Watertown City Council
Tuesday September 12, 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.
Item 5
Sam Gallardi introduced Housing For All Watertown, a new grassroots group advocating for policies and projects to expand housing options for everyone in the community, highlighting the diverse support gathered from over 150 residents at their launch event. Their goal is to engage in local planning processes to address the urgent housing crisis. Linda Scott expressed gratitude towards the steps taken to enhance safety at a dangerous school crossing in Watertown, acknowledging noticeable improvements and presence of law enforcement.
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Item 6
Mark Sideris, the Council President, closed the public forum and proceeded with his report, mentioning that the Watertown Square consultant planned to conduct three days of meetings during the last week of November, coinciding with the council's scheduled meeting. He proposed a vote to move the council meeting from Tuesday, November 28th to Monday, November 27th to enable maximum attendance from the council members at these meetings. The manager was expected to provide more details in his communication.
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Item 7A
The city council issued a proclamation recognizing the Watertown Cooperative Nursery School for its 70th anniversary, celebrated on September 9, 2023, at StoryFest. The school, which has served hundreds of families across multiple generations, was commended for providing a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment that supports children's self-directed learning and whole group experiences. It encourages children to play, tinker, make mistakes, and reflect on their own thinking, thereby facilitating both success and failure as part of their learning process. The nursery school's commitment to involving families in their children's preschool experience and its cooperative model of governance that values all perspectives and fosters a cohesive community were highlighted. The city council extended its congratulations to the school for its significant contributions to the Watertown community, marking the occasion with the city's great seal on September 12, 2023.
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Item 7B
The Watertown City Council held a session where they honored members of the Burnham-Manning Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105. The proclamation highlighted the post's establishment on May 14, 1924, and its dedication to fostering camaraderie among US veterans of overseas conflicts, serving veterans, the military, and the community, and advocating on behalf of all veterans. Specific achievements noted included providing scholarships, nominating a teacher for the VFW Teacher of the Year award, significant investments in VA support, conducting over 350 hours of community service, and being recognized as the VFW Post of the Year in Massachusetts. The Watertown Veterans Services Department praised the VFW's contributions, including support for cemetery grave markers for veterans. Personal testimonies highlighted the positive impact of Post 1105 on individuals and the community. The council expressed appreciation and confirmed the delivery of a framed copy of the proclamation to the post.
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Item 8A
During a public hearing, Cambridge Network Solutions petitioned for a grant of location to install underground and aerial telecommunications infrastructure within Winter and Summer Streets, aimed at servicing 149 Main Street, with provisions from the Department of Public Works (DPW) being mandatory upon approval. Jeffrey Harrington, representing the company, explained the necessity for trenching near a town-owned manhole and running a line to an existing utility pole to connect to their network, ensuring minimal intrusiveness and adherence to DPW requirements. Concerns were raised by Marie Danziger, a local resident, regarding the project's necessity to disrupt a private street, its costs, and potential alternatives. Chris McClure, the city's chief information officer, addressed these concerns by highlighting the project's non-invasive nature, its role in enhancing the city's internet infrastructure without incurring costs to the city, and the minor tax revenue it would generate. Harrington reassured the community about minimizing disruption during construction, particularly in relation to local events and the specific areas of excavation. Issues about the physical burden on utility poles due to additional cabling were also discussed. The City Council entertained a motion to approve the petition, with discussions touching upon unused wires on poles and emphasizing the project's benefits to city infrastructure while considering public concerns about existing infrastructure load.
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Item 8B
The public hearing focused on a vote for a proposed loan of $261,568 intended for the first year of a centralized managed services plan as part of the IT cybersecurity capital plan for fiscal year 2024 in Watertown. George Proakis highlighted the plan's aim to bolster 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring, disaster recovery, and ensure IT program continuity against cyber threats. Mr. McClure emphasized the initiative as a significant enhancement to current cybersecurity efforts, allowing for comprehensive monitoring, best practices, and early threat detection. He explained it as a consolidation of existing expenses, offering more efficient resource use and access to expert services. The plan also supports continuity by leveraging institutional knowledge and enhances disaster recovery capabilities. The motion to approve the loan was made by Piccirilli, with Feltner expressing support and highlighting the positive community response to IT improvements and the consolidation of services for enhanced cybersecurity in Watertown.
