Government

See Details of the Firefighters Suit Against the Town of Watertown

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The Watertown Firefighters are not going away quietly after the Town Council rejected an arbitration panel’s award, and have filed suit asking the court to have the Council’s vote voided, bring the vote back for another vote and make the vote only based on the town’s ability to pay the contract. The suit, which was filed in Middlesex Superior Court on March 19, contends that the Town Council illegally met in executive session (closed to the public) to discuss the contract. An that members exceeded their authority by not just voting on the town’s ability to pay the contract but whether it is comparable to other union’s agreements. Local 1347 – the Watertown fire union – wants to court to void the Council’s vote, require the Town Manager to resubmit a request to fund the arbitration award, and when the vote is retaken, they seek to have only the town’s “unencumbered funds” considered when decided if the town can afford the contract. Watertown firefighters have been without a contact since June 30, 2009.

Around Town

Register for Summer Basketball, Summer Recreation Programs

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The Watertown Recreation Department is holding sign ups for the men’s Summer Basketball Leagues and summer youth programs.

In addition, it is not too late to sign up for some spring programs. See mor information on the Recreation website: www.watertown-ma.gov: “Online Payments”: Recreation Program Payments. Men’s Basketball Leagues
The Watertown Recreation Department Men’s Basketball League begins on May 26 and teams are asked to sign up this week. An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the same location. This is a mandatory meeting to attend. In addition to some discussion of rules and regulations, the deposit must be provided. The League will begin on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

Elections

Watertown Democrats Electing Delegates for State Convention

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Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus in the Watertown Savings Bank Room of the Watertown Free Public Library on Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. to elect 24 delegates and five alternates to the 2015 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across the commonwealth will gather to meet fellow activists and hear from elected officials. The convention will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. “This convention will be unique as we build on experiences from many competitive elections these past few years and look to strengthen the party for the future,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman, Sen. Tom McGee. “Caucuses are an important step in growing our party engagement at the local level.” The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Watertown and the Democratic Party warmly welcomes first-time participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.

Police/Fire

Hundreds Come Out for 2nd Annual Watertown Finish Strong 5K Race

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On the two-year anniversary of the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, hundreds celebrated the community spirit that followed those events during the Watertown Finish Strong 5K run and walk on Sunday. More than 700 people came out for the race, which started on Arlington Street and went through the scene of the Watertown Shootout – the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street. The 5K race ended at Tufts Health Plan. The race was started by Erin Hurley, wife of Jeffrey Bauman, who lost both his legs during the Boston Marathon Bombing. Top five male finisher:

Paul Norton, Jamaica Plain, 16:22
Jason Dunklee, Watertown, 16:34
Christopher Leitz, Watertown, 16:59
Glen McManus, Watertown, 18:31
Richard Baggt, Watertown, 18:32

Top five female finisher:

Lisa Engler, Belmont, 21:39
Kimberly Thompson, Watertown, 22:15
Jill Carretta, Waltham, 22:19
Amy Johnson, Somerville, 22:22
Christina Santini, Medford, 22:41

See the complete race results by clicking here.

Boston Marathon Bombing

NPR Investigates What Happened During Watertown Shootout, Manhunt

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WBUR reporter and Watertown resident Bruce Gellerman set out to figure out exactly what happened during the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, two years after the dramatic events in town. Gellerman put together a two-part audio timeline of the events for National Public Radio covering the events of April 18 and 19, 2013, when the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects carjacked a Mercedes SUV and got into a shootout with Watertown Police and the manhunt and ultimate capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The report played on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition includes interviews of Watertown Police, residents and police radio. Some of the interviews include information not included in the official report or presented at trial, in which the jury recently found Tsarnaev guilty. He said the recently released report looking at the Boston Marathon Bombing response and the shootout and manhunt in Watertown got some things wrong, and some things left out.

Development

2 Documents that Will Shape Watertown’s Future Will be Discussed Soon

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Two documents that will have a major impact on Watertown’s future will be discussed in public meetings. 

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing to continue discussion of the Design Guidelines & Standards. This document includes proposed changes to the Watertown Zoning Ordinance and will add new rules for major residential and commercial developments in town (find out more here). The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in the Town Council Chamber. The Town Council and the Planning Board will get together for a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan. This document sets out a vision for the town’s future in several categories, including land use, transportation, housing, economic development, open space, natural resources, historical and cultural resources, public services, and energy.

Around Town

Find Out How the 2015 Boston Marathon Could Impact Your Day

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Get ready for the 2015 Boston Marathon! Even if you are not running or watching in person, your driving or public transportation plans may be impacted. The following streets in Newton will be closed due from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to the 119th running of the Boston Marathon, according to Newton Police:

Commonwealth Avenue from the Boston line to Washington Street
Washington Street from Commonwealth Avenue to Beacon Street
Washington Street from Beacon Street to the Wellesley line
College Road between Commonwealth Avenue and Hammond

In addition, Homer Street between Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street, Walnut Street between Commonwealth Avenue and Homer Street, Cummings Road and North Street will be a Police Security Zone and will be open to abutters only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Newton Police said. Many streets in Boston will be closed during the race, including Commonwealth Avenue, Beacon Street and Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton which will close at 8:30 a.m. For full details of street closings and parking restrictions click here. Most of the T system will run on a regular weekday schedule, but some MBTA routes will be impacted – mostly during the time of the Marathon.

Police/Fire

Fire Destroys Belmont Businesses Across from School Street

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A three-alarm fire destroyed Jimmy’s Food Mart and other businesses in a block just over the Belmont Line on Belmont Street. 

The Belmontonian reported that no one was injured in the blaze that destroyed the convenience store at 297 Belmont St. in Belmont that opened last year, taking the place of Shore Drug. Watertown firefighters joined the Belmont Fire Department, along with other departments, to put out the flames. Read more and see more photos on The Belmontonian by clicking here.