Highlights this week…
- City Council …accepting $4.3 million Clean Water Trust loan for Charles River stormwater projects
- City Council …appropriating $3 million from Certified Free Cash for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program
- Land Use …considering three new multi-unit housing petitions on Brookside Avenue, Rowe Street, and Lexington Street
- Public Facilities …discussing options of Bullough’s Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project
- Public Safety & Transportation …ongoing discussion of proposed change to City’s Overnight Parking Ban
- School Committee …voting on Superintendent Evaluation and Long Range Plan
- Conservation Commission …reviewing Notices of Intent for tear-down/rebuild and new ADU near wetlands
City Council
City Council will meet Monday to act on the Reports Docket and the New Docket.
The Reports Docket includes:
- Appointments:
- Barbara Gruenthal, Liz Mirabile, Bruce McVittie, and Paul Giragos to the Riverside Neighborhood Liaison Committee
- Ryan McGlothlin to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee
- Reappointments:
- Theresa Fitzpatrick, Marjorie Summers, Chris Letourneau, Alex Koppenheffer, Jay Flynn, and George Swetz reappointed to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Area Council
- Special permits:
- Construct a detached two-car garage and a dormer at 464 Dudley Road
- Amend Special Permit #449-80 to construct a dormer at 392 Cherry Street, Unit 4
- Zoning amendment to allow raised beds in setbacks
- Resolution declaring the City of Newton’s support for Newton’s transgender, gender diverse, and LGBTQIA+ community
- Semi-annual public auto inspections
- Appropriations from Certified Free Cash:
- $3,000,000 for Transportation and Paving Improvement Program
- $577,175 for snow vehicles
- $550,000 for Storage Area Network replacement
- $225,000 from June 30, 2025 Certified Free Cash for Police firearm equipment replacement
- $150,000 for protective netting at Halloran Sports Complex
- $135,000 for fuel station upgrades
- $105,000 to support the Police Department
- Appropriations:
- $347,534.91 in Community Preservation Act funding for War Memorial Stairs
- Up to $2,792,700 from Water Budget Reserves for Fiscal Year 2027 water main improvements
- Transfers:
- $900,000 for roadway, sidewalk, and ramp improvements
- $100,000 for increased water and sewer usage at school buildings
- $200 for reconciliation
- Acceptance of loans and grants:
- $4,329,664 low-interest loan from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust State Revolving Fund for stormwater projects
- $150,000 from the MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program for traffic calming design in Newton Highlands
- $3,275.15 from the Department of Fire Services to purchase smoke and CO detectors for Newton’s older adults
- Authorization for potential solar energy lease at Burr Elementary School
- No Action Necessary:
- Endorsement of MA Legislature Bill to authorize traffic cameras
The New Docket contains the following:
- Reappointments to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust: Michael Alperin and Judy Weber
- Appointment of Ryan McGlothlin to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee
- Request to move polling locations for Ward 2, Precincts 2 and 3 from Cabot Elementary School to Cooper Center for Active Living
- Possible amendment of noise ordinance relating to leaf blowers
- Transfers:
- $1,175,000 to Newton Police Department for contractual FY27 wage increases
- $710,000 for retroactive wage adjustments under recently signed collective bargaining agreements
- Repurpose of $150,000 and transfer of $177,000 for renovations at Fire Station 2
Programs & Services Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 17 has been cancelled.
