Newton City Council - July 13, 2026

• Date: July 13, 2026
• Governing Body: Newton City Council
• Meeting Type: Regular City Council Meeting
• Attendees: 23 Councilors present (1 absent). Present in person: Councilors Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Malakie, Roche, Wright, and President Oliver. Present online: Councilors Dahmubed, Silber, Kalis, Micley, and Lucas.

• September Meeting Schedule: Due to Labor Day and Yom Kippur, the Monday meetings in September will be moved to Tuesday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Both meetings will commence at 7:45 PM.

Councilor Andrea W. Kelley reported on the following items:

• Item 190-26: Special permit for 335 Langley Road was approved.
• Public Hearing Assignments:
  • August 4, 2026: Item 225-25 (74 Needham Street) for a four-story building and Item 226-26 (43 Newell Road) regarding FAR.
  • July 21, 2026: Item 227-26 (22-24 Mechanic Street), Item 228-26 (33 Aspen Ave), and Item 224-26 (Consistency rulings).

Councilor Joshua Krintzman reported on the following:

• Item 213-26: Approved (6-0) the relocation of Ward 2, Precincts 2 and 3 polling locations back to the Cooper Center for Active Living from the Cabot School.
• Late Filed Items: The Council voted to suspend rules to admit requests for setting early voting hours for the State and Federal Primary (September 1) and the State and Federal Election (November 3).

Councilor Randy Block reported on the following financial authorizations:

• Item 214-26: Authorization to transfer $1,175,000 from the FY27 wage reserve to fund contractual wage increases for the Newton Police Association Memorandum of Agreement (FY24-FY27).
• Item 215-26: Authorization to transfer $710,000 from the FY26 wage reserve for retroactive wage adjustments, allocated as follows: $500,000 for patrol services, $105,000 for engineering services, and $105,000 for traffic safety.

Councilor David A. Kalis reported on the following:

• Item 201-26: Authorization for a solar energy generation lease at Burr Elementary School (Approved 5-0).
• Item 40-26: Discussion on removing the Bullos Pond Dam (No action necessary).
• Item 197-26: Transfer of $900,000 for improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and ramps (Approved 5-0-1).
• Item 216-26: Repurpose of $150,000 and transfer of $177,000 for renovations at Fire Station 2 (Approved 7-0).

Councilor Rebecca Walker Grossman reported that the committee approved the following items (all votes 7-0):

• Item 197-26: $900,000 for roadways and snow/ice control.
• Item 201-26: Solar lease at Burr Elementary.
• Item 214-26: $1,175,000 for Police Department wage increases.
• Item 215-26: $710,000 for retroactive wage adjustments.
• Item 216-26: $327,000 total for Fire Station 2 renovations.

The Council took a roll call vote on all first call items.

• Outcome: Approved 23-0 (1 absent).
• Exception: Councilor Block voted No on Item 190-26 (335 Langley Road), making that specific vote 22-1.

• Description: Special permit request to exceed FAR and residential facade ratio, allow three stories, extend a non-conforming front setback, and allow a retaining wall over four feet at 91-93 Newtonville Ave.
• Discussion: Councilor Kelley noted the project involves a two-family plan on a narrow 4,000 square foot lot with a steep 22-foot grade change.
• Vote: Approved 23-0 (1 absent).

• Description: Request to allow four attached single-family dwellings in two buildings at 60 Brookside Ave.
• Discussion: Councilor Block raised concerns regarding the committee's evaluation process, arguing that comparisons to "by-right" development are irrelevant to the legal criteria for a special permit. He stated: "As the special permit granting authority, we are required to set all of this aside and make a judgment about whether the plan will adversely affect the neighborhood."
• Action: Councilor Block chartered the item, postponing further discussion until the August meeting.

• Description: Special permit request for 14 single-family attached dwellings at 0, 93, and 103 Thurston Road.
• Amendment: Councilor Julie Irish moved to add a condition for a Neighborhood Liaison Committee. The legal language read into the record states: "a neighborhood liaison committee shall be established consisting of one designee of the petitioner, the ward counselor and two to three residents from the neighborhoods surrounding the project. The President of the City Council shall appoint the resident neighborhood members."
• Discussion: Councilor Irish emphasized the project's density and proximity to the Emerson School and playground. Councilor Kelley noted the developer agreed to preserve the "Lupien Path" for pedestrian access.
• Vote on Amendment: Approved by voice vote.
• Vote on Main Item (as amended): Approved 23-0 (1 absent).