Government

Schools Make Budget Case, Councilors Want More Info

By |

Tuesday night Watertown School officials made their case for the major increase in their school budget to the Town Council, but Councilors had concerns and questions about the schools’ request. After making some adjustments to the request, the Watertown Public School asked for a $5.8 million in Fiscal 2015 over the current year, or just under a 16 percent hike. On April 29 when Town Manager Michael Driscoll first presented the budget their figure was $6.1 million or 16.87 percent more than Fiscal 2014. This is the amount of money needed to return the Watertown Schools to the point where they were before the Recession sapped the schools of funding, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. On Tuesday, Driscoll again presented his proposed budget which would give an increase of the town appropriation of $2.2 million or 6.18 percent.

Government

New Approach to Making Budget Needed to Add Staffing

By |

As the Town Council reviews the budget during the Fiscal 2015 budget hearings they often lamented that they do not have the funds to boost staffing for multiple departments. To actually add, a new approach to budgeting is needed, Town Council President Mark Sideris said. One department that several Councilors pointed to as being in critical need for more staff is the Community Development and Planning Department. Development in Watertown is booming, and the town is also working on the Comprehensive Plan, a huge document that will help shape what Watertown looks like in the future. Councilor Cecilia Lenk said she would like to see a staff member th help coordinate public transportation for the new developments.

Schools

Watertown Schools Hire New Business Manager

By |

After enduring a difficult – and still ongoing – budget year without a director of business services, the Watertown Public Schools hired one on Monday night. The School Committee approved the hiring of Charlie Kellner, and he will begin work after July 1, 2014. Kellner last worked as the school business director for the Medfield Public Schools. He said the Watertown job appealed to him. “I am familiar with some of the staff and I grew up not far away in Newton,” Kellner said.

Government

LETTER: Watertown’s Retirement Savings is Misleading

By |

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to your article on the May 27 budget hearing in the hope of clarifying issues surrounding Watertown’s pension funding decisions. [Click here to read the article.]

The article reports the misleading claim, made by the Town Manager in the April 29 budget presentation document and again during the May 27 budget presentation, that moving the end-date for eliminating our unfunded pension liability from 2022 to 2019 will save the Town $32 million. This inaccurate claim leads to the false and damaging impression that the pension appropriations for FY2015 and subsequent years cannot be reduced because doing so would eliminate substantial savings. To the contrary, in order to realize $5 million savings by 2022 (not $32 million!), by 2019 the Town must make $10 million more in contributions than had been previously scheduled through 2019. Before addressing arcane aspects of pension funding, we need to ask: Why is this important to Town residents?

Government

Mt. Auburn Street Repairs Move a Step Closer

By |

Mt. Auburn Street could be repaired and redesigned in the near future, as the state gave approval to the project to move into the design phase. MassHighway gave project review approval for the proposal, said Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee, and now the town must start designing the project. “We need to finish surveying work and we will have public meetings and start designing it,” Mee said. Mee said he hopes to have the first of multiple meetings “within a few months.”

Around Town

Artist Group Seeking New Home, Might Leave Town

By |

The Turtle Studios has been in town since the Clinton Administration, but it may have to leave Watertown unless it can find an affordable spot. The group of 28 artists calls the second floor of the Watertown Elks Lodge home, but in December they were told that the building was being sold, said Jen Dunning, an artist who has been part of the group for the past 8 years. “We have until Sept. 30 to find new space,” Dunning said. The group has been looking at spaces around Watertown, but have yet to find a space big enough in their price range.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Fights Officers When Arrested and More

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

May 21, 10:07 a.m.: Police arrested a 33-year-old Watertown woman on a charge of domestic assault and battery, and officers found a bottle with 27 pills that did not belong to her. She was also charged with possession of a Class E drug. May 21, 7:19 p.m.: Security stopped a suspected shoplifter and the man fought security when they tried to detain him. He continued to fight when police arrived and tried to arrest him.

Government

Watertown School Budget on Tap This Week

By |

On Tuesday, Watertown school officials will make their case to the Town Council for their Fiscal 2015 budget request. The School Committee and school administrators will present their budget at the Budget Hearing on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Their budget will be heard after the Water/Sewer Enterprise. There is a significant gap between the request from the Schools, which asked for a $6 million, 16 percent increase. While the Town Manager’s budget includes a $2.26 million, 6 percent increase.