Government

Council Newsletter: CPA Projects Approved, Memorialization Committee, Intersection to be Named for Gorky

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown City Council voted on using Community Preservation Act funds on two projects, naming an intersection for an Armenian immigrant and artist, and discussed creating a Memorialization Committee. See more in the City Council Newsletter provided by the City of Watertown. City Council Newsletter: February 11, 2025 Meeting

Residents can view the recording of the February 11th meeting here. 

President’s ReportCouncil President Mark Sideris thanked the Department of Public Works as well as other city staff for their handling of last weekend’s snowstorm.He expressed gratitude for residents who have signed up for alerts through Everbridge and encouraged more residents to do so. This will ensure they receive notices of snow emergencies and other emergencies in the city on their cell phones. Residents will not be contacted frivolously, only for emergencies.

Around Town

East Watertown Intersection to be Named for Armenian Immigrant and Artist Arshile Gorky

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Arshile Gorky painting at his sister Akabi’s house on Dexter Avenue in Watertown, c. 1922. (Unknown photographer. Collection of the Arshile Gorky Foundation). An intersection in East Watertown will be named in honor of an Armenian artist who made his home in Watertown for several years. On Tuesday, the City Council voted to name the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Hazel Street for Arshile Gorky.

Government

City Council Approves Seed Money for Willow Park Affordable Housing Development

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A rendering of the Willow Park Housing development. The first new public housing building in Watertown to be constructed in Watertown in decades took a significant step forward when the City Council approved spending Community Preservation Act funds on the project at Willow Park on Tuesday night. The development will create 138 units on the site of 60 that currently has units. On Tuesday, the Council approved the Community Preservation Committee’s recommendation to spend $4 million in CPA funds on the project. Councilors also approved money to cover the cost of the restoration of historic paintings that hang in the lobby of City Hall.

Around Town

City Council Newsletter: Police Body Cameras, Capital Improvement Plan & More

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The Watertown City Council Newsletter for the meeting on Jan. 28, 2025 was provided by the City Council. Residents can view the recording of the January 28th meeting here. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Council President Mark Sideris began by reading a proclamation honoring Ingrid Marchesano on her retirement after over forty years of dedicated service to Watertown. You can read the full proclamation here.

Government

District A Councilor Nicole Gardner Hosting Annual Meeting with Public

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Nicole Gardner, District A Councilor. All City Councilors must have an annual meeting to meet with the public according to the recent changes to the City Charter. District A City Councilor Nicole Gardner announced the date of her meeting. See info below. District A City Councilor Nicole Gardner’s Annual Councilor Community Meeting is Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 7-8 p.m. at the Coolidge School Apartments, 319 Arlington Street.

Government

See the First Watertown City Council Newsletter

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council put out a summary of recent meetings in the first Watertown City Council Newsletter. See the piece provided by the City Council below. January 14, 2025 City Council Meeting & January 21, 2025 Special City Council Meeting

Residents can view the recording of the January 14th meeting here and the January 21st meeting here. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

On behalf of the city and the council, Council President Mark Sideris thanked and congratulated Marsha Osmond upon her retirement after more than two decades of service to Watertown in the manager’s office. He noted that Marsha has been incredibly helpful with events such as inaugurations and other celebrations.

Around Town

City to Install Electric Vehicle Chargers in Four Lots, Will Eventually Charge for Power

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Watertown residents will have more places to charge electric vehicles (EVs) in public parking lots. For now, the charging will be available for free, but in the next several months the City will begin charging for the electricity. A loan order approved by the City Council on Tuesday will allow the City to purchase eight charging stations to go in four locations: Nichols Avenue Lot, the Phillips Building (the lot for the School Administration’s office and the Senior Center behind 30 Common St.), at the John A. Ryan Skating Rink (1 Paramount Place), and at the Police Station (552 Main St.). The two chargers at the skating rink will be fast chargers, and the other locations will get two dual-port charging stations, said City Manager George Proakis. He added that the loan is for $180,000 and the projected cost of the eight stations is about $136,000, so the City will look at a couple other locations to install EV chargers.