Monday is Patriots’ Day, commemorating the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy.
- City offices are closed.
- The Boston Marathon brings out cheering crowds, inspires donations to charities, and closes roads near the route.
- It’s a week of school vacation and a one-day delay of pickup of trash, recycling, and yard waste.
Highlights this Week: See below for details about…
- Mayor Fuller presenting to the City Council on Tuesday the FY2025 budget (available here after Tuesday)
- Public Buildings hosting an online update of the Lincoln-Eliot School project
City Council
Council Committee Chairs will meet to discuss recent visits to schools and municipal buildings, procedures for meetings, and Council communications.
City Council will meet on Tuesday and is expected to vote on (See Reports Docket):
- Special permit/site plan granted to American Way Development, Inc. to raise the roof and add dormers at 265-267 River Street
- Special permit/site plan granted to allow a for-profit school at 2 Wells Avenue
- Zoning ordinance amendments to incentivize small businesses
- FY2025 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Ordinance amendment to require a special permit for retaining walls over four feet
- Eversource Energy’s petition for a Grant of Location for 150 Jackson Road
- New public auto licenses for Vali Bros Transportation LLC and AB Inc.
- Acceptance and expenditure of grants:
- Massachusetts grant of $42,500 for stormwater management and beautification at Cheesecake Brook
- Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism budget earmarks of $50,000 for Farlow Park and $75,000 for improvements to 3 trails
- Acceptance of Massachusetts General Law regarding payment of up to $2000 of funeral and burial expenses for firefighters or police officers killed in the line of duty
- Discussion with Newton Police on traffic enforcement and school safety protocols
- Reappointment of James Pellegrine as a Constable
- Transfer of $165,000 for resurfacing tennis courts at Newton South High School
The New Docket includes the following:
- Special Permits and Site Plan Reviews
- Administrative Site Plan Review and Special Permit for a day care at 66 Needham Street (Public Hearing 4/23/2024)
- Special Permit for retaining walls at 21 Oakland Street (Public Hearing 4/23/2024)
- Proposed Amendments
- Possible amendments to the sign ordinance for typical locations
- Possible amendments to remove or reduce parking minimums for commercial uses in commercial centers
- Possible amendments to allow for-profit schools by right
- Appointments and Reappointments
- Appointment of Terrence Brown as an alternate member of the Newton Upper Falls Historic District
- Reappointment of Marcela Merino to the Community Education Commission
- Appointment of Donald Siegel to the Newton Housing Authority
- Appointment of Marcia Tabenken and Rabbi Allison Berry to the John C. Chaffin Educational Fund
- Funding Requests and Authorizations
- $50,000 from a Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism budget earmark for improvements at the Pellegrini Field House
- $500,000 from a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Grant for HVAC system at the Newton Free Library
- $200,000 from the Stormwater Management Operating Reserve for stormwater management
- $615,000 for a hydro vacuum excavator trailer to enhance digging safety measures
- $500,000 for a water hydrant flushing program
- $1,000,000 for the DPW Vehicle Replacement Program for two 6-wheel dump trucks and one 10-wheel swap loader truck
- Transfer $85,000 for nursing staffing
- Transfer $100,000 for library computers and technology
- Transfer $125,000 for Law Department legal services
- $150,000 from the State’s Revolving Fund Grant and $75,000 from City funds for the Stormwater Asset Management Plan
- Public Hearings
- FY2025 to FY2029 Capital Improvement Plan (Scheduled for 5/6/2024)
- FY2025 – FY2029 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan (Scheduled for 5/6/2024)
- Submissions
- Submission of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
- FY25 Municipal/School Operating Budget
- Discussions
- Policy discussion about regarding on-street parking and parking in municipal lots
- Discussions with National Grid regarding plans to fix gas leaks and their Networked Geothermal project in Lowell
- Possible sale or lease of 8 City-owned parking spaces at 25 Chestnut Street
- Approval of the 75% design of the Washington Street Pilot
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Formally allowing play and other community activities on minor streets, as is current practice
- Parking policy related to on-street parking and parking in municipal lots
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to:
- Consider appropriations:
- $1,000,000 from Free Cash to replace one 2008 and two 2007 6-wheel dump trucks with two 6-wheel dump trucks and one 10-wheel swap loader truck for the Streets Division operations
- $615,0000 for a hydro vacuum excavator trailer to enhance digging safety measures
- $500,000 for a water hydrant flushing program
- $150,000 from the State’s Revolving Fund Grant plus $75,000 from the City to update the Stormwater Asset Management Plan (Grant includes $25,000 match of in-kind services from City staff.)
- Review the FY2025 budget for the Department of Public Works
Programs and Services will meet on Thursday to:
- Consider a request to transfer $100,000 from the full-time salaries to replace aging computers and technology at the Newton Free Library
- Review the FY2025 budgets for City Clerk, Information Technology, Historic Newton, Library, and Parks, Recreation and Culture
School Committee
No scheduled meetings this week.
Boards and Commissions
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to consider approval of March 2024 Exemption and Abatement Reports
Newton Retirement Board will hold a special evidentiary hearing on Wednesday about an Accidental Disability Retirement application.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Requests Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Amend the previously approved hardscaping plan at 101 Old Orchard Road
- Replace an existing fence at 8 Lawrence Road
- Install a generator at 32 Suffolk Road
- Install granite curbing at 108 Reservoir Avenue
- Remediate the violation for vents installed on the front of the building without any Certificate of Appropriateness at 92 Reservoir Avenue
- Request for Final Project Approval for the chimney, rear balustrade, and columns at 46 Woodman Road
Urban Tree Commission will meet on Friday to consider:
- Forestry Department update with budget update
- Tree removal requests
- Continued review of Tree Ordinance procedures
- Gas leak map from Peter Barrer
Other
Budget Presentation: Mayor Fuller will present the FY2025 Budget to the City Council on Tuesday, April 16 after first call of reports at the City Council Meeting. Live broadcast on NewTV’s government channel (Comcast 9, RCN 13, 614(HD), Verizon 33) and NewTV’s YouTube channel.
Lincoln Eliot School Community Update: The Public Buildings Department will host a virtual (Zoom link) community update on Tuesday, April 16 at 6PM. There will be an update on construction activities and upcoming sidewalk and road closures. For more information, see flyer.
This week’s road construction schedule.