Newton City Council - March 16, 2026

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Okay, folks, can we grab our seats, please?

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Recording stopped Recording in progress Great. Thank you, everybody. We are just a couple of minutes late, but this is a regularly scheduled meeting of the Newton City Council. Quite all right. Before we get rolling, we'll just hit the Pledge of Allegiance, and I think we're going to be led by Councillor Irish. The United States of America, which stands one nation under God, indivisible,

Great, thank you.

So we are being audio and video recorded. Online, I see Councilors Krintzman, Micley, I think that's it. Fantastic. All right. Thank you, sir. Love the camera. How are you, sir? All right. Great. Super. Making sure. Just as a quick reminder, too. And did somebody else pop in? Oh, and Councilor Farrell is now joining us online as well. Thank you. just as a reminder to kind of help eliminate hopefully our feedback issue with the microphones. If you're using your laptop, please make sure that your microphone is muted and your speakers are off. That'd be great. Thank you. I think we're ready to get rolling here. So for first call items, we'll start with land use. Councilor Kelley.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Land Use Committee met last week on March 10th. We took up item 102-26, which was a request to amend special permit for... 474-14 to an oversize secondary sign at 199 Boylston Street at the mall at Chestnut Hill. that was approved with an amendment added wording. It was approved seven to zero. We also took up item 103-24, a request for a special permit to allow attached single family dwellings and reduced front and side setbacks at 11 Parsons Street. That was approved seven with one. Is that mine doing it? I think so. No, it's not. That's why I'm reporting it out on first call. Last minute change, but these things happen.

It was approved seven with one abstention. Next item was held and the final one was number 96-26, a petition to amend the Wells Ave deed restriction, deed restriction at 60 Wells Ave to allow for a veterinary hospital and that was approved seven to zero. I would like to request some public hearings, Mr. President. Thank you. I'd like to set public hearings, which you can find on page 57. Is it that I'm too close? or is it just the problem we're having?

Okay. It was me too, so.

I'll try and back up a little. On page 57... Items 119-26 and 118-26 like to have a special hearing on March 24th. And that concludes my report.

Thank you, Councilor Baker for zoning and planning. Fantastic. For programs and services, Councilor Krintzman.

Thank you, Mr. President. The report begins on page 53. Programs and services met on March 4th. All items were held, but I would just quickly mention to my colleagues that the Programs and Services Committee is going to be taking up charter review. and we tentatively decided to sort of work through the articles one at a time, but publish a schedule or a calendar of which articles we'll be reviewing during which meetings. So I'm gonna get that out. as soon as possible, but just wanted to make folks aware of those so that you can attend those if you're interested. Again, all items were held. I would move the report.

Thank you, sir. Councilor Lucas, PS&T, otherwise known as Public Safety and Transportation.

Yes, thank you. The committee met on Wednesday, March 4th, and there is no report.

Vice President Kalis for public facilities.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. There is no report. However, let's see here. I'd like to request a suspension of the rules to add a late file docket item.

Kalis is looking for a suspension of the rules. Can you talk to us about the item for a moment? Let us know what the item is.

Oh, okay. So this is item 116-26 on page 58, requesting a discussion on the status of the Newton Highlands Working Group.

Fantastic. All those in favor of the suspension of the rules, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Fantastic.

Go ahead. Thank you. I also need to request a public hearing for item 114-24, which is also on page 58 of the docket. for April 8th, 2026. And that concludes my comments.

Great. Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

For the Finance Committee, Councilor Grossman. or sorry, that's my fault entirely, Councilor Bixby.

Thank you, Mr. President. The finance report begins on page 54. The committee met on March 9th. and we heard docket item 100-26, the reappointment of M. Ronald Mendez as the city's treasurer collector. This is his honor, the mayor appointing Ronald Mendez pursuant to section 3-3B of the Newton City Charter, finance approved 7-0. We then heard 101-26 to accept and expand a grant of $50,000 to complete the MVP 2.0 process. has honored the mayor requesting authorization to accept and expend $50,000 in grant funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs,

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program for the first year of a two-year process in which Newton will convene a project team, including community members, and complete the MVP 2.0 planning steps and develop a seed project, finance approved 7-0. and item 90-26, accept a grant of $113,956 and appropriate $9,290.85 to install electric vehicle charging stations. These were grants from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's electric incentive program and expending funds from the Energy Stabilization Fund in order to install seven electric vehicle charging stations. Finance approved seven to zero. And that concludes the report.

Thank you. Councilor Malakie for real property reuse. Wow, look at that. Fantastic. I think now is the right time for me to call for a roll call vote, please.

Councilor Albright. Aye. Councilor Baker. Aye. Councilor Bixby. Aye. Councilor Block. Aye. Councilor Charm Aye. Councilor Dahmubed Aye. Councilor Farrell Aye. Councilor Getz Aye. Councilor Golden Aye. Councilor Gordon Greenberg.

Aye.

Councilor Grossman. Aye. Councilor Irish.

Aye.

Councilor Kalis. Aye. Councilor Kelley.

Aye.

Councilor Krintzman. Aye. Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Roche, Aye. Councilor Silber Aye. Councilor Wright Aye. President Oliver Aye. On this motion, the ayes are 22, the nays are zero, and two members are absent.

Fantastic. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Oh, I'm sorry. We've got some enthusiasm here. You want it? We have a motion to adjourn. Do I hear a second? We are adjourned. Thank you very much. I think we just set a new land speed record. Thank you folks.