The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
City Manager George Proakis is excited to announce that the City of Watertown has hired Erika Oliver Jerram as the City of Watertown’s new Director of Community Design!
Erika is a certified professional planner with over 20 years of experience in both the private sector and municipal planning. She joins Watertown after working for the Town of Billerica, where she was the Director of Planning and Community Development and led the Town’s efforts in zoning, open space design, and economic development. Prior to her time in Billerica, Erika previously held roles in the Planning and Community Development in Framingham, and as an Associate Planner with Sasaki Associates in Watertown.
When Erika begins on Monday, August 26, 2024, she will be leading the newly formed Community Design Division within the Community Development and Planning Department.
The candidates for District 3 Governor’s Council: Marilyn Petitto Devaney, left, and Mara Dolan. Democrats will have a contested race that includes a local candidate to vote on during the Sept. 3 State Primary, the District 3 Governor’s Councilor, or “Councilor” as it appears on the ballot. Watertown resident and incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney is challenged by Concord’s Mara Dolan, who lived in Watertown for a time. The same two candidates faced each other in 2022, and Petitto Devaney won after receiving nearly 51 percent of the votes.
Marilyn Pettito Devaney seeks re-election to the Governor’s Council. Watertown News asked the candidates for District 3 Governor’s Councilor about their campaign and about themselves. Incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney provided the following responses:
Why did you decide to run (for reelection) for the District 3 Governor’s Council seat? I ran for Governor’s council after seeing my friend beg a judge on eight occasions to keep her abusive boyfriend in jail. The judge told her you have wasted my time and wasted the court’s time.
Mara Dolan is running for Governor’s Councilor District 3. Watertown News asked the candidates for District 3 Governor’s Councilor about their campaign and about themselves. Challenger Mara Dolan provided the following responses:
Why did you decide to run (for reelection) for the District 3 Governor’s Council seat? If you care who our judges are, you need to care who your Governor’s Councillor is. The Governor’s Council confirms our judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons.
Watertown’s annual State of the City address will take place on Sept. 4, 2024. The first one was held last August. The event is required to be held annually with the changes to the City Charter were approved by voters in 2021. The City of Watertown provided the following information:
The Watertown State of the City address will be broadcasted live from WCA-TV’s studio on September 4, 2024 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. 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.
Watch live online, or on Comcast 22 and RCN 13.
Massachusetts State House
The following announcement was provided by Sen. Will Brownsberger:
Senator Will Brownsberger invites constituents to apply for the Fall 2024 Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS), a free Senate program that educates the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature. The seminar is on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 29 and 30.
Nominees from this office must be residents of Senator Brownsberger’s district and be able to attend both days of the seminar. The CLS, offered twice a year, aims to better educate the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature. The curriculum includes the history of the legislature, the legislative process, the state budget, and a simulated legislative hearing and a simulated Senate Session held in the Senate Chamber where participants use what they have learned to actively experience the legislative process. Presentations are made by Senators and Senate staff.
The Massachusetts State Primaries will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, and there will be one race involving a Watertown candidate on the ballot. Democrats will be choosing their candidate for Governor’s Councilor. The incumbent is Watertown’s Marilyn Petitto Devaney, and she is challenged by Mara Dolan of Concord. Republicans will be selecting their candidate for U.S. Senate.
The City of Watertown released the final version of the Watertown Square Area Plan, which was endorsed by the City Council and Planning Board. Read the full version, which includes all the amendments and additions added during the July 16 public hearing by clicking here, and see some of the highlights in the announcement provided by the City, below. The Watertown City Council and Planning Board held three Public Hearings between June and July to discuss the Area Plan. After discussions among themselves and hearing from the public, the Council and Planning Board officially endorsed the Plan on July 16, 2024.
What is in this Plan Document? Click Here to Read the Plan
Much of this Plan Document remains unchanged from the initial draft released on May 30, 2024.
