Docket Digest

A weekly summary of Board of Aldermen agendas and actions highlighting items of interest to the LWVN. Archive of previous weeks here.

Board and Committee Meeting Schedule

Extracted from full calendar. Links to full calendar and docket packet here.

Key to color coding: CPC, Planning, Environmental, CAG, Charter, Housing.

May 2010
Monday 10	7:00 pm 7:45 pm	Budget - Committee on Community Preservation CPA – Administration Budget, picture of Mayor Hyde Board of Aldermen (CIP & Water/Sewer Rate Hearings – moved to 05-12)	Room 202 Chamber
Wednesday 12	7:45 pm	Public Facilities Committee #83-10 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE recommending that the sum of sixty three thousand, eight hundred forty five dollars ($63,845) …to complete the design of storage and accessibility improvements for the archives at the Jackson Homestead. COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE recommending that the sum of $359,400….for a project to rehabilitate and expand storage space for the research library and archives at the Newton History Museum, to preserve the existing collections, and enhance public access to the collections. COMMUNITY PRESERVATION APPROVED 6-0 on 4-29-08 (A) DESIGN FUNDS ESTIMATE $37,500.00 – BOA APPROVED ON 07/21/08 (B) BALANCE OF PROJECT ESTIMATE $321,900.00 – HELD	Room 209
	7:45 pm	Public Safety & Transportation Committee ALD. BRANDEL & LINSKY requesting a discussion with the city traffic engineer and a representative of the management of the Avalon Bay apartment complex relative to the status of the traffic signal on Needham Street, including funding, application, the approval process, and an anticipated date for installation.	Room 202
	7:00 pm	Budget - Programs & Services Committee Veterans, Elections, City Clerk, Newton History	Room 222
Thursday 6	7:00 pm	Budget - Programs & Services Committee Health, Senior Services, Solicitor, Library	Room 222

Docket:

Includes: #242-03(6) ALD. ALBRIGHT requesting to amend Section 3-30 (as established by Ordinance Z-11) to create an off-leash dog areas ordinance. [04/26/10 @ 8:47 AM]

#128-10 COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS requesting Board of Aldermen approval to remove the traffic island at the intersection of Beacon Street and Herrick Road. [04-27-10 @ 1:59 PM]

#133-10 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to appropriate one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) from Free Cash to the Public Buildings Department for the purpose of funding actual and anticipated costs associated with the restoration of City Hall as a result of the severe rain storms in march of this year.

#134-10 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR requesting authorization to transfer one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) from the Sewer MWRA Assessments line item to the Sewer Main Repair/Installation Overtime account to fund a projected shortfall in the Sewer overtime account.

#121-10(2) HIS HONOR THE MAYOR submitting recommended FY2011 Water and Sewer Rates for implementation on July 1, 2010.

Reports:

Programs & Services—includes #46-10(3) ALD CROSSLEY, HESS-MAHAN AND LINSKY proposing a RESOLUTION to demonstrate support by the Board of Aldermen of the Green Communities Act application for the City of Newton to achieve the designation as a Green Community. [04-12-10 @ 9:30 AM] ACTION: APPROVED AS AMENDED 7-0 (Ald. Fischman not voting
- Also long discussion of debt exclusion overrides and their uses
Public Facilities, includes: Appointment by His Honor the Mayor #105-10 JONATHAN KANTAR, 672 Chestnut Street, Waban, appointed as a member of the Citizens’ Commission on Energy for a term of office to expire on April 20, 2013. (60-days: 06/04/10) [03/30/10 @4:09 PM] ACTION: APPROVED 6-0
- #106-10 HIS HONOR THE MAYOR proposing amendments to Chapter 11, Recycling and Trash, of the City of Newton Revised Ordinances 2007. [03/30/10 @ 4:08 PM] ACTION: APPROVED 5-0-1 (Albright abstaining) ITEM REFERRED TO FINANCE 5-0 (Danberg not voting)
  - This includes: “The second change relates to the City offering trash and recycling pick up to small non-profits such as religious and charitable institutions for a fee. The cost for the service would be $350 a year, which breaks out to $200 for one trash container and $150 for one recycling container. The non-profit would also be able to purchase additional barrels, if necessary. There is no cost to the City to provide this service. The $350 cost to the non-profit covers the pick up and tipping fee and it is designed to be a cost recovery fee.” and
  - Currently, the Department of Public Works does not have ticketing authority and must call the Police Department to have a ticket issued. The ordinance amendment would allow the Department of Public Works to issue the tickets.” (This is in reference to trash) and
  - "Ald. Lennon inquired if there had been any progress on establishing a recycling mechanism in the parks. The Commissioner will be meeting with the Interim Commissioner of Parks and Recreation and they will try to establish a program in the near future.”
PS&T, includes: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT requesting presentation and discussion of a "complete streets" study performed by Northeastern University civil engineering students of Washington Street between Commonwealth Avenue and Parsons Street.
- And #101-10 PLANNING DEPARTMENT requesting presentation and discussion of the Pedestrian Mobility Project to be completed by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Pedestrian Mobility Project Team. [03/29/10 @ 10:45 AM] ACTION: HELD 4-0
Rules

Finance,includes: 80-08(3) ALD. SALVUCCI AND DANBERG requesting that the City's one-year trial commercial parking permit program (City Ord. 19-205) be made permanent, with associated modifications based on the trial results. [01/12/10 @ 4:23 PM] PS&T APPROVED 8-0 ACTION: APPROVED 7-0
- COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE recommending that the sum of $362,500, including $2,500 for City of Newton legal costs, be appropriated from the fiscal 2010 community housing and general reserves of the Community Preservation Fund and expended under the direction and control of the Planning and Development Department, to create two units of perpetually affordable rental housing at 2148-2150 Commonwealth Avenue. [01/11/10 @ 4:23 pm] CMTEE ON COMMUNITY PRES. APPROVED AS AMENDED @ $375,000 5-0-3 (Ald. Blazar, Fuller and Harney abstaining) on 03/23/10 ACTION: APPROVED AS AMENDED @ $375,000 5-0-1 (Gentile abstaining; Ciccone not voting)

ZAP, includes: #30-10(2) POST AUDIT & OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE requesting a discussion with the Planning & Development Department relative to the governance process of the Newton Community Development Authority (NCDA), including recommendations and potential changes to the NCDA. [01/26/09 @ 9:00 PM] ACTION: HELD 8-0

Traffic Council, includes Bike lane on Beacon, blue zone enforcement

Documents:

Expense reports for fire stations, NNHS
Bond sale report
News Notes
Draft Green Communities Application

Docket Digest

Board and Committee Meeting Schedule

May 2010