Mayoral candidates forum

Two Newton political action committees will hold a forum August 26 for mayoral candidates to discuss issues raised in a landmark city report this spring.

The groups Citizens for the Future of Newton and Newton 20/20 are sponsoring the event, which will focus on the proposals outlined in April by the Citizens Advisory Group.

The Citizens Advisory Group recommended that Newton’s municipal and school operations should be reviewed to find more efficient ways of providing services, and that the city should attempt to link any growth in employee salary and benefit costs to the growth in revenues.

The group also recommended a number of new and increased fees, including charging for trash collection, installing more parking meters with longer hours and increased rates, and charging more for recreation, cultural, and community-education programs.

State Representative Ruth Balser, former John Kerry staffer Setti Warren, and Aldermen Kenneth Parker and Paul Coletti are vying to replace Mayor David Cohen, who is not running for reelection.

When the Citizens Advisory Group report was issues, Parker and Coletti came out against the idea of a trash fee, while Balser and Warren did not rule it out.

The forum will start at 7 p.m. at the Newton South High School auditorium.

The four candidates will face off September 15 in a preliminary election that will narrow the field to two. The general election is November 3.