Government

Watertown Woman Hired as State Senate’s Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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Massachusetts State House

The following announcement was provided by the office of State Senate President Karen Spilka:

The Massachusetts State Senate announced that Kathryn A. Bethea-Rivera, Ph.D. of Watertown, has been hired as the new Human Resources Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Senate. “On behalf of the entire Senate, I am very pleased to welcome Kathryn to our Human Resources team,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Kathryn comes to us with a wealth of experience in creating and promoting workplace policies designed to ensure all employees have equitable access to opportunities for professional growth and advancement. I am proud of the Senate’s work to create a more diverse and inclusionary workforce, but there is still more to do. Kathryn will be key to enhancing and advancing that work in the future.”

Kathryn’s excited about the opportunity to further the Massachusetts State Senate’s support of DEI, the collaborative nature of the work, and shared vision for the greater good of all of Massachusetts.

Government

Watertown DPW Director Leaving; Led Road, Water, Park & Recycling Projects

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Gregory St. Louis, PE will be stepping down as Superintendent of the Watertown Department of Public Works (DPW) on September 27, 2024, after four years of service to pursue a new professional opportunity outside of Watertown. Greg was hired as Superintendent of the Watertown DPW in 2020 by the late former City Manager Michael Driscoll amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and later worked under the leadership of Acting City Manager Tom Tracy and City Manager George Proakis. 

Greg has led the department in implementing and completing several projects that will positively impact the Watertown community for many years to come. His leadership has been most felt in the City’s Complete Street projects, an approach to designing and building streets that enables safe access for all road users. Greg led the City’s successful effort to receive MassWorks funding for the Arsenal Street reconstruction project, and he played a critical role in expanding the off-street bike network that exists today. Throughout his time in Watertown, Greg has worked closely with partners like the MBTA to remove the unused catenary electric bus system lines and the Mass Department of Transportation to kick off the long-awaited Mount Auburn Complete Streets Project, which officially started in the spring of 2024.

Government

Challenger Mara Dolan Wins Governor’s Council Race, See How Watertown Voted

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Mara Dolan won the Democratic Governor’s Councilor District 3 race on Tuesday. Mara Dolan of Concord defeated longtime incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney of Watertown in Tuesday’s Democratic District 3 Governor’s Council race. With no challenger on the Republican side of the ballot for November’s General Election, Dolan appears headed to the Governor’s Council. The Council votes on the Governor’s nominations for judges and nominees for other boards, as well as voting on the Governor’s proposed pardons and commutations of prisoners. According to results compiled by the Associated Press (AP), Dolan received 52.5 percent of the vote.

Government

Watertown’s State of the City Postponed, Will be Rescheduled

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The City of Watertown announced the postponement of the State of the City address. The Watertown State of the City Address, originally scheduled for September 4, 2024, broadcasted by WCA-TV, is being rescheduled after City Manager George Proakis has tested positive for COVID-19. A new date for the Address will be announced soon. We wish the City Manager a speedy recovery. For those who submitted questions to be answered live by the City Council President and City Manager, thank you for doing so and we will be keeping them for the State of City when it is rescheduled.

Government

Multiple Planning & Zoning Offices Moving Out of City Hall

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The City of Watertown announced that multiple parts of the Planning and Zoning Department will be moving out of City Hall. See more information below. Please be aware that Watertown Planning & Zoning Division, Zoning & Code Enforcement Team, Historical Commission and Historic District Commission offices (the remainder of Community Development & Planning offices (DCDP) will still be in City Hall) are moving on Thursday, August 28, 2024 to Suite 2A of the Parker Annex located at 124 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02472. They will still have the same phone numbers, the same contact information, and the same webpages. The staff will not be available for in-office face-to-face interactions on Thursday, August 28, 2024 due to the move.

Government

City Hires Watertown’s First Director of Community Design

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager George Proakis is excited to announce that the City of Watertown has hired Erika Oliver Jerram as the City of Watertown’s new Director of Community Design!  

Erika is a certified professional planner with over 20 years of experience in both the private sector and municipal planning. She joins Watertown after working for the Town of Billerica, where she was the Director of Planning and Community Development and led the Town’s efforts in zoning, open space design, and economic development. Prior to her time in Billerica, Erika previously held roles in the Planning and Community Development in Framingham, and as an Associate Planner with Sasaki Associates in Watertown.  

When Erika begins on Monday, August 26, 2024, she will be leading the newly formed Community Design Division within the Community Development and Planning Department.

Government

Hear from the Hopefuls for Governor’s Council in Their Candidate Q&As

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The candidates for District 3 Governor’s Council: Marilyn Petitto Devaney, left, and Mara Dolan. Democrats will have a contested race that includes a local candidate to vote on during the Sept. 3 State Primary, the District 3 Governor’s Councilor, or “Councilor” as it appears on the ballot. Watertown resident and incumbent Marilyn Petitto Devaney is challenged by Concord’s Mara Dolan, who lived in Watertown for a time. The same two candidates faced each other in 2022, and Petitto Devaney won after receiving nearly 51 percent of the votes.