ARPA

Local Data Consultant Discovers Line in Federal Law that Cost Watertown Millions in Pandemic Relief

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CivilyticsWatertown’s Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics, discovered a line in the ARPA Pandemic relief act that cost Watertown millions in aid. A small data analysis firm discovered a five word section in the American Rescue Plan Act that cost communities such as Watertown millions in federal dollars compared to small towns in other states. Watertown-based Civilytics Consulting looks at a variety of data, including public financing, K-12 and higher education and public safety. While examining the ARPA funds found a surprising thing when they sent out their estimates for what states receive, said Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics. “One person called us and said ‘I’m getting told by our state we are getting a lot less than this,'” Knowles said.

Real Estate

A Quartet of Watertown Properties Sold This Week

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Three condos and a single family home in Watertown were sold this week. $920,000 – 7 Barbara Ter. Unit 7, Condo – Townhouse, 2,204 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$800,000 – 10 Chester St Unit 10, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,550 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom

Sponsored by:

$750,000 – 92 Highland Ave.

Real Estate

A Variety of Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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A dozen open houses to visit over the weekend in Watertown. $1,450,000 – 58-60 Bates Road, Multi-family Home – 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down, 4,115 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 14 Total Rooms, 7 Total Bedrooms, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11-12:30

$2,175,000 – 30 Lincoln St., Single Family – Detached Victorian, 5,600 Living Area Sq. Ft., 16 Room, 5 Bedroom, 4 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 11-12:30

$374,900 – 290 Pleasant St. Unit 305, Condo – Mid-Rise, 621 Living Area Sq.

23 Elm St.

Life Science Building in East Watertown Approved by Zoning Board

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Elm Street PartnersA rendering of the new life science lab building approved to be built at 23 Elm St. The building to the right is the Residence Inn by Marriott hotel. Months after it first appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeal, a three story life science lab building at 23 Elm Street got approval to be constructed on Wednesday night. The proposal first came before the ZBA in February, at a meeting where board members expressed their concerns about the amount of parking for the then 78,000 sq. ft.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Funds 4 Teen Positions with Grant from Attorney General’s Office

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club was one of more than 70 organizations statewide to receive funds from the Attorney General’s office aimed at funding summer jobs for young people. Attorney General Maura Healey announced on July 21 that the Boys & Girls Club would be receiving money from the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program. The club will receive $2,500, according to a spokesperson from the AG’s Office. The grant allowed the Watertown Boys & Girls Club to fund four positions for teens with health and wellness components including swim instructors and camp counselors, according to Mary Kern, grant writer for the Club. “This grant fits perfectly into our mission of serving ‘those who need us most.’

Sports

Watertown Rower Will Row for the Gold After His Crew Qualified for the Olympic Final

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U.S. RowingWatertown’s Alexander Richards and the U.S. men’s eight boat qualified for the Olympic final. Team USA’s Men’s eight rowers, including Watertown’s own Alexander Richards, finished a close third late Tuesday night to book a spot in Thursday’s Olympic Final. Richards and the USA crew raced against Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Romania for spots in Thursday’s final at the Tokyo Olympics. The top four in the repechage race advanced to compete for medals. The Americans hit the 500 meter mark in third place, behind the Brits and New Zealand.

Business

Businesses Can Qualify for $1,000s in Credits from Federal Pandemic Relief

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Charlie Breitrose

Watertown businesses may be able to qualify for thousands of dollars back from the Federal government through a credit against the employment taxes they paid during the pandemic. Businesses and non-profits may be eligible for the employee retention tax credit from the Federal government. The program started with the first COVID-19 Pandemic relief act and was expanded to give businesses the opportunity to claim more money back from wages they paid to employees in 2020 and 2021, according to an article on CNBC.com, which was highlighted the Newton Needham Regional Chamber. The program is aimed at small and midsized businesses, which are those with 500 or fewer employees. To qualify, the business must have seen a drop of at least 20 percent in a quarter in 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2019.

Election 2021

Candidate List for 2021 Watertown Election Taking Shape, Several Seek At-Large Council Seats

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Updated July 28 at 3 p.m.:

A late rush of candidates for the Town Election means that there will be enough people running for Councilor At-Large to fill the seats, and then some. There will be at least five contested races if all the candidates’ signatures are certified. Last Wednesday, only three people had put in papers to run for the four Councilor At-Large seats, but by the end of Tuesday — the last day to submit papers and signatures — there were seven people who had turned in papers to run, and a few more possible. The people who turned in their nomination papers with at least 100 signatures required to run are: Anthony Palomba, Caroline Bays, John Gannon, James Mello, Daniel D’Amico, Megan O’Halloran, and John Airasian. Three others have pulled papers but had not turned in the signatures as of early Tuesday afternoon.