Aaron Dushku

Two Councilors Honored by Colleagues as They Bid the Board Farewell

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As Watertown prepares to inaugurate the newly elected officials on Jan. 2, 2018, two familiar faces will not be among the Town Councilors sworn in – Susan Falkoff and Aaron Dushku. Their colleagues paid tribute to the two Councilors stepping down this year during the final Council meeting of 2017. Each received a proclamation from the Council along with a framed print of Town Hall. Falkoff served as a Councilor-At-Large for a dozen years.

Government

Rep. Hecht Provides Year End Review of Work in the State House, in Town

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Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht wrote up a review of the accomplishments for his district and the state on his website, including increasing state dollars coming to Watertown, approval of the Greenway path in East Watertown and studies to improve major roadways in town. Hecht’s office sent out the following statement:

State Rep. Jon Hecht invites Watertown residents to read the 2017 year-end review he has posted on his website: http://www.jonhecht.com/2017-in-review/. Learn about legislation adopted this year in Massachusetts, get an update on district projects and priorities, and see what’s in store for the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session. Anyone wishing to receive Rep. Hecht’s updates and office hour announcements by email can sign up at http://www.jonhecht.com/sign-up/

Government

Watertown Residents Can Prepay 2018 Property Taxes Online or at Town Hall

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Who should prepay their taxes is not an easy question. Many of sought the advice of an accountant. The Boston Globe summarized the situation in this report, which said:

“… those who won’t itemize under the new plan, which boosts the standard deduction to $24,000 for a married couple, or whose property taxes and state income taxes, combined, will exceed the $10,000 cap for those deductions that will take effect in 2018. For them, paying next year’s property taxes now could save hundreds, or thousands of dollars.”

Bicycles

Town Wants to Know What Changes You’d Make to Streets in Your Neighborhood

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Many road projects planned by the Town of Watertown focus on major roads and intersections, but the Department of Public Works recently began an effort to find places to make small scale changes on neighborhood streets. The improvements are not just for motor vehicles, but also for walkers, bikers and riders of public transportation, said Phil Goff, senior planning associate with Alta Planning + Design, the firm hired by the town to create a list of projects. Accommodating all these forms of transportation is part of the Town’s Complete Streets Policy. In February Town officials signed a Commonwealth Compact with the state and creating the policy was the first step toward the Town being able to apply for up to $400,000 in state funding for the projects. The second step, or tier, is creating the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.

Government

Watertown Elected Officials to be Sworn in at Inauguration on Jan. 2

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Recently elected Watertown officials will be sworn in during the Watertown Inauguration on Jan. 2, 1018. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. A reception will follow. The following elected officials will be sworn that night:

The President of the Town Council and Member of the School Committee – Elect
Mark S. Sideris
The Members – Elect of the Town Council
Caroline J. Bays
Michael F. Dattoli
Anthony J. Donato
Lisa J. Feltner
Angeline B. Kounelis
Anthony Palomba
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.
Kenneth M. Woodland
The Members – Elect of the School Committee
Amy B. Donohue
Lindsay Jean Mosca
John H. Portz
Lily R. Rayman-Read
The Trustees – Elect of the Free Public Library
Leanne Hammonds
Michael J. Hanlon, Jr.
Daniel E. Pritchard

Government

Community Meetings Coming Up About Casey Park, Moxley Field Renovations

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The Recreation Department will hold a pair of Community Meetings about planned renovations to two Watertown Parks. 

The Rec Department sent out the following information:

Casey Park Renovation

The Watertown Recreation Department will be hosting a community meeting to review a draft preliminary rendering of potential facility renovations at Casey Park. If interested, please feel free to attend the event. Community Meeting
Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m.
Town Council Chambers, Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. Moxley Park Renovation

The Watertown Recreation Department will be hosting a community
meeting to review a draft preliminary rendering of potential facility
renovations at Moxley Park. If interested, please feel free to attend the event.

Election 2017

UPDATED: Town Attorney: 2017 Watertown Election Ballot Contained an Error

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{This story was updated on Dec. 16, 2017 at 11:49 a.m. to correct the fact that the Library Trustee is a “public office” in the attorney’s opinion.}

The law firm that works with the town on legal issues issued an opinion that one of the candidates in the 2017 Watertown Town Election had a description next to his name that is not allowed under state election laws. 

On the ballot for the 2017 Town Election, Library Trustee candidate Michael Hanlon had the description “Former Chair of Library Trustees” under his name. Hanlon served as a trustee for 12 years and lost his re-election bid in 2015. The 2017 election for Library Trustees was unusual in that it had no incumbents. Leanne Hammonds, however, had sat on the board after being appointed to fill a vacant seat.