Updates

Dear Sustainable Watertown,
We are using a new mail server that will give us more flexibility and interesting Updates as we learn to use it and it will allow you to unsubscribe easily at the link at the very end. We do hope that you will continue to stick with us, and in fact add your interest areas so that with the new program we can reach you when specific issues arise around town. Communications are often very difficult and sometimes impossible in this era of multiple sources and varying quality of news even in little Watertown. In our quest for neighborhood groups to be watchdogs, share communications, and to facilitate getting to know your neighbors we'd like to know what street you live on which may not have been given when you signed up for Sustainable Watertown news. You may send that information and your interest in joining our neighborhood network by writing toinfo@sustainablewatertown.org.

•March is a very busy month. Please see calendar below for information on NEW DEVELOPMENTS, conversations beginning about THE PLEASANT STREET CORRIDOR, a variety of department meetings, and town committee and subcommittee meetings. Remember that you can sign up for notifications of meetings by looking forNotify Me at the town website, http://www.watertown-ma.gov/.

•••The Bike and Pedestrian Committee agenda brings up an interesting question: should approvals be given piecemeal on developments which are in fact, or will be, crucial to other developments on the drawing boards now? Will one approval end the ability forcreative, combined solutions to connected problems (e.g. bike/community path, traffic, public transportation, connected green space, appropriate transitions to neighborhoods)?•••

•You will be pleased to know that the Committee on Rules and Ordinances (Councilors Woodland, Falkoff, Dushku) passed a resolution asking the full Council to require at least one developer meeting before plans are officially filed before the Community Planning and Development Dept and are heard by the Planning Board. This is our first formal opportunity for knowledgeable participation early in the planning process. Join our neighborhood groups to get the information you need to be well prepared.

•The Committee on State, Federal, and Regional Government (Councilors Kounelis, Palomba, Piccirelli) voted approval to send a motion to the full Council for a letter to be sent to the General Manager of the MBTA and others involved in public transportation in the region. The letter expresses gratitude for the improvements recently made, and explains that the Watertown Buses, 70, 71, 73 are at capacity and need attention as presented in a letter by Watertown resident Joe Levendusky. Some of the suggestions the committee discussed are immediate fixes, such as extra buses during rush hours, off-bus payments and kiosks for Charlie Cards, and other mid and long-range techniques to create Bus Rapid Transit. In addition, privately funded shuttle buses available to all riders with Charlie Cards were encouraged. The full motion will be posted onwww.SustainableWatertown.org as soon as it is published. Senator Brownsberger, Representative Hecht, Transportation Planning Director of MAPC Eric Bourassa with another transportation specialist, and our Planning Director Steve Magoon participated in the discussions. Councilors Falkoff and Dushku were also present.

•More development issues: Community and developer meeting for 33 Mt Auburn Street is Tuesday. The Planning Board will hear amendments to the zoning ordinances and hear a report on the land use chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Wednesday, March 12. 202 Arsenal Street Community and Developer meeting, March 13.

•A panel and discussion of the Lockdown in Watertown April 19, 2013 will be Wednesday (see flyer).

•There is a hearing on a ten year license for WCATV, our community cable access station with Comcast, March 5; hearing on a cell antenna/tower March 20.

•As you can see, there is great opportunity for participation and advocacy. Please join ournetwork of neighborhood groups to stay up to date and informed about the issues of importance to the entire town. These developments and decisions will affect us all for decades to come. Check out www.SustainableWatertown.org to see reports from five neighborhood groups that met to learn about and comment on the huge apartment (300 units) and supermarket development at 202 Arsenal Street. A look at the large community meeting held last month and issues to be discussed before the developers officially file will be put up soon.

