District B

LETTER: Candidate for District B Town Councilor Introduces Herself

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Watertown organizer, small business owner focusing on community conversations,granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, and parent of 2, running for Town Councilor for District B.

My name is Tiffany York and I am running for Watertown Councilor for District B. I am filled with many emotions as I step into this opportunity. I want to build off of the amazing work folks are doing here in Watertown and I want to represent District B with integrity and vulnerability. I realize many people in Watertown may not know who I am or what I am doing for our city or where I come from, so I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I started my relationship with Watertown in 2009, as I visited my now husband of 11 years, Eric. I remember the community we experienced in our building on Whites Ave., neighbors across the hall, new neighbors to laugh and cry with when a water leak affected three floors.

Government

Council Subcommittee Looks at Areas of Town Where Firearms Stores Could Operate

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Firearm stores would be allowed in the same areas where marijuana dispensaries and adult stores can go in Watertown under the proposal recommended by a Town Council subcommittee. On Monday night, the Economic Development and Planning Committee heard the language drafted by Town administrators for limiting areas where gun dealers and related businesses could go in Watertown. Several other communities in the area have looked at firearms store regulations, including Newton where elected officials looked at a firearms store ban but instead voted to restrict them to a few spots in the city. Councilors in Watertown thought it was a good time to look at the Town’s zoning regarding such shops. “The thought process we had, from a staff perspective, is to keep this pretty simple,” said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.

Government

Learn About the Proposed Watertown Charter Changes at Ice Cream Social

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A resident group will host an ice cream social where people can learn about the proposed changes to the document that spells out how Watertown’s government operates, as well as about the group. Watertown Forward will host the ice cream social on Friday, Sept. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Arsenal Park, 485 Arsenal St. The group will discuss the proposed Charter changes that will be on the ballot in the Nov. 2 Town Election.

Around Town

Town Designing 311 System for One-Stop Place for Residents to Report Issues, Get Answers

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town of Watertown plans to create a one-stop place where people can get problems addressed and have their questions answered. In July, the Town Council approved a transfer of $30,000 to the IT Department to move forward with the creation of a 311 Customer Service System. Systems in other communities vary from a phone number to an online chat to texting or using social media messages to send in requests. Town Council President Mark Sideris said many residents have been calling for a 311 system. It was a popular idea at the Kitchen Table Conversations, the informal discussions held in 2019 when the Town Council looked for ways to improve communication with residents.

Election 2021

UPDATED: See Who Will be on the Watertown Town Election Ballot in November, Library Trustee Not Running

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Charlie Breitrose

(Originally posted July 28. Updated July 3o at 12:50 p.m.)

Town Clerk Janet Murphy certified the candidates for Watertown’s Town Election, to be held on Nov. 2, 2021. There will be six contested races in the Town Election: Councilor At-Large, Council Districts A, B and D, School Committee and Board of Library Trustees. Constance Henry announced July 30 that she will run for District D Councilor.

ARPA

Local Data Consultant Discovers Line in Federal Law that Cost Watertown Millions in Pandemic Relief

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CivilyticsWatertown’s Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics, discovered a line in the ARPA Pandemic relief act that cost Watertown millions in aid. A small data analysis firm discovered a five word section in the American Rescue Plan Act that cost communities such as Watertown millions in federal dollars compared to small towns in other states. Watertown-based Civilytics Consulting looks at a variety of data, including public financing, K-12 and higher education and public safety. While examining the ARPA funds found a surprising thing when they sent out their estimates for what states receive, said Jared Knowles, president of Civilytics. “One person called us and said ‘I’m getting told by our state we are getting a lot less than this,'” Knowles said.

Government

Watertown State Rep. Backs Legislation Promoting Electrification of Vehicle Fleets

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State Rep. Steve Owens. The following piece was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens’ office:

At a hearing held today by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined colleagues and advocates to support her legislation promoting the electrification of fleets and vehicles. Efforts to advance a transition to electric vehicles in statute are part of a broader trend that recognizes the pressing need to decarbonize the transportation sector, both within and beyond the United States. Massachusetts and California have already indicated commitments to have all new cars sold in each state be electric by 2035. The United Kingdom and Norway have made similar commitments, making plans for car sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and 2025, respectively.

23 Elm St.

Life Science Building in East Watertown Approved by Zoning Board

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Elm Street PartnersA rendering of the new life science lab building approved to be built at 23 Elm St. The building to the right is the Residence Inn by Marriott hotel. Months after it first appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeal, a three story life science lab building at 23 Elm Street got approval to be constructed on Wednesday night. The proposal first came before the ZBA in February, at a meeting where board members expressed their concerns about the amount of parking for the then 78,000 sq. ft.