Watertown City Council
Tuesday June 27, 2023
Clickable Transcript Printable Transcript Agenda
The order of items in transcripts appear in the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.
7A
Megan Langan, representing the City of Watertown, addressed the city council to request confirmation of Malcolm LLP (formerly known as Melanson) for conducting the audits of fiscal years 22 and 23. She highlighted the urgency of this confirmation due to being behind schedule, largely because of transitional challenges, and expressed her intention to issue a request for proposal for the fiscal year 24 audit following these audits. This continuity with the same audit firm is aimed at streamlining the process and catching up on the audit schedule.
Show more... Show less
8A
George Proakis, representing the City of Watertown, addressed a public hearing to discuss proposed increases in water and sewer rates for the fiscal year 24, advocating for a 5.5% increase in water rates and a 6% increase for sewer rates. He acknowledged receiving analyses from the Abrams group, indicating that these proposed increases are lower than previous projections. Proakis highlighted the potential for ARPA funding to reduce these increases, presenting a scenario where if ARPA funding is fully allocated to water projects, recommended rates could be reduced halfway through the year. Future projected increases in the 5-year plan could also see a decrease if ARPA funding is secured. Superintendent St. Louis echoed the sentiment of addressing infrastructure needs to ultimately lower rates. Resident Alodia Thomas and council members discussed the importance of managing these rate increases thoughtfully, considering the impact on the community. The possibility of adjusting rates with the help of ARPA funding was a key point of discussion, highlighting a proactive approach to managing the financial burden on residents.
Show more... Show less
8C
The agenda included a public hearing and vote on a petition from Eversource to install and maintain conduit lines spanning various lengths at Howard Street, Westminster Ave, and Main Street to provide electric service to the temporary Moxley High School location. Despite the absence of a representative from Eversource, the necessity of this work was emphasized for the progress of the high school project, highlighting the alignment with the Department of Public Works' recommendations and considerations. Greg provided an update on behalf of the project, detailing the civil work involved in installing these conduits across the specified areas to serve the high school, describing it as a straightforward project for such a development.
Show more... Show less
9A
During the public hearing, Proakis appreciated the council's approval of the fiscal year 24 budget and discussed the need for a reorganization plan for city departments. He mentioned a successful negotiation with the union regarding city hall employee positions. The council then opened the floor for public comments on the reorganization, but none were made. A motion was made to approve the city manager's reorganization plan. Questions arose about the specific roles within the community development and planning division, with explanations provided on the separation of long-range and current planning responsibilities. Further clarifications were sought on the long-range planning staff's inclusion of positions like a senior planner for economic development and the rationale behind it. Additionally, there were questions about the organizational structure within the Department of Public Works and the roles and reporting lines, particularly regarding the assistant superintendent for the Sewer Water Division.
Show more... Show less
10A
Magoon presented an amendment related to a slight relocation of the pedestrian connection between 85 Walnut Street and the Gables development, enhancing access from Arsenal Street to Birch Road and further to public open spaces and Walnut Street itself. This modification acknowledges a shift of about 6 feet in the connecting path. Piccirilli motioned to approve the amendment for a temporary construction easement to facilitate this change, authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement. Feltner sought clarification on community concerns, particularly regarding the temporary removal and restoration of a fence near the arsenal, and confirmed with Magoon that despite the current temporary status, this pathway is intended to become a permanent pedestrian corridor, with additional easement documents for the 85 Walnut project anticipated for future council consideration.
Show more... Show less
10B
This section of the public hearing discussed the proposal to assign the name "Technology Way" to a new private roadway located on private property stretching from Galen Street to Water Street, previously referred to as Water Street extension or a new Water Street. The name was proposed by the applicant after Public Safety raised concerns about confusion with the initial name, leading to all parties agreeing on "Technology Way" as suitable. A motion was made to assign this name, despite a typo in the documentation that was promised to be corrected. Questions were raised regarding the procedural steps for naming versus creating a private way, the council's authority in this process, and future responsibilities like snow plowing. It was clarified that the council's role was solely to name the roadway, as the creation of private ways falls under development discussions, and maintenance responsibilities like snow plowing would be managed through an easement agreement with the city.
Show more... Show less
10C
At a city council meeting, Sideris introduced an agenda item to transfer $29,000 from various fiscal year 2023 police department accounts into the police vehicle replacement account to purchase new motorcycles, a budget request previously mentioned by Mr. Manuchar. Piccirilli made a motion to approve this fund transfer. However, Palomba expressed concerns about the source of the funds, particularly questioning the reduction in crime prevention budget by $55,000 to finance this purchase, noting the absence of police department representation to provide explanations. Proakis responded, offering limited insight that the police chief had identified the funds as unused for the fiscal year, with only days remaining, but could not provide further details without investigation.
