Proposed Water/Sewer Rates Would Mean a $63 Increase for Average Newton Homeowner

City officials presented the proposed rates on May 6, and the Board of Aldermen will vote on them at a future meeting.

Proposed Water/Sewer Rates Would Mean a $63 Increase for Average Newton Homeowner

City officials presented the proposed rates on May 6, and the Board of Aldermen will vote on them at a future meeting.

  The average Newton homeowner could see a $63 increase to his/her annual water and sewer bill next year if current proposed rates pass through the Board of Aldermen. The fiscal 2014 proposed rates were presented to the Board on May 6 by Department of Public Works Director of Water/Sewer Fred Russell and Chief Financial Officer Maureen Lemieux.  The aldermen met in a Committee of the Whole Monday night to discuss the rates and ultimately decided to hold off on a final vote. The estimated $63 increase to annual bills is based on the city's average household water use, which is 95 HCF (hundred cubic feet) per year, Lemieux said. If passed by the board, the rates will go into effect July 1, 2013.  Below is a chart showing the likely bill …

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Newton Aldermen OK Elementary School Modulars

Ten new modulars will be installed at four elementary schools.

With student enrollment a continued focus in the Newton Public Schools, the Board of Aldermen last night voted 22-1 to approve $2.4 million for ten modular classrooms at four elementary schools. The ten modulars will be installed at Bowen (four modulars), Burr (one modular), Horace Mann (one modular) and Mason-Rice (four modulars). The Board's vote comes just a few days after the Newton School Committee agreed to install four modulars at Mason-Rice. In December, the School Committee approved a total of eight modular classrooms for the four elementary schools. That decision included only two modulars at Mason-Rice with the possibility of two additional "alternate" modulars, if the space was needed and funding was available. Looking for more…

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Janet Sterman

4:29 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013

WTF! More foolish spending and bad management by Newton's Aldermen and School Committee!   more ›

Nomination Papers for Newton Municipal Election Available Wednesday

The municipal election will be held Tues., Nov. 5, 2013.

Although voters won't head to the polls for another few months, the election season in Newton will officially kick off this week. Starting tomorrow, May 1, nomination papers will be available for the Nov. 5, 2013 municipal election.  The nomination papers will be available in the Election Commission office at City Hall and must be signed and returned to the Election Commission by Tuesday, July 30. The city's charter states that candidates running for alderman-at-large and School Committee must collect 150 signatures before the nomination papers are certified. Aldermen-at-large and School Committee seats are elected by all city voters. Ward aldermen, who are only elected by residents in their home ward, must gather 50 signatures. Mayoral …

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5 Things You Missed at the Board of Aldermen Meeting: New Police Chief, Newtonville Parking

The Newton Board of Aldermen officially approved Howard Mintz as the new Newton Police chief.

  1. Changes to outdoor cafe furniture ordinance After voting "no action necessary" last month, the full board reconsidered changes to the outdoor cafe furniture ordinance Monday. After making a motion to reconsider, the full board approved the ordinance changes. The changes, which were proposed by Planning Department Director Candace Havens, Health Dept. Commissioner Dori Zaleznik and Inspectional Services Commissioner John Lojek, aim to streamline the permit process for cafe sidewalk furniture. The new ordinance requires the sidewalk furniture permit request to go through the Health Department, rather than the Public Works department. The item was previously approved by the Zoning and Planning, Programs and Services and Public Facilities…

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What's Happening

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 3

A film screening, the latest Theatre Ink production and a Newton Open Studios preview reception.

1. Newton Open Studios. A preview reception for the Spring Open Studios will be held this evening at the Newton Free Library from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Stop by and check out some of the art that will be featured in this weekend's Spring Open Studios! 2. Tomorrow: Yoga for Your Health. The Newton Health & Human Services Dept. will host a 'Yoga for Your Health' event on Thurs., April 4 from noon - 7 p.m. in the War Memorial at City Hall. The event will include a panel discussions and information sessions on yoga as well as classes. The event is open to everyone, regardless of experience. For more information, visit the event website or call 617-796-1420. 3. Film screening. The Charles River Neighborhood Foundation will present the film "Two Who…

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Alison Leary Announces Bid for Newton Ward 1 Alderman

Board of Aldermen President Scott Lennon currently holds the Ward 1 seat, but has announced he wil be running for Ward 1 alderman-at-large.

Chapel Street resident Alison Leary announced this week she is running for the Newton Ward 1 alderman seat currently held by Board President Scott Lennon. Lennon, who has served as Ward 1 alderman for 11 years, announced last month his plans to run for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat left open after the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill. In a press release issued Thursday, Leary highlighted her work as a member of the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club, as the co-chair for the Environmental Committee for the League of Women Voters Newton and as a member of the Newton Conservators Board of Directors. “My active involvement in Newton civic life has shown me that a committed group of individuals can have a tremendous positive impact on…

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Newton Aldermen Approve Date for Ward 1 Special Election

Newton voters will head to the polls a total of five times in 2013.

After several debates on whether to actually hold the election, the Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night approved the date for a special election to fill the vacant Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  The special election will be held Tuesday, June 25, 2013, and will piggyback on the special Senate election held the same day. Because it is an at-large seat, the special election will be held citywide. Ward 4 Alderman-at-Large Lenny Gentile, who has argued against holding the special election, urged his colleagues Monday night to reconsider the Election Commission's recommendation to skip the special election. "As the chairman of [the Finance Committee] and as a taxpayer, I do not think this is a wise way of spending taxpayer dollars," Gentile …

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Newton Officials Seeking More Details on Proposed MBTA Garage

During last week's Land Use Committee working session, aldermen brought up a number of questions on the MBTA's proposed parking garage for the Riverside Station site.

As planning and discussion continues on the proposed Riverside Station mixed-use project, Newton aldermen are still looking for more details on the MBTA's proposed six-floor parking garage for the site.  During a Land Use Committee working session last week, Aldermen questioned how certain parking would be monitored on the site and what the MBTA would charge for parking in the garage facility. Ward 2 Alderman-at-Large Susan Albright and Ward 7 Alderman-at-Large Marc Laredo asked about the pricing on the garage and whether people using the development's "community space" would have to pay for parking in the garage.  "It's a very important question and not just a little detail," Laredo said. Planning Department Director Candace Havens said …

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