Government

Discussion of What’s Going on With the Legislature in Watertown

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Massachusetts State House

The following announcement was provided by Progressive Watertown:

WBUR characterized the end of the 2023-2024 MA legislative session as “a showcase of dysfunctional governance that was [as] demoralizing as it was infuriating to witness.” “Deeply broken” was a headline in the Boston Globe. Activists are boiling over with frustration! What’s going on? Why does the MA legislature pass so few bills? Why couldn’t MA pass a climate bill after the hottest summer on record?

Government

Early Voting for the 2024 Election Begins on Saturday

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Registered Watertown voters can cast their ballot early on 14 days leading up to the November election. See the details provided by the Watertown City Clerk’s office. The State Election is Tuesday November 5, 2024 from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM. In Person Early Voting will be held at City Hall, located at 149 Main Street, in the Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room on the ground floor, on the following dates and hours:

Saturday, October 19, 2024: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday, October 20, 2024: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Monday, October 21, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Tuesday, October 22, 2024: 8:30am – 7:00pm

Wednesday, October 23, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Thursday, October 24, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Friday, October 25, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Saturday, October 26, 2024: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Sunday, October 27, 2024: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Monday, October 28, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Tuesday, October 29, 2024: 8:30am – 7:00pm

Wednesday, October 30, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Thursday, October 31, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Friday, November 1, 2024: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Read more about voting by clicking here.

Government

City Won’t Need a Redevelopment Authority to Transform Parking Lots in Watertown Square

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The area of the Watertown Square Municipal Parking Lot, shown in grey and the adjacent yellow buildings, can be redeveloped under the powers given to the City Council in 1987. The graphic is from the Watertown Square Area Plan meetings. Watertown will be able to redevelop the municipal parking lot in Watertown Square without creating a Redevelopment Agency, City Manager George Proakis told the City Council this week. On Tuesday, Proakis confirmed that the City Council has been given the powers of a Redevelopment Agency (sometimes called Authority) through a special act of the Legislature. He first brought up the potential at a meeting of the Economic Development and Planning Committee on Sept.

Government

Watertown Square Zoning Meetings to Begin Oct. 16, See New Dates & Agenda

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City Council and Planning Board Joint Hearings to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning amendment will begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library. NEW placeholder dates have been set in the case the Public Hearing is continued. Please see the updated dates below! When is the Joint Public Hearing on Zoning? October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Watertown Public Library at 123 Main Street.

Government

City Can Enforce Unpaid Fees and Fines by Imposing Liens on Properties

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Watertown City Hall

The City of Watertown will now be able to attach liens to properties for unpaid fees, fines, and tickets after a recent City Council vote. Previously, the City had to go to District Court to enforces fines and other payments, but the City wanted a more reliable way to enforce fines, fees, and other payments, City Manager George Proakis said at the Sept. 22 City Council meeting. The lien would appear on the property tax bills. “We had a conversation with (legal) counsel about best strategy to go about when we impose a fine to someone for a violation of the State sanitary code, or building regulations or noise regulations.

Government

Watertown Receives $806K in Federal Funds to Study Citywide Speed Limits, Educate and More

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The redesign of Watertown Square will be discussed on June 12. (Photo by City of Watertown)

The following announcement was provided by the Healey-Driscoll Administration:

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined US Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, Congressman Seth Moulton and Mayor Jared Nicholson of Lynn to celebrate that Massachusetts communities and two entities have won $25 million to improve roadway safety. The awards include $9.5 million for Lynn to implement low-cost street design changes to reduce the risk of crashes. Watertown received $806,192 to conduct a Safe System Approach Educational Campaign, Citywide Speed Limit Study, and demonstration activities. The activities will include the deployment of traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety treatments including near a nationally-prominent school for the blind and visually impaired.

Government

What’s Next in the Watertown Square Plan? See When the Next Meeting Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The next steps of the Watertown Square Area Plan implementation will be to discuss and approve zoning amendments. A zoning amendment is a proposed change to the zoning requirements and map, without having to completely rewrite the zoning code. To approve new zoning, the City will hold a Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to discuss the proposed zoning, hear public comment, and approve new zoning amendments. The above map is the proposed zoning map from the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan. 

When does this next step begin? The first step will be to complete something called a “first reading.”