Highlights this week…
- Mayor Laredo …presenting proposed FY2027 budget and capital improvement plans to the City Council, which will begin departmental budget discussions
- City Council …considering Mayor’s request to petition State legislature for permission to issue Pension Obligation Bonds
- City Council …voting on resolution to support Primary Care legislation
- City Council committees …starting deliberations on departmental budgets (see calendar)
- Finance and Public Safety & Transportation: Purchasing, Treasurer, Comptroller/Retirement
- Public Facilities: Public Works
- Finance and Programs & Services: School Department
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday. The Reports Docket includes:
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $300,000 to the Newton Communications Access Center
- Amending abutter notification for Tree Permit applications
- Resolution to endorse State bills supporting access to primary care
- Authorization to petition the State legislature for special legislation to issue Pension Obligation Bonds
- Authorization to expend $20,000 for a settlement
- Transfer of $3,000 for Interpretive Services at Commission on Disability events
- Eversource petition for a grant of location on Smith Avenue
- National Grid petition for a grant of location on Clarendon Street
- Ordinance change to require new sidewalk installation only if existing sidewalk is damaged during construction
- No Action Necessary:
- Pre-budget planning discussion
- Discussion on improving compliance for violations of street sweeping regulations in Nonantum
- Discussion on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan
The New Docket contains the following:
- Special Permit requests at 43 Kenwood Avenue, 104 Eldredge Street, and 19 Saxon Road
- Discussion of established uses within Chapter 30 Zoning
- Discussion on the City’s Street Sweeping program
- Appointments:
- Marc Welch as Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
- Emily Prenner to the Design Review Committee
- Karen F. Munro as Chief Procurement Officer
- Submittal of the ACFR and external audit reports
- Request for Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 2, Administration
- Request to increase the retiree COLA base
- Submittal of FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Plan, Supplemental CIP, Municipal/School Operating Budget, and proposed Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates (Public Hearing May 4)
- Grant acceptances and expenditures:
- $52,000 from MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program for the City’s waste diversion efforts
- $31,460 from MassDEP’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program to install three dual-port charging stations at the Utilities building at 60 Elliot Street
- $28,092.79 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services
- $14,000 from the National Environmental Health Association
- Appropriations from Certified Free Cash:
- $1,250,000 for Ward and/or Underwood Elementary Schools feasibility design phase
- $1,250,000 for Police Headquarters and Training Facility feasibility design phase
- $1,250,000 for Newton South High School feasibility design phase
- $1,000,000 for SCBA Harnesses
- $550,000 for SAN replacement
- $500,000 for Full Day Kindergarten Aides
- $345,697.55 for design work at North Street and Crafts Street
- $325,000 for NPS science curriculum
- $150,000 for protective netting at Halloran Sports Complex
- $75,000 for Jaws of Life
- $63,573.42 for security cameras at Underwood Elementary School
- Other appropriations:
- $3,200,000 for snow and ice expenditures
- Repurposing of $833,948.85 for Burr School roof
- Repurpose $500,000 for multiple small projects at NPS
- $347,534.91 in CPC funding for War Memorial Stairs
- $142,370 from Energy Stabilization Fund for LED Lighting Project at Day Middle School
- Amendment to City ordinances for parking fine revision
City Council’s Budget Calendar
- April 28: Finance – Comptroller/Retirement, Treasurer, Purchasing
- April 29: Public Facilities – Public Works
- April 30: Finance and Programs & Services: Schools
- May 5: Zoning & Planning: Planning, Community Preservation Act, Inspectional Services
- May 6: Programs & Services: City Clerk, Veterans, City Solicitor, Health & Human Services, Older Adult Services
- May 7: Public Safety & Transportation: Fire, Police
- May 11: Finance: Assessing, Financial Services, Executive/ Sustainability, Human Resources
- May 13: Public Facilities: Public Buildings
- May 14: Programs & Services: Information Technology, Museum, Library, Culture & Arts, Parks & Recreation
Zoning & Planning Committee will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Authorization to submit FY27 Annual Action Plan
- Ordinance change to allow raised beds in front and rear setbacks
- Changes to the MRT section of the VCOD
- Periodic updates on VCOD proposals
- Presentation on Town of Brookline Rezoning at Route 9 & Hammond Street
Finance and Public Safety & Transportation Committees will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Requesting amendment to City ordinances to revise parking fines
- Discussion on improving compliance for violations of street sweeping regulations in Nonantum
- Appointment of Karen F. Munro as Chief Procurement Officer
- $28,092.79 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Department of Fire Services
- $14,000 from the National Environmental Health Association
- $31,460 from MassDEP’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program for charging stations at 60 Elliot Street
- Submittal of the ACFR and external audit reports
- Requesting Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 2, Administration
- Department Budget & CIP Discussions: Purchasing, Treasurer, Comptroller/Retirement
- Submittal of the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Plan
- Submittal of the FY2027–FY2031 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan
- Submittal of the FY2027 Municipal/School Operating Budget
Financial Audit Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday regarding special projects, meeting cadence, internal control assessment, and coordination with other parts of government.
