Police/Fire

Lightning Strike Damages Watertown Home, Sets it on Fire

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A lightning strike during the strong storm that hit Watertown Sunday put a hole in the roof of a home near Watertown Square and set the structure on fire. The June 28th storm caused some flooding in areas of town, but Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn said the lightning strike was the only fire that the department had to respond to during the foul weather. “It was a freak of luck the way it worked out,” Quinn said. “We are thankful that the people who were in the house were fine.” Residents called 911 after their three-story, two-family home at 130 Mt.

Government

Some Councilors Disappointed Communication Position Not Added to Town Budget

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Multiple Town Councilors were disappointed to see that their top budget priority, hiring a Deputy Town Manager responsible for managing communication with the public and enhancing public engagement. On Monday, June 29 at 6 p.m., the Town Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the entire Fiscal Year 2021 Town Budget. See below for more information about how to watch and participate. On June 24, the Town Council had the opportunity to ask questions about the budget presented by Town Manager Michael Driscoll on June 8. Town Manager Michael Driscoll said on June 24 that the Deputy Town Manager position was not funded due to the loss of nearly $4 million in revenue due to the COVID-19 outbreak (mostly in State Aid and lost local meal, hotel and motor vehicle excise taxes).

Police/Fire

Police Log: Fight Breaks Out on Mt. Auburn St., Deli Worker Attacked by Shopper

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Arrests

None

Incidents

Between June 13 and June 21, the Watertown Police Department received 10 reports of an unemployment scheme. The residents report that they got letters about their unemployment applications, but they had never filed for benefits. Unemployment fraud can be reported to the Department of Unemployment Assistance by  clicking here. June 15, 6:52 a.m.: A man who owns a property management company was notified by an employee in Canton that the employee’s vehicle tires were slashed, and the Canton Police were investigating. The man went out of his home on Channing Road and checked his work truck.

Real Estate

Eight Watertown Homes Were Sold This Week

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See the properties that were sold in town this week. $573,465 – 88 Belmont St. Unit 88, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,200 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$995,000 – 36 Church St. Unit 36, Condo – Townhouse, 2,244 Living Area Sq.

Schools

Officials Celebrate Groundbreaking for Construction of 2 Watertown Schools

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Watertown school and town officials put shovels in the ground at the official start of the construction project Cunniff Elementary School. The ceremony also marked the beginning of the Hosmer School project. Standing next to the first of Watertown schools to be torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art facility, Watertown School and Town officials celebrated the beginning of what will be several years of construction at school sites around town. Officials posed in hardhats, holding shovels during the official groundbreaking of the project at Cunniff Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon. The ceremony also marked the start of the project at Hosmer Elementary School, which will take place simultaneously.

Business

Arsenal Yards Eatery Latest to Get Outdoor Seating Permit

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City Works Pour House Eatery will be coming to the Arsenal Yards, featuring 90 different beers and indoor and outdoor seating. The City Works Eatery & Pour House received permission to have temporary outdoor seating during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving Watertown 11 restaurants which have received the permits. The permits have been given as part of an effort to increase the seating at restaurants, which have had their seating restricted due to the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. Tables must be at least 6 feet apart and parties can be no bigger than six. As of June 22, restaurants can seat diners indoors, but the same social distancing requirements apply.

Real Estate

Dozens of Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Week

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Homebuyers have a huge amount of properties to check out in Watertown this week. $499,000 – 10 Williams St. Unit 74, Condo – Mid-Rise, 950 Living Area Sq. Ft., 4 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open House: Saturday 11-1

$575,000 – 885 Belmont St. Unit 2, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,400 Living Area Sq.

Government

Funding of Watertown Police, Requests to Divert Some of Budget Discussed at Council Hearing

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How the Watertown Police Department’s budget is used, and whether there are other ways the money could be spent became a major topic of discussions of Wednesday night’s Fiscal Year 2021 Town Budget Hearing. The WPD budget was just one of many departmental budgets discussed during the hearing, but it garnered the interested of Councilors and members of the public, many of whom wanted to see a portion spent on mental health services provided by the town instead. The meeting was held remotely over Zoom. The Police Department’s budget of $10.3 million makes up 6.76 percent of the Town’s operating budget. The WPD has 70 police officers (including 52 patrol officers), nine dispatchers and four civilian employees, as well as the school crossing guards.