MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
February 21, 2023
10 recorded votes, 7 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: Item #39-23 also reads: “A Suspension of Rules was moved by Councilor Crossley and unanimously seconded, in order to permit Attorney Temple to join the meeting”; no outcome is recorded, so it is not shown as a vote.
Present: John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, Emily Norton, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Christopher J. Markiewicz, Andreae Downs, Deborah J. Crossley, Bill Humphrey, Victoria L. Danberg, Alicia Bowman, Marc C. Laredo, Lisle Baker, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Holly Ryan
Absent: Alison M. Leary, Joshua Krintzman, Leonard J. Gentile, Brenda Noel, Rebecca Walker Grossman
Every vote, in order
#36-23 Approve: Request to amend Special Permit #48-16 to construct four rooftop solar arrays at 255-257 Newtonville Avenue
City Council Approved 16 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Lucas, Malakie, Oliver) 5 Absent
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Laredo, Lipof, Markiewicz, Norton, Ryan, WrightNo: Lucas, Malakie, Oliver
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 16 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Lucas, Malakie, Oliver) 5 Absent.”
#39-23 Postpone to March 20, 2023: Request to Rezone 29 Hunter Street to MR3
City Council Approved postponing to March 20, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent
From the minutes
“City Council Approved postponing to March 20, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent.”
#40-23 Approve: Request to allow a multi-family dwelling, extend nonconforming use, waive parking stalls and allow dimensional waivers to parking...
City Council Approved 16 Yeas 0 Nays 5 Absent
The Actions record the count “City Council Approved 16 Yeas 0 Nays 5 Absent”, and the names do not add up to the councilors present. MassVoter shows the count only.
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 16 Yeas 0 Nays 5 Absent.”
#40-23 Postpone to March 20, 2023: Request to allow a multi-family dwelling, extend nonconforming use, waive parking stalls and allow dimensional...
City Council Approved postponing March 20, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent
From the minutes
“City Council Approved postponing March 20, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent.”
#38-23 Postpone to March 6, 2023: Request to construct a five-unit dwelling and parking waiver at 194 Adams Street
City Council Approved postponing to March 6, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent
From the minutes
“City Council Approved postponing to March 6, 2023 Approved 19 Yeas, 0 Nays, 5 Absent.”
#477-22 Postpone to March 6, 2023: Request for discussion regarding new MA Building Energy Code amendments and adoption of the Specialized Energy Code
City Council Approved postponing to March 6, 2023 Approved 18 Yeas, 0 Nays, 6 Absent
The Actions record the count “City Council Approved postponing to March 6, 2023 Approved 18 Yeas, 0 Nays, 6 Absent”, and the number absent does not match the councilors listed absent. MassVoter shows the count only.
From the minutes
“City Council Approved postponing to March 6, 2023 Approved 18 Yeas, 0 Nays, 6 Absent.”
Accept the committee recommendations on 16 items without discussion (#559-22, #35-23, #43-23, #41-23, #37-23, #42-23, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 19 Yeas, 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #559-22 Class 2 Auto Dealers License KC AUTO 55 Farwell Street Newton, MA...; #35-23 Request to amend Special Permit #263-20 to further exceed FAR and...; #43-23 Request for Extension of Time to Exercise Special Permit #320-20...; #41-23 Request to allow a three-story single-family dwelling at 616...; #37-23 Request to amend Special Permit #360-22 to exceed FAR at 336 Cabot...; #42-23 Request to allow rear-lot subdivision at 176 River Street 176...; #32-23 Request for amendment to Sections 5.1.4, 6.4.29, and 7.8.2; #44-23 Reappointment of Peter Doeringer to the Planning and Development Board; #45-23 Reappointment of Robert Imperato to the Chestnut Hill Historic...; #51-23 Resolution for a Future without Gas and for Clean Heat; #58-23 Appropriate $280,000 to Complete Phase 1 of the City’s Phosphorus...; #54-23 Acceptance of $2,677 from the Executive Office of Public Safety...; #53-23 Acceptance of $25,600 from a Massachusetts Emergency Management...; #569-22 Acceptance of $10,610.01 from Audrey M. Cooper Estate; #52-23 Reappointment of James Shaughnessy to the Board of Assessors; #55-23 Appropriate $1,500 from Handicapped Parking Fines for Me2/....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 19 Yeas, 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
#47-23 Accept the committee recommendation: Citizens Group Petition for moratorium on new or replacement artificial turf in Newton
The City Council voted without discussion 16 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Malakie, Norton, Wright) 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Laredo, Lipof, Lucas, Markiewicz, Oliver, RyanNo: Malakie, Norton, Wright
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 16 Yeas, 3 Nays (Councilors Malakie, Norton, Wright) 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
Accept the committee recommendations on 5 items without discussion (#50-23, #23-23, #49-23, #68-23, #63-23)
The City Council voted without discussion 17 Yeas, 2 Nays (Humphrey, Ryan) 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Kalis, Kelley, Laredo, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Markiewicz, Norton, Oliver, WrightNo: Humphrey, RyanOne vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #50-23 Request for a grant of location in Pleasant St and Tyler Tr; #23-23 Request to amend Special Permit #289-18 at 697 Washington Street...; #49-23 Eversource petition for Grant of Location in Centre St; #68-23 Request to authorize partial release of the Declaration of...; #63-23 Request for a discussion with City Staff regarding a cost-benefit....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 17 Yeas, 2 Nays (Humphrey, Ryan) 5 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
#49-23 Suspend the rules so the committee chair can poll his committee on sending the item back to committee
Suspensions of Rules Approved with 0 Nays.
The Actions read “Suspensions of Rules Approved with 0 Nays.”, with no count of yes votes, so MassVoter shows the result only.
From the minutes
“Suspensions of Rules Approved with 0 Nays..”
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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