Government

City Manager: State of the City is Healthy & Strong, Concerns Remain About Tax Revenues

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The State of the City is “healthy and strong,” City Manager George Proakis stated Thursday evening. Watertown sits in a good position financially, Proakis said, the Council has done a good job improving and replacing facilities and parks, the City has been able to fill long-time openings, and there are some major efforts in the works, such as the new high school, the human services study, and Watertown Square. Proakis and City Council President Mark Sideris gave the second annual State of the City address on Thursday evening at the Watertown Library. The State of the City is a requirement added in the recent City Charter changes. While the City’s financial situation looks good, Proakis said there is still much work to be done.

Government

State Rep. Owens Hosting Office Hours With Councilor Gardner

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State Rep. Steve Owens. The following announcement was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens office:

State Rep. Steve Owens, a Democrat in the 29th Middlesex District made up of parts of West Cambridge, North Cambridge, and Watertown, has office hours in Cambridge and Watertown. Office hours will take place on Monday, September 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center (31 Marshall St, Watertown), and Tuesday, September 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at La Saison Bakery (407 Concord Ave, Cambridge). Rep. Owens will be joined by Watertown City Councilor Nicole Gardner for office hours on Thursday, September 26 at Addgene (490 Arsenal Way #100, Watertown). The Representative looks forward to hearing from constituents on state-related legislative or personal matters.

Government

See When the Rescheduled State of the City Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown announced the new date and location for the rescheduled State of the City Address by City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis. The State of the City had originally been scheduled to be a live broadcast from the Watertown Cable Access studio on Sept. 4, but was postponed because Proakis tested positive for COVID-19. The City provided the following announcement:

The Watertown State of the City address has been rescheduled for September 19, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main St, in the Watertown Savings Bank Room (please note the new location). City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis will deliver the State of the City together, before transitioning to Q+A and answering resident-submitted questions.

Government

Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee Seeks New Participants

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee:

The Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee (WE3C) advises the City Council on issues of sustainability and energy use. We work closely with the Sustainability Manager and the Energy Manager to help create policies that will promote our Climate and Energy Plan. Most recently we have been involved in:

Creating a draft Building Emissions and Reduction Disclosure ordinance (BERDO) that will require larger buildings in Watertown to report their energy use each year

Developing the Climate and Energy Plan

Establishing Watertown Electricity Choice (WEC), an aggregate electrical service that provides Watertown with bulk-rate, greener electricity

WE3C helps the City develop programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide information to individuals and organizations in matters relating to energy conservation and emissions reduction. If you are interested in this work, please join us in our monthly meetings to hear what we do and, if desired, participate in the work of the Committee. Meetings are held via Zoom on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm.

Government

Residents Wanted to Serve on Conservation, Historic District Commissions

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Watertown City Hall

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Conservation Commission and the Historic District Commission. Interested applicants should complete and submit a Universal Application. Conservation Commission

The Conservation Commission administers the MA Wetlands Protection Act (MGL, c.131, s.40) and regulations (310 CMR 10.00) and the Watertown Wetlands Ordinance (City Code c. 154).  In this capacity, they review plans for activities that may affect the City’s wetlands, manage open space, and address other matters relating to conservation protection and enhancement of watershed, open space, passive recreational, and natural resource areas. Candidates should have a background in or knowledge of environmental science, landscape design, horticulture, or a related field

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission administers the Mount Auburn Street Historic District.

Government

Watertown Woman Hired as State Senate’s Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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Massachusetts State House

The following announcement was provided by the office of State Senate President Karen Spilka:

The Massachusetts State Senate announced that Kathryn A. Bethea-Rivera, Ph.D. of Watertown, has been hired as the new Human Resources Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Senate. “On behalf of the entire Senate, I am very pleased to welcome Kathryn to our Human Resources team,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Kathryn comes to us with a wealth of experience in creating and promoting workplace policies designed to ensure all employees have equitable access to opportunities for professional growth and advancement. I am proud of the Senate’s work to create a more diverse and inclusionary workforce, but there is still more to do. Kathryn will be key to enhancing and advancing that work in the future.”

Kathryn’s excited about the opportunity to further the Massachusetts State Senate’s support of DEI, the collaborative nature of the work, and shared vision for the greater good of all of Massachusetts.

Government

Watertown DPW Director Leaving; Led Road, Water, Park & Recycling Projects

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Gregory St. Louis, PE will be stepping down as Superintendent of the Watertown Department of Public Works (DPW) on September 27, 2024, after four years of service to pursue a new professional opportunity outside of Watertown. Greg was hired as Superintendent of the Watertown DPW in 2020 by the late former City Manager Michael Driscoll amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and later worked under the leadership of Acting City Manager Tom Tracy and City Manager George Proakis. 

Greg has led the department in implementing and completing several projects that will positively impact the Watertown community for many years to come. His leadership has been most felt in the City’s Complete Street projects, an approach to designing and building streets that enables safe access for all road users. Greg led the City’s successful effort to receive MassWorks funding for the Arsenal Street reconstruction project, and he played a critical role in expanding the off-street bike network that exists today. Throughout his time in Watertown, Greg has worked closely with partners like the MBTA to remove the unused catenary electric bus system lines and the Mass Department of Transportation to kick off the long-awaited Mount Auburn Complete Streets Project, which officially started in the spring of 2024.

Government

Challenger Mara Dolan Wins Governor’s Council Race, See How Watertown Voted

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Mara Dolan won the Democratic Governor’s Councilor District 3 race on Tuesday. Mara Dolan of Concord defeated longtime incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown in Tuesday’s Democratic District 3 Governor’s Council race. With no challenger on the Republican side of the ballot for November’s General Election, Dolan appears headed to the Governor’s Council. The Council votes on the Governor’s nominations for judges and nominees for other boards, as well as voting on the Governor’s proposed pardons and commutations of prisoners. According to results compiled by the Associated Press (AP), Dolan received 52.5 percent of the vote.