The Newton City Programs & Services Committee voted to recommend a home-rule petition that would let the city satisfy statutory publication requirements for public-hearing notices by posting them online instead of in a printed newspaper.

Andrew Lee of the law department summarized the request under Item 3-14-25, saying the petition seeks “in lieu of publishing that notice in the hard print copy of the paper, the city would have the option to instead post that notice... in either a newspaper's website, a statewide database... or even a local database.” Lee stressed the petition affects only the publication medium and does not change obligations under the Open Meeting Law or mailed notices.

Drew Willison, the council clerk, told the committee the city historically has used the Boston Herald for legal notices but that local outlets such as the Newton Beacon or Fig City News — including their websites — may provide broader, more local reach at lower cost. Committee members asked whether an official statewide repository exists and whether the city could require two online sources; staff said they would research the statewide repository and that the city’s electronic posting board might be adapted to meet statutory requirements.

Councilors debated an amendment to require notices be posted using two or more sources rather than just one. After discussion, the committee approved the petition with the amendment and voted to send the item to the full council for consideration.