Board and Commission Meetings – Week of 4/26/2026

Dangerous/Nuisance Dog Complaint Hearing will be held in person (City Hall, Room 204) on Monday, April 27 at 7PM. See agenda.

Newton Cultural Council will meet in person (1294 Centre Street) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, April 27 at 6PM. The agenda includes:

• Lisa Simmons, Mass Cultural Council – Welcome and discussion
• Approval of March 2026 minutes
• Treasurer’s report
• Feedback on grantee events attended
• Strategy for attending grantee events to assess quality and turnout
• Community survey
• Arts and Culture Dept. report

Newton Free Library Board of Trustees Development Committee will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, April 27 at 10AM. The agenda includes:

• Approve minutes from previous meeting
• Spring Fling
• Budget for FY27
• Next Meeting

Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will meet in person (City Hall, Cafeteria – Basement) and virtually (Zoom link) on Monday, April 27 at 7PM. The agenda includes:

• Meeting Minutes – March
• Outdoor Special Events – Public Hearing
  • Nonantum Village Day – June 7
  • St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival – July 15–19
• Outdoor Special Events – Informational
  • Indigenous Peoples Day Event – October 12, 11AM–5PM – Albemarle Playground
• Waban Common Sign – Public Hearing
• Newton Little League – Donor acknowledgment sign – Murphy Field
• NPS – Policy for areas abutting/adjacent to Elementary & Middle Schools
• Newton Centre Plaza – Discussion
• Commissioner’s Report
• Committee Reports
  • Community Preservation Committee – B. Dunker
  • Urban Tree Commission – B. Wilkinson
  • Farm Commission – T. Chapman
  • Commonwealth Golf Foundation – J. Neville
  • PRC Signage and Naming Committee – M. Feldhusen
• New Business

Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, April 28 at 5PM. The agenda includes (see Meeting Materials):

• Review and Approval of March 31, 2026, Meeting Summary
• Project Update Chart
• Resident Services Update
• Follow Up
  • Rent Control Forum – Grace Mitchell
  • Newton Affordable and Accessible Rental Housing Inventory – Grace Mitchell
  • Letter of Support for ADA Coordinator Position – Esther Schlorholtz
  • Mitigation and Permitting Fees Update – David Rockwell
• Sheila Mondshein Fair Housing Award Recap & Discussion
• Upcoming Meetings: May 26, 2026 Meeting
  • Lottery and Lease Up Discussion with Tatjana Meschede
  • Massachusetts State Ballot Initiatives

Newton Retirement Board will meet in person (City Hall, Room 211) on Tuesday, April 28 at 9AM. The agenda includes:

• New Agenda Items:
  • HR to attend meeting to discuss Board concerns
  • Board to vote on FY 2027 Budget
  • Receipt of an involuntary accidental disability retirement application
  • Annual Statement Discussion
  • Board to review minutes of special meeting held March 25, 2026
• Administrative Agenda Items:
  • Board to approve new members as indicated on list provided in Board Member’s monthly packet
  • New application(s) for superannuation & termination retirement
  • Board to approve expense warrants
• Pending Agenda Items:
  • Board to vote to amend FY2027 appropriation
  • Director Position
  • Office Security: The Board may enter Executive Session for reason 4 under G.L. c.30A s.21(a)(4). “To discuss the deployment of security personnel or devices, or strategies with respect thereto.”
  • Current status of pending disability retirement applications – informational only
  • 5 year repayment plan; oral agreement with member to mail payment on the 25th of each month – repayment to be completed by May 2029
  • Repayment agreement regarding 2023 excess earnings; The Board may enter Executive Session for reason 3 under G.L. c.30A s.21 (“To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares”)
  • Needham Bill waiver request and refund of elected official service credit purchase – tabled pending resolution of all litigation
  • Current status of pending appeal cases – The Board may enter Executive Session for reason 3 under G.L. c.30A s.21 (“To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares”)
• Correspondence:
  • PERAC Memo #15/26
  • COLA reform language amendments
  • NRB Budget 2026
  • FY2027 Appropriation
• Director’s Report:
  • General office updates

Newton Commonwealth Foundation Board will meet in person (City Hall, Room 204) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, April 28 at 7PM. The agenda includes:

• February Meeting Minutes
• Treasurer’s Report
• Sterling Golf Report
• New Business:
  • Motion to approve sum of $115,000 for irrigation work on hole #10 & 11 drainage project. This is to confirm online Board vote on 4/19/26.
  • Sterling Golf follow-up and reply to Golf Course Maintenance Operations Report
• Old Business:
  • Motion to approve a Letter of Engagement from the Certified Public Accountant for the Foundation. Estimated cost: $11,100.00–$12,150.00

