Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/page/246/)
A section of the Charles River Path in Watertown will close temporarily for maintenance by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, the Upper Charles Greenway Multi-Use Path between Galen and Bridge streets will be closed for pathway reconstruction and restoration, the DCR announced. The work is expected to last from Oct. 19 to Nov.
The Town Council approved a zoning change for St. Patrick’s Church so it would have a better chance of leasing its former parish school. The proposal to create a Religious/School Overlay District was approved on Tuesday night. The new zoning will allow more uses for the property, while the same time preserve the current buildings, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “The Parish is having difficulty leasing the school building,” Magoon said.
At this past summer’s Annual Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, members were asked to identify their key areas of concern. Based on the results of that meeting, the following two questions were sent to all candidates running on Nov. 3 for election to the Watertown Town Council:
1. Three major environmental areas in which Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment would like to see the town take an active role are listed below. Please pick one and explain what you would do about it.
Editor,
As a dedicated 20 year Watertown volunteer and citizen advocate, I am not a single-issue candidate for District B Town Councilor. The fact that I garnered the most votes, over 43 percent of the votes in the September 17 Preliminary Election, in a race with four candidates including an established incumbent, is not trivial. Watertown is undergoing unprecedented change and District B needs proactive leaders to embrace new ideas, enact best practices, and engage all residents. I will also bring new energy and a personal approach to Town Council. My life’s work has been about bringing people together to produce better outcomes, whether in the workplace, the schools, the neighborhood or community at large.
Watertown has a long history of military service stretches back to George Washington’s time, and the town has more than 40 Purple Heart recipients – the medal honoring those injured or killed in combat. Several of them were on hand Tuesday evening, along with family members of many others, for the ceremony recognizing the town as a Purple Heart Community.
“We are here to honor all of those who sacrificed for their country and were killed or wounded in combat,” said Watertown Veterans Services Officer Mark Comeiro, during the ceremony next to Town Hall in Saltonstall Park. One of those honored was 89-year-old Henry Mosca, who was hit by shrapnel while serving in the Army during the Battle of the Bulge. He wore his medal to the ceremony. “I don’t show (the Purple Heart) it off.
Legislators in the Second Suffolk and Middlesex district will hold a free public forum on the labeling of genetically modified food on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7-9 p.m. at the Watertown Middle School Auditorium, 68 Waverley Ave., Watertown, State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office announced. The forum features four academic panelists with various perspectives on GMOs. Attendees will hear substantive information on the science, economics, legal and regulatory frameworks, and health and environmental impacts of GMOs. Following presentations by each of the panelists, there will be time for audience questions and comments.
Voters can learn about the candidates running for office in the Watertown Election at a series of upcoming candidate forums.
Pair of School Committee Forums
The Watertown Education Foundation and Watertown News will host a pair of forums for the School Committee candidates. The first will be Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The second forum will be on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7-9 p.m. in the Watertown Middle School Auditorium, 68 Waverley Ave.
The building boom in Watertown is not limited to the main arteries through town. Homes are being torn down and replaced with new residential projects, so town officials want to look at making rules and guidelines for new construction in neighborhoods. One of the goals that came from the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan is to protect Watertown’s residential neighborhoods. Some residents have complained that redeveloped properties have changed their street or neighborhood for the worse. As a way to control the redevelopment of neighborhoods, the Town Council has proposed creating Residential Design Guidelines.