Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Dissatisfied by Public Safety Committee Process, Endorses Council Candidate & Charter Changes

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I have serious concerns about how Councilor Feltner has used her position of power as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety and it is one of the strong reasons I will not be voting for her for District B Councilor. I will be voting for Tiffany York for District B Councilor, and urge fellow neighbors in District B to join me because this is a critical time to have Councilors with competency in what justice, equity, diversity and inclusion means and how to actually create it on the next Town Council. As a light-skinned person of mixed African and European heritage who presents as white to most people, I benefit from an enormous amount of skin privilege and see it as my responsibility to speak up as I am able to when I see and experience racism, and to work to make our community safer for all residents. And it is hard. While I don’t experience most skin discrimination, I have ancestrally inherited fears of targeting and reprisals when being brave enough to speak up.

Elections

LETTER: Resident Endorses School Committee Candidate

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To the editor:

This election day I am casting my vote for Amy Donohue for School Committee.  

Amy’s credentials as a dedicated public servant and involved parent have been well-documented over the past several years. 

Her commitment to our Public Schools goes far beyond the interests of her own children, as she cares deeply about the quality of education for all students. She has advocated fairly and passionately for students, families, teachers, and administrators during her first term. I have had the good fortune to be friends with Amy for well over 10 years, we also served as co-presidents of the Watertown Education Foundation. Having spent many years fundraising for the school-wide Educational Grant Program either at the Spelling Bee or Trivia Night or Dancing with the Stars, I have seen first-hand the time, effort, and energy Amy has dedicated to our town. I have found her to be a caring, compassionate, intelligent person, willing to listen to all sides of an issue and fully considers all options before making important decisions.  

Her tireless involvement in the community, through The Ed Foundation, teaching in our public schools, and as a local business owner, to name just a few, shows that she is a person of service and integrity, who truly wants the best for Watertown. I know she will continue to serve the school committee with the same passion she exhibits in all of her endeavors.

District D

LETTER: District D Resident Endorses Candidate for Town Council

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Dear Watertown Community and District D Residents,

I am a proud member of District D in Watertown and strongly support Connie Henry for District D Town Councilor. Connie has been an educator in the Boston Public Schools, recently retiring after serving as Assistant Director of K-12 Mathematics. Even though she is retired, Connie now continues to support students in her work at Boston University. She has been a passionate resident and advocate for District D in Watertown for 45 years and raised her children andgrandchildren in this Town. Connie’s long-term passion for climate issues includes early work on the dismantling of the former nuclear reactor in Watertown, and now supporting a sustainable climate action plan and securing green space for all residents.

Around Town

LETTER: Five Residents Back Candidate for Town Councilor At-Large

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Dear Citizens of Watertown,

I am writing to offer my strong support for John Gannon in his campaign for reelection to an at large seat on Town Council. I have attended almost all Town Council meetings since John was elected in 2020. His is not the loudest voice, but it is often the most knowledgeable. As a municipal lawyer, he helped navigate the details of the charter review process, and argued for more resident engagement in our local government. He has strongly supported affordable housing and programs to make Watertown more welcoming to all.

Around Town

Town of Watertown Seeks Snow Plowing, Salting & Sanding Vendors

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Charlie BreitroseA truck plows a Watertown street. The following information was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown is seeking interested vendors for Snow Plowing, Salting and Sanding for the 2021-2022 Snow Emergency Seasons. Contractors may now obtain instructions, specifications and other necessary forms via email at purchasing@watertown-ma.gov or at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33714/SNOW-PLOW-Final-Invite-102921-PDF beginning Friday, October 29, 2021 – Wednesday, November 10, 2021 by 11:00 a.m.  

Vendors are required to obtain a response packet and return all documents by mail or drop off no later than November 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. to the Purchasing Agent at the office of the Purchasing Agent, 149 Main Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.  All vendors are required to submit evidence of vehicle liability insurance at the same time dropping off documents by prevailing time. Vendors will be selected by the Department of Public Works.

Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Backs Council, School Committee Candidates, Opposes Charter Changes

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To the Editor:

I’m writing today, urging the Common Sense mainstream Watertown voters to participate in the upcoming non-partisan municipal election on November 2, 2021. Watertown is at a tipping point. As I mentioned, our municipal elections are nonpartisan and for good reason. Councilors and School Committee members are elected, charged, and paid to administer purely local concerns. Yet, there are those who for 2 decades now, have tried to use their municipal office to promote partisan issues, often radical, rather than focusing on the daily nuts and bolts operations of the community.

Elections

LETTER: District B Resident Endorses Candidate for Town Council

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I am writing to endorse Lisa Feltner for re-election as our District B Councilor. I have valued Lisa’s work for our neighborhood and for Watertown as a whole for many years. She has a deep understanding of complex town issues, a willingness to work tirelessly to develop and implement sound public decisions, and a true openness to the views of all residents. She has long been a champion of resident involvement in town affairs. When I first met Lisa, she was a leader in the Concerned Citizens residents group – formed to provide resident input on contaminated site redevelopment and other local development challenges.

District A

LETTER: East End Resident Endorses District A Councilor Candidate

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Dear East End neighbors,

I’m writing today as an East End homeowner, a father, and a public servant to endorse Nicole Gardner for Watertown District A Town Councilor. Join me in voting for Nicole on Election Day, this coming Tuesday, November 2. For the past four years I have had the privilege of serving Watertown as an elected member of the Library Board of Trustees alongside District A Council candidate Mike Hanlon. I’m endorsing Nicole Gardner because she has the intellect, vision, experience, and energy to meet the complex challenges Watertown faces today. Nicole brings 30 years of experience in business management and human resources to this role.