TOWN COUNCIL UPDATE
Councilor Tony Palomba
Dear Supporters,
I hope this TOWN COUNCIL UPDATE finds you enjoying the final week of the summer. Much has happened since I shared my last UPDATE in late March. I hope you find the information below helpful. Please note that throughout I have asked for your feedback and suggestions. Send an email to councilo...@gmail.com or apal...@watertown-ma.gov or give me a call at 781-664-3525.
Please check out my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/counciilorpalomba and my web site at http://councilorpalomba.com/. I have revised my twitter account that I will be using more. Plug https://twitter.com/MAWatertown into your browser and follow me. I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to friends and neighbors as well as anyone who has recently moved into Watertown.
Quick Reminder - Tuesday, September 4, the day after Labor Day, is Primary Election Day! Please remember to vote. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Affordable Housing
The Committee on Human Services on which I serve along with Councilors Bay and Falkoff has been meeting to discuss the issue of affordable housing in Watertown. The Committee developed a series of meetings beginning in April with the goal of gathering information on three overlapping areas – what is the present status of affordable housing in Watertown, what resources are available from state and regional agencies and organizations, and what are other communities doing to address the issue that might work in Watertown. The Committee has met three times: in April to learn about the work of the Watertown Housing Partnership, in June to delve deeper into the need for affordable housing and what Watertown has done to address the need, and most recently in August to discuss how zoning regulations affect housing production. On September 6, the Committee will hear about statewide and regional organizations that support the development of affordable housing and on October 4, there will be presentations from a non-profit housing collaborative and a discussion of a real estate transfer fee. The November 7 meeting will focus on examples of successful affordable housing initiatives in Somerville and Cambridge and on building community support for housing. At our December 5 meeting, the Committee will review what we have learned and consider specific initiatives for Watertown. The Committee meetings take place at 7:15 PM in the Town Council Chambers on the second floor of Town Hall.
I believe it is important that Watertown consider the development of affordable housing (rental or ownership) a priority now and in the coming years. What do you think? Do you have specific suggestions that you would like to share with the Committee?
Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Priorities
I am happy to report that a number of my FY ’19 budget priorities were included in the Town Manager’s final budget that was approved by the Town Council in June. The Council on Aging, which manages the Senior Center, will have a new part-time program services assistant and their present social worker, Marina Kirsanova, will now be full-time. In addition, the Center’s bus will operate an additional day each week.
The Department of Community Development and Planning will be able to hire a new senior environmental planner who will staff the Town’s Conservation Commission and Historical Commission as well as work with the Department’s three senior planners. Each year I advocate for new staff at the DCDP. Given the many development projects in Watertown, I believe we need to continue to augment the capacity of this department.
To the delight of many, the Town has established a position of Forestry Supervisor/Tree Warden. For many years, our Tree Warden was wearing too many hats. Now, working in the Department of Public Works, the Forestry Supervisor/Tree Warden can focus attention on improving the Town’s public shade tree canopy. The budget also included funding for a new police officer.
Finally, the Town Council recently approved the creation of a new department, the Department of Public Buildings, which will eventually be responsible for the maintenance of all public buildings, including school buildings. The Department will have five employees under the direction of Ms. Lori Kabel, who was hired last year.
In the fall, the Town Council will begin the process of creating its budget priorities for FY ’20. Do you have suggestions on spending priorities? Do you think we need additional staff in a particular department? Is there a particular policy that you feel should be explored?
Updates and Changes in Watertown – Development, Zoning Amendment, Dog Park and Victory Field-II
Development in Watertown continues with the construction underway at 385 Pleasant Street. This will be a mixed-use development that will include 53 rental units and 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 92 parking places. Developers of 33 Mt. Auburn Street have received approval for 15 condominium units and 1,925 square feet of commercial space. In addition, there is a proposal pending for a four-story development at 80 Elm Street that will primarily be a self-storage facility with limited commercial space. A residential development at 101-103 Morse Street continues to be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeal. If approved, it will have 36 units. Visit https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter, scroll down to “Community Development and Planning” and click on “Cases/Project” and then find the street address for the development. Click on it and you will find the documents and filings for the project.
