Finance Committee Report – 6/8/2026

The Finance Committee met on Monday, June 8. See the report and meeting video.

Approved

• Appropriation of $550,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Storage Area Network (SAN) replacement — 7-0. Chief Information Officer Greg Ansaldi explained that the city’s SAN maintains roughly 70 servers holding all city and school financial, GIS, and phone system data. The hardware is six years old and manufacturer-declared end-of-life, and third-party support costs are reaching $200,000.
• Appropriation of $150,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for netting at Halloran Sports Complex — 7-0. Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Marc Welch explained the netting will prevent soccer balls and other sports balls from impacting vehicles on Crafts Street and Albemarle Road adjacent to the multi-purpose field.
• Grant of $3,275.15 from the Department of Fire Services for smoke and CO detectors — 7-0. Fire Chief Gregory Gentile explained the grant funds the Senior SAFE program, which delivers smoke and CO detectors to Newton’s older adults. In addition, the Chief said the grant would cover the purchase of the detectors, and labor costs would be funded by the Department’s fire prevention budget.
• Appropriation of $225,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Police firearm equipment replacement — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Safety & Transportation 5-0 on 6/3/2026.). Police Chief Timothy Cohoon presented the item and explained that the Police Department’s current weapons are nearly end-of-life and that new firearms and equipment would enhance both officer and public safety. He described that one new piece of equipment was a flashlight mounted on the weapon, and another was a reflex sight, a red dot which increases accuracy and explained that improved accuracy, reliability, and durability are vitally important especially when deadly force situation should arise.With regard to training, the Chief said that training requires a 16-hour or two-day qualification course and that this request has training time built in so that training can be completed quickly rather than throughout the year.
• Appropriation of $105,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash to support the Police Department — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Safety & Transportation 5-0 on 6/3/2026). Chief Cohoon explained that the requested funds would be used to support the following:
  • $50,000 for recruitment and hiring: $30,000 for targeted recruitment marketing and outreach and $20,000 to support hiring through the Civil Service alternative local hiring register, expanding the pool of candidates.
  • $30,000 for Blue Voice AI: Continues a law-enforcement-specific, CJIS-compliant platform that provides quick access to department policies, procedures, ordinances, and other operational information.
  • $10,000 for an independent audit: Funds a routine outside review of the Department’s evidence and property management functions, a common practice during leadership transitions.
  • $15,000 for use-of-force training: Sends officers to a seminar covering legal updates, liability issues, reporting requirements, supervision, and force investigations.
• Authorization to transfer $277,499 for heat pumps at Fire Station 2 — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 5-0 on 6/3/2026). Commissioner of Public Buildings Alex Valcarce explained that this request would fund the second phase of a three-phase project to decarbonize Fire Station 2 and upgrade the overall HVAC system. He said the first phase, which included the installation of electric heat pumps in half of the upper story of the dormitory areas, was completed earlier in the year, and added that the third phase would update the common areas.
• Transfer of $100,000 for increased water and sewer usage — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities subject to second call on 6/3/2026.) Commissioner Valcarce explained that this request is to cover unusually high water bills at Newton North High School, where water usage was about twice expected levels and costs were nearly triple projections. Investigations found no leaks in the building or pool, though two exterior leaks were identified and repaired. Officials suggested that increased irrigation needs during a dry 2025 season likely contributed to the higher usage. To prevent future issues, Parks & Recreation plans to install irrigation controls at Newton North this summer and staff will monitor utility usage regularly through monthly reviews, quarterly reports, and annual analyses. (NOTE: The transfer is coming out of the Executive Salaries account to School Building Maintenance – Water and Sewer account).
