Around Town

No Coronavirus in Watertown, Local & State Health Officials Monitoring Situation

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The Watertown Health Department announced that no cases of the deadly Coronavirus have been reported in town, but like officials from the Federal government down to the local level, they are monitoring the situation. The Watertown Health Department is providing updates, information and tips on its webpage: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/186/Health. The spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Asia and Europe has made headlines. On Wednesday, President Trump announced the appointment of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the Coronavirus effort in the U.S. The same day, the first case of the virus being transmitted to someone who had not traveled overseas was reported in California. Countries that have had major outbreaks have taken steps to try to stop the spread.

Government

Council Approves Road Work Funds, Two Years of Repairs Will be Done

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Watertown will get a double dose of road repair projects this year after the Town Council approved funding for the 2020 road and sidewalk repair projects. Tuesday night, the Town Council approved the borrowing of $2.5 million to pay for the reconstruction of seven roadways. This is on top of the 2019 road projects, which were delayed after the bids came in about 33 percent higher than was budgeted. Town Engineer Matt Shuman said the roads will undergo full-depth reclamation, where the top four inches of the roadway are removed, ground and pulverized and put down in a new layer of asphalt. They will also install new sidewalks with handicap ramps and granite curbing. The seven roads to be repaired as part of the 2020 road program are: Kimball Road, Downey Street, Wheeler Lane, Louise Street, Frank Street, Tappan Avenue and Piermont Street.

Around Town

Library Trustee Selected to Fill Vacant Seat on the Board

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Library Board of Trustees once again has a full quota of members after the vacancy left when a trustee elect left town before the term began. The five elected trustees and Town Council President Mark Siders selected Emily Izzo to fill the vacancy left by Mara Dolan, who moved out of Watertown after she was elected in November, according to Watertown Cable’s Watertown Weekly News (click here to see the report). The board interviewed more than a dozen applicants during two meetings in February, and voted to make the appointment on Feb. 19. Izzo works as municipal law attorney with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and formerly worked as the chief of staff for the Mass.

Elections

Watertown State Rep. Hecht Talks About Leaving His Seat After A Dozen Years

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Jonathan Hecht has been a popular guy since he announced that he would be stepping down from as State Representative for the 29th Middlesex District at the end of his term. The Watertown resident has represented most of the Town, plus part of Cambridge, since 2009. Last week, he announced publicly his decision not to seek reelection. “People have been very nice. I don’t know whether that means they like job I’ve done or they are glad to see me leaving,” Hecht said.

Elections

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

Registered Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus on Saturday, March 7 in the Hosmer Elementary School Auditorium at 1 p.m. to elect 25 delegates and five alternates to the 2020 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

This year’s state convention will be held Saturday, May 30 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to vote on candidates for the US Senate ahead of the September primary. “This year’s convention will be a great opportunity to strengthen the party for the 2020 elections. The Watertown caucus is a chance for people who want to get involved in the process to connect with other local activists,” said Watertown Democratic Town Committee Chair Steve Owens. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by February 15, 2020 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. Voter registration will be available at the caucus.  Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.

Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Makes Big Announcement

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

The following statement was released by State Rep. Jonathan Hecht, who represents Watertown Precincts 1-9 and part of Cambridge:

Dear Constituents,

I am writing to share with you my decision not to run for re-election this fall. For the next 11 months, I will remain fully dedicated to serving as your State Representative. Come next January, it will be time for me to move on to new challenges and time for someone else to take up this job. It is genuinely an honor and a pleasure to represent you at the State House. Thank you for all the help you have given me and for being such caring, engaged constituents. With best regards,

Jon