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Item 9A
Item number 9 on the agenda included the first reading of a proposed ordinance to establish a Human Rights Commission, a measure related to the recently passed New City Charter. This step comes after the ordinance was thoroughly examined and crafted through numerous committee meetings, with assistance and review by KP Law. Some minor adjustments have been recognized and will be addressed in a meeting scheduled in two weeks, marking the preliminary phase in the process of officially creating the Human Rights Commission.
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Item 9B
This section discusses the first reading of a proposed ordinance to establish a salary for the newly created position of municipal policy analyst. This role, recently added to the city charter, is designed to assist the city council in its policy-making endeavors by providing guidance to the city manager on various initiatives. The salary setting process for this position is consistent with the practices established for similar roles, including the city manager, city auditor, and city council clerk.
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Item 9C
During a council meeting, the discussion focused on the proposal to implement in-person early voting for the upcoming municipal election on November 7, 2023, in line with the Votes Act. The Elections Commission had previously voted unanimously to offer early voting on October 31, November 1, and November 2, but required council approval to proceed. While vote by mail is mandated and will be available, in-person early voting for local elections is optional and seen as beneficial for providing voters with more flexibility. The choice of dates for early voting was based on historical data indicating these were peak times for voter turnout. Concerns were addressed regarding the impact on staff workload and the decision not to extend voting hours beyond 4 p.m. or to include weekends, based on past experience and the need to manage resources effectively. The early voting will take place at City Hall, emphasizing operational efficiency and the allocation of staff to manage the elections alongside their regular duties.
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Item 9D
The Watertown City Council discussed an order for a grant of easements related to the property at 85 Walnut Street, presented by the city manager. The development involves the creation of public access easements, including pedestrian and bicycle pathways connecting Walnut Street to Arsenal Street and adjacent areas, and the reallocation of a sewer line. Concerns were voiced by council members regarding the design and maintenance of these pathways, especially the bicycle path's suitability and safety due to it being more pedestrian-focused. Questions were raised about maintenance responsibilities, oversight, contingencies for non-maintenance, and the adequacy of signage and separations for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, the lighting of the pathway and its implications for safety and usability during night hours were discussed, with a need for further clarification on plans for solar-powered lighting. The arrangement also includes legal rights for bicyclists to use a specified path and establishes clear demarcations for the easements to ensure the safety of all users.
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Item 9E
The council discussed a resolution to transfer $29,000 from the fiscal year 2024 human resources full-time salaries account to the contracted services account to cover the costs associated with employing a temporary human resources director through a temp agency. This transfer is necessary while the search for a permanent HR director continues, requiring council approval due to the movement of funds between salary and non-salary accounts. The temporary position has led to savings in the full-time salaries account, which can now be redirected to cover contracted services expenses. Auditor Megan Langan was present to address any additional queries. The memo mentioned by the deputy manager indicated that the permanent HR director position would remain vacant until October 12, 2023, ensuring the transfer also covers some overlap time for onboarding and feedback from the temporary director. Further details were promised in a later report.
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Item 9F
During a public hearing, a request was made to reallocate funds from the surplus of a completed handicap ramp project at the John A. Ryan Skating Arena towards interior ADA compliant improvements, including the installation of an ADA lift alongside new bleachers. The project, initially budgeted at $300,000, was completed under budget, leaving an excess of $166,000. The cost to install the new bleacher system had exceeded the budget by $30,000, and the ADA lift was projected to cost an additional $100,000. The arena's design includes galvanized steel with recycled plastic tops for the bleachers and aims to improve accessibility with a full ADA compliant row accessible via the new lift. Despite a slight reduction in seating capacity, the upgrade is seen as beneficial for accessibility without significantly impacting attendance. Legal counsel clarified that reallocating the funds did not require further approval as it does not constitute new borrowing and the funds were already available following the completion of the initial project.
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Item 10A
The Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight, chaired by Councilor Piccirilli, met on August 24th with members and various city officials including the city manager and auditor to discuss the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The discussion outlined the desired qualities and experiences for the CFO, emphasizing the need for strong financial management, collaboration, and experience in municipal budgeting. Key points included the CFO's role in operational and capital budgeting, long-term financial policy, and overseeing three city departments. Concerns were raised about the limited interest in the position since its posting in April, and the comparison to a similar position in Concord with higher pay. The committee unanimously supported hiring a search firm, Community Paradigm Associates, to help find suitable candidates, reflecting a proactive approach to addressing the recruitment challenge and ensuring the maintenance of Watertown's strong financial position.
