A divided City Council accepts car wash donation, takes action on ADUs

The City Council took the following actions at its Monday night meeting:

• Voted 9-5 to accept a donation from Prestige Car Wash for $5,000 worth of free car washes to city servants and unlimited car washes for Police Department vehicles. Councilors opposed to accepting the donation said they believe it could represent a conflict of interest, as Prestige Car Wash has had recent business dealings before councilors and may have to go before the City Council in the future. Councilors who voted against accepting the donation were Councilor-at-Large Colleen Bradley-MacArthur, Ward 6 Councilor Sean T. Durkee, Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris, Ward 7 Councilor Paul S. Katz and Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan.
• Sent a proposal to change the city’s regulations on building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to its Ordinances and Rules Committee for further deliberation. The proposal seeks to make it easier for residents to build ADUs. 
• Tasked its Ordinances and Rules Committee to consider how to streamline the process required to obtain special permits from the city.
• Approved the installation of three bench plaques at the property of the former Fernald State School. The plaques memorialize Tom Curtin, the Battaglino and Durkee families, and Thomas and MaryAnn Centofanti. 
• Recognized that the City of Waltham was awarded the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association award for the design of the Fernald property. Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said the award recognized the design plan to divide the sprawling property at 200 Trapelo Road into five sections. The sections will be a nature area, a memorial area, a “universal” area, a theatre/arts area and an athletic area. The award does not have a monetary component.
• Approved a major National Grid project to replace more than 2,000 feet of gas main on Second Avenue.

Update: We have added the names of councilors who voted against accepting the donation from Prestige Car Wash to this article.