MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 21, 2025
6 recorded votes, 6 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Alison M. Leary, John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, David Micley, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Leonard J. Gentile, Randy Block, Rena Getz, Bill Humphrey, Victoria L. Danberg, Alan Lobovits, Martha Bixby, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Marc C. Laredo, Lisle Baker, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Stephen Farrell
Absent: Andreae Downs
During the meeting:
- Marc C. Laredo recused from the vote on: #499-24 Substitute approval for the Programs & Services Committee’s denial.
- Marc C. Laredo recused from the vote on: #499-24 Approve: Appointment of W. David Power to the Election Commission.
Every vote, in order
#499-24 Substitute approval for the Programs & Services Committee’s denial
Councilor Humphrey motioned to substitute the Programs & Services Committee’s denial with an approval. The motion was seconded by Councilor Albright. City Council approved the motion 18-4-1-1 (Councilors Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, Malakie Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent) (Pres. Laredo Recused).
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Danberg, Farrell, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, WrightNo: Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, MalakieFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item. Marc C. Laredo recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“City Council approved the motion 18-4-1-1 (Councilors Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, Malakie Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent) (Pres. Laredo Recused)..” (Motion: Humphrey, second: Albright)
Referred to Programs & Services Committee
#499-24 Approve: Appointment of W. David Power to the Election Commission
City Council Approved 13-9-1-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent) (Pres. Laredo Recused)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Danberg, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, MicleyNo: Block, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightMarc C. Laredo recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 13-9-1-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent) (Pres. Laredo Recused).”
#149-24 Approve: Ordinance amendment to prohibit the sale of tobacco in Newton to anyone born on or after 1/1/2000
City Council Approved 19-4-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Micley Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Danberg, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightNo: Block, Farrell, Gentile, Micley
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 19-4-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Micley Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent).”
#317-24 Recommit to the Zoning & Planning Committee
Councilor Krintzman motioned to recommit this item to the Zoning & Planning committee. The motion was seconded by Councilor Grossman. The motion failed 11-12-1 (Councilors Albright, Baker, Block, Danberg, Getz, Humphrey, Kelley, Laredo, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent).
Yes: Bixby, Farrell, Gentile, Greenberg, Grossman, Kalis, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, LucasNo: Albright, Baker, Block, Danberg, Getz, Humphrey, Kelley, Laredo, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, WrightFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item.
From the minutes
“The motion failed 11-12-1 (Councilors Albright, Baker, Block, Danberg, Getz, Humphrey, Kelley, Laredo, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent)..” (Motion: Krintzman, second: Grossman)
Referred to Zoning & Planning Committee
#317-24 Approve: Requesting discussion and possible amendments to Section 5.4.2
City Council Approved 13-10-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Kalis, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Danberg, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, LobovitsNo: Block, Farrell, Gentile, Kalis, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 13-10-1 (Councilors Block, Farrell, Gentile, Kalis, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Downs Absent).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 12 items without discussion (#501-24, #468-24, #469-24, #470-24, #472-24, #475-24, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent, to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #501-24 Appointment of Christopher Pitt to the Planning and Development Board; #468-24 Appointment of Armine Freeman to the Youth Commission; #469-24 Appointment of Evelyn Shih to the Youth Commission; #470-24 Appointment of Leyla Gustin to the Youth Commission; #472-24 Reappointment of Rhiannon Esposito to the Youth Commission; #475-24 Appointment of Naman Dadlani to the Youth Commission; #498-24 Authorization to appropriate and expend $180,000 for March 2025...; #495-24 Requesting to accept and expend a $500,000 reimbursable grant from...; #496-24 Requesting to accept and expend a grant of “up to $250,000” from...; #497-24 Request for authorization to expend $10,000 for the full and final...; #9-25 Request to transfer and expend $393,900 to fund collective...; #10-25 Request to accept and expend a $25,600 grant from Massachusetts....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 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.
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