Elections

LETTER: District C Councilor Says Thanks, Looks Forward to Continuing Work

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To the editor:

I want to thank the District C voters for re-electing me to serve for another term as their Town Councilor. Over the past eight years I have worked hard to represent both my constituents in District C as well as all of Watertown residents, and I look forward to continuing that effort with renewed vigor. I am grateful to the many volunteers, friends, and my family for the effort they put into the campaign. My success would not have been possible without their help. I remain committed to finding the best solutions through analysis, teamwork and building consensus, and to our shared vision for Watertown as a vibrant, diverse, safe community with pretty tree-lined streets and great schools.

Development

LETTER: Resident Supports Residential Design Standards

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To the Editor:

Mr DiMascio’s letter that posits Residential Design Standards as a property rights issue and a function of big, bad government is a Red Herring. What is a Red Herring? It is a distraction, a false lead. I’d guess that the rest of us are happy that drivers, doctors, and restaurants are licensed; that zoning won’t allow a drive-through eatery on a row of two family houses; that dogs have to get rabies shots; that day care centers are inspected. It’s a trade-off when we choose to live in community, on streets with neighbors, and share civic space with others.

Election 2015

LETTER: District B Councilor-Elect Thanks Supporters, Looks Forward to Serving

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To all District B Watertown voters and supporters:

I wanted to make sure you know how grateful I am for all the support I received in both the preliminary and general election campaigns for District B Town Councillor. To everyone I had the privilege to talk with while campaigning, thank you for sharing your thoughts, your energy, and your steady encouragement to run for office. Over the past several months, I encountered a great deal of hope for the future and an ongoing pride in Watertown, both for what it has been, is, and for what it can become. As I reflect on the campaign efforts, and as I look forward to the honor of serving as your town councilor, I remain filled with gratitude and humility, as I continue to prepare to represent you. I value your efforts to make our town the best it can be, and I look forward to staying in touch.

Government

Town Councilor Holding Office Hours to Meet With Residents

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Town Councilor At-Large Susan Falkoff will meet with Watertown residents during office hours on Nov. 21. Falkoff wrote the following announcement:

I’ll be at the Library from 1-2:30 on Saturday, November 21 to listen to any concerns or questions you have about Town Council issues. I expect to be in the café, but if it’s still weirdly 70 degrees outside, I will be out front and we can talk about global warming. If it’s predictable November weather, maybe we could talk in the café about the pros and cons of the Winter Parking Ban and any suggestions for improving pedestrian accessibility this winter (I have a few).

Development

Town Holding Meeting to Discuss Ways to Preserve Neighborhoods

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Watertown residents are invited to attend “Preserving Our Neighborhoods: A Community Forum Tools Available to Preserve Neighborhood Character” on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave. 

The forum will include a panel discussion, a slide presentation, Q&A time and next steps. The event is sponsored by the Town of Watertown and the Neighborhood Advocacy Group. The town sent out the following announcement:

Our Comprehensive Plan identified preservation of the architectural heritage, character and fabric our residential neighborhoods as an important focus for Watertown’s longterm vision. In this Forum we will talk about key issues facing our neighborhoods, elements that contribute to neighborhood character, and tools available to manage residential growth and change, including: residential design guidelines, architectural preservation districts, ordinances, and zoning.

Government

Council Grudgingly Supports School Project After Price Tag Soars

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The Town Council will consider adding millions to the price of the window replacement project at Watertown Middle School after the scope of the project was changed. 

The proposed project calls for replacing 207 plexiglass windows in the old section of the middle school. The estimate for the cost of replacing plexiglass windows at the middle school was $302,642 but after the owner’s project manager appointed by the state studied the project the cost of the project jumped to between $2.6 million and $2.9 million. The change in price was due to a change in the scope of the project, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, chair of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee – the committee which voted to recommend the council endorse the project with the new budget. The project has been submitted to and accepted by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). This means the state will reimburse Watertown for 48.47 percent of the cost of the project, and that the town must follow the MSBA’s rules and even what will be included in the project. Council Vice President Steve Corbett said he was shocked to see such a miscalculation.

Elections

LETTER: Council Candidate Has Many Thank Yous to Send Out

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To the Editor,

Regarding the recent local election, I would like to thank:

Rosemary Caouette, my campaign treasurer and her husband Joe, past VFW Post #1105 Commander, for their outstanding support and confidence in me
Watertown Fire Department, for their holding campaign signs supporting me in Coolidge Square on many Saturday mornings and election day and their total support of me and my campaign
Veterans Carl Miller, Gordon Brown, Phil DeVincentis, Ralph Holmberg, and Bud Krapf for holding signs for me
Emilio and Maria Leone and Bill McMahon for holding signs for me
Shutt Marine Detachment, for their use of their facility for my kick-off event and post-election party
The 45 percent of District A voters who voted for me, who determined that there was not one “clear choice” in this election
Emilio’s Restaurant, Green Peapod, Whale Laundromat, Deluxe Town Diner and Andrea’s House
of Pizza – all Coolidge Square businesses, for allowing me to post campaign signs in their
windows
The 26 residents of District A who allowed me to post campaign signs on their lawns
The many residents who conversed with me as I visited hundreds of homes in the district
passing out flyers and listening to their issues. There were many issues in this election. Patryce Georgopoulos for allowing me to partner with her at the Shutt Marine Detachment for a post-election event

As I quickly found out, it takes financing to run a campaign. A big thank you to the Watertown Fire Union Local #1347, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and the many supporters who contributed to my campaign. It is important to encourage and support many candidates to run for office, so that voters have a choice among a variety of candidates.

Government

LETTER: Property Rights at Risk in Proposed Residential Design Guidelines

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To the Editor

There will be a very important meeting this Thursday Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School on Waverley Ave., Watertown. It is important that people who own property in Watertown show up to protect their property rights. Some are seeking to encumber a homeowner’s rights by putting style restrictions on new construction, additions, or modifications to their homes. This goes beyond the reasonable setbacks and frontage requirements, but deals with style.