Newton Zoning Panel Votes 8-0 to Move Economic Development Commission to Mayor's Office

NEWTON -- January 12, 2026, Newton's Zoning and Planning Committee voted 8-0 to advance an ordinance amendment moving oversight of the city's Economic Development Commission from the Planning Department to the Mayor's Office. Attorney Andrew Lee of the city's Law Department confirmed the change requires only a simple majority of the full City Council because it is not a zoning amendment. The amendment makes two textual changes: it replaces Planning Department staffing language with a provision naming the Economic Development Director or designee as commission staff, and it relocates the commission's ordinance from chapter 22 to chapter 7 of the city code. Dana Hanson, Mayor Laredo's Chief of Staff, described the move as "enriching the cross-function," while Chair Lyle Baker warned the committee that with two senior planning departures already underway the city must not "lose ground in other places." Newly appointed Economic Development Director Lauren Berman, appearing by video, and Deputy Director Cheryl Lappin, a former 18-year City Councillor, reported that within their first week on the job they had already built a Newton business certificate and vacant storefront database with help from two Harvard interns, and flagged the Massachusetts Vacant Storefront Community program, which offers $50,000 in tax credits to participating small businesses, as an early tool under review.