Government

Meet State Rep. Jonathan Hecht During 2 Upcoming Office Hours

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Watertown residents can meet their State Representative this month during two office hours. Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown during the next few weeks. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht, Monday, Sept. 26 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Watertown Town Hall in the 3rd Floor Hallway and Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 5-6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Library in the Raya Stern Trustees Room.

Government

Debate Continues on Whether to Put up Temporary Lights at Arsenal Park

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Town Councilors were not ready to approve having temporary lights at Arsenal Park to help the Watertown Youth Soccer program deal with its growing number of players. 

On Tuesday night, the Town Council discussed putting the lights at the park, but the majority felt that there are too many questions remaining to give approval. Watertown Youth Soccer has 669 players, from 600 families, in the program, said President Mark Leonard. That number is up from 400 players three years ago, and the program does not have enough field space for all the teams, Leonard said. After discussing where temporary lights could go in town, the Human Services subcommittee looked at Arsenal Park as the best place, Councilor Aaron Dushku, a member of the Human Services subcommittee said. While the lights would be for the soccer program, other youth sports would benefit because it would free up other fields, he added.

Government

Nichols Avenue to be Closed During Repaving on Sept. 17

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Nichols Avenue in East Watertown will be repaved on Saturday, Sept. 17 as part of the work being done for the LINX project on the former Verizon site. 

The developers told the Department of Public Works that Nichols Avenue will be closed between Melendy Avenue and the eastern side of the Bigelow/Nichols intersection. Work will begin at 7 a.m. and signs about detours around the work area will go up at 6:30 a.m.

Only local traffic will be allowed the corner of Elton Avenue and Artsahk Street, and also at Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue. The area will be reopened once the work is complete and the surface is drivable.

Around Town

Town Council Clears Way for Sale of Former East Branch Library

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After many years of trying to lease the former East Branch Library, the Town Council voted Tuesday night to seek proposals to sell the property on Mt. Auburn Street. The vote was 8-1 to approve seeking proposals, with Councilor Michael Dattoli voting against the proposal. The minimum bid would be $1 million, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. For some Councilors, the decision was a reversal of what they had pushed for before.

Branch Libraries

Fate of Watertown’s Branch Libraries on Council Agenda Tuesday Night

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The two former-branch libraries have sat unused for several years, and Tuesday night the Town Council will talk about what to do with the two buildings. The East Branch is located on Mt. Auburn Street and the North Branch sits on Orchard Street. Tuesday, the Council will hear from Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon about what to do with the old libraries. Some in town have suggested having the Watertown Public Schools use the branch libraries to help relieve the crowding in the elementary schools.

Election 2016

Devaney, Koutoujian Win in Watertown, Clinch Nominations

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Marilyn Petitto Devaney won the Watertown vote for Governor’s Council with 60 percent of the vote, and was declared the winner. Also, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian won Watertown with nearly 90 percent of the vote. The primary election only brought out 1,845 voters, or close to 8 percent of the registered voters in town. Town Clerk John Flynn said that amount is slightly higher than anticipated. Devaney, a former Watertown Town Councilor, received 1,004 votes in her hometown, but the district includes 27 communities.

Community Preservation Act

Community Preservation Act Approved to go on Watertown Ballot

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The Community Preservation Act in Watertown will be on the ballot in town this November when residents will get to vote on whether create a fund for open space, affordable housing and historical preservation by adding a surcharge to tax bills. This will be the second time the CPA has been on the ballot in Watertown. In 2005 the measure made the ballot but was voted down. This time a group called Invest in Watertown has resurrected the effort, and on Tuesday announce they had the signatures needed to get on the ballot. Even before the CPA officially made the ballot, the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association came out opposing adding to the town’s tax rates for the CPA (see the group’s letter here).

Elections

A Couple Candidates with Local Ties on Thursday’s State Primary Ballot

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There’s an election this week on an unusual day – Thursday – and there are some locals on the ballot. The State Primary was moved to Thursday by Secretary of State William Galvin to avoid a conflict with the day after the Labor Day holiday. Polls will be open on Sept. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Democrats have two contested races to vote in, and both races feature people with local ties. Longtime Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, a former Watertown Town Councilor will be running for reelection.