Highlights this week…
- City Council …voting on BERDO
- Programs & Services …considering $2 million for NPS math curriculum, $300,000 for VoIP phone systems in both high schools, and a report on Aging in Newton: A Community Needs Assessment
- Public Safety & Transportation …talking with MBTA Advisory Board about consequences of underfunding of the MBTA
- Public Facilities …considering requests to install and maintain gas mains
- School Committee …holding its meeting at METCO HQ in Boston, on strategic planning and review of Thrive24 professional development
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following requests (see Reports Docket):
- Special Permit: Increased restaurant seating and parking waivers at 30-34 Langley Road
- Extensions of Time:
- Renovate and expand accessory apartment at 193 Lake Avenue
- Elder housing with services at 11 Florence Street and 318 Boylston Street
- Appointments:
- Jay Flynn, Marjorie Summers, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Alex Koppenheffer, and Chris Letourneau to the Newton Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Council
- Lori Yarvis to Economic Development Commission
- George McMains as Chief of the Newton Police Department
- Class 2 Auto Dealer License for Motorcars of Boston Inc.
- Ordinance (BERDO) that would require owners of large properties (campuses and large commercial buildings) to report energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions annually to the City
- Setting of the date and early voting hours for a Special Election to fill the Ward 7 vacancy on the Newton School Committee
- Free Cash Appropriations:
- $700,000 to fund Newton North High School capital projects
- $775,000 for municipal building maintenance projects
- $225,000 for Fire and Police Security Camera and Access Control improvements
- Acceptance of $123,677 grant from Executive Office of Public Safety & Security for NPD Staff Overtime
- Transfer $7,500 from Handicapped Parking Fines for NPD overtime pay to conduct Holiday Targeted Enforcement of the accessible parking
- Transfer $600 from Handicapped Parking Fines for an ASL interpreter and Communication Access Real-time translation for The Ride Ahead film screening
- No Action Necessary:
- Requiring disclosure of anticipated changes in grade for land use special permit application
- Recently completed, ongoing, and future parks and fields projects
- Possible potential pause of the solar panel installation at Brown and Oak Hill Schools
The New Docket includes the following:
- Construction, Demolition, and Zoning Requests:
- Construct retaining walls exceeding 4 feet in height at 52 Kingston Road and 166 Plymouth Road
- Raze the existing detached garage and construct an additional separate unit, resulting in three single-family attached dwellings in two separate structures at 237-239 Langley Road
- 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
- Rezone 386-394 Watertown Street from Business 1 to Mixed Use 4
- Construct a four-story, mixed-use building with 13 residential units and 14 at-grade parking stalls at 386 -394 Watertown Street
- Construct a two-story rear addition, exceeding the maximum FAR at 29 Walter Street
- Raze the existing dwelling and construct four attached single-family dwellings in two separate buildings at 49 Dalby Street
- Construct an addition within the existing footprint, exceeding the maximum FAR and creating a three-story building at 48 Lantern Lane
- Class 2 Auto Dealer License Requests: Luxury Motors, Old Time Garage, Auction Direct Preowned, Yes Auto Center
- Class 1 Auto Dealer License Request: McGovern Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM
- Appointments:
- Hema Narayanan to the Economic Development Commission
- Armine Freeman, Evelyn Shih, Leyla Gustin, and Naman Dadlani to the Youth Commission
- Reappointments:
- Rhiannon Esposito to the Youth Commission
- Despina Felis to the Biosafety Committee
- Request to accept and expend:
- $119,984 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability for accessibility improvements at the intersection of Watertown Street and Chapel Street
- $33,333 in transportation mitigation funds from the 15 Riverdale Avenue development
- $75,000 earmark from Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism for improvements to Pellegrini Park and the fieldhouse.
- $50,000 earmark from Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to develop a master plan for the Officer Bobby Braceland Playground
- Request to transfer and expend $27,000 to settle Worker’s Compensation claim
- Request to expend $10,000 for full and final settlement of Tom Bourgoin v. City of Newton
- Request to appropriate and expend $5,000 in transportation mitigation funds from the Green Lady Marijuana Establishment
- Request to appropriate $997,942 for Union Street main drainage extension
- Requested Free Cash Appropriations:
- $2,000,000 for Math Curriculum in the Newton Public Schools
- $300,000 to improve the phone systems at Newton North and Newton South High Schools with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Appropriating $2,000,000 for Math Curriculum in the Newton Public Schools
- Appropriating $300,000 to improve the phone systems at Newton North and Newton South High Schools with Voice over Internet Protocol phone systems
- Discussion of the Aging in Newton: A Community Needs Assessment report completed Newton’s Department of Older Adult Services and the Council on Aging
- Reappointing Despina Felis to the Biosafety Committee
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- New public auto license: Limo Class
- 7 renewals of public auto licenses: American Truck & Equipment Sales, Boston Cool Ride Limo, Don’s Car Service, MHS Worldwide, Om Sai Enterprises, Vali Bros Transportation, AB
- Presentation and discussion with the MBTA Advisory Board about the consequences for Newton and the region of underfunding of the MBTA, and possible Council action.
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- $997,942 for construction of the Union Street main drainage extension
- Public Hearings for Requests for Grant of Location to install and maintain gas mains: Centre Street, Walnut Street, Washington Street, Canterbury Road, and Beacon Street
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Monday at METCO Headquarters in Boston with an agenda including:
- Superintendent’s Report: Portrait of a Learner Overview (Competencies – Round 1) and Strategic Plan Kick-Off
- Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education: Entry Plan
- Review and reflect on November 5 Thrive24 District-Wide Professional Development Day
Boards and Commissions
Election Commission will meet on Monday to discuss Challenged Voters submitted to the Commission and a new Polling Location for Ward 3 Precinct 2.
Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday with an agenda including:
- Moment of Silence for Greg Bialecki
- Public Hearing and possible vote on possible amendments to retaining wall regulations
- Possible amendments to Newton’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance, to comply with the State’s Zoning Act
- Possible amendments to enhance the preservation of existing homes
Newton Commonwealth Foundation, which manages the municipal golf course, will meet on Tuesday to consider RFP#25-28, by-laws, greens, and Sterling Golf season ticket proposal.
Boston College Neighborhood Council will meet on Thursday to consider:
- 825 Centre Street (athletic support building project)
- 790 Centre Street (acquired in 2023)
- 9 Old Orchard Road (corner of Beacon and Hammond streets)
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Highlands Village Enhancement Project
- Astronomy night and other events
- Update about regulation of signs on Walnut Street MBTA bridge
Other
This week’s road construction schedule
