Executive Summary
The Newton City Council met on March 16, 2026, to conduct a regularly scheduled meeting covering land use permits, financial grants, and committee updates. Key actions included the approval of a special permit for a veterinary hospital at 60 Wells Ave, the reappointment of M. Ronald Mendez as City Treasurer-Collector, and the acceptance of over $170,000 in grant funding for environmental planning and electric vehicle infrastructure. The Council also initiated a review process for the City Charter and scheduled several upcoming public hearings for late March and April.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Newton City Council
- Meeting Date: March 16, 2026
- Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
- Attendees:
- Present: President John Oliver, Councilor Susan Albright, Councilor R. Lisle Baker, Councilor Martha Bixby, Councilor Randy Block, Councilor Brittany Hume Charm, Councilor Cyrus Dahmubed, Councilor Stephen Farrell (online), Councilor Rena Getz, Councilor Brian Golden, Councilor Lisa Gordon, Councilor Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Councilor Rebecca Walker Grossman, Councilor Julie Irish, Councilor David A. Kalis, Councilor Andrea W. Kelley, Councilor Joshua Krintzman (online), Councilor Alison M. Leary, Councilor Tarik J. Lucas, Councilor Julia Malakie, Councilor David Micley (online), Councilor Sean Roche, Councilor Jacob Silber, Councilor Pamela Wright.
- Absent: Two members.
Land Use Committee
Councilor Kelley reported on the committee meeting held on March 10, 2026:
- Item 102-26: Request to amend special permit #474-14 for an oversize secondary sign at 199 Boylston Street (The Mall at Chestnut Hill).
- Action: Approved 7-0 with amended wording.
- Item 103-24: Request for a special permit to allow attached single-family dwellings and reduced front and side setbacks at 11 Parsons Street.
- Action: Approved 7-0 with one abstention.
- Item 96-26: Petition to amend the Wells Ave deed restriction at 60 Wells Ave to allow for a veterinary hospital.
- Action: Approved 7-0.
- Public Hearings Scheduled: The Council set public hearings for March 24, 2026, for the following items:
- Item 119-26
- Item 118-26
Programs and Services Committee
Councilor Krintzman reported on the committee meeting held on March 4, 2026:
- Charter Review: The committee will begin a systematic review of the City Charter, addressing articles one at a time. A calendar for the review schedule will be published shortly.
- Action: All items were held.
Public Facilities Committee
Vice President Kalis requested the following actions:
- Suspension of Rules: Approved to add late-filed Item 116-26, requesting a discussion on the status of the Newton Highlands Working Group.
- Public Hearing Scheduled: A hearing was set for April 8, 2026, for Item 114-24.
Finance Committee
Councilor Bixby reported on the committee meeting held on March 9, 2026:
- Item 100-26: Reappointment of M. Ronald Mendez as City Treasurer-Collector.
- Legal Reference: "His honor, the mayor appointing Ronald Mendez pursuant to section 3-3B of the Newton City Charter."
- Action: Approved 7-0.
- Item 101-26: Authorization to accept and expend a grant of $50,000 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
- Purpose: To complete the first year of the two-year Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 planning process and develop a seed project.
- Action: Approved 7-0.
- Item 90-26: Authorization to accept a grant of $113,956 and appropriate $9,290.85 from the Energy Stabilization Fund.
- Purpose: To install seven electric vehicle charging stations via the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's electric incentive program.
- Action: Approved 7-0.
Final Actions and Adjournment
The Council conducted a roll call vote to approve the committee reports and actions.
- Vote Outcome: 22-0 in favor (2 members absent).
- Roll Call (Ayes): Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Roche, Silber, Wright, President Oliver.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following the roll call.