Councilor Bays

LETTER: 13-Year-Old Boy Disappointed With Councilor Bays Kneeling During Pledge of Allegiance

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Editor,

Just to introduce myself, my name is Antonio Molle, I am a 13- year old lifelong resident of Watertown. I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and frustration in Town Councilor Caroline Bays for taking a knee during the pledge of allegiance at the recent town council inauguration. An elected official is expected to set a good example for all citizens, especially our town’s youngest citizens. Being proud of our country means being a good role model. Before long, some Watertown students will be kneeing during the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of each school day.

Government

Town Councilors, School Committee Members Get Subcommittee Assignments

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With the new term starting for the Town Council and School Committee, both boards elected their officers and announced committee assignments during their first meeting in January. The Town Council unanimously approved District C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli to another term as Vice President at the Jan. 9 meeting. On Jan. 8, the School Committee voted to appoint John Portz to another two years as Chairman.

Development

Planning Board Scrutinizes Pleasant Street Project, Sends it Back for Redesign

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The proposed project on a thin strip of land at 385-393 Pleasant Street ran into problems at the Watertown Planning Board, when board members had problems with the density of the project and particularly with how close some of the new buildings would be to houses behind the project. 

The Planning Board voted last week to continue the discussion of the project at the intersection of Pleasant and Rosedale Road, which proposes to have 58 apartments, townhouses and 11,500 sq. ft. of commercial space. The design team for the developers – Amstel Heritage Watertown LLC – already appeared before the Planning Board in November and brought back an altered plan that removed one of the townhouse buildings on the east end of the site. The unites were moved on top of the existing warehouse building on the west side of the project.

Government

Planning Board Recommends Moratorium on Recreational Marijuana in Watertown

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The Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the Town Council adopt a 12-month moratorium on recreational marijuana facilities in Watertown. The state ballot question to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana passed more than a year ago, but the town has not adopted any policy on recreational marijuana facilities, said Watertown Senior Planner Gideon Schreiber. “We have been waiting for the state to come out with their guidance and they still haven’t come out with their guidance,” Schreiber said. Watertown allows medical marijuana facilities in industrial zones, and the town has approved a medical marijuana facility to go on Elm Street. To go to a medical marijuana facility in Massachusetts, people must have a state medical marijuana ID card, only available with a prescription from a doctor. Recreational marijuana facilities would be open to anyone 21 or older.

Government

Watertown Democrats Holding Caucus to Elect Delegates for State Convention

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Registered Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus at the Watertown Savings Bank Room of the Watertown Free Public Library on Saturday, February 3 at 1 p.m. to elect 24 delegates and five alternates to the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, the Watertown Democrats announced. This year’s state convention will be held June 1-2 at the DCU Center in Worcester, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to endorse Democratic candidates for statewide office, including Constitutional Officers and a Gubernatorial candidates. “At our 2018 convention, the delegates selected by Watertown Democrats will take part in deciding which statewide candidates will be on the primary ballot this September. The caucus is a great opportunity for people who want to get involved in the process,” said Watertown Democratic Town Committee Chair Steve Owens. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown, and the Democratic Committee welcomes first-time participants.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Holding Office Hours Twice in January

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State Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown this January. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following times and locations:
Friday, January 19
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, 3rd Floor hallway
Monday, January 22
5:30-6:30 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.

Development

Town Council Splits on Zoning Change for Self Storage Facilities

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A change in the number of parking spots required for a self-storage facility in Watertown received the Town Council’s approval Tuesday night, but concerns over whether such a facility was wanted in town and where it should go led to some votes against the zoning change. The proposal called for changing the formula for determining the number of spots needed at a storage facility from one spot for every three storage units, to two spots per every 10,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning, said under old standard a 50,000 sq.

Donald Trump

Former Watertown Council President Wants Trump to Commit His Own Money to Building Border Wall

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Former Town Council President Clyde Younger wants to make sure that Watertown taxpayers, and all Americans, are not left on the hook for paying for a wall along the border with Mexico. He proposed a resolution requiring President Donald Trump to commit half a billion dollars of his own money toward getting the project started. Younger brought his resolution to the Town Council Tuesday night. He noted that the national debt is projected to grow by trillions of dollars over the next decade, and that there are less costly alternatives to protecting the United States’ southern border. While he proposes that the President use some of his own money, Younger’s resolution to the U.S. Congressional Budget Committee adds that the money would be matched by taxpayers money, with a condition.