(Newton TAB Opinion Column, January 7, 2004)

Individually, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions regarding the ways in which we would like to improve. Organizations and institutions also need to set out goals for improvement. As a Newton Alderman, I would like to offer some New Year’s resolutions for our City:

1) Get the Newton North High School project back on track— The most cost-effective plan and the one that best meets the needs of Newton students is to build a new, state-of-the art high school, rather than attempting some combination of renovations and new construction. My hope is that City officials will come together around building a new high school and will make a strong case to state officials at the School Building Assistance Bureau, so that they agree to accept the project for reimbursement. We should also take the Newton North project back to Newton voters for their approval.

2) Make a strong commitment to maintaining and improving infrastructure & open space— The City’s capital budget has been far too inadequate to maintain our buildings, streets, and parks, let alone to purchase the equipment needed to fix streets, remove snow, and provide other important City services. We need to commit an increased percentage of local revenue to funding the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which currently is badly underfunded to the detriment of people all over Newton. We also need to make building maintenance a priority by creating lines of accountability, so that every municipal facility is maintained to the highest standards.

3) Work with City employees more collaboratively to resolve labor disputes and to solicit new ideas— We should start by offering non-binding arbitration to the Newton Firefighters who object to the City’s sick time policy.

4) Improve land use planning and enforcement— Too often land use decisions are made in isolation without looking at the City’s overall development needs. The Board of Aldermen should reform our Land Use process to solicit ongoing public input on proposed developments (not just a single night) by keeping public hearings open until items are voted on and we should integrate specific planning objectives into the criteria by which we judge these proposals. We also need to make sure our Inspectional Services Department has the resources, people, and will to enforce our zoning laws and special permit conditions. It does no one any good to pass a permit with conditions that protect a neighborhood only to have those conditions ignored, as has so often been the case in recent years.

5) Develop a comprehensive snow clearing plan— Our sidewalks need to be made clear and safe. People who plow snow from their driveways onto City sidewalks need to be held accountable. Similarly, contractors who are hired to clear our streets need to be held accountable for the quality of their work.

6) Pass and implement the light ordinance— Newton residents should not have to live with bright lights from abutting institutional and commercial uses shining in their windows.

7) Reform accounting practices— We should take our outside auditor’s advice and reconcile all accounts on a monthly basis or more frequently: this means significant reform of the Treasurer’s office, which is currently nearly six months behind.

8) Correlate fees to policy objectives—We should eliminate school bus fees, which have the effect of encouraging students to drive or be driven, further clogging our streets. We should index auto excise tax rates to the pollution and road damage of a vehicle, offering discounts for low-emission, fuel efficient vehicles. We should make our water and sewer rate structure more progressive to encourage water conservation and provide relief to those who are in large structures that are currently charged the maximum rate, despite their conservation efforts. We should eliminate minor fees that cost more to administer than they generate.

9) Help the needy— We should direct our property tax relief efforts at the people who need the help, not just implement every discount that makes us feel good. We should develop affordable housing programs that get the best possible return on investment and help to provide a home for the truly needy among us.

10) Acquire open space— We should use CPA funds to acquire open space in every neighborhood in Newton for future generations to enjoy. Where no open space is available to acquire, we should consider buying developed land and transforming it into parks and playgrounds.

(Ken Parker is a member of the Newton Board of Aldermen and can be reached by phone at (617) 965-3723 or via email at ken@kenparker.org.)