City Council

City Wants to Change Location of Required MBTA Multifamily Zone

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Watertown City Hall

Legislation recently passed on Beacon Hill requires communities with MBTA service to create an area where dense housing projects would be allowed in locations near transit hubs. Watertown officials say, however, the area of the City designated by the state does not make sense and should be moved closer to the center of town. Each of the 175 MBTA communities must designate an area of at least 50 acres where multi-family projects with up to 15 units per acre would be allowed by right, so the City could not deny approval based on density. These zones are supposed to be within half-a-mile of a transit station. In Watertown’s case, the bus hubs in Watertown Square and the Watertown Yard do not qualify because they do not have a building available to passengers, acting Deputy City Manager Steve Magoon said at the Feb.

Board of Health

Indoor Face Mask Requirement Lifted by Watertown Board of Health

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The indoor face mask requirement in Watertown was lifted by the Board of Health on Wednesday night. The latest face covering mandate was put into place on Dec. 22, 2021 when COVID cases were on the rise when the Omicron variant hit the area. Watertown reached a peak of 1,131 active cases on Jan. 19, and they have declined since then, said Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin.

Government

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates for State Convention

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., Democrats will convene virtually and in person at the Watertown Library to elect 27 delegates and 5 alternates to represent Watertown at the 2022 State Democratic Convention. The caucus will take place in line with public health guidance and attendees may participate remotely by registering at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcuCopj8iG9A6YaiZEHk91FtCwwXl9f9_. Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown 16 years old by February 4, 2022 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/convention. The 2022 Convention will be a hybrid convention, with in-person proceedings taking place alongside virtual participation options on June 3 and 4 at the DCU Center in Worcester.

ARPA

Congresswoman Visits Watertown, Touts Impact of Federal Funds on City’s Water Infrastructure

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Charlie BreitroseCongresswoman Katherine Clark speaks about how American Rescue Plan funds will improve water infrastructure in Watertown. Behind her is State Sen. Will Brownsberger

Congresswoman Katherine Clark visited the Watertown Department of Public Works Facility Tuesday to talk about how the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) benefits local communities. Some of the money sent to Massachusetts will pay for replacing lead pipes and improving drainage in an area of Watertown prone to flooding during major rain storms.

The City will receive $400,000 in ARPA funds allocated by the State Legislature, in addition to its share that came directly from the Federal level. Providing safer drinking water is one of the goals of ARPA and another major spending bill passed by Congress. “The American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act eliminates lead pipes across America and ensures that every household, school, and childcare center has clean, safe drinking water,” Clark said.

Business

Restaurants Can Apply to Serve Alcohol at Sunday Brunch; Licensing Board Given Power to Impose Fines

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Restaurants in Watertown will be able to apply to serve alcohol with Sunday brunch after the City Council approved adopting a change to the liquor licensing rules. At the same meeting, Councilors approved giving the Watertown Licensing Board the ability to impose fines and give warnings to holders of liquor licenses. The change approved at the Feb. 8 Council meeting will allow alcohol to be served on Sundays and certain legal holidays from 10 a.m. to noon. A couple restaurants recently asked (and about 10 have asked over the past couple years) if they could get approval to serve alcoholic drinks during brunch, said Noelle Gilligan, the head clerk in the Town Clerk’s Office.

Around Town

US Rep. Clark Coming to Watertown to Celebrate Infrastructure Investment

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) will visit Watertown, MA to celebrate the American Rescue Plan’s investment in the city’s water infrastructure, including the removal of lead pipes. Clark will be joined by State Representative Steve Owens and State Senator Will Brownsberger as well as local city officials. Signed into law in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan has paved the way for America’s rapid economic recovery. It provided free vaccines, reopened schools, helped small businesses to stay afloat, and made direct investments in local community infrastructure, like the water improvements being celebrated in Watertown, MA. WHO: Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Assistant Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives, State Representative Steve Owens, State Senator Will Brownsberger, Greg St.

City Council

Residents, City Employees Named to City Manager Screening Committee

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Watertown City Hall

The group that will review the applicants for Watertown’s new City Manager will include two residents and two employees appointed by City Council President Mark Sideris. The Screening Committee will look at the applications and narrow down the candidates for City Manager to finalists, who will be forwarded on to the City Council. The members will have a chance to interview some of the candidates. The Screening Committee will also include three City Councilors: Sideris, Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli and Caroline Bays, who chairs the Personnel and Town Organization Committee. The interest in serving on the screening committee was high, Sideris said.

Community Preservation Committee

See Proposals for Community Preservation Projects at Upcoming Forums

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City of WatertownOne of two historic paintings in Watertown’s City Hall. An application has been made to the Community Preservation Committee to repair and preserve the paintings. Three projects applying for funds from the City will make presentations to the Community Preservation Committee in coming weeks. They would be the first projects to receive money from the Community Preservation fund. The funds come out of the Community Preservation Fund, which was created after voters approved the Community Preservation Act in 2016.