HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-23-2012 Public Works reportTown Council
Town of Watertown
Committee on Public Works, Meeting October 22, 2012
Report: October 23, 2012
The Committee met Monday October 22nd at 5:00 pm in the Council Office. Present were: Cecilia Lenk,
Chair; Stephen Corbett, Vice -chair; and Vincent Piccirilli, Secretary. Also in attendance were DPW
Superintendent Gerald Mee; DPW Clerk Mary Haley; Director of Community Development & Planning
Steven Magoon; and Conservation Agent Christopher Hayward; as well as Councilor Angie Kounelis, Leo
Martin, Marylouise Pallotta McDermott, Ernesta Kraczkiewicz, and the Watertown Patch reporter.
1. Interviews
Leo Martin was interviewed for reappointment to the Conservation Commission, where he has served
as a member for 15 years. His education as a geologist and his experience in construction have
been invaluable as a Commission member when evaluating developer proposals. His major concern
for the future is protecting the river corridor from encroachment as redevelopment takes place along
Pleasant St. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend Mr. Martin be reappointed for a term
to expire February 15, 2014.
Ernesta Kraczkiewicz was interviewed for reappointment to the Stormwater Advisory Committee,
where she currently serves as the Chair and a founding member since 2009. Her professional
background in urban planning has been an asset to the Committee. Currently, the Committee is
developing a third stormwater ordinance, and their next big effort will be on public education,
particularly for commercial properties. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend Ms.
Kraczkiewicz be reappointed for a term to expire July 15, 2014.
Marylouise Pallotta McDermott was interviewed for reappointment to the Conservation Commission,
where she has served for 31 years and is currently the Chair. In her years of work as a community
activist, she is proud of the work the Commission has done to protect and improve parks and open
space in Watertown, particularly the work at Arsenal Park and Filippello Park. Now that a new
location has been found for the recycling center, the Commission has begun working with Recreation
Department to get citizen input to complete the reconstruction of the Grove Street entrance of
Filippello Park. The Committee voted unanimously to recommend Ms. Pallotta McDermott be
reappointed for a term to expire February 15, 2014.
The Committee thanked each member for their many years of volunteer service to Watertown on
these Commissions and Committees.
2. Whitney Hill
The Committee began discussion on Whitney Hill, and is proceeding with the objective to preserve and
maintain Whitney Hill Park as natural wooded parkland for the use of the public for passive recreation and
education, to include the rear wooded portion of the 13.75 acre DPW parcel, and remaining under the
administrative control of the Town Manager. The Committee will continue its discussion and develop a
draft resolution at its next meeting on October 29th, and will present a full report and recommendation to
the Town Council at the November 13th meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Report prepared by: Vincent Piccirilli
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