Around Town

LETTER: Councilor’s Statement on Winter Parking Ban Petition

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By Tony PalombaCouncilor at Large

The Citizen Petition to Help Our Neighbors 

On Tuesday, January 21 the City Council held a public hearing about a Citizen Petition (CP) that would amend the Watertown Winter Parking Ban (Ban) so that it is put into effect only when a significant snow or ice storm is forecasted or when there is a significant accumulation of snow or ice.  The CP was initiated by Watertown Citizens for Better Parking and was submitted to the City Clerk with over 800 signatures. (Our Charter only requires 150 signatures of registered voters.) I played a role in helping to move this effort forward and below you can see the statement I read, in part, on Tuesday night when the members of the Council were allowed to address the CP.  

I want to begin by thanking the 250-300 residents who showed up in person for the hearing or attended on-line. I think it is fair to say that this is one of the largest turnouts I have seen since my 8 terms on the Council. The vast majority of those attending and of those who spoke supported the CP.  

A recent article in Watertown News clearly described the public hearing, though it emphasized the statements of the members of the administration and the councilors. I want to emphasize the many thoughtful presentations made by the residents who spoke at the hearing.  Staying within the two-minute allowed time, resident after resident shared stories about how the Ban negatively impacts their quality of life in Watertown. Council President Sideris did not limit how many folks could speak and allowed over two hours of public testimony. I urge you to visit WCATV and listen to those who move their cars off the street by 1:00 AM and retrieve them by 7:00 AM in the winter months even when there is no snow or ice forecasted. You can hear the mother with three small children, the third shift worker, and the soon to be pregnant resident question the benefit of the Ban. http://vodwcatv.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/3632?site=3

I want to repeat something I said during the meeting and expand upon it a bit. After listening to the Administration I was left feeling that the arguments against instituting the CP as presented to the City Council had very little to do with providing some relief to a significant portion of our neighbors. There may have been some reference to the difficulties facing our neighbors, but the majority of what was said focused on how complex the issue is and the potential of the CP having a negative impact on existing and ongoing City plans like the success of our Watertown Square Area Plan, the implementation of our Comprehensive Plan, and the future of affordable housing in Watertown. We heard that there may need to be a price for the use of curb space as well as reasons why nothing can be done to address the issue as presented in the CP. I believe that this is not a complex issue rather it is a simple issue.

Weather

Weather Forecast: 1+ Inches of Snow Expected Thursday

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Here’s the updated daily weather forecast from Wednesday, February 5 to Friday, February 7 by Meteorologist Matthew Moll of New England Weather Consulting: 

Wednesday, February 5:

High pressure builds in from the Great Lakes, bringing mostly sunny skies but cold temperatures. Highs will only reach between 25°F and 30°F, though with much less wind than the previous day. The night will remain dry as high pressure shifts eastward, but increasing mid-to-high-level clouds will move in from the west late at night ahead of an approaching system. Overnight lows will dip well into the teens, with some single-digit temperatures possible in typically colder low-lying areas. Thursday, February 6:

A fast-moving storm system will bring wintry precipitation beginning between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM.

Around Town

Book Launch for “Lost Gaels” at Hibernian Hall in Watertown

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A book launch for “Lost Gaels: Remembering the Members of the GAA Killed During the Conflict in Ireland” will be held in Watertown. See more in the information provided by the Ancient Order of Hibernians below. The book launch will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown. The event is open to the public.

Around Town

OP-ED: Collateral Damage of the Air Accident in Washington

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By Clyde YoungerFormer Watertown Council President

Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, around 9 p.m., video captured a horrific collision of two airplanes as they erupted into flame. My mother told me that when she was eight years old her father was lighting a kerosene stove and it exploded and set him on fire; he ran, no one could catch up with him and he burned to death. However, he was on solid ground. One cannot imagine the horror the people on the two planes experienced as their planes came hurtling down in flames from the sky leaving an unerasable scar in the heart of their loved ones.

Around Town

MassDOT to Host Meetings on Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study

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MassDOT’s study area at Newton Corner. The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will be hosting the third working group meeting for the Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., hosted virtually via Zoom. A dedicated public information meeting will also be held on Tuesday, February 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

At the meeting on Wednesday, February 5, the study team will present their work on future conditions, review issues, constraints, and opportunities within the study area, and first-stage alternatives development. The meeting materials will also be available after the meeting on the study website. This will include a discussion with members of the Working Group.

Around Town

City Council Newsletter: Police Body Cameras, Capital Improvement Plan & More

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The Watertown City Council Newsletter for the meeting on Jan. 28, 2025 was provided by the City Council. Residents can view the recording of the January 28th meeting here. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Council President Mark Sideris began by reading a proclamation honoring Ingrid Marchesano on her retirement after over forty years of dedicated service to Watertown. You can read the full proclamation here.

Around Town

Grant Info Session for Non-Profits Serving Older Residents to be Hosted by Marshall Home Fund

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Marshall Home Fund provided information about the Grant Information Session for organizations seeking grants from the organization that serves older residents of Watertown. See more information below. Marshall Home Fund Grant Information Session

Thursday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library

Is your organization helping Watertown’s older residents? Did you know that Marshall Home Fund (MHF) awards thousands of dollars in grants to non-profit organizations that serve older Watertown residents each year?