City Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. All right. Hey, folks, we should probably uh move on over to the city council meeting. Uh even though it's going to be super quick, not that I want to interrupt our uh what is it? Survey board of survey meeting this evening being held by our planning and development board. Um so are we uh we good to get going here folks? Everybody's good. Yep. Super. Awesome. Fantastic. Councelor Roach, would you mind leading us in the pledge of allegiance?

Recording in progress. To the flag of the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, sir. Uh, couple quick housekeeping announcements. Number one, we're being audio and video recorded this evening. Um, we have two counselors near as I can tell so far who are participating remotely. We have counselors uh Silver and Vice President Kais. Oh, and I'm sorry, and counselor gets uh online with us. Um, especially because we had a lot of people on your laptops this evening, please make sure you're all muted so we don't uh deal with feedback this evening. Uh, and one other reminder. Um, could I get a show of hands for everyone? Thanks. Thank you. Uh, who is unable? We're going to do it that way. Unable to join us on June 15th ahead of the normally scheduled meeting, city council meeting that is for the uh uh the council photo. So, if you cannot make it, I see counselor cannot make it for the council photo this term right on June 15th. It's currently we're currently looking to do it ahead of the council meeting. We have two I've got Sean and I've got or counselors Roach and Dan. Everybody else so far can make it. I see no hands up online. So, all right. Thank you folks. Appreciate that. All right, we're going to run through uh first call here. Uh and by the way, tonight we have one item on second call. Uh but we'll start with the end land use. Councelor Kelly.

Thank you, Mr. President. There is no report. Look at that. Fantastic. And for zoning and planning, councelor Baker. You Mr. President. Um, the zoning and planning committee has no report except to um modify a previously requested public hearing. This is item um on page uh page 86. It's item 4226. The originally scheduled time didn't work because of the timing of the notice to the paper. And so it's now being scheduled for June 8th, I believe. And so I just request that that public hearing be modified for that purpose.

Thank you for programs and services. Councelor Kinsman. Thank you, Mr. President. There is no report this evening.

Oh, excuse me, Mr. President. There's one other matter. Thank you. But my very aable colleague points out I was so focused on the rescheduling I forgot to mention we actually have an item two report which is item 12626 which is the authorization to submit the fiscal year 27 annual action plan which is part of the u response to the housing and urban development block grain opportunity. So that was vote 701. Uh one extension I should indicate a recusal because it involves some uh grant to that involved Suffach University law school in which I have a day job. So

thank you sir. Good catch. Councelor Liry and for public safety and transportation councelor Lucas.

Thank you Mr. President. Uh the report uh begins on page 80. Seven. Uh, the public safety and transportation committee met on April 29th. We had one item, item 120-26, appeal of traffic council decision TC62-25. It was approved as amended to uh for a parking to add another parking restriction on the west side of Holly Road, 130 ft north of Beacon Street. That was approved 70. And that concludes the report. Thank you for public facilities. Vice President Kais.

Thank you, Mr. President. There is no report. There is no report. Thank you, sir. For finance, I believe we have councelor Bixby.

Thank you, Mr. President. Uh the report begins on page 88. The finance committee met on April 28th. Uh item 135-26 was held. 142-26 his honor the mayor requesting authorization to accept and expend a grant of $28,92.79 from the executive office of public safety and the department of fire services was approved 8 to0 143-26. his honor. The mayor requesting authorization to accept a grant of four $14,000 from the National Environmental Health Association was approved at as amended adding and expend 80 144-26. The controller transmitting the annual comprehensive financial report and external audit reports for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025 for city council review and acceptance. and we accepted the report. 800 151-26 is on second call. 156-26 has honored the mayor requesting authorization to accept and expend a grant of $31,460 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protections electric vehicle incentive program to install three dual port part dualport charging stations at the utilities building. Finance approved 80 162-26 his honor the mayor appointing Karen Monroe as chief procurement officer pursuant to the city charter was approved 80 and 98-26 was voted no action necessary 8 to zero and that concludes the report. Thank you for real property reuse. Councelor Maliki,

there is no report. Fantastic. Thank you. Uh we'll do a roll call on first call or first call items, please. Councelor Albbright. I councelor Baker. Hi. Councelor Bixby. Hi. Councelor Block. Hi. Councelor Charm. I councelor Damabad. I councelor Frell. Hi, Councelor Gats. Hi, Councelor Golden. Councelor Gordon. Hi,

Councelor Greenberg. I councelor Gman. Councelor Irish. I councelor Kalis. Hi, Councelor Kelly. Hi, Councelor Kman. Hi, Councelor Liry. I councelor Lucas. I councelor Malaki. Hi, Councelor Mikley. Councelor Roach. I councelor Silver. Hi, Councelor Wright. I President Oliver

I on this vote the eyes are 21 the Naz are zero three counselors are absent. Thank you sir. Uh so we're going to move on to second call items. Uh councelor Bixby if you'd uh take this item. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. President. So this item is 151-26 requesting an ordinance amendment to chapter 2 administration. Uh this was his honor the mayor requesting this uh amendment of the revised ordinances of Newton Massachusetts to reorganize the purchasing department under the financial services department. This item was heard in finance on April 28th and it passed 8 to zero. However, it was determined that this requires a public hearing. Therefore, Mr. President, uh, I'd like to make a motion to return the item to the finance committee and to schedule a public hearing for May 11th, 2026 regarding this matter.

We already have a second. That's fabulous. Uh, the one thing I do want to add to that is, uh, this is being sent back uh, because it is considered a reorganization. Therefore, it has to go back to the finance committee per our legal department. So, with that said, we have a motion and a second to recommmit to finance. Do we have any questions on that motion? Fantastic. I'm going to do a think we can do this on a voice vote. We said fantastic. All those in favor, please say I. I. I.

Any opposed? Abstensions? Fantastic. I believe that is considered a unanimous vote. And with that said, I believe a motion to adjurnn is in order. Motion to adjourn. Fantastic. And I heard a second on that prior to the original motion. So that's seconded. And I will gabble the fastest meeting known to mankind for the Newton City Council. Thanks everyone. Have a fantastic night.