Government

Playgrounds, Courts & Town Hall Reopening; Town Budget, Hosmer Traffic to be Discussed

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Tot lots and playgrounds will reopen this week, along with basketball courts and picnic and grilling areas in Watertown’s parks. Playgrounds and tot-lots will reopen this week, along with basketball courts and other Recreation facilities. Also this week, the Town Council will hold budget hearings, and traffic around Hosmer School during construction is on the Traffic Commission’s agenda. Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced that more Recreational facilities will reopen after being closed to the public during the COVID-19 shutdown. On Wednesday, June 24th, playgrounds and tot lots, basketball courts, and picnic tables and grills (by permit only) will reopen.

Business

Gov. Allows Start of Limited Indoor Dining, Nail, Tanning & Other Businesses

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Gov. Charlie Baker, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. On Monday, June 22, diners will be able to grab a meal inside Massachusetts restaurants, and beauty and personal services such as nail salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors and personal trainers will be allowed to reopen from the state’s COVID-19 shutdown. Friday afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the beginning of Phase 2, Step 2 in the four phase reopening plan. The First Step started on June 8, which included outdoor dining and retail stores. Restaurant capacity will be limited due to social distancing requirements.

Around Town

Public Invited to Help Create Principles for Watertown’s Community Preservation Process

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The Community Preservation Committee is determined not to let the COVID-19 pandemic slow progress toward awarding the first set of projects, but before that can happen they have some work to do and are seeking the public’s help to do so. The next step is a Webinar on Tuesday, June 30 from 6-7 p.m., which is being held in lieu of the second public forum. (See more information about the webinar and how to register below). In January, the group had a public forum to hear what types of projects residents want to see the Community Preservation funds used on. They also did an online survey and held focus groups in March just before for the shutdown, and had planned a second public forum in April but that had to be cancelled, said Lanae Handy, the Community Preservation Coordinator.

29th Middlesex

State Rep. Candidate Steve Owens Garners Mass Alliance’s Endorsement

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following information was provided by the Steve Owens for State Rep. Campaign:

Mass Alliance, a coalition of a wide range of political organizations dedicated to making Massachusetts more progressive, is proud to announce its endorsement of Steve Owens, candidate for State Representative in the 29th Middlesex district. “Steve has been a longtime ally of Mass Alliance and has shown that he is deeply committed to making the commonwealth a more progressive, inclusive, and just place. He has worked closely with us for many years and understands that implementing legislation that reflects those qualities is how we address the many issues that we face. As an organization who champions progressive activism, we are happy to be supporting his candidacy.” – Jordan Berg Powers, Executive Director at MassAlliance.

Elections

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger Discusses Voting by Mail in Mass.

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

The following was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, who represents Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston:

Massachusetts voters will have three options in the statewide elections this fall: They will be able to vote early by mail, vote early in person, or vote in person on election day. The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill providing these options (Tuesday, June 16) and the House has already passed a similar bill. Our hope is that final legislation will be on the Governor’s desk very shortly. The new voting options are intended to reduce the risks of transmitting COVID-19. We hope that many voters will choose to vote by mail and avoid physically appearing at the polls.

Around Town

Faire On the Square is Latest COVID-19 Casualty; Tennis Courts, Dog Parks Opening Soon

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Children had plenty of fun options during Saturday’s Faire on the Square. Town officials announced that the 2020 Faire on the Square will be cancelled as a safety precaution during the COVID-19 outbreak. Some additional Recreation facilities will be opening on June 17. Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the cancellation of the Town’s annual celebration in the June 12 Town Manager’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update. “Given the COVID-19 pandemic and as a follow-up to discussion with the Town Council President, the Chair of the Faire on the Square Committee and the Director of Public Health, this year’s Faire on the Square is cancelled out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of its participants and vendors,” the Town Manager’s latest COVID-19 Update.

Government

Town Council Discussing Budget at Series of Upcoming Meetings

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council will hold three meetings over a the space of a week and will be voting on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget by the end of June. In a normal year, the Council would hold several meetings to hear from each Town department about the details of their budget. With the budget process delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the process will be shortened. Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the budget to the Council on June 8, several weeks after it was originally scheduled to be submitted. The Town is projected to lose $4 million in revenues due to the economic impact of the Coronavirus (mostly from State Aid and local meals and hotel taxes).

Business

Watertown Restaurants Can Apply for Temporary Outdoor Seating as Part of COVID-19 Reopening

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Temporary outdoor seating will be allowed for Watertown restaurants as part of the COVID-19 reopening, with certain regulations including keeping seating at least six feet apart. As a way to allow Watertown restaurants to offer more seating as the reopen during COVID-19, the Town Manager announced that owners and managers can apply for temporary outdoor seating. Town Manager Michael Driscoll sent out the application on Thursday afternoon. The tables must remain at least six feet apart when diners are seated, and the take out area must be at least six feet from where seats are located. A five-foot path must be maintained on the sidewalk outside the restaurant to make them ADA handicap accessible.