Elections

Early Voting for Presidential Election Begins Saturday Oct. 17

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Watertown residents can head to Town Hall beginning Saturday to cast their ballot in the Presidential Election. This election, there will be 14 days of early, in-person voting at Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. COVID-19 social distancing measures will be taken in the voting areas, including plexiglass between poll workers and voters, pens only being used once and voting booths being spaced at least 6 feet apart. Early voting dates and times are listed below. Ballots have already begun to stream into the Watertown Town Clerk’s Office.

Schools

Watertown Moves into Yellow for COVID Cases as Schools Looking at Reopening

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The state’s COVID-19 Community Level Reporting map showing Watertown in yellow, or moderate risk for the spread of the virus. Previously Watertown had been green, or lower risk. The rate of infection in Watertown has risen into the moderate risk (yellow) category in the state’s COVID-19 Community Level reporting. On Monday, the School Committee will be discussing whether to open the Watertown Public Schools for hybrid learning. Watertown’s infection rate is 4.5 per 100,000 residents, according to the state’s Community Level COVID-19 Reporting map.

Government

Marijuana Dispensary’s Community Agreement Approved by Council

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The Town Council approved the Home Community Agreement with the third and final recreational marijuana dispensary in Watertown on Tuesday night. Sira Naturals seeks to open a dispensary at 48 North Beacon St. in the building where containing Anthony’s Florist and, on the Arsenal Street side, where Escort Limousine. The agreement is the third approved by the Town Council. Cities and towns cannot deny all recreational marijuana (also called adult use) dispensaries, but they can limit the number to 10 percent of the number of liquor licenses.

Government

COVID-19 Will Impact Watertown’s Budget, Property Tax Revenue Will Grow

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Watertown’s Town Hall. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt in the Town of Watertown’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget (which starts July 1, 2021) but a recent real estate deal will help relieve some of the pain. This year’s budget is the 29th that Town Manager Michael Driscoll has led in Watertown, but he is dealing with a new challenge when making the FY 2022 budget. As part of Tuesday’s budget presentation to the Town Council, Driscoll had a list of budget issues for FY 2021 and FY 2022. “There are 61 bullets on this page.

Schools

Height of New High School Concerns Neighbors, Residents Want Parking for Senior Center

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One of the options for how Watertown High School may sit on the current site, on the left, and across the street where now the Phillips Building and the Senior Center sit. The architect said the illustration is for massing, and not the design of the buildings. Residents who saw the latest proposal for the new Watertown High School were put-off by the size of the academic building that would be built on the site of the Phillips School and Senior Center, under the currently scenario currently favored by the School Building Committee. The plans were presented during the fourth Community Forum for the WHS project, held virtually on Oct. 8.

Around Town

Watertown Seeks Vets for Veterans Day Interview Series

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Members of Watertown’s veterans groups salute at the Flag Retirement Ceremony in 2019. The following information was provided by the Watertown Veterans’ Services Department:

Out of an abundance of caution, and in observance with existing COVID-19 safety measures, Watertown must make changes to their traditional Veterans’ Day Observance. In keeping with the digital trends, the Veterans’ Services Department is looking to speak with residents of Watertown who would like participate in a Veterans’ Day Interview series: preference will be given to families with multi-generational military service (families with at least two Veterans). The goal is to speak about themes that may have led to a family’s continued military service. Interested participants should contact Veterans’ Services Officer Patrick George at the following methods: Office (617-972-4614) Cell (781-645-9127) or email (Pgeorge@watertown-ma.gov).

Arrests

Police Log: Package Thief Identified, Fraud Scheme Posing as Cable Company

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Arrests

Sept. 28, 6:19 a.m.: A driver reported that a man appeared to be passed out behind the wheel inside a vehicle at the traffic light at the Watertown Square intersection. The witness removed the keys from the vehicle out of concern. The driver’s head was resting on the wheel and was unresponsive. Police were able to wake him after a few minutes.

Around Town

LETTER: Town Councilor Questions Bike Lane Markings on Arlington Street

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Markings for a proposed bike lane on Arlington Street between Grove and Arsenal streets. (The following letter originally was sent by District A Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis to her constituents.)

Greetings East Enders,

Many of you have viewed and inquired about the pavement markings and scoring of Arlington St.; from the area of Grove St. to Arsenal St. Social media is abuzz with conversations. Unbeknownst to myself, and others, Watertown’s Administration has chosen to prematurely set forth a plan for proposed bike lanes; as outlined on page 2-14 of the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Report. I have brought my concerns to the attention of the Administration; but have no authority to intervene. Staff directly reports to the Town Manager; not to the Town Council.