Board of License Commissioners will meet virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30PM. The agenda includes:

• Approval of the March 17, 2026 meeting minutes and April 14, 2026 special meeting minutes
• One-Day Temporary Entertainment License requests:
  • End of year demonstration on Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8AM–5PM at Newton Community Stage, 15 Walnut Park, Newton, MA 02458
  • Fundraiser with poet Maggie Smith on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 6PM–10PM at Newton Community Stage, 15 Walnut Park, Newton, MA 02458
  • Reunion celebration BBQ on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 12PM–2:30PM at Boston College, Bapst Lawn, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
  • 25th reunion class party on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 5PM–11PM at Boston College, Bapst Lawn, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
• One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt and Entertainment License requests:
  • Fundraiser on Friday, May 1, 2026, 6PM–10PM at Neighborhood Club, 24 Berkeley Street, Newton, MA 02465
  • Spring fling annual gala on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 6PM–10PM at Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459
  • Murder mystery dinner on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6PM–10PM at Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street, Waban, MA 02468
• One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License requests:
  • Friday figure draw class on Friday, May 8, 2026, 7PM–10PM at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville, MA 02460
  • Friday figure draw class on Friday, June 12, 2026, 7PM–10PM at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville, MA 02460
  • Banquet on Sunday, June 28, 2026, 1PM–5PM at Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street, Waban, MA 02468
• One-Day Temporary All-Alcohol License request:
  • Party on Thursday, April 30, 2026, 5PM–9PM at Shaw Hall, 100 Carlson Avenue, Newton, MA 02459
• New Common Victualler License request:
  • 666 Zheng Garden Inc d/b/a Zheng Garden at 1361 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465
• Change of Alcohol License Category request:
  • Sterling Golf Management, Inc d/b/a Newton Commonwealth Golf Course at 212 Kenrick Street, Newton, MA 02458 – change from wine and malt seasonal restaurant license to all-alcohol seasonal restaurant license
• Change of Onsite Manager and Change of Hours request:
  • A&N Concepts LLC d/b/a Mexicana Grill & Cantina at 1391 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465
• Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers and Change of Ownership request:
  • LLH LLC d/b/a Trader Joe’s at 165 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02464
• New All-Alcohol General On Premises, New Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License requests:
  • Top of Campus Inc d/b/a UMass Amherst Charles River Campus, Shaw Hall at 1 Shaw Road, Newton, MA 02459
  • Top of Campus Inc d/b/a UMass Amherst Charles River Campus, Campus Center at 11 South Loop, Newton, MA 02459
• New All-Alcohol Hotel, New Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License request:
  • FPN Concessions LLC at 320 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
• Transfer of All-Alcohol Restaurant License, New Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License requests:
  • Transfer from Taco Connection, Inc to Reyes V LLC d/b/a Cafe Sol Azteca at 75 Union Street, Newton Centre, MA 02459
  • Transfer from Newton Cafe, LLC d/b/a The Biltmore Bar & Grille to Biltmore Tavern Newton LLC d/b/a The Biltmore Tavern at 1201–1205 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464

Council on Aging will meet in person (Cooper Center, Activity Room #3, 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville) and virtually (Zoom link) on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30PM. The agenda includes:

• Presentation: Newton Older Adult Services Department overview
• Department of Older Adult Service Update
  • FY2027 Budget
• Other Business
  • Newton Center Plaza

Zoning Board of Appeals will meet in person (City Hall, Room 207) and virtually (Zoom link) on Wednesday, April 29 at 7PM. The agenda includes (see Meeting Packet):

• WP East Acquisitions, requesting a Comprehensive Permit pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40B, to construct a 234-unit residential development 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 – ITEM WILL NOT BE HEARD ON APRIL 29TH – CONTINUED TO MAY 27TH
• TEEGEE, LLC requesting a variance from Section 4.1.3 of the Newton Zoning Ordinance to allow reduced side setbacks at 444–452 Watertown Street and 454–458 Watertown Street
• Stacey LaChant Robbins, appealing the March 24, 2026 determination of the Commissioner of Inspectional Services finding that there is no violation of Section 5.3.A of the Newton Zoning Ordinances at 63 Drumlin Road – WITHDRAWN
• Meeting Minutes for January 28, 2026 & February 25, 2026