Government

Watertown’s Town Clerk Retires After 26 Years, Oversaw Challenging 2020 Elections

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John Flynn, right, retired after 26 years serving as Watertown’s Town Clerk. Here he swears in members of the Town Council at the Watertown Inauguration on Jan. 2, 2018. A fixture in Town Hall whose smiling face welcomed many to the Town Clerk’s office has retired after more than a quarter century serving the residents of Watertown. Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn stepped down after 26 years in the position that oversees elections and Town records among many duties.

Entertainment

Town Council Approves Creation of Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee

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The Town Council approved the creation of the Public Arts and Culture Committee, which will make recommendations for public art similar to the mural painted at Uncommon Grounds, as well as cultural events. A Public Arts and Culture Committee will be appointed by the Town Council to make recommendations on public art and cultural programs in Watertown. The Town Council approved the committee’s creation on Tuesday night. It will have nine members and will make recommendations that must be approved by the Town Manager and Town Council. The Public Arts and Cultural Committee’s recommendations will fall into two areas, according to the Town Council’s resolution:

Art in Public Places: Permanent, semi-permanent, temporary, and ephemeral artworks and activations that create a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and connected public realm.

Development

Zoning for Central Business District Changed to Allow Labs, Light Industry in Historic Buildings

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The Town Council approved a change to Watertown’s Zoning Ordinance that would allow life science labs as well as light industrial uses in the downtown area near Watertown Square, but only in structures built 84 years ago or before. The amendment was proposed by Berkeley Investments, the new owners of the building now occupied by Sasaki at 64 Pleasant St., which plans to create life science lab space and preserve the historic mill building, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. The Zoning amendment changes allowable uses for structures built before the Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1937, and would allow light industry, non-nuisance manufacturing, laboratory/research, and renewable research. It only applies to the Central Business (CB) zone, which is around Watertown Square. The uses would be allowed by right in the qualifying buildings under 4,000 sq.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Hockey Wins Two Conference Championships

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The Watertown Youth Hockey Peewees won the Valley Hockey League Championship over the weekend. Watertown Youth Hockey won two championships over the weekend, and another team played in the final. The teams played in the Valley Hockey League championship games in the Peewee, Squirt and Mite divisions. The Watertown Peewees and the Watertown Squirts A teams both won the division and conference championships, while the Watertown Mite As lost in the final. The Squirts came back after being down 3-0 in the first period to defeat Concord-Carlisle 6-3 in the division championship game on Saturday.

COVID-19

Watertown School Budget Includes Additional Teachers, Funds to Deal with Impact of Pandemic & Diversity Issues

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The Watertown School Budget for the 2021-22 school year includes an additional fourth grade teacher, additional custodians for the new elementary schools and someone to help with the district’s technology. Superintendent Dede Galdston presented the $53.75 million Fiscal Year 2022 budget to the School Committee Monday night, and the Committee will make a vote on Thursday to approve the budget. It will then be presented to the Town Council later in April as part of the FY22 Town Budget. The budget includes 3.5 percent increase in funds from the town, or $1.81 million. To provide a level-service budget, the same level of services in FY22 as the prior year, will cost $53.53 million, Galdston said, leaving $216,157 in funds for additional positions or programs. Much of the increase will be used on salary increases, additional pay for teachers who moved up a step, and increases to deal with enrollment increases.

Charity

Cunniff School PTO Auctioning Bricks from Old School During Fundraiser

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The Cunniff Elementary School PTO announced a fundraiser where you can get a piece of the old school. The event is open to the public. The silent auction where 40 bricks from the old school building can be bid on will run from April 26 to May 7, and will be he held online at https://www.32auctions.com/cunniffbricks

The following information came from the Cunniff PTO:

Our beautiful new Cunniff school facility is currently being built, though the old school will always hold special memories for former and current Cunniff Cougars. The Cunniff PTO is holding a silent auction featuring bricks from the old Cunniff building, and the proceeds will help raise money for classroom supplies, future field trips, social activities, and classroom enrichment programs for our students. Now is your chance to show your Watertown pride and display a piece of school history in your home!

Around Town

Watertown COVID Cases Creep Up for Third Week, Nearly 40% of Residents Got First Vaccination Shot

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Watertown’s COVID-19 cases continued to increase for the third straight week. according to the Mass. Department of Public Health report, and nearly 1-in-5 Watertown residents have at least started the vaccination process. The Town had 93 cases over the previous 14 days, according to the state’s report from April 8, a dozen more than the previous week. The positive test rate also rose for the third straight week, from 1.48 percent on April 1 to 1.72 percent on April 8.

Government

State Rep. Steve Owens Hosting Virtual Office Hours in April

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State Rep. Steve Owens. The following announcement was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens’ office:

State Representative Steve Owens will be hosting office hours Saturday, April 24th at 1:00pm. This will be an informal meeting where constituents can share their concerns and discuss what is on their mind. The Representative will talk about what he has been working on and the issues he hopes will be getting attention this legislative session. The event will be held virtually through Zoom. To register, click the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctf-GorD8pHdzRlEIS4GRpwezwtfxnM8L4

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can provide any more information. Thanks!