Selectmen approve firefighter hires, fund transfer, and policy updates

Newton Selectmen approve firefighter hires and fund transfer. The Board of Selectmen unanimously hired Jessica St. Louis and Justin Hubbard as firefighters/EMT-Basic at $24 per hour each and transferred $62,623.79 from the General Fund to the Fire/Rescue Ambulance Account to comply with the

Planning Board approves Industrial Way warehouse conversions

Newton Planning Board unanimously approves two Industrial Way warehouse conversions for 125 Development. The board approved B&M Office Installations' conversion of 120 Industrial Way to office furniture warehouse operations with 15 employees, limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8

Newton Selectmen authorize emergency $20,000 police station cooling replacement

Newton emergency meeting authorizes $20,000 police station HVAC replacement. Chair Daniel Guide called an emergency session of the Board of Selectmen on July 9 to address a failed mini-split heating and cooling unit at the Police Department building. Police Chief DiFlumeri reported that replacement

Gale Library Trustees Unseal Prior-Year Minutes, Address Facility Issues

Newton library board reports strong summer reading enrollment. Gale Library Trustees unanimously accepted June minutes, treasurer's report, and Director Michelle Baker's monthly report on July 8. Chairperson Paula Noon presided; Alternate Trustee Anne Banks voted. The summer reading program

Zoning Board Unanimously Approves Merrimac Road Subdivision Variance

Newton Zoning Board unanimously approves variance for two-lot Merrimac Road subdivision. The four-member board, with Chair Jack Kozec, Mr. Hamel, Mr. Gibbs, and Ms. Riordan voting in favor, granted Land Bank Properties LLC a 10-foot frontage variance and a lot-width variance for the project at 11

Newton Board hires firefighter and two police officers

Newton Board of Selectmen approves emergency personnel hires and addresses noise concerns. Chair Daniel Guide led the board to unanimously approve, 4-0, hiring Pro-Firefighter/EMT-A Jocelyn McCarville at $24.00 per hour and police officers Julio Velasquez and Bryce Eckstein. The board heard

Gale Library Board Approves Investment Policy

Gale Library board unanimously approves investment policy and begins summer reading campaign. The five-member Newton Trustees, meeting with four members present, approved the library's annual Investment Policy and authorized 8 hours of holiday time for Director Michelle Baker on July 3. The board

Planning Board discusses 125 Development DOT permit and occupancy cap issues

Planning Board discussion clarifies 125 Development procedural requirements. Vice Chair Daniel Berard presided as the board addressed four outstanding issues: Building 2 construction (75,000 square feet with 45,000 square feet intended occupancy under the 105,000 square foot Department of

Joint Loss Management Committee reviews town facility maintenance needs

Newton's Joint Loss Management Committee reviewed facility maintenance across town departments in a routine June meeting. Chaired by Trisha McCarthy, emergency management director, the committee heard reports on multiple projects: the Transfer Station's salt shed requires a new fabric tarp

Zoning Board Continues Merrimac Road Variance Hearing

Newton Zoning Board continues hearing on Merrimac Road subdivision variance to July 1. Attorney Brett W. Allard, representing Land Bank Properties LLC, requested two variances for a two-lot subdivision at 11 Merrimac Road, with Proposed Lot 9-1 falling short of required 150-foot frontage (141.82

Board of Selectmen approves hiring of six firefighters and EMTs

Newton Board of Selectmen approves hiring of six firefighters and emergency personnel. The hires, Paul Antonelli, Zachary Fawcett, Charles Genaro, Cameron Plank, Jason Miles, and Ben Whalen, were unanimously approved at $24.00 per hour by Selectman Joseph Simone, Jr., with seconds from Selectman

Conservation Commission documents ATV damage to town wetlands

Newton Conservation Commission documents wetland damage from ATV use on town property. During a May 27 site walk on a parcel between 31 and 33 Maple Avenue, members witnessed and photographed damage to wetlands apparently caused by motorized vehicles. Chair Sandy Estabrook and Vice-Chair Nancy

Newton Planning Board defers Devaney Energy propane facility review

Planning Board defers design review for the Devaney Energy propane distribution facility. No representatives from Devaney Energy appeared for the May 26 design review of a 4,500-square-foot facility at Industrial Way, though the applicant may return for full-board hearing June 23. Public comment

NEWTON BOARD APPROVES FIRE DEPARTMENT PAYROLL INCREASE

Newton Board approves fire department payroll increase, completes federal pandemic spending. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize a payroll increase for fire department employees included in the 2026 approved budget, effective June 1, with no dollar amount disclosed.