The North American headquarters for Bosch Thermotechnology Corporation has made Watertown its new home. The heating and cooling division of the German owned company Bosch has rented 17,000 square feet of office and laboratory space at 65 Grove Street. The Linx complex at 490 Arsenal Way which was the former Verizon building developed by Boylston Properties is now up for sale. The 185,015 square-office and laboratory space is completely occupied. The estimated sale price is $150 million or over $800 per square foot. The Elan/Union Market development at the corner of Arsenal and Irving Streets is still under construction, the developers are advertising the units for rent. When completed there will be 282 rental units.
The Arsenal Yards development, formerly the Arsenal Mall, on Arsenal Street got a boost recently when J.P. Morgan announced an investment of $109 million and Well Fargo Bank provided a construction loan of $222 million. However, a recent proposal by the developers to amend the zoning to increase the permissible height of buildings from 130 feet to 197 feet has drawn significant opposition from residents. The amendment would be limited to the Regional Mixed-Use District (RMUD), which includes among other areas, the Watertown Mall and Coolidge Street. The Planning Board at its October 10 meeting will hear the amendment. The Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers. To learn when the amendment will be heard please sign up for “Notify Me” on the Town’s web site at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/list.aspx and check off “Economic Development”. You will receive notices and agendas for the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeal. I will also list dates of important meetings on my Facebook page and the Calendar page of me website.
I would like to hear your thoughts on the amendment that would allow an increase in height in the RMUD from 130 feet, as it is now in the Zoning Code, to 197 feet. Take a moment to reply to this email if you feel strongly about this issue.
If you own a dog, plan to visit Watertown’s new state-of-the-art dog park this fall! Yes, after many years of meetings and advocacy, the construction of a new dog park at Filippello Park has begun. The dog park is part of the renovation of the Grove Street entrance to the park. If the contractor stays on schedule, the dog park will be open in October or November! Speaking of dog parks, the Howe Dog Park is being renovated with a new surface and will be closed for a few weeks.
Planning for the renovation of Victory Field II has been completed! The Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field II composed of Town officials, Town Councilors, (I was fortunate to serve in the Committee) and four residents was appointed in 2014 and charge with the task for making recommendations on the design for the field. The Committee met eleven times beginning in May 2017 and concluding its work on June 28, 2018. The Town Council approved the final report, link here to see the report, at its August 12 meeting. The Council must approve a loan order for $3 million before construction bids can be elicited. What was special about this initiative was the level of public participation. Every meeting saw a packed room of interested residents, many who came to all the meetings.
The Building the Futures Initiative and the Need for Community Meetings
https://sites.google.com/watertown.k12.ma.us/building-for-the-future/home
The new School Building Committee, https://drive.google.com/file/d/15NvgK-JEhTF17Ayrst2iRIK2lXXy3XzV/view that includes school and town administrators, school committee members, town councilors and four community members, has been meeting to discuss the renovations and expansions of our three elementary schools. The SBC meets on Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the Town Council Chambers. I would like to emphasize how important the Building for the Future Initiative is not only for students, parents, teachers, and administrators, but also for all residents of Watertown. We will be borrowing between $70,000 - $90,000 to fund the renovations and expansions and will need a debt exclusion override in the coming years to fund the improvements of the high school. The SBC has a major responsibility that involves many hours of meetings and discussions. While their meetings are open to the public and residents may be recognized to speak, these meetings are not, by design, community meetings.
I believe it is critical that over the next two-three years the SBC holds regularly scheduled community meetings, once a month or every two months, which allow for open discussion of Committee decisions, alert residents to upcoming agenda items, and reassure residents that their concerns are being heard. I do not see this as an enormous burden, but rather as an important step in building trust and support for the renovations and improvements at the elementary schools and high school. May I suggest you contact the School Building Committee, the members of the School Committee, the members of the Town Council, and the Town Manager if you feel regular community meetings chaired by SBC is a good idea.
