Around Town

Council Votes to Close Gate Between East End Park & Parking Area

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The Town Council voted to close this gate to Filippello Park near the parking area at the end of Berkeley Street. A gate next to a parking area on the East End of Watertown will be closed after the Council approved a request made by nearby residents. The entrance to Filippello Park sits next to an area known as Glen Circle, which is at the end of Berkeley and Clarnedon streets. Residents of those streets have appealed multiple times to the Town to make changes in the area because they cannot find parking in the lot until the late hours of the evening and they said some park users speed down their street to get to the park, and others linger afterward drinking, smoking and making noise. Neighbors spoke about their situation in a meeting in March of the the Public Works and Human Services subcommittees.

Around Town

Watertown Marine Killed in Vietnam Will be Honored with Memorial

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Paul Gorman, a Watertown Marine killed in Vietnam, will have a memorial in his name on Main Street at Emerson Road. Paul Gorman was one of the nine Watertown residents killed while serving in Vietnam, but he was the only one who does not have a memorial in his honor. That will soon change, after the Town Council approved creating a memorial square in his name. His sister Bonnie attended Tuesday’s Council meeting where the memorial on the corner of Main Street and Emerson Road was approved. “This is a wonderful opportunity to honor Paul,” Bonnie said.

Arsenal Yards

Council Has Mixed Views on Requesting More Liquor License, Most Eyed by Arsenal Yards

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The Town Council voted to send a request to the State Legislature to allow Watertown to have 15 more liquor licenses, most of which would be taken up by tenants in the Arsenal Yards development. But the vote was not unanimous. The request for the additional licenses came from the developers of the retail/residential/office project at the former Arsenal Mall. Town Council President Mark Sideris said the situation is not unlike the project at Assembly Row in Somerville. “The project became much more than they thought it would be,” Sideris said.

Government

Council Approves Funds for Design of Elementary School Projects

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An illustration of what the new Hosmer School will likely look like when completed, The view is from the east looking at the new main entrance. The Town Council approved the first major funding piece for the $170 million reconstruction of Watertown’s three elementary schools on Tuesday night. The project will be paid for within the Town’s budget, without requiring a debt exclusion to pay for the work, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said. The Council approved a loan order for $12.441 million for design services. Town Council President Mark Sideris noted that the project, and the price tag has changes significantly.

Community Development

Council Questions Staffing Level of Planning Department With All the Development in Town

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Watertown’s Town Hall. With all the development going on in Watertown, and some recent controversial projects, the Town Council wondered whether the Community Development and Planning Department has the enough staff to handle it all. The questions were posed to Director of the Community Development and Planning Department (DCDP) and Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon during the department’s budget hearing on Monday night. Development

Development has increased year after year over the past several years, and last year was the busiest, Magoon said. His department dealt with a record high 1,396 permits in 2018, up from 1,167 in 2017.

Around Town

Candidates for Watertown Elected Boards Can Take Out Papers

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Watertown Town Hall

Friday marks the start of the election season in Watertown as candidates can take out papers to run for Town office. Town Clerk John Flynn said some papers have already been pulled by potential candidates. The papers, with signatures, must be turned into the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2019. Elected offices in Watertown include Town Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees. The Town’s Preliminary Election, if needed, would be held Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Watertown’s General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Business

Watertown Parking Report Recommends New Meter Technology, Changes in Fees

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A parking consultant recommends replacing Watertown’s current parking meters with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. Watertown needs to make some major changes to its parking prices and rules in Watertown Square and Coolidge Square to improve the parking situation in these key business districts, said consultants who studied the Town’s parking situation. The report came after two public input meetings, and observations of how full parking spaces are in and around Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. The presentation was made during a public meeting Tuesday night at the Watertown Free Public Library. Watertown Senior Transportation Planner Laura Wiener said the goal is to make the areas more vibrant and attractive places for people to shop, dine and hang out.

Environment

State Rep. Hecht to Receive an Award from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht will be honored with a Massachusetts Clean Community Award for his work to reduce the amount of waste in the Bay State. The award will be given out by the Keep Massachusetts Beautiful group at a ceremony on May 16, 2019 in Boston. Other recipients include State Sen. Paul Feeney, Rep. Jay Barrows, and Rep. Randy Hunt. Keep Massachusetts Beautiful is a non-profit group working to “to keep Massachusetts communities clean, green, and litter-free.” Hecht will receive the award because of his work as a legislator trying to reduce waste, said Neil Rhein, executive director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful.