Waltham Budget Hearing Starts Tomorrow

The city would see a 3.1 percent increase in spending under the proposed budget.

The city's Finance Committee budget hearing will begin tomorrow, May 21, at City Hall. The session will begin at 8 a.m. and likely run until 5 p.m., according to City Clerk Russ Malone. Department heads and city officials will review and discuss the fiscal 2014 budget for potential changes. The hearing could run into a second day, if necessary, Malone said.  Mayor Jeannette McCarthy's proposed budget totals $225 million which includes a 3.1 percent increase of approximately $6 million, according to a copy of the mayor's budget. Of that figure, $68 million would be budgeted for the Waltham Public Schools.  As is normal practice, a final vote on the budget will take place at a later date. 

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Waltham City Councillor Resigns

A Waltham City Councillor is aiming for another city job.

Waltham City Councillor Thomas Curtin has resigned from the City Council. Curtin, who has served on the council for 12 years, told Waltham Patch he plans to apply for the assistant city clerk position. Kevin Ritcey, the current assistant clerk, plans to retire on June 28, according to City Clerk Russ Malone.  While Curtin plans to apply for the assistant clerk job, he said he would have resigned regardless of the opening.  "It's one of those things where everybody comes to this point in their life. For me, this was it,” Curtin said. “Now is the right time for me." Curtin's seat will remain unfilled until November when a new councillor is elected, according to Malone. Curtin announced his resignation during a Monday, May 13 council meeting …

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What's Happening

5 Things: Council Meeting

Check out what's happening today in Waltham.

Today's weather forecast -- 77 degrees and rainy. The Waltham City Council will meet at 8 p.m. at City Hall. WeightWatchers will hold its weekly meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 101 School St.  Stay up to date with Waltham news with our free, daily newsletter. The Waltham Public Schools will begin MCAS testing today the math test.

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Waltham Teacher Announces Run For City Council Seat

The teacher plans to challenge an incumbent city councillor.

A Waltham High School teacher has announced he will run for the Ward 8 City Council seat. Francis X. Stanton, a U.S. History teacher, said in a statement he has pulled nomination papers to get on the ballot for the September primary election. Ward 8 Councillor Stephen Rourke told Waltham Patch he intends to seek reelection but has not yet taken out nomination papers.  Stanton, who previously lost a bid to become a state representative for Waltham, cited several reasons for running including attracting development to the downtown area. "I would like to see the Southside flourish as a neighborhood. Accordingly, with input from the neighborhood, a possible further extension of Moody Street’s business district should be explored. Any such plan…

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Waltham City Councillor Finished Marathon Seconds Before Bombing

Waltham City Councillor Ken Doucette was within one block of the blasts at the Boston Marathon.

Waltham City Councillor Kenneth Doucette crossed the Boston Marathon finish line around the four-hour mark when suddenly a happy day under the sun turned to blood and mayhem in the streets. Two bombs detonated within one block of Doucette. The blasts killed three and injured more than 170 others, according to authorities. Law enforcement officials, including from the FBI, are investigating the attack, but have not yet pinned blame on anybody. A day after the attack, however, Doucette is trying to focus on what he sees as the positive aspects of the attack. “The Boston Marathon has always represented something ‘good in this world’ and in the face of yesterday’s violence we saw shining examples of that ‘good’ as first responders, medical …

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Where You Can Watch Waltham City Council Meetings Online

You don't have to have cable to watch Waltham City Council meetings.

Want to watch Waltham City Council meetings and don't have Waltham cable access station? Here is your solution -- watch the meetings LIVE online. The city is has begun broadcasting the bi-weekly city council meetings online here. The meetings are typically held at 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. NOTE: The link only broadcasts the meetings LIVE at their regular times. 

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Waltham to Further Study Temporary Medical Marijuana Ban

Under a proposed moratorium, Waltham would temporarily prohibit medical marijuana centers from opening in the city.

Waltham officials plan to further explore a proposed moratorium that would prohibit medical marijuana shops from opening until April 2014.  Councillors, during a Monday, April 8 public hearing at Waltham City Hall, reviewed the moratorium proposal that is intended to give city officials additional time to figure out where medical marijuana stores can be located. If approved, medical marijuana centers would be prohibited from opening until after April 2, 2014.  The Board of Survey & Planning also joined the hearing. Under state law, each county would have at least one medical marijuana center and a maximum of five. After some debate, the issue was referred to the Ordinance & Rules Committee. The Board of Survey & Planning will take up the …

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Proposed Medical Marijuana Moratorium to be Reviewed Tonight

Waltham officials have are seeking more time to finalize medical marijuana center regulations.

The public hearing for a proposed temporary moratorium on medical marijuana centers in Waltham will be held tonight, April 8, at 8 p.m. The hearing will be held at Waltham City Hall. and residents are welcome to attend and voice their opinion. City councillors are seeking the temporary to give them more time to review and possibly change zoning regulations that would govern where potential future medical marijuana centers could open.  In 2012, voters approved allowing medical marijuana centers to open in Massachusetts.   

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Waltham City Council Seeking Medical Marijuana Moratorium

A public hearing on the issue will be held on Monday, April 8.

Waltham city officials are seeking a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana stores opening in the city, according to City Councillor Ed Tarallo.  A public hearing will be held on Monday, April 8, at 8 p.m. at City Hall to review a proposed moratorium on the opening of any medical marijuana facilities, according to Tarallo. The proposal is intended to give city official time to review regulations for potential future medical marijuana centers, Tarallo said.  Technically, the proposal would be made through a zoning rules amendment. The moratorium would run until Waltham officials add a specific zoning use category to existing regulations.  “It does ban it for that time. It gives us an opportunity to study all the regulations, “ Tarallo …

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LETTER: Waltham Councillor Supports Starbucks Proposal

The following is a letter to the editor from Waltham City Councillor Tom Stanley.

The following is a letter to the editor from Waltham City Councillor Tom Stanley. ---------- Dear Editor: On Monday, March 25, the City Council recently heard from developers about a proposed Starbucks at the former Polaroid site at 1265 Main St. I am writing to express my support for this Starbucks, which would be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offer 18 outdoor seats and 26 inside seats. 1265 Main is a 280,000 square foot, mixed-use development on I-95/Rt. 128 in Waltham which will offer office space and shopping. The project’s developers requested special permits from the Council to operate a fast food establishment, a drive-thru at the site and open at 5 a.m. The Council’s Rules & Ordinance Committee will now further review the …

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