The Public Facilities Committee approved the following (see the report and watch the meeting video):
- Appropriation – $297,400 for Pump Station Rehabilitation (design) (6-0) Funds design and bidding for critical upgrades at three sewer pump stations (Quinobequin Rd., Elliott St., Langley Rd.). The work addresses aging pumps and motors, end-of-life generators, deteriorated hatches/roofing/structural elements, and electrical/control systems. Design scope includes field evaluations, up to 100% design documents, and bid services (approx. six months), positioning the City to construct in the next phase.
- Appropriation – $325,000 for Cheesecake Brook Subbasin stormwater plan (6-0) for an updated, basin-wide analysis using refreshed GIS, 1D/2D modeling, and present/future storm scenarios to produce a prioritized mitigation plan; staff noted frequent flooding in locations like Border St. and the need to modernize the Stormwater Infrastructure Improvement Plan. Work is expected to conclude by 12/31/2026.
Held:
- Oak Hill Park renaming of 18 roadways for fallen veterans (6-0) The 18 roadways were created as service roads. Currently named by letters A to R. Strong support for honoring fallen veterans; discussion weighed complete renaming vs. honorary signage (wayfinding, speed to implementation, and the ability to honor more veterans across signs). The name change would impact one house. 6 people spoke at the public hearing, 2 in support, 4 in support of adding honorary signs instead of changing street names.
- Request for City road repairs on Hamlet Street, a private way in Houghton Villages in Newton Centre (6-0) Newton Community Development Foundation (NCDF) outlined the history (pothole petitions, City not responsible for private ways). Houghton Villages is a 50 unit, mixed income development. The Department of Public Works informed them that changing Hamlet to a public road would be expensive. DPW gave NCDF a betterment assessment of $119,000 for major temporary repairs and a lower private-contractor quote (~$85k). Committee requested process guidance (permitting, traffic detail, utility protections) before next steps.
No Action Necessary:
- Discussion of voluntary energy-use reporting ordinance similar to BERDO for rental units (6-0). Two proposals: The Mayor’s proposal would allow all homeowners to submit monthly energy bills to the BERDO Administrator for Energy Use Intensity calculations. The Newton Commission on Energy proposal would require owners and managers of rental units to report annual energy use. There would be no penalty for not reporting the annual energy data, which would be informational for the Newton Commission on Energy. Roughly a quarter of Newton’s residents are renters.
Present: Councilors Albright (Chair), Danberg, Kalis, Kelley, Leary, and Laredo
Absent: Councilor Getz and Gentile
Also present: Councilors Farrell and Bixby; Newton Commission on Energy members: Phil Hanser, Stephen Grody, Jonathan Kantar, and Halina Brown.
