Watertown City Council
Tuesday February 27, 2024
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 3. PUBLIC FORUM
In this section of the public hearing, Council President Mark S. Sideris opens the floor for any members of the public present or those participating remotely to voice their concerns or opinions. However, it appears that there are no participants who wish to speak at that moment, as acknowledged by Sideris himself.
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4. A. EXAMINATION OF RECORDS OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Vincent Piccirilli, a member of the Watertown City Council, proposed a motion to adopt the minutes from their meeting on February 13th as they were initially recorded. The motion was acknowledged by Sideris, presumably the presiding officer or another council member, with a simple expression of thanks.
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5. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The president's report highlighted Tessa Master's achievement as an all-state champion in wrestling, expressing congratulations and mentioning an upcoming proclamation in her honor. Additionally, it was announced that high school Principal Jack Abozi will be undertaking dual responsibilities by working between two buildings until the end of the year, with gratitude expressed for his commitment.
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6. A. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE
The Committee on Economic Development and Planning, chaired by Lisa Feltner, held a hybrid meeting on February 7, 2024, to discuss adding an associate member to the planning board and conduct interviews for the Historic District Commission and Public Arts and Culture Committee. They addressed the challenges faced by the planning board due to its expanded responsibilities and proposed an amendment to allow for an associate member to vote in certain circumstances. George Proakis, the city manager, provided details on the amendment and its necessity. Interviews for reappointment to the Public Arts and Culture Committee included Roberta Miller, who highlighted the committee's achievements and ongoing projects, and Erin Webb, who discussed her role in outreach and establishing a dedicated website for Watertown arts. Elizabeth Hayes sought reappointment to the Historic District Commission, emphasizing the need for visibility and addressing potential challenges like the redevelopment of a historic church. Jason Wilson's experience in the music business was seen as an asset for his involvement in the Public Arts and Culture Committee. The committee recommended moving forward with the Planning Board Ordinance amendment and confirmed several reappointments and appointments to both committees.
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6. B. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
The Watertown City Council's Climate and Energy Committee met on January 18th to discuss the progress of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and a building emissions reduction disclosure ordinance. The meeting, chaired by Tony Palomba, highlighted significant strides towards the CAP's goals, including the initiation of most year one and year two goals, with some already completed. The committee also discussed initiatives for solar panel installations, improving the city's heating and cooling systems, transportation upgrades including bike shares and MBTA collaborations, and plans for a micro forest. Additionally, they are working on ordinances for trash and recycling, and looking to introduce an EV charging infrastructure. The meeting also introduced the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (Berdo) targeting larger buildings to help Watertown achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The ordinance focuses on buildings over 20,000 square feet, aiming to capture data on utilities usage and create a positive environmental impact. Public comments expressed support for the committee's efforts, particularly the micro forest project. The next steps include launching initiatives for EV charging, further ordinance introductions, and continued education and outreach.
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7. NEW BUSINESS
The agenda proceeded to the section dedicated to any new business, with an invitation for matters to be presented to the council. However, no new business was brought forward during this portion of the meeting, prompting a move to the next item on the agenda.
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8. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CITY MANAGER
In a public hearing, George Proakis of Watertown City Council provided updates on various municipal matters, including reminders about the upcoming presidential primary election on March 5, with polling locations open from 7 AM to 8 PM, and the options available for voting, including in-person early voting, vote by mail, and ballot drop boxes. He also reported on the relocation and operational adjustments of several city departments, including the Health Department, IT office, and inspectional services, to the Parker Annex building. Furthermore, Proakis announced the hires of Ari Sky as the new Chief Financial Officer and Michael Barry as the Assistant Director for the HR department, detailing their backgrounds and encouraging council members to welcome them. Lastly, he mentioned the commencement of the Watertown Walks program on March 7, inviting the community to engage with Tyler Cody, the community engagement specialist, to foster greater community interaction and cohesion.
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10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nicole Gardner from the Watertown City Council announced an upcoming meeting for the Watertown Square area plan, scheduled for Thursday at the old Sasaki building on Pleasant Street at 6:30. She encouraged everyone interested to attend, highlighting discussions that will include streetscape designs from a recent Charette and compliance with the MBTA community zoning law. While RSVPing online is appreciated, it's not required, and the meeting will also be available via live broadcast, likely on WCA TV.
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