Watertown City Council
Tuesday October 24, 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
Residents of Watertown expressed their grievances regarding the Highland Ave road and curbing project at a public hearing, highlighting multiple issues that have arisen due to the project's execution. Paul Weeden criticized the project for limiting his driveway access, a situation echoed by other residents facing similar access issues. He called for the resignation of Tony Mancini due to his unyielding stance on modification requests and cited safety concerns, including incidents of pedestrians being injured. Linda Scott emphasized the road's danger, particularly to school children and the elderly, chastising the city for its negligence and poor project management. Joan Gumbelton and Elodia Thomas shared concerns about communication and safety, with Thomas also pointing to broader issues such as the condition of roads, sidewalks, and rising sewer and water rates. The community's frustration was palpable, with calls for prioritizing resident welfare and efficient use of upcoming ARPA funding to address these pervasive issues.
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Item 7 - Presidents Report
The discussion revolves around the financial aspects and updates of a high school project in Watertown. The President briefly mentioned the successful opening of Lowell School before transitioning to the main topic: a public hearing and vote regarding an amendment to increase the borrowing amount for the high school project. Initially approved at $198,844,252, the proposal now seeks to raise this to $216,118,750 due to a final budget increase necessitated by unforeseen cost rises, totaling a new projected cost of $218,736,171. Despite the increase, it was presented that, thanks to prudent financial planning and potential rebates for energy efficiency, the actual borrowing might not exceed $150,000,000. This assertion takes into account the efforts in managing expenses, including value engineering that saved approximately $19,000,000. The council is being asked to vote on authorizing the increased borrowing to meet the requirements of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), while emphasizing the efforts to keep actual costs as low as possible amidst challenging circumstances like inflation and supply chain issues affecting material costs.
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Item 8B
The discussion outlined proposed amendments to the fiscal year 2024 budget, focusing on adjustments in total revenue and expenditures. Proakis presented significant revenue adjustments, including an increase in real estate and property taxes by $4,600,026, higher state aid, hotel excise, and investment income, alongside a reallocation of opioid settlement funds. Expenditure adjustments detailed include decreased school choice assessment, increased charter school assessment, and substantial transfers to the Watertown Square stabilization fund and the capital project stabilization fund for construction and parks projects. These adjustments aim to accommodate the rising cost of materials and finalize elementary school projects, with total expenditure adjustments mirroring the revenue adjustments at $5,393,163. The discussion also clarified the reallocation of opioid settlement funds per state directives and addressed inquiries regarding the substantial increase in real estate and property tax revenue, attributed to faster-than-expected completion of construction projects.
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Item 8C
The proposed Amendment 2 to the fiscal year 2024 budget involves financing the Watertown Firefighters Association Local 1347 union contract, now in its second year of a three-year term. The process includes transferring $436,000 from the collective bargaining stabilization fund into the council reserve to finance the past fiscal year (FY23) and provide for the upcoming fiscal years (FY24 and FY25). This transfer is detailed as a necessary step before moving funds directly into the salaries account to cover the costs of the firefighter contract, as outlined further in the agenda item 9E. The request seeks support for this financial maneuver to ensure the contract is funded according to the agreed terms.
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Item 9A
In a discussion about property tax levy allocations for fiscal year 2024, Proakis highlighted a major change enabled by recent legislation that allows shifting a greater portion of the tax burden from residential to commercial property owners, correcting a situation that deviated from past practices due to regulatory minima. Specifically, a home rule petition, now Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2023, was signed into law, adjusting the tax burden distribution to alleviate pressures on residential taxpayers in Watertown. This adjustment is anticipated to decrease the average residential tax bill by approximately 9% to 10% for fiscal year 2024, a significant relief facilitated by legislative support and intended to rebalance the tax responsibilities between commercial and residential sectors.
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Item 9B
The resolution discussed involves the approval of accepting a significant donation of office furniture from the corporate entity Athena, which is being provided after their headquarters moved from the community. This donation includes desks, chairs, monitors, 75 sit-to-stand desks, and 150 monitors, aimed to outfit the renovated Parker School building and improve various city department offices, including the replacement of third-floor conference room chairs notorious for their squeakiness and discomfort. This gesture of goodwill from Athena is recognized with gratitude, with a notable mention that the school department will also benefit greatly from this contribution. The council is sought to formally accept this gift of tangible property for municipal improvement.
