Highlights this week…
- Juneteenth! …State holiday on Thursday, with City offices closed and celebrations at Hyde Playground and Allen House
- School Committee …discussing reorganization, fiscal/operations update, and secondary schools long-range planning
- Grand openings …for Upper Falls Splash Park and Spears Community Garden
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on (see Reports Docket):
- Appropriations from Free Cash
- $1,300,000 to support paving, sidewalk, and ADA ramp improvements in the City’s Transportation Network Improvements Program
- $1,250,000 toward settlement of the Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $250,000 from Free Cash to DPW Snow and Ice – Contractors for snow and ice removal
- $150,000 for Library data wiring to improve connectivity, data security and transmission speed in heavily used patron and staff areas
- $75,000 for Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan [recommended No Action Necessary]
- $25,000 to cover remaining FY25 Veteran Benefit expenses
- Transfers and other appropriations:
- $3,260,000 from Current Year Wage Reserve toward settlement of the Newton Patrol Association FY22-24 Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $2,453,904 from water inflow and infiltration mitigation accounts for capital improvement plan inflow and infiltration projects
- $1,952,500 from Current Wage Reserve for FY22-24 Newton Patrol Association Collective Bargaining Agreement
- $750,000 from DPW Street – Full-time Wages to DPW Snow and Ice – Contractors for snow and ice removal
- $200,000 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund to Newton Communications Access Center (NewTV)
- $150,000 from Legal – Full Time Salaries to Legal Services for to use outside legal firms
- $139,000 consisting of $81,000 from Sewer Full Time Wages plus $58,000 from Water Fund Full Time Wages to cover pension obligation shortfall in Water and Sewer funds
- $125,000 Library – Full Time Salaries for Library electricity
- $50,000 for sidewalk construction (postponed from last Council meeting)
- $50,000 in Dunstan East mitigation funds for bus stop improvements in the Washington Street Pilot
- $31,073 in permit mitigation funds from development projects for traffic safety and operations
- $10,000 from Judgement and Settlements to settle Farmers Ins. a/s/o Vadim Flekel v. City of Newton
- $2,925 from Executive – Full Time Salaries to Interest – Long Term Debt – High School to cover shortfall
- $50 from Veteran Services – Printing, to Veteran Services – Full Time Salaries
- Any unexpended municipal health insurance funds on June 30 to Health Insurance Trust Fund
- Accepting $50,000 Commonwealth of Massachusetts FY25 State earmark for Washington Street Pilot
- Special Permits to:
- Add a third story to the dwelling at 30 Glendale Road
- Raze existing dwelling and construct three attached, single-family dwellings in two buildings with retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at 3 Newland Street
- Reappointing:
- Shawn Fitzgibbons to the Licensing Board
- Andria Tieman-Michney as a Newton Library Trustees
- Renewing Bus Licenses: 2 for 128 Business Council, 2 for Boston College Bus, and 4 for VPNE Parking Solutions
- Renaming Newton Citizens Commission on Energy to Newton Energy Commission
- Reviewing semi-annual public auto inspections
The New Docket includes:
- Special Permit requests to:
- Reconfigure interior to accommodate six residential dwelling units and allow a free standing sign near the main driveway entrance at 44 Oak Street
- Remove existing covered porch, construct a 149 sq. ft. one-story mudroom, raze existing 443 sq. ft. detached garage, and construct a 528 sq. ft. detached garage slightly further back at 39 Valentine Park
- Allow Keno use by adding two lottery screens in lounge of restaurant at 1064-1070 Chestnut Street
- Construct a 2.5-story rear addition at 19 Quirk Court
- Reappoint Harvey Schorr to the Newton Historical Commission
- Appoint:
- Morgan Maeder to the Biosafety Committee
- Mike Halle to the Design Review Committee
- Reihaneh Irani-Famili to the Citizens Commission on Energy
Land Use will meet on Tuesday regarding requests to:
- Construct a detached garage and modify the two-family dwelling resulting in a three-story structure at 52-54 Hatfield Road
- Raze the existing dwelling and construct a two-family dwelling at 50 Braeland Avenue
- Raze dwelling and construct three attached single-family dwellings in two separate buildings at 8 Central Avenue
- Raze dwelling and construct three single-family attached dwellings in one building at 790 Watertown Street
- Raze detached garage and construct an additional separate unit, resulting in three single-family attached dwellings in two separate structures at 237-239 Langley Road
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Supporting State legislation ensuring all Massachusetts high school students learn CPR and the use of AEDs
- Discussion with the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department about restroom facilities, or lack thereof, at City parks
- Appointing Morgan Maeder to the Biosafety Committee
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding requests for discussions:
- With the Administration’s Sustainability Team and the Department of Public Works on
(a) a plan to more effectively reduce methane gas leaks in the city and
(b) how to best coordinate with National Grid regarding the transition away from methane gas to electric heating and cooling solutions - With Public Works and the Climate and Sustainability Team about how to implement electrification of street segments where National Grid plans to replace leak-prone gas pipes
- With National Grid regarding their Networked Geothermal Project in Lowell Massachusetts
Public Safety and Transportation meeting has been canceled.
