Government

Residents Wanted to Serve on Cultural Council, Housing Authority & Traffic Commission

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Watertown residents are invited to apply to serve on three City boards: the Cultural Council, the Watertown Housing Authority, and the Traffic Commission. See more information provided by the City of Watertown below. City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking residents to serve on the Cultural Council, the Watertown Housing Authority, and the Traffic Commission. Interested applicants should complete and submit a Universal Application. The Watertown Cultural Council (WCC) promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.

Government

Council Newsletter: CPA Projects Approved, Memorialization Committee, Intersection to be Named for Gorky

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown City Council voted on using Community Preservation Act funds on two projects, naming an intersection for an Armenian immigrant and artist, and discussed creating a Memorialization Committee. See more in the City Council Newsletter provided by the City of Watertown. City Council Newsletter: February 11, 2025 Meeting

Residents can view the recording of the February 11th meeting here. 

President’s ReportCouncil President Mark Sideris thanked the Department of Public Works as well as other city staff for their handling of last weekend’s snowstorm.He expressed gratitude for residents who have signed up for alerts through Everbridge and encouraged more residents to do so. This will ensure they receive notices of snow emergencies and other emergencies in the city on their cell phones. Residents will not be contacted frivolously, only for emergencies.

Government

City Council Approves Seed Money for Willow Park Affordable Housing Development

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A rendering of the Willow Park Housing development. The first new public housing building in Watertown to be constructed in Watertown in decades took a significant step forward when the City Council approved spending Community Preservation Act funds on the project at Willow Park on Tuesday night. The development will create 138 units on the site of 60 that currently has units. On Tuesday, the Council approved the Community Preservation Committee’s recommendation to spend $4 million in CPA funds on the project. Councilors also approved money to cover the cost of the restoration of historic paintings that hang in the lobby of City Hall.

Government

Residents Sought to Serve on the Watertown Human Rights Commission

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The City of Watertown announced that residents can apply to serve on the Human Rights Commission. See the announcement provided by the City below. City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking residents to serve on the Human Rights Commission. Interested applicants should complete and submit a Universal Application.The Human Rights Commission (HRC) works to ensure that all persons enjoy equal opportunity to participate in local affairs, including but not limited to housing, employment, education, public accommodation, access to City services regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, age, religion, disability, health status, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, ex-offender status, genetic and/or protected class status. The Commission promotes human rights in Watertown through outreach, dialogue, educational forums, the development of an Action Plan, serving as a resource to persons with concerns of discrimination within the City, recommending policies or resolutions for adoption by the City Council, City Manager or other City departments, boards, councils or commissions.

Government

Five Year Capital Plan Includes Middle School Project, Other Projects Pushed Back

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Rebuilding Watertown Middle School is the largest addition to Watertown’s five-year capital plan, and funding the $84 million project will require moving other projects to future years. The plan also includes projects that occur year after year, such as street and sidewalk repairs. City Manager George Proakis presented the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the City Council on Jan. 28. The plan includes a grand total of $273 million, about $57 million more than the FY2025-29 CIP mostly due to the addition of the Middle School project.

Government

City Manager’s Update on Winter Parking Ban; Demolition Delay Review Request & Watertown’s Federal Grants

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Watertown City Hall

Following the multi-hour meeting about Watertown’s Winter Parking ban, City Manager George Proakis updated the City Council about next steps and urged residents to sign up for the City’s alert system. Also, Council President Mark Sideris requested a review of Watertown’s Demolition Delay Ordinance, and Proakis provided information on Federal grants received by the City. During the Jan. 28, City Council meeting, Proakis tried to summarize his presentation at the Jan. 21 special Council meeting on the request to remove the Winter Parking Ban.

Government

District A Councilor Nicole Gardner Hosting Annual Meeting with Public

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Nicole Gardner, District A Councilor. All City Councilors must have an annual meeting to meet with the public according to the recent changes to the City Charter. District A City Councilor Nicole Gardner announced the date of her meeting. See info below. District A City Councilor Nicole Gardner’s Annual Councilor Community Meeting is Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 7-8 p.m. at the Coolidge School Apartments, 319 Arlington Street.