Calendar of Events:
Monday, March 3:
6:30 Belmont-Watertown Local First, the voice of local, independent businesses. Monthly meeting. All invited. 134 Main Street.
7PM Rethink Plastic!. Monthly meeting to discuss decreasing use of plastic and polystyrene. First Parish Church, 35 Church Street, lower level.
7:30 Bike and Pedestrian Committee. Lower Hearing Room, Town Hall. Bike parking, Charles River Road bike lanes, Lexus Site Plan Review, 125 Walnut Street, 202 Arsenal Street Site Plan Review, Comprehensive Plan update, new member application.
Tuesday, March 4:
5PM Economic Development and Planning Committee. Zoning Board of Appeals appointments; PLEASANT STREET CORRIDOR discussion.
6-7 Recreation Open Forum, Lower Meeting Room. See the possible new plan for Victory Field with additional artificial turf; discussion on Rec issues.
7PM COMMUNITY DEVELOPER MEETING, 33 MT AUBURN STREET PROPOSAL, Library. Preliminary drawings on Town website: http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12887. Great opportunity to discuss this project.
Wednesday, March 5:
7-9, LOCKDOWN: April 19, 2013 and Beyond. Panel and Discussion. Sponsored by the National Lawyers Guild. Taking a critical look at the events of April 2013. Was the town's response proper? Was the lockdown necessary? What effects did house to house searches have on Watertown residents? Was the U.S. Constitution followed? What is the future of the Fourth Amendment? For information, or to tell your story, or concerns, call 617-227-7335, or email nlgmass-director@igc.org. First Parish Church, 35 Church Street, lower level. (see flyer)
7PM, Public hearing, Ten year Comcast license for WCATV hearing convened by Town Manager Mike Driscoll. Council Chambers, Town Hall.
Thursday, March 6:
6:30, Meet the SolarizeWatertown representatives. Mass Clean Energy Center will host a workshop about solar panels, prices, and installation with town-wide discounts available through June 30, 2013. Next Step Living will speak about installation details. Some citizens have petitioned the Council to stop the process until all of the bids are received and reviewed in order to determine in a transparent process which vendor is best for Watertown. It should be an interestingdiscussion.
7PM, Public hearing about Greenough Boulevard and adjacent riverbank improvements, at Cambridge Boat Club, Greenough Blvd, Camb. end.

Monday, March 10:
7-9, Committee of Budget and Fiscal Oversight. Recommendations for FY 2015-19 capital improvements program.
Tuesday, March 11:
7:15-10, Town Council meeting. Council Chambers.
Wednesday, March 12:
7PM, Planning Board: Amendments to Zoning Ordinance, Land use chapter of Comprehensive Plan discussion; 33 Mt Auburn St development continued until another meeting. For information, please call the Planning Department 617-972-6417.
Thursday, March 13:
7-9, COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPER MEETING, 202 ARSENAL STREET. CCG ABUTTERS PARTICULARLY INVITED. ALL WELCOME. IT IS A PUBLIC MEETING. Plans available at Town website, http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13898. Crucial meeting to discuss size, density, massing of the building and all the other issues. Let us know if you need more information.
7-9, Historical Commission, Lower Hearing Room.
7:15-9, Personnell and Town Organization. Council Chambers.
Tuesday, March 18:
7-9, Watertown Housing Partnership, Project update of affordable housing final review for 45 Bacon/60 Howard residential development; Public hearing, FY 2014 amendment to Home Budget and Annual Action Plan.
Thursday, March 20:
5:15-7, Joint meeting of Economic Development and Planning and Public Works Subcommittees to discuss cell and antenna/tower for Watertown.
Tuesday, March 25:
7:15-10, Town Council, Council Chambers.

Thanks for all you do.
Sustainable Watertown

Dear Sustainable Watertown,

Now that the Federal primary elections are over we hope that you are enjoying this beautiful weather and the colorful skies. There is lots to do and think about to fill your time in Watertown. Some major issues in the next few weeks and TONIGHT:

Tuesday, October 29: Protective of our Planet? Perplexed about Plastics? Puzzled about What To Do? Join us for the movie BAG IT and discussion, 7-9PM at the Watertown Public Library.

BAG IT is a delightful light-hearted, yet piercing examination of the problem of overuse of throwaway plastics, particularly single-use plastic bags. Do you know that every single plastic bag that was ever made, still exists? Some are turned into other plastic objects, like trash cans and reusable shopping bags. We see bags caught in tree branches and littering our roadsides. But the largest percentage are in landfills and in the oceans. Have you looked up Pacific Gyre? It is a floating island of plastic trash the size of Texas in the ocean!

Join us to see the discoveries and some solutions that Jeb Berrier finds in this entertaining and fact-filled movie. It will change your life.
Brought to you by the Recycling Committee, Sustainable Watertown, and the Watertown Citizens Environmental Task Force.
Join us for the movie. It is free and suitable for all ages.
For more information write to info@sustainablewatertown.org.

