Highlights this Week: See below for details about…
- City Council meeting to review the FY2025 Budget, including Councilors’ proposed budget resolutions
- School Committee meeting to review multi-tiered support, K-8 social-emotional learning, special education and student services
- Historical Commission considering local landmark reviews for 148 Waverly Avenue and 236 Islington Road
A milestone… This is Fig City News‘s 100th week of publishing. We started on June 27, 2022 with two newsletters a week (now three). Since then, we’ve published 971 news articles, 851 community announcements, and 204 letters to the editor. Over 70 writers have contributed news articles or op-eds. Many thanks to all who write, read, support, and/or talk about Fig City News!
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
- Special permit to waive 15 parking stalls for office use at 1173-1177 Walnut Street
- Amending Special Permit for a cash payment in lieu of providing Inclusive Zoning units at 136-144 Hancock Street (Withdrawal Without Prejudice)
- Amendments to the short-term rental ordinance requiring property owner as the operator
- Transfer of $85,000 for HHS nursing staffing
- Transfer of $125,000 for Law Department legal services
- Appointment of Donald Siegel to the Newton Housing Authority
- Declaration of June 9, 2024, as George Mansfield Day in the City of Newton
- $1,350,000 for Fire Rescue Overtime
- $450,000 for Police Department Overtime
- Eversource petition for Grants of Location for 160 Charlemont Street, 50 Tower Road, 156 Oak Street, and 90 Christina Street
- Installation of two raised intersections at Waverley Avenue at Franklin Street, and Brookline Street at Hartman Road
- $2,000,000 from various Public Works accounts for the City’s Accelerated Roads Program
- $200,000 from the Stormwater Management Operating Reserve for stormwater management at Myrtle Street and McGrath Park
- Approval of the 75% design of the Washington Street Pilot
- $50,000 State budget earmark for improvements at Pellegrini Field House
- Five-year contract with a substitute staffing vendor for Newton Public Schools
- $13,597.21 from Helpsy textile collection and recycling to Newton Public Schools
The New Docket includes the following:
- Appropriations
- $2,888,274.38 from Certified Free Cash for the Transportation Network Improvement Program, specifically for paving supplies
- Requests
- Public comment on plans to reallocate interior space for up to 10 additional bedrooms at 136-144 Hancock Street to sustain the inclusion of two inclusionary units (Public hearing 6/4/2024)
- Special Permit to extend nonconforming use by constructing improvements at 1897 & 1947 Washington Street, including a club house pavilion and snack shack
- Discussions
- Community engagement process for large developments
- How public and staff access and use the NewGov system with a live demonstration
- Reappointments
- James Miller to the Auburndale Historic District Commission
- Karl Munger to the Biosafety Committee
- Howard Birnbaum to the Urban Tree Commission
- Police Department submission of semi-annual public auto inspections reports
After its regular meeting on Monday, the City Council will reconvene as a Committee of the Whole to review the FY2025 Budget (see Budget Materials), including these proposed budget resolutions:
- $25,000 for training of City Council and City officials to build stronger relationship with residents
- Additional FTE be added to the Economic Development Team
- Upgrade priority of integrating traffic light at Walnut & Center Streets with Winchester & Needham Streets
- Upgrading priority of improving walkability and visibility at Washington St and Lowell Ave intersection
- Review of workflow, structure, and job descriptions of City Clerk’s Department
- Additional $200,000 for Traffic Calming
- $53,000 for the Library Collection, to account for inflation
Regularly scheduled meetings for Land Use, Public Safety and Transportation, Public Facilities, and Programs and Services have been canceled this week.
Schools
School Committee will meet on Monday for:
- Superintendent’s Update
- Newton Jingshan School China Exchange Update
- Elementary MTSS
- SEL K-8 Report
- SEPAC
- District Goals Update
Board and Commissions
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee will meet Monday to discuss preparation of the FY2025 budget.
Newton Cultural Council will meet Monday to consider:
- Cultural Development contracts and activities
- Follow-up on Create Newton
- Adjudication process
- Community survey
- Grantee reception
Newton Parks and Recreation Commission will meet Monday for:
- Public hearing about outdoor events
- Indigenous Peoples Day – 10/14/24
- Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk – 08/23/24
- Committee Reports:
- Community Preservation Committee
- Urban Tree Commission
- Farm Commission
- Off-Leash Area Working Group (OLAWG)
- Arts & Culture
- Executive Session regarding alleged violation of the Open Meeting Law by the Newton Parks & Recreation Commission concerning the Off Leash Area Working Group
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday to consider requests for:
- Temporary entertainment licenses:
- Live theater at Newton City Hall War Memorial Auditorium, May 31 – June 8
- Boston College Reunion Celebrations at the Stokes Lawn, May 31 – June 1
- Party at the Windsor Club, June 15
- Temporary wine and malt licenses:
- Parish fellowship supper at Church of the Redeemer, June 15
- Creative process opening at the New Art Center, June 20
- Temporary all-alcohol licenses:
- New Art Center fundraiser, May 31
- Annual fundraiser Gala at the Allen Center: June 12
- Temporary all-alcohol and entertainment licenses at Pelligrini Park, July 17-21
- New common victualler license: The Cookie Monstah, 839 Washington Street
- Alteration of premises at da LaPosta, 825 Washington Street, and request to serve alcohol on City parking spaces
Newton Citizens Commission on Energy will meet Thursday to consider:
- Newton Climate Action Plan update
- BERDO update and strategy
Conservation Commission will meet Thursday to consider:
- Wetland Decisions
- Determination of Applicability to confirm the City floodplain line at 51 Oak Avenue
- Tree removal and planting at 544 Quinobequin Road
- Renovation and expansion of a single-family house at 52 Elinor Road
- New single-family home plus driveway and utilities at 0 Irwin Road
- Compliance Discussion regarding 190 Upland Road
- Enforcement Order/Compliance Discussion at 30 Selwyn Road
- Compliance Discussion for 1 Malvern Terrace
- Violation of Plans/Compliance Discussion for 71 Harwich Road
- Requests for Certificates of Compliance (COC):
- Historic violation – construction of house and garage at 38 Grayson Road
- Addition and new deck – 32 Placid Road
- Addition and new deck onto a single-family house at 32 Placid Road
- Teardown/rebuild of a duplex at 453-455 Albemarle Road
Newton Historical Commission will meet Thursday to consider:
- Local Landmark Review: 148 Waverly Avenue
- Request for Total Demolition: 148 Waverley Avenue
- Local Landmark Review: 236 Islington Road
- Requests for Total Demolition: 454 Dudley, 41 Washington Street, 28 Chandler Place, 853 Dedham Street
- Requests for Partial Demolition: 224 Adams Street, 21-23 Francis Street, 111 Court Street, 32 Hickory Cliff Road
- Requests for Waiver: 19-21 Maple Park, 154 Langley, 122-124 Cabot Street, 28 Farmington Road
Other
Development Review Team meetings this week.
This week’s road construction schedule.
Ed. Note: The School Committee’s agenda has been updated, omitting “Student Services Update.”