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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WATCH: Newton Honors 'Regal Queen of the Blues' Shirley Lewis

The Newton Board of Aldermen honored blues singer Shirley Lewis at its meeting Monday night. The well-known musician, who now lives in Waban, has opened for BB King, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles and has headlined across North America.

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Newton Board of Aldermen Delay Decision on Ward 1 Special Election Date

The board will take up the special election item at its next meeting on March 18.

The Newton Board of Aldermen Monday night agreed to postpone its vote on whether to hold a special election for the vacant Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat in conjunction with the June 25 special Senate election.  The aldermen will take up the item again at its next full board meeting on Monday, March 18.  After a lengthy debate last month on whether to hold the special election, the full board rejected the Election Commission's recommendation to skip a special election for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat, which was made vacant with the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill.  Following the Feb. 19 vote, the Programs and Services Committee docketed an item asking to hold the Ward 1 special election on June 25, piggybacking it with the special …

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Allan Ciccone Sr. Running for Newton Ward 1 Alderman

Ciccone previously served on the board from 1991-2003.

After stating earlier this month he would run for Ward 1 alderman-at-large, former Alderman Allan Ciccone Sr. told Newton Patch this week he will now run for the open Ward 1 alderman seat.  The Ward 1 alderman seat will be up for grabs in the November 5 municipal election, as current Ward 1 Alderman Scott Lennon declared his candidacy earlier this month for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat. Ciccone, who is the father of current Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Allan (Jay) Ciccone Jr., previously served on the Newton Board of Aldermen for six terms, from 1991-2003.  During his time on the board, Ciccone was a former vice chair of the Finance Committee and chair of the Public Safety & Transportation Committee, the subcommittee his son heads up now…

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Do You Agree with the Aldermen's Decision to Hold a Special Election for the Ward 1 Seat?

The Newton Board of Aldermen turned down a request Tuesday night that asked to forego a special election for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.

After much debate about whether to hold a special election in Ward 1, the Newton Board of Aldermen rejected last night a proposal to skip the special election and fill the vacant seat in the November municipal election.  Instead, the board will now consider holding a Ward 1 alderman-at-large special election in conjunction with the June 25 special Senate election. For full coverage of Tuesday night's debate and decision, read our story here. The Ward 1 at-large seat was vacated last month following the death of Alderman Carleton Merrill, who passed away on Jan. 23 at the age of 88.  Earlier this month, the Newton Election Commission voted to forego the special election to fill the Ward 1 seat, arguing that it would not be an easy task in a…

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Scott Lennon Announces Bid for Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large

Lennon currently serves as the Ward Alderman for Ward 1.

Ward 1 Alderman and Board of Aldermen President Scott Lennon announced Sunday his bid for the Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  In a statement emailed to Newton Patch Sunday afternoon, Lennon declared his candidacy for the seat recently vacated by Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill, who passed away last month. Lennon has served as the ward alderman in Ward 1 for 11 years and has held the board president position for the last two terms. Ward aldermen are elected only by the voters in their home ward, whereas aldermen-at-large are elected by voters across the city.  "Although I have been a ward alderman for all this time, I have always considered myself to be accessible and responsive to the entire city, and have consistently weighed …

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Adam Maleson

11:40 am on Monday, February 11, 2013

No election in which only one name is on the ballot should be considered vaild. That's not democracy, it's soviet-style sham elections. NO SHOE-IN CANDIDATES! No politicians without incentive to care about voters when there was no alternative candidates to choose from.   more ›

VIDEO: Newton Aldermen Honor Carleton Merrill with Memorial Resolution

Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill passed away on Jan. 23, 2013.

The Newton Board of Alderman Monday night filed a memorial resolution honoring their colleague, Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill, who passed away on January 23 at the age of 88. Born and raised in Newton, Merrill graduated from Newton High School in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Merrill was first elected as the Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large in 1950 and served one term before taking a few years off. In 1956, he rejoined the board and was elected to serve another three terms before becoming the city's veterans and licensing agent in 1962. After 33 years as Newton's veterans and licensing agent, Merrill retired in 1995 and was reelected to the Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large seat in 1996, where he served …

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Allan Ciccone Sr. Says He'll Run for Newton Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Seat

Ciccone previously served on the Board of Aldermen from 1991-2003.

It looks as though Rick Lipof is not the only one who would like to rejoin the Newton Board of Aldermen.  Former Alderman Allan Ciccone Sr., father of current Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Allan (Jay) Ciccone Jr., told Newton Patch today he plans to run for the vacant Ward 1 alderman-at-large seat.  Ciccone, 73, previously served on the board from 1991-2003. He was the former vice chair of the Finance Committee and chair of the Public Safety & Transportation Committee, the subcommittee his son heads up now.  Ciccone said he only thought of running for the seat after last month's passing of Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large Carleton Merrill. But with a family history in Newton that goes back more than 100 years, Ciccone said he has kept tabs on the Board…

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Adam Maleson

2:25 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013

All these political clans are returning to the scene of their ongoing crimes. At what point do the Newton taxpayers and voters stand up and say toss these lying bums out, for good and forever? At what point have their horrid decisions cost Newton too many millions of dollars for you to continue ignoring the fact and pretending there's nothing wrong? Vote the Lipofs out, and keep them out. Vote …   more ›

Chris Steele Announces Run for Newton Ward 5 Alderman-at-Large Seat

The Waban resident has served as chair and vice chair of the Newton Economic Development Committee.

Waban resident and current Economic Development Commission Chair Chris Steele announced today his candidacy Ward 5 alderman-at-large. Steele has served on the city's Economic Development Commission since 2009 and held roles as both chair and vice chair, according to a press release issued Monday afternoon. He is also one of the organizers behind the Waban Area Council, one of the founding members of Newton Villages and leads the Newton League of Women Voters municipal finance committee.  “I’m seeking election to make sure Newton continues to invest in our future. We need to make sure we support education and infrastructure so that these can keep pace with our needs. And we need to do so that keeps Newton affordable to our diverse …

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Adam Maleson

4:30 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Why are all these people announcing their candidacy in the first week of February, when nonimation papers will not be released for at least another two months? Anyhow, I know Rob Gifford and he's at least a fairly decent fellow, though I don't entirely trust where his loyalties are in terms of what he wants to happen in Newton. I believe I was in the Boy Scouts with Jon Sisson 40 years ago, I …   more ›