Fire Contract

Watertown Firefighter Contract Approved by Town Council

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The Watertown Firefighters have a contract after more than six years after the Town Council approved the agreement Tuesday night. 

The unanimous vote to approve the agreement negotiated by town officials and the Local 1347 Fire Union comes nearly nine months after the Town Council rejected an arbitration award that would have settled the contract impasse. The agreement covers seven years, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016. The firefighters will receive 19 percent in salary increases, but did not receive an increase for the first two years. That is in line with the agreements other town and school unions made during that time. In all the contract will cost the town $4.675 million, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll.

Around Town

See the Watertown Police Take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

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The Watertown Police ended the summer with a chilly bath to help fight ALS. On Friday, dozens of members of the Watertown Police, and their family members, took the ice bucket challenge. The icy water chilled some, but one said it felt nice after being out directing traffic on Galen Street all day. The Watertown Police have one of their own to thank for taking the challenge. Officer Patricia Grady presented the idea to interim Police Chief Raymond DuPuis.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Bring Back Prescription Drug Drop Box

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The prescription medication disposal box is back in the lobby of the Watertown Police Station. 

The big green box had been at the station a few years ago, but was removed because Police could not handle the volume of medication coming in. “Watertown residents are encouraged to drop off any unwanted prescription medications,” the Watertown Police Department announced. “Residents are kindly asked to place their prescription medications into the available sealable plastic bags prior to disposal. We also have a separate sharps container for the safe disposal of syringes.” The drop box and syringe disposal is part of the town’s effort to combat the influx of opioid abuse and addiction in town.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Exposes Himself to Woman, Shoplifters Stopped

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 31, 10:14 a.m.: An unwanted person was reported at the Mount Auburn Club. When police arrived they did a warrant check and found the 33-year-old Cambridge man had three warrants from Edgartown District Court – two for open and gross lewdness and one for indecent exposure. Sept.

Government

Council Wants to Hear from Residents About Selecting Next Police Chief

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The selection process for choosing Watertown’s next police chief has started, and residents will be able to voice their opinions to members of the Town Council. Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced last month that the police chief will be selected after finalists are ranked using an assessment center. During that ranking process, the candidates will be asked to respond to a series of real world situations and scenarios. Watertown residents will have an opportunity to tell the council what are important qualities in the next chief. That input will be take into account by the Town Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee when coming up with questions to be used in the assessment center, said Town Council President Mark Sideris at Wednesday’s Council meeting.

Government

Union Approves Proposed Watertown Firefighters Contract

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Watertown’s firefighters approved the contract proposal Wednesday night, and after more than six years the contract is one step from being approved. Members of Local 1347 voted on the memorandum of understanding reached by the negotiating teams from the fire union and the town last week. Fire Union President Rob Mannix said it “passed comfortably,” but did not give any further details. The contract must now be approved by the Town Council before it will be officially approved. Firefighters have been at this point before.

Arrests

Police Log: Panhandler Causes Problems, Woman Busted on 2nd OUI

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 25, 9:49 p.m.: A man was panhandling in front of Tedeschi’s on Main Street, and the store employees called the police. When they arrived and asked him to stop, the man began yelling and screaming at officers and became aggressive. Police arrested the 41-year-old Waltham man for disorderly conduct.