Government

New Director of Senior Center Has Lots of Experience Working with Seniors

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The new director of the Watertown Senior Center comes to town with plenty of experience working with seniors in communities around the Boston area. 

Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the appointment of Anne-Marie Gagnon as the new Director of Senior Services. She comes to Watertown after working as the Director of Planning and Community Development for HESCO (Health & Social Services Consortium Inc.) the Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for 12 communities in south Norfolk County, Driscoll said. Gagnon’s responsibilities included support of AAA programs and services, oversight of sub-grantees that focused on transportation, legal services and evidence-based health programs. She also providing support for community outreach, volunteer recruitment, fund development, wrote grant proposals, maintained the HESCO website, did public relations and worked closely with community partners and the 12 Councils on Aging in the HESCO area, Driscoll said. Previously, she worked as Healthy Living Program Manager for BayPath Elder Services, where she educated Council on Aging directors in the MetroWest about evidence-based health promotion programs and helped them organize and publicize their programs for seniors. Gagnon earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a professional certificate in gerontology from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in social work with a community organization focus from the University of Pittsburgh.

Government

Residents Have Two Chances to Meet With State Rep. Hecht in July

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Come meet with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht and talk to him about issues that concern you. Rep. Hecht will be holding office hours twice in Watertown in July. Constituents can meet with Representative Hecht from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Watertown Town Hall (third floor hallway) on July 19, and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library on the July 27 in the Raya Stern Meeting Room. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at  617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Development

Council Hashing Out Rules for Cutting Solo Driver Commuters

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The Town Council’s Transportation subcommittee would like to cut down the number of people driving alone to work as a way to reduce congestion on Watertown streets, but now they must figure out how to legislate that effort. The subcommittee met last week to discuss a town ordinance for Transportation Demand Management Programs.

Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon suggested a transportation demand management plan be required for any non-residential project 10,000 square feet or more, or a residential project of 10 units or more. Also, any project that generates more than 150 average daily trips (a car coming and going would be two trips), or more than 15 trips during peak hours. A Transportation Demand Management plan would need to include:

Goals and targets for trip reduction based on the new trips from a project
A comprehensive list of measures used to reduce the number of trips
A description of ways of monitoring how well the measures are controlling trip numbers
A schedule for monitoring and reporting on the TDM
Provide a list of corrective measures (including additional trip reduction efforts, incentives or penalties) if the goals are not met

Exceptions
Some uses will be exempted from having TDM plan, including land or structures for religious or non-profit educational purposes, for child care facilities and land owned or leased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or its subdivisions. 

Councilor Aaron Dushku wanted to remove the non-profit educational exemption. “I want to make sure Harvard doesn’t come in and have it not apply to them,” Dushku said.

Dog Park

Council to Hear About Changes to Filippello Park, Including Dog Park

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Tuesday’s Town Council meeting will include a presentation about proposed improvements to the Grove Street entrance of Filippello Park, including the addition of a dog park. 

The project has been discussed for four years, and has gone through a number of iterations. The current proposal would cost nearly $1 million, including $325,000 for the dog park and $215,000 for repaving, according to a slideshow to be presented by architects from CDM Smith. The renovations would include:

27,000 square foot dog park
16,000 square feet of informal, passive open space
a basketball court
a futsal court
a picnic area with tables and benches
2 gazebos
four square, hopscotch and chess & checkers tables
handicap accessible parking in the existing parking area
potentially adding parallel parking on the access road

See the entire presentation by clicking here. The Town Council meeting will be begin at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. See the entire meeting agenda by clicking here.

Government

Watertown Shuttle Could be Free for Residents, More Routes Requested

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More details about the planned Watertown shuttle were discussed, including free rides for residents, during Tuesday’s Transportation subcommittee meeting. The shuttle is part of the town’s Transportation Management Association (TMA), and will be paid for largely by large companies and the big apartment complexes going up on Arsenal and Pleasant streets. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon said that his vision for the shuttle would allow Watertown residents to ride free. “There has been some misconceptions since our last meeting that residents would have to pay to ride the shuttle,” Magoon said. “My expectation is that developers would pay the vast majority of the cost, but the town would also make a financial contribution.

Government

A Few Meetings That Might Interest You This Week

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The Fourth of July Week is not all about vacations and beaches. Town and Watertown School officials have a few meetings that could be important to you. Transportation Projects
Tuesday night the Town Council’s Transportation subcommittee will discuss two major transportation proposals – the Transportation Demand Management policy and the Transportation Management Association. Transportation Demand Management is a proposed policy to require new developments to reduce the number of people commuting alone in cars. The policy has five main components:

Threshold for requiring a TDM
Traffic management targets
What does the program achieve
Monitoring the progress after implementation
Consequences for not meeting the targets

The issue was first discussed in April, and details will be discussed at the meeting.

Government

35 Years Ago Watertown Underwent a Monumental Change & Became a City

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Thirty-five years ago Watertown voters made an earth shifting decision to  completely changed the way the town is run and likely put it on course for some of the changes seen today. In 1980 the town voted to become a city, at least in form of government, if not in name. 

The new government took effect on 35 years ago today: July 1, 1981. Known as a city form of government, with a Town Council and a town manager, it brought in professional management and sped up decision making. Some say it took away some of resident’s voice and power in town issues. Town Meeting
In the 1970s, Watertown used the form of government seen in many towns around Massachusetts – town meeting.

Elections

Election Poll Workers Needed for Sept. & Nov. 2016 Elections

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The Watertown Elections Department is looking for poll workers during this busy upcoming election season, the town announced. 

The State Primary is on Thursday, Sept. 8 and the General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Poll workers must be registered voters and have the ability to work from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on one or both elections. Y0u can obtain an employment application on the Town of Watertown’s website, www.watertown-ma.gov in the Document Center (top right corner) in the Town Clerk’s Election folder.