Show more... Show less
10D
In the discussed public hearing, Proakis thanked the local police and Hampton Inn And Suites for offering vouchers for free nights to individuals in emergency situations, as allowed under mass general law chapter 44 section 53a. He requested the council’s approval to make these vouchers available through the police department. Piccirilli moved to approve the acceptance and expenditure of $900 from Hampton Inn And Suites for the vouchers. Feltner inquired if the initiative was in response to recent emergencies like fires, leading to people being displaced. Proakis replied that the offer from the Hampton Inn was to provide emergency shelter to those in need in Watertown, acknowledging that such emergencies do occur.
Show more... Show less
10E
Proakis introduced the first reading of a proposal, inviting Mr. Saint Louis to provide further details. The initiative aligns with the capital strategy for enterprise funds. The Superintendent explained the ongoing effort, now in its third year, to remove lead services throughout the town, highlighting it as a significant citywide program. Efforts have been made to integrate the removal of lead services with existing water system enhancements and align them with both full-depth paving and Milan overlay programs, wherever feasible. Additionally, there's a focus on clearing out individual streets to meet both short-term and long-term objectives.
Show more... Show less
10G
The discussion revolves around the first reading of proposed zoning ordinance amendments aimed at reducing the maximum floor area ratio in the central business district. This matter had previously been referred to the planning board, which convened a hearing on it a few weeks prior. In accordance with the city charter, the initial 10 people who petitioned have been officially notified by mail about these proceedings set for July, and the proposal has been duly advertised for public awareness. The next meeting will further address this topic.
Show more... Show less
10H
This section discusses the first reading of proposed zoning ordinance amendments related to transition requirements between various zoning districts and the clarification of special permit granting authority. The amendments, which had been previously referred to and discussed by the planning board, are set to be on the agenda for the July 11th meeting. Notification efforts for the involved parties were confirmed, and the expectation of receiving planning board reports by the July meeting was clarified. Additionally, the agenda includes committee reports, specifically from the Committee on Human Services, concerning their meeting held on May 11th.
Show more... Show less
13A
Proakis addressed a request to the council regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals, advocating for the appointment of Samuel O'Donnell as an alternate member, Alexander Dale as a full member, and the reappointment of Christopher Heap as a full member, with their respective terms ending in 2025, 2027, and 2028. He highlighted the extensive selection process, including discussions with a residents' advisory committee and interviews conducted by himself and Assistant City Manager Steve McGoon. Proakis emphasized the objective to ensure a balanced representation on the board and expressed his hope that the new appointments and reappointment would contribute positively to the board's composition, submitting his recommendations for the council's referral.
Show more... Show less
13B
Proakis expressed gratitude to the President and discussed the reappointment of PACE and Whitney to the planning board until February 2026, alongside the appointment of Rachel Sac until February 15, 2027. He highlighted Whitney's valuable contributions as an engineer and a board member, and introduced Rachel Sac as a new addition. Sac's background includes work at the Volt B Transportation System Center in Cambridge, involvement in community outreach, and research programs for the US Department of Transportation, which Proakis believes will enrich the board's experience. He requested a referral on this matter.
Show more... Show less
13C
PROAKIS addressed the President regarding the reappointment of Jill Hyde, Leo Patterson, and David Leon for 2-year terms to the affordable housing trust. He highlighted that although each had served only one year, the resident advisory committee recommended their reappointment due to the initial staggered terms and the trust's relatively brief operational period. PROAKIS agreed with the recommendation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the current trust board composition and requested support for the reappointments.
Show more... Show less
13D
Proakis requested the reappointment of Russ Arrigo and Eileen Ryan to the solid waste and recycling advisory committee and announced the posting of the human resources director position, with more positions expected to be opened based on the fiscal year 24 budget. He also mentioned an upcoming report on the human resources department, the involvement of higher peril consulting for both the fire chief and police chief assessment centers, and the introduction of a three-step process for selecting the new police chief that includes a public meeting and a police department staff survey. Additionally, the latest draft of the comprehensive plan was published on the city’s website, incorporating community feedback. The farmers market commenced its 10th season, running through October 25th, with a free concert series occurring concurrently. The city clerk's office closure on June 30th for document preservation was announced, with a reminder of the Independence Day closure. Finally, he mentioned the Fair on the Square event scheduled for September 23rd, highlighting sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.
Show more... Show less
14. Request For Information
Feltner addressed the President, requesting templates or instructions for scheduling meetings and creating agendas, highlighting confusion and IT system upgrades. Additionally, Feltner raised concerns about the stage at Salt Park blocking accessible pedestrian pathways, preventing passage from White's Ave to the Boys And Girls Club and alongside the stage.
Show more... Show less
16. Public Forum
Elodia expressed appreciation before highlighting the unique practice of the CPC which publishes short bios for each committee member on its website. She emphasized the importance of transparency and suggested extending this practice to all boards and committees due to the frequent changes and new appointments, which often leave members as unknown entities to others. Elodia argued that a brief background of each member would facilitate better understanding and communication, thus avoiding the need to research individuals on platforms like LinkedIn or through mutual contacts. She questioned whether to direct her request to the president or the manager, and apologized for possibly not following proper protocol. Her proposal aims for a concise and clear presentation of each member's background and their reasons for appointment to foster transparency.
Show more... Show less