Schools

Several Positions Would be Added in Watertown School’s “Level Service” Budget

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The Watertown School schools have a little over $100,000 left in next year’s budget after preserving the current staffing and programs, the School Committee heard last week. Director of Finance and Operations Heidi Perkins presented the level-service budget last week, which would be $53.75 million including a 3.5 percent increase in funding from the Town. That amount does not include other funds such as state special education circuit breaker money, which will add about half of the increase that makes the total budget $57 million. While the budget will go up by about $1.8 million, Perkins said that only six percent of that will be available for new proposals. The level-service budget, however, does include some new positions.

Sports

Post Season Play for Watertown Basketball, Hockey Teams

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The boys basketball team will be one of three Watertown High School teams playing in Middlesex League postseason games on Wednesday. While the MIAA will not be having winter state tournaments due to the pandemic, Watertown High School has three teams playing postseason games on Wednesday. The Raiders had a successful winter, with two teams winning the Middlesex League Freedom Division — boys basketball and girls hockey — and a third having a winning season. This week, three teams will be playing Middlesex League foes in a special tournament, said WHS Athletic Director Ryan Murphy. “We knew we couldn’t have a State Tournament, but wanted to have some kind of year ending, season ending experience for the kids,” Murphy said.

Government

Charter Review Committee One of This Week’s Watertown Meetings

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Watertown Town Hall

Watertown has a shorter than normal list of meetings during Presidents Day Week. The list includes the Charter Review, Board of Health and the Community Preservation Commission. Charter Review

The discussion of potentially changing the Watertown Charter will continue on Tuesday, Feb 16 at 6 p.m. During the meeting, the Town’s consultants from the Collins Center at UMass Boston will present some examples of ways to change the charter that would address issues with the Town’s government that have been discussed at previous meetings. See how to tune in and participate by clicking here. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2021/02/05/charter-review-committee-debates-vision-for-town-ways-to-improve-government/

This Week’s Meetings

Tuesday

The Watertown Housing Partnership meets at 6 p.m. The agenda includes the HOME Annual Action Plan, the Watertown Housing Plan and other issues related to affordable housing.

Around Town

Three COVID-19 Deaths in Watertown, Number of Cases Declining

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Watertown’s COVID-19 cases continued to drop this week, but the Town saw three more COVID-19 deaths. The fatalities, reported by the Watertown Health Department in the Town Manager’s weekly COVID-19 message, were the first for the Town since the first week of 2021. Watertown had 133 cases reported over the previous 14 days in the Mass. Department of Public Health report of Feb. 11, 2021.

Arrests

Police Log: Attempted Home Break-in, Man Arrested After Shoplifting Spree

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

Feb. 3, 7:35 p.m.: A shoplifting in-progress was reported by Target security., While police were on the way to the store they received information that the suspect had fled the store. Officers located a man fitting the suspect’s description on Arsenal Street just outside the Watertown Mall. The suspect immediately said, “I am sorry for taking the items. I will give them back.”

Real Estate

A Condo & 2 Multifamily Homes Sold in Watertown

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See this week’s Watertown home sales. $760,760 – 38-40 Keenan St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 2,293 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 11 Total Rooms, 5 Total Bedrooms

$492,000 – 728 Belmont St., Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,048 Living Area Sq. Ft.5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

Sponsored by:

$750,000 – 76 Fitchburg St. Unit 76, Condo – Townhouse, 1,808 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

District Attorney Investigating Reports of Elder Abuse, Neglect at Watertown Facility

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A Watertown long-term facility is being investigated after reports of elder abuse and neglect surfaced. Vero Health & Rehab, also called the Watertown Health Center, is the focus of an investigation by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office after Watertown Police responded to reports of abuse of residents at the facility on Coolidge Hill Road, according to a report by WBZ Channel 4 investigation. WBZ found reports of residents who were bruised and suffered cuts, firefighters finding a man on the floor injured and asking for help, and a patient’s ventilator not working. Hundreds of 911 calls were made from the facility in the last couple years, including some from patients. State officials found the facility was deficient in COVID-19 infection control, according to the story, and Medicare surveys rated the overall quality of care he below average.

Schools

Watertown School Officials Stand Behind Decision to Delay Start of Hybrid After Release of State Audit

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Watertown School officials stood by their decision to delay the start of in-person learning, citing COVID-19 safety concerns, after the release of the district’s audit by state education officials. Watertown was one of two districts audited in October 2020. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioner sent a letter saying the Town’s COVID-19 rates were low enough that Watertown should start the school year with in-person learning, at least part-time. The Audit report largely summarized the findings of state education officials’ interviews with district officials, and the materials submitted by Watertown officials to DESE. (See the report by clicking here).