Elections

Zoning Board Member Announces Run for Town Council

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The following announcement was provided by John Gannon’s Campaign:

Watertown Zoning Board member and former Watertown Town Attorney John Gannon announced his run for Town Councilor At Large. Running for one of four seats, he said, “I grew up in Watertown and have lived here all my life. My father worked nights at the post office and my mother was a homemaker. I understand how much importance our quality of life in Watertown plays in the lives of children and their families, from our public schools and libraries to our senior centers. As a homeowner and taxpayer, I know how important smart growth is to this town, and I couldn’t be more personally invested.

Department of Public Works

2019 Watertown Road Projects Delayed After Bids Come in Too High

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A slate of seven Watertown roads set to be repaved this year will likely have to wait until next spring after bids for the work came in much higher than expected. Town Manager Michael Driscoll told the Town Council on Tuesday that the bids for the 2019 Watertown street and sidewalk repair project came in and he recommends rejecting them. “There was only one bid and it was 33 percent higher than expected,” Driscoll said. The issue was referred to a joint meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works and Budget & Fiscal Oversight subcommittees to decide how to go forward. Public Works Superintendent Gerry Mee recommended that the bids go out later in the year.

Around Town

In Effort to Improve Communication with Residents Town Holding Listening Meetings

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council wants to improve the way the town communicates to the public and a subcommittee in charge of the issue will begin a series of listening meetings with an informational meeting in June. The Council’s Committee on Media and Public Outreach will be hosting a series of “kitchen table conversations” around town, but first it is recruiting people to host these events, said Town Councilor Tony Palomba. “Being host is easy,” Palomba said. “You organize a meeting at your home or in a public location for 6-8 neighbors and friends at some point in July, August or early September to discuss a series of questions related to public engagement.” In particular, the effort is aimed at people who do not ordinarily participate in town government, Palomba said.

Government

Rep. Jonathan Hecht Hosting Two Office Hours in June

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

The following information was provided by Rep. Hecht’s Office:

Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown in June. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:

Monday, June 17

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Watertown Town Hall

149 Main St, 3rd Floor hallway

Thursday, June 27

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library

123 Main St, Raya Stern Trustees Room

Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Government

Council Passes Fiscal 2020 Budget, Town Pays off Retirement Debt

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll’s plan to pay off Watertown’s retirement benefits deficit will come to fruition on July 1, 2019. Tuesday night the Town Council approved Watertown’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget, but it also marked the paying off of the town’s unpaid Retirement Benefits deficit and frees up millions to be spent in other areas, such as the school building projects.. On July 1, 2019, a payment of $13.18 million will be made, which will not only cover this year’s Retirement Benefits for town employees, but also the shortfall. Since Fiscal Year 2009, the Town has funded retirement at a rate of 152 percent to pay off the deficit faster. The total Fiscal Year 2020 budget of $147.76 million is 3.89 percent higher or $5.53 million more than Fiscal 2019, the current budget year.

Government

Water Rates Look Set to Rise for Watertown Customers

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Watertown residents will be seeing their water rates rise, and sewer rates go up even more sharply, a consultant told the Town Council on Tuesday. The combined rate for water and sewer in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget would rise $13.42 per quarter for the average customer, a difference of 15 cents a day, said consultant Dave Fox of Raftelis. That is based on a 2.5 percent increase for water rates and 4.9 percent for sewer rates. The total increase would be 4 percent. The rate increase is the most Watertown customers have seen for a number of years.

Around Town

Council OKs New Green Electricity Plan for All Watertown Customers with Small Savings

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More solar-generated energy will be included in the electricity received by Watertown customers. Tuesday night, the Town Council cleared the way for the Town to negotiate “green” electrical contract for all residents and many business customers that will have a small savings, and will include a much larger portion generated by renewable methods. The new Community Choice Aggregation program will be an opt-out program, into which all residents, small businesses and organizations will be enrolled automatically. The goal is to have 50 percent of the energy generated by renewable sources (such as solar, wind generated and hydro), and the rate will result in an estimated savings of $7 a year, said Watertown Energy Manager and Facilities Project Manager Ed Lewis. Watertown customers will have the option of opting for a basic rate (which includes the state required amount of renewable energy), for a plan with electricity from 100 percent renewable sources, or to opt out of the program completely.

Election 2020

Watertown High School Students Got Up Close and Personal with a Presidential Candidate

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Presidential candidate Wayne Messam, mayor of Mirimar, Fla., stopped by Watertown High School on Wednesday to speak with some students. On Wednesday morning, a group of Watertown High School students got to have their questions answered by someone who could become the Commander in Chief and Leader of the Free World. The WHS students took time away from their normal lessons to hear from presidential hopeful Mayor Wayne Messam. The Florida Democrat stopped by between campaigning in New Hampshire and an interview with a Boston Public Radio station. Messam shared his story of how he went from humble beginnings to being a football player at Florida State University, then started his own environmentally conscious construction company, become mayor of Mirmar, Fla., and now is running for the highest office in the land.