Government

Watertown’s New Treasurer Wrangles Better Rate From Banks

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Watertown’s new Treasurer Collector Joseph Divito will be able to bring in more than $100,000 more in investment income for the Town of Watertown this year, after he had some tough talks with some banks. Divito told the Town Council recently that he noticed that the town not getting the best rates for the money it must keep in reserve to pay for the town’s health insurance and retirement benefits – about $60 million. Watertown was only getting a rate of about .2 percent on its savings for its health and other post employment benefits. “I called and asked for a higher rate,” Divito said. “Those banks that wouldn’t budge, they are all gone.”

Government

Councilor Susan Falkoff Invites Residents to Come Talk to Her During Office Hours

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Town Councilor at Large Susan Falkoff will be available to speak to Watertown residents during her upcoming office hours. She sent out the following information:

Stop by to chat with Town Councilor at Large, Susan Falkoff on Saturday June 4 12:30–2 p.m. It has been a busy season with much happening and little time to sit back and reflect on important issues, but Susan would like to take time to listen to you. Her office hours are returning on June 5 at the Watertown Public Library. She has reserved the Raya Stern room on the second floor, but will be out front if the day is sunny. If you would like to get updates with Susan, let her know at sfalkoff@watertown-ma.gov. She can be reached by phone at 617 924-5723.

Arsenal Project

See Designers Vision of What the New Arsenal Mall Could Look Like

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Thursday night, the owners of the former Arsenal Mall showed their first drawings of their vision for the renovated mall, which will have buildings with retail and residential units and tall one large one with just residential units. Buildings along Arsenal Street would be close to the street with retail on the bottoom, and would be six stories and 70 feet tall. The taller buildings – a six story, 84 foot building and a 12 story 129 foot building – will be father off Arsenal Street. “As you step back from Arsenal Street that’s the appropriate place for a tall building,” said Mark Eclipse of PCA, one of the architects designing the project. Two of the buildings in the middle of the site will be “C” shaped, and will come together to form a central square area where people can gather and events can take place, Eclipse said.

Government

Good and Bad News About Watertown’s Water/Sewer Rates

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Watertown residents will not be getting an increase in their water rates, but the cost of sewer rates will rise slightly, the town’s water/sewer consultant recommended. 

The Town Council received the Fiscal 2017 Water/Sewer report Tuesday night from Chris Woodcock of Woodcock and Associates, who recommended an overall increase of 1.7 percent over this year’s rates. “I have good news and bad news,” Woodcock said. “Usually I only have bad news.” The total expenses projected for Fiscal 2017 (which begins July 1, 2016), are $6.8 million, but the revenues are projected to be $6.9 million, Woodcock said. On the sewer side, revenues will be $9.7 million, but revenues will be $9.4 million.

Elections

Watertown Voters Can Participate in Early Voting in the Presidential Election

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Watertown voters who can’t wait until Election Day to cast their votes for President can participate in early voting this fall. 

For the first time this year Massachusetts will allow early voting. In the past, people who could prove they would be unable to get to polls on election day could apply for an absentee ballot, but Town Clerk John Flynn said the new rules allows anyone to get a ballot early. The early voting period will be between Oct. 21 and Nov. 4, 2016.

Business

Watertown Issues First BYOB License, Others Applying for New Liquor Licenses

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Watertown now allows restaurants to apply for a bring-your-own alcohol license and the Licensing Board recently issued the first one. Farmer’s Market Kitchen at 222 Arsenal St. had its application for a BYOB license approved, Town Clerk John Flynn told the Town Council at his budget hearing on Saturday. That means diners can bring in their own beer or wine had have it while they eat at the restaurant. The Town Council approved the concept in September 2015 and it took effect April 1.

Government

Tax Outlook Better for 2-Family Homes Next Year, Single Families Likely to Rise

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Owners of two-family homes in Watertown got a nasty surprise in their tax bills this year, with the rate jumping nearly 8.5 percent, but the Chairman of the Board of Assessors said they won’t see that same increase next year. Francis Golden appeared before the Town Council for his budget hearing Thursday night and said because prices have leveled, the tax rates will remain much more stable for owners of two-families. “Two-families went through the roof in calendar 2014 but they are flat in 2015,” Golden said, meaning the tax rate should remain stable when the rates are set in the fall. Other types of residential property will have different rates, Golden said. Two-family homes that have been converted into condominiums are classified as condos, not two-families, Golden said.

Government

Town Receives Large Number of Tax Abatement Requests for 2 Family Homes

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The tax rate for two-family homes jumped up this year, and that resulted in a larger than normal number of tax abatement requests to the Town Assessor’s office. 

When the tax rates were set in November 2015, the rates for single family homes dropped 4.85 percent, the rate for two- and three-family homes went up 8.43 percent. Councilor Angeline Kounelis had previously expressed her concern about the large increase in tax rates for two-families and requested information on the abatement requests. Town Assessor Francis Golden said his officer received 61 abatement requests for two-family homes and 56 were approved. The average abatement was $56,229 off the original assessed value, with a couple properties being abated over $100,000, according to Golden’s report. The town was re-evaluated in 2016, and a representative from the Department of Revenue joined Watertown representatives on a tour of the town to look at the neighborhood grades, conditions and boundaries, Golden explained in a letter to the Town Council.