HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-09-22 Community Plans and MeetingsSubject Requests for Info 9/22
From Lisa Feltner
To Pronovost, Marilyn; Driscoll, Michael
Cc Town Councilors; Mark R. Reich
Sent Wednesday, September 23, 2020
4:42 PM
Hi Marilyn,
I write to confirm my Requests for Information to Town Manager Driscoll made at the 9/22/20 Town
Council meeting:
1. How many voter registrations and mail -in ballots have been lost this season?
2. It has been over 5 years that the Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines were activated. I would
like an assessment report from DCDP on the progress that has been made on the visions outlined for
mixed -use developments, such as "live -work -play" and pedestrian activation of the identified
corridors. How do the more recent project applications for "labs/commercial" support this vision?
How might we update our visioning process and plans?
3. I'm concerned about providing public meetings that are truly open and transparent, given
restrictions with Covid19 and inadequate technology and staff to manage content and technology.
Please read below, just a few examples (short on many details) for perspective on how we are falling
short.
Please clarify: How are meetings posted and managed; Who controls participation and access
including when relevant meeting materials are available; What assistance is available to facilitate
connections and access to documents and plans; Where are recordings of meetings posted.
Examples:
(1) Board of Assessors 9/22 meeting provided no way to connect remotely;
(2) Housing Partnership 9/22 meeting would not connect -initially the link went nowhere, then said
"internal error" -is it because they required attendees to pre -register? I managed to connect via
phone by hand entering numbers (the mobile link did not work), and then was disconnected after
about 30 minutes -note that there is no way to "raise a hand" during a phone call, and meeting
materials were not available prior to the meeting for review or to formulate questions.
(3) Community Meeting 9/15 for 202-204 Arsenal St was posted for 7:00 p.m. but began at 6:30
p.m. I was not able to connect well through the whole meeting; the posted phone number listed for
questions went to voice mail; even with VHB as a moderator for the meeting, there were several
extra steps required to connect via phone, so I was juggling instructions "by zoom" that conflicted
with what VHB was instructing, and I was also cut off while making comments. It takes more time
than folks realized to juggle working commands or sending an email, or trying to use Chat (if it is
even turned on), or "raise hand"... Several residents told me that they tried connecting at 7 but it
was clear the meeting was well underway, leaving them confused and they gave up the connection.
(4) The Town website information is out of date, and links to "zoning petition cases" are no longer
on the once -dedicated DCDP page for projects; John Gannon is still listed as a ZBA member with
Louise Civetti as Clerk. I cannot find listings for Community Meeting agendas, materials, or their
recorded meetings on the website (or WCA-TV). Residents are upset that large projects in the more
commercial areas are not notifying more people; if we stick to 300' abutters or even 500', this list
barely reaches residents but impacts the whole city.
Thanks for your attention, Lisa
Lisa J. Feltner, Watertown Councillor District B
Direct (617) 926-5344; or Council Office (617) 927-6470 MTWF 10 -Noon, Thurs 10-2pm.