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.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting a Drive-Thru Food Donation Event

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The Watertown Community Foundation will be switching gears for its food drive, and will have a drive-thru event. The drop off will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 12-4 p.m. at St. John’s Church at 80 Mt. Auburn St. 

People can simply drive into their circular driveway and volunteers will remove the donations from the car. Donations will be split between the Watertown Food Pantry and the Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry.

Community Forum

Designs for New High School Discussed, Community Forum Being Held Thursday

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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. Questions about the impact of a four story high school, and parking at the new Watertown High School arose at Wednesday’s School Building Committee meeting. Designers of the new high school showed more detailed ideas of how the new school could be constructed on the current site during the online meeting. The planned Watertown High School project will be discussed at a virtual Community Forum on Thursday, Oct.

Charter Review Committee

6 Residents on Charter Review Committee Revealed, Consultant Will be Hired

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The 15 members of the Charter Review Committee met for the first time Tuesday night, including the six residents appointed to serve on the group that will make recommendations for how to change the document described as the Town’s constitution. An overview of charter reviews was presented during the virtual meeting by attorney Lauren Goldberg of KP Law, who said the amendments to the Watertown Home Rule Charter could be as minor as changing the wording and fixing grammar and as major as changing the form of government (such as having a mayor or going to a Town Meeting) or changing the way members of a board are selected from elected to appointed. Depending on the magnitude of the change, Goldberg said, the final approval may only need approval of the Town Council and approved by the State Legislature for a small change or having a ballot measure to be approved by Watertown voters for big alteration. The committee will get help during the review from the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass-Boston, which studies municipal governments in Massachusetts and across the country. Town Council President Mark Sideris said that he hopes to have someone from the Collins Center at the next meeting, on Oct.

Schools

School Officials Hold to Hybrid Start Date for Elementary Schools, Looking at Moving Date for WMS, WHS

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Lowell School in Watertown. After hearing from several parents anxious to see the Watertown Public Schools open for in-person learning as soon as possible, the School Committee did not adjust the Oct. 27 reopening date for elementary schools. However, they will look into moving up the date for middle and high school students from late November. Monday night, about a dozen people spoke during public forum during the virtual School Committee meeting.