LETTER: Resident Pleased With Hearing on RMUD Zoning Changes

Editor,

Congratulations to the Town Council and everyone from the community who testified at the RMUD hearing on Dec. 1. Mark Sideris ran an excellent hearing (as he always does) that gave full opportunity for all views to be heard, and many important points were brought up. Every Council member spoke thoughtfully about their reasons for favoring and/or questioning the proposed ordinance. The concerns about process I and others raised because of the timing of the hearing were allayed.

Town Council Votes to Close One Entrance to Road Near Arsenal Street

Residents of Beacon Park will not have to worry about their street becoming a cut through for traffic from the new apartment complexes on Arsenal Street. 

Tuesday night, the Town Council voted to close off the entrance to the Beacon Park off Arsenal Street. The small street has two other entrances on North Beacon Street. Residents worked with the town and with District B Councilor Cecilia Lenk to close off access, said Beacon Park resident Dan Clark. “It is an example of local government working great,” Clark said. Another resident of the street, Bob Menton, said the traffic from the current light and another one being installed for the new apartment complex at 202-204 Arsenal Street would back up past the entrance to Beacon Park, making it difficult to get out.

LETTER: District C Councilor Says Thanks, Looks Forward to Continuing Work

To the editor:

I want to thank the District C voters for re-electing me to serve for another term as their Town Councilor. Over the past eight years I have worked hard to represent both my constituents in District C as well as all of Watertown residents, and I look forward to continuing that effort with renewed vigor. I am grateful to the many volunteers, friends, and my family for the effort they put into the campaign. My success would not have been possible without their help. I remain committed to finding the best solutions through analysis, teamwork and building consensus, and to our shared vision for Watertown as a vibrant, diverse, safe community with pretty tree-lined streets and great schools.

Town Councilor Holding Office Hours to Meet With Residents

Town Councilor At-Large Susan Falkoff will meet with Watertown residents during office hours on Nov. 21. Falkoff wrote the following announcement:

I’ll be at the Library from 1-2:30 on Saturday, November 21 to listen to any concerns or questions you have about Town Council issues. I expect to be in the café, but if it’s still weirdly 70 degrees outside, I will be out front and we can talk about global warming. If it’s predictable November weather, maybe we could talk in the café about the pros and cons of the Winter Parking Ban and any suggestions for improving pedestrian accessibility this winter (I have a few).

LETTER: Council Candidate Has Many Thank Yous to Send Out

To the Editor,

Regarding the recent local election, I would like to thank:

Rosemary Caouette, my campaign treasurer and her husband Joe, past VFW Post #1105 Commander, for their outstanding support and confidence in me
Watertown Fire Department, for their holding campaign signs supporting me in Coolidge Square on many Saturday mornings and election day and their total support of me and my campaign
Veterans Carl Miller, Gordon Brown, Phil DeVincentis, Ralph Holmberg, and Bud Krapf for holding signs for me
Emilio and Maria Leone and Bill McMahon for holding signs for me
Shutt Marine Detachment, for their use of their facility for my kick-off event and post-election party
The 45 percent of District A voters who voted for me, who determined that there was not one “clear choice” in this election
Emilio’s Restaurant, Green Peapod, Whale Laundromat, Deluxe Town Diner and Andrea’s House
of Pizza – all Coolidge Square businesses, for allowing me to post campaign signs in their
windows
The 26 residents of District A who allowed me to post campaign signs on their lawns
The many residents who conversed with me as I visited hundreds of homes in the district
passing out flyers and listening to their issues. There were many issues in this election. Patryce Georgopoulos for allowing me to partner with her at the Shutt Marine Detachment for a post-election event

As I quickly found out, it takes financing to run a campaign. A big thank you to the Watertown Fire Union Local #1347, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and the many supporters who contributed to my campaign. It is important to encourage and support many candidates to run for office, so that voters have a choice among a variety of candidates.