Schools

Watertown High School to Pilot App That Would Disable Student Cellphones During Class

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Watertown High School students will use an app to disable cellphones during class beginning in the fall of 2025. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

Watertown High School plans to disable students’ cellphones during class using software that the school will be piloting during the 2025-26 school year. At Monday’s meeting the School Committee heard from parents who called one of the books on the recommended summer reading list “anti-Semitic.” The Committee also got more information on the changes to the Sexual and Sex-based Discrimination policy. Cellphone Pilot

WHS Principal Joel Giacobozzi told the School Committee on Aug.

Around Town

City Reminds Residents That Short-Term Rentals Are Prohibited

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

City officials recently reinforced that short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO are not allowed in Watertown. In April 2024, the City Council rejected a proposal that would have allowed short-term rentals on a limited basis, including for under 3 months a year. “The City’s zoning regulations prohibit the rental of properties for a period of less than 31 days, and those violating this ordinance are subject to fines,” the City’s announcement said. The announcement was part of the City’s education efforts around short-term rentals, said Tyler Cote, the City’s Community Engagement Specialist. “When the Council passed the ordinance, we worked with our Zoning and Code Enforcement team to develop an enforcement strategy, which includes this step of sending letters to identified properties around Watertown,” Cote said.

Around Town

POSTPONED: Tuesday Night Talk With Police in August Features the WPD’s School Resource Officers

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(UPDATE Aug. 18, 3:25 p.m.): The Tuesday Night Talk in August has been postponed to a date that will be announced at a later time.)

Once a month, the Watertown Police Department invites the public in to learn about how the department works and what officers are doing around town. On Aug. 19, the Tuesday Night Talk features the WPD’s School Resource Officers. The talks grew out of another Watertown Police Department community program, said Watertown Police Lt. Kevin McManus.

Police/Fire

Four Motor Vehicles Stolen from Watertown, Dozens More Broken Into

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Watertown Police warn residents to be vigilant after four motor vehicles were stolen from town, and several other vehicle break-ins occuring over the last week. The first two vehicle thefts were reported on Aug. 14, with one taken from Carroll Street and the other from Evans Street, said Watertown Police Det. Lt. Ken Swift. Two more vehicles were reported stolen on Aug.

Around Town

New Policy for Lights at City Fields and Courts Approved by City Council

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A new policy was approved for lights at Watertown’s Recreation facilities, including Saltonstall Park, home to the Papas Elite Summer Basketball League. (Photo by Natalie Nigito Photography)

A new policy for controlling lights at Recreation Department-run fields and courts was approved by the City Council on Aug. 12, despite some confusion coming out of the Committee meeting on the issue. The purpose of the policy, said Councilor Tony Palmoba (chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation) is to have effective lighting while balancing community needs, public access and energy conservation. Generally, lights will turn on at fields and courts at sunset and turn off at designated closing times.

Government

Watertown to Request Residential Tax Relief from State Legislature

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The City of Watertown will request permanent tax relief for residential property owners by sending a Home Rule Petition to the State Legislature for approval. The City currently has a three year tax relief which allows for the City to shift more of the burden of property taxes on to commercial, industrial and personal properties. For years, the City had been able to do a shift of 175 percent but due to a detail in the state law for tax shifts, it limited the amount that could be charged to residential properties. This combined with increasing values of commercial, industrial and personal properties means that Watertown has not been able to do the full 175 percent shift. City Manager George Proakis said that the City is limited by the state law that requires that the proportions of tax levy not exceed 38.76 percent for commercial, industrial and personal properties, which is the percentage when Watertown set the split tax rate.