Government

Council Subcommittee to Discuss Affordable Housing This Week

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The following announcement was sent out by the Human Resources Committee:
The Town Council’s Committee on Human Resources continues its discussion of affordable housing in Watertown with a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7:15 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers.  The theme of the meeting is Zoning and Affordable Housing.  The Committee will hear from Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning and special guest, Larry Fields from the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance. 
The Committee will be holding additional meetings on the topic of affordable housing in September, October, and November.  The schedule is listed here. Sept. 6         Statewide and Regional Organizations and Resources

Sue Connelly, Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Karina Milchman, Massachusetts Area Planning Council

State Legislator, Massachusetts Housing Bond Bill (TBD)

 

Oct. 4           Affordable Housing Development       

Jennifer Van Campen, MetroWest Collaborative Development

Representative Michael Connolly, Real Estate Transfer Fee

Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director DCDP

 

Nov.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Threatens Library Employee, Driver Arrested on 3rd OUI Charge

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 16, 8:36 p.m.: Police were alerted about a woman wanted on warrants, and they located her on Pilgrim Road. The 41-year-old Watertown woman was arrested on the warrants out of Waltham District Court, a default warrant for larceny under $1,200 and a second default warrant for driving with a suspended license and marked lanes violation. July 21, 8:18 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square saw a vehicle run a red light going from Galen Street onto Main Street. The driver was stopped on Main near Whites Avenue.

Real Estate

Three Homes in Watertown Were Sold This Week

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A trio of Watertown properties sold this week. $815,000 – 14-16 Irma Ave., 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

$636,000 – 87 Watertown St. Unit 87, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$727,000 – 78 Putnam Unit 78, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

Government

New Director of Public Health Has More Than 40 Years of Experience in the Field

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The new director of the Watertown Department of Public Health has been appointed, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Friday. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Larry A. Ramdin to the position of Director of Public Health, effective Aug. 27, 2018,” Driscoll said in the announcement (see the letter below). Ramdin has over 40 years experience working in the field of public health, and has been head of local health departments in Salem and Reading for the past 11 years. He also worked for six years for the City of Newton as an environmental health specialist.

Police/Fire

Police Respond to Suicide at Watertown Cemetery

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Watertown Police responded to a death at a Westside cemetery on Thursday morning, and have ruled the incident a suicide. A resident walking a dog spotted the body in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, near the fence separating the cemetery from the Cunniff School. Police were alerted at about 6 a.m., said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The adult male had been there a few hours, police estimate, when he was found. It took several hours for Watertown Police to identify the man, O’Connor said.

Real Estate

See All This Weekend’s Open Houses Around Watertown

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Watertown homebuyers have plenty of options of properties to visit this weekend. $629,000 – 688 Belmont St. Unit 688, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$514,900 – 26 Dewey St. Unit 26, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Friday 5-6 Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$375,000 – 71 Jensen Road Unit 71, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$799,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. Unit 106, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$849,000 – 303 A & B Mt.

Government

Watertown Watertown Teen Joins Attorney General for Announcement of Vaping Investigation

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Watertown High School student Shariel Joseph spoke during Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s announcement of the investigation into vaping and e-cigarette companies on Tuesday. Joseph, who will be senior in the fall, has been involved in anti-tobacco efforts as a Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leader. At the announcement she represented The 84 Movement, a group of youth from Massachusetts fighting against tobacco. During her address, Joseph talked about how “JUULing” (named after the leading vaping equipment company JUUL) became a big thing at Watertown High School, and she saw students using them in school bathrooms, the hallways and even classrooms.

“From the beginning of my junior year to the end there was a huge increase of people JUUL-ing,” Joseph said. “Before there were a few people who JUUL-ed but now it seems like everyone is JUUL-ing, especially since it is summer, now.

Schools

School Building Committee Meeting Three Times in August

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School may be out for summer, but the planning for the reconstruction of Watertown’s three elementary schools will still be in session. The School Building Committee, which oversees the design and construction of Hosmer, Lowell and Cunniff elementary schools, has three meetings scheduled in August. The group is scheduled to meet on Aug. 1, 15 and 29, but the meeting on the 15th may conflict with a School Committee meeting. The School Building Committee meets at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber in Town Hall.