Department of Public Works

Changes Coming Soon for Watertown’s Trash/Recycling Pick Up

By |

Watertown residents will see some changes to their trash, recycling and yard waste pick up starting in early December, with most people seeing small changes but some will have a whole new day of the week to put out their trash and recycling. The changes will begin the week of Dec. 11, and come as a result of the Town starting a new trash and recycling contract. The biggest chance with the new system will be five trash pick up days each week instead of four. The Department of Public Works and the trash/recycling pick up contractor Republic Services unveiled the new system for the Town Council this week.

Government

Victory Field Committee Makes Decision on Storage for Track Area

By |

Storage for the track area of Watertown’s Victory Field will be provided in a small storage building behind the football bleachers and on the track in a movable shed that will protect the pads for pole vault.

In one of the final meetings of the Victory Field Phase 2 Committee, held Nov. 21, the group recommendations group decided on storage options and to reorient the field. When the track is renovated and a new surface is installed, one end of the field will have a “D” made up of rubberized surface similar to the track surface. Originally, the D was going to be on the east side of the field – the far side from the football field. Last week, the Committee decided to flip the field so the D would be on the side closest to the football field.

Development

Developers Show Plans for Condo/Retail Building on Vacant Lot on Mt. Auburn St.

By |

Developers presented a plan for a new condominium building with space for retail businesses on the bottom that would go on what has been a weed-filled vacant lot near the Watertown Square intersection. The presentation was made Tuesday night at a Community Meeting for the project at 33 Mt. Auburn St., at the corner with Taylor Street. It would have 15 condos and about 1,960 sq. ft.

Government

Concerns Raised About Narrowing Mt. Auburn St. & Making it Safer for Bikes

By |

The latest proposal for the major overhaul of Mt. Auburn Street was unveiled by traffic engineers at Monday night’s Public Works subcommittee meeting, and they were largely met with skepticism and disappointment. The first detailed draft of what the redesigned Mt. Auburn Street could or would look like was presented in June by the traffic engineers from WorldTech Engineering. It included removal of lanes, called a “road diet” in some areas and added bike lanes along the roadway.

Government

Meeting Monday Will Discuss Major Redesign of Mt. Auburn Street

By |

A major redesign of Mt. Auburn Street, including a proposal to reduce the lanes to one each way, will be discussed Monday night by the Town Council’s Public Works Committee. 

The meeting is at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2017 in Town Hall, Administration in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber 149 Main Street, Watertown. The Town sent out the following information:
The Watertown Department of Public Works will provide an update on the progress in designing elements of the Mount Auburn Street project at the Public Works Committee meeting. The project team will follow up on comments from the June meeting and provide an update on the project timeline and design. The Mount Auburn Street project has a dedicated website.

Environment

Charles River Watershed Group Pushing for Removal of Watertown Dam

By |

A short distance from Watertown Square the waters of the Charles River back up in a placid pool and then cascade several feet down into an area frequented by birds and other animals. This area, however, could be vastly changed if the Watertown Dam, which holds back the river, is removed as proposed by the Charles River Watershed Association (CWRA). 

A dam was first built in the location in 1632 as a fish weir. The dam was rebuilt in 1962 after it suffered damage from flooding in 1918 and Hurricane Diane in 1955. Earlier this month, Elisabeth Cianciola, aquatic scientist with the CWRA, spoke to the Conservation Commission about the possibility of removing the dam. “There is no recognized use for the dam,” Cianciola said.

Government

Town Council Approves Slight Increase in Residential Exemption for Property Taxes

By |

One issue heard often during the 2017 Town Election was residents wanting more relief on their residential property taxes. The Town Council took a step toward cutting bills by increasing the residential property tax exemption by one percentage point on Tuesday night. The residential exemption will be 23 percent in Fiscal 2018, which means owner occupied properties can get a break on taxes, but properties where the owner does not live or is not the primary residence will bear more of the burden. The annual property tax of the average valued owner-occupied home (assessed at $587,413) will be $6,092.59, which is up $160.43, or 2.7 percent. This year, for the first time, the Community Preservation Act (CPA) assessment will be added on for the first time.

Election 2017

LETTER: Candidate for Library Trustee Reflects on the Campaign

By |

Editor,

My thanks and deep appreciation go out to those many members of the Watertown community who so generously supported my campaign for Library Trustee. Congratulations to newly-elected Trustees Leanne Hammonds and Daniel Pritchard, whose constructive, informative campaigns also underlined the values and strengths of our superb library. I feel certain they will serve all of us well. David R. Breakstone
Pearl Street