Government

MBTA Proposed Service Changes Could Impact Some Watertown Routes

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An MBTA bus in Watertown. With ridership significantly down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBTA has proposed a series of changes to the system, including altering and consolidating bus routes, and reducing hours of service on subways and the Commuter Rail. The plan has been dubbed Forging Ahead by the MBTA. The T will host a series of online meetings where the changes will be discussed from mid-November to early December. The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board will vote on the changes on Dec.

Elections

Watertown Group Celebrates Election of Biden & Harris, See the Photos

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Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment celebrated the victory of Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election on Saturday in Watertown Square. While the calling the 2020 Presidential election for Joe Biden drew large celebrations in cities around the country, members of a progressive Watertown group had a smaller-scale one in Watertown. One of the signs held up by at the celebration of Joe Biden’s election on Saturday in Watertown Square. Members of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment gathered on the Watertown Square Delta to cheer, hold signs and bang on pots and pans Saturday afternoon. People banged pots and pans and other noisemakers at the Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment’s celebration in Watertown Square for the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Around Town

New COVID-19 Rules on Face Masks, Restaurants, Private Gatherings Start Friday

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Massachusetts residents face new regulations that include an evening stay-at-home advisory, tightens face covering rules, closes some businesses early, reduces size of requires earlier closing times for some businesses and reduces the allowed size of gatherings. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the changes to the COVID-19 rules this week. The stay-at-home advisory for “unnecessary activities” runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Face masks or coverings must be worn in all public places (even if it is possible to stay 6 feet apart)The businesses that must close by 9:30 p.m. include restaurants, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor events and youth and adult sports activitiesGatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors

Town Manager Michael Driscoll sent out the following information in his Weekly COVID-19 Update:

On Monday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a series of targeted measures to disrupt the increasing trend of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Governor Baker announced these changes at a time where public health data has indicated that cases are rising, with cases up by 278 percent and hospitalizations up by 145 percent since Labor Day. These measures are meant to disrupt rising trends now, so the Commonwealth can keep the economy and schools open for residents and to prevent the need to roll back to Phase I or Phase II of the reopening plan.

Forestry Supervisor

Meet the New Tree Warden at Watertown Group’s Online Event

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Trees for Watertown invites residents to meet the new Watertown Tree Warden/Forestry Supervisor during an online event on Nov. 11. The group sent out the following announcement:

Please join us via Zoom on 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 (VETERANS DAY)6 PM – 7:30 pmfor a very special event!TFW is delighted to be welcoming GREGORY MOSMAN, MCAWatertown’s new Forestry Supervisor-Tree Wardenat TFW’s 2020 Annual Meeting! Greg Mosman comes to Watertown with 18 years managing Boston’s public forest of over 37,000 shade trees.  We are immensely lucky to have his experience!

2020 Election

See How Watertown Voted for President, Senate and Ballot Questions

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Watertown voters came out in huge numbers for the 2020 Presidential Election, and heavily supported Joe Biden and other Democrats on the ballot. The voter turnout for the Nov. 3 election in Watertown was 76.09 percent, or 19,197 ballots cast. This was slightly higher than the 2016 election when 18,402 votes were cast, or 75.89, in an election which also featured the local ballot question on the Community Preservation Act. The Biden/Harris ticket got 14,885 votes locally (77.5 percent), while Donald Trump and Mike Pence received 3,795 votes (19.7 percent).

Ballot Questions

2020 VOTER GUIDE: New Polling Places; Contested Races & Ballot Questions

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The vote to decide the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election will be Nov. 3, but there are a number of other races in which Watertown residents can cast their vote, as well as up to four ballot questions. Also, three precincts will not be in their normal location. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Watertown. The Presidential race tops the ballot, but there are also races for U.S. Senate and Congress along with the ballot questions.

Elections

Watertown Ballot Drop Box to be Closed on Halloween

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The ballot drop off box outside Watertown’s Town Hall. Watertown’s ballot drop box will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 31, Town Clerk John Flynn said. The Town Clerk’s office sent out the following announcement:

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin has asked that ballot drop boxes be secured on Saturday, October 31st to avoid any Halloween pranks. The Town of Watertown will lock its ballot drop box, located on Saltonstall park side of Town Hall, at 5:00 p.m. on Halloween and will reopen at 8 a.m. the following morning. 

The ballot drop box will then remain open until polls close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Climate and Energy Master Plan

Town Using Part of Budget Surplus to Fund Climate & Energy Master Plan

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Watertown’s Town Hall. On Tuesday, the Town Council approved using some of the funds left over from the Fiscal Year 2021 budget to fund the creation of a Climate and Energy Master Plan. Town Manager Michael Driscoll told the Town Council that the Town’s share of state aid and new growth came in higher than projected when the FY21 budget was created. As a result, the Town ended up with $1.57 million in additional revenues. He proposed using the money in multiple ways, including the Climate and Energy Plan.