Government

Council Approves FY27 Capital Items With Funds for Street Repair, Park Projects and the New Middle School

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The City Council approved 36 items from the Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, including road repairs, some money for the Middle School project, park projects, and requests from the Fire and Police departments. The Council’s Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight met twice in February to review the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). On March 10, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the 36 recommendations, as well as asking the City Manager to keep the capital spending under 8% of the total Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget. The projects include $7.5 million in loans to fund road and sidewalk replacements. The list includes Cottage Street and other roadways in the summer of 2027, Forest and Springfield streets in the summers of 2026-28, and Riverside Street the summer of 2027.

Government

State. Sen Will Brownsberger Hosting Online Town Hall Meeting

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Will Brownsberger

State Sen. Will Brownsberger will host a virtual town hall meeting on March 15. See information below. Ask me anything — Sunday, March 15, 3:30 to 5:00PM

Stop by online for an informal town hall meeting. Bring your thoughts, questions, and concerns. Sunday, Mar 15, 2026, 3:30  —  5:00PM

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85474864156?pwd=drJz4JrXADs2E4UBi6KanwaQrLoIKH.1

All are welcome.

Government

Detailed Designs of Middle School Being Created to See if City Can Afford a New School

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A vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects and presented to the School Committee in June 2025. Architects have started creating detailed designs for a new Watertown Middle School to determine how much a new school would cost, and that information will be used by the City to see whether Watertown’s budget can handle a project expected to cost significantly more than $100 million. On Feb. 18, the School Building Committee voted to approve the contract to hire a designer to come up with plans on which a detailed budget can be based upon. When the designs are completed and priced out the City will determine if it is feasible for the City to afford the project, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee on March 2.

Business

What New Industries Might be Attracted to Watertown, Changes to the Square Discussed by City Manager

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City Manager George Proakis spoke at the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown became a magnet for life science companies in the last several years, and City Manager George Proakis said the building boom in that industry may be slowed, but other industries may be attracted to the same things: proximity to Boston and the universities in the area, easy access, and a nice place to be. Proakis spoke about the City’s economic and financial outlook during the Watertown Business Coalition’s City Update on Thursday morning at the Hampton Inn & Suites. His outlook for Watertown’s economic future was positive, despite the dip in the City’s most prominent industry: life sciences. “We are still in a community, in a state that is well invested in new growth.

Government

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to Democratic State Convention on March 14

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Democratic Committee:

On Saturday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m., Democrats will convene at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room to elect 23 delegates and five alternates to represent Watertown at the 2026 Massachusetts State Democratic Convention. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. and closes at 1:45 p.m.

Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown, who are 16 years old by the start of thecaucus window (February 19, 2026) and pre-registered by the time of their caucus, may voteand be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), individualswith disabilities, people of color, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ+ community notelected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucusor by visiting https://www.massdems.org/caucus-and-convention. The 2026 Convention will bein person at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, on Friday, May 29th, and Saturday, May30th. Those interested in getting involved with the Watertown Democratic Committee shouldcontact watertowndems@gmail.com.

Business

City Manager’s City Update Will Focus on Local Business Community & Economy

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host Watertown City Manager George Proakis at the annual City Update. His talk will focus on news and issues that will impact Watertown’s businesses and the local economy. See more information provided by the WBC, below. The WBC is honored to again partner with Watertown’s City Manager, George Proakis, to provide a City Update. Please join us on March 5th at 8 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Arsenal Yards in Watertown!

Government

City Relaxing Sidewalk Shoveling Rules After Blizzard, Keeping Parking Ban in Place

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Snow banks left from plowing and shoveling after the blizzard of Feb. 22 and 23. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City of Watertown will give residents a break from the sidewalk snow shoveling rules after the blizzard of Jan. 22 and 23 dumped around 15 inches of snow on top of snow remaining from the storm in January. But the overnight parking ban — scheduled to end on Feb.

Government

Watertown Calls Snow Emergency, See What’s Closed

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On-street parking will be prohibited during the Snow Emergency for the storm that could drop more 18 inches of snow on Watertown. Several City facilities will be closed Monday, and trash and recycling will be impacted by the storm. Watertown falls near the area where WCVB Channel 5 forecasts 18 inches of snow. The National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning from Sunday at 4 p.m. to Monday at 7 a.m. with sustained winds of 25 mph and gusts up to 54 mph. It will be the first blizzard in the area for four years, according to WCVB.