Newton City Council - April 27, 2026

President John Oliver called the meeting to order. Councilor Martha Bixby led the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Attendance: Councilor David Micley was noted as absent. Councilor Maria Scibelli Greenberg joined remotely.
• Announcements: The City Council photo has been rescheduled for June 15, 2026. FY2027 budget books were made available to all councilors.

Councilor Andrea W. Kelley reported on the meeting held April 14, 2026.

• Items Held:
  • Item 130-26: Special Permit for 1100-1102 Beacon Street.
  • Item 131-26: Special Permit for 93, 103, and 0 Thurston Road.
• Public Hearings Set: Public hearings for items 164-26, 165-26, and 166-26 were scheduled for May 12, 2026.

Councilor R. Lisle Baker reported on the committee's activities.

• Public Hearing Set: A hearing for Item 42-26, an ordinance change in Chapter 30 to allow raised beds in front and rear setbacks, was scheduled for May 11, 2026.

Councilor Joshua Krintzman and the Vice Chair reported on meetings from April 8 and April 22, 2026.

• Item 110-26: Pre-budget planning; voted No Action Necessary (6-0).
• Item 113-26: Authorization to appropriate and expend $300,000 to the Newton Communications Access Center Inc.; approved (6-0).
• Item 26-26(1): Requirement for a template form for better notification of tree permit applications; approved (5-0).
• Item 109-26: Resolution regarding primary care; discussed and moved to the full council.

Councilor David Kalis reported on the meeting held April 8, 2026.

• Item 114-26: Grant of location on Smith Avenue; approved (7-0).
• Item 122-26: National Grid petition for grant of location on Clarendon Street; approved (7-0).
• Item 132-26: Transportation Network Improvement Plan; voted No Action Necessary.
• Item 43-26: Ordinance change regarding sidewalk installation requirements during construction; approved (8-0).

Councilor Tarik J. Lucas reported on meetings from April 8 and April 15, 2026.

• Item 98-26: Compliance for street sweeping violations in Nonantum; voted No Action Necessary.
• Item 62-26: Overnight parking ban discussion; held.
• ICE Response: Public comment meeting regarding the city's response to ICE; held.

Councilor Rebecca Walker Grossman reported on the meeting held April 13, 2026.

• Item 113-26: $300,000 for Newton Communications Access Center; approved (6-0).
• Item 124-26: Authorization to petition the General Court for special legislation to allow Newton to issue Pension Obligation Bonds; approved (7-0).
• Item 127-26: Authorization to expend $20,000 for a legal settlement; approved (6-0).
• Item 128-26: Transfer of $3,000 for interpretive services; approved (6-0).
• Public Hearings Set (May 18, 2026):
  • Item 1-26: FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan.
  • Item 154-26: Supplemental Capital Improvement Plan.
  • Item 157-26: Proposed water, sewer, and stormwater rates.

The Council conducted a roll call vote to approve the committee reports and recommendations.

• Result: 23 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Micley).
• Specific Exceptions:
  • Item 109-26: 22 Ayes, 0 Nays, 1 Recusal (Krintzman).
  • Item 122-26: 22 Ayes, 1 Nay (Leary).
• Roll Call Names (Ayes): Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Roach, Silber, Wright, Oliver.

Mayor Marc C. Laredo presented the FY2027 budget, describing it as a "statement of values coupled with sound financial practices."

• School Funding: Proposed an increase of $21.6 million (7.38%) over the previous year's base allocation. This includes a new middle school math initiative to increase academic rigor.
• Pension Reform: Announced a two-pronged strategy: extending the pension funding deadline from 2032 to 2035 and issuing Pension Obligation Bonds (POB) to smooth payments.
• Public Safety: Includes funding for a body camera pilot program for police officers.
• Infrastructure and Utilities: Proposed a stormwater management fee increase, resulting in a total utility fee increase of 4.9%.
• Capital Projects: Funding for feasibility studies for:
  • A new Police Headquarters (described as "completely and totally inadequate").
  • Renovations for Newton South High School.
  • A new or consolidated Ward and Underwood Elementary School.

CFO Maureen Lemieux provided technical details on the budget and financial strategy.

• Revenue Strategy: The city is budgeting to 99% of anticipated revenues (up from previous years) to provide more immediate funding to departments, yielding an additional $5 million for the operating budget.
• Pension Savings: Shifting the funding schedule to 2035 provides $51 million in budget relief over the next five years.
• Pension Obligation Bonds: The city anticipates a bond issuance in the $300 million range, pending state legislative approval and a subsequent City Council vote.
• New Budget Format: Introduced "Budget at a Glance" pages for each department to improve transparency regarding functions, goals, and Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs).