Government

Mt. Auburn St. Plans Approved by Council Subcommittee, Now on to Full Council

By |

Wednesday evening, the Council’s Public Works subcommittee recommended that the Town Council approve the plan for Mt. Auburn Street that would reduce the number of travel lanes in most sections and add buffered bike lanes along many stretches. 

The plan has been much discussed over the past several years, after the Town Council voted in 2013 to have the Department of Public Works and the town’s traffic engineering consultant, WorldTech Engineering, come up with plan for a “road diet” for the major artery between Watertown Square and the Cambridge line. The project is a Complete Streets project, which means it is designed for all modes of transportation: motor vehicle, bicycles, pedestrians and public transportation. If the Town can get TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) funding, the entire $14 million budget will be covered entirely by the state, said Bill Mertz, vice president of WorldTech. The plan would reduce the number of motor vehicle travel lanes from two lanes each way to one each way along most of the length of Mt.

Government

Council Changes Direction on Community Preservation Committee, Town Manager will Make Appointments

By |

Tuesday night, after a long and contentious debate, a majority of the Town Council voted to approve a compromise that would give the Town Manager power to appoint member of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) with those selected needing to be confirmed by the Council. The decision went away from the subcommittee recommendation to have members appointed by the Council. The approved ordinance, which was brought forward by Town Council President Mark Sideris, also provides specific direction to the Town Manager for what qualities to look for in the appointees. Since the Community Preservation Act (CPA) passed in 2016, the focus has been on how to appoint the four at-large members of the Committee, which is charged to come up with ideas and recommendations for how to use funds from the tax surcharge. The money can be spent on affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation.

Police/Fire

Man Exposes Himself to Woman on Main Street in Watertown

By |

Watertown Police warn the public that a man exposed himself to a woman passing on the street on a recent evening. 

On June 20 at 9 p.m. Police received a report from a woman who said a man had just exposed his genitals in the area of Main Street at Cross Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “She was not sure if he exposed himself directly at her,” O’Connor said. “The suspect did not say anything and fled toward Pleasant Street, in the direction of the Charles River.” Police from Watertown and Newton searched along both sides of the Charles River, but could not locate the suspect. The witness described the suspect as being a young white male with shaggy hair who wore a red T-shirt and grey sweat pants.

Government

Watertown’s Noise Ordinance Needs More Work Before Subcommittees Will Approve

By |

Two Town Council subcommittees looked at proposed changes to the Town’s Noise Ordinance Monday night, but little progress was made, and the Councilors agreed more work needed to be done. The committees on Rules & Ordinances and Human Services had met at least three times, dating back to 2017, before Monday. They took up the issue after receiving a variety of complaints about noise in Town. Some came from residents upset by lawn and garden work being done early on weekends, others about amplified music at church services or from Town parks. Others worry about the noise from all the construction occurring around town.

Michael Lahiff

Retiring Watertown High Athletic Director Helped Build a Successful Program

By |

After 11 years, Michael Lahiff will be stepping down as Athletic Director at Watertown High School at the end of June. During that time, he helped bring WHS back into a championship winning program, with athletes who are both competitive and show good sportsmanship, and with many teams lead by teacher-coaches. Lahiff retires after 39 years in education in Stoneham, Somerville and Watertown. He spent the last 24 years as athletic director, first in Stoneham and then at WHS. “I was on the other end of the world for most of the rest of my career, Somerville and Stoneham twice,” Lahiff said.

Elections

Senate Candidate Geoff Diehl Visits Watertown Greek Festival

By |

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Geoff Diehl visited the Watertown Greek Festival on Saturday. Watertown resident and Republican State Committeeman Steve Aylward showed Diehl around the festival. Aylward was Diehl’s co-chairman in the ballot question that repealed the linkage of the gas tax to inflation. Diehl received the most votes at the Republican Convention by 30 points to be the candidate to face Democrat Elizabeth Warren. He also received the endorsement of the Watertown Town Republican Committee. The visit to the Greek Festival was not the first time that Diehl had visited Watertown.

Around Town

Memorial to Paul Sullivan, a Bright Young Man Killed in Vietnam, Unveiled in East Watertown

By |

The smile of a fresh-faced young man in uniform beams from the bronze plaque on the stone recently placed on Arlington Street, but the marker is a memorial to the young man with a bright future who lost his life serving his country 50 years ago this summer. On Sunday, family, friends and community members came to the unveiling of the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan memorial near the corner of Arlington and Mt. Auburn streets, along with a flag pole dedicated to all who served in the Vietnam War. Dozens of Sullivan’s family members came to the event — brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and even grand nieces and nephews. Among those in attendance was Sullivan’s widow Margie Edson, who helped unveil the stone with two of Sullivan’s nephews, Paul Joseph Sullivan and Paul Joseph Donato.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Chooses Wrong Spot to Drink Beer, Shoplifter Caught Changing Prices

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 11, 6:22 p.m.: A concerned citizen reported seeing a man inside a Chevy Blazer drinking beer on Baptist Walk near Spring Street. The person also saw the man trying to start the vehicle and heard the motor cranking. Police responded and when officers approached the man threw his keys out the window. The man told officers he thought “it was a safe place to drink beers.”