Tuesday, November 5: VOTE. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. VOLUNTEER. Your elected officials will decide on important sustainability issues. They will vote on the planning process and zoning issues for years. VOTE YOUR VALUES. Ask questions of the candidates. Read up on their positions. Participate in your community.

Wednesday November 13: PLANNING BOARD decides on new housing developments, 7PM, Council Chambers, Town Hall. On the agenda is the 45 Bacon Street/80 Howard Street development which is near Pleasant Street. There may also be the 33 Mt Auburn Street development under consideration.
The Community Development and Planning Department and the Planning Board move fast. So far, extremely large developments have been accepted in a single hearing! The public has very little time to inform itself to be ready to participate. If you would like more information, please write to info@sustainableWatertown.org ASAP. And please check each of the links below.
Please take a look at the site plans that will be discussed: Bacon/Howard Streets: http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11961.
The site that gives all the projects in town with a variety of documentation for each may be found at http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/DocumentCenter/Index/635.
••As a community, we have to be prepared to comment on the appropriateness and sustainability of new developments here and how they will contribute to the neighborhoods that surround them. Please read up and come to the hearing, or a neighborhood meeting ready to discuss.

The Community Development and Planning Dept has notified us of another potential project at 33 Mt Auburn Street. It may be on the agenda. Check it out: :http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/12887.

Sign up for Notify Me so that you get these announcements directly and help us keep on top of potential developments: http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/list.aspx

In addition, there are rumors of a large "mixed use" (housing plus businesses/commercial) at the site Cresset Group proposed for the Walmart. Will it connect our neighborhoods, or separate them?

If you would like more information, or have ideas to share, write to us at info@sustainablewatertown.orgimmediately.Understanding these developments takes time. Some neighborhoods are planning informational get togethers. Let us know if you want to attend.

Get involved!

A Happy Halloween and GO SOX,
Thanks for all you do--and will do!
Sustainable Watertown

Dear Sustainable Watertown,

Enclosed are some meetings and events to attend, but also some town-wide issues to think about that need your attention.

Wednesday, August 7, 7:30pm, Conservation Commission, Lower Hearing Room. Department of Conservation and Recreation will discuss the yearly operation plan. Owner of 270 Pleasant Street requests a dog run on its property. GSA site update.

Thursday, August 8, 7pm Building and Grounds Subcommittee, Conference Room, School Dept, 30 Common Street, Capital Improvement Plan update.

August 8, 7pm Historical Commission, Lower Hearing Room: Hear a discussion about the potential Bacon Street residential development and Main Street commercial development.

August 8 and 15, Watertown Summer Concerts, Saltonstall Park, 6:30-8.

August 14, 7pm, Watertown Planning Board, Council Chambers: Residential permits and variances, including permission request for awning with signage to remain at 55 Bigelow Street, at the new Kay's Market. Comprehensive Plan update. Please see below to participate in the Comprehensive Plan.

August 25, Chemical Free Garden Tour, 1-5. For information email Salman at khan@gmail.com.

August 28, 7-8pm. 50th Anniversary Public Reading of I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King, Jr, Watertown Charles River Dock. Sponsored by Watertown Citizens and World in Watertown.

NOTIFY ME: You can sign up for Notices of Town Government meetings and events: Please go to the town website and select all the committees you'd like to hear from directly. It's pretty easy to do. http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/list.aspx

Mt Auburn Street Redo: Watertown residents will have a chance to voice their opinions on design options. http://watertown.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/residents-wil...

Potential New Developments in Watertown. The Planning Department has made public possible site plans for developments in Watertown that are being considered. No official applications have been made yet, but we appreciate the town's commitment to keeping residents informed.Please look at two possible developments that will need our attention in the near future, one at 45 Bacon Street: http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11961 the other at 33 Mt Auburn Street:http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/12887. The page that gives all the town's projects with various entries for each address can be found at http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/DocumentCenter/Index/635. If you sign up for Notify Me, you will be kept apprised of meetings and also new issues in development in town. We know that we need thoughtful consideration of site use and planning. Here's your chance to be ready to participate.

