Government

Sen. Brownsberger Hosting Town Halls on Transportation, the Census

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

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

Senator Brownsberger is hosting a series of Town Halls for each community in January – February 2020. These town halls will focus on Transportation, as well as the 2020 Census. Logistics about the upcoming town hall taking place in your community can be found below:

Watertown

Date: Tuesday, January 28thTime: 6:00PMLocation: Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472), Savings Bank Meeting Room

Fenway & Back Bay

More information about the January 22nd Town Hall can be found here: https://willbrownsberger.com/january-22-back-bay-transportation-2020-census-town-hall/

Brighton & Allston

Date: Tuesday, February 4thTime: 6:00PMLocation: Presentation School Foundation Community Center (640 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135)

Belmont

Date: Tuesday, February 11thTime: 6:00PMLocation: Belmont Public Library (336 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478, USA), Assembly Room

Government

Six Residents Sought to Join Watertown Charter Review Commission

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A committee will be formed to look at the Watertown Town Charter and recommend changes to the document that establishes how the town’s government operates. The Charter Review occurs ever 10 years, and Town Council President Mark Sideris said he will be appointing six members of the public to join the Charter Review Commission. “They will be sitting with the Town Councilors and going through a very in depth review of the Town Charter and recommending any potential changes to the document,” Sideris said. The commission will meet regularly to go over the charter. Sideris said every section of the charter will be examined.

Election 2019

Watertown Library Seeking Candidates to Fill Vacancy on Board of Trustees

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Free Public Library will accept applications from residents interested in serving on the Library Board of Trustees. On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to appoint someone to fill the vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees. The opening occurred when one of the winners of the most recent election, Mara Dolan, resigned before being sworn in because she moved out of town. The Council could have voted to hold a special election to fill the spot, but they decided to seek another option.

Government

Residents Can Apply to Serve on Town Boards and Committees

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The following information was provided by the Town Manager’s Office:

Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the following Town Boards, Commissions and Committees with appointment dates in February 2020 in accordance with Ordinance # 2007-46, an Ordinance on the Timing and Process of Appointments to Town Boards, Commissions and Committees. 

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472

The following boards and commissions have openings:

Community Preservation Committee

Vacancy/Term: Two Members, Three Year Term. Description: The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is responsible for making recommendations for how Community Preservation Act funds are spent in the four Community Preservation Act program areas: Community Housing, Historic Preservation, Open Space and Recreation. Candidates should have knowledge of M.G.L. Chapter 44B. Committee meets once a month. Two current members holding the position wishes to serve another term.

Board of Assessors

Perkins, Town at Odds Over $1.4 Million Tax Bill After School Missed Deadline

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The Howe Building at Perkins School for the Blind. A piece of paperwork that was filed late has put Perkins School for the Blind and the Town of Watertown at odds over whether the school should pay nearly $1.5 million in taxes on its property or if the school be exempt from taxes, as it has operating as a non-profit in town for more than a century. A third option has been proposed, which would cost less than the full tax bill, but over the years would add up to far more than the $1.4 million. Perkins President and CEO Dave Power said the payment would take money away from the school’s mission of providing services to blind and visually impaired children and adults. The missed filing occurred in March 2019, but the issue became public Tuesday night at the Town Council meeting.

Business

Watertown’s First Marijuana Dispensary Could Open in Early 2020, Selling Medical First

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The first marijuana dispensary to get approval in Watertown could open its doors in the next month, or so, selling medical marijuana first and several months later for recreational use. The Planning Board heard from Natural Selections on Wednesday night, which is seeking changes to the special permit it received in 2017. The company plans to open the facility in a building in the rear of the property at 23 Elm St., just off Arsenal Street and across from the Target parking lot. The changes are needed to get ready for sales of adult-use marijuana, also referred to as recreational. Before it can open, Natural Selections must get approval from the state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), said Chief Operating Officer Aidan O’Donovan.

10th Middlesex

Watertown’s John Lawn Could Face Competition for His Seat in the Mass. House

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Newton City Councilor Alison Leary announced she will run for the 10th Middlesex House seat currently held by Watertown’s John Lawn. Watertown State Rep. John Lawn may face a challenger for the 10th Middlesex House District seat in the State House from a Newton City Councilor. Alison Leary, a City Councilor At-Large from Newton’s Ward 1, told Wicked Local Newton that she plans to run for the 10th Middlesex seat, which includes the Westside of Watertown. Leary has been a City Councilor since 2013. The 10th Middlesex district includes parts of Watertown (Precincts 10, 11, 12), Newton (Ward 1: Precincts 1, 4) and Waltham (Ward 4: Precinct 2, Ward 5: Precinct 1, Ward 6: Precinct 2, Ward 7: Precinct 2, and all of Wards 8, 9).

Government

Watertown Gets Boost in Road/Transportation Funds from State of Nearly $74K

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A road after being milled and prepared for overlay of new asphalt.

Watertown will get its share of the $20 million added to the state’s road and transportation improvement funding as part of the supplemental budget approved by Governor Baker in December. The money comes on top of the $200 million already in the Fiscal Year 2020 State budget for Chapter 90. Watertown will receive and extra $73,924, for a total of $813,159 in Chapter 90 funding for FY20. “This funding represents our continued commitment to supporting communities as they address the maintenance and modernization of local infrastructure, which are a critical part of the Commonwealth’s transportation network,” said Governor Charlie Baker in an announcement this week.  “We are pleased to provide this additional transportation funding for local projects in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.”

Chapter 90 transportation funds support all 351 cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth. Funding for each municipality is predetermined by a formula that includes factors such as population, road miles, and employment, according to the release from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).