CARES Act

UPDATED: No Layoffs in Watertown Budget Despite Projected Revenue Loss of $4 Million

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Watertown’s Town Hall.

(This story was updated on June 15 at 9:06 am and corrected the number of ALS ambulances funded in the FY21 budget.)

No layoffs — that was the first highlight given by Town Manager Michael Driscoll when he presented the Fiscal Year 2021 budget on Tuesday night. This comes despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic — projected to cause a drop of more than $4 million in revenues for the Town government.

Around Town

Library Hosting Virtual Talk on Urban Wildlife, Teen Book Groups & Creative Writing for Kids

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

This week, the Watertown Free Public Library is excited to welcome Peter del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum for a Zoom talk about urban wildlife. The library is also hosting book groups for Teens, a creative writing program for Children and so much more, all online and accessible from home. 

A full list of virtual programs is included below. Want to stay up-to-date with everything that the Library has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic? Sign up for our eNewsletter here: watertownlib.org/eNews

FOR CHILDREN

Creative Writing with The Mysteries of Harris BurdickJun 1 – 30 | The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a fascinating book containing fourteen mysterious images. Can you imagine a story surrounding the pictures?

Government

Watertown Courts, Other Rec Facilities Remain Closed Despite Start of Phase 2

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The basketball courts at Casey Park are among the facilities that remain closed in Watertown even with the beginning of Phase 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan.

Recreation Director Peter Centola had to turn away some disappointed people hoping to make use of Watertown’s basketball courts and other facilities that are allowed to open under Phase 2 of the Governor’s reopening plan.

Environment

Fixing Sinking Areas Part of Renovation Plans at Arsenal Park

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A drawing of the proposed renovation of Arsenal Park. This shows the 25 percent design plan, which the Conservation Commission approved in 2019. The areas of sinking are in the upper left corner, near the playground, the oval driveway and the pathways connecting them.

Town officials set a goal of completing the renovations of Arsenal Park by the end of 2021, and part of the work that will be done will be to fix the sinking area of the park near the playground, driveway and parking lot.

Government

Town Manager Presenting Budget Monday, Council Voting on School Project Funding Tuesday

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The Town Council will consider approving the funds to build the new Hosmer and Cunniff elementary schools Tuesday night. Here is a rendering of what the new Hosmer will look like.

The Watertown Town Council will have back-to-back meetings this week, beginning with the presentation of next year’s Town Budget on Monday, and then councilors will hear a presentation about and are expected to vote on the funding for the construction of the new Hosmer and Cunniff elementary schools.