City Council in brief: Old resolutions filed before the new year

The City Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee completed some “housekeeping” to identify items that still need action as well as older resolutions it no longer plans to discuss.

At the meeting Monday night, committee members moved some matters off their docket, noting that they had been resolved. They had sent a resolution requesting bike parking around Moody Street to the full council for approval, and had filed away the Canada Geese Mitigation Resolution, which was addressed by the Department of Consolidated Public Works and this year’s city budget.

Additionally, committee members moved to combine the 2022 Rodent Resolution with the resolution proposed last week by Ward 7 Councilor Paul S. Katz. Katz’s resolution calls for city officials to discuss a proactive city-wide rat mitigation strategy. 

Committee members also requested that the city’s public health director, public works director, city engineer, building inspector and mayor attend an Economic and Community Development Committee meeting in January to make further plans and delegate individual department responsibilities.

Ward 5 Councilor Joey LaCava moved to file away a resolution he submitted earlier this year to remove granite curbing at the Elm Street train crossing with the hopes of alleviating traffic issues. He said that members of the Engineering Department had expressed that the proposed changes to the current intersection were infeasible.

The committee also filed away an April 2024 resolution about benches around town for seniors; a resolution about construction on Lexington Street in November 2024; and the 2023 Waltham Connections for Healthy Aging Resolution, which involved seeking state and federal grants for Waltham programs. 

Additionally, the City Council’s committees at their Monday night meetings:

• At the request of Councilor-at-Large Colleen Bradley-MacArthur, heard from the Waltham Cultural Council about its work funding arts and culture programs in the city. (Committee of the Whole).
• Accepted a $5,000 donation from the Bird Precision Charitable Foundation to the Council on Aging in memory of Carl Cunningham, who passed away in March, 2025. Cunningham served as the president of Bird Precision, a precision glass jewel manufacturing plant located on Spruce Street. (Finance).
• Accepted a $250 donation from local law firm Connors & Connors to maintain holiday lights on Waltham Common. The firm’s office was originally located across from the entrance to City Hall. Councilor-At-Large Kathleen McMenimen said she shared the Connors’ sentiments that it often brought them “great pleasure to look out their window and see the beauty of City Hall, the trees and the festivity of the season all over.” (Finance).
• Recommended approval for a used car sales license for Chrislins Auto. (Licenses & Franchises).
• Accepted edits from the Law Department to the city’s noise ordinance to send out to the general council for approval. The edits clarify the role of the Police, Building and Health departments in responding to noise complaints. (Ordinances and Rules).
• Heard updates on proposals for three zoning overlays that would allow mixed residential and commercial development in the west of Waltham. (Ordinances and Rules).