Budget Guidelines

Town Council Debates How to Get Items Into Watertown’s Annual Budget

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Each year the Town Council creates budget guidelines and Councilors can present their proposals for the budget during hearings of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee. However, why some proposals make it and some do not is not always clear. 

In the presentation at last week’s  Town Council meeting, Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said the Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee does not decide whether each request is a good idea or not but rather acts as an editor to take input from Town Councilors and “synthesize it into a concise, actionable document for the Manager.” (Click here to see the budget guidelines report). “The Committee may decide to not include a request because it requires policy direction from the Council before the Manager can include it in the operating budget; because it is too ambiguous to be included in the operating budget; because it is part of the Capital Improvement Program and not the operating budget; because it is within the authority of another elected body who has not weighed in it; or because it overlaps with other existing goals or requests,” Piccirilli was quoted as saying in the committee report. Councilor Tony Palomba said that he has been frustrated with his efforts to get items into the budget.

Government

Town Council Passes Rules for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

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The Town Council adopted some rules and regulations for anyone interested in opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Watertown. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Council adopted several items that had been recommended by the Economic Development and Planning Committee. The subcommittee held a hearing in October to discuss dispensaries, and hear from some groups looking at opening marijuana facilities in town. No applications have been received by the town, but the Town Council wants to get rules into place before one comes forward. A handful of groups have approached the town inquiring about starting a facility in town, including one looking at a spot on Dexter Avenue and another on Elm Street.

Government

Construction in Watertown Square Parking Lot Will Stretch into December

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The work on the municipal parking lot in Watertown Square, which currently has exposed cavernous holes, will not be completed on time, and will stretch at least a week past Thanksgiving. The work will improve stormwater drainage in the area along Spring Street near the municipal parking lot behind CVS, said Town Engineer Matthew Shuman. “The work was scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving, but the contractor is a little behind schedule due to some unforeseen conditions, including an old building foundation,” said Shuman. “The work is now scheduled to be complete by December 5.” The parking lot remains open, but the amount of parking has been reduced.

Elections

Election 2016: Issues with Early Voting, How Question 5 Appeared on Ballot

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The Nov. 8 election drew a huge number of Watertown voters, but there were issues with the presidential election that also featured the Community Preservation Act ballot question. Early voting proved popular with residents, and about 7,000 voters casted their ballots before election day. After filling out their voters would fold their ballots and put them in an envelope and handed it back to the staff at the Town Clerk’s office. The envelopes went to the precinct where the voter lives, and were put through the machine.

Government

Meeting About Renovation of Mt. Auburn Street Planned for December

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The Watertown Department of Public Works announced it will hold an informational meeting to discuss the conceptual plans for Mount Auburn Street, focusing on the section between Patten Street (near Watertown Square) and School Street. The meeting will provide an update on the project timeline, design, and funding process through the Massachusetts Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. During the meeting, we will also provide additional details about the current conceptual design between Patten Street and School Street.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Available to Meet with Residents Twice

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Representative Jonathan Hecht announce he will hold office hours twice in Watertown during the next few weeks. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht, Wednesday, November 16 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Watertown Town Hall in the 3rd Floor Hallway and Wednesday, December 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Library in the Raya Stern Trustees Room. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Government

How to Get Exemptions on Property Taxes or Defer Property Tax Payments

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Property taxes are on the rise, but there are ways for certain groups to cut their tax bills or for seniors to defer payment in an effort to keep them in their homes. Last week, the same night that the Town Council approved the Property Tax rates for Fiscal 2017, which will be rising, they approved programs to match the state’s property tax exemptions and to allow seniors to defer part or all of their property tax bills. Town Treasurer/Collector Joseph DiVito said he has heard from residents struggling to pay for the tax hikes. “After meeting with several constituents, elders, who want to stay in their homes, one of their responses is that they are being taxed out of their homes,” DiVito said. The Council voted to increase the maximum gross receipts residents are allowed to have and still qualify for the tax deferment program, from $40,000 to $57,000 for a single person over 65 years of age living in their own home.