In addition, please add your voice to the Comprehensive Plan. Check out the Envision Watertown 2013 MindMixer website. It is updated each month. You are asked to comment, post photos of Watertown and elsewhere and tell us what is important to you---it is one of the most active sites of its kind in the nation and allows you to send suggestions and comments. The Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for completion December 2013. Thanks to Planners Steve Magoon and Gideon Schreiber for this information. Links to project-related websites are:

http://www.vhb.com/watertowncompplan/
http://www.envisionwatertowncompplan.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Watertown2013ComprehensivePlan

Library Historical Collection: You may still want to write to your Library Trustees to show your support for maintaining the historical collection on site. It appears that there might be solutions to the stated problem of space: apparently, the storm water files required to be maintained are available on CD and the originals are allowed to be saved elsewhere. For the names of Library Trustees, see ci.Watertown.ma.us, the town website, for lists.

Your reward for reading this far: The Watertown Public Art Mural Project is fabulous! Congratulations to our muralist, Gregg Bernstein and his crew of Watertown High School interns. Take a look: http://blog.watertownbikeped.org.

Let us know what you are thinking. Get ready to volunteer in September.
Have a great summer.
Sustainable Watertown

Dear Sustainable Watertown and Neighborhood Networkers,

Join us this Wednesday, July 30, 7-8:30 PM for a brainstorming session for Sustainable Watertown at the Library, main room. Help us plan for the future and keep abreast of all the amazing and fraught things happening in Watertown. We need to set some goals and share the work for the next season.

We are in the process of correcting our lists. If you get a duplicate, please bear with us. If you haven't yet been unsubscribed, it will happen soon.

It has been a busy month again for Development issues. 202 Arsenal Street won approval at the ZBA for a special permit and will be starting to build any time now. Neighborhood groups and individuals raised important issues before the developer meeting which were noted by the Planning Department and sent to the Hanover and Cresset developers. Hanover reneged on a promised second meeting at which Sustainable Watertown had organized some crucial topics for discussion in depth. That document as well as the Network summaries were included in the Planning Department Report (which supported the development). We had many people in attendance at the Board meetings. However, very few improvements were made in the plans which are a specialty of Hanover and used, nearly in toto in many communities, mostly suburbs, around the country. We had hoped for place-based sensitivity and connections to our already existing community, but to no avail, other than a guaranteed bike path down from Birch Street to the island enclave below. We will have to work harder to include the new residents in town activities. We remain hopeful.
One victory you’ve heard about is the requirement for a developer meeting. We had hoped for at least two, but one is now assured by vote of the Council. Unfortunately, the only legal invitees are abutters. To maneuver around this limited publicity, please sign up for Notify Me on the town website and read notices from your friendly citizen groups and Councilors. Another excellent occurrance is the participation of some Councilors and the Planning Department in community meetings about both Arsenal and Pleasant Street zoning improvements.
The draft Comprehensive Plan has been slowly moving through joint meetings of the Council Subcommittee on Economic Development and Planning (Corbett, Falkoff, Piccirelli) and the Planning Board with the Planning Department. All elements from the Vision to the particular goals and strategies are read and comments solicited. The public has been invited to speak and the officials have been most open and amenable to suggestions from the few of us in attendance.Your comments by mail are most welcome and important. Each participant has prepared carefully by studying the language and implications for Watertown’s future and for implementing zoning changes. It is slow going, and appropriately so. However, community members and officials are all concerned that galloping development proposals will outrun the town’s ability for sensible sustainable projects because the vision, goals, and zoning changes will not have been implemented in time for Watertown to make a stand. For this reason, citizens petitioned and gathered support for rapid responses to the particular issues presented by the Arsenal Street plans. Hundreds of signatures were collected. However, pleas to the ZBA to "continue" the 202 Arsenal Street development until after the citizen initiated hearing was held the next week by the Council went unanswered. The special permit was approved unanimously so that the huge development can begin without clarifying interfacing and interconnections with other developments to come in areas such as traffic and transitions to the community. AthenaHealth has approval for an Overlay District not including a garage structure.
Meanwhile, local groups, individuals, and supporters of sustainable development collected signatures for the Moratorium on development on Arsenal Street until a master plan could look at infrastructure, traffic and circulation, density issues, green space, interconnectivity, etc and an architect could develop design standards. More than 150 names were certified. Council President Sideris called a Special Council meeting July 22. Because the Council did not seem to have the votes for a Moratorium-- though other cities and towns have instituted them, including Watertown before completion of the Pleasant Street Corridor Plan-- another petition was circulated by CCG, the Concerned Citizens neighborhood group. This one called for hiring an architect/master planner to work with the Planning Department in case the Moratorium failed. More than 200 signatures were collected from all over town.
The Special Council Meeting was well attended and again, many residents made strong statements. The Council President had asked the Planning Department to come up with a plan to satisfy some of the basic issues raised by residents without calling for a Moratorium on development. Steve Magoon, Director of Community Planning and Development and now also Assistant Town Manager presented the compromise plan. It was unanimously approved by the Council and will be discussed further at the next Council meeting. Introduction and proposal from Mr Magoon are as follows:
/////Moratorium
We have heard the concern from residents regarding the development activity that has taken place and is being proposed, particularly in the Arsenal Street corridor. One result is tonight’s hearing regarding a proposal to create a moratorium on development within the Arsenal Street corridor.
A moratorium is a serious and significant step to take, and one that should not be taken lightly. It can have the effect of suggesting to the region that we are closed for business, and this is not a place to invest in or bring business to. It also not only affects proposed development projects, but also prospective projects, it affects property owners, and it affects the industries that feed this system, including designers, financiers, suppliers, construction trades, etc. Therefore it is a step that should be approached very cautiously.
Proposal
I would propose that we undertake an analysis and creation of Design Standards and Design Guidelines. This will allow the Town to develop a more specific set of standards that address how a project is designed, within the envelope that zoning allows. It will give us an opportunity to give greater definition to how new projects look, how they relate to adjoining properties and neighborhoods, and how they address issues like circulation, step backs and transition areas. Design Guidelines then take the next step of providing guidance to how projects can achieve the elements described in the Standards.
While the projects immediately before the Town on Arsenal Street seem to be driving the primary concern, I would suggest that this effort apply more broadly. The design concerns and consideration that have been expressed can and should also apply to projects in the major street corridors in other areas of Town. I believe that this is a better use of Town resources and will result in a more meaningful result in the long term, and can help us address similar concerns elsewhere.
Design Standards and Guidelines can be developed and vetted through a public process that would involve interested parties, while also striving to be as quick as possible.
As the Council is aware, the Community Development and Planning Office is a very busy office these days, and I would propose that we enlist some outside assistance to complete this process. I don’t have a good idea of the total cost at this point, but would suggest that if it is an approach acceptable to the Council, that staff be given an opportunity to put together a scope and cost estimate for Council consideration for the August meeting. I will also need to work with the Town Manager to address the necessary funding for such an effort. As time is of the essence for this concept to be effective, I would suggest a quick turn around and would also place a premium on a process that can be completed in a timely fashion./////

