Election 2017

See What the Town Councilor At-Large Hopefuls Said at the Candidate Forum

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The six people seeking to be Town Councilor At-Large appeared together for the first time Thursday to answer questions at a Candidate Forum co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television. A full room at the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room watched the forum, along with a live TV audience. The forum will be rebroadcast on Watertown Cable. Candidates answered questions from both the forum organizers and residents attending the event. Here are some of the issues they tackled:
Development
The candidates were asked about what can be done about huge amount of development in Watertown and how they can look out for neighbors of the projects

Michael Dattoli, who is seeking re-election, said he was not comfortable with the level of development going on and noted that he voted against the Regional Mixed Use District that allowed for bigger projects in the area of the two malls and beyond.

Government

Plans to Improve Watertown Square Intersection to be Discussed at Meeting

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The Town will be making improvements to Watertown Square which may include major changes to the intersection. A meeting will be held for members of the public to get more information and to give their input. The meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee will be held on Monday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall. The Town sent out the following announcement:
The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve traffic operations and safety.

Government

See Which Streets in Watertown Will be Repaved in 2018

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The list of streets that will be repaved in 2018 was revealed by the Public Works Department on Wednesday night, with several making the list, but others not making it this year. The town bonds $2.5 million a year to pay for street and sidewalk repair. Watertown also receives Chapter 90 money from the state and uses some funds from the water and sewer enterprise funds when the project has expenses related to water and sewer work. The condition of the road is an important component when making the decision for which roads to repave each year, said Town Engineer Matt Shuman, but that is not the only factor. DPW officials also go around town and observe conditions of the roads and sidewalks, and they listen to input from the public.

Elections

Watertown Homeowners Group Hosting Meet the Candidates Forum

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Come meet the candidates in the Watertown Election at an event hosted by the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association. The “Meet The Candidates” evening will be on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room. The evening will be an interactive, town hall-type event with questions from the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association (CWHA) group as well as the audience. “We think the community will benefit greatly from having all the candidates in one room, and perhaps some voters more interested in the School Committee race will learn about an At-Large candidate, and vice versa,” said John Labadini, president of the CWHA.

Government

Board of Health Considering Tougher Tobacco Regulations in Watertown

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The Watertown Board of Health will consider strengthening restrictions on purchasing tobacco products in Watertown. The Watertown Board of Health sent out the following statement:

In the interest of enhancing the public health protection of Watertown’s youth and adult community, the Watertown Board of Health is proposing additional restrictions on the availability of tobacco products in Watertown. The Board invites all to offer comment on the proposed changes at a Public Hearing on November 15, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Town Administration Building located at 149 Main Street in Watertown. Proposed changes to the existing regulations include a ban on blunt wraps,
implementation of minimum pricing on single cigars, establishment of a 500 foot buffer around all schools on new Tobacco Sales Permits, and a cap on the number of Tobacco Permits that will be issued in Watertown. D.J. Wilson, Tobacco Control Director and Public Health Liaison for the Massachusetts Municipal Association, stated that “The proposed additions to the current Watertown ‘Regulation Regarding Smoking and the Sale and Use of Tobacco Products’ provide additional strategies to keep youth from starting to use tobacco products and to prompt current tobacco users to quit.

Government

New Council Subcommittee Will Discuss Lights at Victory Field, Other Places

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How the lights are used at Victory Field and other fields around town will discussed by a newly created Town Council Subcommittee. 

At last week’s Town Council Meeting, Council President Mark Sideris announced that he would be creating the Ad Hoc Committee on Policy and Procedures for Lights, and it would go beyond Victory Field. “I attended most of the Victory Field Phase 2 Committee meetings and at most meetings I’ve attended the lights on Phase 1 were brought up as a problem,” Sideris said, adding that he has also heard from neighborhoods near other fields in town with lights. Some residents spoke about the lights at the Council Meeting, too. Dick O’Connor, who lives near Victory Field, said that the lights have been an issue since the new ones were installed. They went up during Phase 1 of the renovation of Victory Field, during which  artificial turf was installed at the football and baseball fields.

Elections

Want to Vote in the Town Election – Register by Wednesday

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The deadline to be registered to vote for Town Council, School Committee and Library Trustees in the Nov. 7 Watertown Election is Wednesday, Oct. 18. To be eligible to register to vote in Massachusetts you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and 18 years old on or before the next election. You may register to vote in person at any local Town Clerk’s office.

Elections

School Committee Hopefuls Air Their Views at Candidate Forum

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The six people running for School Committee shared their views on a variety of subjects during the School Committee Candidate Forum co-hosted by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television on Thursday night at the Watertown Free Public Library. Three challengers – Amy Donohue, Michael Shepard and Lily Rayman-Read – appeared along with the three candidates seeking re-election – Guido Guidotti, Liz Yusem and John Portz. The candidates shared similar views on several questions, including:
• Wanting to renovate or rebuild schools that will be able to provide a modern education
• Seeking to improve communication with parents and with the school administration
• Continue to expand the Spanish lessons for elementary students up through fifth grade
• The start time for the middle and high schools should be moved later
• Watertown should explore joining the Minuteman Vocational District, or find another way to offer vocational education
Each candidate had their own views on certain subjects. Cutting Costs if the Schools Have a Budget Shortfall
Guidotti, a healthcare management consultant who seeks a second term, said that he thinks there is always room for more efficiency in the schools, but said the tough thing is to find efficiency without “cutting the lights off” for important people and programs.

Shepard, who served one term on the School Committee previously, said he wants to save the district money by leasing equipment, particularly technology, instead of purchasing it. By purchasing items outright, the district is stuck with the maintenance and upkeep, he said, but the district should see if any efficiency can be gained by leasing.