Government

Author Will Discuss U.S. Foreign Policy Under President Trump

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Author and journalist Stephen Kinzer will speak about what kind of U.S. foreign policy we can expect under President Trump at an event at the Watertown Free Public Library. Event: U.S. Foreign Policy: Intervention or Restraint?: What can we expect from President Trump? Stephen Kinzer, author and journalist, will answer these questions when he discusses his new book The True Flag. The talk will be on Tuesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown. Stephen Kinzer is an award-winning foreign correspondent whose articles and books have led the Washington Post to place him “among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling.” He has written books about Central America, Rwanda, Turkey and Iran.

330-350 Pleasant Street

Mixed Retail/Residential Project on Pleasant Street Near River Approved

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{NOTE: A correction was made at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 about when the Planning Board can debate the design of the project.}

After much debate, the Planning Board approved a mixed-use project on Pleasant Street that will include retail stores, a restaurant near the Charles River and apartments. Last week, developers of 330, 350 Pleasant Street – called Water Mills at Bridge Point – appeared before the Planning Board for the second time. The team representing developer Mark Coppola of World Realty and Development Ltd. had made some minor changes to the planned 18,445 sq. ft.

Environment

State Sen. Brownsberger Hosting Discussion on Energy, Climate Legislation

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State Senator Will Brownsberger announced he will host a community discussion on energy and climate legislation filed in the 2017-2018 legislative session. The discussion will be from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room at the Watertown Public Library, located at 123 Main Street. This event is free and open to the public.

Government

Medical Marijuana Dispensary Moves a Step Closer to Approval

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A proposed medical marijuana dispensary in the East End of Watertown cleared one hurdle Tuesday night and now moves on to the Town Council for consideration. The dispensary proposed by NS AJO Inc., also called Natural Selections, would be at 23 Elm Street in a building behind A-Affordable Auto Insurance. On Tuesday, the Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee voted to send the application to the full Town Council to be considered for a letter of support or non-opposition. The application would still need the approval of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. The applicant agreed to a host agreement with the Town to pay $200,000 or 6 percent of their gross revenue, whichever is higher, annually.

Cambridge

Q&A: Town Councilor Talks About Removal of Trees in Town by Cambridge

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Residents have reacted strongly to the news that 25 trees behind Town Hall and along the Community Path will be removed. Confusing the matter more is the fact that the trees sit on land that is owned by the City of Cambridge, despite being within the limits of Watertown and in some cases what appears to be people’s back yards. According to a letter sent by Cambridge’s Water Department to a Watertown resident questioning the removal of the trees, the depth of the pipe below the surface is three feet but can be as little as one foot. In their surveying of the pipe, Cambridge officials found a piece of pipe blocked by roots near Arsenal Street. Town Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli, who represents District C – where the trees are located – responded to questions from Watertown News about the tree removal.

Capital Improvement Plan

Town Capital Plan Calls for Park Improvements, School Renovations and Many Vehicles

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Town officials have a list of major projects and purchases for the next five years, including funds for improvement to parks, to purchase more than a dozen vehicles, and plans for school renovations but no funding sources for the school projects, yet. The proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2018-22 includes $368.3 million, with $20 million planned for FY 2018 (the fiscal year that runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018). In addition, $24 million has been proposed in projects from the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds. See the entire CIP proposal here. The CIP includes $204 million for renovation and/or reconstruction of schools.

Government

LETTER: Watertown Tree Group Opposes Removal of Trees Along Path

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The existence of substantial shade trees on Cambridge property along Watertown’s Linear Park may not have been planned, but the positive environmental and community contributions of these trees to Watertown are very real and quantifiable.  Using the USDA Forest Service’s program i-Tree, a large healthy urban tree is typically assessed at many thousands of dollars in cumulative services and benefits. Regarding Cambridge’s asserted necessity to take these trees down, we must question how likely it is that shade tree species which typically have a maximum root depth of 18 inches can damage a water main that is reportedly as many as 8-10 feet underground. Cambridge is undertaking takedown of these trees, and official Watertown is acquiescing, with no public acknowlegement of the extent of negative impact this large-scale degradation of green infrastructure will have in the heart of Watertown:  damage to wildlife corridor, elimination of cooling summer shade for neighboring homes, the loss of natural interest and calming beauty which these tall trees have provided for pedestrians taking this quiet path through the congested center of Watertown. On the Cambridge City Arborist website as well as on Cambridge streets, we see evidence that Cambridge increasingly recognizes and invests in the valuable infrastructural role urban trees play in managing stormwater and in cooling urban hardscape in summer, as well as in providing beauty and a restorative connection with nature for its citizens – within its own city borders. Does Cambridge equally recognize the value of preserving shade trees on their property in Watertown?

Government

Watertown Recreation Department Seeks Summer Employees

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The Watertown Recreation Department is now accepting applications for the following positions for the 2017 calendar year. This includes immediate employment as a part time member of the staff throughout the year or seasonal work during the summer months. Applicants must be entering the 9th grade (Fall 2017) or older to be considered. Positions Available: Program Directors, Program Supervisors, Program Staff, Program Counselors, Counselor in Training, Nurse, Specialists, Pequossette Staff, Park Instructors, and Park Rangers. For all new applicants, the following documentation must be completed and returned to the Watertown Recreation Department on or before Friday, March 10, 2017

• Cover Letter (Word Document)

• Current Resume (Word Document)

• Letter of Reference

• Application for Employment – Recreation Section Included

• All new candidates will be interviewed by the Director of Recreation

• All returning seasonal employees must provide documentation for First Aid, AED and CPR

• New hires will have 6 months from their date of employment to complete First Aid, AED and CPR Certification

• All applicants will also complete CORI and SORI forms, and other documents as part of the application process.