Government

Council Subcommittee Discussing Noise from Planes from Logan Airport

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The Town Council’s Committee on State, Federal and Regional Government  will convene on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Watertown Administration Building in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber. The purpose of the meeting is for the further review and consideration of the MassPort Community Advisory Committee (CAC) work to address airplane noise. Informational updates will be provided by Andrea Adams, Senior Planner, Department of Community Development and Planning, who serves as Watertown’s representative on the MassPort CAC. The meeting notice is as follows:

Background information about Logan Airplane noise to ongoing discussions can be found within the following links.

Community Preservation Act

Community Preservation Committee Scheduled to Meet for the First Time

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Watertown Town Hall

The first meeting of the Community Preservation Committee will take place on Feb. 21, 2019. The committee was formed after Watertown voters passed the Community Preservation Act in November 2016. The CPA raises money through a 2 percent surcharge on local property tax bills, and the funds can be used in three areas: recreation/open space, affordable housing and historic preservation. The Community Preservation Committee will look at potential places to use the Community Preservation funds and will propose a list of projects.

Cancellations

Snow Closings: Watertown Town Council Meeting Cancelled and More

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With heavy snow fall expected Tuesday afternoon and into the evening, some cancellations and closings have been announced in Watertown. Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting has been cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7:15 p.m. All items on the agenda will be heard Thursday, including three requests for cell antennas around Watertown. Also cancelled is the Watertown Public School’s Budget and Finance Subcommittee Meeting, which had been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Watertown Public Schools also announced there will be no after school or evening activities on Tuesday.

Arsenal Yards

Arsenal Yards Developers Show Plans for Biotech Building

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Architect Adam Gross, of Ayers Saint Gross, shows drawings for the proposed new Building G at Arsenal Yards. It would be a lab/office space for biotech companies. Looking to take advantage of one of the hottest industries in the Boston area, the developers of Arsenal Yards seek to turn the previous proposed residential tower into a biotech research and development lab and office building. Last week, representatives from Boylston Properties presented their preliminary plans for Building G — the last piece of the Arsenal Yards project — during a community meeting. Biotech has already made significant inroads in Watertown, with 23 companies employing about 1,500 people, said Andrew Copelotti, a principal at Boylston Properties.

Government

State Sen. Brownsberger is Looking for 2 State House Interns

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

The following information came from State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office:

Senator Will Brownsberger has announced that part-time unpaid internships will be available in his State House office to students from the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex District for the summer of 2019. Internships are open to undergraduate college students and high school students who will have completed their junior year. All applicants must have a permanent residence or attend school in the Senator’s district. Internships require a commitment of 8-10 hours a week for a minimum of five weeks, with possible added research work outside of scheduled hours. A cover letter and resume should be sent to Anne Johnson Landry, at annejohnson.landry@masenate.gov, or mailed to Senator William Brownsberger, State House Room 504, Boston, MA 02133.

Around Town

What Parking Technologies, Improvements Do You Want in Watertown? Let the Town Know

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If you have you been frustrated by not being able to find parking in Watertown Square or Coolidge Square, found a broken meter, or not been able to find the hours when you have to pay to park — well, Town officials want to hear from you. Watertown officials recently hosted a pair of open houses to talk to residents and people who work in Town about the parking situation in Watertown’s two main business districts. There are many parking spaces in these areas, with more than 1,500 in Watertown Square and nearly 1,400 in Coolidge Square. The majority are off-street spaces. Town officials do not just want to replace the aging parking meters, but to come up with a parking plan.

Government

LETTER: State Legislature Should Pass Rep. Hecht’s Transparency Amendments

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To the Editor:

Please note, this is my personal position not that of the Library Board of Trustees. The Massachusetts Legislature is the second oldest deliberative body in the world (after the U.K. Parliament). But far too often, no deliberation actually happens there. 

Thursday, Watertown State Rep. Jon Hecht fought to change this by filing three common sense transparency amendments to the House rules. His amendments focused on insuring that legislators have time to read what they’re voting on, and insuring that testimony at hearings and recorded votes in closed-door committee meetings are available to the public. They would have made a more democratic and transparent House — good government principles that Watertown residents like myself expect.