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Newton City Council
How the Newton City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 24 councilors: 8 ward councilors and 16 councilors at large (two from each ward, elected citywide), elected every two years. Elected November 5, 2019; inaugurated Wednesday, January 1, 2020, when the council elected Susan Albright President and Richard A. Lipof Vice President (voice votes; R. Lisle Baker President Emeritus). Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Bill Humphrey, Alicia Bowman and Holly Ryan joined the council (James R. Cote, Barbara Brousal-Glaser, John B. Rice, Greg Schwartz and Cheryl Lipof Lappin left). Councilor at large Allan L. Ciccone, Jr. (Ward 1) died in November 2020, and Jake Auchincloss (Ward 2 at large) resigned after his election to Congress, so the council had 22 members from December 2020; John Oliver (Ward 1) and Tarik J. Lucas (Ward 2) won the March 16, 2021 special election and first appear in the Actions on April 5, 2021. No Actions are posted for April 21 - November 16, 2020. Covers 26 meetings, January 1 to December 20, 2021.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Council sessions
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Newton’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Councilors
PresidentSusan AlbrightPresident · Councilor at Large, Ward 2 · at 25 of 26 meetingsVice PresidentRichard A. LipofVice President · Councilor at Large, Ward 8 (2018-2025) · at 26 of 26 meetings
Lisle BakerCouncilor · Ward 7 Councilor · at 24 of 26 meetingsAlicia BowmanCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 6 (2020-2023) · at 26 of 26 meetingsAllan L. CicconeCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 1 (2018-2020) · at 4 of 8 meetings · until Apr 2020Deborah J. CrossleyCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 5 (2018-2023) · at 26 of 26 meetingsVictoria L. DanbergCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 6 (2018-2025) · at 23 of 26 meetingsAndreae DownsCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 5 (2018-2025) · at 24 of 26 meetingsLeonard J. GentileCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 4 (2018-2025) · at 22 of 26 meetings
Maria Scibelli GreenbergCouncilor · Ward 1 Councilor · at 25 of 26 meetings
Rebecca Walker GrossmanCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 7 · at 24 of 26 meetingsBill HumphreyCouncilor · Ward 5 Councilor (2020-2025) · at 26 of 26 meetings
David A. KalisCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 8 · at 25 of 26 meetings
Andrea W. KelleyCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 3 · at 25 of 26 meetings
Joshua KrintzmanCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 4 · at 24 of 26 meetingsMarc C. LaredoCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 7 (2018-2025) · at 25 of 26 meetings
Alison M. LearyCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 1 · at 24 of 26 meetings
Tarik J. LucasCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 2 · at 9 of 9 meetings · from Apr 2021
Julia MalakieCouncilor · Ward 3 Councilor · at 24 of 26 meetingsChristopher J. MarkiewiczCouncilor · Ward 4 Councilor (2018-2023) · at 22 of 26 meetingsBrenda NoelCouncilor · Ward 6 Councilor (2018-2023) · at 26 of 26 meetingsEmily NortonCouncilor · Ward 2 Councilor (2018-2023) · at 24 of 26 meetings
John OliverCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 1 · at 8 of 9 meetings · from Apr 2021Holly RyanCouncilor · Ward 8 Councilor (2020-2023) · at 24 of 26 meetings
Pamela WrightCouncilor · Councilor at Large, Ward 3 · at 26 of 26 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Newton does not post narrative minutes. The official record of each council meeting is the “City Council Actions,” which lists each docket item, what the council did and the vote count, naming the councilors who voted no, abstained, recused or were absent. Loaded: every full City Council meeting with Actions posted, from January 1, 2018 through September 22, 2026 (166 meetings: 155 regular and 11 special, including the 2018 and 2020 inaugurations and budget sessions) and 949 votes. The council has twenty-four members: eight ward councilors, each elected by one ward, and sixteen councilors at large, two from each ward, elected citywide, all for two-year terms; at each inauguration it elects a President and a Vice President. When the council approves a list of items “without discussion,” the Actions record one vote for the whole list, so MassVoter shows one vote that names the items. Committee votes are not loaded: the Reports Docket (committee reports, such as “Zoning & Planning Approved 7-0-1”) and Committee of the Whole meetings hold committee recommendations, and the council acts on them at its own meetings. Later Actions sometimes repeat an item’s earlier votes as history; MassVoter shows each vote once, at the meeting where it was taken. Not here, because no Actions are posted for them: April 21 through November 16, 2020 (the first months of remote meetings); most meetings from May through October 2021; the January 1 inaugurations of 2022, 2024 and 2026; March 21, 2022 (the file posted as its Actions is the Reports Docket); December 5 and 19, 2022; September 5, November 6, November 20 and November 29, 2023; March 18, April 16 and May 6, 2024; June 2 and 16, 2025; and a few special meetings in 2018-2020. Meetings after September 22, 2026 are not posted yet. When a count names the councilors who voted no and who were absent, every other councilor present is shown voting yes, by name; when the Actions say a vote was unanimous, every councilor present is shown voting yes. When the names do not fit the count, MassVoter shows the count only, with a note quoting it (30 votes). A voice vote with no count shows the result only, and MassVoter never assumes it was unanimous (160 votes). Zoning changes, special permits and borrowing need a two-thirds vote, so some motions with more yes than no votes failed; each has a note. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 20#391-21 Approve Appointment of John Rice to the Newton…Motion: Motion to Approve Appointment of John Rice to the Newton Historical…Passed 15–8 · No: Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright
