Councilors approve restoration funds, revisit zoning and development issues

The Waltham City Council’s Long-Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee at its meeting Monday night approved more than $1 million in preservation funds for restorations at the Robert Treat Paine Estate (Stonehurst) and Gore Place and for next year’s Community Preservation Act budget. 

The funding will support affordable housing, CPA recommendations and historic preservation, according to Board of Survey and Planning Chair M. Justin Barrett Jr.

Also on Monday night, the City Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee revisited plans to create a mobile app meant to streamline constituent requests to city departments. The councilors in past months have discussed a proposal to develop a mobile app as an alternative to the current website system that residents can use to report problems or issues to city officials. 

As part of the development process, Waltham Information Technology Director Donald J. Aucoin said staff will gather input from departments, obtain vendor pricing and work with the mayor’s office to bring recommendations back to the council for further discussion.

“We are serving multigenerational citizens, so it’s important to appeal to everyone,” said Aucoin, referring to the goal for the user experience.