Watertown City Council
Tuesday March 12, 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.
Section 3
Mark Sideris, the City Council Chair, commenced the session by moving to enter an executive session according to Massachusetts General Law, specifying the purpose was to discuss strategies related to collective bargaining or litigation with various unions, including the DPW Union, Watertown Municipal Employees Association, Library Union, Fire Union, Police Patrol Union, and the Police Supervisors Union. He justified the move by stating that an open meeting could negatively impact the bargaining or litigation position of the public body. Sideris concluded with the declaration that the session would return to an open format following the executive discussion.
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Section 6
In a public meeting, when reaching the agenda item designated for the public forum, Sideris asked if any member of the public present or at home wished to speak, inviting them to raise their hand. Observing no responses, Sideris proceeded to close the public forum segment of the meeting.
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6. A.
The City Council of Watertown, during a session led by Council President Mark Sedaris, proclaimed March 2024 as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. Councilor John Airasian read the proclamation, emphasizing the initiative to build upon the federal designation made in 1986 for Hemophilia Awareness, which was broadened in 2016 to include all bleeding disorders. This awareness campaign acknowledges the challenges of bleeding disorders, such as the risk of extended bleeding and the historical issue of infections from contaminated blood products in the 1980s. It aims to increase awareness and understanding of hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and other rare bleeding disorders, highlighting the importance of scientific advances in treatment, fostering stronger community relations, and promoting medical and policy advancements. The proclamation calls for greater community and public engagement to prevent illness and unnecessary procedures, enhancing support for individuals with inheritable bleeding disorders. After the proclamation was read, President Sedaris reminded the council that votes would be conducted by roll call due to councilor Gannon's participation via Zoom, and he sought a motion for the proclamation's approval.
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7. A.
During a meeting, Sideris introduced the next topic on the agenda, which was the examination of minutes from February 27th. Vincent Piccirilli, a City Council Member, made a motion to accept the February 27th minutes as written, and Sideris expressed gratitude for the motion.
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8. A.
During the public hearing, President Sideris introduced two items for committee referral. The first was an update on the noise ordinance, which had been previously addressed but not finalized. Recent efforts involved gathering information on noise regulation practices from other cities and towns, with a recommendation for a single committee to take on the issue, rather than the prior dual subcommittee approach. Councilor Piccirilli motioned to refer the update of the noise ordinance to the rules and ordinances committee. The second item discussed involved the status of opioid litigation settlements granted to various cities and towns. President Sideris expressed a desire to refer this matter to the committee on human services to review the allocation of these funds.
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9. A.
George Proakis, representing the City of Watertown, presented a proposal to transfer funds from the collective bargaining stabilization fund to the city council reserve in order to fulfill the fiscal year 2023 portion of the newly ratified Department of Public Works (DPW) Teamsters Local 25 contract. This financial move is a necessary step within a process requiring two meetings to complete funding for the ratified contract. Proakis requested that the council schedule the proposal for a first reading and propose a public hearing at their next meeting, signaling progress and the importance of funding the agreement.
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9. B.
During a City Council meeting on February 27, 2024, a proposal to amend the planning board ordinance by adding an associate member was accepted based on a report from the Committee on Economic Development and Planning. Following this, a request for a first reading of the proposed amendment was made by the city manager, citing a follow-up to the action taken during the February meeting. Correspondence from Steve Lagoon, the assistant city manager for community development and planning, related to the proposed amendment was attached for consideration. The city manager expressed gratitude for the committee's support and requested that the first reading take place to allow for a public hearing on the matter to be scheduled for March 12.
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10. A.
The resolution discussed involves transferring $39,000 from the city manager full-time salaries account to the contracted services account to improve the municipal code of ordinances. Mr. Proakis highlighted the importance of creating an administrative code that simplifies the management structure of local government, encompassing administrative departments, boards, and commissions in a single document. This code would sit between the city charter and the rest of the code of ordinances, establishing a best practice for municipal governance. Furthermore, the Collins Center is specified to assist in drafting this administrative code and revising the personnel ordinances portion, which is outdated and inconsistent with current city government operations. The project aims to modernize and consolidate governance rules, with the IT department suggested to conduct a further review for additional updates. A funds transfer is requested to finance this project, with the council subsequently approving the motion. Mr. Proakis intends to collaborate with the Collins Center to propose a draft for council and public review, welcoming feedback for any necessary adjustments.
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10. B.
