Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/658/)
See the three properties having open houses over Memorial Day weekend. $589,900 – 101 Watertown St. Unit 101, 7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Friday 6-7:30 Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30
$449,000 – 186 Waverley Ave. Unit 186, 7 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 1-2
$689,000 – 149 Hillside Road Unit 2, 10 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30
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The Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve the medical marijuana dispensary in East Watertown on Wednesday night, giving the facility the final approval needed from the town to open.
ZBA members had questions about the building and also the operations of the medical marijuana facility. East End Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis told the board members that they should remember while it is in an industrial zone, there are many homes near the facility. “Abutters of the site are vehemently opposed (to the dispensary),” Kounelis said. “They are not here. These residents are burnt out.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for help finding missing Watertown man Nolan Gargas, and a tip line has been set up.
The reward offer for information leading to finding the missing 26-year-old was announced Thursday, according to WHDH Channel 7, and confirmed by Watertown Police. The report also announced a new “Find Nolan tip line.” Gargas was last seen Sunday, May 21, and his grey 2006 Toyota was found in Nahant, but searches on land and sea could not locate him. He is described as 6-feet-2, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, and he was last seen wearing a green and white plaid shirt, brown pants and boots. Anyone with information is asked to contact the tip line at 617-202-0411.
Watertown residents and water customers are expected to get a break from increasing water and sewer rates in Fiscal Year 2018, while the expenses are actually expected to be lower than the previous year. Chris Woodcock, the town’s consultant for the Water and Sewer enterprise funds, told the Town Council Tuesday night that he recommends that water rates be kept the same as the current year. “I come to you with not terrible news tonight,” Woodcock said. “I estimate revenues in each case (water and sewer) to exceed expenses so you don’t need to have rate increases, but I don’t recommend you reduce rates.” Woodcock recommends revenues in the Water Enterprise Fund to be more than $322,000 than expenses, and Sewer Enterprise Fund revenues to be more than $135,000 above expenses.
Watertown School Committee member Candace Miller announced this week she will be leaving town and the School Committee, too, this summer.
Miller will leave less than two years into her four year term, so an opening will be left on the School Committee. Because of the timing, Town Clerk John Flynn said the Watertown Town Charter offers are a couple of options for filling the seat. The Town Charter reads “If a vacancy shall occur on the school committee during the first 24 months of the term for which the school committee member is are elected, the vacancy shall be filled by a held forthwith and no earlier than 64 days from the day the election is called.” The charter gives the Town Council the option of voting to have he vacancy filled by appointment by the remaining members of the School Committee. To move ahead with this option, six Councilors would need to vote for the option.
When Watertown Police officers are on patrol, Police Chief Michael Lawn wants them to get to know the people in town and form relationships in the areas where they patrol.
This is part of the Watertown Police Department’s emphasis on community policing, Lawn to the Town Council at Saturday’s budget hearing. “I tell them, I want you to get out of your car and talk to people,” Lawn said. “You are not starting a new program or making speeches, but talk to people.” As one example, he pointed to Sgt. John MacLellan, who one afternoon bought a bunch of big lollipops and gave them to a group of kids in East Watertown.
This weekend, Watertown’s Danny Loprete will take the field at Gillette Stadium with his Merrimack College teammates to play for the NCAA Div. II lacrosse national championship.
The WHS graduate is a senior on the Warriors team which will make the school’s first ever appearance in the national championship game. The midfielder and face-off man scored two goals and had two assists this year. He also won 56 of 101 face offs and 26 ground balls. Merrimack, ranked fourth nationally, beat No.
The second phase of the Arsenal Mall renovation, which includes a proposed hotel on Arsenal Street, will be discussed by developers during a Community Meeting on May 31. Boylston Properties and The Wilder Cos. will host a meeting on Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the Innovation Space in Arsenal Yards, across from HATCH makerspace. Phase 2 focuses on Building B, which is on the west sided of the site, next to the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates offices. Along with the retail space on the ground floor there will be a hotel and a parking structure (see architectural drawings here).