Elections

LETTER: Council Candidate’s Ideas for Unused Branch Libraries

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Watertown’s two branch libraries have been vacant since closing in 2006.  During the past decade, two separate re-use committees have struggled to find appropriate utilization for the decaying buildings. Any re-use of either branch library will require heavy reconstruction, and costs for proposed uses by outside groups have been estimated to exceed the return on investment. Some have indicated that selling one or both of these buildings is the only solution, while others point to the former Parker School as a reason to maintain ownership. Along with the former Police Station building, I believe that Watertown has the potential for an innovative approach to managing and revitalizing these vacant sites, which takes into account other challenges our local economy is already confronted with. For example, re-use should address job creation, the rise in out-of-district educational costs, and attempt to make health care costs more affordable.

Around Town

Watertown Police Looking for Suspect in Watertown Savings Robbery

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A man robbed the Watertown Savings Bank branch near the Waltham line, and Watertown Police seek the suspect. Officers responded to a reported bank robbery, at Watertown Savings Bank, 739 Main St., on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015. Bank employees activated their bank alarm in addition to calling 911, according to the Watertown Police press release. The suspect climbed over the fence located in the southwest portion of the parking lot and then entered the bank at approximately 11:30 a.m. He demanded cash from tellers and left approximately one minute later with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Sports

HBC Wins Watertown Summer Basketball League Title

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The Watertown Summer Basketball League ended with a dominating victory by champions HBC in the second game of the best-of-three finals series. The Watertown Recreation Department provided the game summaries of the finals. HBC beat Donohue’s Kaos in the semifinals and Zards – the other finalists – took out the defending champions, Made Men. Game 1 – Wednesday, Aug. 12
In one of the most competitive games in Watertown Recreation Summer Hoop finals history, HBC edged Zards by the score of 69-66.

Letters

LETTER: Former Council President Seeks Alternate Way to Choose Police Chief

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Dear Editor,

During this past Tuesday night’s Town Council Meeting, several Councilors questioned the search/appointment process the Town Manager explained that he favored. Evidently, he stated that the process that he wished to employ is utilized in several other communities. Since the community is well served by an interim appointment , there should be not be a rush to appoint another Police Chief. The vacancy offers the Council the opportunity to refer the matter to the Public Safety Sub-Committee. The Public Safety Sub-Committee can conduct public hearings so that they can hear from the taxpayers and residents of Watertown regarding the appointment process and the qualities they wish to see in a Police Chief.

Elections

LETTER: Another Councilor’s Response to the Fire Union’s Questionnaire

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Dear Mr. Mannix and Members of IAFF Local 1347:

Thank you for reaching out to the candidates in the upcoming town elections regarding their position on the outstanding Watertown Firefighters contract. I must respectfully decline to complete the enclosed questionnaire on this issue prepared by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts (PFFM) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) given the lawsuit filed by IAFF Local 1347 on March 19, 2015 against the Town of Watertown in which I was named as a defendant. My record as a District B Councilor and life-long Democrat clearly indicates my support for the Town’s 12 unions and the collective bargaining process. During my tenure as District B Councilor, I have consistently supported policies and budgets that will provide salaries and benefits to all the Town’s union employees commensurate with those in our peer communities. I take extremely serious the Council’s role as the fiscal authority for Watertown; and in that role, I was one of 8 Councilors who voted against the non-binding arbitration decision on Dec.

Real Estate

Plenty of Watertown Open Houses on Saturday and Sunday

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Condos, townhouses, double- and single-family homes are available this week in Watertown. $565,000 – 12 Thurston Road, 2 unit, 13 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 family, Open House: Sunday 1-2 p.m.

$314,900 – 227 Coolidge Ave. Unit 209, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath low-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

$429,000 – 104 Coolidge Hill Road Unit 15, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$249,000 – 107 Spring Street Unit 2-2, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30 p.m.

$315,000 – 473 Arsenal Court Unit C, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath garden, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

$275,000 – 3 Repton Circle Unit 3305, 3 room, 1 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 2:30-4 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$489,000 – 20 Morton St., 6 room, 4 bed, 2 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$449,000 – 50 Watertown St. Unit 304, 4 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 p.m. Sunday 1-3 p.m.

$599,900 – 65 Morse St. Unit 65, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Saturday 1-2:30 p.m.

$699,999 – 191 Edenfield Ave., 8 room, 4 bed, 3 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$565,000 – 195 Chapman St., 9 room, 4 bed, 1 full 2 half bath colonial, Open Houses: Friday 5-6 p.m. Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$305,000 – 253 Sycamore St.

Government

Selection Process for Watertown’s Next Police Chief Revealed

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Watertown’s next Police Chief will be chosen from among the ranks of the current Police Department, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said when he revealed the selection process. On Tuesday night, Driscoll told the Town Council about his plans to replace recently retired Edward Deveau. He said the town will use the Civil Service process, and the finalists will be chosen using an assessment center as the only ranking device. During an assessment center, the candidates are asked to react to real world situations in an oral exam. “I spoke with the (state) Human Resources Division and the most popular method  used was the assessment center as the sole ranking device,” Driscoll said.

Around Town

LETTER: Councilor’s Response to Fire Union’s Candidate Questionnaire

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The following letter is District A Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis’ response to a Candidate Questionnaire sent to her by Robert Mannix, President of Watertown Fire Fighters Local 1347 (see the Fire Union Letter and Questionnaire below):

Dear Mr. Mannix:

Please be advised, on 03/19/15, Thomas A. McManus, Kevin MacDonald, Stephan Ciara and Watertown Fire Fighters, International Assoc. of Fire Fighters, Local 1347, the Plaintiffs, filed Civil Action No. 15-1551 in the County of Middlesex, Trial Court of Massachusetts, Superior Court Dept. The Defendants are the City of Watertown; Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll, and nine individually named City of Watertown Council, inclusive of myself. On the advise of my legal counsel, because of the aforenoted litigation, I am precluded from replying to the 08/03/15 Candidate’s Questionnaire.