The Programs & Services Committee Approved (see the report and watch the meeting video):
- Early Voting Hours for Nov. 4, 2025 (5–0, Councilor Baker not voting), the early voting hours were set for Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 am to 5 pm; Sunday, Oct 26, 11 am to 5 pm; Monday, Oct 27 to Wednesday, Oct 29, 8:30 am to 5 pm. All voting is at City Hall. The weekday hours now begin at 8:30 am instead of 9:00 am.
- Appointments – Susan Lyon to Urban Tree Commission (5–0–1, Farrell abstained); Jesse King to Commission on Disability (6–0); Elijah Lavin to Human Rights Commission (6–0).
- Reappointments – Jane Brown to the Commission on Disability (5–0, Oliver not voting); Sheila Butts to the Parks & Recreation Commission (5–0, Oliver not voting); Thomas Elkind to the Newton Commonwealth Foundation (5–0, Oliver not voting).
The Programs & Services Committee determined No Action Necessary:
- Public restrooms / portable toilets update (5–0, Oliver not voting) following briefing from Parks, Recreation & Culture on summer pilot sites and costs/cleaning schedules. Cost per portable toilet was approximately $32,400. Portable toilets were cleaned once or twice a week. The provider insures the portable toilets. Not all locations had an ADA-compliant portable toilet. Crytsal Lake and the Upper Falls Splash Park had the heaviest use.
Chair’s note: Update on City Clerk recruitment; finalist interviews scheduled for Thursday, September 11 with a break for the 9/11 memorial.
Attendees: Councilors Krintzman (Chair), Humphrey, Malakie, Oliver, Baker, Farrell; Absent: Councilors Micley, Lobovits; Also Present: Councilor Bixby; Staff: Acting City Clerk Cassidy Flynn, Elections Supervisor Lauren Oliveira, Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Yeo, City Solicitor Alissa Guiliani, Human Resources Director Michelle Pizzi O’Brien, Human Resources Benefits Manager Caroline Wilson.
