Newton's City Council will hear the mayor's presentation of the FY2028–32 Capital Improvement Plan on Monday, Oct. 19, laying out the city's infrastructure spending priorities for the next five years.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall Chambers, according to the city council docket. It will also be available on Zoom and broadcast on NewTV. The mayor presented the FY28–32 five-year financial forecast at the council's Oct. 5 meeting.

Housing trust transparency

Nine councilors are sponsoring a discussion of the Newton Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT) and possible ordinance changes to boost transparency and public engagement. Councilors Oliver, Farrell, Lucas, Gordon, Kalis, Malakie, Wright, Getz and Block filed the item, which has been referred to the Zoning & Planning Committee. The committee has until April 17, 2027, to act.

The NAHT had about $7.2 million in total available resources as of July 13, according to a trust agenda document. Its two largest expenses were $4 million for the Newton Gardens Project and $2 million for 793 Washington St., leaving a fund balance of roughly $1.2 million.

Parking program overhaul

The Public Safety & Transportation Committee is pushing three separate items to revamp Newton's residential parking sticker and visitor permit program. One targets the program's rules under Section 19-201 of city ordinances. A second focuses on how the program is administered. A third, referred jointly to Public Safety & Transportation and Finance, would review the parking fee structure.

All three carry an April 17, 2027, deadline.

The parking push builds on an item from the Oct. 5 docket, when Councilors Lucas, Farrell and Block requested a broader discussion of residential parking programs and fee structures.

Other business

The Land Use Committee will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 20, on a request by Mikhail and Irene Ioffe to demolish existing buildings at 44 Rowe St. in Ward 4 and construct a new two-family dwelling on the roughly 11,650-square-foot lot, which is zoned SR3.

The mayor has also nominated four residents to city boards: Jennifer Kaplan and Susan Servais to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), Richard Sylvia as an alternate on the Newtonville Historic District Commission, and Robert Silver as an alternate on the Auburndale Historic District Commission. All terms expire in 2029 except Silver's, which runs through June 2027.

The Finance Committee will review a $19,619.97 legal settlement from the Law Department's claims account. The docket does not identify the underlying claim.

Councilor Albright is requesting periodic reports on integrated energy planning by National Grid, Eversource and the Newton Working Group. National Grid is also seeking approval to replace about 800 feet of cast-iron gas main on Solon Street with plastic pipe, with a public hearing set for Wednesday, Oct. 21, before the Public Safety & Transportation Committee.

The council's committee schedule runs through the week: Land Use meets Oct. 20, Public Facilities and Public Safety & Transportation meet Oct. 21, and Zoning & Planning and Finance meet Oct. 26. Committee reports are due back to the full council Nov. 2.