Good Morning,

Max Woolf here.

Last night, the Newton City Council elected John Oliver to serve as its next president. In a 13–11 vote, Oliver defeated the council’s current vice president, David Kalis, for the position.

A business marketing consultant residing in Nonantum, Oliver is a relative newcomer to the council, first elected to the Ward 1 at-large seat in 2021.

Last week, he was one of only two councilors to vote against Riverside’s revised special permit — support from the council’s growth-skeptical majority helped secure his 13-vote win.

“There are 24 of us, and we all have strong opinions,” Oliver said in his speech, adding that he sees it as his job to help the council work together effectively and efficiently.

As president, Oliver will preside over the council, make key committee assignments, and serve as mayor in the case of a vacancy or incapacity.

Aside from one moment of tension, when one councilor briefly left the room,

the meeting largely focused on calls to work together across differences. Councilor Allison Leary said she hoped the next president could rise above divisions and focus on “what we can do together.”

While Kalis lost the vote for president, he was reelected as vice president of the council, with Councilor Lisle Baker continuing in his role as president emeritus. All three officers, along with their fellow councilors-elect, will be sworn in for their two-year terms at the beginning of 2026.

Newton Beacon has more.

Meet the new Charles River Campus

UMass Amherst is rebranding its Mount Ida campus in Newton, and we love the new name.

Starting in January, it will be the Charles River Campus of UMass Amherst.

The name change is intended to better align the campus with the Charles River region and reflect its mission to serve as a pipeline connecting UMass Amherst students to career opportunities throughout Greater Boston, the university said in a statement.

The location offers internship pathway programs in psychological & brain sciences, law and policy, and sociology, with biology, applied humanities, and engineering programs to be added in 2026–27.

UMass also started the “Career Launch” program this year, enabling first-year students to spend a semester on the Newton campus exploring how their studies connect to careers in Greater Boston.

“The Charles River is a landmark synonymous with Greater Boston and is just steps from campus,” said Jenny Reynolds, director of campus engagement in Newton.

“That it flows on a winding west-to-east path into the heart of the city serves as a powerful metaphor, both for our mission to connect students from the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts to the world-class employers in Greater Boston, and for the sometimes non-linear professional journey of our students and alumni.”

That connection from the Charles to our communities, as well as Boston proper, is the same reason our chamber rebranded in 2021. 

The university originally acquired the 66-acre property upon Mount Ida College’s closure in 2018.

Heath selected to lead Metro West CD 

Outgoing Newton Planning Director Barney Heath has been named the next executive director of Metro West Collaborative Development, one of the state’s premier affordable housing developers.

Metro West CD is a nonprofit that produces municipal housing plans, supports renters, and helps finance, build and manage affordable housing across the MetroWest.

Heath will bring nearly a decade of experience in Newton’s Planning Department to the organization that is already deeply embedded in our region’s housing landscape—most notably as the developer of the West Newton Armory, which will soon provide homes for 43 families.

Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller wished him the best on his new chapter and noted that he“ is an extraordinary leader who cultivated an environment…of trust, collaboration and professional growth.”

In Newton, Heath leaves behind a legacy defined by strong staff development, pragmatism, and a deep commitment to smart-growth—qualities the city will continue to need.

Meanwhile, Newton Deputy Chief of Planning Jenn Caira is taking a job with the City of Cambridge, Eric Arbeene, Wellelsey’s departing planning director, is taking a job in the private sector, and Watertown’s Steve Magoon is retiring.

Friday Grab Bag

• Our thanks to the Wellesley Select Board for once again showing its support for businesses in town by adopting a level tax rate between commercial and residential properties this week. The level rate sets Wellesley apart from most other communities and supports the town’s economic success and vibrancy. Here is our letter thanking the Board.
  
  
• You can now take a direct bus from Riverside Station to Logan Airport. As of Nov. 14, chamber member Blue Apple Bus is running more than 12 buses along this route for $15 per ride. Fig City News
  
  
• After a one-year hiatus, sledding is back at Elm Bank…for now. (Swellesley Report)
  
  
• This afternoon, stop by Newton City Hall to say goodbye to Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller from 4 to 6 p.m. and join in on the mayor’s Holiday Mini Golf Spectacular.
  
  
• The Suffolk University Law School Center for Housing Justice and Policy and the City of Newton will host an online fair housing training for real estate professionals on Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. to help them understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
  
  
• Stratus Therapeutics, a cell therapy company with a manufacturing facility at The Arsenal on the Charles, is winding down its operations, according to Watertown Bio. Their lab space at 300 N Beacon is currently listed for rent for a January 2026 occupancy.
  
  
  
• The Green Line’s downtown tunnel will be shut down starting Dec. 8 through Dec. 22. We wrote last week about why this is unfortunate timing.
  
  
• We’re partnering with the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition for a Dec. 10 webinar designed to help businesses navigate evolving immigration policies, including guidance on enforcement interactions and workplace inclusion. Register
  
  
• The Watertown High School Robotics Team is seeking support from local community partners to help fund its extracurricular program, which teaches students engineering, leadership, and teamwork skills. The team consists of 20 high school students who engage in areas such as computer science, mechanical design, and manufacturing.
  
  Most of the program’s funding comes from local organizations, and the team is currently looking for contributions in the form of monetary donations, in-kind support, or professional mentorship. Reach out to learn more.

New graduation requirements

Last year, voters removed our state’s only serious high school graduation requirement: passing the MCAS test.

This week, Governor Healey unveiled her plan for a new graduation requirement. The ambitious framework would add required coursework, capstone or portfolio projects, and new standardized end-of-course assessments.

While the proposal is promising, the Globe’s Editorial Board notes that many key questions remain unanswered — including which subjects will be tested, how many assessments students must pass, how schools will staff and fund the proposal, and how long districts will have to implement the changes.

Graduation requirements are important for giving employers confidence that high school graduates have mastered basic skills before entering the workforce.

With MCAS scores falling even further after last year’s ballot question, the state must deliver a credible and rigorous backup plan.

Need a hire?

The Price Center has long served our communities with essential disability services — but many employers may not realize that they also provide a pathway to hire dedicated employees.

Their Employment Services program connects local businesses to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through customized job matching.

They also provide ongoing support to supervisors and HR teams, assisting employers throughout the process.

The program is full of success stories, with long-term placements at local restaurants, Trader Joe’s, YMCA’s, retailers and hospitals like MGH.

Employers found that through this program, they “gain loyal, dedicated workers.”

If you’re looking to fill roles or strengthen your team, find out if the Price Center’s programs could help meet your business staffing needs.

And that’s what you need to know today, unless you need to know how you can rename an MBTA bus stop. 

Max Woolf (he, him)

Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager

Charles River Regional Chamber

617-431-6101

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