Government

This Week’s Meetings: In-Person Learning, Charter Review & WHS Project

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This week’s meetings include a discussion of reopening of the Watertown Schools to in-person learning, the Town’s Charter Review, and an update on designs for the new Watertown High School. School Committee

The School Committee meets Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m., and the agenda includes an update on the reopening and an update on student learning time. A group of Lowell PTO members have written a letter asking the Watertown schools to open to all in-person learning (see the letter by clicking here). Also, the School Committee will hear a presentation about social and emotional learning and health during COVID-19. Reports include a look at the draft 2021-22 school calendar.

Development

Zoning Board Approves Plans to Turn Former Tufts Building Into Biotech Space

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Plans to turn the former Tufts Health Plan building into biotech lab and office space was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project that will renovate and add on to the former Tufts Health Care building on Mt. Auburn Street on Wednesday night. The new owners, Spear Street Capital, wants to turn the area into life science office and lab space. Plans include renovating the interior of the main building, adding a small building on the back and renovating on the property near Grove Street.

Government

Watertown Receives $80K in State Tech Grants to Improve Town’s System, Cybersecurity

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town of Watertown received two technology grants from for a total of $80,000 as part of the state’s Community Compact program. Watertown Chief Information Officer Chris McClure applied for the grants to help Town departments transitioning to a new computer software system, Office 365, as well as to help protect the Town’s computer networks. The application went in on Feb. 10, and two days later he received a letter from Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito congratulating Watertown on receiving the grants. “We applied for two Focus Areas.

Government

Board of Health Member Named Fellow of National Group, Also Vice Chair of EPA Board

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Dr. Barbara Beck. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

Dr. Barbara Beck, Watertown Board of Health Member was recently named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. 

Dr. Beck was elected as an AAAS Fellow for “For meritorious contributions to the fields of toxicology and risk assessment, particularly for pioneering work on the evaluation of health risks of environmental chemicals.” Additionally, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced her appointment to serve as Vice-Chair of the Science Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Beck will continue her service as a Watertown Board of Health Member throughout her term as Vice-Chair of the SAB.

Entertainment

Council Approves Public Arts Master Plan, Creates New Committee

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A mural created on Melendy Avenue in 2015 is an example of public arts in Watertown. A committee will be formed to help Watertown implement the Public Arts Master Plan, which received approval from the Town Council on Tuesday night. While Watertown has had some public arts projects, most notably a series of murals created from 2013-15, it did not have a formal plan. Planning to create a master plan began in 2019, when the Watertown Department of Planning and Community Development brought on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council as a consultant. The group gathered input from multiple community forums, from online surveys and by speaking with local artists and stakeholders.

Development

ZBA Hearing Two Big Projects, Council Subgroup Looks at Police Services & Other Meetings

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Plans for converting the Tufts Health Plan building into life science labs and offices will be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday. The Watertown Zoning Board has several projects on its agenda, including renovations of the Tufts Health Plan building and a biotech project proposed on Elm Street. The ZBA gives final approval for these projects and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Spear Street Capital, the new owner of the Tufts Health Plan site at 705 Mt.

Government

Health Director Rips Governor’s Decision to Take Vaccinations Away from Local Health Departments

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Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin said he was “extremely disappointed” with Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to remove local health departments from the COVID-19 vaccination process and handing it to privately run vaccination sites. Ramdin told the Board of Health that received word of the change on Wednesday, the same day that the Watertown Health Department gave vaccines to 100 residents age 75 or older. He said health departments have better training and can administer more doses than pharmacies and other vaccination sites. “We have been going through this. Every one of the clinics we host is a drill for an emergency dispensing site.

Government

Charter Review Committee Takes Straw Poll, Reviews Current Document

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Watertown’s Town Hall. The Charter Review Committee gave a little insight into which way its members are leaning in the question of whether to keep the current form of government or change to one with a mayor. The committee took a straw poll toward the end of Tuesday night’s meeting, in which six of the 15 members said they were leaning toward keeping the current government with a council and strong town manager. None said they were leaning toward a mayoral form, but nine abstained. The vote was proposed by Town Councilor Ken Woodland, who said he wanted to help give the consultants from the Collins Center at UMass Boston an idea of what to work on for future meetings.