MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 6, 2025
7 recorded votes, 7 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, David Micley, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Randy Block, Andreae Downs, Rena Getz, Bill Humphrey, Victoria L. Danberg, Alan Lobovits, Martha Bixby, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Marc C. Laredo, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Stephen Farrell
Absent: Alison M. Leary, Leonard J. Gentile, Lisle Baker
Every vote, in order
Referred to Public Facilities Committee
#396-24 Approve: Request for a grant of location in Centre Street
City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent)
Yes: Albright, Block, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent).”
#397-24 Approve: Request for a grant of location in Walnut Street
City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent)
Yes: Albright, Block, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent).”
#398-24 Approve: Request for a grant of location in Washington Street
City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary)
Yes: Albright, Block, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary).”
#399-24 Approve: Request for a grant of location in Canterbury Road
City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent)
Yes: Albright, Block, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent).”
#419-24 Amend (Councilor Kelley): remove the Garland Road segment from the grants of location
Councilor Kelley motioned to amend item #419-24 to remove “Approximately 600 ft. of 8 in. plastic in Garland Rd. from Beacon St. to the existing 6 in. plastic (2018) in Brentwood Ave. to replace approximately 600 ft. of 6 in. Cast Iron (1924/1928)” from the location grants. Councilor Kelley proposed considering this street for an electrification pilot instead. The motion was seconded by Councilor Danberg. Councilor Albright mentioned talks she had with National Grid, where it was determined that this street’s gas main had a high-risk factor, and needed replacement. There are also ongoing conversations about electrification pilot programs in Newton, which Garland Rd. could still be considered for. The motion failed 7-14-3 (Councilors Albright, Block, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent).
Yes: Bixby, Danberg, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, MalakieNo: Albright, Block, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item.
From the minutes
“The motion failed 7-14-3 (Councilors Albright, Block, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent)..” (Motion: Kelley, second: Danberg)
#419-24 Approve: Request for a grant of location in Beacon Street
City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent)
Yes: Albright, Block, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 15-6-3 (Councilors Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kelley, Malakie Opposed) (Councilors Baker, Gentile, Leary Absent).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 9 items without discussion (#482-24, #484-24, #494-24, #503-24, #504-24, #474-24, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 0 Nays, 3 Absent, to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #482-24 Request to exceed FAR at 29 Walter Street; #484-24 Request to exceed FAR and to allow three stories within a...; #494-24 Appointment of Craig McPherson to the Boston College Neighborhood...; #503-24 Class 1 Auto Dealers License; #504-24 Class 2 Auto Dealers License; #474-24 Appointment of Hema Narayanan to the Economic Development Commission; #500-24 Reappointment of Dan Green to the Conservation Commission; #448-24 Request for discussion on text clarification in the City of Newton...; #502-24 Appointment of Shawna Sullivan as Commissioner of the Department....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 0 Nays, 3 Absent, to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →