Around Town

Russo’s Market Will Be Closing, Owner Announces Retirement

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An institution in Watertown will be closing later this year when Russo’s market closes its doors after more than 100 years since it started business as a farm. The announcement was sent out by the store on Sunday, Aug. 15, on Facebook, and a statement was also posted on the Russo’s website. A Facebook post said that Tony Russo will be retiring later this year. He recalled working with his grandparents on the farm and his father and uncle at the wholesale warehouse.

Arrests

Police Log: Car Stolen from Driveway, String of Car Break-ins

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

Boston Man Busted on Firearms Charges After Rolling Car in Watertown

Incidents

Aug. 2, 9:24 a.m.: A Channing Road resident received a letter from the state unemployment office saying a claim had been made in his name. The man did not file the claim and is trying to resolve the problem with the state. Aug.

Government

Town Manager Receives Pay Raise in Final Year on the Job

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The Town Council gave Town Manager Michael Driscoll a raise, and some kind words as he nears the end of his long career in Watertown. On Tuesday, the Town Council approved a pair of 2 percent annual raises and an additional 1.5 percent performance bonus for Driscoll. The pay increases moved his salary from $210,000 in Fiscal Year 2020 to $217,415 in Fiscal Year 2021 (which ended on June 30, 2021), and $221,765 in the current Fiscal Year, FY 2022. In June, Driscoll announced he would retire at the end of January 2022 from the job he has held for 29 years, and after 45 years working for the Town of Watertown. To change the Town Manager’s salary the Town Council must pass an ordinance.

Arrests

Boston Man Busted on Firearms Charges After Rolling Car in Watertown

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A Boston man faces charges for firearm offenses after he got into an accident in Watertown. On Aug. 2, at about 4:45 a.m., Watertown Police went to Watertown Square for a vehicle that had rolled over during an accident. Both people involved said they were OK, and one of them, later identified as Jahvon Burton, had cuts to the head and body, said Watertown Police Sgt. Ken Swift.

Entertainment

See the Updated Watertown Summer Concert Schedule, New Band Added

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Southbound TrainSouthbound Train will perform at Watertown’s Saltonstall Concert Series on Aug. 18 with free dance lesson beforehand. Due to some weather cancellations, a number of Watertown summer concerts have been rescheduled and the revamped lineup includes two weeks when the Town will host a pair of performances, including a new act. The Compaq Big Band was moved from early August to Aug. 13.

Around Town

Court Finds Watertown Company Violated Fair Labor Standards, Retaliated Against Employee

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The following announcement was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor:

An employee who worked for two Massachusetts construction contractors was within his rights when he complained to his supervisor about not receiving overtime pay and requested the wages he was due. The two companies responded with a campaign of retaliation, pressuring the worker to withdraw his overtime complaint. They convinced other individuals to follow and threaten the worker’s family, and told other employees they might lose their jobs because the worker requested overtime pay that was legally due. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that the contractors’ actions violated the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department’s Office of the Solicitor filed suit against the defendants and obtained a temporary restraining order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in October of 2020.

Government

Council Subcommittee Looks at Areas of Town Where Firearms Stores Could Operate

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Firearm stores would be allowed in the same areas where marijuana dispensaries and adult stores can go in Watertown under the proposal recommended by a Town Council subcommittee. On Monday night, the Economic Development and Planning Committee heard the language drafted by Town administrators for limiting areas where gun dealers and related businesses could go in Watertown. Several other communities in the area have looked at firearms store regulations, including Newton where elected officials looked at a firearms store ban but instead voted to restrict them to a few spots in the city. Councilors in Watertown thought it was a good time to look at the Town’s zoning regarding such shops. “The thought process we had, from a staff perspective, is to keep this pretty simple,” said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.

Schools

Watertown Superintendent Gets High Marks from School Committee in Annual Evaluation

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Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston. Superintendent Dede Galdston received high marks from the School Committee, especially for handling the return of students to school in the pandemic, during her annual performance evaluation. The School Committee announced the results of the annual performance review for the head of the Watertown Public Schools on Aug. 2. Six of the seven members of the School Committee gave Galdston the highest rating in overall performance, and all seven gave her top marks on the reopening of schools after being closed for the COVID-19 pandemic.