10 questions to find out what your thoughts and feelings are about our Watertown.

Hi, JD:

So, ok:

1. Fiscal state of the town. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the town has to run a balanced budget, yes? So, on that level, I'm satisfied. There is one thing that really bothers me, and it's this: since I've been running H2otown, the school budget has increased twice, each time by between $250k and $275k. Now, education is a great thing to spend money on, but we're simply not getting the results back: we're 51st in spending, but 204th in performance. This has a direct result on my ability to rent the two apartments I own and on the value of the property I own. I believe school performance is the single biggest issue facing Watertown, and I'd like to see the Council work on getting some accountability here.

2. Well, the firemen put out a fire at my husband's house (before he was my husband), so ya gotta love them for that. Also, when my father, who was also a Watertown resident, died of a heart attack, I can't tell you how much difference it made to me to have them come and help me figure out what to do next; I had never encountered a body, and of course I was very upset. They made it clear what, legally and practically, had to come next, and that was great.

In terms of town employees, I'd say that my general interactions with them have been good but not great. I also own property in my hometown of Woburn, and I'm always impressed by the city hall employees there. They really go the extra mile to help, particularly if you don't know how to do what you need to do. For instance, if I need to do something with excise taxes, but call the wrong office, they always make sure not just to give me the phone number or transfer me there, but make sure that I wasn't just getting voicemail on the other end. And if they didn't get someone, they took MY phone number and called me with an answer, instead of making me make multiple phone calls until I got what I needed to do done. Sometimes I've found our town employees to be a little less flexible, maybe because they aren't given the discretion to go ahead and help people with things that aren't in their department.

I have more on this, but I'm pressed for time right now. Back later. And thanks for doing this.

Hi JD -

Anyhow, my 2 cents:

1) Do you approve of the current fiscal state of the town?

Even though I did attend last year's "State of the Town" addresses, hosted by the WBCC, I do not know enough to answer this question.

2) If you have had interaction with a town department, (DPW, Police, Fire, Clerks), how was your experience?

I think the Watertown police department is very professionally run, everyone I have worked with is polite, diligent, knowledgeable and competent, and I am very impressed. I maintain a solicitor's permit, and when I go door to door in Watertown, I speak with the dispatcher to let them know where I am. I have also worked with them on an abandoned vehicle next to my condo.

I have had positive experiences every time I have been to the town hall - people are polite and helpful: property taxes, signing up for Watertown Faire on the Square, the occasional parking ticket, and in the building permit department.

Our one experience with the fire department was great, too. Our oil burner was smoking, and the department arrived and was able to get it in control very rapidly.

3) Has your level of services by the town been adequate?

Beyond adequate, I'd say excellent. Our parks, our streets, our DPW, trash removal, snow removal, etc. seem top notch. Do we spend too much on these things? My main concern is the quality of the school system, but, again, I have little data (no kids), and am operating on rumor, innuendo, and MCAS scores....

4) Do you think that the manager is performing well for the citizens of Watertown?

I do not know his role really well, so cannot say.

5) What are your thoughts about the new police station?

I think it is a terrible idea to move it to the side of town opposite where the most crime occurs. I preferred it in the center of town, and do not like the fact that a school was pushed out into a commercial area to make way for it.

6) How do you feel about a recycling center?

I'd love one, but in whose back yard?

7) Has the new zoning regulations positively or negatively helped the community?

If these zoning regulations have paved the way for the demolition of older single family homes in order to erect new higher density housing, I think they are very negative. I also do not like variances that remove the little green space we have. I wish there were some sort of restriction on structure size vs. lot size in residential areas in Watertown.

8) Has the new council preformed up to your expectations as a voter?

I have no idea - what has been accomplished?

9) Do you as a resident see a need to maintain our commercial property in town?

Yes, I like the diversity of businesses and residences, and I like the varied tax base. That being said, the residents are more important, and I would not trample thier interests in green space, safe traffic, and environmental health in order to draw more industry to the area.

10) What are your thoughts on the new library?

I am very excited about it, and thrilled to see it open. It is a great resource for the community.

