City Council Meetings – Week of 12/8/2024

City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.

Zoning and Planning will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, December 9 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Request to appropriate $98,500 in Community Preservation Act funding from the Unrestricted Prior Year Funds for a grant to the West Newton Cinema for a feasibility study regarding the c.1937 historic movie theater.

Finance will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, December 9 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

Chair’s Note: The Committee will meet jointly with Zoning & Planning to discuss the following item:

• Request to appropriate $98,500 in Community Preservation Act funding from the Unrestricted Prior Year Funds for a grant to the West Newton Cinema for a feasibility study regarding the c.1937 historic movie theater.
• Request to accept and expend $119,984 from the Massachusetts Office on Disability FY25 Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program for accessibility improvements at the intersection of Watertown Street and Chapel Street.
• Request to accept and expend $75,000 earmark from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, for improvements to Pellegrini Park and fieldhouse.
• Request to accept and expend a $50,000 earmark from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop a master plan for the Officer Bobby Braceland Playground.
• Request to accept and expend $33,333.33 of the total $100,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the 15 Riverdale Avenue development.
• Request to appropriate and expend $5,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the Green Lady Marijuana Establishment at 740 Beacon Street.
• Request to appropriate and expend $2,000,000 from June 30, 2024 Certified Free Cash, for Math Curriculum in the Newton Public Schools.
• Request to appropriate and expend $300,000 from June 30, 2024 Certified Free Cash, to improve the phone systems at Newton North and Newton South High Schools with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems.
• Request to appropriate and expend $997,942 and authorize a general obligation borrowing of an equal amount for the construction of the Union Street main drainage extension.
• Request to expend the sum of $10,000 for full and final settlement of the M.G.L. c. 258 claim Tom Bourgoin v. City of Newton.
• Request to transfer and expend the sum of $27,500 to settle Worker’s Compensation Claim #WC004303.

NOTE: A motion for Executive Session may be entertained

Land Use will meet in person (Council Chamber) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, December 10 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following:

• Class 2 Auto License Requests:
  • Luxury Motors
  • Old Time Garage
  • Auction Direct Preowned
  • Yes Auto Center
• Class 1 Auto Dealer License Request:
  • McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM

Chairs Note: It is the Chair’s intent to entertain a motion to hold due to petitioner’s request for postponement on the following two items:

• Request to allow a retaining wall exceeding 4 feet in height at 52 Kingston Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request to allow a retaining wall exceeding 4 feet in height at 166 Plymouth Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.

• Request to amend previously approved special permits to raze the existing golf cart barn, constructed in 1980, and replace it with a new Member Center providing golf cart storage, general storage, multi-purpose space for member activities and golf training space for members at 483-655 Dedham Street – Charles River Country Club. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request to raze the existing dwelling and construct three single-family attached dwellings in one building with associated dimensional relief at 15 Algonquin Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request to raze the existing detached garage and construct an additional separate unit, resulting in three single-family attached dwellings in two separate structures and waiving certain dimensional requirements and one parking stall at 237-239 Langley Road. See Special Permit documents and Planning Memo.
• Request for a discussion on the appropriateness of considering the historic importance of a building as a factor when making determinations related to approving a special permit.