Elections

LETTER: Outgoing School Committee Member Reflects on His Term

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Dear Watertown,

Four years ago, I was elected because residents wanted a change from what had come before and they wanted results in our schools. It is a humbling experience to be elected and entrusted with making positive changes to the lives and education of our students. I took that obligation very seriously then and I still do. After being sworn in, I mentioned to my wife and friends that they would not see a lot of me during the first half of 2012 due to the challenges facing the district. I focused all of my efforts on working with my Committee colleagues to resolve the immediate challenges facing us then:

Settling the teacher’s contract and rebuilding those relationships.

Government

Town Council Lays Out Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 2017

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The Watertown Council has included dealing with storm water infiltrating the Charles River, funding the social services resources position and bolstering the town’s Planning Department to handle the development boom in town. Those areas, along with the long-standing areas of schools, public safety and streets and sidewalks, made the Fiscal 2017 budget priorities announced by Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli at last week’s Town Council meeting. See the entire Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee report by clicking here. The priorities were created by the subcommittee after holding meetings in November and early December. Councilor Tony Palomba said he would like to find out how to have more suggestions of Councilors not on the committee included in the budget priorities.

Gov. Baker

Legislature Still Working on Approving More Liquor Licenses for Watertown

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The Town Council sent a request to the State Legislature to add 15 more liquor licenses to Watertown, and work in the State House continues after a getting past a sticking point. The request was approved by the Town Council in March, and committees at the Legislature have been carefully looking at the proposal, State Rep. Jonathan Hecht told the Town Council on Tuesday. The town has 34 licenses for restaurants, but the council wants more to encourage more mixed-use development in town. “The committee knows how hard you worked on the new licensees to increase economic development,” Hecht said. “It looked early on like it would move along quickly.”

Development

Public Can Discuss RMUD at Informal Council Subcommittee Session

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After a hearing comments from dozens of Watertown residents about the proposed changes to the area of the malls in East Watertown last week, the Town Council voted to have another hearing in a more informal setting to hash out the proposal. The zoning changes in the proposed Regional Mixed Use District would allow larger buildings, and for master plans for projects on properties of 2 acres or more. It would also allow housing, commercial, retail and office buildings in the area. At the Town Council meeting about the RMUD on Dec. 1, many residents wanted more details about what the projects would, or could, look like.

Government

Town Council Give the Town Manager a Big Raise, His First One in Years

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll got a big vote of confidence from the Town Council Tuesday night by getting a salary increase of nearly $25,ooo. Councilors and residents said they believed Driscoll deserved a raise because of his good management of the town – particularly financially – and his hard work. “You are not going to find a person who works harder for the citizens or the community,” said Council President Mark Sideris. “Come here [Town Hall] on a Sunday and the lights are on. He’s here working.”

Government

Come Talk With State Rep. Jonathan Hecht at 2 Upcoming Office Hours

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Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht will be available to speak with residents at two office hours this week and next. Rep. Hecht will hold office hours on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Raya Stern room in the Watertown Public Library and Tuesday, Dec. 15 in the third floor hallway of Watertown Town Hall. Constituents are invited to meet with Rep. Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them.

Environment

DCR Unveils First Draft of the Community Path in Watertown, Cambridge

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Residents wanted to see more access points to the bicycle and pedestrian path from Watertown to Cambridge and some worried about the safety of the path along the former railroad line at night. Dozens of interested residents from Watertown and Cambridge packed a room at the Atrium School Monday night to learn about what the Phase 2  of the Community Path (also called the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway) from Arlington Street to Fresh Pond will look like. Officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation showed their preliminary plans for the new section of the path, which starts at Arlington Street near Nichols Avenue and Crawford Street, runs into Cambridge and ends at Fresh Pond. “People will be able to get around between Cambridge and Watertown a lot better,” said Dan Driscoll, director of Recreation Facilities Planning for the DCR. “There are still a few issues to work out but it is going to be a great project.”

Development

LETTER: Resident Pleased With Hearing on RMUD Zoning Changes

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Editor,

Congratulations to the Town Council and everyone from the community who testified at the RMUD hearing on Dec. 1. Mark Sideris ran an excellent hearing (as he always does) that gave full opportunity for all views to be heard, and many important points were brought up. Every Council member spoke thoughtfully about their reasons for favoring and/or questioning the proposed ordinance. The concerns about process I and others raised because of the timing of the hearing were allayed.