Gay Rights

Council Votes Against Barring Travel to North Carolina to Protest Anti-LGBT Rights Law

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After a lively debate Tuesday night, the Watertown Town Council voted against a proposal to bar travel by town employees to North Carolina in response to that state’s adoption of the bill that revokes any protection of gays, lesbians, transexuals and bisexuals, and bars any laws from being made. 

The proposal was brought up by Councilor Susan Falkoff, who proposed the ban be studied by the Council’s Human Services and Rules and Organization subcommittees. She included exceptions if the travel was required to enforce the laws of Massachusetts or if the town is for something the town contractually required to do. Falkoff was not able to attend the meeting, and Councilor Tony Palomba read a letter she wrote. She noted that law has prompted response from other cities, such as Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle, have banned travel by their employees. Others have responded too, including Paypal, which said it would not expand to North Carolina, and entertainers such as Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr, who cancelled concerts in protest of the law.

Government

Town Council Considering Whether to Give Itself a Raise

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{This story was updated on April 15 at 4:10 p.m. to clarify the beginning of the new Council salary.}

The Town Council will consider giving itself a $1,500 raise, or boost of 50 percent – which would be the first increase in the new millennium. Currently, Town Council members receive $5,000 per year, and the Council President receives $6,500, including a stipend for serving on the School Committee. A proposal was made by the Personnel and Town Organization subcommittee to raise the salary to $7,500, according to the subcommittee’s report. Under the Town’s charter raise would not kick in until the beginning of the next Town Council term, which would be Jan. 1, 2018.

Government

Watertown Library Seeking Candidates to Fill Open Trustee Seat

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The Watertown Free Public Library Board of Trustees is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Library Board. Under the Home Rule charter, the appointment will stand until the next Watertown municipal election, which will be held in November, 2017. Responsibilities of Library Trustee include the custody and management of the Library and reading rooms and all property of the Town devoted to Library purposes; policy setting and budget development. Meetings are held in the Trustees Room at the Library on a monthly basis (usually the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.), with the possibility of special meetings during the year. Any interested party who is a Watertown resident and registered voter in Watertown should submit a resume and a cover letter explaining why he or she is interested in serving on the Board of Library Trustees.

Elections

Cambridge-Based Attorney Kicking Off Run for Governor’s Council in Watertown

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Attorney Peter Georgiou is kicking off his campaign for Governor’s Council, 3rd District, in Watertown on April 26, 2016, he announced this week. Peter runs a successful worker’s compensation practice in Cambridge. He is running to represent the district that stretches from Brookline, Newton to Shirley and from Chelmsford to Westborough, and includes parts of four counties. The event will be held at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472. For more information, please visit Peter’s website at PeterG2016.com.

Elections

Dems Choosing Delegates for National Convention, Including a Caucus in Watertown

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If you are interested in having a role in choosing the next President of the United States and participating in a caucus, this weekend could be your chance if you are a Democrat (Republicans will have to wait a few weeks). On Saturday, April 9, Massachusetts Democrats will be holding caucuses to choose who will go to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention to represent either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, and the Clinton representatives will be chosen in Watertown. The Congressional District Caucuses will be held across the state, with separate locations for each of the main Democratic candidates. For the Fifth Congressional District, the Clinton caucus will be held in the Watertown High School auditorium, 50 Columbia St. in Watertown, while the Sanders caucus will be at Malden High School, 77 Salem St.

Bee Keeping

Town Looking at Changing Rules for Keeping Chickens, Bees in Watertown

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Watertown residents can keep chickens and bees on their property, but the rules could be changing at an upcoming meeting of the Board of Health. The Watertown Health Department sent out the following announcement:

The Board of Health will hold a public hearing on an updated “Regulation Governing the Keeping of Animals” and a new “Regulation Governing the Keeping of Hens and Honey Bees,” on April 20, 2016, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the 3rd Floor Conference Room of the Town Administration Building, 149 Main St., Watertown. Comments on the updated animal regulation will be heard first. The second regulation will be divided into a discussion on the keeping of hens first with the keeping of honey bees immediately following. The primary changes to the existing animal regulation include removing the section on chickens; the addition of specific definitions of animals; and specifying that ten pigeons per applicant will be permitted.

Government

Come Meet With Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

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Residents can meet with Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht to discuss issues of concern, dealings with state agencies or ongoing legislation at the State House. Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours on Tuesday, April 12 from 6-7 p.m. in study room #1 in the Watertown Public Library and on Tuesday, April 19 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the third floor hallway of Watertown Town Hall. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Government

State Legislators Approve Watertown’s Request for Liquor Licenses

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About a year after the Town Council sent in a request for 15 additional liquor licenses in Watertown, the Legislature approved the bill. Now it must be signed by the governor. On Thursday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate both voted to enact the bill, H.3975, and now it will be sent to Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature. The town sent the request to the Legislature in March 2015, but the bill did not speed through the legislature. Some members of the House Committees proposed putting a three year holding period before a license can be reissued, Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht said in December.