In a public hearing discussion, a proposal was presented to repurpose $50,000 from tax revenue, originally intended for a lacrosse wall ball project at Victory Field, toward upgrades at Victory Field and Casey Park. Specifically, $20,000 is to be allocated for relamping the lighting systems of the baseball and football stadiums at Victory Field to improve efficiency and extend the warranty period, with an acknowledgment of eventual transition to LED lighting, which would require a more significant investment. The remaining $30,000 is sought for noise reduction improvements at Casey Park's multipurpose rink, addressing community concerns about noise levels. During the discussion, the cost of transitioning to LED lighting was estimated to be around $500,000, and while not immediately feasible, it remains a long-term goal. The council members showed support for addressing the immediate needs of the community while keeping an eye on sustainable and efficient future improvements.
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10. C.
The discussion involves the annual consideration and approval of exemptions allowing existing city employees to engage in extra contractual work with the city, such as summer, winter, holiday, and after-school programs. This step comes in response to disclosures filed by prospective employees and the recreation department's certification that no current department employee can perform these services as part of their regular duties, in line with General Law 268A Section 20b. Specifically, this law necessitates a city council vote for such exemptions, focusing here on allowing a full-time school employee to work part-time in recreational positions. Mr. Proakis presents the case for approving Mr. Donato, the director, and Ms. Anderson, the office manager, for their roles in the camp program, highlighting the procedural compliance with the required disclosures and legal framework.
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11. A.
On February 20th, 2024, the Committee on Rules and Ordinance convened to discuss amendments to city council rules for the 2024–2025 term. The meeting, chaired by Councilor Gannon and attended by various councilors, city officials, and residents, both in-person and via Zoom, aimed to refine governance practices by evaluating suggestions compiled by municipal policy analyst, Doug Newton. Amendments were made to several rules, with particular attention on clarifying language to avoid misunderstandings in future council governance. The committee resolved to have the legal team, KP Law, review the proposed rule changes and definitions. Future discussions will cover additional rules, drafting processes for proclamations, councilor meetings mandated by the charter, and more precise definitions for council terms. The meeting concluded with acknowledgments to Councilor Feltner and Doug Newton for their contributions. City Council President Sideris mentioned that KP Law is meticulously reviewing each definition, anticipating a report to be shared with the council soon.
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11. B.
The Personnel and City Organization Committee, chaired by Councilor Caroline Bays, convened on February 26th to discuss forming a Blue Ribbon Committee for evaluating councilor salaries, including both city councilors and the council president. The committee agreed upon four key recommendations: defining the duties of the Blue Ribbon Committee, establishing eligibility and desirable skills for its members, determining its size, and outlining the process for recruiting and selecting members. Key points included that members should have a vested interest in Watertown’s success, current city employees and elected officials should be ineligible due to possible conflicts of interest, though involvement in city boards, commissions, and committees is allowed. The proposed size for the committee is seven members to facilitate easier management and avoid quorum issues. The recruitment process suggested involves using various channels for applicant solicitation, initial screening by a specially appointed committee followed by interviews conducted privately by Council President Sideris to ensure simplicity, privacy, and efficiency. The recommendations were unanimously approved and will be presented for city council approval. A query about the eligibility of non-residential property owners in Watertown being eligible was clarified affirmatively, emphasizing a desire for inclusiveness.
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11. C.
The Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee, led by Councilor Piccirilli, met on February 1st, February 22nd, and March 4th to review the fiscal year 2025 through 2029 capital improvement program. Key points from the report include maintaining proposed capital expenditures within 7.5 to 8% of the general fund budget, establishing a new line item for a senior center, identifying a funding gap of $2.1 million for a high school project, and allocating fair share funds from the Commonwealth for Chapter 90 activities. Several departmental projects and expenditures were discussed, including school improvements, public works initiatives, and strategizing to meet climate goals. The committee made 54 recommendations, ranging from proceeding with various loan orders for capital projects to confirming prior recommendations for community and infrastructure improvements. The total estimated capital spending for fiscal year 2025 is $35,704,000, with proposed fiscal year '25 capital spending being 17.58% of the operating budget or 7.3% without the Building for the Future Initiative. The committee unanimously voted to bring these recommendations to the council, appreciating the extensive collaboration and effort from council members and staff.
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Section 13
The text describes a moment during a council session where an individual named Sideris asks if there is any new business to discuss. Following the inquiry, it appears there are no new matters to address, as no one steps forward with new business for the council.
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13. A.
