Election 2017

See What the Town Councilor At-Large Hopefuls Said at the Candidate Forum

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The six people seeking to be Town Councilor At-Large appeared together for the first time Thursday to answer questions at a Candidate Forum co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television. A full room at the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room watched the forum, along with a live TV audience. The forum will be rebroadcast on Watertown Cable. Candidates answered questions from both the forum organizers and residents attending the event. Here are some of the issues they tackled:
Development
The candidates were asked about what can be done about huge amount of development in Watertown and how they can look out for neighbors of the projects

Michael Dattoli, who is seeking re-election, said he was not comfortable with the level of development going on and noted that he voted against the Regional Mixed Use District that allowed for bigger projects in the area of the two malls and beyond.

Police/Fire

Major Accident on Main Street Closes Traffic Both Ways

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{Updated Oct. 21 at 11:13 a.m.}

Watertown Police announced that a major accident on Main Street Friday afternoon has closed the road to traffic in both directions. The accident which involved a motorcycle and a car occurred near the line with Waltham between Longfellow Road and Warren Street in Waltham around 2 p.m. Serious injuries resulted from the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Watertown Police Department, according to Lt. James O’Connor. One lane of traffic was open at 2:30 p.m. and all lanes were opened by 5:20 p.m.

Government

Plans to Improve Watertown Square Intersection to be Discussed at Meeting

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The Town will be making improvements to Watertown Square which may include major changes to the intersection. A meeting will be held for members of the public to get more information and to give their input. The meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee will be held on Monday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall. The Town sent out the following announcement:
The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve traffic operations and safety.

Real Estate

A Fall Weekend Full of Open Houses Around Watertown

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Watertown home buyers have dozens of open houses to check out this weekend. $548,500 – 3 Repton Place Unit 3108, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 11-1 Sunday 11-1

$399,900 – 83 Bradford Road Unit 1, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30

$639,900 – 24 Stuart St., 10 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30

$629,000 – 332 School St. Unit 332, 8 room, 4 bed, 1 bath detached, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$749,000 – 31 Lawrence St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 2:30-4 Sunday 2:30-4

$1,215,000 – 46 Russell Ave., 9 room, 5 bed, 3.5 bath colonial revival, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$1,799,000 – 11 Nichols Ave. 4 unit, 17 total room, 9 total bedroom 4 family, Open House: Saturday 1-2

$245,000 – 32 Whites Ave. Unit D35, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath high-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-1

$499,500 – 72 Forest St.

Business

Athenahealth Lays Off 100s of Workers, Closes Satellite Offices

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Watertown’s biggest employer and owner of the Arsenal on the Charles complex had big layoffs Thursday and closed offices in other locations. The Boston Business Journal reported that the company laid off 400 people, including some at the Watertown headquarters, and closed offices in San Francisco and Princeton, N.J. The Boston Globe put the layoffs at 500, or 9 percent of the overall workforce. Athenahealth had about 2,300 employees in Watertown. “We do not take the decision to reduce our workforce lightly, but these are necessary changes to enable athenahealth to succeed over the long-term,” the company said in a statement. The job cuts come at the same time that Athenahealth has teamed with the town and the state on a multi-million dollar project based on adding jobs at its Watertown headquarters.

Government

See Which Streets in Watertown Will be Repaved in 2018

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The list of streets that will be repaved in 2018 was revealed by the Public Works Department on Wednesday night, with several making the list, but others not making it this year. The town bonds $2.5 million a year to pay for street and sidewalk repair. Watertown also receives Chapter 90 money from the state and uses some funds from the water and sewer enterprise funds when the project has expenses related to water and sewer work. The condition of the road is an important component when making the decision for which roads to repave each year, said Town Engineer Matt Shuman, but that is not the only factor. DPW officials also go around town and observe conditions of the roads and sidewalks, and they listen to input from the public.

Elections

Watertown Homeowners Group Hosting Meet the Candidates Forum

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Come meet the candidates in the Watertown Election at an event hosted by the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association. The “Meet The Candidates” evening will be on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. The evening will be an interactive, town hall-type event with questions from the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association (CWHA) group as well as the audience. “We think the community will benefit greatly from having all the candidates in one room, and perhaps some voters more interested in the School Committee race will learn about an At-Large candidate, and vice versa,” said John Labadini, president of the CWHA.