Charter Review

Council Will be Required to Hold Meetings with Residents, President will Continue to Serve on School Committee

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Watertown Town Hall

Town Councilors would be required to meet with residents, and answer their questions, at least once a year, under a recommendation passed by the Charter Review Committee. Another recommendation would have the Council President will continue to serve on the School Committee. The Town Charter defines how Watertown’s government operates, and every 10 years it is reviewed by the Charter Review Committee. The group, which is made up of Town Councilors and residents, approved a number of changes to the Charter at its meeting on June 1. The changes will be reviewed by the Town Council before ultimately going to the voters for final approval in November.

Arrest

Police Track Down Maine Man Wanted for Sending Obscene Material to a Child After 2 Years

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Watertown Police brought a man into custody who had been wanted for two years on charges of sending obscene material to a child. In 2019, the parents of a 12-year-old child contacted Watertown Police after their child received obscene images allegedly sent by Agasha Carvalho, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor, who added that Carvalho was known to the family who made the complaint. Based on the investigation of the incident, Watertown Police got a warrant for Carvalho’s arrest, O’Connor said, but could not serve the warrant because Carvalho lived in Bangor, Maine. “We could not enforce the warrant in the State of Maine,” O’Connor said. “On June 4, we received information that Mr. Carvalho was traveling to either Belmont or Waltham with his family.”

Election 2021

School Committee Chairman Will Not Seek Re-election in November

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School Committee chair John Portz will not be seeking re-election in 2021. After 16 years on the Watertown School Committee, John Portz announced he will not be running for another term. The current School Committee chair announced his decision at Monday’s School Committee meeting. “As my term ends this year I will not be running for a new term,” Portz said. “It has been a privilege to serve on the committee, and to support our efforts, and build and maintain the best possible school system.”

Charter Review

Charter Review: Town Manager Won’t Have to Live in Town, New Communication Requirements Proposed

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Watertown’s Town Manager would no longer be required to live in town if voters approve the recommended change approved by the Charter Review Committee. The group, which is reviewing the document which defines how the Town’s government works, also approved recommended new requirements for the Town Manager related to communicating with the public. At the June 1 meeting, the Charter Review Committee tackled a number of sections of the Town Charter related to the Executive branch. In Watertown, the executive is the Town Manager. Discussion some other items impacting the Town Manager were not completed and will be discussed at future meetings.

Election 2021

LETTER: Candidate Declares Her Run for Watertown School Committee

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Rachel Kay is running for Watertown School Committee. The following announcement was provided by Rachel Kay:

Over the past year, we have all experienced great challenges. Those of us caring for school-aged children have watched them struggle with isolation, academic losses and for too many students even harm to their mental health and well-being. As I have watched Watertown Public Schools grapple with the difficult decisions they had to make this year, I have felt obligated to advocate for the needs of all our children, as well as for working families. I learned that I have a unique perspective to share, and that I will add to discussions including the critical challenge our schools now face in overcoming the educational debt our students have sustained over what was for some of them a lost year.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested for Taking Part in Scam of Grandmother, Bikes Stolen from Movie Theater

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

May 26 , 11:33 a.m.: Police received a call from a UPS employee about a suspicious situation with a package. The package was suspected to be involved in an incident in which an 85-year-old Florida woman had been scammed by someone saying her granddaughter needed to be bailed out of jail because she was involved in a drunk driving accident that killed a child. The woman’s granddaughter had not been arrested and heard her grandmother talking to the scammer, who had asked her to send $1,000 in cash to an address in Massachusetts. The package was one of 12 containing a total of $150,000 sent between May 6 to 25.

Schools

Watertown High School Class of 2021 Celebrates Graduation After a Very Challenging Year

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Charlie BreitroseA Watertown High School senior celebrates after receiving his diploma at the 2021 graduation ceremony. A celebration for the 2021 Watertown High School senior class was a long time coming, having endured the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning and wearing masks in class. The grads had to wait an extra day due to weather concerns, but the delay did not dampen their spirits during Saturday morning’s graduation ceremony at Victory Field. WHS Class of 2021 Valedictorian Caiden Kiani, who also served as senior class president, said he has seen a lot of what goes on behind the scenes to make WHS run. He thanked a variety of people, including administrators, parents, counselors and others, but wanted to give some special thanks: the nursing staff, “who have helped us feel safe during the pandemic,” and the custodial staff, “who has worked extra hard to keep every room COVID free.”

Fire Award

Watertown Resident Receives Award for Bravery During a House Fire

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Watertown Fire DepartmentTeflon Donovan, center, receive the Medal of Commendation from Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn, left, and Watertown Fire Capt. Eric Allen, right, for saving a life during a house fire in April. The Watertown Fire Department awarded a resident for his quick action and bravery which prevented another resident from being harmed in a fire in April. On April 13, Teflon Donovan was sleeping in his home on Swetts Court when he awoke to the smell of smoke and the sound of a smoke alarm. He got up to investigate where the smoke was coming from. Donovan thought it was from the stove, but when it checked he found that was not the source.