The Finance Committee convened on Monday, January 13, 2025, where various funding and policy proposals were approved. See the report and watch the meeting video.
The Finance Committee voted to approve the following:
- Authorization to Appropriate and Expend for March 2025 Special Election: (8-0) $183,395 from Certified Free Cash for a citywide Special Election to fill a vacant School Committee seat in March 2025. The City Charter states that if there is a vacancy within the first 15 calendar months of the term, the City Council needs to call for a special election to replace that person. Chair Gentile encouraged the Council to look at the Charter to potentially amend this section.
- Acceptance and Expenditure of a $500,000 Grant from Massachusetts DOT: (8-0) to be used for sidewalks along Nahanton Street from Wells Avenue to Dedham street and intersection improvements at Wells Avenue. Additional funds from Opus 2Life Mitigation Funds and the Ride Share Fund will complete the project. The project was first approved in 2016.
- Acceptance and Expenditure of a Grant for Murphy Field Improvements: (8-0) up to $250,000 from Newton Little League for the installation of sports lighting and other enhancements at Murphy Field. Discussions highlighted the community’s support.
- Settlement of Legal Claim: (8-0) The committee approved a $10,000 settlement in the legal case of Weberson Pinto v. City of Newton, significantly lower than the claimed damages, thanks to effective negotiations by the City’s legal team. A City truck allegedly rear-ended Mr. Pinto’s car.
Present: Councilors Gentile (Chair), Malakie, Grossman, Bixby, Humphrey, Greenberg, Lipof, and Micley
City staff present: Comptroller Steve Curley; Financial Analyst II Trevor Goehring; Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Perry Rosenfield; Deputy Comptroller Stela Zaloshnja; Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Culture Nicole Banks; Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan; Elections Supervisor John Doyle; Director of Parks & Open Space Luis Perez Demorizi; and Assistant City Solicitor Kristen Annunziato