Highlights this week…
- City Council Committees …conducting FY2026 Budget Reviews for specific City departments.
- FY26 Budget documents …being reviewed this season: Mayor’s Proposed Budget, FY26-30 Capital Improvement Plan, Superintendent’s Proposed Budget
- Countryside School Project Community Meeting …held virtually on Tuesday
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Finance Committee will meet on Monday regarding:
- Appropriating $2,000,000 from Free Cash toward the significant increase in FY2026 Health Insurance costs
- Reviewing FY2026 Budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for:
- Human Resources Department
- City Clerk Department
- Elections Commission (within City Clerk’s Department)
- Retirement Board
- Information Technology Department
Zoning & Planning Committee will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Appointing:
- Michael Alperin to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust
- JJ Kazakoff-Eigen to the BERDO Advisory Commission
- Authorizing submission of FY26-30 Consolidated Plan, 2025 Revised Citizen Participation Plan, and FY2026 Annual Action Plan to U.S. Housing and Urban Development
- Reviewing FY2026 Budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for:
Public Facilities Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appropriations recommended by Community Preservation Committee:
- $75,000 for replacing the deck at the Newton Community Farm
- $214,300 for architecture, engineering and investigative expenses for restoring War Memorial Stairs
- Reviewing FY2026 Budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for:
- Appropriating $2,525,000 from Free Cash for priority school facility projects
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday:
- Reviewing FY2026 Budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan for:
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Wednesday. The agenda includes:
- Superintendent’s Update
- Science Curriculum Adoption Open-Sci Ed K-2
- Memo Policy Revisions
- Relation w/Parents & Boosters and Guidelines
- Public Solicitation
- On-Line Fundraising/Solicitation/Crowd Sourcing
- Staff Gifts/Solicitation
- Student Fundraising
- Student Gifts/Solicitation
- Public Solicitation in Schools
- Annual Report
- FY26 Budget Update and Discussion
Boards and Commissions
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Monday regarding:
- Planning for Spring Arts and Culture Summit – June 13, 2025
- Teeing up Council Priorities FY26
Newton Parks and Recreation Commission will meet on Monday regarding:
- Eagle Scout Projects – Update
- Bee Hive Policy
- Crystal Lake pre-season beach and stormwater improvements and future planning
- Oak Hill Park – Update on Phase 1 work
- Committee Reports: Community Preservation, Urban Tree, Farm, Commonwealth Golf, Park Signs and Memorials
Newton Housing Partnership will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Project Update Chart
- Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance update from RKG
- Purpose statement for Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership:
- For future meetings:
- Setting strategic goals
- Recommendations for resident services
- Meeting with Mayoral candidates
- Mitigation fees
- Update TDC cash payment
- Fair Housing training for policy leaders
Youth Commission Advisory Board Mental Health Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Work on event proposals: Topic Points, Event Logistics, Marketing Plan
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- One-Day Temporary Entertainment Licenses:
- May 3 concert at Newton City Hall, War Memorial Auditorium
- May 18 Waban Village Day and Fun Run at Waban Square
- May 31 concert at Newton City Hall, War Memorial Auditorium
- One-Day Temporary Wine-Malt and Entertainment Licenses:
- May 2 fundraiser at Neighborhood Club, 24 Berkeley Street, West Newton
- May 4 fundraiser gala at Newton Free Library
- One-Day Temporary Wine-Malt Licenses: May 16 and June 13 figure drawing classes at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park
- New Common Victualler Licenses:
- Madras Dosa Co. at 9 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill
- The Half Cookie at 3A Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill
- NY Bagel Factory at 839 Washington Street, Newtonville
- Alteration of Premises: Tango Mango at 34 Langley Road, Newton Centre
- Change of On-Site Manager: Nonantum Post #440 at 295 California Street
- Changes in Ownership Interest and Officers:
- Oak n’ Barrel Wine, Spirits & MôR at 1255 Centre Street, Newton Centre
- Auburndale Wine & Spirits at 2102 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale
- Upper Falls Discount Liquors at 150 Needham Street, Newton Upper Falls
- New Wine-Malt Package Store License: Scafidi Bros. Market & Deli at 1134 Beacon Street, Newton Highlands
- Transfer of All-Alcohol License: Boston Roma LLC d/b/a Sembol at 148 California Street
- Violation Hearing: Chilacates at 33 Boylston Street, Suite 3330, Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet at 61 Gate House Road on Wednesday to conduct a site visit to review topography and hardscape plans, a mock-up of materials, and proposed second egress from ADU garage.
Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Strategic Plan (Vote)
- IMLS Advocacy Letter (Vote)
- FY26 City Budget
- Reports
- Spring Fling
- 3Q Update and Review
- Library Updates
- Furniture Replacement Project
- Q3 Investment Performance
- FY25 Financial Results vs. Budget
- Budget Preparation Process/Timeline (Vote)
Newton Historical Commission will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Total Demolitions: 25–27 Cotter Road, 99 Withington Road, 10–12 Bowers Street
- Partial Demolitions: 31 Schofield Drive (house and garage), 65 Clark Street, 312 Lake Avenue, 24 Sylvester Road
- Waivers of Demolition Delay: 3 Newland Street, 44 Erie Avenue, 34 West Street, 5 Keller Path
WestMetro HOME Consortium will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Fair Housing:
- Municipality public events debrief
- Fair Housing Testing Report next steps
- HOME-ARP Update
- HOME Monitoring, Subrecipient Monitoring
- FY26-FY30 Consolidated Plan
- FY26 Annual Action Plan
- FY25 Subrecipient Agreements
- Consolidated Pool and CHDO RFPs
- New HOME Rule from HUD
- OneDrive: File Storage and Resources
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council (NHNAC) will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Newton Highlands Village Day (June 8)
- 1149–1151 Walnut Street consistency ruling and other updates
- Village Enhancement Project
Youth Commission Advisory Board will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- Debrief- Stress Survival Guide Workshop for teens & Family Workshop for parents (May 2)
- Balancing Older Adult Care, Kids, Career & More (May 5)
- Workshop from Samaritans, Inc. on mental health conversations (May 29)
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness to update previously approved site plan at 75 Prescott Street.
Other
Countryside School Project Community Meeting will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, April 29 at 6PM. The agenda includes a Construction Community Update.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential projects/proposals:
- 157 Baldpate Hill Road: Amend special permit to allow retaining wall over 4 feet
- 14 Manitoba Road: Second parking stall in front setback
- 1068 Chestnut Street / 365-381 Elliot Street (Mall at Echo Bridge): Special permit to allow Keno
This week’s road construction schedule.
Ed. Note: This post has been updated to include the agenda for the School Committee meeting.
