Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Dealing Cocaine After Drug Sting

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A Watertown man was arrested on drug charges by the Watertown Police, working in conjunction with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force. Vartan Halvadijian, of Watertown, was arrested on charges of posessiont to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine) – a subsequent offense, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a license. Police also seized approximately $9,500, a loaded Colt .22 caliber firearm, and approximately 10 grams of cocaine.

DPW

See the Latest Designs for Mt. Auburn Street at Meeting Hosted by DPW

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The latest plans for how Mt. Auburn Street will be renovated will be on display at a Department of Public Works meeting on May 14, 2018. The Town of Watertown is redesigning Mt. Auburn Street with a “Complete Streets” approach, which seeks to to improve safety and better accommodate all users: vehicles, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians. The meeting will be similar to the one held in February, but while that meeting focused on Coolidge Square, this one will encompass the entire length of the Mt.

Arsenal Yards

Council Roundup: Councilor Opposes Planning Board Appointee, Tower at Mall, Trees & Green Schools

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The Town Council approved a new member of the Planning Board at Tuesday’s Council meeting, but the candidate did not receive unanimous support. 

Jason Cohen, who has been an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, was appointed to the Planning Board to replace John Hawes, who recently stepped down after more than two decades on the board. Cohen, is an architect, has served on the ZBA since 2015, has lived in town since 2001 and has two children attending Hosmer Elementary School. Professionally, he works primarily on large multi-unit housing projects, but during his interview with the Economic Development & Planning subcommittee he said he is interested in larger urban planning issues that come before the Planning Board, including approving projects on Arsenal Street and Pleasant Street. Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she could not support Cohen because she believed he did not consider all input from residents when considering a case. She pointed to the proposal for the medical marijuana facility at 23 Elm St., and the ZBA meeting in May 2017.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: Main Street Reopens After Downed Utilities Poles, Live Wires, Close Roadway

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{Updated at 12:37 p.m. on May 8, 2018}

Watertown Police have reopened Main Street after two downed utility poles closed the roadway at about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The wires were taken down by an 18-wheel truck heading westbound on Main Street which snapped wires and pulled the poles down at French Street, according to Watertown Police. They poles had electrical wires, which remained live when the poles came down.  Crews from Eversource and Verizon responded to the scened, and repaired the poles and wires. Police announced that Main Street has been reopened at about 12:20 p.m., but French Street remains closed. The downed poles also caused the MBTA to detour the 70 and 70A buses.

Schools

School Committee Approves School Bus Contract, Working With College on Routes

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Monday night, the School Committee approved a five year school bus contract, which will only rise three percent over the term of the contract. Most times, the District signs a three year contract, but the winning bidder (and current contract holder), Local Motion, offered incentives for two additional years, said Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. State law requires the contract to also get the approval of the Town Council, because it more than three years. The current contract ends on June 30, 2018. Local Motion and Eastern Bus Co.

Schools

Watertown Middle School Principal Leaving After 13 Years

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Watertown Middle School Principal Kimo Carter will be headed to Weston in July to take the position of Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. The Weston Public Schools announced the appointment on its website on Monday. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee that Carter would be leaving during Monday’s School Committee meeting. “We wish him the best for his future, and thank him for 13 years in the district,” Galdston said. School Committee Chairman John Portz congratulated Carter.

Around Town

New York Investment Fund Makes Cash Offer to Purchase Watertown’s Athenahealth

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A New York-based investment fund seeks to buy athenahealth with a cash offer of $6.4 billion. Elliott Management, an activist investment firm, wrote a letter to shareholders on Monday stating it wants to acquire the Watertown-based company on an “expedited basis.” “We believe that our proposal represents the best path forward for athenahealth, its shareholders, its employees and its broader mission,” Elliott said in the letter, according to a report by the Boston Business Journal. The letter also said athenahealth’s management has “revealed an unwillingness” to pursue alternative strategies for realizing value,” according to a CNBC story. The letter pointed specifically to the areas of: sales execution, service delivery, product focus, forecasting, executive turnover, capital allocation management discipline, and corporate governance, the Boston Business Journal reported.

Real Estate

Eight Properties Sold Around Watertown This Week

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Watertown had several home sales this week. $925,000 – 144 Bellevue Road, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$571,000 – 24 Morrison, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$735,000 – 164 Maplewood Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$827,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. Unit 505, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, High-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$430,000 – 280 Belmont St. Unit 280, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$465,000 – 278 Belmont St. Unit 278, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$300,000 – 73 Highland Ave., 5 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$805,000 – 59 Bradford Road Unit 1, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse