Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/840/)
Ken Woodland seeks re-election for District D Town Councilor on Nov. 3. Watertown News asked the District Council candidates a series of questions. 1) What is the biggest issue for your district, and how would you seek to address it? The west end’s biggest issue over the past 2 years has been Pleasant St.
(Watertown News will accept Election Related letters until Oct. 31.)
District 5 needs new representation on the Town Council, the only town government body who are directly responsible to us, the voters. With the face of Watertown changing at breakneck speed and our quality of life, neighborhoods and property at stake, we need a Town Councilor who will interact and respond to constituents. Lisa Feltner has worked tirelessly for Watertown as a private citizen and as head of the Concerned Citizens Group. She provided invaluable help to North Beacon Neighbors for our negotiations with Athena Health’s proposed garage and other changes to the Arsenal on the Charles over the past year.
(Watertown News will accept Election Related letters until Oct. 31.)
Dear friends and neighbors,
When I first ran for Town Council, as the parent of a third grader at the Lowell School, I laid out a clear set of goals to achieve and core values to guide me. I continue to stand by those goals and values today as I run for reelection. My vision for Watertown is a vibrant, diverse, safe community with pretty tree-lined streets and great schools. My top priorities have been, and continue to be, robust school funding, street & sidewalk reconstruction, and managing development & traffic.
MassHousing announced today that Belmont Savings Bank is now an approved lender of MassHousing’s affordable, fixed-rate, home loan products for low- and moderate-income homebuyers, according to an announcement sent out by the bank. Headquartered in Belmont, Belmont Savings Bank also has branches in Watertown, Cambridge, Waltham and Newton. MassHousing, a quasi-public authority charged with increasing affordable home ownership opportunities in Massachusetts, does not originate its own loans. As a MassHousing-approved lender, Belmont Savings Bank will be able to originate MassHousing’s home mortgage loans for income-eligible homebuyers. These loans have low down payment options and competitive 30-year fixed interest rates.
Watertown’s budget for Fiscal 2017 is more than $2 million in deficit right now, but Town Manager Michael Driscoll said the town faced similar projects last year and the town’s current budget should wind up with an excess. Tuesday night, Driscoll presented the preliminary budget to the Town Council – the first step in the budget process that ends in the spring. The budget for Fiscal 2017 (July 1, 2016 to June 30 2017) is projected to cost $126.26 million, or $2.23 million more than the projected revenues. He noted when he presented the preliminary Fiscal 2016 budget last fall, the town was $2.06 million in deficit, but additional revenue was found to fund the budget. “The budget submitted in the spring will be a balanced budget,” Driscoll said.
Five people seek to fill four spots on the Town Council as Councilors At-Large, see what they said about issues such as development, overrides and their priorities. The Councilors At-Large are elected by the entire town. Watertown News send the same set of questions to all those running in the Nov. 3 Town Election. Click on the candidate’s name to see their responses:
Susan Falkoff
Tony Palomba
Patryce Georgopoulos
Aaron Dushku
Michael Dattoli
See more about the candidates from an earlier story on Watertown News:
Candidates for Council President, At-Large Councilors Air Views
See the Town Council President Candidate Q&As by clicking here.
Susan Falkoff seeks re-election as Town Councilor At-Large in the Nov. 3 election. Watertown News asked candidates a series of questions. 1) If elected, what will you make your top priority for the first six months of your term? If I have to pick just one I will say Residential Design Standards since the ball is already rolling on that and I will want to pay close attention.
Tony Palomba seeks re-election as Town Councilor At-Large in the Nov. 3 election. Watertown News asked candidates a series of questions. 1) If elected, what will you make your top priority for the first six months of your term? 1.