Newton Council Unanimously Approves $300,000 Transfer to Staff New Mayor's Office

NEWTON -- January 20, 2026, Newton City Council unanimously approved a $300,000 mid-year budget transfer to fund two new senior positions in the mayor's office. The Finance Committee had already cleared the item eight to zero on January 12, with CFO Jennifer Lemieux explaining that the funds were drawn from three departmental surpluses: $100,000 each from human resources and DPW street-division vacancy savings, and $50,000 each from two elections line items left unspent after the city held only one election this fiscal year. Finance Committee Chair Councilor Grossman reported that on an annualized basis the executive office restructuring adds $366,000 to the city's salary baseline, covering a new chief community services officer, a new chief of staff, a CFO transition overlap, and a $30,000 unpaid vacation payout to outgoing CFO Lemieux. Councilor Block, who placed the item on second call, noted that "$300,000 for half a year annualizes at $600,000" and said the full council should weigh in on so significant an organizational question, even while expressing support. Councilor Kelly raised an unresolved concern that the elections funds might be needed if special elections are called before June 30.