Public Facilities Committee will meet Wednesday regarding FY27 budget discussions for Department of Public Works.
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet Wednesday in a Special Meeting regarding an appeal of Traffic Council Decision on restricting parking along a portion of Holly Road near Beacon Street.
Finance and Programs & Services Committees will meet Thursday regarding FY27 budget discussions for the School Department.
School Committee
School Committee is not scheduled to meet this week.
Franklin Elementary School Construction Community Update will be held virtually on Tuesday at 6PM with an update on construction progress and schedule.
School Councils meeting this week:
- Memorial Spaulding School Council on Tuesday
- Horace Mann Elementary School Council on Wednesday
- Newton South High School Council on Thursday
Boards and Commissions
Dangerous/Nuisance Dog Complaint Hearing will be held Monday regarding a complaint involving a dog named T-REX.
Newton Cultural Council will meet Monday regarding:
- Lisa Simmons, Mass Cultural Council – 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 Monday regarding Spring Fling and the FY27 budget.
Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will meet Monday regarding:
- Public hearings on Nonantum Village Day and St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival outdoor special events
- Waban Common Sign public hearing
- Newton Little League donor acknowledgment sign at Murphy Field
- NPS policy for areas abutting elementary and middle schools
- Newton Centre Plaza discussion
Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Rent Control Forum update
- Newton Affordable and Accessible Rental Housing Inventory
- Letter of Support for ADA Coordinator Position
- Mitigation and Permitting Fees Update
- Sheila Mondshein Fair Housing Award Recap & Discussion
- Lottery and Lease Up Discussion (May 26 meeting preview)
- Massachusetts State Ballot Initiatives
Newton Retirement Board will meet Tuesday regarding FY2027 budget, an involuntary accidental disability retirement application, and executive session items including office security and pending litigation matters.
Newton Commonwealth Foundation Board will meet Tuesday regarding a $115,000 irrigation project approval and a Letter of Engagement from the Foundation’s CPA.
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday regarding:
- One-Day Temporary Entertainment License requests:
- End of year demonstration at Newton Community Stage, 15 Walnut Park
- Fundraiser with poet Maggie Smith at Newton Community Stage, 15 Walnut Park
- Reunion celebration BBQ and 25th reunion class party at Boston College, Bapst Lawn, 140 Commonwealth Avenue
- One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt and Entertainment License requests:
- Fundraiser at Neighborhood Club, 24 Berkeley Street
- Spring fling annual gala at Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street
- Murder mystery dinner at Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- One-Day Temporary Wine and Malt License requests:
- Friday figure draw classes (May 8 and June 12) at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park
- Banquet at Windsor Club, 1601 Beacon Street
- One-Day Temporary All-Alcohol License request:
- Party at Shaw Hall, 100 Carlson Avenue
- New Common Victualler License request:
- Zheng Garden at 1361 Washington Street
- Change of Alcohol License Category request:
- Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, 212 Kenrick Street – wine and malt to all-alcohol seasonal restaurant
- Change of Onsite Manager and Change of Hours request:
- Mexicana Grill & Cantina, 1391 Washington Street
- Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers and Change of Ownership request:
- Trader Joe’s, 165 Needham Street
- New All-Alcohol General On Premises, Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License requests:
- UMass Amherst Charles River Campus, Shaw Hall, 1 Shaw Road
- UMass Amherst Charles River Campus, Campus Center, 11 South Loop
- New All-Alcohol Hotel, Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License request:
- FPN Concessions LLC, 320 Washington Street
- Transfer of All-Alcohol Restaurant License, Common Victualler and Annual Entertainment License requests:
- Cafe Sol Azteca, 75 Union Street
- The Biltmore Tavern, 1201–1205 Chestnut Street
Council on Aging will meet Tuesday regarding a Newton Older Adult Services Department overview, FY2027 budget, and Newton Centre Plaza.
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet Wednesday regarding a variance request for reduced side setbacks at 444–458 Watertown Street.
Other
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.
