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Newton City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting

May 1, 2023

4 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.

Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page

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Attendance

Note on these minutes: The attendance lines at the top of the Actions name John Oliver neither present nor absent; the vote counts include John Oliver, so MassVoter counts John Oliver as present. The attendance lines at the top of the Actions name Rebecca Walker Grossman neither present nor absent; the vote counts include Rebecca Walker Grossman, so MassVoter counts Rebecca Walker Grossman as present.

Present: Alison M. Leary, John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Leonard J. Gentile, Andreae Downs, Deborah J. Crossley, Bill Humphrey, Victoria L. Danberg, Alicia Bowman, Brenda Noel, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Marc C. Laredo, Lisle Baker, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Holly Ryan

Absent: Emily Norton, Christopher J. Markiewicz

Every vote, in order

#121-23 Approve: Approval on roadway infrastructure improvements for the Ablemarle Traffic Calming Project

Minutes, page 1

ApprovePassed · 21–1

City Council Approved 21 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Kelley), 2 Absent

Yes: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, WrightNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“City Council Approved 21 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Kelley), 2 Absent.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

#121-23 Reconsideration: Approval on roadway infrastructure improvements for the Ablemarle Traffic Calming Project

Minutes, page 1

ProceduralFailed · 0–21

Motion for Reconsideration Failed with 0 Yeas, 21 Nays 3 Absent (Councilors Gentile, Markiewicz, Norton)

No: Albright, Baker, Bowman, Crossley, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Malakie, Noel, Oliver, Ryan, WrightThe Actions name Leonard J. Gentile as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.

From the minutes

“Motion for Reconsideration Failed with 0 Yeas, 21 Nays 3 Absent (Councilors Gentile, Markiewicz, Norton).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Referred to a Committee of the Whole

#158-23 Approve: Discussion regarding use of non-recurring revenue in Newton

Minutes, page 1

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 22 present

City Council Approved 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent

From the minutes

“City Council Approved 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

Accept the committee recommendations on 22 items without discussion (#130-23, #113-23, #112-23, #111-23, #73-23, #227-22, ...)

Minutes, page 2

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 22 present

The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Markiewicz, Norton) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:

One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #130-23 Request to allow a free-standing sign at 1010 Chestnut Street; #113-23 Request to add 40 patio seats and to remove six parking stalls...; #112-23 Request to further increase nonconforming FAR, to allow an...; #111-23 Request to allow four single-family attached dwellings in two...; #73-23 Appointment of Joel Shames to the Auburndale Historic District...; #227-22 Request for ordinance to regulate embodied carbon in new construction; #117-23 Recommendation to approve 2023 Preliminary Election date; #110-23 Request to transfer $150,000 from Law Department Full Time Salaries; #133-23 Request for a grant of location in Parker Avenue; #118-23 Discussion on the Transportation Network Improvement Plan; #135-23 Reappointment of Robert Hnasko to the Design Review Committee; #126-23 Appropriate $1.15 million for Franklin Elementary School; #139-23 Acceptance of equipment through the MassDOT Safe Routes to School...; #140-23 Authorization to enter into a 5-year contract; #138-23 Authorization to enter into a 5-year contract; #137-23 Submittal of the ACFR, and external audit reports; #163-23 Appropriate $250,000 for Election Equipment; #164-23 Appropriate $1,500,000 for Fire Rescue Overtime; #165-23 Appropriate $750,000 for the Newton Free Library’s HVAC system; #160-23 Transfer $21,950 for an Online Code Management Program; #161-23 Acceptance of $2,500 grant from the Mass Cultural Council; #162-23 Acceptance of $15,830 grant from the Mass Cultural Council.

From the minutes

“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Markiewicz, Norton) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

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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