Government

Councilor Susan Falkoff Invites Residents to Come Talk to Her During Office Hours

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Town Councilor at Large Susan Falkoff will be available to speak to Watertown residents during her upcoming office hours. She sent out the following information:

Stop by to chat with Town Councilor at Large, Susan Falkoff on Saturday June 4 12:30–2 p.m. It has been a busy season with much happening and little time to sit back and reflect on important issues, but Susan would like to take time to listen to you. Her office hours are returning on June 5 at the Watertown Public Library. She has reserved the Raya Stern room on the second floor, but will be out front if the day is sunny. If you would like to get updates with Susan, let her know at sfalkoff@watertown-ma.gov. She can be reached by phone at 617 924-5723.

Government

Town Council Considering Whether to Give Itself a Raise

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{This story was updated on April 15 at 4:10 p.m. to clarify the beginning of the new Council salary.}

The Town Council will consider giving itself a $1,500 raise, or boost of 50 percent – which would be the first increase in the new millennium. Currently, Town Council members receive $5,000 per year, and the Council President receives $6,500, including a stipend for serving on the School Committee. A proposal was made by the Personnel and Town Organization subcommittee to raise the salary to $7,500, according to the subcommittee’s report. Under the Town’s charter raise would not kick in until the beginning of the next Town Council term, which would be Jan. 1, 2018.

Capital Improvement Plan

Town Council Approves Nearly $10 Million in Building Projects, Equipment

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Watertown will spend nearly $10 million on projects to improve parks, streets, schools and vehicles in the Capital Improvement Plan approved by the Town Council last week. The council approved $9.9 million in capital projects and purchases for Fiscal year 2017 (which begins July 1, 2016) which will be paid for using a variety of sources including $4.7 million in borrowing. The capital improvement plan will make up about 7.9 percent of the total town budget, which fits within the Town Council’s goal of spending 7.5 to 8 percent each year on capital projects. Before the recommendations came to the Council on March 22, the Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee met four times for about nine hours to go over the proposals, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, chair of that subcommittee. The approved projects include 33 recommendations (see the full report here).

Government

Council Notebook: New Council Clerk, Resident Petition & Committee Assignments

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The Town Council approved a hiring a new Council Clerk, but they also decided to change the way the person is hired next time around. 

Town Council President Mark Sideris announced his pick for the position of Council Clerk – Marilyn Pronovost. She comes to the job with experience working in local government as well as working for a technology company. She has a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State and a law degree from Suffolk University. Some councilors wondered if she was, essentially, overqualified for the position. Pronovost was asked about that by town Personnel Director Gayle Shattuck and Town Auditor Tom Tracy when they interviewed her, Sideris said, and they were satisfied with her answer.

Cecilia Lenk

Outgoing Town Councilor Looks Back on Her 6 Years in Office

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During her time on the Town Council, which ended with the New Year, Cecilia Lenk got involved in some of the biggest issues, such as the town’s finances, but she also liked to tackle some of the less glamorous areas such as roads, sidewalks and sewers. 

Lenk joined the Council six years ago, when the District B seat opened up. Her most prominent role prior to that was serving on the Building Committee for the expansion of the Watertown Free Public Library. “Jon Hecht was leaving the seat (to become a state representative) and a number of people encouraged me to run,” Lenk said. “It was something I was interested in doing and it seemed like the right time.” She thought some of her expertise would be useful on the Council, particularly in the area of financial and the environment.

Government

Steve Corbett Says Goodbye to Town Council After 10 Years

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A mainstay on the Watertown Town Council, Steve Corbett, had his final meeting in December after a decade in town government. His focuses have been economic development, the disabled and he served on the building committee for the new Police Station, but Corbett said he did not come in with any particular ax to grind. “I never really tried to look for attention. I was one of nine. You really can do nothing by yourself.

Government

Arsenal Center on the Arts Will Host Watertown Inauguration

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Watertown’s elected officials will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony to take place at the Arsenal Center for the Arts. The ceremony will be held in the Charles Mosesian Theater, 321 Arsenal St., in the Arsenal on the Charles Complex on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

Those elected to the Town Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees will be sworn in that night. A reception will follow.

Development

Public Can Discuss RMUD at Informal Council Subcommittee Session

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After a hearing comments from dozens of Watertown residents about the proposed changes to the area of the malls in East Watertown last week, the Town Council voted to have another hearing in a more informal setting to hash out the proposal. The zoning changes in the proposed Regional Mixed Use District would allow larger buildings, and for master plans for projects on properties of 2 acres or more. It would also allow housing, commercial, retail and office buildings in the area. At the Town Council meeting about the RMUD on Dec. 1, many residents wanted more details about what the projects would, or could, look like.