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).

Government

Challenges for Town Council Term: School Projects, Charter Review, Development

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Local Girl Scouts lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the 2019 Watertown Inauguration at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Thursday night. The newly inaugurated Town Council has several challenges coming down the road over the next two years, including school building projects, the Town Charter review and the development in town that just keeps going. Town Council President Mark Sideris discussed the issues that will face Watertown in the upcoming Town Council term at Thursday night’s Inauguration Ceremony at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. Town Clerk John Flynn administered the oath of office to Town Council President Mark Sideris; Town Councilors Anthony Donato, Tony Palomba, Caroline Bays, John Gannon, Angeline Kounelis, Lisa Feltner, Vincent Piccirilli and Kenneth Woodland; School Committee members Kendra Foley, Lindsay Mosca and David Stokes; and Library Trustees Sheppard Ferguson and Teddy Kokoros. Coming Challanges

Town Council President Mark Sideris spoke about the priorities for the upcoming Town Council term at Thursday’s inauguration.

Elections

Town Officials Must Decide How to Fill Open Library Trustee Seat

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Thursday night, the winners of the 2019 Watertown Election will be sworn in, but there will be one fewer elected official taking the oath following the resignation of one of the Library Trustee winners. Mara Dolan, one of three people elected as a Trustee to the Watertown Free Public Library, informed Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn in December that she will not be serving on the board. “Basically, she took another job in another community and moved outside Watertown,” Flynn said. Dolan could not be reached for comment, but she sent a letter to Flynn, which he received on Dec. 17, 2019.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Invites Public to Interactive Forum

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The Community Preservation Committee invites the public to find out more about the Community Preservation Act during an interactive public forum. Attendees can share their ideas to help the CPC plan to spend the CPA funds on affordable housing, open space/recreation, and historic preservation. The event will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 from 7-9 p.m. at Tufts Health Plan, in the Mt. Auburn Rooms North & South, 705 Mt.

Around Town

Find Out What’s Open & Closed on Christmas in Watertown

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Most government offices, retail stores and restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day. A few will remain open, at least part of the day. Government

State and Federal offices: Closed

Town Hall: Closed

Library: Closed

Senior Center: Closed

Post Office: Closed

Mass. RMV: Closed

Retailers

Most will be closed, but can be open at owner’s discretion. Liquor Stores: Closed

CVS will be open on Christmas: Watertown Square location will be open 24 hours, the Watertown Street and Mt.

Government

OP-ED: Details of Au Pair Ruling, Constituent Meeting

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

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

For my constituents with concern or interest in the new Au Pair Ruling, I’m holding a discussion meeting: Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 12:30PM – 2 p.m., Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room, Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472 (See below for more details on the ruling)

A federal appellate court ruling has created a difficult situation for some families who rely on “au pair” arrangements for their child care. The ruling upheld the application of the Massachusetts Domestic Workers Bill of Rights to au pair arrangements. In an “au pair” arrangement, a young person comes from another country to live with a U.S. family. In return for room and board, they provide child care. In many cases, they are treated very well, often as a family members.

164-166 Main St.

Five Story Apartment Building Approved on Main Street in Watertown

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A view of 164-166 Main Street, a five story apartment building with a commercial space on the ground floor. A new building will be added to Watertown’s skyline near Watertown Square after the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a five story apartment building on Main Street. The approval of the project at 164-166 Main Street was made Wednesday night. The site used to be occupied by a convenience store (Store 24 then Tedeschi’s and briefly 7-Eleven) and sits across from Town Hall. The building will have four stories with 34 apartments, on top of a garage and commercial or office space.