Board and Commission Meetings – Week of 1/25/2026

Newton Cultural Council will meet in person (1294 Centre Street, Newton Centre) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, January 26 at 6PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Meryl Kessler, Director of Arts and Culture to share vision and priorities of the new department
• Recommendations for establishment of an Arts Commission
• Debrief on 2025 Funding Cycle
• Next steps for Council engagement with grantees
• Approval of minutes – Nov and Dec 2025

Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, January 26 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Tom Cahill Plaque – Gath Pool
• Meeting Minutes – November 2025
• Commissioner’s Report
• Newton Centre Plaza Discussion
• Newton Centre Clay Courts Fees and Rules & Regs
• William C. Brewer Playground / Newton Centre Playground
• Committee Reports:
  • Community Preservation Committee
  • Urban Tree Commission
  • Farm Commission
  • Commonwealth Golf Foundation
  • PRC Signage and Naming Committee
• New Business: Elections (Chairperson and Vice Chairperson)

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, January 27 at 2PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Approve minutes from the 10/21/25 meeting
• Review Q2 Budget vs. Actual
• Grants and Donations
• Village Bank signatory permissions
• Online payments
• Quicken Online and Quickbooks conversion
• City Coordination

Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, January 27 at 5PM. The agenda includes the following items (see Meeting Materials):

• Review and Approval of December 18, 2025, Meeting Summary
• Project Update Chart
• Mitigation Report Next Steps and Vote
• Sheila Mondshein Award Update
• Priorities Task Force Report and Vote
• February 24, 2026, Meeting Items:
  • April Fair Housing Month Preparation
  • Resident Services Update

Newton Commonwealth Foundation Board will meet in person (City Hall, Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, January 27 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• December Meeting Minutes
• Treasurers Report
• Sterling Golf Report
• New Business:
  • Motion for $68,587 for replacing fuel tanks at maintenance building
  • Motion for $7,339 for Field Change Order on drainage project
• Old Business:
  • Update on progress of 10th hole drainage project
  • Is project on schedule?
  • Current estimate of cost with changes. Bid prices was $1,097,740.00
  • Status of clubhouse doors & windows project

Council on Aging will meet virtually (Zoom webinar) on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Welcome members and guests
• Approve minutes of last COA meeting
• Massachusetts Assisted Living Ombudsman Program presentation by Maura Donahue, Regional Assisted Living Ombudsman
• Department of Older Adult Service Update
• Other Business

Newton Human Rights Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, January 27 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Approve minutes for May 2025 meeting
• Newton Police Department Reports
• Student Comment
• Neighboring HRC Event
• Know Your Human Rights Event
• Meeting Dates for 2026
• HRC Commissioners
• Next Event: Building Connections: Effective Tools for Community Conversations – 3/01 & 3/08

Newton Retirement Board will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, January 27 at 9AM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Bill Keefe Executive Director of PERAC introduction to the Newton Retirement System
• Review minutes of special meetings held on December 4, 2025
• Review of regular session minutes held on December 8, 2025
• Review of minutes of the special meeting held on January 12, 2025
• Receipt of an involuntary for both ordinary and accidental disability retirement application held on December 18, 2025
• Administrative Agenda Items:
  • Schedule public hearing for FY27 COLA
  • Monthly Financial Reporting for moth ending September 2025
  • Review of 1099R’s
  • New applications for superannuation & termination retirement
  • Approve expense warrants

Newton Community Education Commission will meet in person (Newton North High School, International Cafe) and virtually (Google Meet) on Wednesday, January 28 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Team Check in
• Review highlights from Director’s report
• Review Q2 finances, enrollments, and promotions
• Review ASAP, new registration system and program highlights
• Discuss fundraising
• Discuss City of Newton program lanes and coordination

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees will meet in person (Newton Free Library Trustees Room) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, January 28 at 4:30PM. The agenda includes the following items:

• Minutes approval: December 17, 2025 and January 14, 2026 Special Meeting
• Old Business:
  • Accept twenty pieces of art by Marie Anthony Andre from the Friends of the Newton Free Library
• New Business:
  • Introduction of City Officials
    • John Rice, Chief Community Service Officer
    • Michelle Pizzi O’Brien, Director of Human Resources
    • Ritu Biswas, Senior HR Generalist
  • Director Transition and Search Committee
    • Search Committee vote
• Reports:
  • President
  • Treasurer:
    • Review 2nd quarter investment performance
    • Review financial results v. budget
  • Acting Director
    • Library and Building Updates
  • Development
    • Development Director Consultant
    • Second quarter review
    • Events-Spring Fling
• Public Comment

Zoning Board of Appeals will meet in person (City Hall, Room 207) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, January 28 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items (see Meeting Packet):

• WP East Acquisitions, requesting a Comprehensive Permit to construct a 234-unit residential development (including 59 affordable units and 290 parking spaces) on 2.7 acres at 19 Court Street #1, 19 Court Street #2, 21 Court Street, 34 Crafts Street, 36 Crafts Street, 38 Crafts Street, 48 Crafts Street, and 50 Crafts Street
• Auspicious Property, LLC, appealing Notice of Violation at 85 Baldpate Hill Road
• Elections
• Meeting Minutes: November 19, 2025 and December 17, 2025

Conservation Commission will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, January 29 at 7PM. The agenda includes the following items (see Meeting Packet):

• Wetland Decisions:
  • Notice of Intent – invasive tree removal, amur cork: Cold Spring Park: See Cold Spring Park NOI form; Cold Spring Park Eco Resto form; Cold Spring Park Narrative; Cold Spring Park Attachments
  • Request for Amended Order of Conditions – changes to hardscape, plantings: 140 Dartmouth St: See 140 Dartmouth Civil Plans; 140 Dartmouth Civil Plans
  • Enforcement Order update – mitigation planting area: 1 Malvern Terrace
  • COC Request – addition, planting: 370 Quinobequin Rd
• Conservation Areas:
  • Old Deer Park Beekeeper Update and License Renewal
• Other Decisions:
  • Minutes approval
• Discussion and Updates
• Public Comment

WestMetro HOME Consortium will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Thursday, January 29 at 9AM. The agenda includes the following items:

• HOME-ARP Mini Proposal Funding Recommendations and Vote
• Consolidated Pool & CHDO Proposal Funding Recommendations and Vote
• FY27 Annual Action Plan: Budget Update and Timeline
• FY26 Subrecipient Agreements
• Monitoring Update