Government

Funding Retirement System Will Save Money Later, Won’t Help Schools Now

By |

The Fiscal 2015 budget includes $12 million to fund the shortfall in the retirement system, but in a few years it will reap $32 million in savings. Like all communities in Massachusetts, Watertown has an unfunded liability in its retirement benefits and the difference must be made up. The town now funds about 68 percent of the benefits, and needs about$53 million to fully fund it. The town had been working toward funding the shortfall by 2022 by paying in about $10 million a year, but last year the Watertown Retirement Board – at the request of the Town Council – voted to accelerate the funding of the shortfall. Each year from Fiscal 2015 to 2018 Watertown will pay an additional $1.575 million toward funding retirement benefits – meaning the town will pay in $12.2 million in Fiscal 2015 and keep adding until it pays $16.9 million in Fiscal 2018.

Development

Town Seeks Comments on Draft of Watertown Comprehensive Plan

By |

A draft of the master planning document that will influence the way Watertown will be built up (or not) has been created and town officials seek input from residents. The document is a long one, with 220 pages and hundreds of recommendations. The plan has sections on land use, transportation/circulation/parking, housing, economic development, open space/recreation, natural resources, historical/cultural resources, public services/facilities, energy and implementation of the plan. Work started more than a year ago on the document, and the consultants – Vanasse Hangen Brustlin – held public forums to get input on what kind of Watertown people want to see in the future. The Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee recently discussed how to get input and a schedule for approving the plan.

Government

Historical Commission will Hand Out Preservation Awards

By |

People and groups who have preserved Watertown’s history will be honored in June. Several awards will be handed out at the Historical Commission Awards Ceremony will be held on June 5 at 7 p.m. at the Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Ave., in Watertown. The event is free and open to the public. The Richard E. Mastrangelo Memorial Award will go to the Watertown Community Mural Committee for the creation of the mural in Linear Park (the path between Waverley and Whites avenues. Pam Piantedosi will be presented the Citizenship Award for her work on the documentary “150 on Main Street – The History of the Watertown Police Department DVD.”

Around Town

Drop the Puck at the Newly Remodeled Casey Park

By |

 

No you aren’t hallucinating if you see a hockey rink with a full set of boards at Watertown’s Casey Park.The Southside park has nearly completed a major overhaul, which included resurfacing the basketball and tennis courts, new lights and installation of a street hockey rink. Come winter, a sheet of ice can be laid down on the rink so people can skate and play ice hockey. “We had three tennis courts but they were unusable – they were underwater when it rained,” Centola said. Two of the tennis courts were improved and the third was turned into the new rink. Players can jump on the concrete or ice through a door in the boards, and sit on benches along the side of the rink.

Government

UPDATED: Watertown Dog Park Opening Soon!

By |

UPDATED May 25: The dog park is now open. Watertown Recreation Director Peter Centola announced that the new dog park at How Park had a soft opening on Saturday, May 24. Original Story:

The long awaited dog park will soon be open in Watertown, town officials said Monday night. The enclosed area is being built at How Park on Pleasant Street in Watertown. The 200-foot by 100-foot fenced in enclosure should be done soon, Recreation Director Peter Centola told the Town Council during his budget hearing Monday night.

Government

Shootout with Bombing Suspects has Negative Impact on Watertown’s Kids

By |

{NOTE: The story was been updated on June 10, 2014 with more current information on the special education costs the district has spent this year.}

Some children living in the area where Watertown Police faced the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects have had long-term negative effects, which can be seen in the special education budget in town schools, officials said Thursday. Watertown schools have had a spike in the number of students with mental health problems, which is mostly seen in students who live close to the area of the shoot out – Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street in the East End. “We have seen high anxiety, older kids not wanting to be home alone and a feeling of hopelessness,” said Arlene Shainker, interim special education director. When it gets out of hand and affects their school life students are evaluated and sometimes sent to off-campus programs, including even hospitalization, Shainker said. The Impact

This school year Watertown has had 22 students placed in new out of district programs to meet their special needs, Shainker said, while last school year they had two.

Development

Council Shooting to Approve Comprehensive Plan by Fall

By |

The Comprehensive Plan – the major planning document that will shape Watertown’s future – will likely be approved this fall. 

The Town C0uncil’s Economic Development and Planning Committee discussed how they want to unveil the latest draft and collect input from town officials, town residents and others this week. The whole process will likely stretch into the fall. The Comprehensive Plan not only covers zoning rules and development, it also has recommendations for public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian issues, parks, and open space. Councilor Susan Falkoff did not like the idea of having the draft go to town department heads before the general public got to see it. The subcommittee agreed that the document should be published online so all can take a look.

Government

Watertown School Officials Detail Use of $1 Million Boost

By |

The Watertown Public Schools will receive a $1 million budget boost in the current school year, and they will spend most of it on special education, but will also use some on technology, materials and preparations for the new PARCC standardized test. Tuesday night, the Town Council approved taking  the money out of the Free Cash Fund and use it for the school’s Fiscal 2014 budget (which ends in June 30). The majority, $790,000, will be spend to create a Special Education Stabilization Fund. Unexpected special education costs when students move into town with severe needs can cost nearly $250,000 per student in some cases. The Watertown Public Schools cover the cost even when students go to out of town programs.

The stabilization fund was created to prevent the general education budget from being eaten away by the unexpected, un-budgeted costs, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli.