Watertown City Council (Tuesday May 26, 2026)

I'd like to call this meeting to order. This is a meeting of the city council on May 26. This is a hybrid meeting. The Zoom information as well as telephone numbers and emails are available on the city website. Please be advised that Councilor Bays is joining us remotely this evening. And I'm going to ask the city clerk, the clerk to call the roll, please. Sorry, the council clerk.

Councilor Bays.

Present.

Feltner.

Present.

Councilor Gannon.

I don't think he's going to be with us this evening.

Councilor Gardner.

Present.

Councilor Izzo.

Present.

Councilor Offei.

Present.

Councilor Palomba. Present. Councilor Piccirilli. Present. President Sideris.

Present, thank you. Can I get a motion to go into executive session to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel. And in this case, it's the city manager. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Please call the roll.

Councilor Gardner?

Yes.

Councilor Izzo?

Yes.

Offei? Yes. Councilor Palomba? Yes. Councilor Piccirilli? Yes. Councilor Bays?

Yes.

Councilor Feltner?

Yes.

President Sideris?

Yes, thank you. We'll be returning to open session at approximately 7 p.m. I'd like to call the meeting back to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

Sands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. The next item on the agenda is public forum. If there's any member of the public that wishes to speak here at home. Please go up to the microphone and you are allowed two minutes and the timer is right there on the floor. And please identify yourself.

David Cain, almost 40 years on Pleasant Street. I attended last week's open house for a planning board that hopes to redecorate or redesign Watertown Square. Unfortunately, I think that the plans as stated would not make a difference because the population of this state is declining and has been for years. In fact, the population of several highly blue states has been declining for years. the Council President, my Council of any, and Caroline will have documentation of that. That comes straight from the website of the US Census Bureau. They count citizens every 10 years. From 2010 to 2020, seven states lost so much of their population

that they had to lose a house district in the US House of Representatives. That's what that graph shows. The states that are colored purple lost one congressional district each. There are seven of them. California, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, and two so-called purple states, Ohio and West Virginia. The people in those states left because they did not like the situation in those states. they moved to red states, including Texas and Florida. In fact, Texas gained so much population from 2010 to 2020 they gained two congressional districts because as I said, so many people moved there. The plans that the open house board, whatever it's called,

are designing will not make a difference because the population of this state is declining. Even when we had what I call a rhino governor, Charlie Baker, the population still declined.

Thank you.

Next. Russell Rico, Fayette Street here in Watertown. Mr. President, you have informed me that there will be two or three council meetings in reference to the garage. With this petition, I am only bringing it to you to show the will of the neighborhood, not asking for traditional action, and that's why I presented this petition directly to you. Mr. President, city councilors, I have presented you with a petition from part of Watertown Square neighborhood, two blocks north of the proposed Watertown Square garage. this petition reads as follows. We the people, the undersigned residents of Watertown Square neighborhood oppose the proposed replacement of the open space parking lot with trees behind CVS with a parking garage.

We urge the city to preserve this space and increase the number of trees within the existing parking lot to improve air quality and neighborhood livability. If you vote for this garage, you will commit hypocrisy after constantly committing to getting people out of their cars, walking, riding bikes, and taking public transportation. This is a direct conflict. And I want to say this with all sincerity. You have a fiduciary responsibility to the neighborhood. You do not have a fiduciary responsibility to the developers. In a two block radius, 51 people, an overwhelming majority of people signed. Some people were not home, some did not come to the door. For those who came to the door, 10 wanted more information, only one felt we needed more parking. but all of the people that signed thanked me for doing this and many were not aware of how large the Watertown Square plant is, including the garage.

Again, with this petition, I'm here to speak for the neighborhood. That's what I'm here for. And I wanna say this, I know that there's gonna be two or three more meetings, all right? and those that want this big massive plan, okay, which is gonna ruin Watertown Square to begin with, and also adding this garage, all right, they're gonna stack the deck here, all right, with people gonna support this. but they do not represent the overwhelming majority of the people of Watertown. I'm here speaking for the neighborhood.

Ross, your time is up, thank you.

All right, I'll be back next meeting.

Is there anyone else at public forum that wishes to speak here or at home? Seeing none, hold on. I close the public hearing and move on to the next item. And these documents will be provided to the city council. I'll give them to the clerk for distribution. Feltner. Examination of minutes. Can I get a motion on the minutes of May 12th?