Land Use Committee will meet Tuesday regarding requests for Special Permits to:
- Allow four attached single-family dwellings and associated relief at 60 Brookside Avenue
- Exceed FAR and allow a detached ADU with reduced setbacks and oversized dormers at 2 Rowe Street
- Allow five attached single-family dwellings in two buildings with associated dimensional and parking relief at 83 Lexington Street
Public Facilities Committee will meet Wednesday regarding:
- Repurposing of $150,000 and transfer of $177,000 for renovations at Fire Station 2
- Discussion and study of options of Bullough’s Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project
Public Safety & Transportation Committee will meet Wednesday regarding:
- Transfer of $1,175,000 to Newton Police Department for contractual FY27 wage increases
- Transfer of $710,000 for retroactive wage adjustments
- Possible ordinance change to the City’s Overnight Parking Ban
School Committee
School Committee will meet Monday. Prior to the regular meeting, the Committee will convene in Executive Session to discuss NTA negotiation strategy and a litigation update. At the regular meeting, agenda items include:
- Board appointees for the Design Review Committee and Designer Selection Committee
- Second read and vote on three policies: Time-Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students; Homework; and Elementary Electronic Devices
- Superintendent Evaluation
- FY26 Fiscal & Operations Q3 report and NCE Update
- Facilities Report
- Ward/Underwood Recommendation
- Long Range Plan
- Elementary School Day Memorandum of Agreement
Boards and Commissions
Commission on Disability Accessible Housing Subcommittee will meet Monday to organize its initial priorities, procedures, and partnerships.
Health Advisory Council will meet Monday regarding:
- HHS staffing updates (Youth and Young Adult Program Manager; ADA Coordinator)
- World Cup
- MassHealth changes
- FY27 budget and goals
Newtonville Historic District Commission will meet Monday regarding requests for Certificates of Appropriateness to install solar panels and for a property renovation, both on Prescott Street.
Newton Parks & Recreation Commission will meet Monday regarding:
- Public hearing on Bike Share Stations
- Public hearing on an Indigenous Peoples Day event at Albemarle Playground
- Newton Centre Plaza discussion
- Oak Hill Park Off-Leash Area — informational
Planning & Development Board will meet Monday to discuss the zoning ordinance change to allow raised beds in setbacks.
Board of License Commissioners will meet Tuesday regarding license requests including:
- New all-alcohol restaurant license for Lockheart, 70 Union Street
- Transfer of all-alcohol restaurant license to Moments Cafe, 1284 Washington Street
- Transfer of all-alcohol package store license to Star Market, 1 Boylston Street
- New wine and malt package store license for Vinodivino, 899 Walnut Street
- One-day entertainment licenses for car shows at Newton South High School and Newton Community Stage
- One-day all-alcohol and entertainment license for a festival at City Hall Greenspace
- Change of manager and hours for Shake Shack, 49 Boylston Street
- Change of officers for The Cheesecake Factory, 199 Boylston Street
Board of Assessors will meet Wednesday to approve the May 2026 Exemption and Abatement Reports.
Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will meet Thursday regarding requests for Certificates of Appropriateness to:
- Remove chimney, replace fascia, skylights, and relocate ventilation hood at 46 Malia Terrace
- Extend lattice around stairs and install ADA fence at 61 Gate House Road
- Alter façade, widen dormer, add second floor addition, and raise garage ell roof at 215 Chestnut Hill Road
- Replace windows at 340 Hammond Street and 246 Beacon Street
- Replace windows, light fixtures, and repave driveway for ADA parking at 130 Beacon Street
Conservation Commission will meet Thursday regarding:
- Notice of Intent to tear down and rebuild a home at 170 Pleasant Street
- Notice of Intent to construct a free-standing ADU at 242 Islington Road
- Notice of Violation resolution – regrade city floodplain at 45-47 Oak Avenue
- Enforcement Order resolution – planting area update at 1 Malvern Terrace
- Request for Minor Plan Change – fence location at 152 Suffolk Road
- Request for Administrative Approval – 791 Walnut Street (Newton Cemetery & Arboretum)
- Request for Minor Plan Change field complex and Cheese Cake Brook Restoration at 250 Albemarle Road
Other
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential project/proposals:
- 21 Lovett Road: Special permit for a retaining wall exceeding four feet.
- 16 Caroline Park: Special permit for FAR to allow an attached garage with living space above.
This week’s road construction schedule has not yet been posted.