Elections

Big Voter Turnout Already in Watertown From Mail-In Ballots, Early Voting

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The ballot drop off box outside Watertown’s Town Hall. Many Watertown voters have already cast their ballot in the 2020 Presidential Election, with the number of votes already received by the Town Clerk’s office nearly as high as the total cast in the September Preliminary Election. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 40 percent of Watertown’s registered voters had turned in their ballots, according to Town Manager Michael Driscoll, who got the latest numbers from Town Clerk John Flynn. The Town sent out 13,255 vote-by-mail and absentee ballots, many of which have already been returned, Driscoll said, plus early voting started on Oct. 17 and continues through Oct.

Government

Watertown Winter Overnight Parking Ban Dates Announced

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

Watertown Chief of Police Michael P. Lawn has announced the 2020-2021 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective Monday November 30, 2020 and continuing to April 1, 2021 the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 AM and 6 AM all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the Town allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only)Any public school parking lot except the Cunniff SchoolMarion Road parking lot at Victory FieldO’Connell Park, (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street)Grove Street parking lot at Filippello Park (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)101 Morse Street – 14 spaces at the rear of the parking lot (currently being constructed, available once completed)

Please note that these locations may be used free of charge, however vehicles may only use available spaces after 7 PM and must be removed by 7 AM the following day. Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6 AM. Violators may be towed.

Government

Parking Plan with High-Tech Meters, Pay by Card & Phone Approved

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Watertown’s current parking meters will be replaced with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. Watertown’s parking lots will be getting new meters which allow for paying by credit card and with cell phone apps in the parking plan approved by the Town Council on Tuesday night. The Parking Management Plan was the result of studies that go back to the fall of 2018. It included studies of how parking is used in Watertown, public meetings and surveys and presentations to the Council’s Joint Committees on Public Works and Economic Development & Planning. Other parts of the plan look at pricing of meters and who sets them, way-finding signage for the municipal lots, looking at finding private lots for the Town to partner with, and even creation of a pedestrian path through the lot near the Watertown Library.

Government

Charter Committee Looks at Areas to Improve Watertown’s Government

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Watertown Town Hall

The group looking at making changes the Watertown Town Charter talked about their views on changing to a mayor, how to make the Town government more responsive to residents and how to get residents involved in the charter review. Last week, the Charter Review Committee held its second meeting, and welcomed members of the Collins Institute, the UMass-Boston based group with expertise in municipal governments that is working with the group on the Charter Review. Going into the charter review, some residents have called for Watertown to move from the current strong-town-manager model of government to one headed by a mayor. The Charter Review Committee can make major changes, said Michael Ward of the Collins Institute, such as the form of government, or smaller changed such as who reports to the Town Manager, who reports the Town Council, and which positions and boards are elected vs. appointed.

Government

Watertown’s First CIO Seeks to Improve Communication with Residents, Make Town More Transparent

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Watertown’s Chief Information Officer Chris McClure. The Town of Watertown’s first ever Chief Information Officer, or CIO, came on board on Oct. 19, and has a slew of changes he would to make so Town officials can communicate more effectively with residents and make the government more transparent. Christopher McClure comes to Watertown from North Andover, where he was the information technology (IT) director. He plans some big changes for the Town’s social media accounts, the website and other technology.

Around Town

Watertown Student Group’s Night March Looks to Raise Awareness of Environmental Issues

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Members of Sunrise Watertown work on banners for the Late Night March on Oct. 23 to raise awareness about environmental issues. The following announcement was provided by Sunrise Watertown:

On Friday, October 23rd, Sunrise Watertown will lead a late-night march using tactics that are over a century old to enact change in the present day.Their goal is to educate the town on the truth of the climate crisis while also drawing support for a Green New Deal. WHO: Sunrise Watertown, a local student-owned and run organization. WHAT: Late night march led by Sunrise Watertown to wake up the community to the climate crisis.

Business

Bluebikes Opens New Station at Arsenal Yards, Officials Say Bike Share Has Had a Good Start

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The recently installed BlueBike station outside Arsenal Yards. Bikeshare company Lyft Bluebikes opened its latest docking station at Arsenal Yards with some fanfare last week. It is the fourth in Watertown with three more planned, and Town officials say they have already drawn a lot of interest. The first Bluebike station in Watertown opened in August, as part of a five community expansion, which also included Newton and Arlington. Three of the Town’s stations in are on public land, but four will be located on private property, said Laura Wiener, Watertown’s Transportation Planner.

Elections

Early Voting for Presidential Election Begins Saturday Oct. 17

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Watertown residents can head to Town Hall beginning Saturday to cast their ballot in the Presidential Election. This election, there will be 14 days of early, in-person voting at Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. COVID-19 social distancing measures will be taken in the voting areas, including plexiglass between poll workers and voters, pens only being used once and voting booths being spaced at least 6 feet apart. Early voting dates and times are listed below. Ballots have already begun to stream into the Watertown Town Clerk’s Office.