Government

Parking Plan with High-Tech Meters, Pay by Card & Phone Approved

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Watertown’s current parking meters will be replaced with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. Watertown’s parking lots will be getting new meters which allow for paying by credit card and with cell phone apps in the parking plan approved by the Town Council on Tuesday night. The Parking Management Plan was the result of studies that go back to the fall of 2018. It included studies of how parking is used in Watertown, public meetings and surveys and presentations to the Council’s Joint Committees on Public Works and Economic Development & Planning. Other parts of the plan look at pricing of meters and who sets them, way-finding signage for the municipal lots, looking at finding private lots for the Town to partner with, and even creation of a pedestrian path through the lot near the Watertown Library.

Government

Charter Committee Looks at Areas to Improve Watertown’s Government

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Watertown Town Hall

The group looking at making changes the Watertown Town Charter talked about their views on changing to a mayor, how to make the Town government more responsive to residents and how to get residents involved in the charter review. Last week, the Charter Review Committee held its second meeting, and welcomed members of the Collins Institute, the UMass-Boston based group with expertise in municipal governments that is working with the group on the Charter Review. Going into the charter review, some residents have called for Watertown to move from the current strong-town-manager model of government to one headed by a mayor. The Charter Review Committee can make major changes, said Michael Ward of the Collins Institute, such as the form of government, or smaller changed such as who reports to the Town Manager, who reports the Town Council, and which positions and boards are elected vs. appointed.

COVID-19

Positive COVID Test Reported at Watertown School, Reopening Still Going Ahead

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Hosmer Elementary School in Watertown. The Watertown Public Schools had a person test positive for COVID-19 in the same week that the elementary schools are preparing to welcome students back for in-person learning. Superintendent Dede Galdston announced that a person at Hosmer Elementary School had tested positive, but added that the case would not stop plans to start hybrid learning at the school on Tuesday. Watertown school staff can participate in free testing for the virus provided by the Broad Institute in Cambridge, but Galdston said that the positive test was not through that program. “…

Government

Watertown’s First CIO Seeks to Improve Communication with Residents, Make Town More Transparent

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Watertown’s Chief Information Officer Chris McClure. The Town of Watertown’s first ever Chief Information Officer, or CIO, came on board on Oct. 19, and has a slew of changes he would to make so Town officials can communicate more effectively with residents and make the government more transparent. Christopher McClure comes to Watertown from North Andover, where he was the information technology (IT) director. He plans some big changes for the Town’s social media accounts, the website and other technology.

Commander's Mansion

Hundreds Flock to Commander’s Mansion’s Halloween Drive Thru Bash

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A giant jack-o-lantern man looked over the cars at the Lil’ Monstah Joyride at Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion on Friday. The place to be in Waterown on Saturday night was the Commander’s Mansion for the Lil’ Monstah Joyride. The Commander’s Mansion decked out for Halloween during the Lil’ Monstah Joyride. Hundreds of cars filled with kids cruised by the Halloween themed displays put on by the Commander’s Mansion, the Recreation Department, the Watertown Fire Department, School of Rock and Watertown Savings. View this post on Instagram In case you missed it…

Arrests

Police Log: Customer Threatens Geek Squad, Driver Faces OUI Charge After Driving on 3 Wheels

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

Oct. 12, 11;11 p.m.: State Police sent out a be-on-the-lookout alert to Watertown and Newton police for an erratic driver that had gotten off the Mass Pike at Exit 17. Watertown Police located the vehicle in the parking lot at Repton Place on Pleasant Street. They found the driver half asleep in the car, with the motor running.

Real Estate

Watertown Home Sells for $2 Million, 1 of 6 Sales This Week

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A five-bedroom Victorian fetched more than $2 million this week. Five other sales were reported in Watertown this week. $350,000 – 164 Galen St. Unit 46, Condo – High-Rise, 670 Living Area Sq. Ft.,2 Room, 1 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$919,000 – 149-151 Pleasant St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down, 3,220 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

Hundreds Donate to Food Pantry During Drive-Thru Food Drive

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The drive-thru food drive, organized by the Watertown Community Foundation, drew good traffic during the event on Oct. 17 at the food pantry. Watertown residents showed up in the hundreds to donate to the Watertown Food Pantry. The event was held on the afternoon of Oct. 17, and Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham said the event got a good response.