extend the nonconforming FAR, number of stories, and front setback at 442-444 Lowell Avenue
- Raise the roof and add dormers, further extending the nonconforming two-family dwelling use and alter/extend the nonconforming front setback at 265-267 River Street
- Allow a medical marijuana treatment center (formerly known as Registered Marijuana Dispensary or “RMD”) at 1089 Washington Street
- Amendments to Council Rules and Ordinance Regarding Start Time of City Council Meetings
- Periodic updates from Commissioner of Public Buildings regarding construction projects
- Updates on Planning and. Construction of Bullough’s Pond Dam
- Discussion with Director of Sustainable Materials Management regarding recycling and waste management
- Discussion with DPW’s Transportation Director regarding Newton’s Transportation Network Improvement Plan
- Discussion and possible ordinance change on Private Ways
- Issue refunding bonds
- Appropriate and expend the amount of $7.8 million from Overlay Surplus to NewCAL, reducing bonding authorization
- Accept $30,785 grant from Massachusetts Office on Disability for Williams Elementary School Playground Accessibility Improvements
- Issue an RFP for NPS Food Service Contract
- Accept and expend the sum of $35,000 from the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant
- Establish an NPS Educational Stabilization Fund
- Appropriate $22 Million to an NPS Educational Stabilization Fund:
- Overlay Surplus: $18,200,000 + $800,000 interest income (which can be allocated from Free Cash)
- Free Cash: $3,000,000
- Appropriate $1,191,000 for the replacement of Newton’s Free Library HVAC System
- Discussion on Water/Sewer plan and open capital improvement projects
- Discussion regarding water meters failures and inaccurate water billing
Community Dialogue Working Group will meet on Tuesday:
- Finalize date for Public Comment (targeting February 29, 7PM)
- Agree on structure and guidelines for Public Comment
- Discussion on integration with other initiatives from Newton Public Schools, School Committee, and Mayor’s office
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday:
- Appointment of Daniel Green to the Newton Commonwealth Foundation
- Request for amendments to Council Rules and Ordinance Regarding Start Time of City Council Meetings to change “7:45 p.m.” to “7:30 p.m.”
- Request authorization to establish a NPS Educational Stabilization Fund.
- Request authorization to appropriate $18,200,000 from Overlay Surplus interest income that has accumulated as part of the $18.2 million Overlay Surplus ($800,000) which can be allocated from Free Cash, and June 30, 2023 Certified Free Cash ($3,000,000) to the NPS Educational Stabilization Fund, for a total of $22 million.
- Request to provide an update regarding the City Seal redesign.
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider the following requests:
- Appropriate $1,191,000 from June 30, 2023 Certified Free Cash to complete the funding for the Newton Free Library’s chiller and related cooling equipment replacement project.
- Periodic updates from the Commissioner of Public Buildings regarding the city’s construction projects.
- Update on the Water/Sewer plan and open capital improvement projects.
Public Safety & Transportation Committee‘s regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled. See Cancellation Notice.
School Committee
There are no School Committee meetings this week.
The School Committee Chair and Superintendent will host two open forums for Newton community members, as opportunities to ask questions and learn more about upcoming budget discussions, the new contract, new and existing supports for students, and more. Submit questions online here. The forums will be live broadcast on NewTV’s Newton News channel.
- Thursday, February 22 at Newton South Auditorium, 6:30PM-8:30PM
- Tuesday, February 27 (next week) at Zervas Elementary School, 6:45PM-8:45PM
Boards and Commissions
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday:
- Request for a One-Day Temporary All-Alcohol License for a 10th Anniversary Celebration of Historic Durant Kendrick House, 286 Waverly Avenue on Saturday, March, 23, 2024 from 5PM – 11PM.
- Request for a One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License for Visions of Trane opening reception on Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 6PM – 8PM at the New Art Center, 245 Walnut Street.
- Application for a Pledge of License to be exercised at the Newton Corner Restaurant Concepts, LLC d/b/a Social Restaurant & Bar, 320 Washington Street – to be pledged to Northeast Bank.
- Request for a New Common Victualer and Annual Entertainment License to be exercised at Grandma’s Kitchen Inc d/b/a Grandma’s Kitchen, 823 Washington Street. The hours of operation will be Sunday, 11AM – 6PM and Tuesday – Saturday from 11AM – 8PM.
- Request for a New Common Victualer License to be exercised at Newton Chicken LLC d/b/a Popeyes, 275B Centre Street.
- 2 Requests for a New All Alcohol Restaurant, New Common Victualer and Annual Entertainment License:
- Otto Portland, LLC d/b/a Otto, 344 Walnut Street. The hours of operation will be Monday – Sunday 11AM – 11PM.
- Dooliner, Inc. d/b/a The Dooliner, 7 West Street. The hours of operation will be Monday – Sunday from 12PM – 1AM.
- Refund Requested for a one-day alcohol license issued. Event was canceled due to NPS Teacher Strike.
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve January 2024 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Human Rights Commission will meet on Wednesday:
- Discussion on Programming Ideas for 2024:
- Newton Together
- Book Banning
- Pride Flag Raising
- 13 Villages Questionnaire
- Marathon Running Groups Support
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Thursday:
- Partial Demolitions Requests: 99 Crescent Street; 77 Halcyon Road
- 6 Total Demolition Requests:
- 2 Local Landmark Review Requests: 236 Islington Road; 1615 Beacon Street
- 2 Waiver of Demolition Delay Requests:
- Violation of Demolition Delay Ordinance: 145 Auburndale Avenue
Sustainable Materials Management Commission will meet on Thursday:
- Review of SMMC Annual Report and 2024 Goals
- Discussion of the updated EPA Wasted Food Scale
- Tracking plastic film from collection to recycling – Vince McKay
- Expanded Sustainable Packaging Ordinance update
- SMMD update
Newton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners will meet on Friday.
Election Commission will hold a Public Ballot Testing for the High Speed Tabulators on Friday, February 23 at 11AM in the cafeteria in the basement of City Hall. See Meeting Notice.
Other
Monday, February 19 is a federal holiday.
- Trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day this week.
- Schools will be closed on Monday but open for Tuesday through Friday, as the February Break was canceled to make up days lost during the Teachers Strike.
This week’s road construction schedule is not yet posted.
Ed. Note: We corrected this article to reflect that schools will be open this week Tuesday through Friday, not Tuesday through Thursday.