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.

Building for the Future

First in the State: Council Funds Building Two Net Zero Energy Schools; No Override

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The latest rendering of the new Cunniff Elementary School, with the solar array in the parking lot. The Town Council, Watertown School officials, designers and green energy advocates celebrated the completion of what looked like a pipe dream just a few years ago: building two schools that will create enough electricity to cover their energy needs, and pay for it without raising property taxes. Architect Scott Dunlap from Ai3 congratulated the Town for building the first Net Zero school in Massachusetts. The schools will also make other history. “They will be the first Net Zero elementary schools in New England,” Dunlap said.

Around Town

Second Vigil for Black Lives Draws Crowd, Some Controversy; Council Pres. Makes Statement on Issue

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Protesters at the Vigil for Black Lives in Watertown Square on Tuesday hold signs and wave at passing cars. A few hundred people came out. For the second week in a row, hundreds showed up in Watertown Square to remember George Floyd and protest against racial inequity. Tuesday’s event included a march to the Square, and also chalk drawings which became the focus of some disagreements. Also Tuesday, Town Council President Mark Sideris read a statement during the Town Council meeting supporting the protest, but adding that he did not support efforts to defund or cut funding to the Watertown Police Department.

CARES Act

UPDATED: No Layoffs in Watertown Budget Despite Projected Revenue Loss of $4 Million

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Watertown’s Town Hall. (This story was updated on June 15 at 9:06 am and corrected the number of ALS ambulances funded in the FY21 budget.)

No layoffs — that was the first highlight given by Town Manager Michael Driscoll when he presented the Fiscal Year 2021 budget on Tuesday night. This comes despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic — projected to cause a drop of more than $4 million in revenues for the Town government. The total budget would be $152.44 million, which is $2.5 million (1.69 percent) more than the FY2020 revised budget. The increase from FY2019 to 2020 was $5 million.