Laura Rubinatein

So, ok: Question 3, Level of Services. I can't really think of anything glaring that we don't have. I'd like to see the town do more for cyclists -- a few rings on our parking meters in Coolidge Sq. would be nice. And it would be great if someone was in charge of nicely hassling the MBTA to improve transit access.

Question 4: Do you think the manager is performing well? Yes. I really don't understand some of the animosity towards Mr. Driscoll; I just don't get what it's about. I think because we don't have a mayor, it can be convenient to lay problems at the doorstep of someone who's not an elected official.

Question 5: I'm glad the police are going to have a state-of-the-art facility. I don't think it's the ideal location -- it's too far away from the center of town -- but Watertown is small and we can't always have things just how we want them. I think the end result will be more than good enough. It will also likely be very expensive to build; I'm willing to spend money on it but it's a big project and requires real oversight.

Question 6: Recycling. This is a real tangle, isn't it? I have no idea where to put it if a legal challenge to where it is goes forward. If we do move it, I'd like to see a little more effort than just a row of bins put into it.

Question 7: My reading of the new zoning is that it's more restrictive on condo conversions and efforts to build out to the maximum dimensions that result in ugly boxes. I'm for it.

Question 8: Has the council performed up to expectations? Yeah. Personally, I don't think a quiet council chamber is a really good goal. Democracy is supposed to be noisy. In terms of evaluating this council, they simply haven't had the really confrontational issues that the last council had to decide. Maybe the council needs a little "vision thing." The focus on the recycling center seems like a distraction to me. That's not the most important issue in town...is it? If it is we're truly blessed, I guess.

Question 9: Commercial property. I've heard you talk abou this before. For those reading, commercial property is taxed at nearly twice the rate of residential property. Due to the trickle-down effect of tax cuts at the federal level, property taxes are rising across the nation and Watertown is no exception. If we can't keep commercial stuff from being converted to condos it means that more of the tax burden will fall on homeowners. So: to the question. I think this is just a question of market forces. We went through a weird period where it simply made economic sense to developers to tear down virtually anything and slap up condos. That era is quickly coming to a close, however. Watertown has few commercial districts where there are shops and restaurants along both sides of a street. I'd love to see the idea of a redevelopment goal for Pleasant Street, where there are a number of abandoned industrial buildings, become a small commercial center. Secondly, we need to do things to help out the commercial tenants we have. For instance, in working on Coolidge Square, make Mt. Auburn st one lane in each direction -- heck, people double park all the time anyway, so why not just paint the lines for a wide shoulder? And then, widen the sidewalks a bit and encourage outdoor seating. I see umbrellas, awnings, curbside plantings.

10. The new library Rocks The House!

1) Do you approve of the current fiscal state of the town? YES
2) If you have had interaction with a town department, (DPW, Police, Fire, Clerks), how was your experience? Excellent in all areas, especially Town Hall, all departments
3) Has your level of services by the town been adequate? YES
4) Do you think that the manager is performing well for the citizens of Watertown? YES
5) What are your thoughts about the new police station? Even though it's not centally located, it's still on the Main Street and there will be room for future upgrades.
6) How do you feel about a recycling center? There's only 2 places it can go, where it is now, which is where it should stay OR the area of land off Howard St. behind the Vahey Package store. Seems like enough room and centally located.
7) Has the new zoning regulations positively or negatively helped the community? Too early to tell, but any improvement is good for our community.
8) Has the new council preformed up to your expectations as a voter? YES
9) Do you as a resident see a need to maintain our commercial property in town? But of course! We need their input and taxes....
10) What are your thoughts on the new library? Absolutely Beatiful!!! Now if only the Friends of the Watertown Free Public Library can reach an agreement with the Library Trustees!
Answered by K. H. Neugebauer,
president@HistoricalSocietyofWatertown.org

Hi jd,
the services and town employees in watertown are excellent-I have a complaint that i know you have heard about discusting dumpster on quimby street. check it out on a sunday night or when kids are diving in for lost balls. thanks for listening and seeking input.