Mr. President, I make a motion that we adopt the minutes of May 12th as written. Is there a second?

Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please.

Councilor Offei. Present. Yes. Councilor Palomba. Yes. Councilor Piccirilli. Yes. Councilor Bays. Gardner. Yes. Councilor Feltner. Yes. Councilor Gannon. Pardon me. Councilor Gannon will not be here tonight. Yes. Councilor Gardner. Yes. Councilor Izzo. Yes.

President Sideris. Next item is President's Report. I just want to just have one thing and that was concerning yesterday's Memorial Day Parade. I want to thank Human Resources, Human Services Director, Jennifer, taking over without a hitch and having a great parade. the rain stopped just in time for us to go out. It was very well attended. I want to again personally thank her and her staff here because I think it was a big ask of her to step in when we didn't have a VSO and she did a great job and I want to thank everybody that took the time to come out. Next item is presentation of petitions, proclamations, and similar papers. And this is also a proclamation that was for yesterday. and I want to get confirmation from the city council tonight.

Whereas in the aftermath of the Civil War, communities across the nation gathered to honor the soldiers who had given their lives marking the first Decoration Day and whereas, following World War I, the nation again united to honor those who died in service to our country, renamed Memorial Day, The last Monday in May is a time to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in all American wars and conflicts. and whereas throughout our history, thousands of Massachusetts residents have answered the call to serve defending our nation, our freedoms, and our way of life. And whereas their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty represent the very best of the Commonwealth and continue to inspire generations. and whereas we must pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and recommit ourselves to honoring their legacy through service, unity, and gratitude.

Now therefore be it proclaimed that the City Council of the City of Watertown does hereby proclaim May 25 to be Memorial Day and urges all residents to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance. In witness whereof, I have Heron to set my hand because the great seal of the city of the Watertown on this 26th day of May, 2026. Can I get a motion on the proclamation?

So moved.

Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please.

Yes. Piccirilli, yes, Councilor Bayes, yes, Councilor Feltner, yes, Councilor Gardner, yes, Councilor Izzo, yes, Councilor Offei, yes, President Sideris.

Yes, thank you. Next item on the agenda is a legislative update, and this is similar to what we did a month ago when we had Senator Brownsburger come in. We've invited the two state representatives to come on up and give us a brief update. Representative Law and Representative Owens, welcome to the council chamber and the council meeting tonight. Thank you. Thanks for joining us. All yours.

Good evening, Honorable President Sideris and town council members. My name is John Lund, audience, and I formerly served in the council as a district councilor. and I'm the current state representative for precincts nine through 12 in Watertown, three precincts in Newton and six in Waltham. So I have the honor to serve on the legislature with Rep Owens. And we had to just provide a quick update on the legislative things going on in the House of Representatives. I know first and foremost we've had discussions with many of you regarding the tax shift legislation that is going on. Representative Owens and I have been working with the Chair of Ways and Means on this issue for many months and want to also thank City Council President Sideris and the City Council Manager for coming in to the State House to testify.

and explain how complicated this tax levy shift is to the committee. The city of Boston, as many people know, going through A similar tax issue, but it's completely different. So we were able to explain Watertown's case and how different it is from the Boston issue. are confident that in the next few weeks to months we should see that legislation pass. And Rep. Owens and I, working with Senator Brownsburg as well, are in weekly contact explaining how urgent this is for the city of Watertown. So just wanted to provide that. I know Rep Owens, can I wanna touch a little bit on that as well?

Sure. Yeah, I think, first of all, thank you for having us. It's always great to address the council. It's been a little while since I've done it, So hopefully this will be just as successful. Just to echo what Rep. Blahn says, and for those who don't know me, Rep. Steve Owens, they live in the East End, represent precincts one through eight of Watertown, as well as parts of Ward 9, 10, and 11 in Cambridge. And just to echo, what Rep. Blahn has said, as the council president, the city manager, and the assessor can attest to that, that hearing, we had more questions from the panel at that hearing and they had questions on literally any other revenue committee hearing we've been told. So it was important to go, it was important to explain our

