City council and committee briefs

The City Council has approved a plaque honoring Councilor-at-Large Kathleen McMenimen for her decades of service to Waltham’s residents. 

The plaque will be mounted on a bench at the playing fields and site of the Fernald State School at 200 Trapelo Road.

“It’s only fitting, given her many years of work, to recognize her dedication to guardians and residents,” Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said.

Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan added that McMenimen’s “incredible lifetime of public service” as a teacher, city councilor and member of multiple Housing Authority and deferral boards makes the tribute well deserved.

In other action at Tuesday’s meeting:

• The City Council approved construction of a four-family residence on Orange Street. The new structure will replace the existing residence on 64-66 Orange St. offering a modern four-unit design that will include garages. Demolition of the existing units is expected to begin within a month while the actual street trenching is expected late summer/early fall and will last only a couple of days. 
• The council unanimously approved a request by Charles River Canoe & Kayak for a Section 10A permit to install a temporary dock at Cronin’s Landing — a renewal of the permit the outfit has been approved for several summers with no issues.
• The council renewed Brandeis University’s lodging‑house permit for its residences.
• The council tabled a proposal to adopt a specialized stretch energy code aimed at encouraging all-electric new construction. Councilors requested a legal opinion from the city’s law department before proceeding, citing concerns about the potential financial impact on affordable housing and new developments. The proposed code would align Waltham with nearby communities such as Watertown, Newton and Lexington, and make the city eligible for up to $1 million in state grants.