The Finance Committee met on Monday, May 11. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Appropriation of $500,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for Full Day Kindergarten Aides (#153-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). A court ruling required the City to rehire kindergarten aides at a 1:1 ratio for classrooms with more than 14 students. The FY27 budget includes $1 million to cover these positions going forward.
- Appropriation of $325,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for NPS science curriculum (OpenSciEd) (#150-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). A one-time expense. Next year, the ongoing annual costs of $50,000–$60,000 will be built into the Teaching and Learning budget.
- Appropriation of $75,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for Jaws of Life (#148-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). A battery-operated hydraulic rescue tool. The rescue tools are used monthly and wear out. The City owns four Jaws of Life rescue tools.
- Appropriation of $1,000,000 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for SCBA Harnesses (#149-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). All harnesses are being replaced at once to ensure uniform staff familiarity with life safety equipment. The SCBA Harness is a backpack-like device that allows staff to breathe in hazardous environments.
- Appropriation of $3,200,000 for snow and ice expenditures (#147-26) — Approved as amended $880,125 amended to $880, 124.98 and $2,319,875 to $2,319,875.02 (6–0 -1, Councilor Micley not voting). The $880,124.98 drawn from the Inclement Weather Reserve Fund represents a FEMA reimbursement from a prior year held in reserve. To cover costs due to unanticipated heavy snowfall last winter.
- Authorization to accept a $52,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (#140-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting).”The City received 13 of 22 points, with 5 points not received from the solid waste reduction category and 4 points not received from the organics food and waste category.” The grant funds will support eligible recycling services at the Resource Recovery Center, improvements to the City’s recycling and organics collection, along with educational materials and outreach activities. The City’s recycling contamination rate currently stands at 22% and incurs additional fees due to the high rate of contamination; a summer educational program previously reduced it to below 9%.
- Appropriation of $345,697.55 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for intersection improvements at North and Crafts Streets (#158-26) (6–0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). for road work necessary to support a MassDOT Safe Routes to School Infrastructure project that will signalize the Albermarle Road and Crafts Street intersection.
- Appropriation of $142,370 from the Energy Stabilization Fund for LED Lighting at FA Day Middle School (#161-26) (6-0-1, Councilor Micley not voting). To convert fluorescent lighting to LEDs. The current Energy Stabilization Fund balance is slightly over $700,000.
- 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, correcting 2026 to 2025 (7–0) The project will evaluate building systems, accessibility, science rooms, and other improvements determined under the study. CFO Lemieux noted that the capital building projects — NSHS, Police facility, and Elementary Schools — will require debt exclusions. The feasibility phase is expected to take 12–18 months. The City’s building prioritization plan lists Brown Middle School before NSHS, but the School Committee and City recommend moving ahead with NSHS.
- Authorization to repurpose $500,000 for multiple small projects at Newton Public Schools (#160-26) (7–0)
- Authorization to repurpose $833,948.85 for Burr School and Newton South High School roofs (#159-26) Approved as amended “from Burr School roof to Burr School and Newton South High School roofs” (6–0-1, Councilor Albright abstaining).
- 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) (7–0) The Police Station was built in 1932 and needs to be modernized.
- 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) (7-0) To examine the feasibility of potentially combining the schools. The Chief Operating Officer will present a recommendation to the School Committee on June 1; a School Committee vote is expected on June 15.
- Authorization to appropriate and expend $63,573.42 from June 30, 2025, Certified Free Cash for Underwood security cameras (#141-26) (7–0) Following a fire of suspicious origin. The cameras will not be monitored; footage will be accessible if needed. The Councilors expressed a desire for a broader discussion on security cameras in schools.
- Ordinance amendment to Chapter 2, Administration, to reorganize the Purchasing Department under the Financial Services Department, effective July 1, 2026 (#151-26) (7–0) A public hearing was held with no member of the public commenting
Present: Councilors Grossman (Chair), Bixby, Greenberg, Malakie, Micley, and Silber.
Absent: Councilor Charm.
City staff present: Comptroller Steve Curley, Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux, Manager of Financial Services Doug Botelho, Senior Analyst Endrit Poreci, Chief Operational Officer Josh Morse, Chief of Staff Dana Hanson, NPS Assistant Superintendent and Chief Financial & Administrative Officer Liam Hurley, Fire Chief Greg Gentile, Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan, Commissioner of Public Buildings Alex Valcarce, Director of Assessment Administration Jim Shaughnessy, Director of Human Resources Michelle Pizzi O’Brien, Senior Human Resources Business Manager Mary O’Neill, Co-Director of Sustainability and Acting Deputy Director of Human Resources Sam Nighman, Co-Director of Sustainability Ann Berwick, Director of Transportation Planning Jenn Martin, Director of Economic Development Lauren Berman, Deputy Director of Economic Development Cheryl Lappin