The city manager communicated a request for the confirmation of Jason Cohen's reappointment to the planning board, with his term to expire on February 15, 2027. This recommendation came after a review and an interview process overseen by the residents advisory committee, which endorsed Cohen for his continued service. The city manager personally met with Cohen, discussing his contributions to the planning board, particularly noting his architectural expertise and background's positive impact on Watertown's planning efforts. Following this presentation, it was stated that Cohen's reappointment would be forwarded to the committee on economic development and planning, as per council rules.
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13. B.
The section covers a request for the confirmation of reappointments to the zoning board of appeal. It includes recommendations for reappointing Gregory Gerard as an alternate member whose term would expire on February 15, 2026, and David Ferris as a full member with a term expiring on February 15, 2029, following a similar selection process. The presenter expresses satisfaction in submitting these recommendations for consideration. Following the presentation, it is announced that the matter would be referred to the committee on economic development and planning for further action.
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13. C.
The process of confirming appointments to the Human Rights Commission was outlined in a public hearing, emphasizing the exhaustive and detailed nature of selecting suitable candidates. The city's initiative to form a Human Rights Commission required the appointment of nine members, which entailed a comprehensive search and interview process. The candidates recommended for appointment brought a diverse range of experience and expertise in human rights, law, education, and advocacy. Highlighted were their professional backgrounds and contributions to various fields including legal services, union work, education, social innovation, voter engagement, gender affirmation, public speaking on transgender issues, and human rights advisory services. This diverse group was chosen from a pool of 28 applicants, reflecting a strategic effort to ensure the commission would have a rich variety of perspectives. The council discussed forming an ad hoc committee to interview candidates for the Human Rights Commission, moving forward with a roll call vote to establish this approach.
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13. D.
In a public hearing, the administration proposed a permanent change to the operating hours of city hall, Parker Annex, and the Senior Center, aimed at aligning with neighboring communities and enhancing work-life balance for employees. The suggested hours include maintaining an 8:30 to 5:00 schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, extending Tuesday hours until 7:00 PM, and shortening Friday hours to close at 12:30 PM. This adjustment mirrors the city's traditional summer hours but aims to implement these changes year-round as a strategy for recruitment and retention, addressing the challenges in hiring from communities with similar schedules. Comparable community studies indicated that such a change would align Watertown with the practices of 12 out of 18 neighboring communities. Though it would reduce public access by two and a half hours weekly, the plan suggests adjusting employee lunch breaks rather than their total work hours, maintaining their current weekly work hours. The proposed change is expected to be further discussed in committee meetings, emphasizing the need for broad public outreach given its significant departure from current practices.
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Section 16
A remembrance ceremony for Firefighter Joseph Toscano will be held on the 7th anniversary of his line of duty death on March 17, 2024, at the Joseph Toscano Memorial in Watertown. Additionally, updates on the Watertown Square project were discussed, highlighting a meeting scheduled for April 4th to present refinements and zoning strategies to meet MBTA communities' requirements. A rabies clinic for Watertown and Belmont residents is set for March 16th, and the Watertown Police Department Community Police Academy is reopening with limited spots available. The winter parking ban ended early due to favorable weather forecasts, but reinstatement is possible if needed. Lastly, a meeting with MBTA General Manager Philip Eng and state officials was held to discuss bus services and future transit plans, emphasizing a commitment to improving Watertown's livability and access through collaboration with transit agencies.
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Section 15
Council of Palumba inquired about the total revenue generated from winter parking ban tickets in Watertown and the associated costs in terms of personnel hours for issuing these tickets. This request came from a resident's curiosity about the financial aspects of the parking ban enforcement. Furthermore, City Council Member Lisa Feltner raised an issue regarding the lack of information available on the website about Porch Fest, questioning the public arts committee or social media teams on their communication efforts to ensure the community is informed about such events.
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Section 17
Centola expressed gratitude towards Council President Sideris, Mr. Proakis, and the city council for their support in transferring $50,000 of recreation funds for the improvement of Casey's lighting and noise control measures. He also mentioned a preconstruction meeting for the Saltonstall Park Field and Court Lighting project, indicating progress to be expected around March or April, with an emphasis on the installation of LED lights. Additionally, he announced a public meeting to discuss improvements to Lowell Playground, scheduled for March 14th at the Lowell Elementary School. Following this, resident AnnMarie Cloonan voiced concerns about traffic flow and its impact on the Winthrop, Hancock, and surrounding area, highlighting the lack of response from both the council and the School Committee despite repeated appeals for help with the issues caused by school traffic.
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