Committee on Media and Public Outreach
In January, the president of the Town Council established a new committee, the Committee on Media and Public Outreach, and tasked the Committee to explore potential options for increased participation in government and methods to reach out to the community. I serve as the chair of the Committee along with Councilor Bays (Secretary) and Councilor Feltner (Vice Chair). The Committee has met four times –in March, May, June and July and has compiled information and data on our website, existing outreach tools, and potential new tools. We have been assisted by a number of community residents including Mike Ward, Director of Municipal Services at the Collins Center at UMass Boston and CL Tian, owner of PINKOA, a digital agency and web development service. The Committee benefited from a formal presentation by Mr. Ward and Ms. Tian at our July meeting. Click here to see the minutes of the Committee’s July meeting, the presentation, and an excellent resource list that includes information about what other communities are doing to increase citizen participation.
The Committee will meet again to review the many suggests we have received. I invite you to share your ideas on what the Town can do to reach more residents, share information, and generate greater participation.
Community Preservation Act and the Community Preservation Committee
As you know, we passed the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in November 2016 and the Town has begun to collect the 2% surcharge on tax bills in FY ’18. (The state match, estimated to be 11.5%, will be given to the Town in November.) The Town Council recently passed an ordinance establishing a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) that will be responsible for advertising, reviewing, and presenting to the Town Council funding proposals for affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation.
I have been involved in the CPA, as a member of Invest in Watertown, since 2015. I have consistently explained the initiative as a community-driven effort and that the Town Council, the representative body of the community, should appoint the four at-large members of the CPC. (There are nine members, five of which are determined by state statute.) I was very disappointed when the present Town Council overturned a vote made last year that tasked the Council with appointing the at-large members. After extensive meetings of the Council’s Committee on Rules and Ordinance held this year, the Committee affirmed the Council’s decision of last year. However, in the end, councilors changed their votes and the original vote was overturned. The Town Manager will now appoint the four at-large members.
What is important now is 1) that, if you are interested in serving on the CPC, you keep an eye out for the announcement from the Manager requesting applications, 2) that, when the guidelines for proposals are published, you consider working with other individuals and community organization to develop a proposal addressing one of the three topics, and 3) that you attend CPC meetings to voice your support for the proposals you feel will improve the quality of life for the residents of Watertown.
Looking Ahead – Affordable Units, Solar Energy, Short-Term Rentals, Electricity Choice, Plastic Bags, and the New Health Director.
Due to the work of the Watertown Housing Partnership, the Planning Board and eventually the Town Council will review and vote on a proposed change to the Zoning Code that will require affordable units in new independent living and assisted living developments. Watertown would be the first community in Massachusetts to have such a regulation.
Watertown may also be the first community in the Commonwealth to require solar energy systems on new developments. The proposal would also need the approval of the Planning Board and the Town Council. The initiative was the result of the combined efforts of the concerned residents, Town’s Energy Manager, Ed Lewis, and Town Councilors.
Keep an eye out for new regulations affecting short-term rentals. The Department of Community Development and Planning held public meetings to elicit comments about whether short-term rentals should be regulated and, if so, how the Town would regulate them.
Keep another eye out for mail from CleanChoice Energy the company hired by the Town to implement our Watertown Electricity Choice program. The program would bring renewable energy and electricity choice to the residents and businesses of Watertown. In short, if you sign up for the program more of the electricity you use will come from renewal sources, such as wind and solar. The program also provides an “opt out” provision. For more information, please contact Ed Lewis our certified Energy Manager at ele...@watertown-ma.gov.
Our Single-Use Plastic Bag Ordinance was recently revised to address concerns that some stores are using plastic bags that technically abide by the Ordinance but are not in the spirit of the Town’s goal to eliminate plastic bags as much as possible.
Watertown’s Health Department will have a new Director. Larry A. Ramdin is the Town’s new Director of Public Health. Mr. Ramdin has over 40 years of experience in the field of public health. He has worked for the cities of Salem and Newton and the town of Reading. Among his many tasks will be working with our task force on substance use disorders (Watertown Access to Education, Treatment, and Resources) as well as working with the Town Council to update our noise ordinance.
In closing, I want to thank you for your support and your participation at Town Council and community meetings. Your willingness to share your ideas, time, and energy is what makes Watertown a special place and what makes my job as a Town Councilor rewarding.
Best,
Tony