Highlights this week…
- Former Mayor Setti Warren …passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 2.
- Election Day …Tuesday. Polls open 7AM-8PM. Schools closed.
- City Council …voting on almost $2M for West Newton Cinema, two Home Rule petitions, Highlands Village Improvement, and updates to parking fees.
- Public Facilities …continuing review of plans for Bullough’s Pond Dam.
- School Committee …reviewing Career & Technical Education.
- School Committee …meeting on Thursday for public comment on Ward and Underwood Schools.
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Special Permit/Site Plan review of requests to:
- Raze existing dwelling to construct a new, two-family dwelling and a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at 82-84 East Side Parkway
- Raze existing dwelling to construct a new, larger dwelling that exceeds the maximum allowed FAR at 136 Gordon Road
- Construct additions to second and half stories all within the existing footprint at 64-66 Dalby Street
- Allow retaining walls at the rear of property with a combined height exceeding four-foot maximum height at 121 Hartman Road
- Relocate the detached accessory building to a more central location on the lot and construct a connection to the dwelling at 156 Highland Street
- Appropriating $1,997,000 in CPA Historic Resource funding, per CPC recommendation, to the West Newton Cinema Foundation for its Building Stabilization project
- Amending Zoning ordinance to include 4-6 units, including raising the requirements for the number of affordable units in large developments
- Appointing Laxmi Rao, Gloria Mastrocola Gavris, and Sam Tackeff to the Council on Aging
- Home Rule Petition to allow the City of Newton to impose a lien on real property in Newton for any charge, fee or fine that is not paid by the applicable due date
- Home Rule Petition to authorize the City of Newton to affix penalties for violations of its local ordinances up to $2,000 and increase the maximum fine amount every five years for inflation
- Amending ordinance to modernize parking fines in line with surrounding communities and to deter unsafe parking
- Amending ordinance for residential parking programs and fee structures
- Approving the Walk, Roll, and Bike Network Plan as part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan
- Conceptual plan of the Newton Highlands Village Improvement Project, subject to conditions and creation of a Working Group
- No Action Necessary on discussions and possible ordinance changes related to:
- Aiding small businesses impacted by development
- Fee structure for initial estimated construction costs
- Requiring developers and property managers provide training for their employees regarding bias toward residents of the Inclusive Zoning units and how to mitigate this bias
- Categories and levels of parking fines
- Stormwater infrastructure and planning for its future
The New Docket includes the following:
- Easement for Eversource Energy at the West Newton Armory for installing a transformer and other electrical equipment to service the building
- Special Permit/Site Plan Approval Requests to:
- Allow a day care use and waive 18 parking stalls at 60 Needham Street
- Construct an addition of one-garage bay to existing detached garage at 84 Eldredge Street
- Reappointing Scott Friedman to the Newtonville Historic District Commission
- Discussion and ordinance to require energy use reporting by owners of buildings that are not subject to Newton BERDO
- Grant of location in Armory and Washington Street
- Major temporary repairs to Hamlet Street
- Expending $8,000 for Holiday Targeted Enforcement of accessible parking violations
- Expending $17,290 for settlement of Amica Ins. a/s/o Barbara Murphy v. City of Newton
- Approval of FY26 Property Tax Levy distribution percentages
- Review of Workers’ Compensation Program
- Possible ordinance change on residential parking programs and fee structures
- Appropriating:
- $1,650,000 from Free Cash for Vehicle Replacement Program
- $325,000 from Stormwater Operating Reserve Account for a comprehensive stormwater infrastructure analysis and plan for the Cheesecake Brook subbasin
- $297,400 from Pump Station Rehabilitation Project Sewer Fund Surplus for design of repairs and rehabilitation of three important sewer pump stations (Phase 3 of Pump Station Rehabilitation Project)
- Creating a Department of Older Adult Services gift account with an upper limit of $1,000,000 to fund affordable programs, events, scholarships and critical social services for older residents to thrive
- Correcting a previously approved Council Order by $450 for the use of various Mitigation funds for a variety of inflow and infiltration projects
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Appointing Ellen Penso to the Council on Aging
- Increasing City transparency and improving the sharing of information with the public related to the City’s operations, decision-making processes, and management of resources
- Reviewing the Rules of the City Council
- A code of conduct for Newton City Councilors to set expectations for behavior of Councilors to each other, to City staff, and the public — and for the work Councilors are elected to do
Public Safety and Transportation Committee‘s regularly scheduled meeting has been canceled.
Public Facilities will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Grant of location to install and maintain in Armory Street and Washington Street
- Grant an easement to Eversource Energy at the West Newton Armory for access to electrical equipment
- Appropriate $1,650,000 from Free Cash to support the City’s Vehicle Replacement Program
- Update on Planning and Construction of Bullough’s Pond Dam and the Bullough’s Pond Dam rehabilitation project and the preferred safety design
School Committee
Schools will be closed on Tuesday for Election Day and NPS Professional Development.
School Committee will meet on Monday in Executive Session to discuss:
- Negotiation strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the NTA – all Units
- Litigation strategy with respect to:
- Sumner v. School Committee of Newton, et. al
- Commonwealth Employment Relations Board v. NTA & others
School Committee will hold its regular meeting on Monday to discuss:
- MASS Academic Achievement/Blumer Book Awards
- Newton Schools Foundation Presentation/Donation
- Career & Technical Education Comparative Enrollment
- Competency Determination
- Career & Technical Education Revised Admission Policy/Proposed Middle School Pathways
- 2026 -2027 School Year Calendar with Proposed Pre-Labor Day Start
- Fiscal & Ops FY25 Q1 Update
School Committee will hold a public meeting on Thursday regarding Ward and Underwood Elementary Schools. Members of the public may register to speak for up to 3 minutes each, in person or on Zoom.
Boards and Commissions
Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday regarding:
- Continuation of Public Hearings on requests to:
- Rezone 3 parcels to Multi Residence at 85 Dudley Road
- Rezone 355, 399 and 0 Grove Street to Mixed Use 3 and amend sections of the Mixed Use 3/Transit Oriented Development District
- Rezone 41 Farwell Street to Multi Residence 2
- Discussion of requests to:
- Amend Chapter 30 Zoning to allow certain routine residential alterations by right
- Possible amendments to remove or reduce parking minimums for commercial uses in commercial centers
- Amend Chapter 30 Zoning to create a new Adult Day Care use
- Upcoming Meetings
- November 10: Joint Public Hearing with Zoning & Planning Committee regarding addition of maximum residential facade build-out ratio
- November 17: Site Plan Reviews — 312 Lake Ave Ctr., 331-333 Lake Ave. Ctr, 50 Hartford St.
Farm Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Farm & Field Operation
- Financials Q3, 2025
- Draft Five-Year Review Recommendation
- Farm Programming & Events
- Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Issues: Farm Sign
- Filling Farm Commission Vacancies: “Areas of Expertise”
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Astronomy Night
- Website status
- Area Council elections retrospective
- Village Enhancement Project
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding installation of heat pumps at 26 Lowell Avenue.
Other
Election Day is Tuesday. Polls open 7AM-8PM. Schools closed.
This week’s road construction schedule.
