Around Town

Flags Laid to Rest Respectfully During First Flag Retirement Ceremony

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The flag that flew in front of Watertown Town Hall got a retirement with the full honors Wednesday evening. 

For the first time in memory, the Town of Watertown held a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day. Local veterans groups, the Watertown Police Honor Guard, and sailors from the U.S.S. Constitution all took part in the ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery. The ceremony was lead by Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro. “When a flag has serve its useful life, it should be retired,” Comeiro said. The flag flew on the pole in front of Town Hall until Memorial Day, Comeiro said.

Government

Joint Town, Athenahealth Improvements to be Discussed by Town Council

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The public is invited to a Special Town Council Meeting to discuss a set of improvements proposed jointly by the Town and Athenahealth. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 29 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. The proposed work would be part of the I-Cubed program, in which a developer – in this case Athenahealth – bonds money from the state to pay for the infrastructure and teams with public entities – the Town of Watertown and the Department of Conservation and Recreation – to do the improvements. The bonds will be paid by the increased tax revenue going to the state from Athenahealth’s campus expansion and the additional jobs it will create. None of the money can be spent on Athenahealth’s property.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Seek Info on Person Who Shot Goose with Dart

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Watertown Police seek information on who ever shot a goose with a blow dart last month. 

In mid-May, Watertown Police and the Watertown Animal Control officer received a report of an injured bird found near the Charles River in the area of the Dealtry Memorial Pool, owned by the DCR. “Thanks to our Watertown, MA Animal Control, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the goose was captured and is recovering at Tufts Wildlife Clinic,” Watertown Police said on its Facebook page. Police suspect the person shot the goose from one of the public docks along the Charles River. “We ask anyone with information to contact Karen O’Reilly, Watertown, MA Animal Control at 617-972-6446. We also ask for your help spreading the word, be observant if you frequent that area, and report any criminal or suspicious activity,” Watertown Police announced.

Election 2017

Decision Made on How to Fill Vacant School Committee Seat

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The School Committee will have an open seat when one of its members moves out of town, and the seat will be filled by a special election that will be on the ballot during this fall’s Town Election. 

In May, School Committee member Candace Miller announced she would be stepping down from her seat because she and her family are moving. She told her colleagues on June 5, and submitted her letter of resignation to the Town Clerk that week saying she will officially step down on Aug. 5. The decision of how the remaining 2 years and two months is made by the Town Council. Tuesday night Council President Mark Sideris recommended that a special election be called.

Government

Public Invited to Meeting About Redesigning Mt. Auburn Street

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Find out about the redesign of Mt. Auburn Street and give your input during a joint meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee and the Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee. 

The meeting will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main Street, Watertown. The project got mixed reviews when it was discussed in December 2016. The Department of Public Works sent out the following information:
The Watertown Department of Public Works will provide an update focusing on options for bicycle accommodations on Mount Auburn Street. The project team will welcome public comments on the bicycle accommodations before we refine the preliminary design of the project.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Officer Honored for His Saving a Man’s Life

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One of Watertown’s Police officers received an award for his heroic actions that saved a man’s life. 

Patrol Officer Harold ‘Tony’ Physic was awarded the First Responder Recognition Award at the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) CPR/FR Recognition Awards Ceremony held at Bentley University last Thursday, the Watertown Police Department announced Monday. On Jan. 19, 2017, Physic responded to a local sports club where a man had collapsed while working out and was unresponsive, according to the WPD. When he arrived, Physic determined that the patron was in full cardiac arrest and immediately began chest compressions while staff went to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), according to Watertown Police. 

“Physic continued CPR until he was relieved by the WFD and paramedics. Because of his quick actions, this patron is alive today!”

Government

Hearing on Trees Set to be Removed Scheduled for June 15

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Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward announced a meeting to discuss trees that are scheduled to be removed in Watertown. 
The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 13. The hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. It will be held in the 3rd Floor Meeting Room in the Administration Building located at 147 Main St. Please see the attached agenda for more information. TREE Hearing List

Location

DBH

Type of Tree

Common/Spring St. Delta

8”

Chinese elm

291 Arsenal St

6”

Honeylocust

291 Arsenal St

6”

Honeylocust

330 Arsenal St

10”

Bradford pear

330 Arsenal St

11”

Bradford pear

330 Arsenal St

9”

Bradford pear

45 Robbins Road (on Orchard St)

32”

Norway maple

4 Orchard St

23”

Norway maple

58 Robbins Rd (on Orchard St)

22”

Norway maple

Hayward said that people do not need to attend the Tree Hearing to be heard.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Chief Says Texting While Driving is “a Big Problem”

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One of the biggest safety concerns for Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn these days is people texting while driving, and he said he would like to see the state change the laws regarding cellphone use. 

In many states drivers are not allowed to pick up their phone for any reason, but that is not the case in Massachusetts. “I don’t know why we are not hands free,” Lawn said when he appeared before the Town Council for the Police Department’s budget hearing. “(Texting while driving) is a big problem.” Texting while driving is illegal in Massachusetts, but Lawn noted that drivers can pick up their phone to make a phone call, so it can be difficult to prove what they were doing while holding their phones. “I’m a proponent …