Around Town

See the Watertown Streets that Made the List for Reconstruction in 2022

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The Department of Public Works proposes to reconstruct four streets in Watertown, and is looking at a longer streets to work on, too, in 2022. The DPW presented the proposed 2022 Road Program to the Council’s Public Works Committee, and it will be considered by the full Town Council at an upcoming meeting. The list includes four residential streets:

Boylston Street (Fairfield Street to Porter Street)Chester StreetLocke StreetChapman Street (Main Street to Highland Avenue)

The Council also designated $1.5 million for longer streets. This year Waverley Avenue made the list. In 2022, Highland Avenue is recommended for reconstruction, and in 2023, the DPW recommends doing roadwork on Morse Street and Fifth Avenue.

Charter Changes

2021 Watertown Election Guide, See What’s on the Ballot, Where to Vote

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Tuesday is election day in Watertown, and Town voters will be selecting candidates for three Town boards, as well as voting on changes to the Town Charter. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (see polling locations below). Town Council, School Committee & Library Trustee Races

The 2021 election has 25 candidates running, with several contested races. Only two are uncontested — Town Council President and District C Town Councilor. Seven people are running for four Councilor At-Large spots.

Charter Changes

See What’s in the Proposed Charter Changes on the Watertown Ballot

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Charlie BreitroseA mailing went out to Watertown voters with the details of the proposed changes to the Town Charter. On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Watertown voters will not only vote on the Town Council, School Committee and Library Trustees, but also the proposed changes to the Town Charter. The Town Charter defines how Watertown’s government operates. Watertown first adopted the Town Charter in 1980 when it moved from a town government with a Town Meeting, to a city-style government with a Town Council and a Town Manager.

Around Town

Candidate Q&A: School Committee

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Charlie BreitroseThe public gathered outside the new Cunniff Elementary School before open house on Tuesday. Three spots on the Watertown School Committee are up for grabs, and half a dozen candidates have put their name forward. The School Committee has four-year terms, and two incumbents seek another term. Longtime School Committee member, and current chair, John Portz announced in June that he would not be running for re-election in 2021. Amy Donohue and Lily Rayman-Read seek re-election, and four challengers are running for spots on the Committee: Jessica Middlebrook, Jennifer Nicholson, Colleeen Mahoney Farherty and Rachel Kay.

Elections

Candidate Q&As: Library Trustees

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. Watertown voters will be selecting the Trustees for the Watertown Free Public Library on Nov. 2. There are three spots available in the 2021 election. The Board of Library Trustees oversees the budget for the Watertown Library and works with the Library staff on how to spend the budget, as well as working on special projects and initiatives at the library.

Around Town

Town of Watertown Starts New Cell Phone App, Place to Get Info, Ask Questions, Request Services

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

Watertown has partnered with SeeClickFix for a new Watertown MA app that allows citizens to ask questions, make suggestions, request services, and get information. With the free SeeClickFix mobile app and web tools, Watertown residents are able to provide Watertown staff with pictures, specific descriptions, and more valuable information needed to get the job done efficiently. 

The new Watertown MA app is part of our new website launch and 311 customer service, which are both coming soon. Here are some features you can to access directly on the app:

Emergency AlertsReport ItNews FlashTrash & RecyclingOnline Bill PayTown CalendarTown WebsiteContact UsSocial MediaWCA-TVTown Job OpeningsProperty and MapseCode 360 Town Charter Ordinances

Get the Watertown MA app in the App and Play store. Then create an account under the Profile tab. Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/watertown-ma/id1547838092

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.watertownma.cpmobile

Note: if you already have the app on your phone, you may need to delete it and then reload it on your device.

Election 2021

LETTER: A Reflection on the 2021 Watertown Election

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To the Watertown community,

We are heading into the final days of this election cycle and as we do so, I have begun to reflect on what the past month of campaigning has brought and what the next five days will look like. When I decided to run for office, my goal was to bring people together, participate in spirited debate, and to help build a better Watertown. I have been coaching soccer in town for fifteen years and have had the privilege to have coached hundreds of, if not a thousand, kids in town. Instilling in them the fundamentals of soccer so they can succeed on the field is only part of what I do as a coach. The other, and more important, part is instilling in them life skills such as sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, integrity, resilience, and perseverance.

Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Dissatisfied by Public Safety Committee Process, Endorses Council Candidate & Charter Changes

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I have serious concerns about how Councilor Feltner has used her position of power as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety and it is one of the strong reasons I will not be voting for her for District B Councilor. I will be voting for Tiffany York for District B Councilor, and urge fellow neighbors in District B to join me because this is a critical time to have Councilors with competency in what justice, equity, diversity and inclusion means and how to actually create it on the next Town Council. As a light-skinned person of mixed African and European heritage who presents as white to most people, I benefit from an enormous amount of skin privilege and see it as my responsibility to speak up as I am able to when I see and experience racism, and to work to make our community safer for all residents. And it is hard. While I don’t experience most skin discrimination, I have ancestrally inherited fears of targeting and reprisals when being brave enough to speak up.