Development

East End Residents Against Proposed Elm Street Hotel

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Developers of the proposed Elm Street hotel met stiff resistance to their plan from East Watertown residents who are frustrated by the increase in development in their neighborhood. The 102-room, five story hotel would be one of several projects proposed or even approved on the East End of town. The “upper, mid-range” hotel would be aimed at business travelers and would go on the former Atlantic Battery Company facility at 80 Elm St., behind Target at the Watertown Mall. Developer Cherag Patel of Elm Hospitality LLC said the hotel would not be a Red Roof Inn, as had been rumored, but he could not say which brand it would be due to a confidentiality agreement. It would be similar to a Hampton Inn or Hyatt House, and would have a pool for guests, but not restaurant or meeting space.

Government

Watertown Town Auditor Now Also Assistant Town Manager

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The Town Council voted to approve add to the Town Auditor’s duties so he is also the Assistant Town Manager for Finance. The move follows the recommendations of a personnel study done by the Collins Center at UMass-Boston, and the state which recommends that the treasurer, auditor, assessor, and purchasing positions be combined under a financial director. The Personnel and Town Organization subcommittee recommended the move, under which Town Auditor Tom Tracy would “oversee and monitor all financial management staff, assist with budget preparation and undertake other financial responsibilities as assigned by the Town Manager (Michael Driscoll).” As Assistant Town Manager for Finance, Tracy would report partially to Driscoll, but would be supervised for his duties as the Auditor to the Town Council. Town Councilor Tony Palomba said he wondered to whom the Auditor would report.

Government

Town Council’s Vote on the Fire Contract May Be Felt at Election Time

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The Town Council’s decision to reject the fire union’s contract may be felt come November’s Town Election. The vote on Dec. 9 rejected the arbitration award decided by a neutral panel. It also raised the ire of many in the Fire Department along with friends, family and others who thought that the Watertown Firefighters deserved a new contract and after 5 1/2 years. Tuesday’s meeting again drew scores of firefighters and other unions, who rallied before the meeting asking the Town Council to reconsider its vote.

Government

Find Out Why the Victory Field Committee was Put on Hold

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The committee that will oversee the renovation of the track area of Victory Field will not start as soon as planned after one spot on the board still must be filled. Town Council President Mark Sideris said he planned to reveal names of the members of the Ad Hoc Victory Field Committee, but the list is not complete. The committee was formed after the first proposal to renovate the track area drew much criticism from neighbors of Victory Field and other residents (read more here). The most controversial part of the plan – adding artificial turf inside the track – was removed but other contentious areas, such as flood lights, could be included in the plan. The person he hoped to select as a representative from a Watertown youth sports group withdrew his or her name, Sideris said.

Government

Unions Rally for Firefighters, Council Stands Behind Rejecting Contract

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Labor unions had a strong showing in front of Watertown Town Hall Tuesday night before the Town Council meeting, but councilors did not reverse their decision to reject an award for the town’s firefighters approved by a state arbitrator. The rally came about after 8 of 9 Town Councilors voted to reject the arbitration agreement on Dec. 9, saying that the proposal that included 2.5 percent raises in Fiscal 2012 and 2013 and an increase for EMT training and would cost the town $2.74 million in back pay. Firefighters have been without a contract for more than 5 1/2 years. The deadline to file to reconsider the vote on the contract passed before Tuesday’s meeting, said Town Council President Mark Sideris.

Government

Town Councilor Wants to Created Local Olympic Committee

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With last week’s announcement that Boston had been chosen as the United State’s nominee to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, a Town Councilor has proposed creating a group to take on the issue from Watertown’s perspective. On Tuesday, Councilor Tony Palomba said he will propose creating an ad hoc Watertown Olympic Committee at the next Council meeting on Jan. 27. “The committee’s role will be keeping Watertown in the mix as we move forward for potential planning for Boston and surrounding areas to host the 2024 Summer Olympics,” Palomba said. Even if no events take place in Watertown, Palomba said he expects the town to be impacted by the major, two-week sporting event.

Government

OP-ED: Town Manager’s Statement on the Fire Contract Negotiations

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At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting Town Manager Michael Driscoll addressed the situation with the Local 1347 firefighters union contract and the Council’s vote in December. Here is his statement:

In recent weeks there have been media articles and Letters to the Editor written about the Town Council’s decision on December 9, 2014 to reject a request to fund the arbitration award that was issued in connection with the Town’s efforts to reach a successor collective bargaining agreement with the Fire Union. Some of that discussion has included comments that the Union and the Town Manager followed a process – the arbitration process – and suggested that the Town Council’s vote somehow violated that process. Contrary to what some would have the public believe, however, the Town Council, by state statute, was also given a role in the overall process and that was to decide whether to fund or not fund an arbitration award like the one that was issued in this case. As set forth in Chapter 1078 of the Acts of 1973, once the Arbitrator issued his award the Executive Branch – in this case the Town Manager – was required to submit to the Legislative Branch – the Town Council – a request for an appropriation necessary to fund the award.

Government

LETTER: Resident Thinks Town Bargained Unfairly with Fire Union

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We have heard several Town Councilors tell the public that funding the arbitration award for the Local 1347 would not have been fair to other public employees. They have cited the fact that all other unions agreed to accept their predetermined parameters of no raises for two years and that the arbitration award did not meet that same criteria because of an increase in EMT / Defibrillator stipend pay. Comparing the outcome of previously negotiated contracts to the outcome of an independent, third-party review such as arbitration is both deceptive and disrespectful. Town officials made a decision in 2009 to treat all public employee unions as one during the negotiation process. The town failed to realize that each separate labor union has a right to not accept those bargaining terms. The town took a risk in using this negotiation tactic as their sole collective bargaining strategy, and the result of this gamble is a lack of a negotiated contract for local firefighters. In my opinion, the town setting these parameters and expecting that all unions comply does not meet the definition of negotiation.