MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
October 6, 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, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Leonard J. Gentile, Randy Block, Andreae Downs, 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: David Micley
During the meeting:
- Victoria L. Danberg recused from the vote on: #265-25 Amend: substitute “asphalt” for “permeable surface”.
- Victoria L. Danberg recused from the vote on: #265-25 Approve: Request to amend Special Permit #360-24 at 31 Chase Street.
Every vote, in order
Referred to Programs & Services Committee
#192-25 Approve: Public Meeting with City Clerk/Clerk of the Council candidates
City Council Approved 21-2-1 (Councilors Gentile and Leary Opposed) (Councilor Micley Absent)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Danberg, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightNo: Gentile, Leary
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 21-2-1 (Councilors Gentile and Leary Opposed) (Councilor Micley Absent).”
#265-25 Amend: substitute “asphalt” for “permeable surface”
Councilor Lucas motioned to amend item #265-25 to substitute “asphalt” for “permeable surface.” The motion was seconded by Councilor Bixby. The motion failed 6-16-1-1 (Councilors Baker, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Malakie, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Danberg Recused) (Councilor Micley Absent).
Yes: Albright, Bixby, Block, Laredo, Lucas, OliverNo: Baker, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Malakie, WrightFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item. Victoria L. Danberg recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“The motion failed 6-16-1-1 (Councilors Baker, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Malakie, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Danberg Recused) (Councilor Micley Absent)..” (Motion: Lucas, second: Bixby)
Referred to Land Use Committee
#265-25 Approve: Request to amend Special Permit #360-24 at 31 Chase Street
City Council Approved 21-1-1-1 (Councilor Lucas Opposed) (Councilor Danberg Recused) (Councilor Micley Absent)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Malakie, Oliver, WrightNo: LucasVictoria L. Danberg recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 21-1-1-1 (Councilor Lucas Opposed) (Councilor Danberg Recused) (Councilor Micley Absent).”
#36-24 Keep the properties with the Public Buildings Department
Councilor Albright motioned to have the property remain in the Public Buildings Department. The motion was seconded by Councilor Kelley. The motion failed 9-13-2 (Councilors Baker, Block, Danberg, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Grossman, Krintzman, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilors Lipof, Micley Absent).
Yes: Albright, Bixby, Downs, Greenberg, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Leary, LobovitsNo: Baker, Block, Danberg, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Grossman, Krintzman, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item. The Actions name Richard A. Lipof as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“The motion failed 9-13-2 (Councilors Baker, Block, Danberg, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Grossman, Krintzman, Laredo, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilors Lipof, Micley Absent)..” (Motion: Albright, second: Kelley)
Referred to Real Property Reuse Committee
#36-24 Postpone to 10/20/25: Reuse of parcel of land on Grove and Hancock Street
City Council Voted to Postpone to a Date Certain of 10/20/25 22-0 (Councilors Lipof, Micley Absent)
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Danberg, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, WrightThe Actions name Richard A. Lipof as absent for this vote, though listed present at the top of the Actions; left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“City Council Voted to Postpone to a Date Certain of 10/20/25 22-0 (Councilors Lipof, Micley Absent).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 19 items without discussion (#142-25, #145-25, #223-25, #262-25, #263-25, #252-25, ...)
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: #142-25 Request to exceed FAR and to allow parking in the front setback...; #145-25 Request to exceed FAR, to extend the nonconforming side and front...; #223-25 Request to amend the site plan associated with Special Permit...; #262-25 Request to extend nonconforming front setback at 22 Jerome Avenue; #263-25 Request to allow parking in the front setback at 53 Mosman Street; #252-25 Appointment of David Boronkay to the Newton Upper Falls Historic...; #274-25 CPC recommendation to appropriate $2,154,544.00 in CPA funding; #375-24 Requesting discussion and possible amendments to Chapter 30 Zoning...; #243-25 Appointment of Denise Lisio to the Newtonville Historic District...; #249-25 Reappointment of Philip Plottel to the Economic Development Commission; #251-25 Reappointment of Nancy Grissom to the Newton Historical Commission; #205-25 Request for a Home Rule Petition; #240-25 Resolution in Support of State Legislation to Establish a Climate...; #244-25 Appointment of Chloe Lyons to the Youth Commission; #245-25 Appointment of Hanano Futai to the Youth Commission; #246-25 Appointment of Simbarashe Makura to the Newton Youth Commission; #247-25 Appointment of Gassia Minassian to the Youth Commission; #230-25 Discussion with Green Newton and the Sustainability Team regarding...; #256-25 Appropriate $152,255 for a LED Lighting Project at the Newton....
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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