Around Town

Water & Sewer Rates Rising, City Could Use ARPA Funds to Lessen the Impact

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Watertown water and sewer bills will be going up more than 5 percent this year, but the City could soften the blow by using federal COVID relief funds to pay for infrastructure projects. On Tuesday, the City Council approved the water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes a 5.5 percent increase for water, and a 6 percent jump for sewer. For an average residential customer who uses 1,800 cubic feet of water a quarter the combined water and sewer bill would go up $16.88 from the current year to $306.76 ($107.56 for water, $199.20 for sewer). City Manager George Proakis said that a study by the City’s water and sewer consultant, The Abrahams Group, found that if the City uses the ARPA funds to pay for the $1.25 million in water and sewer projects from Fiscal Year 2025 to 2028, the rate increase would drop. The City Council has received 32 proposals for how to use the $10.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from City departments as well as outside organizations.

Government

City Releases Draft of the Watertown Comprehensive Plan

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The City has been working on updating Watertown’s primary planning document, the Comprehensive Plan, for months. This week, the City released the draft of the plan to be considered by the City Council. See the plans and more details about the process on the Comprehensive Plan website,  www.watertown-ma.gov/comp-plan. “This draft is updated based on input from the spring Open House and Online Survey. The formal approval process with the City Council and Planning Board is the next step,” the City’s announcement said.

Government

Zoning Board Wants More Changes to Main Street Project

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A view of the revised plans for the 104-126 Main Street project. The sixth floor has been scaled back and would not be seen from Main Street. (Illustration by Icon Architecture)

Developers of the six-story mixed-use project on Main Street reduced the number of apartments slightly and increased the landscaping along the public walkway along the building, but that did not satisfy some members of the Zoning Board of the Appeals. The hearing for the project at 104-126 Main Street, which stretches to Pleasant Street and Cross Street, was continued for a second time after some Zoning Board members said on Wednesday night that they did not think the project met the requirement to provide public amenities. Meeting that requirement is necessary to get the additional height to allow the sixth story.

Schools

School Committee Member Will Not Be Seeking Another Term

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Lindsay Mosca

School Committee member Lindsay Mosca announced this week that she will not be running for re-election in 2023. Mosca is one of three people on the School Committee whose terms are up at the end of the year. The election will be held. Nov. 7, 2023, and the deadline for candidates to submit signatures to the City Clerk’s office is July 31.

Around Town

Volunteers Needed for 2023 Watertown Arts Market

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Preparations are being made for the third annual Watertown Arts Market, but organizers still need volunteers to help before, during and after the event. This year’s Arts Market will take place at Filippello Park near the Grove Street entrance on Saturday, Aug. 19, from noon to 5 p.m.

People can volunteer for various shifts during the event, said Kristen Kenny, a member of the Arts Market Committee. “We need mostly people for set-up and break-down,” Kenny said. Individuals or groups from companies, organizations, schools and others are welcome to lend a hand.

Schools

Former Students, Educators Get Final Look Around Watertown High School

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Photo by Charlie BreitrosePeople lined up to get one last look at Watertown High School before it is torn down. The hallways of Watertown High School buzzed with activity one last time last week, as former students, teachers, even principals took a look around the old school and shared memories. The school, parts of which date back to the 1920s, will be torn down in the fall to make way for a brand new, state-of-the-art building. While many looked back on their memories at WHS fondly, most agreed it was time to say goodbye on June 22. Photo by Charlie BreitroseFormer students and staff milled around the hallways at Watertown High School one last time.

Around Town

Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network Receives $25,000 Grant

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Joan McGrath, left, Executive Director of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts & Rhode Island (PLAN of MA & RI), presents a $25,000 grant to Brenda Dater, Executive Director of Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) to support the organization. (Photo courtesy PLAN of MA & RI)

Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network received a $25,000 grant from the Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. PLAN of MA & RI Executive Director Joan McGrath presented the check to Brenda Dater, executive director of ANNE. The nonprofit PLAN of MA & RI is recognized as an expert in operating special needs trusts and, since 2020, has granted more than $1 million to nonprofits supporting individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit www.planofma-ri.org.