Government

Are Shuttles Part of Watertown’s Transportation Future?

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With the MBTA service in Watertown not meeting residents’ and workers’ needs, and a growth boom underway people are looking for ways to improve transportation in town. 

One option often brought up is a local transportation management association (TMA), which could run shuttles and provide other transportation assistance. A forum about TMAs  held at the Watertown Free Public Library drew around 100 people. The event an initiative of the Watertown Public Transit Task Force which co-sponsored the event along with the Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce. In recent years large developments have been built on and near Pleasant Street, and more recently along Arsenal Street. To deal with the new homes and businesses, the town has explored creating a TMA to provide transit along these two corridors, said Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning Steve Magoon.

Government

See Details of the Watertown Police Supervisors Union’s New Contract

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Watertown’s police supervisors will be required to wear body armor, submit to drug tests and carry antidotes to overdoses and allergic reactions as part of their new contract. 

On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to transfer $197,625 to cover a new contract agreement with the Watertown Police Supervisors Association, which covers sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The contract calls for members to submit to mandatory, random drug testing, according to the details of the contract. Police supervisors will now carry and be able to administer two potentially life-saving items: Narcan – which can reverse heroin and opiate overdoses – and epi-pens – which help with many allergic reactions. Also, they must wear body armor when they are working field activities, including working a patrol shift. In addition, they must wear protective vests for high risk and tactical situations, such as serving search warrants, drug raids and initial crime scene response.

Arsenal on the Charles

Athenahealth Gets OK to Start Master Plan, With Some Alterations

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Many neighbors and other residents  are worried about what the new Arsenal on the Charles complex will look like, and the owners – athenahealth – will now be able to make give a more detailed presentation after the Town Council approved a master plan process. Athenahealth purchased the former U.S. Army complex from Harvard University, and plans to make a corporate headquarters with a retail section. The company wants to know they will be able to do the whole project, and seeks to get a master plan approved to layout the changes. Monday night the Town Council approved changing in the town zoning that will allow for a master plan to be proposed, and added some limits to what can be built at the Arsenal. New buildings, a parking garage and glassing in the space between the set of long buildings on the eastside of the Arsenal are proposed.

Development

Town Council Meeting to Consider Watertown Design Standards, Guidelines

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About nine months of work, meetings and debate, Watertown’s new standards for developments in town will be considered for final approval by the Town Council. The Council scheduled a public hearing on June 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall on the proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance that have been proposed as part of the design standards. The Council will also consider adopting a separate set of design guidelines. Guidelines help spell out how the town wants developments to be built and the standards are the language of the guidelines folded into the town’s zoning bylaws, said David Gamble, the consultant hired by the town to help create the new set of rules. The Council voted to create the standards and guidelines to help the town handle the influx of new development in town, particularly along Arsenal Street.

Government

Meet State Rep. John Hecht During His Upcoming Office Hours

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Watertown residents will have two opportunities to speak with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht in June. He will hold office hours on Monday, June 15 from 5-6 p.m. in the Raya Stern room in the Watertown Public Library and Thursday, June 18 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the small conference room on the third floor of Watertown Town Hall. Constituents are invited to meet with Rep. Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Rep. Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule a meeting at another time.”

Government

Hearing Planned for Trees Scheduled to be Cut Down

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Watertown Tree Warden Christopher Hayward will hold a hearing about trees that are due to be cut down. Residents are welcome to attend and give comments about the trees. 

The hearing will be held on June 17, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. in the Watertown Administration Building (Town Hall), Lower Hearing Room

Here are the tree locations, diameter of the trunk and type of tree being discussed at the hearing:

8 Westland Road, 4”,  Oak

32 Lowell Ave., 15”, Norway maple

69 Lowell Ave., 17”, Norway maple

85 Lowell Ave., 18”, Norway maple

26/28 Fifield St., 22”, Norway maple

The hearing announcement adds:

Please note that you do not need to attend the Tree Hearing to be heard. If you cannot attend but are for or against the removal of any of the trees listed and want your thoughts to become public record, please email the Tree Warden at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. Your concerns will be read into the public record at the hearing. Your email must be received by me by 10:30 a.m. on June 17, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Hayward at the email listed above or at 617-972-6426.

Government

Watertown Police Chief Announces He Will Retire This Summer

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Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau will retire this summer, he told the Town Council and others on Thursday. 

Deveau joined the Police Department in 1983 and has been chief since Sept. 4, 2001. His time as the top cop included the dramatic events of April 19, 2013, when Watertown Police officers engaged the Boston Marathon Bombers on the streets of East Watertown in which offices exchanged gunfire and were attacked by homemade bombs. Town Manager Michael Driscoll sent a letter to Town Councilors saying that Deveau had met with him on Wednesday to tell him he planned to retire. Deveau reached out to Councilors, too.

Food

Food Truck Safety a Priority for Council, Asks About Food Safety Grading

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Town Councilors want to make sure the food trucks coming to serve hungry residents and workers in town are up to the safety standards of all eateries in town. 

The Council made the request to Director of Public Health Deborah Rosati during the budget hearing for the Health Department. Trucks visit the Commanders Mansion in the Arsenal on the Charles each weekday and the Arsenal Project every Wednesday during the warmer months. Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she worries because people are not sure where the food comes from and where it was prepared. Food trucks can be fun, said Councilor Cecilia Lenk, but she too had concerns. “I think safety is a huge issue,” Lenk said.