Election 2019

Town Council At-Large Profile: John Gannon

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Background

I’ve been a municipal attorney for 25 years, advising over 100 cities and towns of Massachusetts every day on the issues that are currently facing Watertown. I’ve been a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Watertown for 10 years, I’ve been former Acting Town Attorney, working as Watertown’s lawyer. But I think more importantly, I’m a native of Watertown, a product of the Browne School, West Junior High, and Watertown High School; my upbringing in Watertown is an important part of who I am. I went on to Brown University and then to Suffolk University Law School, where I became lawyer to bring innovative approaches to cities and towns.  After starting a family here, I became a homeowner, taxpayer and ratepayer. Like others who chose to come to Watertown, I chose to stay here.  Watertown is a wonderful place in so many ways, and I’m here to help give back some of what this community has given to me.

Election 2019

Town Council Hopefuls Discuss Building Support, What Inspires Them

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On Nov. 5, Watertown voters have a choice of seven candidates running for the four Town Councilor At-Large seats, which are elected by the entire town. To find out more about the candidates, former Town Councilor At-Large Aaron Dushku asked each a series of questions about what they would if elected, with the answers to be published by Watertown News. This is the fifth in a series of five pieces featuring the answers from the Watertown Councilor At-Large candidates. (Note that Michelle Cokonougher declined to submit answers).

Election 2019

Town Council Candidates Speak About Budget Priorities, Accomplishments

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On Nov. 5, Watertown voters have a choice of seven candidates running for the four Town Councilor At-Large seats, which are elected by the entire town. To find out more about the candidates, former Town Councilor At-Large Aaron Dushku asked each a series of questions about what they would if elected, with the answers to be published by Watertown News. This is the third in a series of five pieces featuring the answers from the Watertown Councilor At-Large candidates. (Note that Michelle Cokonougher declined to submit answers).

Election 2019

Candidates Look at the Big Issues They Expect to Face as Town Councilors

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Candidates for Councilor At-Large, from right, Michelle Cokonougher, Jummy Mello, Clyde Younger and Caroline Bays. On Nov. 5, Watertown voters have a choice of seven candidates running for the four Town Councilor At-Large seats, which are elected by the entire town. To find out more about the candidates, former Town Councilor At-Large Aaron Dushku asked each a series of questions about what they would if elected, with the answers to be published by Watertown News. This is the second in a series of five pieces featuring the answers from the Watertown Councilor At-Large candidates.

Elections

Missed the Town Council Candidates Forum, See the Video Here

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Candidates for Town Councilor At-Large appeared on Thursday. Shown here, from left, are Anthony Donato, John Gannon and Tony Palomba. The candidates for Councilor At-Large appeared at a candidate forum on Thursday night. If you missed it, you can watch it free on the Watertown Cable website. Along with the Councilors At-Large, other candidates running unopposed had the chance to speak beforehand at the event held at Watertown High School.

Election 2019

UPDATED: Town Council Candidates Discuss Their Priorities, If Elected

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Watertown Town Hall

(Note: Anthony Donato’s answers were updated, and the response to the second question was omitted from the first version). Watertown voters have a choice of seven candidates running for the four Town Councilor At-Large seats, which are elected by the entire town, during the Nov. 5, 2019 election. To find out more about the candidates, former Town Councilor At-Large Aaron Dushku asked each a series of questions about what they would if elected, with the answers to be published by Watertown News. This is the first in a series of five pieces featuring the answers from the Watertown Councilor At-Large candidates.

Government

New Policy Allows Squares in Watertown to be Named for Non-Veterans

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The Town Council adopted a policy for naming squares in Watertown after non-veterans, such as the one honoring of fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano. For many years, squares and intersections in Watertown could only be named for a veteran. The Town Council voted Tuesday night to create a policy for naming squares after non-veterans. The Council followed the recommendation of the Public Works subcommittee, which looked at policies from several area communities. They decided that Belmont’s was the one that was closest to the policy they would like.

Business

Council OKs Entering Agreement to Allow Recreational Marijuana Dispensary in Watertown

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The Town Council put its support behind a Host Community Agreement with the group seeking to sell recreational marijuana at a site in East Watertown. The agreement is with Natural Selection, also known as NS AJO Holdings, which has already been approved to sell medical marijuana from the site at 23 Elm St. The location is behind the Residence Inn by Marriott and across the street from the Watertown Mall parking lot. The agreement applies to sales of recreational marijuana, which is also called adult-use marijuana. It puts into place fees to be paid by the dispensary to the Town to cover services, such as police, fire and permitting.