Highlights this week…
- City Council …considering appropriations from Free Cash totaling $6,698,676
- School Committee …discussing NPS district goals, strategic plan, and Superintendent evaluation
- Area Councils …meeting with City Clerk about administration of Area Council elections in November
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
City Council Reports Docket Summary – June 2, 2025
- Appropriations from Free Cash
- $3,000,000 to support the City’s Transportation Network Improvement Program
- $1,425,000 (previously $2,525,000) for priority school facility projects under control of Public Buildings Dept
- $1,100,000 for school facility projects typically funded from the NPS charter maintenance account
- $250,000 for Police Headquarters interior improvements
- $225,576 for prevailing wage rate adjustment for solid waste contract
- $150,000 for Library data wiring
- $150,000 for Fire Station #1/#2 living quarters improvements
- $100,000 for Rumford Avenue Resource Recovery Center trailer
- $90,000 for a new plow truck for the Newton Fire Department
- $75,000 for Newton Centre Tree Lighting project
- $50,000 for Jeannete West Recreation Center restroom improvements
- $43,100 for purchase and installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
- $40,000 to repair the fountain at intersection of Chestnut and Highland Streets
- Appropriations from Budget Reserve
- $160,000 for City Hall Elevator Modernization
- $150,000 for City Hall boiler condensate tank replacement
- $100,000 for HVAC improvements in Inspectional Services
- Other Appropriations & Transfers
- $1,500,000 from Snow/Ice Reserves to support City’s Transportation Network Improvement Program
- $76,975 from Full-Time Salaries to Temp Staffing for temporary school nursing staff
- $50,000 from Washington Place TRIO mitigation fund for sidewalk construction on Lowell Avenue
- $10,000 for Legal Claims & Settlements in Elizabeth Marino v. City of Newton
- Accepting Grants
- $423,052 from MassDOT for the Local Bottleneck Reduction Program
- $25,000 from FY25 state budget earmark for exhibit upgrades at Historic Newton
- $13,500 from National Environmental Health Association for food program standards
- Special Permits
- Allow an oversized wall sign at 1210-1230 Washington Street
- Extend nonconforming use and setbacks, construct a three-story structure at 52-54 Hatfield Road
- Construct retaining walls over 4 feet high at 52 Kingston Road an d 166 Plymouth Road
- Appointing Rajeev Parlikar to the Horace Cousens Industrial Fund
The New Docket includes:
- Appropriations from Free Cash
- $1,300,000 to support Transportation Network Improvements Program
- $1,250,000 toward settlement of Newton Patrol Association Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $250,000 toward snow and ice removal
- $25,000 for FY25 Veteran Benefit expenses
- Other Appropriations and Transfers
- $3,260,000 plus $1,952,500 from Wage Reserves (FY25 and FY26, respectively) for Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $2,453,904 from inflow and infiltration mitigation accounts for capital improvement projects
- $750,000 from DPW Full-time Wages to Contractors for snow and ice removal
- $200,000 from PEG Access & Cable Related Fund to Newton Communications Access Center (NewTV)
- $150,000 from Legal Full-time Salaries for outside legal services
- $139,000 from Water/Sewer accounts to cover pension shortfall in Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds
- $125,000 transfer for Library electricity expenses
- $50,000 in Dunstan East mitigation funds for bus stop improvements (Washington Street Pilot)
- $50,000 state earmark for Washington Street Pilot Program
- $31,073 in mitigation funds for traffic safety and operations measures
- $10,000 settlement payment (Farmers Ins. v. City of Newton)
- $2,925 from Full-Time Salaries to cover a shortfall in interest on high school long-term debt
- $50 transfer within Veterans Services budget
- Transfer any unspent FY25 municipal health insurance funds to Health Insurance Trust Fund
- Special Permits
- Construct three attached single-family dwellings at 8 Central Avenue
- Construct a new dwelling exceeding allowable FAR at 135 Hartman Road
- Construct three single-family attached dwellings and retaining walls exceeding 4 feet at 790 Watertown Street
- Renewing bus licenses: 2 for Needham Shuttle Bus operated by the 128 Business Council, 2 for Boston College, and 4 for VPNE Parking Solutions
- Renaming Newton Citizens Commission on Energy to Newton Energy Commission
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Monday regarding a Free Cash appropriation request for $90,000 for a new plow truck for the Newton Fire Department.
