Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/page/189/)
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.
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.
Some visions for what Arsenal Park could look like after some sprucing up went on display Wednesday night, and residents got an opportunity to give their reviews.
The Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP) hosted the event at the Commander’s Mansion, where three options could be viewed on large boards. Attendees got a chance to write their comments and put them on the boards using yellow sticky notes. Some of the areas that planners wanted to improve include the signage inside and outside the park, said DCDP Director and Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “A lot of people describe Arsenal Park as a hidden gem, but it is not really well known,” Magoon said. “We want to change that.”
Few towns can afford to pay for a major school project within its operating budget, let alone three, but Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced that the town would be able to finance the renovation or reconstruction of all three elementary schools without having to add to tax bills by passing a debt exclusion, Tuesday night.
Driscoll discussed the financing of the Building for the Future school building program when he presented the Fiscal 2019 Preliminary Budget overview to the Town Council. His budget drew applause from the audience in the Town Council Chamber. “I am pleased to inform you we are proposing a plan which you will see whereby financing of the potential Elementary Schools Project estimated at $80 million t0 $120 million is included in the Debt and Interest Forecast beginning in Fiscal Year 2020, all of this to be done within the confines of Proposition 2 ½ and all of this to be done without the need to request debt exclusion financing from the taxpayers of Watertown,” Driscoll said. The announcement left grins on the faces of all the Town Councilors and the department heads at the meeting. Town Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli estimated that paying for the project with money borrowed through a debt exclusion would have added $500 annually to the property tax bills of the average Watertown residential property owner.
Representative Jonathan Hecht announced he will hold office hours twice in Watertown this month. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following times and locations. Monday, October 16, 5-6 p.m., Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St, Raya Stern Trustees Room
Thursday, October 26, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, 3rd Floor hallway
Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.
The fence along Orchard Street in front of the track at Victory Field is a bit of a mishmash now, but the committee making recommendations for the renovation of the area wants to give it a more attractive look. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase 2 agreed they wanted to see something more decorative for the exterior fencing in front of the track. “We want the fence to be welcoming, engaging and attractive,” said Committee member Elliot Friedman. Glenn Howard, a designer from CDM Smith (the town’s contractor), brought in a few photos to illustrate what could be done with the fencing. One that appealed to the group had black fencing that looked like wrought iron but may be made from a different metal, with masonry piers or columns standing periodically along the length of the fence.
On Thursday evening Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access will host the School Committee candidates in a forum, and next week the Town Council Candidates will have their turn. The forums will be held in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and will also be broadcast live on Watertown Cable. The forums will be rebroadcast on later dates. On Thursday, Oct. 12, the six candidates for the four-year School Committee seats will appear.
The owner of the building that has been a place for people to grab a meal – most recently Wild Rice – has been frustrated by the lack of parking in the area. Last week he was denied a request to add street parking in the area near his property on Elm Street. Property owner Gabe Tutunjian said that the lack of parking has been a problem for the property, which is about a block off Arsenal Street. He has struggled to lease it and has looked at selling it, but without parking he has not been able to do so. The building used to be part of a bigger parcel of land, Tutunjian said, but when it was broken up the property he now owns did not come with off-street parking.