The Watertown City Council voted on using Community Preservation Act funds on two projects, naming an intersection for an Armenian immigrant and artist, and discussed creating a Memorialization Committee. See more in the City Council Newsletter provided by the City of Watertown.
City Council Newsletter: February 11, 2025 Meeting
Residents can view the recording of the February 11th meeting here.
President’s Report
Council President Mark Sideris thanked the Department of Public Works as well as other city staff for their handling of last weekend’s snowstorm.
He expressed gratitude for residents who have signed up for alerts through Everbridge and encouraged more residents to do so. This will ensure they receive notices of snow emergencies and other emergencies in the city on their cell phones. Residents will not be contacted frivolously, only for emergencies. To sign yourself up for emergency alerts, please text WATERTOWNMA to 888-777.
Community Preservation Act Funds Approved for Affordable Housing
After a presentation with Q&A from Community Preservation Committee Chair Mark Kraczkiewicz, the Council voted unanimously to approve $4,014,503 to be allocated for the development of affordable housing at Willow Park. The redevelopment of this 2.2 acre site will create 138 new units. The property has a perpetual affordable housing requirement for at least 80% of area median income (AMI) as well as 70% local preference for tenants. To read the full proposal which includes many more details, please click here.
The total cost of the redevelopment is $107.5M and is being funded in addition to this CPC grant by a variety of sources such as low income tax credits, workforce development grants, and a mortgage from MassHousing. Of all funding sources, only the mortgage will require debt service. Income from rent will be sufficient to cover the debt service as well as maintenance of the property.
The Council also voted unanimously to approve $14,503 to pay for the full restoration of paintings on the first floor of City Hall.
Memorialization Committee Considered by Council
The council had a first reading of an ordinance establishing a memorialization Committee. This makes the ordinance available to the public and alerts residents to an impending public hearing and vote. The full ordinance can be read here.
The Memorialization Committee would exist to provide a procedure for naming public spaces such as streets, squares, intersections and buildings after people who are not veterans of the United States military. Naming such spaces after veterans has a separate procedure. The committee would not be in charge of naming spaces in school buildings or the library, which are under the control of the school committee and library board of trustees respectively.
Intersection of Dexter Avenue & Hazel Street to be Named for Arshile Gorky
After a report from the Rules & Ordinances Committee making this recommendation, the council voted unanimously to name the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Hazel Street Arshile Gorky Square. In doing so, the council noted the significance of his and the entire Armenian community’s contributions to Watertown over more than a century.
The Department of Public Works is now tasked with creating a sign to display the new name at this location.
City Buildings Closed for President’s Day
City Manager George Proakis announced that city hall, the parker annex, the library, and the DPW office will be closed on Monday, February 17th due to the President’s Day holiday. Trash pickup will also be delayed by one day.
Contact the City Council
To email all nine city councilors: citycouncilors@watertown-ma.gov
Council Clerk Brendan McCarthy: bmccarthy@watertown-ma.gov
Municipal Policy Analyst Doug Newton: dnewton@watertown-ma.gov
I think it is a great idea for the Town to write this Newsletter, this has some very good and positive information.
However, not all the news is good and I have been working hard as a resident over the past several months to bring multiple concerns, especially in regards to items relative to Parks and Recreation current conditions, amenities, projects and plans to the leadership team as well as commissions and boards.
This first one I am sharing is in regards to the lack of accessibility to the Victory Field press box and video / phone platform by those with limited mobility and or a disability, the lack of equity to the field house by all teams who use the Complex and the stubbornness of the Town not to adjust the current AD HOC renovation plan to use the design from the 2014 model which would add 28 new parking spots, (not lose 4), allow a better circulation / parking plan which would allow busses and fire trucks to park and safely navigate and park in the complex.
I have included below my response the the email sent to me by Patrick George and members of the Commission on Disability as well as the email to me from them.
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Patrick and Commission on Disability,
I received the following email from you this afternoon in response to my concerns I shared with you over the past few months regarding multiple amenities located at the Victory Field Complex and the subpar” AD Hoc Plan” Victory Field Phase II Renovation project currently proposed.
As a point of information, I have been sharing these concerns with the Town for over 12 years during my tenure as Director of Recreation.
I was hopeful that the Commission would have the courage and the motivation to do the correct / ethical action and respond accordingly by sending a strong written message to Town Leadership, especially when it came to the obvious violation of the American Disabilities Act, regarding the lack of accessibility to the press box and video / picture platform by all those who wish to.
Unfortunately, the below communication is another example of the Town and / or boards / commission skirting their responsibilities by sending a vague and unacceptable responses.
I was hopeful that this and other such issues would be taken care of in-house (within the Watertown governmental jurisdiction), but it is clear to me and others that there is an unwillingness to do so. Unfortunately, I am forced to reach out to outside agencies which deal with such issues.
Regards,
Peter
Peter Centola
617-312-9007
prcentola@gmail.com
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Hi Peter,
Recently, you brought three accessibility issues to the WCOD’s attention. The future parking lot plans during Victory Field Phase II; elevator access to the press box; and plans for a field house, which are slated for Victory Field Phase III, targeted for FY28 in the Capital Improvement Projects plan (CIP).
Parking: Phase II for Victory Field hit 90% planning recently. Following a discussion with Community Development & Planning, DPW, Recreation, and other stakeholders in the city, the plan is to keep the current accessible parking spot allotment for Victory Field. That is, despite the plans for the lot to be reduced by 4 total parking spots, 2 accessible spots will remain either way.
Elevator access: Currently, the elevator is placarded and is believed to never have been operational. The elevator is expected to be involved in the Victory Phase III plans.
While the press box may not be physically accessible, we’re prepared to provide programmatic accessibility as outlined in Title II of the ADA by working with our community partners (Watertown Public Schools, Watertown Cable Access, etc). Accommodations are case by case, but I am confident we have the partners and the willingness to ensure any aspiring coach or sports commentator would achieve the necessary access to do their job.
As outlined in Title II, this may include providing an alternate location on-site, or an alternative location off site, depending on the specific person’s preferences.
As Mr. Hawes previously indicated, there are no plans to assess for the field house changes which were mentioned. Changes to the field house are expected as part of Victory Field Phase III. However, we have agreed to update our ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan to include the physical structures from Victory Field, to help paint a clearer picture for the work necessary for Victory Field Phase III. KMA will evaluate the current field house, the press box, elevator, bleachers, etc.
There was an additional question posed to the WCOD about Title IX access, which is an issue of how the facility is used, and Councilor Feltner confirmed that would fall under the purview of the Watertown Public Schools, via the Superintendent and School Committee, through the Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Kathleen Desmarias.
Sincerely,
Patrick George
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) & ADA Coordinator
City of Watertown
PGeorge@Watertown-ma.gov
Office: 617-972-6416
Mobile: 781-645-9127