Government

Watertown Square Zoning Meetings to Begin Oct. 16, See New Dates & Agenda

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City Council and Planning Board Joint Hearings to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning amendment will begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library. NEW placeholder dates have been set in the case the Public Hearing is continued. Please see the updated dates below! When is the Joint Public Hearing on Zoning? October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Watertown Public Library at 123 Main Street.

Government

City Can Enforce Unpaid Fees and Fines by Imposing Liens on Properties

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Watertown City Hall

The City of Watertown will now be able to attach liens to properties for unpaid fees, fines, and tickets after a recent City Council vote. Previously, the City had to go to District Court to enforces fines and other payments, but the City wanted a more reliable way to enforce fines, fees, and other payments, City Manager George Proakis said at the Sept. 22 City Council meeting. The lien would appear on the property tax bills. “We had a conversation with (legal) counsel about best strategy to go about when we impose a fine to someone for a violation of the State sanitary code, or building regulations or noise regulations.

Government

Watertown Receives $806K in Federal Funds to Study Citywide Speed Limits, Educate and More

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The redesign of Watertown Square will be discussed on June 12. (Photo by City of Watertown)

The following announcement was provided by the Healey-Driscoll Administration:

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined US Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, Congressman Seth Moulton and Mayor Jared Nicholson of Lynn to celebrate that Massachusetts communities and two entities have won $25 million to improve roadway safety. The awards include $9.5 million for Lynn to implement low-cost street design changes to reduce the risk of crashes. Watertown received $806,192 to conduct a Safe System Approach Educational Campaign, Citywide Speed Limit Study, and demonstration activities. The activities will include the deployment of traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety treatments including near a nationally-prominent school for the blind and visually impaired.

Government

What’s Next in the Watertown Square Plan? See When the Next Meeting Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The next steps of the Watertown Square Area Plan implementation will be to discuss and approve zoning amendments. A zoning amendment is a proposed change to the zoning requirements and map, without having to completely rewrite the zoning code. To approve new zoning, the City will hold a Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to discuss the proposed zoning, hear public comment, and approve new zoning amendments. The above map is the proposed zoning map from the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan. 

When does this next step begin? The first step will be to complete something called a “first reading.”

Government

City Manager: State of the City is Healthy & Strong, Concerns Remain About Tax Revenues

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The State of the City is “healthy and strong,” City Manager George Proakis stated Thursday evening. Watertown sits in a good position financially, Proakis said, the Council has done a good job improving and replacing facilities and parks, the City has been able to fill long-time openings, and there are some major efforts in the works, such as the new high school, the human services study, and Watertown Square. Proakis and City Council President Mark Sideris gave the second annual State of the City address on Thursday evening at the Watertown Library. The State of the City is a requirement added in the recent City Charter changes. While the City’s financial situation looks good, Proakis said there is still much work to be done.

Government

State Rep. Owens Hosting Office Hours With Councilor Gardner

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State Rep. Steve Owens. The following announcement was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens office:

State Rep. Steve Owens, a Democrat in the 29th Middlesex District made up of parts of West Cambridge, North Cambridge, and Watertown, has office hours in Cambridge and Watertown. Office hours will take place on Monday, September 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center (31 Marshall St, Watertown), and Tuesday, September 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at La Saison Bakery (407 Concord Ave, Cambridge). Rep. Owens will be joined by Watertown City Councilor Nicole Gardner for office hours on Thursday, September 26 at Addgene (490 Arsenal Way #100, Watertown). The Representative looks forward to hearing from constituents on state-related legislative or personal matters.

Government

See When the Rescheduled State of the City Will Take Place

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The City of Watertown announced the new date and location for the rescheduled State of the City Address by City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis. The State of the City had originally been scheduled to be a live broadcast from the Watertown Cable Access studio on Sept. 4, but was postponed because Proakis tested positive for COVID-19. The City provided the following announcement:

The Watertown State of the City address has been rescheduled for September 19, 2024, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main St, in the Watertown Savings Bank Room (please note the new location). City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis will deliver the State of the City together, before transitioning to Q+A and answering resident-submitted questions.

Government

Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee Seeks New Participants

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee:

The Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee (WE3C) advises the City Council on issues of sustainability and energy use. We work closely with the Sustainability Manager and the Energy Manager to help create policies that will promote our Climate and Energy Plan. Most recently we have been involved in:

Creating a draft Building Emissions and Reduction Disclosure ordinance (BERDO) that will require larger buildings in Watertown to report their energy use each year

Developing the Climate and Energy Plan

Establishing Watertown Electricity Choice (WEC), an aggregate electrical service that provides Watertown with bulk-rate, greener electricity

WE3C helps the City develop programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide information to individuals and organizations in matters relating to energy conservation and emissions reduction. If you are interested in this work, please join us in our monthly meetings to hear what we do and, if desired, participate in the work of the Committee. Meetings are held via Zoom on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm.