Greetings!

Welcome to the weekly newsletter from the Newton City Council.

City Council Newsletter for March 13, 2020.

This newsletter is designed to keep the Newton Community informed about what the City Council is working on and what is coming up in the next week. Stay informed and use the links below to get additional information. 
Massachusetts Covid-19 State of Emergency and the Newton City Council

In accordance with Governor Baker's Emergency Executive Order of 3/12/20, the City Council will meet fully remotely for the health and safety of Councilors and the public during the Massachusetts Covid-19 State of Emergency.  The City Council will be using Zoom software to run meetings online for the immediate future. Our Clerk will add a link to our meetings in agendas and on the City Council website.  The remote conferencing software will allow the public to join the Council and participate in nearly the same manner that we have always operated. A citizen may log in and listen/view screens, and if there is a public hearing, citizens will be able to "raise their hands", be recognized and speak at the appropriate time. Our City Clerk will provide information about how to join in.  Please bear with us as we use this new method - hopefully everything will go smoothly but please be patient as we all learn this new technology. The City Clerk is coordinating with NewTV and it is their intention to also televise the meetings on NewTV.  We thank you for your understanding and participation in this new way. The Council wishes that all Newtonians stay healthy.

Watch this Newsletter and the City of Newton website for updates and changes.

If you would like to try the Zoom Conference Software, the City Clerk will be hosting a zoom session for the public on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 6:00 pm. At that time you can join to test it out by clicking HERE .

Susan Albright, President
Richard Lipof, Vice President
City Council 
The City Council will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 7:45 pm. To view this meeting click HERE at the above date and time. The Council will discuss the Committee recommendations on the following items:

#37-20  Amend ordinances by creating a temporary suspension on landmark designation.
 
#67-20  Petition to allow adult-use marijuana dispensary at 58 Cross St/1089 Washington St.

#165-20  Requesting CPA funding be awarded to the Newton Housing Authority.

#89-20  Petition to allow waivers for a rear lot subdivision at 40 Williston Road.
 
#118-20  Petition to extend nonconforming setback at 112 Grasmere Street.

#337-16(2)  Petition to amend Special Permit Council Order #337-16 at 41 Dorset Road.

#15-20(2)  Petition to amend Deed Restriction and Orders #148-15(2) and (3) at 180 Wells Ave.

#15-20(3)  Petition to amend Deed Restriction at 180 Wells Ave.

#16-20  Petition to allow parking waiver and restaurant with more than 50 seats at Piccadilly Sq.

#139-20  Reappointment of Elizabeth Smith to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.

#140-20  Reappointment of Meghan Smith to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.

#141-20  Reappointment of Wayne Koch to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.

#120-20  Temporary license to hold Nonantum Village Day.

#41-19(3)  Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit #41-19 at 24-26 Elliot St.

#107-20  Requesting new public auto license - Newton Limos Company, LLC.

#108-20  Requesting new public auto license - Bace Limousine Services, LLC.

#129-20  Requesting new public auto license - Izmo Limo, LLC.
 
#75-20  Requesting ordinance amendment to procedure for obtaining licenses.
 
#158-20  Requesting ordinance amendment to procedure for obtaining licenses for vans.
 
#128-20  Resolution to the State Legislature to support funding for transportation.

#149-20  Reappointment of David Morton to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#150-20  Reappointment of Jim Gross to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#151-20  Reappointment of John Martin to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#152-20  Reappointment of Nancy Grissom to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#153-20  Reappointment of Barbara Wales to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#124-20  Appointment of Michael Flaherty to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council.

#125-20  Reappointment of Brenda Anders to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council.

#137-20  Request to petition the General Court for special legislation regarding special police.

#160-20  Reappointment of Carol Schein to the Design Review Committee.

#161-20  Reappointment of Peter Barrer to the Design Review Committee.

#162-20  Reappointment of David Gillespie to the Design Review Committee.

#163-20  Reappointment of Robert Hnasko to the Design Review Committee.

#167-20  Authorization to submit an SOI to the MSBA for Countryside School.

#166-20  Requesting ordinance amendments for enforcement of sidewalk obstruction.

#164-20  Approval of an Inter-municipal Agreement for brine making equipment.

The complete Council Reports Docket for this meeting is available HERE .
Land Use Committee

The Land Use Committee met on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 and recommends approval of the following items:

#89-20  Petition to allow waivers for a rear lot subdivision at 40 Williston Road.

#165-20  Requesting CPA funding be awarded to the Newton Housing Authority.
 
