The Finance Committee of the City of Newton approved the following (see the report and watch the meeting video):
- Grant Acceptance for Public Safety Staffing of $123,677.35 from the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security for NPD staff overtime due to staffing shortages (7-0, Councilor Micley not voting)
- Handicapped Parking Fines Transfer for Holiday Enforcement Authorized the transfer and expenditure of $7,500 from Handicapped Parking Fines for targeted enforcement of accessible parking violations during the holiday season, aiming to educate the public on proper parking etiquette. (Approved 8-0)
- Funding for American Sign Language (ASL) and Communication Access Real-Time (CART) Services: Approved the transfer of $600 from the same account to fund ASL interpretation and CART(closed caption) services for the screening of “The Ride Ahead” film, promoting disability awareness. (8-0)
- Security Upgrades for Fire and Police Departments: $225,000 from Certified Free Cash for security camera and access control improvements at various Fire and Police Department locations. The Chief of Police stated most security cameras are not actively monitored by staff. A Councilor asked if cameras might inhibit the fire stations’ safe baby dropoff sites. The City will check with the Fire Department. (8-0)
- Municipal Building Maintenance Funding $775,000 from Certified Free Cash to fund maintenance projects across multiple city buildings, including the Albemarle Field House and the Crystal Lake Bathhouse, aimed at preserving and improving public property (8-0)
- Capital Improvements at Newton North High School an additional funding request of $700,000 from Certified Free Cash for urgent capital projects at Newton North High School, including replacing an air handling unit with a new, more expensive, and longer-lasting unit on the roof. (8-0)
Present: Councilors Gentile (Chair), Malakie, Grossman, Bixby, Humphrey, Greenberg, Micley, and Lipof
City staff present: Comptroller Stephen Curley; Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux; Commissioner
of Public Buildings Josh Morse; ADA/504 Coordinator Jini Farley; Financial Analyst II Trevor Gohering;
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Perry Rosenfield; Acting Police Chief George McMains; Deputy
Comptroller Stela Zaloshnja; and Director of Community Engagement & Inclusion Hattie Kerwin Derrick
Others Present: Commission on Disability Co-Chair Jack Lovett