Government

Council President to Call for Eliminating Position, Use Money for Ambulance Staffing

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Watertown City Hall

The adoption of the Watertown City Budget typically is an uneventful agenda item for the City Council, but this year a significant change will be proposed by City Council President Mark Siders. At the end of the third and final Fiscal Year 2026 Budget hearing on June 3, Sideris said he plans to ask the City Council to consider removing the Assistant City Manager for Finance position from the City administration and move the funds to the Fire Department. The proposal will take place at the June 10 City Council meeting

“I’m going to be … basically removing this position — the Manager (George Proakis) and I have been discussing this five times a day for the last two weeks — and moving the money into the Fire Department budget to accelerate the operation or the beginning staffing of the second ambulance, which was a major issue for the City Council, and we all approved moving forward,” Sideris said. Sideris said he does not believe the position, currently filled by Ari Sky, has been working out.

Police/Fire

Proposal to Add Staff for Second Ambulance Will be Discussed by Council Committee

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The Watertown Fire Department has requested adding enough paramedics to run a second ambulance. Currently, the Fiscal Year 2026 budget does not include the money for the eight paramedics, but the request will be discussed by a City Council committee. On Tuesday, April 29, the City Council’s Committee on Budget & Fiscal Oversight will continue its discussion of the proposal to add eight paramedics. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room in City Hall and will also have remote participation. See the agenda and links here.

Police/Fire

Chimney Fire Damages Home on Belmont Street

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Minor damage was done to a Belmont Street home Tuesday by a fire that began in the chimney. At about 7 a.m., the Watertown Fire Department received call for smoke coming from the attic of a single-family home, said Provisional Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. “Upon arrival fire companies found a smoke condition in the attic and on the second floor. Thermal imaging cameras were used to determine the heat source between the second and third floors,” Nicholson said. Watertown Fire Engines 3 and 1, Ladders 1 and 2, Medic 1, and C2 responded.

Police/Fire

Lightning Strike Damages Watertown Home, Sets it on Fire

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A lightning strike during the strong storm that hit Watertown Sunday put a hole in the roof of a home near Watertown Square and set the structure on fire. The June 28th storm caused some flooding in areas of town, but Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn said the lightning strike was the only fire that the department had to respond to during the foul weather. “It was a freak of luck the way it worked out,” Quinn said. “We are thankful that the people who were in the house were fine.” Residents called 911 after their three-story, two-family home at 130 Mt.

Fire Department

COVID-19 Impacted Town’s Budget, Details of the Police, Fire Budgets Presented

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Watertown Town Hall

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a major impact on Watertown’s budget, Town Manager Michel Driscoll told the Town Council Tuesday night. He also gave details about how the Police and Fire departments use their funding. Driscoll’s presentation (see the documents here) gave more details about Watertown’s Fiscal 2021 Budget the day before the Town Council will have the chance to ask questions about each Town department’s budget. Two weeks ago, Driscoll presented the $152.4 million budget proposal which included no lay offs, despite the loss of about $4 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic. State Aid is forecast to be down $2.6 million as a result of the impact of the pandemic on the Massachusetts economy, Driscoll said.

Government

Town Council to Consider Adding to Fire Dept. Repair Fund, Town Attorney’s Contract & Honoring the WHS Class of 2020

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On Tuesday night, Town Council will be asked to approve the reappointment of the Town’s attorney and to increase the amount of money for maintenance of Fire Department vehicles. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m on May 26, and will be conducted online due to the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak. KP Law, which has been the law firm used by Watertown since 1993, will be up for reappointment on Tuesday. The attorney assigned to Watertown since 2003 has been Mark Reich. Along with offering legal opinions to the Town Council and Town officials, the firm also provides seminars on topics such as open meeting law, public records and conflict of interest, according to the letter from Town Manager Michael Driscoll to the Town Council.

Fire Department

Watertown Firefighter Douse House Fire, Caused $60K in Damage

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View this post on Instagram This afternoon Group 3 made a quick stop on an attic fire on Wilson Ave. The fire department was notified of the fire early on by an occupant which led to a quick extinguishment with minimal damage. Deputy Chief R. Nicholson was the Incident Commander. No injuries were reported and the origin and cause of the fire is under investigation. A post shared by Deputy Chief Ryan Nicholson (@watertownfire) on Jan 10, 2020 at 2:11pm PST

Watertown Firefighters quickly doused a fire that began in the attic of a home on Wilson Avenue.