Newton City Council - October 19, 2026

Chief Operating Officer Josh Morse delivered a detailed overview of the City's five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), highlighting ongoing capital priorities, funding mechanisms, and long-range planning.

• Funding Structures and Constraints: Morse explained that the CIP balances projects across restricted funding streams, noting enterprise funds (water, sewer, stormwater) and Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds cannot be reallocated to general building or paving projects.
• School Facilities Investments:
  • The Countryside and Franklin Elementary School projects (approved at $76 million and $72.6 million respectively) are progressing significantly under budget and will feature all-electric, geothermal systems.
  • Approximately $70 million of free cash since 2023 has been allocated to schools, and 80% ($275 million) of Newton's current debt service is dedicated to school projects.
  • Over $1 billion (in 2026 dollars) has been invested in school facilities since 2010. Upon completion of major projects at Ward, Underwood, Newton South High School, and Brown Middle School, Newton will have renovated or rebuilt two-thirds of total school building space across 15 of 24 school facilities, reducing the average school building age from nearly 80 to 36 years.
  • Morse clarified that Ward and Underwood intermediate capital line items remain in the CIP until major construction funding is fully secured.
  • In response to Councilor Lucas regarding Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding for Brown Middle School, Morse indicated the state would likely cover tens of millions of dollars, with the remainder likely requiring a future debt exclusion override.
• Public Safety and Transportation Infrastructure:
  • The existing police headquarters operates at 20,000 square feet, significantly below the national standard of 50,000 square feet or more for a department of Newton's size.
  • Morse reported continuous investments in fire apparatus, emergency communications (Purple Team), and upgrades at Fire Stations 1 and 2.
  • Roadway paving targets a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 80; Morse noted high asphalt and concrete prices and announced the City will launch a sidewalk condition index.
  • Transportation officials are preparing a permanent design allocation of $2 million in FY29 for the Washington Street pilot following upcoming community feedback sessions.
• Parks, Utilities, and Climate Resiliency:
  • The Parks and Recreation Department is preparing its first comprehensive infrastructure strategic plan for all municipal fields and parks.
  • A stormwater infrastructure assessment is underway with completion expected in late fall 2027; Bullo's Pond Dam improvements are currently estimated between $6 million and $8 million.
  • Municipal buildings have reduced energy consumption by over 15% over the past decade despite a 15% increase in air-conditioned square footage, supported by 6 million kilowatt-hours of municipal solar production.

The Council considered an ordinance amendment to allow designated on-street angled parking areas to be eligible for overnight parking under the winter residential parking sticker program.

• Committee Report: Public Safety and Transportation Committee Chair Tarik J. Lucas reviewed angled parking locations, noting 11 spaces on Commonwealth Avenue between Centre Street and Grant Avenue, 15 on Beacon Street in Waban Village Center, 28 on Auburn Street in Auburndale, and 250 on Albemarle Road, with Washington Street spaces in Newtonville removed due to commuter rail construction.
• Baker Amendment: Councilor R. Lisle Baker introduced an amendment to restrict angled overnight parking strictly to Albemarle Road, excluding other commercial and village center locations.
  • Opponents, including Councilors Albright, Krintzman, Kelley, and Silber, argued against further narrowing a modest measure and preferred allowing the Traffic Council jurisdiction over individual locations.
  • Supporters, including Councilors Block and Getz, noted concerns about Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) parking impacts, morning business/school drop-off turnover, and snow removal logistics.
  • Vote on Baker Amendment: Failed 11-13.
    • Voting Aye: Baker, Block, Charm, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Lucas, Malakie, Wright, Oliver.
    • Voting Nay: Albright, Bixby, Dahmubed, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Micley, Roach, Silber.
• Block Amendment: Councilor Randy Block offered a floor amendment to insert language specifically excluding VCOD zoning districts from angle parking eligibility. Following discussion regarding lack of Law Department review and the ability of the Traffic Council to manage parking regulations, Councilor Block withdrew the motion.
• Main Motion: The Council voted on the original committee-recommended ordinance amendment to permit angled parking areas under the winter overnight parking program.
  • Outcome: Passed 18-6.
    • Voting Aye: Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Golden, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Micley, Roach, Silber, Wright, Oliver.
    • Voting Nay: Baker, Block, Farrell, Getz, Gordon, Malakie.

The Council took up Item 297-26, amending Chapters 12 and 22 of the Revised Ordinances of Newton to reassign the Commission on Disability from the Planning Department to the Health and Human Services Department, aligning the ordinance with prior budget actions.

• Programs and Services Committee Chair Joshua Krintzman noted the measure had previously received a 7-0 committee recommendation and that finalized ordinance language was provided to the full Council.
• Outcome: Passed by voice vote with the chair declaring, "All those in favor please say aye... All right, I think that's unanimity."