Government

LETTER: Resident Opposes Victory Field Phase II Project

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To the Editor:

On Thursday, September 11th the Watertown Recreation Department hosted the first of two required public meetings regarding Phase II of the Victory Field renovation project. Roughly 100+ project stakeholders attended the presentation, including our Town Manager, local elected officials, high school varsity coaches, Victory Field abutters, and residents from throughout the community. After hearing presentations from the Recreation Department and project consultants, attendees were invited to speak and ask questions to gain a better understanding of the draft proposal. A majority of attendees shared their concerns with the project team; most referencing the economic, environmental, and health impacts related to the proposed synthetic turf that would replace existing natural grass within the track. Several attendees did speak in favor of the proposal, citing the increasing demand for appropriate practice times by Watertown High School athletic teams.

During the forum, Recreation Department Director Peter Centola confirmed to me that the fundraising efforts of Phase I have concluded with only 20% (roughly $300,000 on a $1.5M target) being raised. The project, we were informed, is now being paid entirely for by monies borrowed by the town due to the fact that, according to Centola, “the fundraising goal was too ambitious”.

Around Town

Residents Sound Off on Victory Field at Boisterous Meeting

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Well over 100 people made their voices heard during a volatile meeting about the proposal to renovate the track area of Victory Field. Many opposed the project, but the project had its strong supporters, too. The Phase II project calls for adding more parking, installing a multi-use court that can be used for hockey and installing a new track. The items that seem to cause the most controversy include replacing the grass inside the track with artificial turf and the addition of lights around the track (See more details on the Recreation Department’s proposal here). Glenn Howard, project architect with CDM, said the artificial turf would allow the field to be used earlier in the fall and earlier in the spring as well as later at night.

Government

LETTER: Watertown Resident Opposes Victory Field Project

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To: Town Council, Board of Health, Town Manager, Tree Warden, Planning Board and Citizens and Neighbors:

I have been reviewing the so-called “Phase II” plan for turning Victory Field into a giant industrial “athletic complex.” They include digging up the lush green lawn currently at the center of the track, replacing it with toxic artificial turf, expanding the track area, renovating the tennis courts, adding a street hockey/ice hockey section and generally WRECKING Victory Field for some person’s vision of a giant pay-to-play sports complex that will be used by very few people from Watertown. I’m quite certain that most of the families and seniors who find it pleasant now will no longer feel that way when it’s just a glorified parking lot. {Editor’s Note: The Recreation Department will have two meetings on the proposed Victory Field Phase II project – on Sept. 11 and Sept.

Elections

See How Watertown’s Candidates Fared in the Primary Election

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Tuesday treated one Watertown candidate well, and another finished the Primary Election on the wrong side of the vote. Former State Sen. Warren Tolman lost his race in the Democratic primary for attorney general to Maura Healey. Tolman conceded Tuesday night. Healey had received 62 percent of the vote with 89 percent of the precincts reporting. Healey faces Republican John Miller in November’s general election.

Business

Council Looking at Allowing BYOB at Watertown Restaurants

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While Watertown officials look at adding more liquor licenses, they will also consider whether restaurants can have bring your own alcohol licenses. Councilor Aaron Dushku, who sits on one of the three subcommittees looking at liquor licenses, said he also wants to consider allowing people to bring their own wine or beer to enjoy with their meal. One of the reasons for having BYOB is so people can have wine and avoid the markup on the wine, Dushku said. “Residents who want to enjoy a fine wine, they can pay the value of the wine which they perceive the price to be,” Dushku said. Restaurants would still be able to charge a corkage fee.

Elections

See Who’s on the Ballot for the Sept. 9 Primary Election

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Voters head to the polls on Tuesday for the state primary election featuring statewide races for governor,  Lt. Governor and more, as well as some candidates from Watertown. Democrats will have a number of contested races to vote in. Watertown’s state house delegation – State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Reps. Jonathan Hecht and John Lawn – are running uncontested. Republicans have candidates in about half the races, but only one is contested for the primary.

Business

Town Council Mulls Over Adding More Liquor Licenses

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The Town Council wants to encourage more mixed-use developments to be built in Watertown with restaurants, but to do so the town would need to increase the number of liquor licenses. Three subcommittees got together this week to discuss how many licenses should be added and how they would be distributed. The discussion goes back to 2012, when councilors looked at adding 12 new licenses. Today, Watertown has 33 licenses, including seven that allow service of only beer and wine. All the licenses are accounted for, and the town cannot add any more without getting approval of a special act of the State Legislature.

Elections

Warren Tolman Gets Major Endorsement in AG Race

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Watertown’s Warren Tolman got a major endorsement in his race for Attorney General when Gov. Deval Patrick said Tolman has his vote. Tolman has received a number of endorsements, but none bigger than the state’s top elected official. “I am endorsing Warren because I know from his campaign and from a deep personal relationship with him that he will be an activist AG, and I am excited about that,” Patrick said. “From gun safety to health care costs to consumer protection and civil rights, I want an AG who will not only enforce the law effectively, but also use the influence of the office strategically to improve the lives and prospects of Massachusetts people and small businesses. Warren Tolman will be that kind of leader.”

Tolman thanked the governor for his support. “I am so grateful, and so honored, to have the support of Governor Deval Patrick,” Tolman said.