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Item 9C
The council discussed a resolution to accept a $250 donation from Peter Fuller, aimed at covering expenses for the annual 2023 haunted joyride event. Assistant treasurer collector, Kathy Morrison, highlighted the donation's significance in offsetting costs, seeking council approval in accordance with Chapter 44, 53A, and expressing gratitude towards Peter Fuller for his contribution to the community event.
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Item 9D
The council discussed a resolution (9d) to accept a donation of hockey equipment, valued at $2,500, from the Boston Bruins Foundation. The equipment is to be used in the upcoming Richard Moxley Field Court dedication event and will belong to the council afterwards for further use. Councillor Proakis expressed gratitude towards the Boston Bruins Foundation for their contribution and sought the council's approval for the acceptance of this gift.
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Item 9E
The resolution discussed involves transferring $1,157,000 from the fiscal year 2024 city council reserve account to various fire personnel accounts, with the purpose of funding the fire contract. This amount includes $460,000 previously removed from the collective bargain stabilization fund and is allocated to cover back pay for fiscal year 23 as well as fiscal year 24 expenses for the fire department, including salaries, overtime, holiday pay, and other benefits. The measure is presented as necessary for fully funding these commitments, with a request for the council's support.
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Item 9F
At the meeting, an ordinance amendment for a salary adjustment of the city manager was introduced. This procedure requires a first reading and a subsequent public hearing for implementation. The adjustment is proposed following an excellent evaluation of the manager, suggesting a 2.5% cost of living adjustment combined with a 1.5% performance bonus. The discussion and vote on this ordinance are scheduled for the next meeting in two weeks.
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Item 10
The Committee on Climate and Energy reported on its meeting on September 18th, detailing progress on the city's climate action plan. The meeting showcased a hybrid attendance, with important city members and officials present either in-person or via Zoom. During the session, Laura Schwab presented updates on the 33 action items for the climate plan, emphasizing that 28 are underway and highlighting the employment of a new energy advocate to outreach residents and businesses. Updates on building and energy, transportation, mobility, natural resources, infrastructure, and waste were discussed, including enhancements in charging stations, progress toward an all-electric fleet, tree planting initiatives, and waste reduction achievements. Public comments called for more focus on local transit, support for a micro-forest project, excitement for a tree ordinance, and the need for adequate staffing and funding to support these initiatives. A draft tree protection ordinance was also mentioned, indicating it's in development and awaiting further action. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 PM, with ongoing plans to hold quarterly meetings for continued progress on the city's climate goals.
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Item 11
In the council meeting, there were discussions and updates on various community activities and developments. Nancy Hammett was recommended for appointment and Janet Buck for reappointment to the stormwater advisory committee, with their terms expiring in July 2025. Highlights of upcoming events included the dedication ceremony at PFC Richard Moxley Field, featuring a multipurpose recreation facility opening and other activities. The Watertown farmers market was announced to have its last day of the current year, along with details about the Halloween-themed events, including a costume and clothing swap and a haunted joyride with a jack o'-lantern carving contest. Additionally, progress was shared on park and playground designs with community meetings scheduled for public feedback. The establishment of a new human rights commission was mentioned, with a request for applications imminent. Lastly, reminders about the municipal election were provided, emphasizing various voting options available to residents, including mail-in ballots, early in-person voting, and traditional voting on Election Day.
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Item 14
In the council meeting, Sideris welcomed the new council analyst, Doug Newton, expressing gratitude for his joining and looking forward to his assistance with the council's issues. Additionally, Sideris informed that applications for ARPA funds are currently under review, with the full city council set to begin their assessment on November 8th and continue on November 9th, both sessions starting at 5:30. Councilor Piccirilli will be in charge of contacting the applicants to notify them of this process.
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Item 15
Anne Marie Cloonen, a resident of Watertown, raised concerns to the city council about traffic and neighborhood issues on Winthrop and Hancock Streets, including proposals that would affect traffic flow and resident access, harassment by parents dropping off their children at school, blocked driveways, and the conversion of a throughway into a teacher parking lot, which would block bus access. These issues have led to a negative environment for residents, with some experiencing verbal harassment. Furthermore, she mentioned issues with trash collection and overall safety for residents and students. Other speakers, Weeden and Gumbelton, echoed concerns about negative impacts on Watertown residents from various projects, including the need for better communication and solutions from city officials regarding safety and infrastructure concerns. Thomas expressed frustration with how her earlier statements and concerns were not accurately reflected in the meeting minutes and called for greater transparency and inclusion of resident inputs in council records.
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