City Council
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday:
- Public Hearing on the adoption of an Electrification Ordinance
- Discussion with the Law and Planning departments regarding the process going forward for 40B projects since meeting the 10% ‘Safe Harbor’ designation.
- Discussion and possible ordinance amendments to update fees related to special permit, zone change, and site plan review fees.
- Preliminary discussion with the Planning Department, Inspectional Services Department and CPA Program Manager to prepare for the Committee’s FY25 Budget Review of these Departments and Programs.
- Reappointment of Denise Chicoine and Lei Reilley to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Finance will meet on Monday:
- Appropriation of $125,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for a grant to the Second Church in Newton for the restoration.
- Acceptance of a $27,500 National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) grant to improve the City’s conformance with the US Food and Drug Administration’s Retail Program Standards by the Health and Human Services Department.
- Acceptance of a $30,785 Massachusetts Office on Disability grant for Williams Elementary School playground accessibility improvements.
- Acceptance of a $35,000.00 reimbursement grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the State Department of Fire Services for Firefighter Safety Equipment.
- Transfer of the Opioid Mitigation funds totaling $446,104.67 for use by the Health and Human Services Department into a Special Revenue Fund.
- Authorization to issue an RFP with a food service management company, for a contract duration of up to five years.
- Appropriation of $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.
- Authorization to establish a NPS Educational Stabilization Fund
- Authorization to appropriate from Overlay Surplus ($18,200,000), 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.
- Appropriation request for a total of $7.8 million for the NewCAL project to reduce the amount of funding the City would need to borrow for that project. The $7.8 million is comprised of two funding sources related to the Eversource agreement: (1) $5.5 million, transferred from the ATB Interest and Penalties account, and (2) $2.3 million from Overlay Surplus.
- Request to issue refunding bonds to refund all or any portion of the City’s general obligation bonds.
Land Use will meet on Tuesday:
- Request allowance of a series of retaining walls which exceed four feet in height with the rear setback at 12 Clark Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request operation of an afterschool program and waiver of parking at 14 Collins Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request conversion of accessory apartment into a separate dwelling, resulting in three single-family attached dwellings in two separate structures with dimensional waivers and parking waivers at 199 Church Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request construction of a two-story rear addition and dormers at 442-444 Lowell Avenue. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request to raise the roof and add dormers at 265-267 River Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
- Request to allow a medical marijuana treatment center at 1089 Washington Street. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
Community Dialog Working Group will meet on Thursday:
- Committee introduction
- Public Comment
School Committee
School Committee will meet 3 times on Monday:
- Executive Session to conduct a strategy session in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel: Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendents, Directors, Managers, General Counsel, Human Resources Generalists, Confidential Executive Assistants, Executive Assistants, Analysts and Coordinator, Budget Analysts, Specialists
- Regular meeting:
- Public Comment
- Superintendent Report
- Consent Agenda: 2-1-24 and 2-8-24 Meeting Minutes; Zervas 1-Day Liquor License; Grants
- Action Items/Discussions/Updates: McKibben Demographic Study Report & Public Presentation
- Discussion and Vote: Approve Non-Aligned Personnel Salary Increases
- Special working session to discuss:
Boards and Commissions
Newton Free Library Trustees Development Committee will meet on Monday:
- New Business: Development newsletter; 1875 Society next steps; Gifts to the Friends
- Continuing Busienss: Spring Fling
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday:
- Executive Committee succession plan and vote of new officers
- Treasurer Report
- Adjudication review – what should be the future of: “Deep dive” process
- Equity & Fairness of scoring process
- Funding round strategies
Newton Parks and Recreation Commission will meet on Monday:
- Lions 5K Road race – NSHS- 05/19/24 – Public Hearing
- Clay Court – tennis fees, hours, rules, and regulations – Proposed Rules
- Special Events at the Hyde – Informational:
- Taiwan Day- May 4
- Festival of Arts – May 19
- Juneteenth – June 15
- Commissioner’s Report
- Committee Reports: Community Preservation Committee; Urban Tree Commission; Farm Commission; Off-Leash Area Working Group; Arts & Culture
Youth Commissioners will meet on Monday and review and recap last meeting and discuss new Commissioner meeting schedule.
