Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/341/)
COVID-19 cases rose for the second straight week in Watertown, as did the rate of positive tests. Some new groups of people are now eligible to receive the vaccine, including people age 55 and older. The number of cases reported by the Mass. Department of Public Health was 81 over the previous 14 days, according to the April 1 report. That is up eight from the previous week.
Watertown senior Gabe Spinelli scored 39 points in the Raiders’ win over Lexington in the Middlesex League Tournament. Watertown senior basketball player Gabe Spinelli made the Boston Globe’s All-Scholastic team, and junior Taylor Lambo made the paper’s honorable mention All-Scholastic list. Spinelli returned to Watertown after a year at Beaver Country Day and helped the Raiders go 13-1. As point guard, he helped the Raiders win the Middlesex League Freedom Division regular season and then emerge as champions of the first ever Middlesex League Tournament. The MIAA did not run state tournaments, so the league held its own knock-out competition.
A vote that could make a major change in the way that Watertown’s government works will be taken at a meeting on April 6 at 6 pm. The Charter Review Committee, which is reviewing the document that defines how the Town’s government works, will be taking public input and questions, and likely make a vote on whether Watertown should continue to have an appointed Town Manager with an elected Town Council, or change to having and elected Mayor and elected Council. People can tune in and participate in the Zoom meeting on computer, cell phone or dial in. See this link for info on how to access the meeting: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31800/2021-04-06-Charter-Review-Comm-Agenda
The meeting will also be broadcast on Watertown Cable’s Government Channel (view it here online or watch Comcast Channel 99 or RCN Channel 13). You can send comments and questions to crc@watertown-ma.gov All the Councilors are in the Charter Review Committee.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 22, 12:05 a.m.: Police received reports of three fires in concrete trash barrels, two in Watertown and one in Newton. One of those in Watertown occurred on Watertown Street on March 21 at about 6 p.m. and another on Galen Street on March 22, just past midnight. Police got access to a surveillance video of the area around one of the barrels and were able to identify a suspect. The video showed him walking on Galen Street and as he passed a barrel he lit a book or box of matches and dropped it into the barrel.
Check out the two homes that sold this week in Watertown. $1,499,000 – 87 Summer St. Unit 87A, Condo – Townhouse, 3,045 Living Area Sq. Ft., 13 Room, 3 Bedroom, 3 Full & 1 Half Bathroom
$363,000 – 121 Warren St. Unit 4, Condo – Low-Rise, 600 Living Area Sq.
Three stolen vehicle incidents in Watertown appear to be linked to each other, according to Watertown Police. One of the vehicles was reported stolen from Watertown, and two vehicles reported stolen from other communities were found in Town, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The first incident was reported on March 23 at 2:03 p.m. The owner of a 2007 Chevy pickup reported the vehicle stolen. It was parked at a Dexter Avenue business at noon and when the owner came back an hour later, it was missing, O’Connor said. At about 3:50 p.m., the van was found in Newton.
See the homes having open houses over the weekend in Watertown. $930,000 – 105 Holt St., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,990 Living Area Sq. Ft., 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 3 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-3 Sunday 1-2:30
$975,000 – 134 Cypress St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family – 2 Units Side by Side, 4,400 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 18 Total Rooms, 6 Total Bedrooms, Open House: Saturday 12-3
$699,900 – 53 Duff St., Single Family – Detached Cape, 1,650 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30
$539,900 – 131 Coolidge Ave.
Watertown appears to be headed toward allowing short-term rentals in town, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, but will create a set of regulations to require them to be registered with the Town and limit the occupants. The Town Council’s Rules & Ordinances Committee voted on March 29 to move a proposed change to the Zoning Ordinance to the Town Council. The amendment would have to be reviewed by the Planning Board which would make a recommendation to the Town Council, which has the final decision. The Committee also discussed regulations for short-term rentals, which are defined as a rental for fewer than 31 days. Currently, short-term rentals are not allowed as part of Watertown’s Zoning Board’s list of uses, but Councilor Anthony Donato said that hasn’t stopped people from operating them.