Government

See Details of the Watertown Police Supervisors Union’s New Contract

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Watertown’s police supervisors will be required to wear body armor, submit to drug tests and carry antidotes to overdoses and allergic reactions as part of their new contract. 

On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to transfer $197,625 to cover a new contract agreement with the Watertown Police Supervisors Association, which covers sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The contract calls for members to submit to mandatory, random drug testing, according to the details of the contract. Police supervisors will now carry and be able to administer two potentially life-saving items: Narcan – which can reverse heroin and opiate overdoses – and epi-pens – which help with many allergic reactions. Also, they must wear body armor when they are working field activities, including working a patrol shift. In addition, they must wear protective vests for high risk and tactical situations, such as serving search warrants, drug raids and initial crime scene response.

Arsenal on the Charles

Athenahealth Gets OK to Start Master Plan, With Some Alterations

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Many neighbors and other residents  are worried about what the new Arsenal on the Charles complex will look like, and the owners – athenahealth – will now be able to make give a more detailed presentation after the Town Council approved a master plan process. Athenahealth purchased the former U.S. Army complex from Harvard University, and plans to make a corporate headquarters with a retail section. The company wants to know they will be able to do the whole project, and seeks to get a master plan approved to layout the changes. Monday night the Town Council approved changing in the town zoning that will allow for a master plan to be proposed, and added some limits to what can be built at the Arsenal. New buildings, a parking garage and glassing in the space between the set of long buildings on the eastside of the Arsenal are proposed.

Police/Fire

Police Bust Watertown Man After Joint Drug Investigation

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Police busted a Watertown man for allegedly dealing drugs on the Westside of town. 

Watertown Police teamed with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force to investigate drug dealing activity in town. Police followed a suspect and pulled the suspect over on Prentiss Street and identified him as Shah Faisal, 25, of Watertown. When officers searched him, they found Percocet pills, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. Faisal was arrested on a charge of possession to distribute a Class B drug, Lawn said.

Real Estate

A Wide Variety of Properties on the Market in Watertown

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Check out the dozens of open houses coming up this weekend in Watertown. $435,000 – 20 Hosmer St. Unit 1, 2 bed, 2 bath, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$599,000 – 94 Winsor Ave. Unit B, 3 bed, 3f 0h bath 2 family Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

$299,900 – 12 Green St. Unit 1, 2 bed, 1 bath 3 family Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$599,000 – 179 Fayette St.

Police/Fire

Town Manager Fires Back on Watertown Firefighters’ Contract Dispute

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll has been silent about the contract dispute with the Watertown Firefighters since the Town Council rejected the arbitration award in December, but this week he rebuked many of the contentions of the union and its supporters. Driscoll made his statement at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. The Council voted 8-1 against supporting the award presented by a neutral arbitration panel, saying that it was unfair to other unions in town because it would give the firefighters larger raises than others had received. Tony Palomba voted for the agreement. Contract Numbers
The firefighters sought raises well in excess of other unions, Driscoll said, who said that the union wanted raises and other benefits that would have given an increase of 19 percent.

Business

Boston Restauranteur Bringing New Eatery to Arsenal on the Charles

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The man behind Kenmore Square’s Eastern Standard will be opening a new restaurant in Watertown’s Arsenal on the Charles this fall. The spot in the rear of the building which is home to the Arsenal Center for the Arts will be the new location of Garrett Harker’s new eatery, which will be called Branch Line. It will have an “urban rotisserie with a focused wine and beer program,” BostonInno reported. The restaurant will feature an outdoor seating area. Watertown native Andrew Holden, Eastern Standard’s general manager, will also be a partner in the new restaurant, according to Larry Beals, an architect working with Arsenal on the Charles-owner athenahealth’s redevelopment of the complex.

Around Town

See Video of an Overdose Prevention Workshop Held in Watertown

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Wayside Youth & Family Services recently held a workshop for those interested in learning how to prevent drug overdoses from heroin and opiates, and how to administer and anti-overdose medication. During the event held on May 19, attendees learned ways to help friends and loved ones avoid overdoses. They also were trained on how to use Narcan, a drug that can stop a person from overdosing. The workshop follows a panel discussion about opioid addiction and how to get people into treatment, held at Watertown Middle School. (See more here).

Police/Fire

Man Punched When Suspect Attempts to Rob Him on Mt. Auburn St.

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A man reported being attacked by a suspect who tried to rob him as he walked along Mt. Auburn Street at night last week. The man told Watertown Police that he was walking along Mt. Auburn near Irma Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. on June 4, when he was attacked, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “The man said the suspect turned and said, ‘Give me some money,’ and punched him in the face,” Lawn said.