Watertown City Council (Tuesday June 23, 2026)

The meeting was called to order by Council President Mark S. Sideris. * Attendees: Councilors Caroline Bays, Lisa J. Feltner, John G. Gannon, Nicole Gardner, Emily Izzo, Theophilus Offei, Anthony Palomba, Vincent J. Piccirilli, and President Mark S. Sideris. * Pledge of Allegiance: Led by the Council.

• Action: The Council voted to adopt the minutes of the June 9, 2026, meeting as written. * Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

President Sideris presented an extension of the contract for City Manager George Proakis. * Contract Terms: A four-year extension through 2031, with an automatic one-year addition if negotiations are not reached by the end of the term. Changes include adjustments to car allowances, vacation and sick leave appropriation, a $500 increase for long-term disability insurance, and deferred compensation increased to $15,000. * Salary Ordinance: Amending the City Manager's salary with a 2.5% COLA and a 2% merit/performance bonus. * Public Hearing: Linda Scott (Resident) asked if these increases set a precedent for non-union employees and requested the evaluation criteria be made public. President Sideris noted that the Personnel Subcommittee is working on a consistent evaluation document. * Action 1: Motion to approve and execute the contract extension. Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote. * Action 2: Ordinance amending the City Manager's salary. 'The salary of the manager shall be set at $255,668. Effective July 1st, 2027, the salary of the manager shall be set at $267,173.' Vote: Approved 9-0 via roll call (Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Sideris).

The Council considered a resolution establishing the fiscal year 2027 expenditure limits for eight revolving funds. * Discussion: Councilor Gannon inquired about the Animal Control Revolving Fund; Auditor Langan clarified revenues come from program fees. * Action: Approved the resolution. * Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote.

A resolution was presented to authorize retiree health insurance expenditures from the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund per MGL Chapter 32B, Section 20. * Financial Detail: The retiree health insurance line item for FY27 is $5,400,000. * Action: Approved the resolution. * Vote: Approved 9-0 via roll call (Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Sideris).

A resolution authorized a transfer of $12,400 from the FY2026 City Council Reserve to the City Auditor account for an 'Audit Level 1 Review' by CBiz. * Purpose: To provide independent assurance on the actuarial evaluations of the Watertown Contributory Retirement System and OPEB plan. * Action: Approved the transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Sideris, Watertown Councilor).

A resolution authorized a transfer of $246,000 from police salary accounts to the police vehicle replacement account. * Details: The funds will purchase three electric vehicles (EVs) for the traffic division, costing approximately $71,000-$72,000 each including equipment. * Action: Approved the transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Sideris).

A resolution authorized a transfer of $445,000 from authorized unissued debt to capital projects for the DPW roof solar array. * Details: Director of Public Buildings Denise Maroney stated the total project cost is approximately $1.2 million, including solar canopies in the parking lot. * Action: Approved the transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Sideris).

A resolution authorized a transfer of $70,000 from authorized unissued debt for a second senior shuttle bus. * Details: The total cost is $141,563, with the Senior Center providing $73,935. The bus is expected to be an EV, pending confirmation. * Action: Approved the transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Sideris).

A resolution authorized a transfer of $373,000 for Parker Building renovations due to unforeseen conditions. * Details: The transfer covers $288,000 in scope increases (plumbing/bathrooms) and $85,000 for hazmat abatement and roof insulation. The total project cost is approximately $8 million. * Action: Approved the transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Bays, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Sideris).

The Council held a first reading for a $750,000 loan order and approved a $500,000 transfer from fire salary accounts for a new fire engine. * Details: The engine was ordered in 2023 to lock in a price under $1 million; delivery is expected in November. * Action: Approved the $500,000 transfer. * Vote: Approved via roll call (Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Sideris).

A first reading was held for proposed water and sewer rates. * Details: A 4.5% increase is recommended for FY27. City Manager Proakis warned that decreasing usage may necessitate higher increases in future years to avoid deficits. * Action: First reading only; public hearing scheduled for July.

1. Committee on Climate and Energy: Councilor Palomba presented the three-year metric report. Key wins include solar growth and composting, but noted that artificial turf should be excluded from open space calculations. 2. Committee on Public Works: Councilor Piccirilli reported on interviews. The Council approved the appointment of Christopher Conner to the Stormwater Advisory Committee and the reappointment of Russell Rico to the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee. 3. Committee on Human Services: Councilor Palomba presented the Affordable Housing Incentives Study. The Council voted to request the administration further analyze the study for implementation.

• Appointments: Reappointments to the Affordable Housing Trust (Cliff Cook, Helen Oliver, Zoe Weinreb) were referred to committee. Appointments to the Conservation Commission (Ian Edwards Clancy, Rachel Slater) were referred to committee. * Pride Month: Events include the Tipsy Tea Party on June 28. * Announcements: Councilor Gardner congratulated Eileen Ryan on the Commonwealth Heroines Award. President Sideris announced that July and August meetings will move to the Parker Annex due to renovations. The Council bid farewell to City Council Analyst Doug, who is becoming Town Administrator in Sheffield.

• Public Forum: David Cain (Resident) spoke regarding the negative impact of high taxes and regulations on the state's population and business growth. * Action: The meeting was adjourned. * Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote.