MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
December 15, 2025
10 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, 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: Leonard J. Gentile
During the meeting:
- Marc C. Laredo recused from the vote on: Accept the committee recommendations on 2 items without discussion (#362-25, #36-24).
Every vote, in order
#56-25 Substitute the petitioner’s withdrawal without prejudice for the denial
Councilor Albright made a request to substitute a withdrawal without prejudice by the petitioner for the denial. City Council approved the substitution unanimously via voice vote.
From the Clerk’s Note on this item. The Actions record this as unanimous (by voice vote), so every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“City Council approved the substitution unanimously via voice vote..” (Motion: Albright)
Referred to Public Facilities Committee
#56-25 Approve the Withdrawal Without Prejudice: Request for a main drain extension at 132 Homer Street
City Council Approved the Withdrawal Without Prejudice 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent)
From the minutes
“City Council Approved the Withdrawal Without Prejudice 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent).”
#364-25 Suspend the rules to accept the item late
The motion to suspend the Rules to accept item #364-25 late was approved unanimously via voice vote.
From the Clerk’s Note on this item. The Actions record this as unanimous (by voice vote), so every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“The motion to suspend the Rules to accept item #364-25 late was approved unanimously via voice vote..”
Referred to Public Safety & Transportation Committee
#364-25 Refer the Item to the new City Council: Appeal of Traffic Council Decision TC58-25
City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent)
From the minutes
“City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent).”
#363-25 Suspend the rules to accept the item late
The motion to suspend the Rules to accept item #363-25 late was approved unanimously via voice vote.
From the Clerk’s Note on this item. The Actions record this as unanimous (by voice vote), so every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“The motion to suspend the Rules to accept item #363-25 late was approved unanimously via voice vote..”
#363-25 Refer the Item to the new City Council: Appeal of Traffic Council Decision TC59-25
City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent)
From the minutes
“City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent).”
Referred to Real Property Reuse Committee
#36-24 Refer the Item to the new City Council: Reuse of parcel of land on Grove and Hancock Street
City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent)
From the minutes
“City Council Referred the Item to the new City Council 23-0-1 (Councilor Gentile Absent).”
Referred to Land Use Committee
#143-25 Approve: Request to allow a non-accessory surface parking lot and associated dimensional waivers relative to surface parking lots at 56...
City Council Denied 11-12-1 (Councilors Baker, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Gentile Absent)
Yes: Albright, Bixby, Block, Danberg, Greenberg, Kalis, Krintzman, Laredo, Leary, Lipof, LobovitsNo: Baker, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, WrightThe Actions record the item as “Denied”: the motion to approve it did not pass.
From the minutes
“City Council Denied 11-12-1 (Councilors Baker, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Grossman, Humphrey, Kelley, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Wright Opposed) (Councilor Gentile Absent).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 39 items without discussion (#216-25, #217-25, #264-25, #306-25, #307-25, #348-25, ...)
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: #216-25 Request to Rezone 2 parcels to Multi Residence 1; #217-25 Request for SPECIAL PERMIT/SITE PLAN APPROVAL to allow 71...; #264-25 Request to exceed FAR at 11 Richfield Road; #306-25 Request to Rezone 41 Farwell Street to Multi Residence 2; #307-25 Request to allow a three-unit multi-family dwelling and a zone...; #348-25 Request to extend a nonconforming four-unit multi-family dwelling...; #350-25 Class 1 Auto Dealer License; #351-25 Class 2 Auto Dealers License; #352-25 Class 2 Auto Dealer License; #353-25 Class 2 Auto Dealer; #354-25 Class 2 Auto Dealer License; #355-25 Class 2 Auto Dealers License; #356-25 Class 2 Auto Dealers License; #361-25 Class 2 Auto Dealer License; #219-25 Request for a special permit to allow four attached single-family...; #304-25 Request to allow ground floor residential use, four stories, to...; #236-24 Discussion on Climate resiliency to hear updates and plans; #258-24 Discussion and possible amendments to Zoning Ordinances concerning...; #26-25 Discussion and possible ordinance amendment to remove the minimum...; #27-25 Request to amend definition of Two-Family Detached; #295-24 Discussion on Parking in Village Centers; #302-24 Aligning zoning to proposed use in new development; #41-24 Amend the setbacks in the MR zones to encourage preservation of...; #43-24 Quarterly update on projects using the VCOD overlay district; #63-24 Requesting an update on the status of implementing the Climate...; #80-25 Requesting discussion on the current state of Newton's commercial...; #85-24 Request for discussion and possible amendments to enhance the...; #329-25 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #330-25 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #331-25 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #332-25 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #333-25 Requesting renewal of public auto license; #103-24 Update on Planning and Construction of Bullough's Pond Dam; #418-24 Requesting a discussion regarding Bullough's Pond Dam...; #358-25 Requesting the appropriation of $2,304,983.75 for Phase 2 of the...; #56-25 Request for a main drain extension at 132 Homer Street; #357-25 Request for acceptance and expenditure of a $5,000,000 FY2026...; #359-25 Requesting authorization to transfer $425,000 for funding the...; #360-25 Requesting authorization to transfer $45,000 for vacation/special....
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
Accept the committee recommendations on 2 items without discussion (#362-25, #36-24)
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Councilor Gentile), 1 Recusal (Councilor Laredo) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Danberg, Downs, Farrell, Getz, Greenberg, Grossman, Humphrey, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lipof, Lobovits, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, WrightOne vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #362-25 Requesting information regarding the Mayor-Elect Laredo's plan to...; #36-24 Reuse of parcel of land on Grove and Hancock Street. Marc C. Laredo recused and is left out of this vote.
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Councilor Gentile), 1 Recusal (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.
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 →