Newton Retirement Board will meet on Tuesday, February 27
- New Agenda Items:
- Chris Lodge, President and COO from Pension Technology Group (PTG) and Stephan Georgacopoulos, PTG’s Director of Northeast Markets, to attend meeting to discuss contract renewal options, Pension Pro +, Self Service Portal and Scanning module
- Administrative Agenda Items:
- Monthly financial reporting for month ending December 2023
- Board to review projected 2024 administrative expense report prepared by Director O’Brien
- Board to review FY2025 budget of the Newton Retirement System as prepared by Director O’Brien
- Board to approve new members as indicated on list provided in Board Member’s monthly packet
- Receipt of request for Accidental Death Benefit
- New application(s) for superannuation & termination retirement
- Pending Agenda Items:
- Discussion relating to updating the Newton Retirement Board’s Investment Policy
- Preliminary discussion relating to January 2024 actuarial valuation-Kathleen Riley of Segal to attend 4/23/24 Ret. Bd. Mtg.
- Discussion relating to cash reserves – scheduled for 5/28/24 Ret. Bd. Mtg.
- Retirement Office staff policy and procedures handbook update
- Newton Retirement Board Travel Regulations – PERAC approval received on January 29, 2024
- Notification to Group 4 members regarding pre-employment physicals being mandatory to retire under the heart, lung and cancer presumption; Update regarding the 2/2/24 monthly meeting with Human Resources
- Current status of pending disability retirement applications
- Current status of pending appeal cases
- Director’s Report
Newton Free Library Trustees Strategic Planning Steering Committee will meet on Tuesday and review proposals and plan next meeting.
Council on Aging and Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday:
- Ned Codd, DPW Director of Transportation Operations
- NewMo Update; NewCAL Update; Needs Assessment Project Update; Department of Seniors Services Update
Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday:
- 78 Crafts Street: Presentation from Boylston Properties
- 1149 Washington St., Dunstan East: Presentation from Garden Homes
- 528 Boylston St., Toll Brothers: Presentation from Toll Brothers
- FY25 Annual Action Plan Update: Staff Presentation
- Newton THRIVE: Staff Update
Newton Commonwealth Foundation will meet on Tuesday:
- Treasurer’s Report
- Sterling Golf Operator’s Report
- License Agreement between City & Foundation
- Vote on two-month extension
- Subcommittee – Steve Meyer, Arlene Franklin, Cynthia Arcate
- Finance and Audit Committee follow-up report
- Vote on revised Charter
- D&O Insurance – discuss vote on proposal made by Cynthia Arcate at last meeting.
- Bookkeeping – related to proposal for a CPA & QuickBooks
- New Business: Committee to review RFP for Golf course Operator
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday:
- New Business: City FY25 Budget Update
- Reports:
- President: Steinburg stock bequest and resolution (Vote); Gifts to the Library; Library and Friends coordination and administration
- Director: HVAC Project
- Treasurer: Review 2nd quarter investment performance; Review financial results v. budget
- Nominating and Governance: Amend Director Evaluation procedures; update on Evaluation Process
- Strategic Planning Steering Committee
- Spring Fling: Fund-a-Need focus
- Visitors Comment
Design Review Committee/Countryside School Building Committee will meet on Wednesday:
- Energy Model and Building Systems Updates; Site Plan Updates; Building Design Updates
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Wednesday:
- Public Hearing on a request for a Comprehensive Permit, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40B, to construct at 307-unit residential development on a 4.76 sq. acre lot located at 78 -84 Crafts Street, 68-70 Crafts Street, 9 Maguire Court, 17-19 Maguire Court, 67R Court Street, 63 Court Street, 13-15 Maguire Court, 24 Maguire Court, 31 Maguire Court, and 31R Maguire Court within the Multi-Residence 1 (MR-1) and Manufacturing (M) zoning districts. The proposal includes 62 affordable units and 263 parking spaces. See Meeting Packet.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday:
- Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) specifically for a Negative 1 and Negative 6 Determination regarding confirmation of City Floodplain line at 51 Oak Avenue
- Request for an Order of Conditions (OOC) on a Notice of Intent (NOI) for invasive control, native plantings, fence along South Meadow Brook at 191 Dedham Street
- Request for an Order of Conditions (OOC) on a Notice of Intent (NOI) for tree removal at 544 Quinobequin Road
- Request for and informal discussion regarding a request to revise required mitigation planting for 70 Kingwood Road
- Request for a 3-year extension on an Order of Conditions (OOC) to allow time for plant establishment regarding additional parking request at 188 Needham Street
- Draft Riverfront Area Redevelopment Guidance
Other
This week’s road construction schedule.