Public Safety & Transportation voted to approve the following (see Report and watch NewTV video):
- Appointment of Margot Schoenfelder to the Newton Traffic Council: Margot Schoenfelder was approved as an alternate member of the Newton Traffic Council for a term to expire on March 18, 2027. According to the report, Ms. Schoenfelder addressed concerns raised about a possible conflict of interest with her work on the Newton Highlands project. Regarding her thoughts on Complete Streets, Vision Zero, multimodal transit, and transportation, she spoke about a paradigm shift in how people i view public infrastructure. (6-0, Councilor Wright not voting)
- Reappointment of Mitchell Fischman to the Newton Traffic Council: Mitchell Fischman was approved for reappointment as a full member of the Newton Traffic Council until July 31, 2026. According to the report, Mr. Fischman highlighted his background in urban planning and previous service on the Traffic Council, focusing on ensuring residents’ concerns are heard and addressed. (6-0, Councilor Wright not voting)
The Committee voted to hold the following:
- Allow play on minor streets: Discussion on amending Newton Ordinances to legalize play and community activities on minor streets, currently a common but technically unlawful practice. According to the report, the committee discussed defining minor streets, the scope of permissible activities, and the need for clear legal language to prevent selective enforcement. (6-0, Councilor Wright not voting)
- Requesting a discussion with the Fire Department: The committee held a discussion on year-over-year data from the Fire Department, including calls, fires, injuries, inspections, hiring, and overtime. According to the report, key topics included the department’s high volume of calls, fire prevention efforts, staffing challenges, apparatus updates, and health and wellness initiatives for firefighters. (7-0)