Government

Find Out About Improvements to Public Transit Planned for Mt. Auburn Street

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The Town of Watertown will host a public meeting on planned improvements to public transit on Mount Auburn Street, including new technology for traffic signals and piloting a bus-only lane for the 71 and 73 buses on a stretch of the street. The Department of Public Works sent out the following information:

Please join the Town of Watertown for a Mount Auburn Street project meeting to discuss bus transit planning along the corridor. We will also discuss potential technologies and amenities that could be incorporated into the project to improve bus service and reliability for the more than 5,000 daily riders. At the meeting, we will touch upon an exciting joint bus rapid transit (BRT) pilot project with the City of Cambridge and the MBTA to improve Route 71/73 service between Belmont Street and Fresh Pond Parkway. Although the pilot project will proceed independent of our Mount Auburn Street Complete Streets project, we hope to use the results and data collected from the pilot to inform our design.

Community Preservation Committee

Council Subcommittee Crafting Rules for Appointing Community Preservation Committee

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{Updated Feb. 11, 2018 at 9:50 a.m., the method for appointing the statutorily required members of the Community Preservation Committee was corrected to be by the other members of the board on which they serve.}

The process for how the at-large members of the Watertown Community Preservation Committee has been hashed out by the Town Council’s Rules & Ordinances Committee over the past year, and a final recommendation will soon be going to the full Council for consideration. Five members of the CPC are mandated by the state Community Preservation Act law, and communities can add at-large members. Watertown’s CPC will have four at-large members. The Rules & Ordinances Committee has discussed this in prior meetings, and they sent it to the full Council for an opinion on who should appoint the four members.

Complete Streets

Second Meeting on Complete Streets Recommendations Planned

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Town officials announced they will host the second meeting in the process to create a Prioritization Plan for Complere Steeets projects in Watertown. The meeting follows an initial session in December where residents identified projects in their neighborhoods to improve the situation for motor vehicles, public transportation, bicycles and pedestrians. At the end of the process the Town will come up with a list of 15-20 projects to prioritize when funds become available. The Town sent out the following information:

Watertown Complete Streets Prioritization Plan Meeting #2

Review project recommendations for plans to help make a more walkable, bikable, and transit friendly Watertown. A public meeting about recommendations for the Town’s Complete Streets Prioritization Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28th at 6:30 PM, in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall.

AirBnB

Meeting Planned to Discuss AirBnB, Other Home Sharing Services in Watertown

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Watertown officials will host a meeting to discuss AirBnB and other short term rental of homes. The Town sent out the following announcement:

What do you think of AirBnB or other home sharing services that create short term rentals? Love them or hate them, come discuss this evolving use and help the Town formulate regulations. Where:  Watertown Library – Watertown Savings Bank Room

When:  Wednesday, February 21, 2018 – 6:30 PM

The Watertown Department of Community Development and Planning is holding a community meeting to discuss short-term rentals in Watertown. Anyone interested in learning about this topic or expressing an opinion is encouraged to come.

Government

Town Seeks to Fill Openings on Planning Board, Zoning Board and Other Boards

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The Town of Watertown has several openings on volunteer boards and commissions, including the Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and Traffic Commission, according to an announcement from the Town Manager’s office. Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the following Town Boards, Commissions and Committees in accordance with Ordinance # 2007-46, an Ordinance on the Timing and Process of Appointments to Town Boards, Commissions and Committees. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472. Board/Commission: Zoning Board of Appeals

Description: Zoning Board of Appeals grants all special permits and variances needed for certain construction and development projects. Candidates should have knowledge of M.G.L. Chapter 40A, the Zoning Act, as well as architecture, engineering, landscape design, construction, planning, law, or related field.

Government

OP-ED: School Funding Formula Not Fair to Communities Like Watertown

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Submitted by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, whose district includes Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston. Overall, state aid to schools is inadequate and, although the current distribution formula works out well for Belmont and Boston, it is unfair to many communities, including Watertown. I hope we can pass the “millionaire’s tax” this November and use the proceeds to increase school aid under a simpler, more rational formula. The state distributes approximately $5 billion annually in unrestricted aid for local schools, known as “Chapter 70” aid, covering on average roughly 1/3 of total local school costs. Aside from MassHealth, unrestricted local school aid is the single largest item in the state budget — roughly 20% of state tax revenue.

Government

Public Sees Visions for Renovation Coolidge Square, Weighs In on Project

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Town officials invited the public to come give its ideas for how to redesign and improve Mt. Auburn Street in the area of Coolidge Avenue, while making the area more efficient for motor vehicles, buses, bicycles and pedestrians. Currently, the street has two lanes of traffic in each direction and parking on both sides of the street, but no dedicated bike lanes. Some ideas for changing the street include cutting the number of lanes of traffic to one each way with left turn lanes at intersections, adding bike lanes and making sidewalks wider in some places to allow easier crossings for pedestrians. Planning for all modes of transportation is known as Complete Streets.

Government

State Sen. Brownsberger Hosting Series of Town Halls, Including in Watertown

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State Senator Will Brownsberger – whose district includes Watertown – will host a series of town halls throughout his district in February, his office announced. These events are free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend to share their thoughts on current events and legislative priorities.Allston/Brighton: Thursday, February 8 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Presentation School, New Balance Community Room | 640 Washington Street, Brighton

Watertown: Saturday, February 10 from 12 – 2 p.m.
Watertown Free Public Library, Savings Bank Room | 123 Main Street, Watertown

Belmont: Saturday, February 10 from 3 – 5 p.m.
Beech Street Center | 266 Beech Street, Belmont

Fenway: Sunday, February 11 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fenway Community Center | 1282 Boylston Street, Boston

West Fens/Northeastern: Sunday, February 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Emerald Necklace Conservancy | 125 Fenway, Boston

Back Bay: Monday, February 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
First Church Boston | 66 Marlborough Street, Boston

Allston/Brighton: Tuesday, February 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
All-Bright Community Center | 1285-B Commonwealth Avenue, Boston