Council Sends Purchasing Overhaul Back to Committee
Newton City Council sent a purchasing department overhaul back to committee for a required public hearing.
Select Board · Meeting of May 4, 2026
Newton City Council sent a purchasing department overhaul back to committee for a required public hearing. The council voted 21-0, with three members absent, to ratify a slate of first-call items Monday, including confirmation of Karen Monroe as chief procurement officer and an amended Traffic Council decision adding a parking restriction on Hawley Road near Beacon Street. Councillor Bixby said the city's legal department determined the purchasing reorganization "requires a public hearing," prompting a unanimous voice vote to recommit the ordinance to the Finance Committee ahead of a May 11 hearing.
The Finance Committee had separately approved grants totaling $73,552.79 for fire services, environmental health work and electric vehicle charging stations, all 8-0. Councillor Krinsman reported a 7-0-1 committee vote authorizing the city's fiscal year 2027 federal housing action plan, with one recusal.
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Source: the Select Board meeting of May 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.
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