The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch the NewTV video):
- Renewal of bus license for Lasell University (7-0) 1 bus
- One new public auto license for Saito Trading, LLC. (6-0-1, Councilor Downs abstaining)
- Renewal of public Auto Licenses:
- Izmo Limo, LLC.
- American Truck & Equipment Sales, LLC. (7-0)
- Om Sai Enterprises Inc. (7-0)
- MHS Worldwide, LLC. (7-0)
- Boston Cool Ride Limo Inc. (7-0)
- Don’s Car Service. (7-0)
- Request for an ordinance change (Section 19-49 Temporary Parking Permits) to give police more discretion in distributing temporary permits and reduce hardships especially on tradespersons and contractors. According to the report, the changes will give the police more discretion granting parking waivers in areas with parking restrictions, areas that allow parking but not all the time and not in areas where parking is never allowed, such as accessible parking spaces. The police will decide on a case-by-case basis. Temporary Parking Permits last only 4 months and the Chief can extend permits for 30 days. The City Attorney is working with Police and Transportation Coordinator on draft ordinance. The Committee voted to approve 7-0.
The Public Safety & Transportation Committee voted No Action Necessary on the following:
- Regular discussion with the Police Department on annual crime data. NOTE: The 2023 data is only through November 2023
- 4 homicides
- 4 sexual assaults (down from 7)
- 6 robberies (down from 8 in 2022)
- 44 aggravated assaults (same as 2022)
- 16 residential burglaries (42 in 2022)
- 25 commercial burglaries (19 in 2022)
- 22% decrease in larcenies, including 19% decrease in car break-ins)
- 109% increase in motor vehicle thefts. Most cars are stolen, used, and then abandoned.
- 40 pedestrian crashes (39 in 2022)
- 7 bicycle crashes (26% decrease over 2022)
- 4% decrease in car crashes
- OUI 17 (22 in 2022)
- Domestic Violence Incidents 193 (244 in 2022)
- 3189 warnings and 498 citations issued.
- 1185 warnings by Race and 147 citations by Race issued to Newton Residents (people do not self-identify race, it is based on officer’s perceptions)
- 189 total arrests, 100 arrests by race of City of Newton Residents
- 46 hate crimes, mostly stickers, graffiti, banner drops and property destruction. Police will provide more detailed information in the future.
The Police Department is adding a gender category to its reporting. Council question about the safety of electric power bikes. Police said no permit or license is required for electric vehicles under 50 ccs. they are included in the bicycle crash data and the City Council could regulate them.
- Discussion regarding safety measures in Newton Public Schools. According to the Report, the Police Chief said: “We have protocols that deal with red flags and shared information through our MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) giving us the ability to share information between the police and schools during school hours and outside of school. Based on the new police reform law, the police and the school share certain information. The police are not involved in disciplinary issues in the school, we give a lot of oversight to the school. A concern when I first came to Newton was open campus. Since Superintendent Nolan has been here, she has secured that at the two high schools.” The Police Department is trained in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) and ASHER (Active Shooter Hostile Event Response). The Police coordinate training with the Fire Department. NOTE: There was no description of school staff training in the report.
- Discussion with City about overnight on-street parking during winter parking ban for people with disability placards. According to the report, there is currently an informal program allowing on street parking. Police are concerned that blanket permission allowing people with placards/plates to park on the street will make enforcement difficult. Officers usually do not exit their vehicles when they issue a citation, tickets are placed in the door jam. Newton’s ADA Coordinator did not know how many accessibility placards/plates there were in Newton or how many disabled residents would need on street parking during the winter ban period. ADA Coordinator suggested automatically not issuing a ticket if the Police see a hanging placard. City is looking to formalize and publicize process for exempting cars with placards requiring overnight on street winter parking.
- Request for a change in the overnight winter parking ban ordinance to allow people who have permits be able to park in city lots during snow emergencies. According to the report, there are roughly 250 municipal lot overnight parking permits. The City needs to be able to clear municipal lots as it clears the streets, and the City is looking for alternative lots for parking during snow emergencies.