Highlights this week…
- City Council …voting on $9.25 million from Free Cash for various uses
- City Council …holding public hearings on proposed FY27 Water/Sewer/Stormwater Rates, the FY27–FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, and proposed FY27 budgets in area of Programs & Services, Public Facilities, and Public Safety & Transportation
- School Committee …reviewing math assessment placement results and addressing Math Curriculum, Phonics Curriculum, and School Choice
City Council
City Council will meet Monday at 7PM. See the Reports Docket and New Docket.
The Reports Docket contains the following:
- Appropriations from Certified Free Cash:
- $3,200,000 for snow and ice expenditures, consisting of $880,125 from Inclement Weather Reserve Fund and $2,319,875 from Certified Free Cash, allocated $750,000 to Regular Overtime and $2,450,000 to Contractors
- $1,250,000 for Newton South High School feasibility design phase
- $1,250,000 for Police Headquarters and Training Facility feasibility design phase
- $1,250,000 for Ward and/or Underwood Elementary Schools feasibility design phase
- $1,000,000 for SCBA Harnesses
- $500,000 for Full Day Kindergarten Aides
- $345,697.55 for intersection improvements at North Street and Crafts Street
- $325,000 for Newton Public Schools science curriculum
- $75,000 for Jaws of Life
- $63,573.42 for security cameras at Underwood Elementary School
- Other appropriations:
- $833,948.85 for Burr School and Newton South High School roofs
- $500,000 for multiple small projects at Newton Public Schools
- $142,370 from Energy Stabilization Fund for LED Lighting Project at FA Day Middle School
- $52,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection Sustainable Materials Recovery Program for the City’s waste diversion efforts
- Special permits to:
- Allow retaining walls exceeding four feet in height and amend Special Permit #211-21 at 43 Kenwood Avenue
- Further extend nonconforming FAR at 104 Eldredge Street
- Exceed FAR and façade ratio at 19 Saxon Road
- Withdrawal without prejudice at 11 Richfield Road
- Ordinance amendment to reorganize the Purchasing Department under the Financial Services Department
- Appointment of Emily Prenner to the Design Review Committee
- Reappointment of Marcela Merino to the Economic Development Commission
The New Docket contains the following:
- Special Permit requests (Public Hearing 5/19):
- Raze detached garage and construct attached three-car garage with internal ADU above, exceeding FAR, at 222 Winslow Road
- Construct rear and second story additions, further extending nonconforming FAR, at 38 Morseland Avenue
- Construct new two-family dwelling requiring relief for FAR, façade ratio, three stories, retaining wall, and nonconforming parking and front setback, at 91–93 Newtonville Avenue
- Construct 2.5-story rear addition further exceeding maximum FAR at 54 Bonad Road
- Construct second story addition exceeding maximum FAR and façade ratio at 5 Rose Drive
- Reappointments of Theresa Fitzpatrick, Marjorie Summers, Chris Letourneau, Alex Koppenheffer, Jay Flynn, and George Swetz to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Area Council
- Possible clarifying amendments to the VCOD zoning ordinance provisions
- Possible update amendments to the VCOD zoning ordinance provisions
- Semi-annual public auto inspections
- Endorsement of MA Legislature Bill to authorize traffic cameras
- $225,000 from Certified Free Cash for Police firearm equipment replacement
- $277,499 from Energy Stabilization Fund for heat pumps at Fire Station 2
City Council will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Monday regarding Public Hearings for:
- Proposed Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates
- Submittal of the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Plan
- Submittal of the FY2027–FY2031 Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan
City Council will meet again as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday regarding a possible increase to the retiree Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) base.
City Council will meet again as a Committee of the Whole on Thursday regarding regarding Budget deliberations, discussion, and vote on resolutions to the Mayor for the proposed FY27 Budget
Land Use will meet Tuesday regarding requests for Special Permits to:
- Raze detached garage and construct attached three-car garage with internal ADU above, exceeding FAR, at 222 Winslow Road
- Construct rear and second story additions, further extending nonconforming FAR, at 38 Morseland Avenue
- Construct new two-family dwelling requiring relief for FAR, façade ratio, three stories, retaining wall, and nonconforming parking and front setback, at 91–93 Newtonville Avenue
- Construct 2.5-story rear addition further exceeding maximum FAR at 54 Bonad Road
- Construct second story addition exceeding maximum FAR and façade ratio at 5 Rose Drive
Public Safety & Transportation will meet Wednesday to discuss the City’s Street Sweeping program.
Public Facilities will meet Wednesday regarding proposal to require energy use reporting by a subset of owners of residential buildings not subject to Newton’s BERDO or Massachusetts’ LBER Program.
Programs & Services will meet Wednesday regarding:
- Appointment of Marc Welch as Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
- Review of City Council Rules
School Committee
Newton School Committee will meet in Executive Session Monday to discuss negotiation strategy re: Newton Teachers Association, All Units.
Newton School Committee will meet Monday regarding:
- Superintendent’s Update: Math Placement Assessment Results
- School Choice – Discussion and possible Vote
- Wellness Policy
- SEPAC Update
- ELPAC Update
- NEASC Athletic Review Update and Athletic Program Overview
- Self-Study Overview: Tech/Engineering/Computer Science/Digital Literacy
- Math Curriculum Adoption
- Phonics Curriculum (UFLI) Recommendation
School Councils meeting this week:
- Zervas Elementary School Council on Tuesday
- Newton South High School Council on Thursday
- Bowen Elementary School Council on Friday
Boards and Commissions
Executive Screening Committee – City Librarian will meet Monday and again Tuesday to interview candidates for the City Librarian position.
Zoning Board of Appeals will meet Tuesday in special session to discuss litigation strategy in the Housing Appeals Committee case concerning the Board’s denial of a comprehensive permit for a 16-unit development at 41 Washington Street.
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday regarding:
- Farmer’s Market Winery Permit: Blisspoint Meadery at Cold Spring Park Farmer’s Market, Tuesdays June 23 – October 27
- Entertainment Licenses:
- Buttonwood Restaurant, 51 Lincoln Street, change to annual license
- Newton Community Stage, 15 Walnut Park, May 30
- One-day wine/malt licenses:
- Fundraiser at Durant-Kenrick House & Grounds, 286 Waverly Avenue, June 27
- Newton Highlands Village Day, 16 Hartford Street parking lot, June 14
- Pot-luck suppers at Church of the Redeemer Parish Hall, 379 Hammond Street, May 29-30
- Bar Mitzvah at St. Mary’s Church, 260 Concord Street, June 13
- Graduation celebration at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, May 23
- One-day all-alcohol licenses:
- Figure drawing class at New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, June 27
- Exhibition opening at TRIO New Art Center, 245 Walnut Street, June 18
- One-day all-alcohol and entertainment licenses: 91st Annual St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival at Pellegrini Park, July 15–19
- One-day temporary wine and malt and entertainment license: Staff picnic at Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture – Auburndale Cove, 104 West Pine Street, June 13
Board of Assessors will meet Wednesday to approve April 2026 exemption and abatement reports.
Other
This week’s road construction schedule.
Ed. Note: This post has been updated with information about the May 20 and May 21 meetings of the City Council as a Committee of the Whole.