City Manager

City Manager Finalists Discuss Police, Libraries and the Senior Center

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During Monday’s City Manager Finalist community forum the three candidates shared their thoughts on a number of items, including hiring the next Police Chief, libraries, and the Senior Center and senior services. The three City Manager finalists are: George Proakis (Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development), Norman Khumalo (Hopkinton Town Manager), and John Curran (Billerica Town Manager). Read more about the Finalists here. Police

One of the first duties of the next Watertown City Manager will be to hire a new Police Chief, with Michael Lawn announcing his retirement effective June 3. Curran hired a new police chief in Billerica in December, and said the qualities he would like to see in the next chief are: “They need to know what Police Reform is, they need to know the (Massachusetts) POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) Commission, they need to be someone who is of the guardian philosophy, and they need to be also someone up to speed in being able to do community policing and getting out into the community.” 

Curran said he believes in the “guardian philosophy” of policing where police are “here to help you, work with you, and get to know you.” Developing relationships with different groups in town is key, he added.

Comprehensive Plan

City Officials to Talk About Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan at Business Coalition Event

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

Officials from City Hall will talk about the process of updating Watertown’s primary planning document, the Comprehensive Plan, during an event hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition. The networking event will be held at City Hall (149 Main St.) in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, May 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The City is updating the Watertown Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2015. The document that lays out the vision for the future development in Watertown and includes economic development, land use, and transportation. 

Enjoy coffee and pastries will be provided by O’Some Café. Register by clicking here.

City Council

City Manager Finalists Discuss Why They Want to Come to Watertown

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Watertown City Hall

The three finalists for Watertown City Manager met with the public, and answered questions on Monday night. They shared some of their philosophies and approach to leadership, as well as why they want to become the City’s chief executive. Each of the finalists, John Curran, Norman Khumalo and George Proakis, spent an hour fielding questions from the public. Proakis, the Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, has worked in Somerville for 12 years, and before that he worked in Lowell for seven years. He said that Watertown is a unique and excellent place.

Charity

Watertown Company Cleans Up Section Along Charles River

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WiTricityEmployees from Watertown-based WiTricity cleaned up the area along the Charles River near the Watertown Bridge. Volunteers from Watertown-based WiTricity spent an afternoon cleaning up a section of the Charles River near Watertown Square. A team of 25 employees from the company located on Water Street in Watertown cleaned the river bank near the bridge over Galen Street on May 5. The clean-up was done under the guidance of the Charles River Conservancy. WiTricityTwenty-five employees from WiTricity picked up trash along the Charles River in Watertown.

Government

See How to Participate in the City Manager Finalist Public Forum

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The three finalists for Watertown City Manager will appear at a Community Forum Monday night, and the public will have the chance to ask them questions. The forum will be held in the Council Chamber in Watertown City Hall, 149 Main St., on May 9, 2022 at 6 p.m.

Each of the candidates will be interviewed for an hour. The finalists are: Norman Khumalo (Hopkinton Town Manager), John Curran (Billerica Town Manager), and George Proakis (Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development). Read more about the Finalists here. The meeting will be hybrid so members of the public can attend in-person or join remotely. Those participating by Zoom will be able to hear from the candidates and ask questions.

Arrests

Police Log: Four Men Arrested on Gun Charge, Former Landlord Clashes with Former Tenant

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

April 25, 1:51 a.m.: An officer patrolling on Warren Street spotted a vehicle stopped diagonally across a lane. The officer looked inside the 2008 Honda Accord and saw a woman asleep behind the wheel with the engine running. Police woke her and officers detected a strong odor of alcohol from her breath. A half-full bottle of tequila was found in the center arm rest of the rear passenger seat.

Bob Quinn

Watertown Fire Chief Retires After Short, but Eventful Tenure

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn retired after 35 years on the WFD, serving the last 4.5 years as chief. Here he is speaking to City Councilor Lisa Feltner at his retirement party at the Watertown Fire Headquarters. Fire Chief Bob Quinn headed into retirement at the end of April having helped modernize the Watertown Fire Department, pushed for increased firefighter safety, and endured the deaths of two close colleagues. On April 29, 35 years to the day after he became a firefighter Quinn retired as Watertown Fire Chief. A celebration was held in the engine bay at Watertown Fire Headquarters, instead of at a hall or restaurant, because Quinn said he wanted to bring back an old tradition.