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Item 10B
The Committee on Personnel and City Organization, chaired by Councilor Caroline Bays, convened on August 14th to discuss the hiring of a new Human Resources Director, in alignment with efforts to address organizational challenges within the city’s administration. The meeting, attended by various council members, city officials, and public participants, both in-person and via Zoom, focused on the findings of a recent HR study funded by the council. City Manager George Proakis and Deputy City Manager Emily Monea presented the study's outcomes, highlighting the need for strategic leadership, effective recruitment and retention, organizational development, and workflow efficiency in the HR department. Public comments emphasized the necessity for cultural change, training for public service members, and addressing discrimination issues, underscoring the HR Director's role in fostering an inclusive, accountable, and effective organizational culture. The discussion also touched upon the attributes desirable in an HR Director, including expertise in Massachusetts labor law, collective bargaining, performance management, and an ability to serve as the city's ADA officer. The meeting concluded with a broader reflection on the significance of establishing a robust HR department in the wake of discussions on racism and discrimination spurred by the murder of George Floyd, aiming to enhance the city's employee work environment and overall service delivery.
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Item 10C
The Committee on Human Services met on August 7th, with Councilor Palomba presiding alongside Vice Chair Councilor Bays and Secretary Councilor Gannon to discuss the reappointments of Jill Hyde and Leo Patterson to the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust. Hyde, with a strong background in real estate and affordable housing development, emphasized Watertown's progress and need for more affordable housing funding. Patterson, experienced in designing and constructing affordable housing, highlighted the trust's role in fostering more affordable options in Watertown. Both recommendations for reappointment were unanimously approved by the committee. The meeting, which also included attendance by Hyde and Patterson, concluded with unanimous approval to adjourn. Additionally, the committee put forth action items for the city council's vote.
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Item 11A
The agenda item introduced by Sideris involves a motion to send a revision of the requirements for community meetings concerning large projects to the committee on economic development and planning. This action was prompted by an oversight with a project on Manley Way which highlighted a loophole in the current stipulations. Sideris emphasized the importance of community meetings in the project planning process and expressed a desire to refine the regulations to ensure they are more inclusive and mandatory, thus preventing future occurrences where projects may bypass important community engagement due to technicalities.
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Item 12A
During a meeting, the discussion centered around the appointment to the Watertown Housing Authority's tenant representative position. The manager, following the guidelines of the Home Rule Charter and a council ordinance, proposed James Mello for the role, succeeding Patricia Santos. The recommendation came after a resident advisory committee interviewed three candidates and found Mello to be the suitable choice. His term is proposed to expire on May 15th, 2028.
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Item 12B
SIDERIS announced the referral of a new appointment to the committee on human services and then discussed the search for a Constituent Services Director, a position responsible for managing the 311 and Ace customer service process, with PROAKIS. PROAKIS had begun collecting resumes for the position and requested to speak with the council committee about the role's qualifications. SIDERIS then referred this matter to the committee on personnel and city organization, prompting PROAKIS to continue with the agenda.
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Item 13
During the public hearing, Proakis addressed several key points, including correcting the term expiration for a Public Arts and Culture Committee member, engaging Community Paradigm for the search for a new Chief Financial Officer, and announcing upcoming events for the Watertown Square process which includes public meetings and a design charrette aimed at discussing future zoning, land use, and roadway intersections. These events are part of a larger effort to involve the community in future planning initiatives. Furthermore, Proakis announced the new HR Director, Colleen Doyle, highlighting her extensive background and the anticipated contributions she will bring to Watertown's new human resources department. The session also covered operational updates such as the continuation of the farmers market and the fair in the square event. Lastly, council members raised inquiries about standard operating procedures for testing artificial turf samples and requested data related to the Department of Public Works' annual roads program to better understand the pavement condition index map.
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Item 14
Councilor Piccirilli announced a community zoom forum for Watertown High School scheduled for September 14th at 6 PM, focusing on the construction and demolition processes at the school's site. This meeting clashes with another on rodent control at 7 PM. Additionally, Councilor Palomba highlighted two upcoming meetings: the Committee on Human Services discussing the citywide rodent control plan on September 14th, and the Committee on Climate and Energy reviewing the climate and energy plan's implementation on September 21st. Documents for these meetings are available on the town's website under the "agenda packet" section. Furthermore, a joint meeting with the planning board to discuss and vote on the comprehensive plan is scheduled for September 21st, which will take place in person.
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