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Newton City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting

July 13, 2026

5 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.

Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page

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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, David A. Kalis, Jacob Silber, Stephen Farrell

Absent: Lisle Baker

Every vote, in order

Referred to Land Use Committee

#175-26 Approve: Request for a special permit to exceed FAR and residential façade ratio, allow three stories, extend a nonconforming front...

Minutes, page 1

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 23 present

City Council Approved 23-0-1 (Councilor Baker Absent)

From the minutes

“City Council Approved 23-0-1 (Councilor Baker Absent).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 1 (PDF)

#131-26 Amend: add a Neighborhood Liaison Committee condition

Minutes, page 2

Adopt orderPassed · Unanimous, 23 present

Councilor Irish motioned to amend the draft order for the petition to add a Neighborhood Liaison Committee condition. The motion was seconded by Councilor Roche. The vote on the amendment was taken via voice vote, and was approved 23-1 (Councilor Baker Absent).

From the Clerk’s Note on this item. The Actions record the amendment as approved by voice vote “23-1 (Councilor Baker Absent)”: the one is Councilor Baker, who was absent, so the 23 councilors present are shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The vote on the amendment was taken via voice vote, and was approved 23-1 (Councilor Baker Absent)..” (Motion: Irish, second: Roche)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

#131-26 Approve: Request for a special permit to allow 16 attached single-family dwellings, with associated dimensional and parking relief at 93...

Minutes, page 2

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 23 present

City Council Approved 23-0-1 (Councilor Baker Absent)

From the minutes

“City Council Approved 23-0-1 (Councilor Baker Absent).”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Accept the committee recommendations on 7 items without discussion (#213-26, #214-26, #215-26, #201-26, #40-26, #197-26, ...)

Minutes, page 2

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 23 present

The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Councilor Baker) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:

One vote on the block of items the council took up without discussion. The items: #213-26 Request to move Ward 2, Precincts 2 and 3 Polling Locations; #214-26 Transfer $1,175,000 to Newton Police Department for contractual...; #215-26 Transfer of $710,000 for retroactive wage adjustments; #201-26 Authorization for potential lease for solar energy generation at...; #40-26 Request for discussion and study on the option of removing the...; #197-26 Transfer of $900,000 for improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and...; #216-26 Repurpose of $150,000 and transfer of $177,000 for renovations at....

From the minutes

“The City Council voted without discussion 23 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Absent (Councilor Baker) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

#190-26 Accept the committee recommendation: Request to allow a retaining wall with 4 feet or more in height at 335 Langley Road

Minutes, page 6

ApprovePassed · 22–1

The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Block), 1 Absent (Councilor Baker) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:

Yes: Albright, Bixby, Charm, Dahmubed, Farrell, Getz, Golden, Gordon, Greenberg, Grossman, Irish, Kalis, Kelley, Krintzman, Leary, Lucas, Malakie, Micley, Oliver, Roche, Silber, WrightNo: Block

From the minutes

“The City Council voted without discussion 22 Yeas, 1 Nay (Councilor Block), 1 Absent (Councilor Baker) to Accept the Committee Recommendations on the following:.”

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

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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