December 20, 2021: #391-21 Approve Appointment of John Rice to the Newton Historical Commission: Appointment of John Rice to the Newton Historical Commission
Motion to Approve Appointment of John Rice to the Newton Historical Commission Approved 15 Yeas 8 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright) 1 Absent (Markiewicz)
Yes: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Norton, RyanNo: Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve Appointment of John Rice to the Newton Historical Commission Approved 15 Yeas 8 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Kalis, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright) 1 Absent (Markiewicz).”
Dec 20#89-21 Approve petition to amend special permit Council Order…Motion: Motion to approve petition to amend special permit Council Order #566-18…Passed Unanimous, 23 present · see note
December 20, 2021: #89-21 Approve petition to amend special permit Council Order #566-18 at 432 Cherry Street: Petition to amend special permit Council Order #566-18...
Motion to approve petition to amend special permit Council Order #566-18 at 432 Cherry Street Approved by Voice Vote 23-0-1 (Councilor Markiewicz absent)
The Actions call this a voice vote but record the count.
From the minutes
“Motion to approve petition to amend special permit Council Order #566-18 at 432 Cherry Street Approved by Voice Vote 23-0-1 (Councilor Markiewicz absent).”
Dec 20#29-21 Approve the Amended Petition to allow Single-Family attached…Motion: Motion to Approve the Amended Petition to allow Single-Family attached dwelling…Passed 17–6 · No: Baker, Gentile, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Wright
December 20, 2021: #29-21 Approve the Amended Petition to allow Single-Family attached dwelling unites at 145 Warren Street: Amended Petition to allow single-family...
Motion to Approve the Amended Petition to allow Single-Family attached dwelling unites at 145 Warren Street Approved 17 Yeas 6 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Wright) 1 Absent (Markiewicz)
Yes: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Norton, Oliver, RyanNo: Baker, Gentile, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Wright
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve the Amended Petition to allow Single-Family attached dwelling unites at 145 Warren Street Approved 17 Yeas 6 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Wright) 1 Absent (Markiewicz).”
Dec 20Accept the committee recommendations on 34 items without discussion…Motion: The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1…Passed Unanimous, 23 present · see note
December 20, 2021: Accept the committee recommendations on 34 items without discussion (#379-21, #406-21, #380-21, #293-21, #119-20, #304-21, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following items:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #379-21 Petition to exceed FAR and allow retaining wall in excess of 4’ at...; #406-21 Petition to allow a garage greater than 700 sq. ft. for four...; #380-21 Petition to construct addition and modify parking at 483 Dedham Street; #293-21 Petition to allow 28-unit dwelling at 967 Washington, 92&96 Walker...; #119-20 Request to waive I&I fee for Special Permit #71-20 at 1114 Beacon...; #304-21 Request to Rezone 11 Florence Street; #305-21 Petition to construct elderly housing with services at 11 Florence...; #338-20 Petition to allow detached oversized accessory apartment at 63...; #377-21 Petition to exceed FAR and amend Special Permit #350-10 at 175...; #125-21 Amended Petition to allow marijuana retailer at 740 Beacon Street; #389-21 Petition to allow for-profit educational use at 1631 Beacon Street; #360-21 Petition to allow single-family attached dwellings at 50 Highland...; #388-21 Petition to allow single-family attached dwellings at 300 Elliot...; #361-21 Appointment of Sonya McKnight to the Conservation Commission; #412-21 Appointment of Kevin McCormick to the Planning & Development Board; #414-21 Request for a discussion on improving election administration; #441-21 Requesting an update on progress on improvements and long-term...; #425-21 Requesting renewal of bus license for Lasell University; #426-21 Requesting renewal of taxi license; #427-21 Requesting renewals of taxi licenses; #428-21 Requesting renewal of taxi license; #429-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #430-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #431-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #432-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #433-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #434-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #435-21 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #436-21 Requesting to amend City Ordinance for expanding overnight permits...; #437-21 Request for a grant of location in Rachel Road, Mosley Road...; #117-20 Acceptance of a sewer extension and easement on Farwell Street; #442-21 Request to allocate $330,000 from the Sewer Surplus Fund Sewer...; #440-21 Authorizing funds to settle claims against the City; #443-21 Repurpose $38,758 $38,758.17 from portable radios to radio....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following items:.”