• Acceptance of CPC recommendation to appropriate $347,534.91 for War Memorial Stairs – 7-0 (Also approved by Public Facilities Approved 5-2 (Councilors Kelley and Leary Opposed) on 05/13/26). CPA Program Manager Mollie Hutchings explained that the request is for the second phase of the City Hall War Memorial restoration project which includes structural repairs, waterproofing, rehabilitation of deteriorated stairs and walls, and installation of code-compliant handrails.The deterioration was apparently caused by water infiltration. Hutchings noted that the War Memorial was constructed in 1932 and was part of a post-World War I architectural and social movement across the country to honor veterans. The project qualifies for Community Preservation Act historic resource funding because City Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Grant of $150,000 from the MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program — 7-0. Commissioner Sullivan explained the funds will supplement remaining $300,000 ARPA funding for final design at four priority locations in the Newton Highlands Village Center, focusing on pedestrian safety and traffic calming at Lincoln Street and Golden Street, Lincoln Street and Hartford Street, Station Avenue and Walnut Street, and Walnut Street at Laurel Street.
• Acceptance of a low-interest loan of $4,329,664 from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust State Revolving Fund — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 7-0 on 6/3/2026). Commissioner Sullivan explained that the City is required under federal and state MS4 permit regulations to reduce phosphorus discharges into the Charles River watershed. The proposed loan would fund stormwater management improvements at three priority locations (Cold Spring Park, Cabot Dog Park, and potentially Braceland Park) identified through technical analysis by the City’s consultant, Woodard & Curran. The projects are expected to reduce phosphorus pollution by approximately 55 to 66 pounds annually, making them among the most effective near-term opportunities for helping Newton meet its regulatory requirements while taking advantage of favorable state funding.
• Transfer of $900,000 for improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and ramps — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 5-0-1 on 6/3/2026.) This item was discussed jointly with the item below which requests $3 million from Free Cash for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program. See the following item for summary.
• Appropriation of $3,000,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 5-0-1 on 6/3/2026). Commissioner Sullivan presented two related funding transfers to support the City’s FY2027 Transportation Network Improvement Program. One transfer would redirect FY2026 salary savings from vacant positions to in-house roadway projects, allowing Street Division staff to improve sidewalks and curb ramps. The second transfer would fund paving supplies for roadway, sidewalk, and accessibility improvements citywide. The two requests would fully fund the $9.5 million FY2027 program and allow the City to maximize the construction season, improve road conditions, advance accessibility projects, and continue implement its long-term transportation improvement strategy.
• Appropriation of up to $2,792,700 for water main improvements — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 5-0 on 6/3/2026). Commissioner Sullivan explained that this request will fund the City’s water main replacement program to improve reliability, reduce water main breaks, enhance fire protection, and prevent costly emergency repairs.nThe FY2027 program will use $1.96 million from the MWRA’s interest-free loan program, with projects prioritized based on infrastructure condition, performance, and coordination with other capital projects.
• Appropriation of $135,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for fuel stations — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 6-0 on 6/3/2026). The Commissioner explained that this request os to fund the final phase of the City’s Fuel Management System Modernization Project. The project will upgrade aging fuel station infrastructure (fuel stations are more than 20 years old and exceeded their useful life) that supports municipal vehicles and equipment used by Police, Fire, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works. The software modernization phase was completed last year, and this funding would support the remaining hardware upgrades needed to complete the project.
• Appropriation of $577,175 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for snow vehicles — 7-0. (Also approved by Public Facilities 6-0 on 6/3/2026). Commissioner Sullivan explained that this request is to purchase two Trackless multi-purpose vehicles and two Snowrator units to support snow removal and year-round maintenance of sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, ADA ramps, and multi-use paths. She noted that as Newton has expanded its pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, maintenance demands have increased. The new equipment/vehicles are expected to have a useful life of approximately 15 years and would expand the City’s Trackless fleet from four to six vehicles, while adding its first Snowrator units.
• Transfer of $200.00 for reconciliation — 7-0. Manager of Financial Services Doug Botelho explained the transfer fixes rounding overages when employee salaries increase at year-end.

Present: Councilors Grossman (Chair), Bixby, Charm, Greenberg, Malakie, Krintzman, and Silber.
Absent: Councilor Micley.
City staff: Greg Ansaldi, Chief Information Officer; Rachel Sherman, Deputy Director of Information Technology; Marc Welch, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation; Gregory Gentile, Fire Chief; Timothy Cohoon, Police Chief; Alex Valcarce, Commissioner of Public Buildings; Shawna Sullivan, Commissioner of Public Works; Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer; Doug Botelho, Manager of Financial Services.