May 20-24

7p

Board of Aldermen-Budget

Chamber

7p

Land Use

222

7p

following

following

Board of Aldermen-Budget, if needed

Public Facilities

Programs & Services

Chamber

209

222

7p

Board of Aldermen-Budget, if needed

Chamber

Docket:

#176-13 PRESIDENT LENNON in conjunction with Newton Wellesley Hospital recommending the re-appointment/appointment of the following individuals to the Newton Wellesley Hospital Neighborhood Council pursuant to condition 29 of special permit #470-04 for terms concurrent with the 2012-2013 Board of Aldermen:

(A) Theresa Fitzpatrick (B) Katherine Ballou

(C) Andree Saulnier (D) Alderman Jay Harney (Wd 4)

(E) Alderman John Rice (Wd 5)

Public Hearings to be assigned for June 11, 2013:

#177-13 SHARON BURNS, FARMSTEAD TABLE/STEPHEN WERSBERG petition for a SPECIAL PERMIT/SITE PLAN APPROVAL to allow more than fifty seats in a restaurant and to waive the eight additional parking spaces required by the proposed additional seats at 71 UNION STREET, Ward 6, Newton Centre, on land known as SBL 61, 36, 8, located in a district zoned Business 1. Ref: Sec 30-24, 30-23, 30-11(d)(9), 30-19(d)(13), 30-19(m)of the City of Newton Rev Zoning Ord, 2012.

#178-13 RIVERSIDE CHILDREN’S CENTER /THE UNION CHURCH OF WABAN petition to AMEND SITE PLAN APPROVAL #704-83, granted on 12/19/83 for a nursery school for no more than 15 children, to increase the enrollment to a maximum of 55 students and for a SPECIAL PERMIT/SITE PLAN APPROVAL to waive 8 parking stalls and for associated waivers including parking within front and side setbacks and within 5’ from a street; required dimensions for parking stalls and minimum aisle width; landscape screening and interior landscaping requirements; lighting requirements including waiving barriers at edges of surfaced areas; minimum 3-foot wide curb ramps; bicycle parking facilities at 14 COLLINS ROAD, Ward 5, Waban, on land known as SBL 55, 48, 36 and 37, containing approx. 41,302 sf of land in a district zoned SINGLE RESIDENCE 2.

#187-13 DAVID A. OLSON on behalf of BEAUTIFUL NEWTONVILLE seeking approval from the Board of Aldermen as required by the City Charter, Article 9, Section 7(b), of the date of October 1, 2013 as the official election day for the Newtonville Area Council, and to allow early voting on September 29 and 30, to coincide with Newtonville Village Day.

Reports:

• 5-14 Land Use: APPROVED: two-story addition to 12 Fellsmere, Newton Centre, ward 7; addition to Milton’s store for men, chestnut hill; additions to 140 Church St, Newton Corner; 
• 5-13 Zoning: NAN: Economic Development Commission annual report; increasing lot sizes to grandfather some non-conforming developments; HELD: another way to grandfather non-conforming developments; report on lots now considered non-conforming under the Mauri decision.
• 5-13 Finance: APPROVED; $30K for a needs assessment of the senior population; $55K for the Peirce School and Hyde playgrounds; $78K for hardware to ensure survive-ability of city’s financial data in the event of a disaster; adjustment upward of the City Clerk’s salary to reflect new responsibilities; $104K to cover the remainder of the Lincoln-Eliot School’s HVAC project; $105K for more design of the Wires Division and Fire Station 10 (Dedham St); $25K for catch basin improvements around Crystal Lake; three new Capital Stabilization Funds created: 2013 Override Projects, Energy Conservation Projects, Public School Technology.
• 5-8 Public Facilities: APPROVED: Fire Station 10 & Wires Division design review; Lincoln Eliot HVAC; HELD: discussion of smaller capital projects and how to keep transparent; Angier School–possible inclusion of air-conditioning and the precedent that sets for all elementary schools getting a/c.
• 5-8 Programs & Services: APPROVED: playground improvements; consolidation of Elections under City Clerk & raising the Clerk’s salary; NAN: a similar consolidation item; 
• 5-8 Public Safety: NAN: report on state’s unfunded mandate for police training; update on school safety report; 
• 5-7 Land Use: APPROVED: two additional dwellings at 9 Ripley St, ward 6; 

Agendas:

• 5-21 Land Use: Riverside (traffic, circulation, parking, trails,signage, and landscaping)
• 5-22 Public Facilities: discussion of Moulton Street and Colgate Circle (Ward 4); purchasing a street sweeper & back hoe; Angier School update; discussion of Green Communities strategy; 
• 5-22 Programs & Services: Carr School renovation; Newtonville AC vote; remote participation in BoA and board committee meetings; rules on where CPC matters should be referred; support for carbon fees; Angier update; financial strategic plan requirement; human capital plan; 

Documents:

• Letter from the High Performance Buildings Commission on a Sustainability Director position

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013

Time: 11:30am-1:00pm

Where: NewTV Conference Room, 23 Needham Street, Newton Highlands

For more information, please email info@lwvnewton.org.

