Finance Committee met on May 27, 2025. The report is available and a meeting video can be viewed online.
The Finance Committee approved:
- $150,000 from Free Cash to replace aging data wiring at the Newton Free Library (7-0) to improve connectivity, data security, and transmission speed in heavily used patron and staff areas. The wiring will also support the installation of a door-locking system and updating security cameras.
- $90,000 from Free Cash to purchase a new plow truck for the Fire Department (7-0) to replace a 2009 truck responsible for cleaning the front of the stations so that trucks can enter and exit during storms.
- $40,000 from Free Cash to restore the historic fountain at Chestnut St and Highland St (7-0) “The Anne Whitney Child with Calla Lily Leaves fountain is 122 years old. The requested funds would support mechanical, electrical, irrigation, and lighting repairs to the fountain.” Neighbors, the Friends of the Fountain group, are contributing $15,000 toward the project.
- To accept and expend $25,000 from a state earmark for new exhibits at Historic Newton (7-0) to design a new exhibit on the first floor of Jackson Homestead covering major themes in Newton History.
- To accepted and expended $13,500 from the National Environmental Health Association to support food safety inspections (7-0) to improve the City’s conformance with the US Food and Drug Administration’s Voluntary National Retail Food Program Standards.
- Authorization to transfer and expend $76,975 for temporary school nursing staff (7-0) from a full-time salaries account. Staffing school nurses remains difficult due to a general nursing shortage.
- Appropriation of $75,000 for Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan (3-2-2, Councilors Grossman and Malakie Opposed, Councilors Gentile and Bixby Abstaining) Councilor felt the scope of the project should be determined first and noted similar assessments in Brookline and Needham recommended proposals that are already in place in Newton, impractical or financially unattainable. The last assessment was 9 years ago. Approved on the condition that no funds will be expended until the scope is more clearly defined at the Programs and Services Committee.
- Accept and expend a grant of $423,052.50 for part of the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program (7-0) from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The grant is to be used to upgrade traffic signals at Commonwealth Ave and Centre Street, and at Ward Street and Centre Street. The equipment will include video detection and wireless cellular communication.
- Appropriation of $225,576 for prevailing wage rate adjustment (7-0) from Free Cash to fully fund City’s contract with Waste Management. The new, 5-year contract starts July 1.
- Appropriation of $4,500,000 to support the City’s Transportation Network Improvement Program (7-0) from Free Cash and Snow and Ice reserves for road paving.
- Appropriation of $100,000 for the Rumford Avenue Resource Recovery Center (7-0) to purchase and install a second trailer. This will enable all staff to be on site and add an additional restroom and locker space.
- Appropriation of $43,100 for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (7-0) at Parker and Hagen; Chestnut and Winter Street. Money to come from Certified Free Cash unless City receives a MassDOT grant.
- Appropriate and expend the sum of $50,000 for sidewalk construction on Lowell Avenue (7-0) from the Washington Place TRIO mitigation fund.
- Appropriation of $250,000 for the Police Headquarters Improvements (7-0) from Free Cash for interior improvements.
- Appropriation of $150,000 for City Hall Boiler Condensate Tank (7-0) from the FY25 Budget Reserve.
- Appropriation of $160,000 for City Hall Elevator Modernization project (7-0) from FY25 Budget Reserves.
- Appropriation of $100,000 for Inspectional Services HVAC Improvements (6-0-1, Councilor Grossman abstaining) from FY25 Budget Reserves. Councilor Grossman noted that the Ward School has unmet heat needs, last year’s 5th grade graduation had to be relocated when temperatures were over 100 degrees.
- Appropriation of $150,000 for Fire Station #1/#2 Living Quarters Improvements (7-0) from Free Cash. Some heavily used rooms had not been updated for over 50 years.
- Appropriation of $50,000 for Jeannete West Recreation Center restroom improvements (7-0) the building is used by up to 60 people for aftercare and summer camps.
- Appropriation of $75,000 for the Newton Centre Tree Lighting project (6-1, Councilor Malakie opposed) from Free Cash. Project supported by Newton Community Pride. Councilor Malakie expressed concerns about tree damage.
- Appropriation of $1,100,000 for one-time school facility projects (7-0) from Free Cash. The projects are typically funded out of the Newton Public School charter maintenance account.
- Appropriation of $2,525,000 for priority school facility projects (7-0) “as Amended Changing “$2,525,000” to “$1,425,000”, Changing “two million five hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($2,525,000)” to “one million four hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($1,425,000)” and Adding “These funds shall be placed in an account under the control of the Public Buildings Department.”
- Expend the sum of $10,000 for a settlement (7-0) of Elizabeth Marino v. City of Newton regarding a slip and fall case in the city-owned Cherry Street parking lot.
- The appointment of Rajeev Parlikar of 252 Pearl Street as a trustee of the Horace Cousens Industrial Fund (7-0) for a term ending 2028.
Committee Members Present: Councilors Gentile (Chair), Malakie, Greenberg, Bixby, Lipof, Humphrey, and Grossman
Also Present: Councilor Farrell
Absent: Councilor Micley
City staff present: Comptroller Steve Curley; Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Perry Rosenfield;
Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux; Financial Analyst II Trevor Goehring; Senior Analyst Endrit
Poreci; Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Yeo; Director of Parks and Open Space Luis Demorizi;
Commissioner of Public Buildings Joshua Morse; Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan;
Commissioner of Health and Human Services Shin-Yi Lao; Assistant Fire Chief Antonio Bianchi, Police
Chief George McMains; Library Director Jill Mercurio; Historic Newton Director Lisa Dady
