Around Town

LETTER: Former Councilor Questions Addition to Traffic Commission

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Dear Committee on Public Safety:

Attn: City Councilors John M. Airasian, Chair; Emily Izzo, Vice Chair; and Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Sec. RE: Tuesday, 05/07/2024 Meeting at 6:00 P.M.

Discussion – Amendment to the Traffic Commission Ordinance

Herein, I reiterate my statement, with attachments, as read into the record at the First Public Forum of the 01/23/2024 City Council Meeting. On 01/22/2024, my opinions were also discussed with Councilor Caroline Bays. I offer additional comments and emphasis as follows:

1. Membership of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee is comprised of like-minded individuals in joint efforts to support bicyclists. I see no commitment to protect me, as an elder pedestrian, by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.

Around Town

First Public Meeting on Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan Coming Up

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Find out about the Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan and share your experiences to identify priorities and problem areas in Town. Town officials provided the following information:

The meeting will be held at the Watertown Middle School Cafeteria, 68 Waverley Ave., Watertown, MA 02472 on Monday, Jan. 27, 20202, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Watertown encourages active transportation — walking, biking and transit — to help reduce congestion, and improve both air quality and public health. The Watertown Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan aims to help achieve those goals by identifying future improvements to the Town’s streets and walkways. Join us for a discussion on the future of Watertown’s bicycle and pedestrian transportation networks and tell us what you would like to see.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee

Members of Town Boards Accused of Violating Ethics Laws in Endorsements of CPA

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Opponents of the Community Preservation Act say the supporters of the ballot measure for the CPA violated the Massachusetts election ethics law by using their appointed office to advocate for the measure. Accusers spoke at Public Forum during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting and said that the entire Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee and a member of the Conservation Commission violated the ethics law. Resident John DiMascio said that Conservation Commissioner Patrick Fairbairn should not have included his role on the commission when he signed a letter to the editor sent to Watertown News this week (click here to see the letter). He also said the entire Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee was in breach of the law when letting their committee be named as a supporter of the CPA on a campaign mailing from Invest in Watertown, the Yes on Question 5 group. Fairbairn said he had no comment about the accusation.