Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/page/11/)
The candidates for the Watertown Board of Library Trustees will appear at a forum co-hosted by Watertown Cable and Watertown News. The event will take place on Monday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. The public is invited to hear from the candidates. The candidates are: Xin Peng, Pia Owens, Leanne Hammonds, and Fowler Brown.
Several polling places in Watertown will be moving to a new location for the 2025 Watertown Election. City Councilors had concerns about how voters will know where to go to vote. Voters in precincts 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 will be casting their ballots at a new location during the Nov. 4, 2025 election. See the chart below for addresses.
Candidates for Watertown City Councilor At-Large. The following information was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:
Join us for a virtual forum with candidates for Watertown City Councilor At-Large ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election. The focus for each forum will be on issues related to economic development, housing, workforce, supporting our non-profits, and the environment; however, general topics may also be discussed. Questions from the business community in advance are welcome.
Massachusetts State House (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)
The following announcement was provided by the Healey-Driscoll Administration:
On Sept. 22, Governor Maura Healey signed An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects to ensure critical funding for hospitals and community health centers in Massachusetts while also reimbursing for services for uninsured and underinsured residents.
While the state experiences significant demand for uncompensated care every year, hospitals and health centers are more acutely feeling strain this year due to more hospitals accepting patients on public payor insurance, growing expenses and increased use of services. In order to address the immediate shortfall, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and partners in the Legislature moved quickly to provide additional funding and relief for hospitals and community health centers.
Key provisions of the bill include:
$122 million for acute care hospitals serving a high percentage of low-income patients and under financial distress.
$77 million for the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, to reimburse hospitals and community health centers for services provided to uninsured and underinsured individuals.
An additional $35 million to community health centers and hospital licensed health centers, including $2.5 million earmarked for shared services.
“Thank you to the Healey Administration, House and Senate leadership, and all of my colleagues for recognizing the urgency of delivering critical funding to support our hospitals and community health centers,” said Representative John Lawn (D-Watertown), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “The Commonwealth will not turn away patients, abandon providers or retreat from our responsibility to ensure that every resident has access to high-quality care.”
“It is important to support our hospitals and community health centers so our residents get the access and quality of care they deserve across Massachusetts. This package is a step forward in maintaining our world-class health care ecosystem,” said Governor Maura Healey.
City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis will provide their annual update about the City of Watertown at the end of September. See the details in the announcement sent out by the City of Watertown below. The Watertown State of the City address will be delivered by Watertown’s City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber! Join in-person in the Watertown City Council Chamber in City Hall at 149 Main Street, watch live on WCA-TV, or watch on Comcast channel 9, or RCN channel 3, to hear the annual remarks about the City’s efforts from this past year and what to expect ahead in Watertown.
State Rep. Steve Owens. Residents can meet with State Rep. Steve Owens on Sept. 29. The office hours will be held at one of Watertown’s cafes. See details in the information provided by Owens’ office.
Watertown City Manager George Proakis. City Manager George Proakis received a high rating from the City Council in his annual review for Fiscal Year 2025, though members of the Council had some constructive criticism, too. The results of the annual review were presented during the Sept. 9 City Council meeting. Each councilor rated Proakis on a scale of 1 to 5, with five being highest, said City Council President Mark Sideris.
To the Watertown Community,
For the past almost 8 years now, I have had the privilege of serving as a School Committee member here in Watertown, most recently as the vice chair. Those past years have seen the start of perhaps the best superintendent in the state, Dr. Deanne Galdston, the turnover of all 5 principalships with amazing new leaders, and the rebuilding/full renovation of 4 out of 5 of Watertown’s school buildings. To put it lightly — we got a lot done. To this day, I remain incredibly proud of how hard the Watertown community pulled together during the pandemic, making our schools and our city a leader in safe, effective education through a perilous time. We leaned on and learned from each other, and so many people across the entire community pitched in their expertise and time to help guide us.