Business

Watertown Woman’s Late Niece Inspires her Dog Cookies Business

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Watertown resident Susan Haggerty is debuting her dog biscuits on an online business called Brookie’s Cookies. For several years, Susan Haggerty has made her own dog biscuits and she began selling them at the Waltham Farmers Market. Now she is ready to make it a business and it will honor her late niece. Haggerty, who lives in Watertown with her husband, created her recipe for the dog treats. “I have a yellow lab, Brady, and I started making them for him,” Haggerty said.

Obituaries

OBIT: Frank Cousineau, 90, Former Teacher, WHS Star Athlete

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Francis U. “Frank” Cousineau of Watertown, died on April 18, 2019 at the age of 90. Retired Watertown teacher and coach. U.S. Army Veteran, Korea. He graduated from WHS in 1947 and was an outstanding athlete. His senior year, Frank was named to the All-Suburban Team and was also a first team All-Scholastic on multiple All-Star squads.

Business

More Layoffs at Watertown-based Athenahealth

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One of the largest employers in Watertown has announced another round of layoffs. Tuesday’s layoffs impacted “less than 4 percent” of the company’s workforce, according to a story on ModernHealthCare.com. Company officials did not release details about which offices the jobs would impact. The company had another round of layoffs in October 2017. At the time, about the company had about 2,300 employees at its headquarters in Watertown’s Arsenal on the Charles.

Government

Increases for Police, Fire, Schools Library & DPW Included in Watertown’s FY2020 Budget

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll revealed the Fiscal Year 2020 budget on Tuesday. Next year’s Watertown Budget includes money for an additional police office, a new leadership role in the Fire Department, and at the Library. Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the Fiscal Year 2020 budget to the Town Council. The total operating budget is $147.76 million, which is an increase of 3.89 percent or $5.53 million. When Driscoll presented the budget projection in October, there was a shortfall of about $800,000, but Tuesday he said the Town’s revenues came in close to $1.5 million above the projections.

Government

See Why the DPW is Drilling Borings on Streets Around Town

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A series of borings are being drilled around Watertown on behalf of the Department of Public Works to test areas where water main replacements could take place. An announcement about the borings came out Friday, and DPW Superintendent Gerry Mee said it has caught the interest of residents. While drilling of borings happens frequently in town, typically they are done for private construction projects. Because the borings are being done for a town project, Mee said, the DPW put out an announcement. “They are being done in areas of potential future water projects,” Mee said.

Around Town

Latest Designs for Victory Field Track, Courts to be Discussed at Upcoming Meeting

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An aerial view of Victory Field. The committee looking at renovating the track and courts area will discuss the latest plans on May 1. The committee looking at renovating the track and courts area at Victory Field will discuss the latest designs at a meeting on May 1. The Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase II will receive a presentation from designer CDM Smith on the 25 percent design for the project. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2018/08/16/final-recommendations-for-victory-field-track-area-presented-to-town-council/

Last summer, the committee approved recommendations for the project, which were approved by the Town Council on Aug.

Environment

Dispose of Styrofoam & Tires, Shred Paper at Special Recycling Event

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Recycle your Styrofoam at the special DPW event. The Watertown Department of Public Works is hosting a special recycling event where styrofoam and tires will be collected. You can also shred papers. WHEN: May 4, 2019 Recycle Event, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Recycle Center on Green River Way

DIRECTIONS: West on Pleasant Street from Watertown Square, North on Bridge Street and West on Waltham Street to Green River Way. Details

Watertown residents only!

Development

Subcommittee Recommends Adding 15 More Liquor Licenses, Most at Arsenal Yards

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Up to 15 restaurants will be opening at Arsenal Yards, but the Town does not have enough liquor licenses for all of them. A Council subcommittee recommends that the Town of Watertown seek to add 15 more liquor licenses, but could not agree on whether to waive the license fee for restaurants if they will not open for more than a year. The Rules & Ordinances Committee met on April 17 to discuss a request from Arsenal Yards to add more liquor licenses for anticipated tenants of the project on the former Arsenal Mall site. Developers also asked for fees to be delayed until the year in which the establishment opens. Additional Licenses

Andrew Copelotti, project manager for Arsenal Yards, said that the new project has signed, or expects to sign leases with more than a dozen restaurants or other businesses seeking liquor licenses.