CTE

Committee Looking at Vocational, Technical Education to Include Parents & Residents

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The Watertown Public Schools will form a committee to look at the options for vocational and technical education available inside and outside the district, and the group will include parents and community members. For many years, Watertown has sent dozens of students to Minuteman High School in Lexington for vocational and technical education. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the City is not part of the Minuteman High School District, but rather pays tuition for each resident to attend. “Watertown is a non-member, tuition-paying entity for Minuteman, which has worked for decades, but that changed with new (Minuteman) school — there are not as many students who can go to Minuteman,” Galdston said. Other vocational schools in the area, including Medford and Somerville, have vocational programs which are open to students who do not live in the district.

City Council

Watertown Councilors, School Committee & Library Trustees Sworn-In at City Hall

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Charlie BreitroseMembers of the Watertown City Council take the oath from City Clerk Janet Murphy on Monday night. Most years, the swearing-in of Watertown’s newly elected officials is part of an inauguration ceremony in a large venue with many guests, but with COVID-19 the 2022 event was an intimate affair. The winners of the November 2021 election were sworn in by City Clerk Janet Murphy in the Council Chamber in City Hall Monday night. Charlie BreitroseAfter her swearing-in, Library Trustee Sara Keary poses with City Manager Michael Driscoll, left, and City Council President Mark Sideris. Some family members were on hand for the ceremony, but the Chamber was not full even when eight City Councilors took the oath.

Government

Watertown’s Inauguration Ceremony Canceled Due to Increasing COVID Cases

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown inauguration ceremony has been cancelled due to increasing cases of COVID-19, but the newly-elected officials will still be sworn-in on Jan. 3. City Council President Mark Sideris announced the cancellation on Tuesday. “It is with great regret and with an abundance of caution that we will be cancelling the inauguration that was scheduled for Jan. 3rd,” Sideris said in a statement.

Schools

John Portz Says Farewell to School Committee After 16 Years, Also Served on Town Council

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Northeastern UniversityJohn Portz retired from the School Committee in December after 16 years. He also served eight years as a Town Councilor. School Committee Chair John Portz oversaw his final meeting earlier this month, ending not only 16 years on the School Committee but more than 25 years serving the residents of Watertown. At the Dec. 4 meeting, Portz’s colleagues paid tribute to his dedication to the students of Watertown, his steady leadership, and for focusing on working as a team.

Around Town

Watertown Inauguration Will Take Place at the Mosesian Center in January

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Watertown’s newly elected officials will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony to be held at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The inauguration includes the City Council President, eight City Councilors, three members of the School Committee and three members of the Board of Library Trustees. The ceremony is free and open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The City of Watertown requests the honor of your presence to attend and participate in the Inauguration of the City Council, School Committee, and Library Board of Trustees, on Monday, the third of January, Two Thousand and Twenty-Two, at the Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts located at 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, Massachusetts, at Ceremony at Seven O’clock in the evening.

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.

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.

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.