MassVoter.com← Newton City CouncilNewton City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
March 2, 2026
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: Alison M. Leary, John Oliver, Maria Scibelli Greenberg, Susan Albright, Tarik J. Lucas, David Micley, Andrea W. Kelley, Pamela Wright, Julia Malakie, Joshua Krintzman, Cyrus Dahmubed, Randy Block, Rena Getz, Brittany Hume Charm, Julie Irish, Lisa Gordon, Sean Roche, Martha Bixby, Rebecca Walker Grossman, Brian Golden, Lisle Baker, David A. Kalis, Jacob Silber, Stephen Farrell
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Referred to Land Use Committee
#71-26 Approve: Request to Rezone 148 California Street to Business Use 2
City Council Approved 19-5 (Councilors Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie Opposed)
Yes: Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Micley, Oliver, Roche, Silber, WrightNo: Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 19-5 (Councilors Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie Opposed).”
#72-26 Approve: Petition seeking release from the Restrictive Covenant at 148 California Street
City Council Approved 17-7 (Councilors Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie, Oliver, Silber Opposed)
Yes: Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Micley, Roche, WrightNo: Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie, Oliver, Silber
From the minutes
“City Council Approved 17-7 (Councilors Baker, Block, Farrell, Kalis, Malakie, Oliver, Silber Opposed).”
#10-26 Amend: extend the pilot to June 30, 2026
Councilor Malakie proposed an amendment changing the pilot’s expiration date from May 31st, 2026, to June 30th, 2026. The amendment was seconded by Councilor Wright. City Council approved the amendment 16-8 (Councilors Albright, Farrell, Getz, Greenberg, Kelley, Leary, Lucas, Roche Opposed).
Yes: Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Dahmubed, Golden, Gordon, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Krintzman, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Silber, WrightNo: Albright, Farrell, Getz, Greenberg, Kelley, Leary, Lucas, RocheFrom the Clerk’s Note on this item.
From the minutes
“City Council approved the amendment 16-8 (Councilors Albright, Farrell, Getz, Greenberg, Kelley, Leary, Lucas, Roche Opposed)..” (Motion: Malakie, second: Wright)
Referred to Public Safety & Transportation Committee
#10-26 Approve: Appeal of Traffic Council Decision TC59-25
City Council Denied 9-15 (Councilors Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Greenberg, Grossman, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Micley, Roche Opposed)
Yes: Baker, Block, Gordon, Irish, Lucas, Malakie, Oliver, Silber, WrightNo: Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Greenberg, Grossman, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Micley, RocheThe Actions record the item as “Denied”: the motion to approve it did not pass.
From the minutes
“City Council Denied 9-15 (Councilors Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Greenberg, Grossman, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Micley, Roche Opposed).”
Accept the committee recommendations on 12 items without discussion (#92-26, #95-26, #74-26, #79-26, #80-26, #81-26, ...)
The City Council voted without discussion 24 Yeas, 0 Nays to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #92-26 Request to vertically extend nonconforming front setbacks at 55...; #95-26 Reappointment of Councilor Albright to the Newton Affordable...; #74-26 Request for a pre-budget planning discussion; #79-26 Reappointment of Jonathan Kantar to the Design Review Committee; #80-26 Reappointment of SingNing Kuo to the Design Review Committee; #81-26 Reappointment of Amy MacKrell to the Design Review Committee; #86-26 Reappointment of Stacy Roman to the Designer Selection Committee; #87-26 Reappointment of Kenneth White to the Designer Selection Committee; #88-26 Reappointment of John Synnott to the Designer Selection Committee; #97-26 Transfer of $1,500,000 for snow removal; #82-26 Appointment of Ruthanne Fuller to the Horace Cousens Industrial Fund; #89-26 Transfer of $150,000 for Cooper Center project closeout costs.
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 24 Yeas, 0 Nays to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
#93-26 Accept the committee recommendation: Request to further increase nonconforming FAR at 1445 Commonwealth Avenue
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilors Dahmubed, Roche) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Albright, Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Silber, WrightNo: Dahmubed, Roche
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilors Dahmubed, Roche) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”
#91-26 Accept the committee recommendation: Discussion and Possible Amendment to Change Effective Date of the 60% Facade Build Out
The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilor Albright, Krintzman) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:
Yes: Baker, Bixby, Block, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Roche, Silber, WrightNo: Albright, Krintzman
From the minutes
“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 2 Nays (Councilor Albright, Krintzman) 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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