#118-20  Petition to extend nonconforming setback at 112 Grasmere Street.

#337-16(2)  Petition to amend Special Permit Council Order #337-16 at 41 Dorset Road.

#16-20  Petition to allow parking waiver and restaurant with more than 50 seats at Piccadilly Sq.

#15-20(2)  Petition to amend Deed Restriction and Orders #148-15(2) and (3) at 180 Wells Ave.

#15-20(3)  Petition to amend Deed Restriction at 180 Wells Ave.

#139-20  Reappointment of Elizabeth Smith to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.
 
#140-20  Reappointment of Meghan Smith to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.

#141-20  Reappointment of Wayne Koch to the Washington Place Liaison Committee.

#120-20  Temporary license to hold Nonantum Village Day.
 
#41-19(3)  Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit #41-19 at 24-26 Elliot St.

Applications, Plans and Review Memos for Special Permit petitions are available  HERE .

The complete Committee Report for this meeting is available HERE.
Zoning & Planning Committee
The Zoning & Planning Committee met on Monday, March 9, 2020 and recommends approval of the following items:

#149-20  Reappointment of David Morton to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.
 
#150-20  Reappointment of Jim Gross to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.
 
#151-20  Reappointment of John Martin to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

#152-20  Reappointment of Nancy Grissom to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.
 
#153-20  Reappointment of Barbara Wales to the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

The complete Committee Report for this meeting is available HERE.
Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on Monday, March 9, 2020 and recommends approval of the following items:

#167-20  Authorization to submit an SOI to the MSBA for Countryside School.

#166-20  Requesting ordinance amendments for enforcement of sidewalk obstruction.

#164-20  Approval of an Inter-municipal Agreement for brine making equipment.

The complete Committee Report for this meeting is available HERE.
Public Safety & Transportation Committee
The Public Safety & Transportation Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 6:00 pm. To view this meeting click HERE at the above date and time. The Committee will be discussing the following items:

#74-20  Requesting a discussion regarding the policy on facial surveillance technology.
 
#106-20  Requesting a discussion on multiple crossings around Memorial Spaulding School.

The complete Committee Agenda for this meeting for this meeting is available HERE.
Programs & Services Committee

The Programs & Services Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm. To view this meeting click HERE at the above date and time. The Committee will be discussing the following items:

#104-20  Appointment of Julie Winsett to the Urban Tree Commission.

#123-20  Appointment of Murali Vemula to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council.

#154-20  Appointment of Silka Rothschild to the Newton Community Education Commission.

#155-20  Appointment of John R. Oliver to the Newton Community Education Commission.

#200-20  Accept $270,000 of lighting equipment for Winkler Stadium Field.

#184-20  Request to authorize the use of remote participation in Council meetings.

#48-20  Request for a discussion regarding Senior Services outreach.

#199-20  Transfer of $250,000 to prepared for COVID-19.

The complete Committee Agenda for this meeting is available HERE.
Public Facilities Committee
The Public Facilities Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm. To view this meeting click HERE at the above date and time. The Committee will be discussing the following items:

Public Hearings will be held on the first 5 items:

#159-20  Eversource Energy petition for a Grant of Location on Harvard Street.

#188-20  Eversource Energy petition for a Grant of Location on Duffield Road.

#189-20  Verizon petition for a Grant of Location on Washington Street.

#190-20  Verizon petition for a Grant of Location on Washington Street.

#191-20  Verizon petition for a Grant of Location on Washington Street.

#200-20  Accept $270,000 of lighting equipment for Winkler Stadium Field.
 
#196-20  Transfer of $60,000 for HVAC system at Police Headquarters.
 
#197-20  Transfer of $500,000 for improvements at Horace Mann at 225 Nevada Street.

#201-20  Transfer of $650,000 for the purpose of reimbursing Newton Public Schools.

#198-20  Appropriate $7,000,000 for Water Main Improvements in FY2021.

#117-20  Acceptance of a sewer extension and easement on Farwell Street.

The complete Committee Agenda for this meeting is available HERE.
Friday Packet
Access the Council Calendar and all of the material that the City Council and its Committees will be taking up in the coming week. Review the Friday Packet each Friday which is available through the City of Newton's website.  
    
(Check back after 5 pm each Friday for a complete packet)        
More Information on Licensing your Dog can be found HERE.
If you would like additional information on any of the items listed in this newsletter, please let us know.
Sincerely,
David Olson
City Clerk
dolson@newtonma.gov
  1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02459
617-796-1210 | www.newtonma.gov