What’s Up in Newton – Week of 5/5/2024

Highlights this Week: See below for details about…

• City Council holding a public hearing on the FY25-29 Capital Improvement Plan and Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates
• Programs and Services discussing budgets for City Solicitor, Veterans Services, Health and Human Services, Senior Services
• Public Safety and Transportation considering transfer of $1.8 million to overtime for Police and Fire Departments
• Finance and Programs & Services discussing budget for School Department
• School Committee voting Monday on School Choice and discussing cell phone policy
• Human Rights Commission discussing programming for 2024
• Transportation Advisory Group discussing Washington Street Pilot, Newton Transit, and Commuter Rail
• Zoning Board of Appeals possibly voting on 40B permit for 528 Boylston Street
• Monthly Construction Update on Cooper Center for Active Living
• Public Works holding fifth public meeting on Newton Highlands Village Enhancement Project

City Council

City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday about the FY25-29 Capital Improvement Plan (and Supplemental Capital Plan), as well as Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates.

City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):

• Transfer $100,000 for library computers and technology at the Newton Free Library
• Appropriate and expend $1 million for the DPW Vehicle Replacement Program
• Appropriate and expend $615,000 for a hydro vacuum excavator trailer
• Accept and expend the State’s Revolving Fund Grant of $150,000 and $75,000 from the Stormwater Management Operating Reserve for the Stormwater Asset Management Plan
• Appropriate and expend $500,000 for the water hydrant flushing program
• Accept and expend $500,000 from a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Communities Grant for HVAC system replacement at the Newton Free Library
• Special permit to reconstruct retaining walls at 21 Oakland Street, Unit 2
• Special permit and parking stall waiver for a day care center at 66 Needham Street
• Reappointment of Brooke Lipsitt to the Zoning Board of Appeals
• Appointment of Edward J. Dailey to the Planning & Development Board
• Appointment of Terrence Brown as an alternate member of the Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission
• Lifetime appointments of Marcia Tabenken and Rabbi Allison Berryto the John C. Chaffin Educational Fund

The New Docket includes the following:

• Public hearings:
  • May 7 to waive 15 parking stalls at 1173-1177 Walnut Street for office use in the basement
  • May 15 for Eversource Grants of Location at 160 Charlemont Street, 50 Tower Road, 156 Oak Street, and 90 Christina Street
• $1,350,000 for Fire Rescue Overtime
• $450,000 for Police Department Overtime
• $296,312 for student transportation for homeless or foster care children
• $13,597.21 to Newton Public Schools from Helpsy textile collection recycling funds
• Transfer $2,000,000 from various DPW accounts for the City’s Accelerated Roads Program
• Transfer $125,000 to the Library Building Maintenance for Electricity expenses
• Transfer $5,000 for additional salary expenses for the Presidential Primary
• Transfer unexpended health insurance funds to the Health Insurance Trust Fund
• A five-year contract with a substitute staffing vendor for Newton Public Schools
• Discussion on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan
• Approval of the installation of two raised intersections at Waverley Avenue at Franklin Street and Brookline Street at Hartman Road
• Possible amendments to the short-term rental ordinance
• Possible amendment garage design standards to specify “above grade”
• Resolution to declare June 9, 2024, as George Mansfield Day
• Review and possible changes to the Rules of the City Council

Land Use will meet Tuesday to consider:

• Special Permit to convert basement space for use as an office and waive 15 parking stalls at 1173-1177 Walnut Street 
• Amending a Special Permit to substitute cash payment in lieu of providing the units at 136-144 Hancock Street 

Programs and Services will meet Wednesday to consider:

• Declaring June 9, 2024 George Mansfield Day
• Transferring $85,000 from the Health & Human Services Clinical Health, Full Time Salaries to the Temporary Staffing Account
• Appointment of Donald Siegel to the Newton Housing Authority
• Department Budgets: City Solicitor, Veterans Services, Health and Human Services, Senior Services

Public Safety and Transportation will meet Wednesday to consider:

• $1,350,000 from Certified Free Cash to Fire Rescue – Regular Overtime
• $450,000 from Comptroller’s Snow and Ice budgeted reserves to the Police Patrol Regular Overtime
• Discussion with Police Department regarding work of the Dedication to Community consultants
• Regular discussion with Police Department of police data (crashes, types of calls, etc.)

Public Facilities meeting has been canceled.

Finance will meet with Programs and Services on Thursday to consider the budget for the School Department.

Schools

The Negotiations Subcommittee of the School Committee will meet on Monday and hold a Step-3 Grievance Hearing – NESA.

School Committee will meet on Monday for public comment, Superintendent’s report, and:

• Superintendent Evaluation – Timeline and key documents
• Cell Phone Pilot Program and Possible Future Policy
• Fiscal and Operations Update
• Discussion and Final Vote: School Choice (see Fig City News article)

Boards and Commissions

Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday:

• Site Plan Review Exercise with Planning Team and Utile
• Possible amendments to Zoning to require building height to be measured from original grade instead of finished grade

Youth Commission will meet on Monday:

• June Youth Commission Advisory Board Celebration
• Debrief meeting with Assistant City Solicitor and Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion

Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Tuesday:

• CIVICO buy-out status on City-owned former Walker Center site
• Project Updates
• Potential New Application Requirements
• Report on the Housing Priorities Review
• Brainstorm Ideas for marketing Newton Housing Opportunities
• FY25 CPA funding request

Newton Human Rights Commission will meet Tuesday:

• Celebration of Queer Culture
• Student Reports
• Newton Police Department Reports
• Complaints Received
• Programming for 2024
  • Pride Flag Raising Event
  • Book Banning Event
  • Days of Remembrance Honoring Victims of Genocide
  • Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
  • Arlington HRC Listening Sessions
  • Juneteenth Celebration

Transportation Advisory Group will meet Wednesday:

• Washington Street Pilot: goals, process and metrics
• Newton Transit and MBTA Commuter Rail Discussion with TransitMatters 

Urban Design Commission will meet Wednesday:

• Sign Permits:
  • 2086-2098 Commonwealth Avenue – Mayani Dental
  • 309-321 Walnut Street – George Howell Coffee
  • 417-427 Lexington Street – Milano Jewelry
  • 188-192 Needham Street – Great Hill Dental
  • 761-771 Beacon Street – Gibson Sotheby’s
  • 899 Washington Street – Eigen Nails & Spa
  • 1391-1397 Washington Street – Ninebark
  • 1197-1203 Walnut Street – Walnut Dental
  • 200-220 Boylston Street – Starbucks
  • 1-27 Boylston Street – Pink Carrot
• Design Review: 41 Washington Street

Zoning Board of Appeals will meet Wednesday:

• Discussion/Vote on a 40B Comprehensive Permit for a six-story all-residential development with 244 residential units at 528 Boylston Street and adjoining properties.

Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet Thursday:

• Violation of the Historic District Ordinance for a greenhouse and shed at 7 Lucille Place
• Certificates of Appropriateness to replace bulkheads and to make changes to the front steps and patio (with update on the chimney rebuild) at 1036-1038 Chestnut Street
• Working Session on renovation of existing house, an addition on the right side, and changes to the driveways and hardscaping at 16-20 Winter Street

Other

The Monthly Community Construction meeting for the Cooper Center for Active Living will be held virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, May 7 at 6PM.

Public Works will hold the fifth public meeting on the Newton Highlands Village Enhancement Project virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, May 9 at 7PM.

Development Review Team meetings this week.

This week’s road construction schedule.