Newton Finance Committee unanimously funds Ward 7 special election at $183,395

NEWTON -- January 13, 2025, Newton Finance Committee unanimously approves $183,395 for a March 18 Ward 7 School Committee special election. The committee, meeting January 13 with all eight members present and chaired by Councilor Gentile, amended the original request of $100,018 upward after receiving a revised figure from city elections staff; major cost drivers include roughly $44,000 in postage for vote-by-mail applications and approximately $45,000 combined for police details and DPW transfers. Councilor Malakie read the city charter aloud, confirming the vacancy, created when the Ward 7 member moved out of Newton in mid-July 2024, falls within the 15-month window requiring a special election. The panel also accepted a $500,000 MassDOT Complete Streets grant for sidewalks and pedestrian upgrades on Nonantum Street, approved a Newton Little League gift to install sports lighting at Murphy Field in Albemarle Park, and authorized a $10,000 settlement of a car-accident lawsuit against the city in which the plaintiff had originally sought $60,000.