The Public Facilities Committee voted to approve the following (see report and watch the meeting video):
- Ordinance amendment to rename the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy to the Newton Energy Commission (7–0, Councilor Laredo not voting). Residents is now the preferred term over citizens. There are two openings on the Commission, one to be appointed by the City Council and one the School Committee. Both are in the process of selecting candidates.
- Transfer of $139,000 to cover a pension obligation shortfall in Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds (7–0, Councilor Laredo not voting). The shortfall was caused by a budgeting error; staffing vacancies provide sufficient savings to cover it.
- Authorization to expend $1,300,000 to support the City’s Transportation Network Improvements Program (8-0) for sidewalks and ADA ramps around high priority areas including the Cooper Center, Bowen and Burr Elementary schools.
- Appropriation of $1,000,000 for snow and ice removal (8-0) for recently submitted invoices from contractors. The City will include stronger language in the contracts next year to ensure more timely submission of invoices.
The Public Facilities Committee voted to hold the following:
- Bullough’s Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project (8–0). The Committee discussed the recommended Downstream Erosion Protection design to address major safety risks. Concerns about tree removal, long-term dam resilience, the cost of various options and stakeholder input remain under discussion. Further feedback from the Bullough’s Pond Working Group is pending. The group has yet to schedule a meeting with the City. The Commissioner of Public Works asked the Committee to support the design of downstream erosion protection using articulated concrete blocks. She noted the City is under a State order to fix the dam, and further delay could result in a fine and serious damage from flooding.
Attendees: Councilors Albright (Chair), Danberg, Downs, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Wright.
Also present: Councilors Malakie, Lucas, and Micley
City Staff: Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Yeo, Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan,
Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Bernie McDonald, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager
Perry Rosenfield, City Engineer Alfredo Vargas
