Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/government/page/30/)
Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall
City Hall, the Watertown Library, and the Senior Center will be closed certain days in observance of Christmas. On Friday, Dec. 23, Watertown City Hall and the Watertown Senior Center will close at noon, but the Watertown Library will be open. The Library will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 24 and Sunday, Dec.
City of WatertownThe City of Watertown will purchase the former Parker School building on Watertown Street. The City of Watertown will purchase the former Parker School, now an office building, and use it for municipal offices as well as renting out space. The purchase was approved by the City Council on Dec. 13, along with transferring $12 million to help with the deal. The total cost will be $14 million, and City Manager George Prokis said he expects the purchase to be completed by mid-January 2023.
Leo MartinWalkers Pond, on the Westside of Watertown, will be purchased by the City of Watertown for open space. Watertown will expand its public open space and take control of one of the few wetlands in the city limits after the City Council voted to approve the acquisition of the Walkers Pond property. The vote came Tuesday night, and City Manager George Proakis said the deal to buy the property on the Westside of town could be completed within the next week. The 6.67-acre parcel will be purchased for $11.25 million. Leo Martin, chair of the Watertown Conservation Commission, thanked the Council for the final approval, adding that Council President Mark Sideris and former Town (and City) Manager Michael Driscoll “put up with him” as he continued to push for the acquisition of the property.
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashRodent control will be discussed by the Committee on Human Services on Dec. 15, 2022. The following announcement was provided by City Councilor Tony Palomba:
Please join me and my colleagues on the Council’s Committee on Human Services for a follow-up meeting on the rodent problem in Watertown and efforts to establish a citywide rodent control plan. The meeting of the Committee is on Thursday of this week, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the Second Floor of City Hall, 149 Main St.
The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:
Are you interested in serving on a City of Watertown Board, Commission or Committee? Apply to serve on City of Watertown Boards, Commissions and Committees
City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the following City Boards, Commissions and Committees with appointment dates in February 2023 in accordance with Ordinance # 2007-46, an Ordinance on the Timing and Process of Appointments to City Boards, Commissions and Committees. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to Citymgr@watertown-ma.gov or City Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472. Board/Commission: Board of Health
Vacancy/Term: One Member, Three Year Term. Description: Provide for fulfillment of its duties under M.G.L. 111:5, 26-33 and other sections including enforcement of the state Sanitary and Environmental Codes, reporting diseases dangerous to the public health, and enforcement of other applicable state and local laws and regulations.
City Councilor At-Large Tony Palomba. As part of the changes to the Watertown Charter all City Councilors must have an annual meeting to meet with the public. City Councilor At-Large Tony Palomba announced dates for three meetings. See info below. City Councilor Tony Palomba is inviting you to join him at one or all of three Annual Councilor Meetings:
Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM in the Watertown Savings Bank Room on the first floor, Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown.
Caroline Bays seeks re-election as a Town Councilor At-Large. As part of the changes to the Watertown Charter all City Councilors must have an annual meeting to meet with the public. City Councilor At-Large Caroline Bays announced the date of her meeting. See info below. Caroline Bays will hold her annual meeting in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 149 Main St., on Dec.
Watertown City Hall
The City Council gave City Manager George Proakis its priorities for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, which includes funds for a study of the future of Watertown Square, rodent control, and launching a 311 system. Each year, the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee meets in the fall to discuss the priorities for the next fiscal year’s budget. The results were presented on Nov. 22, and adopted by the full Council. Other items added include staffing to make sure the changes to the Comprehensive Plan are implemented, focusing on snow and ice removal as a possible residential requirement is considered, and implementation of recommendations coming out of plans and studies, including the Personnel Department assessment, the salary study, the Energy and Climate Plan, and the Health and Human Services Study.