School Committee
School Committee‘s regular meeting on Monday includes:
- Consent Agenda
- Superintendent’s Update
- District Reorganization Overviews
- Joint Labor Management Update (Working Groups): Mental Health, Elementary, High School Joint Oversight, and Unit C
- Citizens Energy Commission Recommendation
- Superintendent Evaluation
- Fiscal & Ops – Q3 (includes Q4 preview) and Newton Community Education update
- Facilities Report
- Long Range Planning-Secondary Schools Facility and Planning Study
Boards and Commissions
Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet on Monday regarding:
- Development Update
- Impact Report Planning
[UPDATED] Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will meet on Monday regarding:
- LFCC – Historical Signs
- Committee Reports: Community Preservation, Urban Tree, Farm, Commonwealth Golf, PRC Signage and Naming
Board of License Commissioners will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Request for a One-Day Temporary All-Alcohol License for fundraiser on Saturday, June 28, 6PM-9PM at the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Avenue
- Request for a New Common Victualler License: Cocina Abreu 4 Inc, d/b/a Chilacates, 33 Boylston Street
- Request for a New Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment Licenses: Delightful Adult Health Daycare, LTD. 84 Rowe Street
- Alleged violation of license held by Jilong, Inc. d/b/a Edamame Asian Cuisine, 148 California Street, alleged that business sold alcoholic beverages to minors
Newton Citizens Commission on Energy will meet on Tuesday regarding:
- Docket #322-24 and Smaller Buildings – Follow up with City Council
- Latest on Garland Road
- Community Survey
- Planning Regular NEC Communications
- Council Committee Relationships
Board of Assessors will meet on Wednesday to approve May 2025 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Commission on Disability will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Accessible Fines Report
- Price Center Presentation
- Fines Fund Ideas
- Autistic Pride Day
- COD Statement on Autism discussions on the federal level
- Disability Pride Event- July 9 and Disability Dialogues Book Group – June 24
- City Hall Elevator Update
- MOD Grant Update
- Treasurer’s Report
- Co-Chairs Corner: Understanding Our Differences possibly back at NPS, Oak Hill Park Playground Advocacy, NPS DAG update
Other
Upper Falls Splash Park‘s grand opening will be on Monday, 4PM-6PM, at 1265 Chestnut Street. It was built by Northland Development as part of its project at Oak and Needham Streets.
Spears Community Garden‘s grand opening will be on Tuesday, 5:30PM, at the corner of Washington Street and Walnut Park.
Development Review Team (DRT) is scheduled to meet this week regarding these potential projects/proposals (see DRT Snapshot):
- 11-15 Suban Place: Attached single- or multi-family dwelling
- 31 Melville Avenue: Special permit to exceed FAR and nonconforming 3.5 stories
- 167 Derby Street: Convert existing garage to ADU. Gross Floor Area of ADU exceeds 50% of the principal dwelling.
This week’s road construction schedule.
Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