The Moratorium vote, which was the reason the meeting was called, was 6-3 with Dushku, Falkoff, and Palomba voting yes. Cecilia Lenk suggested funding be found for additional permanent staff as soon as possible, notwithstanding the approval of the architect/master planner to aid in conceptualizing the corridor(s). President Sideris also asked the Planning Department to inventory prospective developers and work with the Council President to arrange a Town Hall community meeting in the Fall for discussion in general about what Watertown would like to see here.

July 23 the ZBA approved a special permit for the hotel at Arsenal and Elm Streets. The Pirolli plans for 300 residences with commercial has had site plan reviews. http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15152
Tuesday, July 29, 9AM, CVS has a Site Plan Review in the Lower Hearing Room, Town Hall, for a 14,000 sq ft store at the gas station and Elks properties at Mt Auburn and Arlington Streets.
Monday, August 4 a CVS developer meeting is scheduled for 6:30PM, Coolidge School Apartments. Plans are available at the town website:
http://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15384.
The Staff Report on CVS can’t be too far ahead, so now is the time to meet in the neighborhoods and get your thoughts organized before the developer meeting and the hearings.

Thursday, August 14, 7PM, Council Chambers, the Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee will discuss Transition Zones. Councilor Dushku writes: "Transition Zones and what we allow in them are not new issues here in Watertown but I was able to get a new referral of this matter to the economic development committee of the town council. So, on August 14, this committee will discuss the low and medium density residential areas that abut commercial or industrial zones. My motion asked for discussion on 'analysis' and 'planning' in these areas. We know that there are new developments under consideration for a few of these. Houses on these streets could be discussed so please, tell people you know there to show up at the meeting at Town Hall: Acton St, Arlington St, Cottage Ln, Clarendon St, Crawford St, Hearn St, Kondazian St, Midland Rd, Molloy St, Norseman Ave, Parker St, Phillips St, Pleasant St, School Ln, Swetts Ct, Waltham St, Washburn St.”
Your anticipation of issues and potential solutions as well as zoning implications are very important.
Monday, August 18, 7PM, Joint meeting of the Economic Development Subcommittee and the Planning Board meets to continue going over the Draft Comprehensive Plan.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TUESDAY JULY 29:
RETHINK PLASTIC WILL EDUCATE, ILLUMINATE, AND CONTEMPLATE WHAT TO DO ABOUT SINGLE USE PLASTICS-- IS IT TIME FOR WATERTOWN TO INNOVATE? Cities and towns all over the country and the state of Hawaii have banned bags and styrofoam as have cities in Massachusetts as well. 7PM, Coolidge Apartments. Please Join the Discussion.

