Entertainment

New Committee, Staff to Create Public Arts & Culture Goals, Priorities for Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe mural on Melendy Avenue is an example of public art in Watertown. The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

As cities and towns around the country reimagine and reinvest in their public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watertown is rolling out a public arts and culture program to cultivate a more vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and connected public realm. Overseeing this effort will be a new addition to the city staff, Public Arts and Culture Planner Liz Helfer, who started in City Hall just after Thanksgiving. Helfer, who previously ran Hatch Makerspace at the Watertown Free Public Library, is a practicing artist experienced in arts administration. She will work in City Community Development and Planning office with the newly-formed Public Arts and Culture Committee that will make recommendations around art in public places, while overseeing fundraising, community partnerships, outreach and more.

Entertainment

Watertown Democrats Hosting Candidate for Governor, Possible AG Hopeful During Virtual Meeting

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

The Watertown Democratic Town Committee will be meeting this Thursday, January 27th at 7:30 over Zoom. We will hear from guest speakers, State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz who is running for Governor and Quinton Palfrey who is exploring a run for Attorney General. To get the Zoom link email the chair of the committee, Will Pennington at watertowndems@gmail.com

Affordable Housing

Six Watertown Residents Wanted to Serve on Affordable Housing Trust Board

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking six (6) Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust. The Housing Plan adopted by the City of Watertown on March 23, 2021 documented the need to create and preserve more affordable housing within the City. The Watertown Housing Partnership recommended the formation of a municipal affordable housing trust under M.G.L. c. 44, §55C to establish a trust to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing within the City of Watertown for the benefit of low-to-moderate-income households and for the funding of community housing. The Honorable City Council adopted Ordinance 2021-89, An Ordinance to Accept the Provisions of M.G.L. C. 44, §55c to Establish a Trust to Facilitate the Creation and Preservation of Affordable Housing Within the City of Watertown at their November 23, 2021 meeting. Composition: The Trust shall be governed by a Board of Trustees (the “Board”) in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44, § 55C, as revised from time to time, and the authority granted by the City Council.

Around Town

Council to Consider Rules for Airbnb & Other Short Term Rentals at Upcoming Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown City Council will hold a public hearing on Jan. 25 to discuss regulations for short-term home rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Currently, such rentals are not allowed in Watertown, but dozens are listed on the Airbnb site. The Council has held multiple meetings over the past few years about short-term rentals, and in June 2021 they recommended that the Planning Board support a set of rules for short-term rentals. The Planning Board considered the rules and sent them back to the Council for final approval.

City Council

Residents Share the Qualities They Want in Next City Manager, Consultant Outlines Process

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Watertown City Hall

Residents shared a long list of qualities and qualifications they would like to see in Watertown’s next City Manager during a community forum hosted by the City Council and the manager search firm. The focus was getting input from residents during the Ad Hoc Committee on the Town Manager Search forum on Wednesday, which lasted more than 90 minutes. Residents also got a chance to pose questions about the search process to Bernie Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates. During the forum, Lynch said he expects the Watertown City Manager position will get a lot of interest from qualified candidates. Qualities and Qualifications

A variety of qualifications were suggested by participants, including having strong financial management experience, good communication skills, and being a good manager of department heads and employees.

Government

Six Residents Sought to Serve on Watertown’s New Solid Waste & Recycling Committee

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Watertown DPW

The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

City Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking six (6) Watertown citizens interested in serving onthe Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee. The Honorable City Council adopted Resolution 2022-01, a Resolution to Establish a Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee at their January 11, 2022 meeting. The City of Watertown has established a Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee in response to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s aggressive goals of the Commonwealth’s Solid Waste Master Plan to reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, and sets a long-term goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in disposal statewide by 2050. The Committee’s responsibilities are defined as follows:

a. Research and make recommendations relating to recycling and reduction of solid wasteso that Watertown can meet the Commonwealth’s Solid Waste Master Plan milestones. b. Develop and engage in communication, education, and community outreach to increasepublic awareness for recycling and reduction of solid waste, including Watertown PublicSchools, the Farmers Market, Faire in the Square, and other venues.

Around Town

Council Wants to Start Moxley Courts Project Soon, Worried Neighbors May Oppose Street Hockey Rink

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CDM SmithA drawing of the proposed layout for the courts and a street hockey rink at Moxley Field. The City Council discussed plans to renovate the courts at Moxley Field, but one feature — a street hockey rink — caused concerns among the Councilors. The City’s goal is to complete the work by the fall of 2022, before the rest of Moxley Field goes under construction to be the temporary home of Watertown High School while the new school is built.

Planning for the courts began a few years ago, said Glenn Howard of CDM Smith, who made a presentation to the Council in November 2017. The idea of replacing one of the tennis courts with a street hockey court —‚ which could also be used for soccer, lacrosse or other sports — came up then. A public walk through of the site occurred in December 2017, and Council President Mark Sideris recalled that some neighbors opposed the idea of having a hockey rink there.

City Manager Search

City Manager Screening Committee to Include Two Residents, See How to Apply

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With the retirement of Michael Driscoll this month, Watertown will be hiring a new City Manager for the first time in nearly 30 years and residents can be part of the process. Two residents will be included in the committee that will screen the candidates for the position. On Tuesday night, Council President Mark Sideris announced that the Screening Committee would have seven members. Along with the two residents, there will be three City Councilors — Sideris as chair, Vice President Vincent Piccirilli and Caroline Bays, who chairs the Personnel and Town Organization Committee. There will also be two members of the City Administration or City employees, who have not yet been named.