Gina Rada

Watertown’s New Veterans’ Services Officer is a Familiar Face

By |

Watertown’s Town Hall. Watertown’s new Veterans’ Services Officer will be a familiar face to many. Gina M. Rada has been appointed to the position of Veterans’ Services Officer, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced this week. She succeeds Mark Comeiro, who left for a similar position in Andover. As Veterans’ Services Officer, Rada will be responsible for the oversight of services to Watertown veterans and their dependents.

Government

See Which Watertown Roads Will be Repaired in 2019

By |

Eight Watertown roads will undergo full repaving in the 2019 construction season, while others will get a new top layer on the the worst sections of the roadway. 

Each year the town sets aside $2.5 million in its budget for road repair. The Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee approved the recommendation of the roads to be repaired next year at a meeting Tuesday night. The list, presented by the Department of Public Works, still must get approval of the full Town Council. The roads that made the list are:

Bellevue Road, from Channing Road to Common StreetAvon RoadChandler StreetBurnham StreetBridgham AvenueNichols Avenue, from Dexter Avenue to Boylston StreetBartlett Street, including Everett Avenue

District C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, chair of the subcommittee, wondered if the double yellow line would remain on Nichols Avenue. 

“The reality is people park on both sides and people drive straddling the double yellow line,” Piccirilli said. “Under traffic laws it is illegal to do so.”

Environment

LETTER: Author of Watertown’s Solar Requirement Thanks Supporters, Urges More Action

By |

The following statement was read, in part, to the Town Council on Dec. 11, 2018, by Watertown Resident Jocelyn Tager. The requirement to have solar power systems on new developments over a certain size was passed by the Town Council on Nov. 27, 2018, making the town the first in the state to adopt such a requirement. Here is the full version:

My name is Jocelyn Tager.

Around Town

Watertown Conducting Survey as Part of Creating Parking Management Plan

By |

Town officials want to know what people living, working and visiting Watertown think about parking in two major commercial areas in town. The Town is creating a Parking Management Plan for Watertown’s two major business districts, Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. To collect information, town officials have created an online survey. The Plan will take a fresh look at the existing parking supply, demand for parking, and look for creative ways to satisfy parking needs, according to the Town’s website. Some of the areas that the Parking Management Plan will cover are:

Improved meter technologyConsistent and easy to understand regulationsOptions for enforcementChanges that could better manage parking and meet ongoing demandOpportunities for shared parkingOther ways to support healthy and successful commercial centers

To take the Watertown Parking Survey go to: www.watertownparkingsurvey.com

Town officials will also be holding two open houses about parking.

Government

Community Preservation Committee Appointees Announced, Must Get Council’s Approval

By |

Watertown Town Hall

The Community Preservation Committee will soon have all of its members, and be ready to start overseeing how to spend the funds collected from the Community Preservation Act. 

Watertown voters approved the CPA in November 2016. The money raised from the 2 percent property tax surcharge can be spent on three areas: affordable housing, open space/recreation, and historic preservation. The Community Preservation Committee will make recommendations for how the money will be spent, and the plan must be approved by the Town Council. In June 2018, the Town Council approved an ordinance which spells out how the Community Preservation Committee members will be appointed. The nine-member Committee will be made up of five spots required by the State CPA statute to be on the board, and four members appointed by the Town Manager.  

On Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the four people he seeks to appoint to the Community Preservation Committee.

Government

Council Subcommittee Will Discuss Proposal to Put Cell Antennae in Watertown

By |

The Town Council’s Public Works Subcommittee will delve into the proposal to install cell phone antennae in Watertown at a meeting in January. In November, the Council heard a proposal from ExteNet Systems to install small antennae on utility poles in two locations in Watertown — one at 171 Palfey Street and one at 550 Arsenal Street. Several residents opposed the installation of the antennae, and expressed about potential health hazards from them. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2018/11/19/residents-fired-up-over-proposed-cell-phone-antennae-in-watertown/

The requested for the antennae is being made to upgrade the cellular network in town to 5G. New rules adopted by the FCC make the approval process for cell antennae shorter, and with fewer restrictions.

Around Town

Assistant Recreation Director Looks Back on 30 Years Working with Watertown’s Youth

By |

Assistant Recreation Director Ernie Thebado has worked with the children of Watertown for three decades. Photo provided by the Watertown Recreation Department. Ernie Thebado, the assistant director of the Watertown Department of Recreation, recently reached the 10 year mark working for the Town, and prior to that he had another 20 years working at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. During his three decades in Town he made some strong and lasting connections. His career, however, did not begin in Watertown. 

“It all started with the Marlborough Boys and Girls Club,” Thebado said. “It was a stone’s thrown from my home.”

Government

Survey Collecting Input About New Bus Priority Lanes on Mt. Auburn St.

By |

The new red bus priority lane on Mt. Auburn Street near the Cambridge Line. Photo provided by the Watertown Department of Public Works. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Department of Public Works:

As of Nov. 15, after several weeks of calibration, City of Cambridge staff and the Mount Auburn Street Bus Priority project partners consider the implementation of the Mt Auburn Street Bus Priority Pilot to be complete.