THE TAPESTRY OF CULTURES, Watertown’s second public art project is underway. Read all about it and enjoy photos.http://blog.watertownbikeped.org/2014/07/watertown-mural-2014-painting-f...

Thanks for all you do.
Please help us brainstorm for Sustainable Watertown Wednesday, July 29, 7-8:30, Library.
Sustainable Watertown
info@sustainablewatertown.org.

Dear Sustainable Watertown,
We hope that you have a chance to enjoy the gorgeous weather today and tomorrow.

Tuesday (today) July 30: 6pm. Special Town Council Meeting for an Informational presentation of the Mt Auburn Street Project. This is the first major public hearing of a plan and we hope that there will be continuing discussion. We can't fully anticipate the plan for Mt Auburn Street, but here are a couple of links that will interest Sustainable Watertown members concerning traffic calming and at the same time moving traffic on roads that are shared with bike riders and pedestrians. http://www.walkablewestbluff.org/resources/183.pdf http://walkablestreets.wordpress.com/2003/08/17/economic-merits-of-road-...
These articles contain references to many issues discussed by the Complete Streets model of the MA Dept of Transportation. Watertown is in the process of adopting these standards. Public input to determine values and goals from which the design of streets will evolve is an important component. Take a look at these articles, send us your comments, and let us know of other articles you find.
The Special Council Meeting will also discuss snow plowing of private ways. Your town councilors will know more after tonight and plans will be in the papers and on line. Check out SustainableWatertown.org and http://www.watertown-ma.gov for details.

Wednesday, July 31, 7pm, Zoning Board of Appeals, Council Chambers. Meeting will discuss private variances, etc, and also placing a cell phone antenna at 65 Main Street, at the Armenian Library and Museum. This building is in the Central Business District in Watertown Square and next door are the fire station and public library.

Thursday, August 1, 6:30-8pm, Watertown Summer Concert Series, Saltonstall Park. 'Tarbone will perform this week. See you there! 8/8 Love Dogs; 8/15 Sunny and her Joy Boys with Duke Robillard. Rain? Please check at 617-972-6431 after 4pm.

Cambridge and Boston have Hubway bicycle rentals and now Waltham is working on it. How about Watertown? We need your help. Please let us know because Thomas Theune is organizing a committee to get started. Want to know more? Write to info@sustainablewatertown.org.

Reduce our use of P L A S T I C S: A small group of Sustainable Watertown and Watertown Citizens members met to discuss plastics and their harm to the environment. (If you haven't heard, look up Pacific Gyre and know that they exist in every ocean). The MA legislature is working on reduction of plastics as well. Our Representative Jon Hecht has cosponsored a number of bills. H.696 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/House/H696) particularly relates to plastic bags. Brookline is the most recent town to ban distribution of single use plastic bags and won approval from the Attorney General to do so. We would like to work on a local initiative that focuses on reducing plastic, particularly plastics that cannot be recycled at all, or incompletely, such as plastic bags and styrofoam. We identified three possible goals for such an initiative: 1) Review and improve town and school practices. 2) Reduce the use of plastic bags by local retailers--perhaps subsidizing cloth bags, fees on one-time plastic bags, legislation; 3) Increasing awareness of citizens and retailers to change plastic use. We would like to team up with members of other local groups such as the Recycling Committee and the W3E to build support, formulate an approach, and coordinate our efforts. Would you, or your group like to participate? Can you recommend other groups? We have scheduled a meeting Wednesday, September 11 at 7pm at the library. Please pass the word and plan to attend. Remember, every single plastic bag that has ever been made still exists in some form, mostly in our oceans.

New Watertown Recycling Center is open at 76 Stanley Ave.

Have a great summer. And thanks for all you do.
Sustainable Watertown.