Around Town

See Info About New Years Hours for City Departments Trash Delays

By |

The New Year holiday will impact hours at City facilities, including City Hall, the Library, and the Senior Center. Also, some residents will have trash and recycling pickup delays. See more in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Watertown City Hall, Parker Annex, and Senior Center will be closing at noon on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and will be closed on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024. The Department of Public Works Office will be closing at 11 AM on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Around Town

Historic Paintings Return to Watertown’s City Hall After Undergoing Restoration

By |

The crew from Maquette Fine Arts Services raise the historic painting of Watertown looked in 1630 after it had been restored. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two historic paintings returned to the lobby of City Hall looking better than they have for generations after undergoing a makeover to remove dirt and grime as well as repairing damages. The paintings show how Watertown looked in 1630, when the Town was founded, and 1930, two years before Town Hall opened. After nearly two years away, the paintings were reinstalled on Nov. 13 after a thorough cleaning and restoration project spearheaded by the Historic Society of Watertown, and paid for with Community Preservation Act funds.

Around Town

Kids Can Trick-or-Treat at Watertown City Hall

By |

Children are invited to head down to City Hall and do some trick-or-treating. See the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Watertown children are invited to come Trick-or-Treat at City Hall, located at 149 Main Street, on Tuesday October 29, 2024, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. This is a free event. Come see how different staff members have decorated on their office doors and collect candy the departments will be handing out. You might also see some staff in costumes. 

Government

Multiple Planning & Zoning Offices Moving Out of City Hall

By |

The City of Watertown announced that multiple parts of the Planning and Zoning Department will be moving out of City Hall. See more information below. Please be aware that Watertown Planning & Zoning Division, Zoning & Code Enforcement Team, Historical Commission and Historic District Commission offices (the remainder of Community Development & Planning offices (DCDP) will still be in City Hall) are moving on Thursday, August 28, 2024 to Suite 2A of the Parker Annex located at 124 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02472. They will still have the same phone numbers, the same contact information, and the same webpages. The staff will not be available for in-office face-to-face interactions on Thursday, August 28, 2024 due to the move.

Government

Hours of Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & More Changing After Council Vote

By |

Hours will be changing for Watertown City departments in City Hall, the Parker Annex, along with the Senior Center, after a City Council vote on Tuesday. These facilities will be open later on Tuesdays and close earlier on Fridays throughout the year. City Manager George Proakis said at a previous meeting that the change in hours would help the city recruit employees, and that many surrounding communities have early closings on Fridays. One area of concern was resident’s ability to pay bills at the Treasurer’s office on Fridays. “There have been discussions about how it affects particular employees, and how it impacts the public as a whole,” Proakis said.

Government

City Offices, DPW, Senior Center Closing Early on Good Friday

By |

The City of Watertown announced that some municipal facilities will close early on Good Friday. The City release said:

Please be aware that the Department of Public Works office is open at 7:00 AM and closes at noon, and City Hall and Senior Center are open at 8:30 AM and are closed at 1 PM, in observance of Good Friday on Friday, March 29, 2024.

Government

City Considering Going to Half Days on Fridays All Year Long

By |

Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

City Manager George Proakis asked the City Council to consider changing the hours for City Hall, along with the Senior Center, to half days on Fridays because it would help with recruitment of employees and added that Friday afternoons are slow for City departments. The proposal would impact City Hall, the Parker Annex and the Senior Center, and would make the hours they are open to the public 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays; and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Typically, Watertown City Hall has hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday most of the year, and during the summer it is open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and closes at 2 p.m. on Fridays. Many city and town governments have half days on Fridays for the entire year, Proakis said. City officials examined open hours for neighboring communities, and those communities that are comparable to Watertown. They found that 12 of the 18 communities have full-year half-day Fridays.

Around Town

Restoration Underway for Historic Paintings from Watertown’s City Hall

By |

1930 geographical painting on treatment table at studio, in bottom section of its foam-core box. (Courtesy of the Historical Society of Watertown)

A group from Watertown recently visited the studio of the art restoration specialist hired to refurbish historic paintings that normally hang in the main entryway in Watertown’s City Hall. Joyce Kelly of the Historical Society of Watertown provided the following account:

The geographical paintings that usually flank the foyer at the main entrance to City Hall are currently in the studio of conservator Louise Orsini being refurbished. In 2022, the Historical Society of Watertown received a grant from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for the conservation of the two geographical paintings in the foyer of City Hall. The 5.5 x 7.5 foot paintings were installed when the building opened in 1932.