Highlights this week:
- Finance …considering Mayor’s request to petition the Mass. General Court to allow Newton to issue Pension Obligation Bonds
- Public Safety & Transportation …holding special meeting on City’s response to ICE
- Retirement Board …hearing presentation by its consultant and discussing the funding schedule
- Zoning & Planning …considering zoning amendments to enhance preservation of existing homes
- Mayor Marc Laredo …holding office hours on Friday, by appointment
- State Rep. Amy Sangiolo …holding office hours on Friday
- Councilor David Micley …holding an office hour on Sunday, Apr. 19 (rescheduled from Monday)
City Council
City Council is not scheduled to meet this week.
Finance Committee will meet Monday regarding:
- Transfer of $3,000 for Interpretive Services
- Authorization to expend:
- $20,000 for a settlement
- $300,000 to the Newton Communications Access Center (NewTV)
- Authorization to petition the General Court to issue Pension Obligation Bonds or Notes to fund all or part of the City’s unfunded pension liability
Zoning & Planning Committee will meet Monday regarding:
- Request for discussion and possible amendments to enhance the preservation of existing homes
- Zoning ordinance change to allow raised beds in the front and rear setback under certain conditions
Land Use Committee will meet Tuesday regarding requests for Special Permits to:
- Allow three stories, exceed height and associated parking waivers at 1100-1102 Beacon Street
- Allow 16 attached single-family dwellings, with associated dimensional and parking relief at 93, 103 and 0 Thurston Road
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet Wednesday in a special meeting regarding discussion on the City’s response to ICE.
Traffic Council will meet Thursday regarding:
- Restrict parking on Berwick Road to one side only, May 1 to October 31 or year-round
- Remove the 35 MPH regulatory speed limit along a portion of Watertown Street
- Remove the 30 MPH regulatory speed limit on Mill Street
- Remove the official 35 MPH speed limit on Washington Street between Hunnewell Avenue and the Boston City Line
- Remove the official 35 MPH speed limits on Tremont Street between Hibbard Road and Waverley Avenue, in both directions
- Reduce the speed limit on Cherry Street from 30mph to 25mph between River Street and Waltham Street
- Remove the 30 MPH regulatory speed limit on Crafts Street
School Committee
School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week.
School Councils meeting this week:
- F.A. Day Middle School Council on Tuesday
- Peirce Elementary School Council on Wednesday
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability will meet Monday regarding:
- Housing advocacy priorities and creation of Housing Research Subcommittee
- Vote to send letter of support for Newton Center Plaza Design to Parks and Recreation Commission
- ASL funding for the Monologue Project
- Co-Chairs Corner updates
Auburndale Historic District Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled.
Newton Retirement Board will meet Tuesday in a special meeting regarding:
- Presentation from Kathleen Riley (Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary for Segal, consultants to the Retirement Board) and discussion of funding schedule
- Review of regular and executive session minutes from February 26, 2026
Newton Parks and Recreation Signage and Naming Committee will meet Tuesday regarding review of progress to date and planning for next steps.
Library Board of Trustees Finance Committee will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Review of Q3 Budget vs. Actual
- Grants and donations
- Quicken Online and QuickBooks conversion
- Fiscal 2027 planning
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday in a special meeting regarding requests for:
- One-day temporary entertainment license for a university club event at deWitt Hall, 1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Auburndale
- One-day temporary wine and malt and entertainment licenses for a Greek Easter Celebration at Farm Grill & Rotiseria, 40 Needham Street
- One-day temporary wine and malt and entertainment licenses for a private event at the Italian Benevolent Society, F.C., 415 Langley Road, Newton Centre
Economic Development Commission will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Review of EDC Assessment
- Discussion of 2026 priorities and how EDC can support shared priorities
- Economic Development Updates
Youth Commission Advisory Board will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Discussion with representatives from Boston’s Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA)
- Subcommittee group work
Board of Assessors will meet Wednesday to approve March 2026 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet Thursday regarding Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Replace windows (continued from December 2025) at 30 Kingsbury Road
- Install bulkhead at 30 Kingsbury Road
- Install new windows matching previous approval at 246 Beacon Street
Conservation Commission will meet Thursday regarding:
- Requests for Determination of Applicability to:
- Convert window well to egress stair at 94 Selwyn Road
- Construct bathroom addition over driveway and stair at 187 Concord Street
- Notices of Intent:
- Construct addition to single-family home at 304 Islington Road
- New stormwater discharge, shared-use path at 355 Grove Street (Riverside Station)
- Construction of sidewalk on north side of street at Nahanton Street (continued)
- Minor Plan Changes:
- Tear-down of single-family house, construction of duplex at 710-712 Watertown Street
- Tear-down of single-family house, construction of duplex at 122-124 Cabot Street
Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will meet Thursday regarding:
- Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Move window opening and install new window at 51 Linden Street
- Replace retaining wall and steps at 88 High Street
- Replace existing chimney at 1267-1269 Boylston Street
- Working session: feedback on proposed plan to build an addition and a new building on the rear of the lot at 981 Chestnut Street
Newtonville Area Council will meet on Thursday. The agenda has not yet been posted.
Urban Tree Commission will meet Friday regarding:
- Forestry Department update
- Tree removal requests
- Post-construction review of tree permits
Other
Mayor Marc Laredo will hold office hours, by appointment, on Friday, 8:30AM-10AM.
State Rep. Amy Sangiolo will hold office hours on Friday, 11AM-12:30PM at City Hall, Room 211
Ward 2 Councilor David Micley has rescheduled his office hour at the Cooper Center (375 Walnut Street, 1st floor) to be on Sunday, April 19, 3PM-4PM. It was originally scheduled for Monday, April 13, 4PM-5PM.
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential project/proposals:
- 277 Elliot Street: Amendment of prior special permit (Stone Institute).
- 44 Rowe Street: Special permit to raze and reconstruct a nonconforming two-family dwelling.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
