Local Politics
  1. Home
  2. US
  3. Massachusetts
  4. Newton
  5. Meetings

2026-10-05 - City Council Meeting

Summary

Built from the Council's posted Actions (the Council posts Actions rather than narrative minutes). The full meeting is on video.

  • All 24 councilors were present.
  • Postponed the overnight parking ban ordinance to a date certain of October 19, 2026, by 16-8.
  • Accepted committee recommendations 24-0 without discussion on special permits, appointments, a bike share appropriation and a solid waste agreement.
  • Accepted the committee's approval of a stop sign appeal 22-2.
  • Assigned October 6 public hearings on three special permit petitions.

Overnight Parking Ban

  • Docket 62-26 came from the Public Safety & Transportation Committee with a 6-1 approval (Councilor Block opposed, Councilor Irish not voting).
  • Councilor Getz moved an amendment excluding angle parking that abuts commercial parcels from conversion to overnight parking; Councilor Farrell seconded. Councilor Baker moved to postpone to October 19 so the Committee could clarify the language; Councilor Getz rescinded the amendment.
  • Postponement passed 16-8. Opposed: Dahmubed, Golden, Greenberg, Kelley, Krintzman, Lucas, Roche, Silber.

Larchmont Avenue Stop Sign Appeal

  • Docket 275-26, an appeal of Traffic Council's approval of stop signs at the ends of Larchmont Avenue at Chestnut Street. Committee approved as amended 6-1-1 (Councilor Irish opposed, Councilor Golden abstained). Council accepted 22-2; Councilor Getz and Councilor Irish voted no.

Lexington Street Five-Unit Attached Housing

  • Docket 208-26: Land Use approved 8-0; Council accepted 24-0.

Bike Share Infrastructure Funding

  • Docket 252-26, $35,032 in Community Preservation Act funds. Finance approved 8-0; Council accepted 24-0.

Solid Waste Intermunicipal Agreement

  • Docket 298-26, agreement with the Town of Walpole and other municipalities. Public Facilities 7-0, Finance 7-0 (8-0 also listed); Council accepted 24-0.

Other special permits (accepted 24-0, without discussion)

  • Land Use approved 8-0 and closed the public hearing on a petition to exceed floor area ratio and façade ratio for a new two-family dwelling on Mechanic Street (Docket 227-26, Ward 5, MR2 district), and on retaining walls exceeding four feet at the rear of a property on Dedham Street (Docket 304-26, Ward 8, SR2 district).

Appointments (accepted 24-0, without discussion)

  • Newton Commonwealth Foundation, terms to June 30, 2029: Valerie Pontiff (Programs & Services 5-0) and Victor Lebovici (6-0).
  • Human Rights Commission, term to September 22, 2029: Susan Eaton (7-0).

Public hearings assigned for October 6, 2026 (Land Use Committee)

  • Docket 309-26, a small land transfer to an abutter creating an undersized lot on Miller Road (Ward 6, SR3).
  • Docket 310-26, a retaining wall exceeding four feet on Nardell Road (Ward 8, SR2).
  • Docket 311-26, an amendment to Special Permit 179-21 for valet parking and directional signs at 777 Winchester Street (2Life Opus Newton LLC, Ward 8, SR1).

Agenda

Items discussed on Second Call, in the order of the Actions: Overnight Parking Ban (Docket 62-26); Land Use items 208-26, 227-26, 304-26; Programs & Services appointments 266-26, 267-26, 272-26; Intermunicipal Agreement 298-26; bike share 252-26; stop sign appeal 275-26; hearing assignments 309-26, 310-26, 311-26.

Sources

Video

Full Council meeting, October 5, 2026 (linked in the Clerk's Note on the Actions).