Government

Town Manager Signs Letter Urging Congress to Vote on Gun Control Bills

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll signed a letter urging Congress to take a vote on gun control legislation, along with other mayors and town mangers from Massachusetts. 

The letter was organized by Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who presented it at a recent gathering of municipal leaders from the 5th Massachusetts Congressional District. See the letter from the mayors below. The letter urges House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on legislation that would prevent suspected terrorists from obtaining guns, and expand background checks on those seeking to buy guns. The meeting was for town managers, mayors and town administrators, but Driscoll could not attend. Instead, Town Councilor Susan Falkoff attended.

CVS Trees

LETTER: Trees Dying, Planted Incorrectly at New CVS in East Watertown

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To the Editor:

This week Councilor Angie Kounelis brought to Watertown’s official attention the terrible condition of brand new landscaping in the East End CVS parking lot. Trees for Watertown asks Watertown citizens to join in demanding a strong municipal response. The landscaping plan in the CVS parking lot was approved by the Planning Board and Planning Department. But what Watertown approved was a pretty picture, not a functional plan, and Watertown is now reaping the ugly consequences. 1.

Government

Town Seeking Volunteers to Serve on Victory Field Renovation Committee

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After a two-year hiatus, the town will begin looking at renovating the track and tennis courts side of Victory Field, and Council President Mark Sideris seeks community members to serve on the committee. 

There will be nine members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Renovations, including five people appointed to represent different parts of the community. The one stipulation the committee must abide by is that the renovation will include a natural grass area inside the track, not artificial turf, because that was the biggest area of concern, said Sideris at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. Three members of the general public will be selected, including one direct abutter of the field, Sideris said. The two others will represent field users, but are not related to school athletics or youth sports, he added. Additionally, there will also be one member representing Watertown youth sports groups who will be selected by the Council President.

Government

Potential Shuttle Routes Revealed from Harvard Square to Watertown

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A shuttle that would enhance Watertown’s public transportation offerings has been proposed that would link businesses and residents on Arsenal and Pleasant Streets to Harvard Square, but other routes would not be part of the service, yet. The proposal came from the 128 Business Council, which is working with the town to create a Transportation Management Association (TMA), of which the shuttle would be a piece. Patrick Sullivan, of the 128 Business Council, told the Council’s Transportation subcommittee that he believes a shuttle could make six runs in the morning and six in the evening if it went from Harvard Square, cut down Coolidge Avenue and ran along Arsenal Street, and finally turned around in Watertown Square. While the stops are at certain businesses and apartment complexes, it would be open to everyone. Employees of corporations would ride for free, and a fare would be charged to other riders, but how much is not known yet.

Environment

Places Sought to Install Green Infrastructure to Cut Stormwater Going to River

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Spots around town are being considered to put “green infrastructure” projects that will reduce the amount of rain runoff going into the storm sewers and eventually into the Charles River. Tuesday night, consultants working with the town presented more than 20 options for places on town-owned property where project such as rain gardens, tree trenches that collect stormwater or permeable pavement can be installed. The efforts grew out of the town’s need to meet new, more stringent stormwater regulations from the federal government, which requires the town to reduce the amount of pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, going into the river. The water going into storm drains does not get treated before going into the river. Interested residents filled the Town Council chamber to hear more about the effort.

Government

Board of Health Looking to Make New Regulations on Tobacco Use

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The Watertown Board of Health will consider changes to the town’s rules on tobacco, including banning smoking in new tobacco retailers and smoke bars and requiring e-cigarette liquids to be in child proof containers. 

The Watertown Health Department sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 22 in the Town Administration Building, 149 Main St., Third Floor Conference Room at 7:20 p.m. to hear comments from the public about proposed amendments to their current tobacco sales regulation entitled “Regulation Regarding Smoking and the Sale and Use of Tobacco Products.” Many of the proposed amendments are updating terminology and language commonly used across the state. The proposed substantive amendments include expanding the definition for tobacco products to include products that rely on vaporization. Additionally, banning smoking and electronic cigarette use in “smoking bars” (cigar bars, hookah bars) and “retail tobacco stores” (tobacconists, vape shops) that have not been in operation before April 1, 2016. The proposed changes also include incorporation of the state’s Attorney General regulations on the sale and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products and electronic smoking devices as well as requiring that all e-cigarette solutions be sold in child-resistant packaging.

Government

Watertown Looks Around at Other Towns for Ideas to Improve Transportation

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Local efforts to improve transportation when Watertown officials have little influence on the MBTA can be tough, but they looked at what some neighbors are doing for inspiration. Transportation directors from Newton and Waltham, as well as a consultant who works on transportation plans, came to a forum on June 16, organized by the Watertown Pubic Transportation Task Force, the Town Council an the Department of Community Development and Planning. Both Waltham and Newton have completed extensive transportation planning efforts and are close to making recommendations a reality. Watertown will be embarking on such a transportation planning effort soon. Ralph DiNisco, principal of transportation planners Nelson Nygaard, gave some advice to Watertown. “Plan for things you want, not the things you are afraid of,” DiNisco said.

Government

LETTER: ReThink Plastic Thanks Council for Decision on Plastic Bags

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Editor,

On behalf of the members of ReThink Plastic, I would like to thank the Watertown Town Council for their approval of the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance at the meeting on June 7. 

With this vote, Watertown joins a growing number of communities in Massachusetts who have decided that the time has come to reduce the number of disposable, single-use plastic bags that waste our resources, pollute our communities and cause harm to humans, birds, animals and fish. We would like to thank the members of the Rules and Ordinance Subcommittee (Councilors Woodland, Dushku and Falkoff) for the time and attention they gave this ordinance. Working closely with our membership, they raised issues and concerns and worked to craft a better ordinance. The full Council took up the ordinance on June 7 and listened to and considered concerns raised by Watertown residents. They ultimately decided to join nearby communities such as Brookline, Newton and Cambridge to take action to improve our environment.