Council sends proposed $900,000 roadway transfer back to committees after DPW reports snow-removal shortfall

The Newton City Council on June 15 voted to recommit item 197-26, a proposed $900,000 transfer to the Transportation Network Improvement Program for road, sidewalk and ramp improvements, after Finance Chair Councillor Grossman said the Department of Public Works reported an outstanding snow-removal bill.

Councillor Grossman told the council he received a call from Ms. Lemieux raising concerns that DPW still owes between $800,000 and $900,000 from this past winter. Because the proposed transfer is an interdepartmental transfer rather than a free-cash appropriation, Grossman said the council has until July 15 to resolve the matter and can return the item to the full council after committees reconcile the shortfall and identify funding.

Councillor Grossman moved to recommit the item to Finance and Public Facilities for review; Councillor Lucas seconded. The motion passed by roll call; the clerk recorded the motion as approved with 20 ayes and four absences. The council agreed to bring the item back at the July 13 meeting after staff and committee work.

The recommitment preserves the administration’s ability to address the DPW shortfall and to identify whether the $900,000 transfer can proceed without impairing snow-removal obligations or whether alternate funding will be required. The council did not take a final vote on the transfer at the June 15 meeting.

The Finance and Public Facilities committees are expected to reconcile the snow-removal amount and return recommendations to the full council before the July 15 transfer deadline.