Dec 20#390-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Requesting amendments to Zoning…Motion: The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor…Passed 22–1 · No: Baker
December 20, 2021: #390-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Requesting amendments to Zoning Ordinance Chapter 30, Sections 4.4 and 6.4
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Baker), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following
Yes: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, WrightNo: Baker
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Baker), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following.”
Dec 20#299-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Petition to allow marijuana…Motion: The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor…Passed 22–1 · No: Gentile
December 20, 2021: #299-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Petition to allow marijuana retailer at 131 Rumford Avenue
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Gentile), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, WrightNo: Gentile
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Gentile), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following.”
Dec 20#393-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Resolution from the City…Motion: The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilors…Passed 21–2 · No: Albright, Grossman
December 20, 2021: #393-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Resolution from the City Council to the Mayor re school bus fees and the FY23 budget
The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilors Grossman, Albright), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following item:
Yes: Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Noel, Norton, Oliver, Ryan, WrightNo: Albright, Grossman
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilors Grossman, Albright), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following item:.”
Dec 20#188-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Request for Ordinance Amendment…Motion: The City Council voted without discussion 20 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors…Passed 20–3 · No: Lucas, Malakie, Oliver
December 20, 2021: #188-21 Accept the committee recommendation: Request for Ordinance Amendment to place Limitations on Firearms Business Licenses
The City Council voted without discussion 20 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Lucas, Malakie, Oliver), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following item:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Norton, Ryan, WrightNo: Lucas, Malakie, Oliver
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 20 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Lucas, Malakie, Oliver), 1 absent (Councilor Markiewicz) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following item:.”
Dec 6#180-21 Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Requesting a…Motion: Motion to Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment by Councilor Baker…Failed 3–19 · see note
December 6, 2021: #180-21 Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Requesting a review and possible amendments to Section 4.2.5(A)
Motion to Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment by Councilor Baker Failed to Carry 3 Yeas 19 Nays (Councilors Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, Albright) 2 Absent (Norton, Markiewicz)
The Actions record the count “Motion to Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment by Councilor Baker Failed to Carry 3 Yeas 19 Nays (Councilors Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, Albright) 2 Absent (Norton, Markiewicz)”, and the names do not add up to the councilors present. MassVoter shows the count only.
From the minutes
“Motion to Amend the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment by Councilor Baker Failed to Carry 3 Yeas 19 Nays (Councilors Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Krintzman, Noel, Albright) 2 Absent (Norton, Markiewicz).” (Motion: Baker)
Dec 6#180-21 Approve the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Requesting a…Motion: Motion to Approve the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment Approved 18 Yeas…Passed 18–4 · No: Baker, Gentile, Lucas, Malakie
December 6, 2021: #180-21 Approve the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment: Requesting a review and possible amendments to Section 4.2.5(A)
Motion to Approve the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment Approved 18 Yeas 4 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Lucas, Malakie) 2 Absent (Norton, Markiewicz)
Yes: Albright, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, WrightNo: Baker, Gentile, Lucas, MalakieThe Actions name Christopher J. Markiewicz as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve the Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment Approved 18 Yeas 4 Nays (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Lucas, Malakie) 2 Absent (Norton, Markiewicz).”
From the Newton City Council’s official record of each meeting, the “City Council Actions,” posted by the City Clerk on the city’s Council Meetings page (older years on its archives page). We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Newton (newtonma.gov), from each councilor’s official page. John Oliver, Rena Getz and Brian Golden: Fig City News. Cyrus Dahmubed, Brittany Hume Charm, Sean Roche, Lisa Gordon and Jacob Silber: League of Women Voters of Newton 2025 candidate guide. Julie Irish: her campaign website. Former councilors show initials.
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