LWVN members who are interested in attending as a delegate should email Sue and Anne at info@lwvnewton.org.

For more information about the Convention, including the schedule and Convention Workbook, and to register, please go to the Convention webpage.

For more information, please email Sue and Anne at info@lwvnewton.org.

LWV Massachusetts has a Voters Guide online.

More information on voting can be found at the City of Newton Elections page. You can check for your precinct and polling location.

April 29-May 2

 7p

Finance-Comptroller, Assessing, Treasurer, Purchasing

222

7p

Public Facilities-DPW

209

7:45p

Public Safety-Police, Fire

202

Agenda:

• 4-29 Finance: Budget; sprinklers for Mason-Rice; modular elementary classrooms; 

Documents:

• Updated Capital Improvement Plan; the easier-to-use document is here
• FY2014 Budget Analysis
• News, Notes:
  • Utilization of Room 203 – With the pending arrival of the Cultural Affairs staff to City Hall in June, I was approached by the Executive Office about their utilization of Room 203. Room 203 is the room that currently houses our coffee machine, mini-refrigerator and coat rack. I was able to secure some space for these amenities that would effectively be ‘backstage’ of the War Memorial. Their utilization of Room 203 will not affect our use of current meeting spaces. In order to access this space, enter the War Memorial going through the Chamber and in the hallway, you will notice a door on your left. This backstage area currently houses archived records from the Law Department that are going to be removed (so it is currently locked). Josh Morse and I met on site and he said he would be able to provide a small build-out for a counter that we could put our coffee machine on, put the mini-fridge underneath and put up a coat rack. Based on their programming, the cultural affairs staff will obviously be using the stage much more but I felt we could co-exist since our schedules probably won’t really conflict. Based on other spaces I looked at, I felt this would be the best spot. Access will be provided to Board members to use at their leisure. If you have any concerns or questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
  • Update to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – In this week’s packet you will see an update of the CIP. When we begin our deliberations in Committee of the Whole on May 15th, we will be utilizing this document in addition to the CIP book. If you recall, we held out required public hearing on the CIP in November. I would also ask that you please review (if you have not already) the memo issued last week by Alderman Gentile on how we will approach our Committee of the Whole and voting processes. Thank you.
  • Angier update–includes energy and water efficiency design goals, discussion of air conditioning, schedule of public presentations. Next: Monday, June 3, 7 pm, location TBD: Board of Aldermen & School Committee review of 50% schematic design materials.

April 22-25

 11a

7p

7p

7:45p

Traffic Council

Finance

School Committee

Zoning

 202

222

Ed. Center

202

7p

Land Use

222

7:45p

Programs & Services-Parks & Rec

209

222

7p

Public Facilities–Buildings

Chamber

Agendas:

• 4-23 Land Use:  discussion of FAR, four units on Nevada St.
• 4-22 Zoning: Adjustments to deal with the Mauri Decision; campaign signs
• 4-22 Finance: Budget; end-of-year cost adjustments; OPEB trust; 
• 4-22 School: New principals; common core standards; buildings; fiscal report; private school report; last day of school vote; 
• 4-22 Traffic Council: general changes to the TPR on restricting parking near intersections and some streets.

Documents:

• Schools: Private School Report, Fiscal Report, Facilities Report, Common Core Report

April 16-19

PATRIOT’S DAY

7p

Board of Aldermen–Mayor’s Budget Address

Chamber

7p

7:45p

Public Facilities

Programs & Services-Vets, Museum, Library

209

222

8a

7:45p

Risk Management Subcommittee

Zoning & Planning-Inspectional Services, Planning Department, CPA

222

Chamber

Reports:

• 4-9 Land Use: APPROVED: One-story addition to home on Hammond St; one-story addition, and fence instead of planters for gas station at Watertown St., (w1), 
• 4-8 Zoning: discussion of consultant’s report on the city’s zoning code & how to improve.
• 4-8 Finance: APPROVED: financial management guidelines; $37K for security cameras at the Library; HELD: OPEB trust; Mayor’s requested changes to the whistleblower policy; UPDATE on Day MS project
• 4-3
• 4-3 Programs & Services: HELD: consolidation of Elections under Clerk’s department; licensing and permits for non-profits; guidelines for Neighborhood Area Councils; adjust time restrictions for special permit applications; 
• 4-2 Land Use: put four units in two buildings on Nevada St. (w1); 
• 3-28 and 4-4 Traffic Council

Agendas:

• 4-18 Zoning:  budget
• 4-17 Public Facilities: Lyons field concession stand; status of planning for Needham St; streetlight repair; update on state Commonwealth Avenue work; reallocating unspent funds from the Day project; update on Angier
• 4-17 Programs & Services: Budget

Docket:

