MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
November 3, 2025
6 recorded votes, 2 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, Andreae Downs, Rena Getz, Bill Humphrey, Alan Lobovits, Martha Bixby, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Marc C. Laredo, Lisle Baker, Richard A. Lipof, David A. Kalis, Stephen Farrell
Absent: Randy Block, Victoria L. Danberg
During the meeting:
- Marc C. Laredo recused from the vote on: #311-25 Accept the committee recommendation: Request to further increase nonconforming FAR at 156 Highland.
Every vote, in order
Referred to Public Facilities Committee
#267-25 Postpone to 11/17/25: Requesting approval of the Walk, Roll, and Bike Network Plan
Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent)
From the minutes
“Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent).”
#317-25 Postpone to 11/17/25: Review of the conceptual plan of the Newton Highlands Village Improvement Project
Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent)
From the minutes
“Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent).”
Referred to Zoning & Planning Committee
#44-24 Postpone to 11/17/25: Requesting re-evaluation and possible amendments to Inclusionary Zoning
Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent)
From the minutes
“Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent).”
Referred to Public Safety & Transportation Committee
#365-24 Postpone to 11/17/25: Discussion and possible ordinance change on residential parking programs and fee structures
Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent)
From the minutes
“Postponed to A Date Certain of 11/17/25 22-0-2 (Councilors Block, Danberg Absent).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 14 items without discussion (#260-25, #305-25, #309-25, #310-25, #24-24, #268-25, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Block, Danberg) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #260-25 Request to allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at...; #305-25 Request to exceed FAR at 136 Gordon Road; #309-25 Request to allow an extension of a nonconforming multi-family...; #310-25 Request to allow a retaining wall exceeding four feet in height at...; #24-24 Request for discussion and possible ordinance amendments relative...; #268-25 Requesting discussion and possible revisions to the fee structure...; #45-24 Discussion and Possible Amendment to Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance...; #284-25 Appointment of Laxmi Rao to the Council on Aging; #288-25 Appointment of Gloria Mastrocola Gavris to the Council on Aging; #290-25 Appointment of Sam Tackeff to the Council on Aging; #295-25 Request for a Home Rule Petition; #301-25 Request for a Home Rule Petition; #364-24 Discussion and possible ordinance change on the categories and...; #280-25 Requesting discussion about stormwater infrastructure and planning....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Block, Danberg) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
#311-25 Accept the committee recommendation: Request to further increase nonconforming FAR at 156 Highland Street
The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Block, Danberg), 1 Recused (Councilor Laredo) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Downs, Farrell, Gentile, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, WrightMarc C. Laredo recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 21 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Absent (Councilors Block, Danberg), 1 Recused (Councilor Laredo) 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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