Government

Council Pleased with Manager Search Firm Despite Receiving Only One Application

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Watertown City HallCharlie Breitrose

The City Council backed the hiring a firm to help conduct the search for the next City Manager on Tuesday night and Council President Mark Sideris said he received good reviews from other communities that have used the firm. The Council unanimously voted to hire Community Paradigm Associates LLC, the only firm to apply. Councilors also approved the $14,000 bid for the work which includes getting input from the community, Watertown official elected and staff, recruiting candidates, assisting with candidate screening, hosting a community forum, and helping the Council to conduct interviews of finalists. After speaking to references and others familiar with the Community Paradigm Associates , Sideris said he believes they will do a good job in Watertown. “What this firm did is know what communities are looking for and find the candidates that are the best fit,” Sideris said.

Business

Lt. Governor Visits Watertown Bearing Three Grants for More than $3 Million Aimed at Economic Development

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Charlie BreitroseLt. Gov. Karyn Polito spoke with Town Council President Mark Sideris during an event where she announced more than $3 million in grants to Watertown. The event was at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Arsenal Yards. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito stopped by Watertown on Tuesday to celebrate the transformation of Arsenal Street and to give out more than $3 million in grants to help municipal officials continue the economic growth in the community. The event took place at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located in the biggest redevelopment project in Watertown — Arsenal Yards. Polito recalled how she used to visit the Arsenal Mall when she was a student at Boston College in the mid-1980s, when it looked very different.

Election 2021

LETTER: Council Candidate’s Thank You Letter to Watertown Voters

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(This letter was written before election day but was submitted after thr deadline for election letters.)

Letter to the Editor, 

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to the hundreds of residents of East Watertown for their kindness, opinions, suggestions and overall great Watertown spirit that they shared with me during the past six months. 

I enjoyed every day of this effort as you give me the encouragement to keep knocking on doors meeting the next voter. It’s been an honor to serve 16 years as a Member of the Library Board of Trustees and will be a greater honor to serve you and Watertown as a Member of the Town Council representing East Watertown. 

I wanted to say thank you to the voters of East Watertown, thank you to the many people who have provided support for this campaign and a special thanks to my lovely wife, Joyce for her support of my civic duty to our wonderful community, Watertown.  

Mike HanlonDistrict A Council Candidate

Around Town

See Precinct Results for 2021 Town Council, School Committee, Library Trustees Races and the Charter Questions

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Town of WatertownA map of Watertown’s Districts: Peach is A, Red is B, Lime Green is C, Green is D.

The results of the Watertown Election are in, and the winners have been announced, but if the election had followed certain precincts the results would have looked different. The Town Clerk’s office released the precinct-by-precinct counts from the Nov. 2, 2021, election. The turnout was bigger than recent Town Elections, with 24 percent of the 25,693 registered Watertown voters casting ballots, according to the Town Clerk’s office. In 2019, the turnout was 17.24 percent.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown Resident Shares His Experience Voting in the Town Election

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The following letter was written on Nov. 2, 2021. Dear Friends,

Re: Voter Shock! Today is Watertown Election Day, and as a civic minded individual, resident in the City known as the Town of Watertown, I did not linger in bed until my usual hour of 7:30 a.m., but rose to prepare to exercise my duty. I voted and believe that I have recovered sufficiently from my shock, that I may now share with you my experience. Things you should know:

·         Watertown once included the towns of Weston, Waltham and large portions of Lincoln, Belmont, and Cambridge.

Election 2021

Incumbents Re-elected in Town Council & School Committee Races, Charter Changes Approved

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Charlie Breitrose

Incumbents fared well in the race for Town Council Tuesday night with three winning re-election as Councilors At-Large Race, and the one facing a candidate for District Councilor coming out on top. The two incumbents running for the School Committee will also return for another term. The results came out of the Town Clerk’s Office at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. The vote is not official until all the absentee and overseas votes are counted, which could take a week or longer. Incumbents Tony Palomba received the most votes for Councilors At-Large with 3,251.

Around Town

See the Watertown Streets that Made the List for Reconstruction in 2022

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The Department of Public Works proposes to reconstruct four streets in Watertown, and is looking at a longer streets to work on, too, in 2022. The DPW presented the proposed 2022 Road Program to the Council’s Public Works Committee, and it will be considered by the full Town Council at an upcoming meeting. The list includes four residential streets:

Boylston Street (Fairfield Street to Porter Street)Chester StreetLocke StreetChapman Street (Main Street to Highland Avenue)

The Council also designated $1.5 million for longer streets. This year Waverley Avenue made the list. In 2022, Highland Avenue is recommended for reconstruction, and in 2023, the DPW recommends doing roadwork on Morse Street and Fifth Avenue.

Charter Changes

2021 Watertown Election Guide, See What’s on the Ballot, Where to Vote

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Tuesday is election day in Watertown, and Town voters will be selecting candidates for three Town boards, as well as voting on changes to the Town Charter. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (see polling locations below). Town Council, School Committee & Library Trustee Races

The 2021 election has 25 candidates running, with several contested races. Only two are uncontested — Town Council President and District C Town Councilor. Seven people are running for four Councilor At-Large spots.