Community Preservation Committee

Applications Sought for Members of Community Preservation Committee

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll seeks applicants to be members of the Watertown Community Preservation Committee, the group that will propose ways to use the money raised by the Community Preservation Act (CPA) tax surcharge. The committee includes four at-large members, who will must be Watertown residents, and meet certain criteria, including being connected to different constituencies in Town, bring skills related to the committee’s task, bring an outlook that may not be heard through normal channels, and value new approaches and ideas to identifying projects. The CPA funds can be used on open space, historic preservation or affordable housing projects. The Town Manager’s office sent out following information:

Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking four (4) Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee. The Committee is being formed as a result of the voters of the Town of Watertown approving the provisions of G.L. c.44B, the Community Preservation Act; and the Honorable Town Council subsequently adopting an Ordinance Establishing a Community Preservation Committee.

Around Town

Rave Reviews Continue for 2018 Faire on the Square, Council Thanks Organizers

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The rave reviews for the 2018 Faire on the Square continued at Tuesday night’s Town Council Meeting. 

Town officials tried to change things up from previous years to breathe new life into the annual event, which drew thousands on Saturday. “This was a really fun, successful, revitalized event,” Sideris said. He thanked several people for organizing the event, including Dan McCarthy, who took over as chairman of the Faire on the Square Committee. Watertown resident James Mello said the event brought back memories of Town events from many years ago. “It reminded me of when we were kids on the Fourth of July when they brought out rides and set them up behind Town Hall,” Mello said.

Elections

Panel of Voters Met in Watertown, Created Guide for 2018 Nursing Ballot Question

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This November, Massachusetts voters will be asked to vote on a ballot initiative about nurse staffing at hospitals in the Bay State. The information about Question 1 can be confusing, with both sides making similar claims. However, a group of voters from around the state studies the issue intensely and came up with a statement to help voters make up their mind. 

Twenty Massachusetts voters gathered at the Watertown Free Public Library a couple weeks ago and got the the chance to hear from the campaigns for and against Question 1. The effort, known as the Citizens Initiative Review, was a organized by Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht in partnership with Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life and Healthy Democracy, the organization that pioneered CIR in Oregon and others states. The nurse staffing ballot question seemed to be one that would benefit from a deeper examination, Hecht said. “This one is especially well suited to this type of process,” Hecht said.

Field Hockey

Watertown Field Hockey Team Avenges Only Loss of Last Season

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The Watertown High School field hockey team exacted a bit of revenge, Monday, on the team that ended its national record unbeaten streak. The Raiders defeated Winchester 2-0 at Victory Field. 

Watertown improved its record to 4-0 with the win over the team that not only handed it its last loss but also its last tie. The Raiders controlled the play most of the first half, but struggled to get quality shots on net. That changed quickly in the second half. Just two minutes into the second, senior Catherine Connors scored off a corner.

Police/Fire

Police Seek Witness Who Saw Man Taking Photos of Kids at the Faire on the Square

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Watertown Police are investigating a man who allegedly took suspicious photos of multiple children at the Faire on the Square. They seek to speak to a witness who reported the incident, but who left before officers spoke to her. The Watertown Police sent out the following statement:
On Saturday, September 22, at approximately 1:20 p.m. while at the Faire of the Square, an unknown adult female, reported to a uniformed officer that she had witnessed a person taking suspicious photos of children at the Faire. The witness told police that she observed an adult male taking pictures using a tablet device of children while the children were using a slide. The report was made to an officer who was standing near the Municipal Parking Lot (Library parking lot).

Around Town

State Shuts Down Watertown Daycare Center Where Infant Died

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According to a Fox Channel 25 report, the daycare center where an infant died has been shut down by the state. On Sept. 13, 2018, a 5-month-old girl was found unresponsive at the Strawberry Child Care center on Watertown Street. She was pronounced dead a the hospital. The Fox 25 report said state officials issued an emergency suspension of the child care center because the staff did not perform CPR on the infant, failed to use good judgement in an emergency, and did not to adequately supervise infants in the school.

Around Town

Newly Renovated Watertown Boys & Girls Club Wows the Public at Grand Opening

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When the Watertown Boys & Girls Club reopens its doors for the school year this week members may not recognize the building. The facility on Whites Avenue recently completed a major renovation, and on Saturday the Club had a grand opening. Executive Director Renee Gaudette said she can’t wait to see the looks on children’s faces when they get their first look. “We plan to take videos of children as the come in,” Gaudette said. Town Council President Mark Sideris said the renovation turned out very nicely.

Around Town

Watertown News Poll: Traffic, Once Again, Tops the List of Concerns for Watertown Residents

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A poll of  Faire on the Square attendees found that traffic/transportation came top among concerns about Watertown, followed by development. People who stopped by the Watertown News table could participate in the poll, in which they were asked “What concerns you most in Watertown Today,” and participants could check one or more of these five issues, and could write in their own issue:

Schools
Development
Traffic/transportation
Heroin/opioids
Property Taxes
Or, add their own write-in issue

This year 30 people took the poll, and some checked more than one issue. Traffic/transportation received 21 votes, followed by 15 for development. Close behind was heroin/opioids, which got 12 votes. The schools got 10 votes and property taxes got six.