• #146-13 THE ZONING & PLANNING COMMITTEE requesting information from the Planning Department concerning the nature and character of vacant lots that were confirmed as unbuildable by the Mauri Appeals Court decision.
• #147-13 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting approval to implement a reorganization plan in order to consolidate the Elections Department into the City Clerk’s Department under Article 6, Sec. 6-2. of the City of Newton Charter.
• #148-13 ALD. YATES, requesting a report from the Police Chief on the amount of funding for police training mandated by the state but unfunded and a report from the City Solicitor on individual or multi-community efforts to obtain relief from this unfunded mandate
• #150-13 ALD. JOHNSON, ALBRIGHT & LINSKY, requesting the Planning Department create a traffic and parking management plan for the Education Center, Day Middle School, Horace Mann Elementary School and Carr School neighborhood area by December 2013.
• #152-13 ALD. ALBRIGHT requesting a discussion with the Department of Public Works regarding the new LED streetlight pilot.
• #153-13 PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE requesting periodic updates on the progress of the citywide storm water system assessment needed to define the scope of repairs to the system, as well as methods of financing the assessment and an accounting of the storm water enterprise fund.
• #154-13 ALD. SANGIOLO requesting a waiver of City of Newton Ordinance Sec. 5-58. Site plan approval for construction or modification of municipal buildings and facilities. for a concession stand to be constructed by Newton West Little League to be located at Lyons Field in Auburndale.
• #155-13 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to transfer the sum of sixty two thousand two hundred seventy-two dollars ($62,272) from the Financial Information Systems Full-Time Salaries Account to the Financial Information Systems Computer Equipment Repairs & Maintenance Account for the purpose of funding the purchase of hardware and software to run FinancePlus, CommunityPlus, and Munis on a fully redundant system. 
• #157-13 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to appropriate the sum of one hundred nineteen thousand four hundred twenty-six dollars ($119,426) from Fiscal Year 13 E-Rate Reimbursement Funds for the purpose of upgrading the wireless network at the high schools.
• #205-12(2) HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to transfer the sum of one hundred eighty-four thousand three hundred nineteen dollars ($184,319) within the FA Day Middle School Project Board Order to reallocate the unspent funds in various accounts.
• #322-12(3) HIS HONOR THE MAYOR submitting recommended FY2014 Water and Sewer Rates for implementation on July 1, 2013.
• #322-12(2) HIS HONOR THE MAYOR submitting in accordance with Section 5-1 of the City of Newton Charter the FY14 Municipal/School Operating Budget totaling $331,073,197 passage of which shall be concurrent with the FY14-FY18 Capital Improvement Program (#322-12). [04-08-13 @ 6:03 PM]EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUBMISSION: 04/16/13; LAST DATE TO PASS THE BUDGET 05/31/12

Documents:

• Finance Letter from the mayor
• Expenses: NNHS, Fire Station 7, Day, Carr, Angier
• Update on Roads to be Paved

April 8-12

6p

7p

7p

7:45p

Zoning Presentation

Finance

School Committee-budget

Zoning

War Memorial

222

Ed. Center

202

7p

7p

Land Use

Joint Long Range Planning/Econ. Development

Chamber/222

209

7:45p

Programs & Services & Finance-School Budget

8:15 am

7p

Financial Audit Advisory

Real Property Reuse

222

209

Reports:

• 4-4 Traffic Council: changes around NNHS to implement the Newtonville parking plan

Agendas:

• 4-8 Finance: amendments to financial management guidelines requested by the mayor; security cameras for the Library; OPEB Trust; mayoral amendments to the whistleblower policy; 
• 4-8 Zoning:  
• 4-9 Land Use: Ripley St. (w6), four units where one house is now; Hammond St (w7) one story addition and second garage bay; 414 Watertown St (garage) one story addition and fence instead of planters
• 4-11 Financial Audit: last year’s audit, financial statement audit for FY13, begin selection process for auditor
• 4-11 Real Property: 70 Crescent St.

 Documents:

• Group Health Insurance
• Moody’s letter
• Angier Working Group update: MSBA voted to allow Newton to design a new Angier on the site, nine bids for Construction Manager, agressive schedule over the next months with a goal of MSBA vote on Oct. 2, 2103 and Aldermen vote on Oct. 7.

• Are you running for public office this year – either as an incumbent or for the first time?
• Have ever thought about running for public office?
• Has someone asked you to be a campaign manager, treasurer, or advisor?
• Or are you a voter who is interested in hearing about the ins and outs of local elected office and running a campaign?

Then join the League of Women Voters of Newton for an informative and lively workshop providing guidance and advice about how to run a campaign for municipal public office in Newton.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013, from 7:00-9:00pm, at the Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands.

Each speaker will spend 10-15 minutes on topic, then answer questions from the audience. Our speakers are:

• Jason Tait (Director of Communication & Public Education, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance) – on MA rules & regulations
• David Olson (Interim Executive Sec’y, Newton Elections Dept; Newton City Clerk) on Newton dates & filing details
• Claire Sokoloff (retiring Chairperson of Newton School Committee) on what School Committee job entails
• Stephen Linsky (retiring Newton Alderman) on job of Alderman
• Melanie Graham (editor of Newton Patch) – how to effectively interface with media interests and opportunities.

(20 Hartford Street, in Newton Highlands, is just off Lincoln St, next to a city parking lot & near the Newton Highlands Green Line T-stop.)