The Public Facilities Committee met on Wednesday, May 6. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appointment of Emily Prenner to the Design Review Committee (#145-26) (8–0) Ms. Prenner has served as the School Committee’s representative on the Design Review Committee and has been involved in every capital project in recent years.
- Appropriation of $3,200,000 for snow and ice expenditures (#147-26) (Approved as amended by 2 cents, 8–0) The City saw 63.9 inches of snowfall this winter at a total cost of approximately $8.49 million against a $5.05 million budget (~$132,863 per inch). Extended icing conditions, repeated freeze/thaw cycles, overnight timing, and multiple treatment events added to costs beyond what snowfall totals alone would suggest. The amendment corrected a minor dollar-amount rounding error. The Commissioner of Public Works noted the department will require contractors next season to use new routing software that has proven more efficient than current practices.
- Authorization to accept a $52,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (#140-26) (8–0) Newton earned 13 qualifying points through its recycling, reuse, organics diversion, and waste reduction programs. Grant funds will support recycling services at the Resource Recovery Center, collection improvements, and educational outreach, including a summer program that previously reduced the City’s recycling contamination rate to below 9%.
- Appropriation of $345,697.55 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for intersection improvements at North Street and Crafts Street (#158-26) (8–0) The work is required to proceed with a MassDOT Safe Routes to School project that includes full signalization at Albermarle Road and Crafts Street, structured as a state-administered capital project. The construction of that signal is estimated at $1.7 million and planned for 2030.
- Appropriation of $142,370 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for an LED Lighting Project at FA Day Middle School (#161-26) (8–0) The project would convert predominantly fluorescent lighting to LEDs. A Mass Save incentive of approximately $114,000 (45% of total project cost of ~$256,000) complements the City’s share. Annual savings are estimated at $39,000. The work will be completed this summer.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $1,250,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Newton South High School feasibility design phase (#136-26) — Approved as amended to correct the date from 2026 to 2025, 8–0). The feasibility study will evaluate existing conditions, building systems, and space programming. The Commissioner of Public Buildings estimated 12–18 months for the feasibility phase, with subsequent schematic design, design development, and construction phases.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $1,250,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Police Headquarters and Training Facility feasibility design phase (#137-26) (8–0) The Police headquarters, built in 1932, is split across three buildings and is not conducive to modern community-oriented policing.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $1,250,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Ward and/or Underwood Elementary Schools feasibility design phase (#138-26) (8–0) The Chief Operating Officer is examining potential consolidation of the two schools and will host a community meeting on May 26 before presenting a recommendation to the School Committee on June 1.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $63,573.42 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for security cameras at Underwood Elementary School (#141-26) (8–0) Cameras were installed following a fire of suspicious origin at the school; this appropriation is retroactive.
- Authorization to repurpose $500,000 from Docket #123-25 for multiple small projects at Newton Public Schools (#160-26) (8–0) Funds originally designated for NSHS restroom and accessibility upgrades are being redirected to smaller projects across NPS schools, given the larger NSHS renovation now being planned.
- Authorization to repurpose $833,948.85 from Docket #33-24 for Burr School and Newton South High School roofs (#159-26) — Approved as amended to add Newton South High School (7–0–1 Councilor Albright abstaining). Both roofs reached critical failure following this winter’s harsh weather.
Held
- Request for relocation of drain easement at 129 Rowe Street, Auburndale (#123-26) — Held 8–0; public hearing to be continued. Councilors requested a site visit and further camera testing before voting.
Present: Councilors Kalis (Chair), Albright, Getz, Gordon, Dahmubed, Grossman, Kelley, and Leary.
City Staff: Chief of Operations Josh Morse, Commissioner of Public Buildings Alex Valcarce, Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Bernie McDonald, Director of Transportation Planning Jenn Martin, Co-Director of Sustainability Sam Nighman, Associate City Engineer John Daghlian