Schools

School Building Committee Delays Submitting High School Project, Looking Closer at Where to Put Temporary Site

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It could be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The submission of the Watertown High School project to the State has been delayed in an effort to look at where the temporary location of the high school will be during construction. 

The School Building Committee had been scheduled to vote on submitting the plan for the WHS project, including the use of Moxley Field as a site for a temporary school site, on Wednesday. Instead, Town Council President Mark Sideris announced the delay of the submission of the project. 

“We have a number of things we have to work out. A lot of concerns have been raised, and we believe the prudent thing to do is to continue talking, continue investigating and continue to have conversations with people to figure out the best approach that will get us a good high school and a good plan to get to that,” Sideris said. 

The proposal called for building the new high school on the current WHS, and moving the students to a temporary school made up of two-story modular classrooms at Moxley Field.

Government

Town Charter Changes Proposed to Allow Council to Hire Staff, Hold a State of the Town Meeting Annually

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Watertown Town Hall

Allowing the Town Council to hire staff to help them with their work, adding language to spell out the Council’s power, and requiring annual State of the Town meetings are some of the changes being considered by the Watertown Charter Review Committee. The Committee began looking at ways to alter the current Town Charter Tuesday, at the first meeting following their vote to keep the current form of government with a Town Council and the Town Manager serving as the executive rather than changing to one with a mayor as the executive. Assistants for the Council

The Committee’s consultant, Michael Ward from UMass Boston’s Collins Center, brought up some possible changes to address concerns raised at previous meetings. One issue raised was the Council’s ability to do its work, and having enough capacity to handle the duties of the Council. One way Ward suggested to address that issue was adding a piece to the Legislative section of the charter which would allow the Town Council to hire staff to help them with areas such as research into municipal issues, financial analysis or other areas.

Business

Get to Know Watertown Life Sciences in a Virtual Panel of Biotech Execs – Submit Your Questions

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Leaders of Watertown’s newest industry will be talking about their companies and the influx of life science into Town during the Watertown Business Coalition’s virtual event. A recent survey found about 50 biotech firms located in Watertown of various sizes and stages of development. Get to know life sciences from a panel of five executives from four life science companies located in Watertown. The event will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 4-5 p.m. To RSVP click here. The WBC’s Life Science Panel will include: Joanne Kamens, Executive Director of Addgene; Mark Bamforth, Founder, Exec.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Who Drove Up on Sidewalk Faces OUI Charge, Shoplifter Hits Car in Lot While Fleeing

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

April 7, 4:31 p.m.: Police were called by someone who observed a woman sitting in a white car for an extended period and the caller said the woman was acting strangely. The vehicle was parked on Spruce Street and when officers spoke to the woman she said she was there because her boyfriend lived in the area. She was unable to tell police in which house he lived. When speaking with her, Police learned that there was a warrant for her arrest from the Brockton District Court for reckless endangerment of a child.

Real Estate

Two Single Family Homes and a Condo Sold in Watertown This Week

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A pair of Watertown properties were sold this week. $885,127.60 – 456 Belmont St. Unit 14, Watertown, MA, Condo – Other, 1,488 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$766,500 – 46 Quincy St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,675 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom

$795,000 – 22 Myrtle St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,815 Living Area Sq.

Government

Watertown’s Town Clerk Retires After 26 Years, Oversaw Challenging 2020 Elections

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John Flynn, right, retired after 26 years serving as Watertown’s Town Clerk. Here he swears in members of the Town Council at the Watertown Inauguration on Jan. 2, 2018. A fixture in Town Hall whose smiling face welcomed many to the Town Clerk’s office has retired after more than a quarter century serving the residents of Watertown. Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn stepped down after 26 years in the position that oversees elections and Town records among many duties.

Around Town

More Than a Dozen Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

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Plenty of open houses to choose from in Watertown this week. $600,000 – 24 Morse Unit 1, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,262 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$489,000 – 8 Phillips St U:2, Condo, 1,132 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open House: Saturday 11-12:30

$485,000 – 40 Bigelow Ave. Unit 19, Condo – Low-Rise, 765 Living Area Sq.