Highlights this week…
- Programs and Services Committee …considering Mayor’s proposal to create a new Arts and Culture Department
- City Council Committees …starting the 2026-27 term with new assignments and some new chairs
- Office hours …Ward 2 Councilor David Micley on Monday at 4PM at Clover Food Lab; State Rep. Amy Sangiolo on Friday at 11AM in City Hall
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Committee Assignments have been announced by City Council President John Oliver and Vice President David Kalis. Councilors Baker, Kelley, and Krintzman continue to chair Zoning & Planning, Land Use, and Programs & Services, respectively, while the other four committees have new chairs.
- Finance: Grossman (C), Bixby (VC), Greenberg, Micley, Malakie, Krintzman, Hume, Silber
- Land Use: Kelley (C), Leary (VC), Lucas, Block, Irish, Roche, Golden, Farrell
- Zoning & Planning: Baker (C), Wright (VC), Oliver, Albright, Dahmubed, Getz, Gordon, Kalis
- Programs & Services: Krintzman (C), Malakie (VC), Oliver, Micley, Hume, Bixby, Baker, Farrell
- Public Facilities: Kalis (C), Getz (VC), Leary, Albright, Kelley, Dahmubed, Gordon, Grossman
- Public Safety & Transportation: Lucas (C), Block (VC), Greenberg, Wright, Irish, Roche, Golden, Silber
- Real Property Reuse: Malakie (C), Lucas (VC), Oliver, Block, Getz, Roche, Golden, Silber
Land Use Committee will meet on Tuesday regarding Special Permit / Site Plan Approvals to:
- Construct a mudroom and entry landing, extending the nonconforming front setback and FAR at 355 Walnut Street
- Raze the existing canopy and construct a new canopy and updated signage at 14 Elliot Street
- Raze the existing structure to construct a three-story single-family dwelling exceeding the maximum FAR at 89 Redwood Road
Programs & Services Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Reorganization plan to create a new Arts and Culture Department and to rename the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture to the Department of Parks and Recreation
- Appointment of Meryl Kessler as the Director of Newton’s Arts and Culture Department
Public Facilities Committee will meet on Wednesday for a public hearing on Eversource petition for a grant of location to install one new jointly owned pole on the south side of Rumford Avenue, approximately 450 feet west of Lexington Street.
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet on Wednesday regarding:
- Renewal of public auto license: Donald LaPlante, 395 Lexington Street
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses: New England Motor Mart, Inc. (1211 Washington Street), MotorCars of Boston, Inc. (1191 Washington Street), Grand Auto Sales (1235 Washington Street), Apex Motors Group (280 California Street), Village Motors Group, Inc. d/b/a Honda Village (371 Washington Street)
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Monday in a special meeting for a retreat to address:
- Style and Governance Culture Foundations
- Governance and Administration
- Open Meeting Law (OML) and Conflict of Interest Essentials
- Working Agreements
- Operational Planning
- Strategic Plan & Dashboard Orientation
School Committee will meet on Wednesday in Executive Session for NTA Negotiations.
School Committee will meet on Wednesday for a regular meeting with an agenda including:
- Enrollment Analysis Report
- Budget Guidelines
- Policies: Buildings and Grounds Access, Visitors to School
Boards and Commissions
Planning & Development Board will meet on Monday regarding:
- Interim Director Introduction
- Planning Board Chair and Vice Chair Elections
- Staff Updates
Conservation Commission will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Wetlands Decisions: Requests for Certificate of Compliance for parking lot and drainage and reconstructed drainage and slope stabilization at 885 Centre Street
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday regarding:
- Annual Election of Officers
- Self-defense event
- Village Day
- Parking
- Village Enhancement Project
- Goals and priorities
Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding requests for Certificates of Appropriateness:
- Replace install new garage door at 34 High Street
- Remove rear ell of building and construct addition at 353-357 Elliot Street
- Construct an attached 2-car garage with in-law suite above at 20 Shawmut Park
- Add new roof and dormers to existing accessory building at 23-25 Winter Street
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday regarding requests for Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Remove and replace existing chimney and install chimney cap at 142 Lowell Avenue
- Replace porch columns and alter porch roofline at 128 Lowell Avenue
Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct a site visit (38 Crafts Street) on Thursday to view the existing conditions 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 and to view the area where 234 units of rental housing will be located.
Other
Ward 2 Councilor David Micley will hold an office hour on Monday, 4PM-5PM at Clover Food Lab.
State Rep. Amy Sangiolo will hold office hours on Friday, 11AM-12:30 in City Hall.
Inauguration of Area Councils: Members of all four Area Councils — representing the neighborhoods of Newton Highlands, Newtonville, Upper Falls, and Waban — will be sworn in during their inauguration ceremony on Thursday, January 8 at 5:30PM at City Hall.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following:
- 1100-1102 Beacon St: Revisit withdrawn special permit from last term for four townhouse-style units to a live work proposal with four units and parking
This week’s road construction schedule has not been posted.
Ed. Note: We updated this post to include the agenda for the January 7 School Committee meeting and State Rep. Amy Sangiolo’s office hours.
