Government

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Interested in Coming to Town, Council Weighing Options

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Town officials have been approached by groups looking to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Watertown. Before they officially come forward, the Town Council seeks to come up with a process for vetting them. 

Wednesday night, the Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee heard from some of those interested in applying, and from residents. The subcommittee worked out some recommendations for looking at the applications. Medical marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts in 2012 with the passage of a state ballot question. Communities cannot outright ban medical marijuana dispensaries from coming in, but they can dictate where they are located.

Real Estate

Watertown Has More Than a Dozen Open Houses This Weekend

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Check out all the open houses around town this week. 

$879,000 – 274 Palfrey St. Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$595,000 – 210 Belmont St. Unit 14, 5 room, 2 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$819,000 – 77 Union St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 12-2

$419,900 – 111 Pleasant St. Unit 17, 4 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 11-1

$694,900 – 30 Katherine Road, 7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath bungalow, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$469,000 – 16 Broadway St. Unit 16, 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

Sponsored by:

$419,900 – 62 Hall St.

Community Path

Town Will Purchase House Near Library, Use it to Expand Community Path

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The Town Council voted Tuesday night to purchase a home in the center of town to help expand the Community Path through the center of town, but not all councilors agreed with the move. 

The owners of  house, which sits on Winter Street just off Church Street, approached the town to see if officials would be interested in purchasing the property, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. After a few months of negotiations, the town agreed to pay $796,000 for the house at 10 Winter Street. The money will come from the town’s Free Cash funds. The land will help the town link the multi-use path, that runs along Arsenal Street and comes into Watertown Square, but stops before starting up in Saltonstall Park, across the field from the back of Town Hall. Councilor Aaron Dushku said the purchase of the home will help the town build the path, while not impact parking in Watertown Square.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee

Members of Town Boards Accused of Violating Ethics Laws in Endorsements of CPA

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Opponents of the Community Preservation Act say the supporters of the ballot measure for the CPA violated the Massachusetts election ethics law by using their appointed office to advocate for the measure. Accusers spoke at Public Forum during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting and said that the entire Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee and a member of the Conservation Commission violated the ethics law. Resident John DiMascio said that Conservation Commissioner Patrick Fairbairn should not have included his role on the commission when he signed a letter to the editor sent to Watertown News this week (click here to see the letter). He also said the entire Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee was in breach of the law when letting their committee be named as a supporter of the CPA on a campaign mailing from Invest in Watertown, the Yes on Question 5 group. Fairbairn said he had no comment about the accusation.

Around Town

New Watertown Senior Center Director Speaks at Rotary Club Meeting

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The Rotary Club of Watertown welcomed Watertown’s new director of Senior Services during their meeting this week. 

Anne-Marie Gagnon addressed the Rotary members about her background and vision and plans for the future of the Watertown Senior Center. The Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at noon at the Oakley Country Club. Read more about Gagnon here.

Schools

School Committee: Interim Superintendent Has Experience to Lead Watertown for the Year

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The Watertown School Committee appointed a former superintendent, principal and teacher to lead the town’s Public Schools through the year while a permanent replacement is found. 

On Tuesday night, the School Committee chose Dr. John Brackett to fill the interim superintendent role through the rest of the school year, or until a new superintendent is found. When Brackett was interviewed by the School Committee Monday night, he said that he researched the Watertown Schools and saw the challenges, such as crowding and lack of a school business manager, but he also saw some positives. “I also found a lot of things appealing about the district,” Brackett said. “There are a lot of exciting things, such as diversity is celebrated and a strong commitment to high achievement.” Communication is a challenge in many districts, and Brackett said he would communicate often with the School Committee.

Around Town

Final Watertown Farmers Market of the Year Has a Halloween Theme

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The final Watertown Farmers Market of the season will feature a Halloween theme, complete with a cauldron full of treats. “Come in costume or as you are. We’ll have little toys for the little ones (non-candy) among the vendors and a special cauldron where adults can draw among a collection of tricks and treats,” Farmers Market organizers said. This week’s featured guests and music are:

Chocolats Passion, fine boxed chocolates

Jennifer Lee’s Gluten Free Bakery

Performance by Kali Stoddard-Imari

The Watertown Farmers Market runs from 2-6 p.m. from June to October, rain or shine on Arsenal Street, at Kingsbury Ave., in the Arsenal on the Charles. Payment options:

All vendors accept cash & tokens, some accept credit cards. Purchase tokens at the Manager’s booth with credit, debit or SNAP.

Police/Fire

Watertown Woman Pinned, Injured During Car Crash in Waltham

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A Watertown woman was pinned in her vehicle and suffered a serious leg injury during a three vehicle car accident in Waltham on Tuesday afternoon. Waltham Police determined that a black Jeep was traveling south on Warren Street when it swerved and struck a white Jeep that was parked on the side of the road at 2:47 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Waltham Police. “The operator of the white Jeep had just exited the vehicle and was walking between her vehicle and the back of another parked vehicle. The impact pushed the white Jeep into the vehicle in front of it pinning the operator of the white Jeep,” Waltham Police said in the announcement. The driver of the white Jeep, a 66-year-old Watertown woman, suffered “extensive leg trauma,” and she was taken to a Boston area hospital for treatment.