Government

Watertown Water & Sewer Rates Projected to Go Up 8.6% for Fiscal Year 2021

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Watertown residents will likely see a significant jump in their water and sewer bills. The Town Council saw a presentation asking for a 7 percent increase in the water rate and a 9.5 percent increase in sewer rates at Tuesday’s Council Meeting. The increases were recommended by the Town’s water/sewer consultants from Weston & Sampson and Abrahams Group, which studied the budgeting and operations of Watertown’s water and sewer divisions. Without the increase, the water and sewer funds could face deficits, said Matthew Abrahams of the Abrahams Group. The increases would also help build a 15 percent retained earning in five years time.

COVID-19

No Decision on How Schools Will Operate in Fall, Officials Prepping for Three Scenarios

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With about eight weeks until the start of the school year, Watertown School officials continue to prepare for three different scenarios — in-person teaching, remote learning, or a mix of the two. Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee Monday that with “the sands shifting everyday” she will not know which of the three will be used until sometime in August. Massachusetts education officials presented district with guidelines and asked them to come up with plans for how to operate schools in each of the three scenarios. Galdston said that while it is not clear which of the three will be used for the district as a whole, the Watertown Public Schools must prepare for remote learning because some students will be choosing that option no matter what. If the schools do return in person, they could try to welcome everyone back, or have students rotate when days they are in school by the day or the week, Galdston said.

Sports

Watertown Youth Baseball, Softball Returning to Action During COVID-19 Reopening

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While COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the normal youth baseball and softball seasons, Watertown Youth Baseball recently began having games during the summer as the state reopens. During Phase 2 of the reopening, players could begin practicing and doing drills. Groups were limited to 12 players and coaches. While Phase 2 started on June 9, Watertown did not start practicing until June 26, said Bill Furtado, president of Watertown Youth Baseball. Last week, the first games were held for Watertown teams traveling to other towns, and on July 13, the first games in Watertown will take place, Furtado said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Customer Gets in Altercation for Not Wearing Mask, Man Caught Trying to Get into Cars

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

July 3, 6:35 a.m.: Police received reports of a man pulling on door handles on Westminster Avenue near Bemis Street. The witness saw the man pulling on a door handle of a Honda SUV, and then tried to get into the hatchback, but both were locked. Officers located a man fitting the suspect’s description. The man said he took a taxi to town to visit his sister, and said he thought the vehicle was his sister’s.

Around Town

Victory Field Stadium, Spray Areas Opening in Watertown

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The spray pad at Fillippello Park reopened from the COVID-19 shutdown on July 11. The turf area at Victory Field and the spray pads in two Watertown parks, two of the last Recreation facilities to remain closed during the pandemic, will reopen on Saturday, July 11. Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the openings in his latest COVID-19 Update (read the whole update here). The Victory Field Turf, which is located in the football/baseball area of the complex, will will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The spray pads, located at Arsenal and Filippello parks, will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be a limit of eight people at a time on the spray pad at Arsenal Park, according to Driscoll’s update, and 15 at once at the one in Filippello Park

Watertown’s recreational facilities and activities’ rules and regulations will be guided by the Governor’s Phase III reopening plan, which began on July 6th, Driscoll wrote. This includes staying at least six feet apart, and wearing a face covering over the nose and mouth.

Class of 2020

WHS Class of 2020 Graduates Awarded Seal of Biliteracy for First Time

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One of the signs that went up around town to celebrate Watertown High School’s graduating seniors. A dozen Watertown High School graduates got an extra honor when they graduated in June — the Seal of Biliteracy. The students who got the seal had to show they could speak, understand, read and write in both4 English and another language. They showed this by getting certain scores on the standardized tests like the MCAS, and ones for other languages. The Seal of Biliteracy has been adopted by 39 states and in Washington, D.C..

Around Town

Signs of Generosity Pop Up Around Watertown; Community Foundation Gives Rental, Food Assistance

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The Watertown Community Foundation has given out these lawn signs to people who have donated to help others in town during COVID-19. The Watertown Community Foundation wanted to thank those who have donated to help out their neighbors during the difficult times cause by the COVID-19 pandemic, and have handed out lawn signs proclaiming “We ♥ Watertown.” WCF Executive Director Jan Singer said that residents have been very generous donating to the Foundation and the Community Resilience Fund, which was created in March to assist people impacted by the Coronavirus. “Hundreds of people in Watertown have contributed and we have given out thousands of dollars,” Singer said. “We continue to give emergency rental assistance and to both food pantries.

Around Town

Police Log: Suspect Caught With Items Taken from Vehicles, Man Busted for Stealing Plants

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

None

Incidents

Between June 22 and June 28, the Watertown Police Department received six reports of an unemployment scheme. The residents report that they got letters about their unemployment applications, but they had never filed for benefits. Unemployment fraud can be reported to the Department of Unemployment Assistance by clicking here. June 22, 6:04 a.m.: Police were called when a witness saw someone trying to get into the window of an Audi SUV on Waverley Avenue.