Government

Physician Wanted to Serve on Watertown Board of Health

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is seeking a Physician to be a member on the Board of Health for a term expiring February 2023. Board of Health members develop policy, rules and regulations that guides the Public Health of our community in Watertown. State law requires that at least one member of the Board is a Physician. The Board of Health provides 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. The Board of Health determines the health needs of the community (and the health services available to the community) in terms of the size and characteristics of the population, specific health problems, and environmental conditions.

City Council

Council Approves Job Description for Watertown’s Next City Manager

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The City Council made tweaks to the description of what Watertown is looking for in its next City Manager, and will soon use it to advertise the position. The job description calls for a salary of $200,000 or higher, with preference for someone with knowledge of Massachusetts municipal laws and operations, with good communication skills and strong personnel management and project management skills. The draft of the job description was presented to the Council by Bernie Lynch, the consultant hired by the Council to assist in the search. The description also includes information about Watertown, and background of the previous manager, Michael Driscoll, who retired after working in the Watertown Municipal government for 45 years, the last 29 as Town and City Manager. Also, it included descriptions of the local government, education, the economy, and Watertown’s recreation and open space amenities.

Government

Residents Wanted for Advisory Group Working on Update of City’s Major Planning Document

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is seeking three (3) residents to serve on an advisory committee for its Comprehensive Plan Update. The deadline for applying is February 22, 2022. 

The City of Watertown is beginning a process to update its 2015 Comprehensive Plan. Although the update will involve all Plan elements, the update will focus intensively on four: (1) land use, (2) economic development, (3) transportation, circulation and parking and (4) open space and recreation. One of the most critical components of the process will be community engagement in identifying key issues, and revisiting goals and implementation strategies contained in the 2015 Plan. The City has selected a consultant team to work with Planning Staff and a Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) of seven members.

DUA

LETTER: State Rep. Owens Can Help Constituents Who Get DUA Overpayment Notices

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State Rep. Steve Owens. Throughout this pandemic, constituents have reached out to me about experiencing delays or difficulty receiving their unemployment benefits from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). My office is often a last resort for people exhausted and frustrated with not being able to obtain the funds that will keep them afloat. From the conversations I’ve had with constituents, many are unaware that their state legislators can help navigate DUA’s complicated system. The most recent wave of DUA-related issues has been the dramatic increase in overpayment (otherwise known as “claw back”) notices.

City Manager

Retiring City Manager Reflects on His 3 Decades Leading Watertown

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Michael Driscoll attended his final City Council meeting during his career as Watertown’s Town and now City Manager that lasted nearly three decades. At the end of the meeting, Driscoll spoke to the Council, the staff and the community and reflected upon his accomplishments, his appreciation of Watertown’s departments and their leaders, and provided some advice for “good government.” Some of the highlights include improving Watertown’s facilities, building three elementary schools and constructing a new high school in coming years, and paying off the deficits in the City’s retirement and benefits accounts. He thanked the City departments, and had some advice for the future direction of some, including the Watertown Police Department. Driscoll also congratulated a couple of department head who will also soon be retiring.

Government

Council Delays Vote on Airbnbs to Discuss Short Term Rental Regulations Further

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. After hearing from concerned residents during Tuesday’s meeting, and in letters and emails, the City Council decided that Watertown’s regulations on short-term rentals (i.e. Airbnb) need more refinement. The issue has been discussed for a number of years and a set of draft regulations came before the Council Tuesday night. Currently, short-term rentals are not allowed in the Watertown Zoning Ordinance, however dozens of homes and rooms — if not more than 100 — can be found on websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Draft Ordinance

The proposal would allow three types of short term rentals: entire homes, a unit in a multi-family home, or a bedroom in a residence (up to three bedrooms in a home can be rented but the owner must be in one of the other bedrooms), said Acting Deputy City Manager Steve Magoon.

Entertainment

New Committee, Staff to Create Public Arts & Culture Goals, Priorities for Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe mural on Melendy Avenue is an example of public art in Watertown. The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

As cities and towns around the country reimagine and reinvest in their public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watertown is rolling out a public arts and culture program to cultivate a more vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and connected public realm. Overseeing this effort will be a new addition to the city staff, Public Arts and Culture Planner Liz Helfer, who started in City Hall just after Thanksgiving. Helfer, who previously ran Hatch Makerspace at the Watertown Free Public Library, is a practicing artist experienced in arts administration. She will work in City Community Development and Planning office with the newly-formed Public Arts and Culture Committee that will make recommendations around art in public places, while overseeing fundraising, community partnerships, outreach and more.

Entertainment

Watertown Democrats Hosting Candidate for Governor, Possible AG Hopeful During Virtual Meeting

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

The Watertown Democratic Town Committee will be meeting this Thursday, January 27th at 7:30 over Zoom. We will hear from guest speakers, State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz who is running for Governor and Quinton Palfrey who is exploring a run for Attorney General. To get the Zoom link email the chair of the committee, Will Pennington at watertowndems@gmail.com