Highlights this week…
- Finance …reviewing budgets for Assessing, Financial Services, HR, and Executive/Sustainability
- Public Facilities …considering significant appropriations for transportation network and school facilities
- City Council …discussing and possibly voting on Mayor’s FY26 Budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan
- Newton Community Education …discussing financial update and vision for NCE 2.0
- Parks, Recreation & Culture …holding a virtual community meeting on the Memorial Playground renovation project
City Council
Zoning and Planning will meet on Monday regarding:
- Adding a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to zoning ordinance to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood
- Possible amendments to zoning to enhance the preservation of existing homes over their replacement by larger and more expensive structures
- Amending the setbacks in the MR zones to encourage preservation of existing buildings
- Aligning zoning to the proposed use for by-right or special permit projects for new build or major renovations
- Possible ordinance amendments regarding raised beds in the setback
Finance will meet on Monday regarding:
- Expending from the Commission on Disability’s H-P Fines Account:
- $2,000 to celebrate Disability Pride Month with a community event at Newton Free Library
- $10,000 for one shower chair and two wheelchairs to be used at the Gath Pools
- Increasing the FY25 Full Time Equivalent positions in the Comptroller’s Office from 6.4 to 7.0
- Appropriating from Free Cash:
- $40,000 to repair fountain in the traffic island at the intersection of Chestnut and Highland Streets
- $50,000 for the Jeannette West Recreation Center Restroom Improvement project
- Appropriating from FY25 Budget Reserve:
- $50,000 to install a heat pump in the Information Technology Department at City Hall
- $40,000 for equipment for the Emergency Operations Center at Fire Headquarters
- Transferring $65,000 from DPW Highway – Full-Time Wages to settle a worker’s compensation claim
- Accepting grants:
- $17,314 from the Mass. Executive Office of Public Safety and the Mass. Department of Fire Safety
- $2,900 from the Mass. Department of Fire Services
- Appropriating from Community Preservation Act funding:
- $75,000 for expenses relating to replacement of the deck at the Newton Community Farm
- $189,300 for architecture, engineering, and investigative expenses for War Memorial Stairs restoration
- Budget Reviews for Assessing, Financial Services, HR, and Executive/Sustainability
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Free Cash Appropriation Requests:
- $3,000,000 to support the City’s Transportation Network Improvement Program (in addition to $1,500,000 from snow and ice reserves for a total of $4,500,000)
- $2,525,000 for priority school facility projects
- $250,000 for the Police Headquarters Improvements.
- $225,576 for prevailing wage rate adjustment under the City’s current contract with Waste Management
- $150,000 for Fire Station #1/#2 Living Quarters Improvements
- $100,000 for the Rumford Avenue Resource Recovery Center to purchase and install a second trailer
- $75,000 for the Newton Centre Tree Lighting project
- $43,100 for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
- Budget Reserve appropriation requests:
- $160,000 for City Hall Elevator Modernization project
- $150,000 for City Hall Boiler Condensate Tank Replacement Project
- $100,000 for Inspectional Services HVAC Improvements
City Council will meet on Thursday to discuss and possibly vote on the Mayor’s proposed FY26 Budget, FY26-30 Capital Improvement Plan, and Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan.
School Committee
School Committee has no meetings scheduled for this week.
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet on Monday regarding:
- Accessibility at Newton businesses – John Sisson-Director of Economic Development
- Technical services for people who are blind/low vision – Aaron Spelker, Technology Coordinator at MABVI
- AAB Variance Application – platform lift at Café St. Petersburg
- Disability Pride Event Update
- Potential Statement on Autism Pride
- Co-Chairs Corner
- Disability Dialogues book group update
- Fig City News article
- NPS DAG update
- Rep. Jake Auchincloss meeting for disability service providers
Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet on Monday to discuss Spring Fling.
Community Preservation Committee will meet on Tuesday for a pre-proposal meeting on Bike Parking.
Economic Development Commission will meet on Tuesday for:
- Recognizing Jack Leader’s contributions and welcoming new member Andrew Copelotti
- Discussion on the Northland development and City budget
- Updates from working groups: Culture, Licensing & Permitting, Zoning, and Education
- City updates on economic development strategy, website, and technical assistance
Newton Affordable Housing Trust will meet on Tuesday for:
- Discussion with Dream Collaborative on site feasibility
- Review of revised Trust Funding Application
- Newton Gardens Project update
- Discussion of strategies to deploy Trust Funding and future CPA funding application
Newton Human Rights Commission will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Celebration of Queer Culture event
- Newton Police Department reports and student comments
- Coordination with human rights groups in neighboring towns
- June 3rd Pride Flag Raising Event
Newton Community Education Commission will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Visit adult classes at NNHS
- Team Check in
- NCE Financial Update
- Take-aways from market research and feedback from Commission
- Vision for NCE 2.0
Urban Design Commission will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Sign permit applications:
- 993-997 Chestnut Street – Village Youth Conservatory
- 1188 Centre Street – Citizens
- 131-181 Needham Street – VEG-ER for Pets
- 93-105 Union Street – Club Pilates
- Fence appeals: 9 Forest Street and 74 Homestead Street
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding requests for Certificate of Appropriateness for:
- Installation of fence dividing driveways at 14 Lawrence Road
- Rebuild four brick chimneys at 258 Hammond Street
- Extensive landscaping, masonry, and lighting work at 61 Gate House Road
- Second egress from a garage ADU at 61 Gate House Road
- Replacement of windows and door in sunroom and window in front of house at 6 Reservoir Avenue
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Informal discussion of modified planting plans at 250 Albemarle Road
- Continued public hearings for:
- New deck at the rear of a single-family home at 111 Truman Street
- Backyard landscape renovation at 240 Old Farm Road
- Determination of Applicability for a second-story addition at 46 Heatherland Road
- Notice of Intent to demolish a duplex and construct a new duplex in the City Floodplain District at 124 Cabot Street
- Notices of Intent – Public hearings:
- Repairs to Edmands Brook 885 Centre Street (Boston College)
- Hi-speed test track work at MBTA Green Line ROW (Chestnut Hill to Newton Centre)
- Notices of Intent – Continued public hearings:
- Multi-family 40B development at 528 Boylston Street
- Repaving project at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway (Boston College)
- Certificate of Compliance for teardown/rebuild of a single-family home at 58 Everett Street
Other
Parks, Recreation & Culture Department will hold a virtual community meeting (Zoom link) on Tuesday at 7PM to present updates on the Memorial Playground renovation project.
Development Review Team (DRT) will meet this week regarding:
- 55 Goddard Street: Special Permit for a rear lot project
- 444-452, 454-458 Watertown Street: Variance from lot size and/or setbacks to divide an existing lot
- 355, 399 Grove Street (Riverside): (on May 12) 6 buildings, 750 residential units, 20,000 sq ft of retail, and 1076 parking stalls, of which 946 stall are in a structured parking garage
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
