Elections

LETTER: Attorney Running for Governor’s Council Seat

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Dear Friends:

I am announcing my candidacy for Governor’s Council for the Third District of Massachusetts. The district includes much of Middlesex County and parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcester counties. Many Massachusetts citizens are unaware of the important, indeed vital, mission that the Governor’s Council is charged by the Massachusetts Constitution. The Council plays a seminal role in our state’s justice system and consequently to the function of our democracy and the stability of our society by having the power of “advice and consent” of all judges and clerk-magistrates in Massachusetts. The Council is the last chance the people of Massachusetts have to make sure that the best candidate for the job is picked.

Government

Council Applauds School Budget for Rebuilding Programs, Fiscal Stability

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Watertown’s public schools have made some big strides toward rebuilding the district after it suffered cuts in recent years, and in creating a budget that school and town officials can trust. School officials presented their budget to the Town Council Tuesday night, in a session that had a much different feel from the previous year. “What a difference a year makes!” Town Council President Mark Sideris said. Last year, the Council Chamber was filled with parents worried about the budget, and the council had a lot of questions about school official’s budget request that asked for nearly triple the increase as was ultimately given by the town.

Government

Watertown Ice Rink May be Seeking Major Tenant if Bentley Leaves

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Watertown’s ice arena may be losing a key tenant if Bentley University builds an 0n-campus rink for its ice hockey team. The Bentley hockey team plays its home games and practices at the John A. Ryan Arena, on Paramount Place, just off Pleasant Street. The arena would not have trouble finding groups wanting to replace games Bentley plays in the evening and one weekends, Ryan Arena Director Daniel Brothers told the Town Council during his budget hearing. The challenge will be getting groups during the team’s practice time. “Two-thirds of what Bentley uses is not prime time.

Government

Despite Popularity of Watertown Library, Some Offerings Remain a Secret

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The popularity of the Watertown Free Public Library keeps growing, but Library Director Leone Cole said some programs remain largely unknown. The library has become a community hub, but Cole said the library has done surveys of patrons and found that people are not aware about all of its offerings. “We need to get more world out about what is happening in our library,” Cole said. “We do some social media promotion.” The library website also features a calendar of events (click here to see it).

Government

Public Works Director Discusses Winter, Goals for Next Year

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The Department of Public Works had a busy Fiscal 2015 dealing with record snow fall, and officials are preparing for more snow, and the many other areas the DPW deals with. 

Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee discussed some of the goals and areas the DPW will work on during his budget hearing on Saturday. The Fiscal 2016 DPW budget – not including waste disposal or snow/ice removal – is $5 million, up $151,000 from the prior fiscal year (which ends on June 30, 2015). The waste disposal budget is $2.96 million and $1.16 million has been allotted for snow and ice removal, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. Winter of 2015
The DPW dealt with a record 112 inches of  snow, compared to an average of 42 inches, Mee said. They had 35 events that required plowing and/or sanding and salting, including eight major plowing events, Mee said.

Government

See How Much Your Water Bill Will Rise Next Year

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Watertown residents will pay about 13 cents more a day for water, the Town Council learned this week. Consultant Chris Woodcock of Woodcock & Associates, said the water/sewer rate will rise 3.7 percent in Fiscal 2016, which begins July 1, 2015. The average water bill will rise from $3.39 a day to $3.52 a day, Woodcock said. “That could be saved by saving 750 gallons in a quarter,” Woodcock said. Water and sewer in Watertown are enterprise funds, and must pay for itself.

Government

Recreation Director Discusses Possible Improvements, New Programs

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Watertown Recreation Director Peter Centola shared some of his ideas for how to improve the Recreation facilities and programs when he appeared before the Town Council for his budget hearing. The redevelopment of the Grove Street entrance at Filippello Park is one of the bigger projects coming up. Centola said he planned to hold public meetings on the project soon. Other park improvements include:

Court resurfacing and improve batting cages at Bemis Park and O’Connell Park
Court resurfacing at Lowell School Playground and Arsenal Park

The town’s artificial turf field at Victory Field has been very popular with youth and high school sports teams. So much so, that it been difficulty getting teams on the field when they want time. Councilor Aaron Dushku said that he is part of Watertown Youth Soccer, and coaches have complained that they cannot get time on town fields in the spring time.

Government

Watertown Residents Invited to Meeting About Airplane Noise

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A group of communities will gather to discuss noise and air pollution in the area from airplanes from Logan Airport. Boston West Fair Skies (BWFS) is a regional organization of MetroWest communities (Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Malden, Medford, Somerville, Watertown). The group strongly objects to the new concentrated FAA Highways in the Sky from Logan Runway 33L and the resulting noise and air pollution, according to the announcement. Boston West Fair Skies seeks to educate people about this issue and persuade the FAA to fairly re-distribute these flight paths. For example, our monthly action for May was to write a letter to the FAA, and samples are available on our website, www.Bostonwestfairskies.org

The group will meet on Tuesday, June 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave.