Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/)
Watertown teachers rallied in Watertown Square on Jan. 25 calling for settling their contract. Photo courtesy of Watertown Cable News / Maya Shwayder. Watertown teachers and Watertown School officials have been in negotiations for a new contract, but have not yet settled. In a step to express their displeasure with the process, teachers have started “working to rule” this week.
The Community Preservation Committee will hear applications for six projects seeking from groups funding from the fund created by the passage of the Community Preservation Act. This year, will be the second year that funding had been awarded for Community Preservation projects. Last year, two were funded: the preservation of two historic paintings in City Hall, and the renovation of Irving Park. A third did not receive funds. Funds can go to projects in three areas: historic preservation, community housing, and outdoor recreation.
Another one of Watertown’s major roadways will have a project this year that will slow traffic. New electric lines will be installed under North Beacon Street, and could take two to three months to complete. In January, the City Council approved the petition from Eversource to install 1,612 feet of conduit for electrical wires under North Beacon. The project also includes 177 feet of conduit under Main Street and 60 feet of conduit under Pleasant Street. The photos in the petition application show roadways starting at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Main Street in Watertown Square, and going east to the intersection of North Beacon Street and Irving Street.
The Watertown Public Schools will host an informational evening about vocational and career technical education opportunities for Watertown students. In past years, Minuteman High School was the choice for a majority of Watertown students looking to learn a trade or take part in vocational education. In recent years, the school in Lexington has not had capacity to accept students from outside the district, and Watertown is not part of the Minuteman District. There are other opportunities, including Medford Vocational High School and programs at Watertown High School. The following information was sent out about the informational session:
“Interested in learning about career and technical education?
The City Council voted to give itself a salary increase based on cost of living adjustments (COLA), and will voted to create a resident committee to look at whether to raise the number even more in the future. The Watertown Charter requires raises for the City Councilors to be approved by a Council vote amending the City Council Salary ordinance. Under the amendment approved on Jan. 24, Councilors will be paid $8,700 a year beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, up from $7,500, and the Council President’s salary will go from $10,500 up to $12,000.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
Jan. 16, 12:24 p.m.: Police received a report of a shoplifting at Best Buy. Store security spotted a man who was observed taking a laptop, and gave the description to police and said he had been seen heading toward Arsenal Street. Officers spotted a man matching the description on a bench in Arsenal Yards.
This week a single family, a two-family and two condos were sold this week in Watertown. 106 Russell Ave., 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 1,885 sq. ft. Single Family, Sold: $1,200,000
4 N. Irving Park #2, 3 bedroom 4 bathroom 2,446 sq. ft.
Tory Boyle. Born and raised in Watertown, Tory Boyle has been influence from some great coaches at various levels, and has combined her love of sports and marketing into a career. Recently, she joined the Northeastern Athletics Department as an Assistant Athletic Director. In her new role, Boyle leads Game Day Marketing & Innovation for Northeastern sports, and oversees three employees. “Game day presentation is anything that happens during the game that is not the teams playing the sports themselves: music, announcements, anything on video board and promotions,” Boyle said.