Election 2017

Town Council Candidate Q&A: Michelle Cokonougher

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Watertown News reached out to candidates running for Councilor At-Large in the Watertown Election on Nov. 7, 2017 and asked them the same six questions. Here are the responses for Michelle Cokonougher:

1) Tell us about yourself, and why you are running for Councilor At-Large. I’m originally from Boston and I’ve lived in Watertown now for a little over 7.5 years. I’ve been involved in Watertown’s government for about two years, attending over 200 meetings.

Arsenal Street Corridor

Residents Worry About Impact of Changes to Watertown Square, Charles River Road

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Residents living between the Charles River and North Beacon Street, east of Watertown Square, packed the Town Council Chambers well past seating capacity Tuesday night because they are concerned about traffic near their homes and how the area could be impacted by the Watertown Square Improvement project. A study of the Arsenal Street corridor for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) by consultants from VHB identified several improvements that could positively impact the major artery through the east side of Watertown. VHB’s Laura Castelli said that residents who attended public meetings about the Arsenal Street Corridor study overwhelmingly supported making improvements to Watertown Square the top priority. One major change proposed to improve flow through Watertown Square would be to remove Charles River Road from the mix, at least in one direction (in or out). The project was originally scheduled for the medium term, Castelli said, because it was thought the town would have to wait to get state road improvement funds, but it was pushed forward because it will be part of the I-Cubed project.

Elections

LETTER: Support Councilors for Fixing Pot Holes, Not Focused on Political Movements

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Vote Councilors that will worry about fixing potholes! Well it’s 2017 and sadly most voters believe this is a year when you aren’t required to fulfill your civic responsibility to vote. It’s an off year – right? Save for a small handful of special elections to fill vacancies in the Legislature, no one is running for anything until next year. 

Wrong! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Government

Watertown Officials Hoping Watertown Yard Can be More Rider Friendly

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The MTBA’s Watertown Yard is the starting point for several bus routes, including the express buses to Boston, and Watertown officials believe it can be improved to make it a nicer place to catch the bus, and perhaps someday the Watertown TMA Shuttle. In September, MBTA officials lead a tour of the facility located on Galen Street, just south of the Charles River from Watertown Square, for Town Councilors, State House representatives and Town officials. Some of those on the tour that day met Thursday evening for the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation. The general feeling was that Watertown Yard is a large facility that is not being used to its greatest potential. “What struck me is the tremendous opportunity to improve transportation in Watertown,” said Town Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli.

Government

Recreation Department Hosting Tour of Casey Park to See Potential Renovations

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As Recreation Department officials make plans to make improvements to the baseball field side of Casey Park they will host a tour of the park for those interested in the project. Earlier this week the Recreation Department held a meeting about the Casey Park project and Recreation Department Director Peter Centola said residents requested to see the possible changes in person. The park is located south of the river on Watertown Street. The possible improvements include lights, improvements to the baseball field and handicap access from a parking lot behind the baseball field with an entrance on Morse Street, Centola said. The tour of the Casey Park Renovation – Baseball Side, will be on Saturday, Nov.

Elections

Watch the Town Council, School Committee Candidate Forums On-Line

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If you missed the Candidate Forums featuring the people running for office in the 2017 Watertown Election, you can watch them online. 

Watertown Cable Access has the Town Council and School Committee forums available to watch on-demand on its website. Follow these links to watch the forums that were co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access. Town Council Forum: http://watertown.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=bb39e1d2-165f-4f19-bd5e-f631bc649714&nav=programs/Special%20Programming

School Committee Forum: http://watertown.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=3fd82af1-1d30-470d-9148-cf5b3013b643&nav=recent

Elections

LETTER: Endorsement for Watertown Library Trustees from Retiring Trustee

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It’s late October, and local election season is in full swing with political signs sprouting on lawns all over town. Among them, people may notice the names of candidates for Library Trustee. The Trustee race tends to be sleepy affair with three candidates (usually incumbents) running for the three seats up for grabs in a given election cycle—no campaigning required. But this year, as in 2015, we have a competitive race. Four candidates submitted nomination papers in July, and all four names will appear on the November 7 ballot.

Development

Phase 3 of Arsenal Yards, with 7 Story Building, Approved by Planning Board

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The third phase of the Arsenal Yards project got the go ahead from members of the Planning Board on Thursday night. 

The latest portion of the former Arsenal Mall to be approved is Building F (see plans here), a seven story structure with ground floor retail, multiple levels of parking and topped by three stories of apartments. This is the building where a grocery store may be built, according to the design team, and will be located in the space where the bridge goes over the underpass in the Arsenal Mall parking lot. The size of the building was increased from what was proposed in the Master Plan, which required the Planning Board to approve an amendment to the Master Plan along with approving the site plan. The Board approved both unanimously. Originally the building was planned to have six stories, and be 83-feet, 6-inches tall, but the new height is 89 feet, 4 inches.