our position and the difference between what we're trying to do and what other communities might try to do. And we are working to make sure that we get that out of revenue and onto the Floor of the House as soon as we can. It is due to be out by Friday, June 26. We're advocating to beat that, but that's the date that the Revenue Committee has set for the timetable. there's another bill that the another home rule and that's the digital legal notices that bill is in in the house third reading it is along with one two three four five six Six other similar communities are asking for the similar things rather and last session about six or seven other communities had

their similar requests passed and signed by the governor in December of not last year, but the year before. I've had some conversations and reached out to that chair. There's just a question of since so many communities want it, if they want to do a local option or if they want to keep doing them one at a time, I believe that will sort itself out. in the next few months, and then we'll have either that bill or a local option bill will go forward at some point. The other bit of news that I just wanted to put forward is the Chapter 90 allocation bill. It probably will be enacted on Thursday. The Senate passed it last week. and it would have gone today but it did not. It's ready to go.

It should be going on Thursday. The apportionment for Watertown will be about $950,000. That is, if you compare that to fiscal year 25, we only got $730,000. And the reason for that is there was an extra $100 million put into the Chapter 90 apportionment that was based, instead of based on the normal formula, which is population and economic activity, it was based solely on road miles. This was something that was put together because the communities out in western Massachusetts were really advocating for something more than just population. They have a lot of road miles, they don't have a lot of people, and they don't have a lot of jobs. but they still have potholes, same as us. So that was something that they have been advocating for. So that represents a really, you know, a one-third increase of Chapter 90 apportionments

over the past. This is the second year we've done that. I think it's been very popular, and my assumption is that we'll keep doing that.

One thing, too, is the fair share amendment. You might have saw an article in The Globe today which has come in. The revenues right now are at $3.1 billion for this year, has been an extra help during the cuts back that we've had at the federal level. And Rep Owens and I were able to secure another 100,000 for our special ed costs for our schools and the fair share amendment that we just did a few weeks ago. We've got some other local earmarks, some for the Housing Authority, some waterproofing that we got last year. And one other thing I want to bring up, One of the things, as bad as things are at the federal level and the cuts, they do a lot of healthcare policy. We had over three and a half billion dollar cuts from the federal government and it's left the state really scrambling. But here in Watertown, and going back this council, previous councils to Council President Sideris and many of you have been here a long time. As bad as things are that's going on in the world in this country,

we still I think are in the best state and then we're in one of the best cities to be. The financial the stewardship that this city has had over the last 30, 40 years continues with the current city manager has really put the city as the envy of the state. People always complain, but the reality is what this community has been able to do, what this community has been able to do, to do all these schools, to fund our pension system, to be paying down our OPEB balance is really incredible. And people ask us all the time how we do it here. and it's a credit to the many Councils before and the current Council for all you do because we really have been able to go into this very tough times in very good shape and better than almost every city in this Commonwealth. I wanted to just bring up one other thing.

I've had some discussions, and we don't have to have it tonight, but it's more for the council to think about. And I've talked to Rep Owens and Senator Brownsburg and some of the council, members is at some point, you know, the Watertown-Deltry pool, MDC, is really a great asset that the state really has not been able to maintain or run for many years. And if the council was ever interested in that, and I've had some discussions with TCR. That may be something that could be a real asset for the town to do a lease, a long-term lease, if that's something that the community wanted to do. I know there's a lot on their plate now, at some point I think it's worth a discussion because we could really bring that in-house. Many communities run a pool, it's a great setup with some investment, but the state does not have the capability to staff it, to invest in it. And I think they would be happy if they had a partner in that. So just something to think about. And again, I know,

First and foremost, we have to deliver on that tax issue, so we will get back to the State House and work on that. It's something that I know is very important for this community, so thank you very much.

So before I open it up for questions, I'm going to take the lead here because I think it's that important. This tax specification is for the residents that are here, our assessors here. Sorry, we've had many discussions about it. What happens, because this is a shortened legislative year, What happens if it doesn't get heard before formal sessions end? Does it die? Is it possible to be brought up in informal sessions? I think it's critical because we would like to assure the residents, and I know you've done that this evening and we appreciate it, but we want to be assured that this will continue down that road.

