Government

Public Can Attend Panel’s Deliberations on Ballot Measure for Legalizing Marijuana

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A 20-person voter panel will participate in the pilot program of the Massachusetts Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR,) Aug. 25 to 28 at The Atrium School in Watertown, when the group will consider all aspects of Question 4, the marijuana legalization ballot question, organizers announced. During the deliberations, voter participants will talk with advocates on both sides of the ballot question under review as well as neutral experts. The results of the deliberations will be captured in a Citizens’ Statement that includes key findings, as well as arguments for and against the passage of the initiative. Trained moderators will guide the group. On July 12, the CIR Advisory Board selected the regulation and taxation of marijuana ballot question for voters to review.

Arsenal Mall Renovation

Changes to Arsenal Park Could Result from Renovation of Arsenal Mall

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Boylston Properties Principal Bill McQuillan had an urgent message for residents and town officials Wednesday night. If they want to improve Arsenal Park, now is the time to start figuring out how. 

“We knew this was going to come up,” McQuillan said “It’s August 17, we need that park figured out, because we’re not going to do this plan without that park, or without that park we’re going to do a different plan.”

Arsenal Project developers held their fourth community meeting, at the Innovation Space at the Arsenal Mall Wednesday, where they updated residents and town officials on the project’s design direction and presented their latest building and site renderings. The presentation included preliminary plans to create pathways through the park that would connect directly to the property. Arsenal Park is run and maintained by the Conservation Commission, which would have to approve any proposed changes. Though the upgrades to the park were included in the presentation, Design Architect Christopher Jones said there’s still a lot of work to be done with the town and community.

Government

Friend Pays Tribute to Longtime Town Councilor, Purple Heart Recipient

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At the end of last week’s Town Council meeting, a long-time follower of Watertown government paid tribute to a former Council Vice President and friend, Ray Musetti. Musetti died on Aug. 3 at the age of 92, and a funeral service was held on Aug. 8. Musetti’s friend, Burt Greenberg, spoke about the man who was involved in many groups around Watertown, including being Past Commander American Legion Post 99, Past Distinguished President Watertown Kiwanis Club, Lodge Piave Fiume #1036, Waltham-Watertown Lodge #953, the Disabled American Veterans, and the AMVETS, according to the obituary on Legacy.com.

Elections

Last Day to Register to Vote in the State Primary Coming Up Soon

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Massachusetts will hold a State Primary on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, and to take part you must be registered to vote by Friday, Aug. 18. The election includes the Democratic Primary for the District 3 Governor’s Council seat, where incumbent and Watertown resident Marilyn Petitto Devaney faces Peter Georgiou, an attorney from Lincoln. The council advises on the governor on appointments to such as judges, members of the Parole Board and the Industrial Accident Board.

Development

Garage, Building on Arsenal St. in First Phase of Arsenal on the Charles Project

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Developers of the Arsenal on the Charles complex wasted little time before submitting plans for the first phase of the renovation of the former U.S. Army facility on Arsenal Street. Designs for the first phase of the renovation of the Arsenal on the Charles were submitted to the Watertown Planning Department just three weeks after complex owners, Athenahealth, received approval of their master plan for the area. The first phase contains the large new parking garage on the west side of the complex, as well as a new building that will have space for retail and commercial uses and a small park. The new building, known as Building 2, is a three-story 30,372 square foot building that will face Arsenal Street on the west side of the complex. The proposal includes a public plaza in front of the new building

The 1,534-space, 7-level garage is key to the project, which would increase the number of employees in the Arsenal on the Charles by 1,000 up to 4,500.

Government

Stiffer Fines, Stricter Enforcement of Commercial Snow Removal Approved

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Fines for businesses and commercial properties which do not shovel the sidewalk in front of their property will face stiffer fines and stricter enforcement this winter. 

The Town Council approved changes to the existing commercial snow removal ordinance Tuesday night. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Councilor Angeline Kounelis. “We receive so many calls from residents about sidewalks that have not been cleared, and then it gets compacted and compacted more until it is icy.” In one storm during the winter of 2015, the Department of Public Works spotted nearly 60 violations. The amount commercial property owners can be fined increased from $25 and $50 up to $100, $200 and $300.

Government

Subcommittee Looks at Ways to Make Projects Comply with Traffic Reduction Measures

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The Town Council’s Transportation subcommittee seeks to control traffic in town by having new developments come up with a traffic demand management plan, but they must figure out how to enforce the plans. 

The traffic demand management plans, or TDMs, will be required for projects of 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. Each plan would have a set of goals, and measures planned to reduce the number of solo commuters. Some examples would be providing free MBTA passes, organizing car- and van pools, having showers for bicyclists and a guaranteed ride home for people who used public transportation or take car pools if they have an emergency or must work late. The goal would be based on the average for the town.

Government

Watertown May Get Smart Parking Meters to Manage Lots, Spaces Around Town

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As the town looks at replacing parking meters, the Town Council’s Public Works Committee will consider installing smart parking meters that take multiple forms of payment and could even let them know when spaces are free, coins are jammed and allow fees to be adjusted on the fly. More and more communities in the Boston area use these high tech meters, and Mark Berling of IPS Group said the meters can slip right on top of the current meters. The new meter system can be a big money maker, too. “A well run smart parking system can be the third largest revenue generator of funds municipalities,” Berling said. “This includes revenue from meters and the tickets.”