Public Facilities will meet on Monday regarding:
- Free Cash Appropriation requests:
- $3,000,000 from Free Cash and $1,500,000 transferred from snow and ice reserves for a total of $4,500,000 to support the City’s Transportation Network Improvement Program
- $1,425,000 for priority school facility projects under the control of the Public Buildings Department
- $250,000 for the Police Headquarters Improvements
- $100,000 for the Rumford Avenue Resource Recovery Center
- $75,000 for the Newton Centre Tree Lighting project
- $43,100 for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
- Budget Reserve Appropriation requests:
- $150,000 for City Hall Boiler Condensate Tank
- $100,000 for Inspectional Services HVAC Improvements
Land Use Committee will meet on Tuesday regarding Special Permit requests to:
- Add a third story to the dwelling at 30 Glendale Road
- Raze the existing dwelling and construct three attached, single-family dwellings in two buildings with a retaining wall exceeding four feet at 3 Newland Street
- Raze the existing dwelling and construct a four-unit dwelling with garaged parking and parking waivers at 1062 Beacon Street
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appropriating $6,462,500 to cover costs associated with Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- Bus license renewals: 2 for Needham Shuttle Bus operated by the 128 Business Council, 2 for Boston College, and 4 for VPNE Parking Solutions
- Semi-annual public auto inspections submitted by the Police Department
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding requests to:
- Rename Newton Citizens Commission on Energy to Newton Energy Commission
- Transfer $139,000 to cover pension obligation shortfall in Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds
- Receive update on planning and construction of Bullough’s Pond Dam and discuss Bullough’s Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project
- Appropriate Free Cash:
- $1,000,000 for snow and ice removal
- $1,300,000 for additional paving, sidewalk, and ADA ramp improvements
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday regarding requests to:
- Appropriate from Free Cash:
- $75,000 for Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan
- $150,000 for Library data wiring to improve connectivity, data security, and transmission speed in heavily used patron and staff areas
- Transfer $150,000 for legal services
- Reappoint Andria Tieman-Michney as a Newton Library Trustee and Shawn Fitzgibbons to the Licensing Board
School Committee
School Committee‘s regular meeting on Monday includes:
- Superintendent’s Update
- Policy Updates: Staff Gifts/Solicitation, Student Fundraising, Student Gifts/Solicitation, Relation w/Parents & Boosters, Public Solicitation, On-Line Fundraising/Solicitation/Crowd Sourcing, Public Solicitation in Schools – NPS Support Organization Guidelines
- Physical Education Curriculum Self-Study Update
- Cell Phone Policy
- Strategic Plan Adoption
- Superintendent Evaluation
Boards and Commissions
Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday regarding:
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council Presentation of DRAFT Nonconformity Analysis Pilot
- Planning Board Update on a zoning request to add a maximum residential facade build-out ratio to aid in new development being contextual to the surrounding neighborhood
Newton Cultural Council will meet on Tuesday to finalize the NCC Community Input Survey.
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- 5-Year Vegetation Management Plan for the Commuter Rail Line
- Driveway expansion at 11 Hagen Road
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Newton Highlands Village Day
- Survey questions for Area Council table
- Promoting local business / shopping district ideas
- Village Enhancement Project
- Police discussion follow-up
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to Remediate Violation at 97 Lowell Avenue.
Other
City Clerk has invited Area Council presidents and City Councilors to meet in person (City Hall, Room 211) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, June 3 at 4PM to discuss administration of Area Council Elections for the November 2025 Election.
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding the following potential projects/proposals (see DRT Snapshot):
- 395 Lexington Street: Extension of a nonconforming two-family dwelling use
- 10-12 Frances: Variance for Open Space (<50%), Special Permit for FAR, multi-family use (3-family)
- 33 Mague Avenue/26 Rose Drive: Rear lot subdivision
This week’s road construction schedule.