Yeah, so it can pass in an informal session. Our goal though is to have this done before session ends at the end of July, and I believe we will. and we will continue. I know we talked to the Ways and Means Chair over the weekend about tonight and trying to really express and continue to express how important this is to the city of Watertown. And unfortunately, there's some other dynamics going on with the city of Boston, to Senator Brownsburg's credit, who's caught very much in two different tax issues with communities he represents. He knows and he has been very vocal about the difference in it and now he would pass that in the Senate if we can get it through the House and we are very confident that we can do that and we will do that.

Thank you. I'll open it up for questions. Any questions from the city council? I want to touch on a couple more things since nobody's asking. you mentioned the pool. We've been in discussions with DCR, the manager, and Councilor Izzo and John and I met at the site on Kenalonga Park. Would it be, and we keep getting, We even saw the former director at the MMA a year ago. We've done whatever they asked. What else can we do? Is it possible? And, you know, maybe the manager won't agree, but I think the recreation department and maybe even the school department would be happy to have a pool. What if we combined those two and said we'll take the two of them over with the memorandum of understanding just like we do with the rink is that also a possibility that you could look into?

And we could have a discussion at the city council whether we want to do it or not, but I do think there are some benefits to that.

Absolutely. And I think, as you know, DCR has been long underfunded. Their budget is really strained. And I think the state would welcome any assistance and partnership. we could absolutely really pursue that seriously. If the city council would like that, we will certainly work on that together with you and set up meetings to do that.

If you need us to put an item on the agenda, we can do that. expressing interest. I don't know if it will pass or not, but I do think if that's what you need, that's a start from our end. I have no problem doing that. The next question I have is local aid. We are developing a budget. We're hearing that there are going to be increases, and we appreciate the earmarks that you've put in, that Senator Brunswerger put in, especially special ed, transportation, even to the Boys and Girls Club. things in Watertown Square, very thankful for that. Thank you, thankful for the Chapter 90 money. Where do we think, I know there's a lot of talk about Proposition 2 1⁄2 and how communities can't make ends meet. As you stated, we've done a better job managing our finances to a certain extent. but where do you see us on the local aid list in this upcoming budget?

I don't think the increases will be that significant, but what are your thoughts? what are you hearing or what do you think could be in the works?

So the UGAA funding has been lately to a much of discussion. The Senate just, I think, added $53 million from the House budget that will be dispersed. But those formulas then go back to when the recession hit in 2008. and everybody starts out at a base and gets a minimal increase on what the increase. So we've seen increases, but not as much to keep up with inflation, energy costs and pension costs that have really, especially in other communities are really hitting those challenges. So that formula is something that is being discussed. I know the Senate came up with a proposal. It got some backlash from some groups who were just trying to figure out a very fair way to do it. although we're seeing increases, it's not enough to keep up with all the other costs that are rising, but it is something that's being looked at the formula, and again, the Senate did come up with a 53 million increase from the House budget.

Yeah, and just to add to that, it's, you know, the whole holistic local aid, the Chapter 70, Chapter 90, the UGA. Chapter 70 money, I know Senator Brownsberger talked about when he was here that there was a little glitch in the formula that we got fixed. That was not in the legislature at the time, but they got fixed. and one of the things I did want to point out about Chapter 70 is we are just on the last year of the Student Opportunity Act, which is seven years in a row where we increased dramatically the amount of Chapter 78 some communities and not others. And I think now that that conversation is over, the next conversation is going to start. I think there's an appetite

particularly among some of the schools with lower population on what to do next about Chapter 70. so that's a conversation that is going to start probably you know sooner than next year and you know we want to make sure that we're a part of that so that Watertown is not and there's only so much of a pie and when you know you shift around the chapter 70 money the millionaire's tax is going to help, but we want to make sure that they are, if there are losers and winners, as there were during the Student Opportunity Act, frankly, we wanna make sure that we're protecting what Watertown gets as much as possible.

I want to thank you both representatives and the Senator Brunsburg who's not here for being our partners and we look forward to continuing a working relationship and we appreciate anything you do for us and all of these things that you're coming up with are very very we're thankful for them so thank you for coming tonight to give us an update and Representative Owens will try to do this more often.

Thank you, thank you.

And you'll hear it from us more often if we don't get this tax thing done.

We're working on it.

We know that. Okay, next item on the agenda is a public hearing and vote on the fiscal year 2027 budget and related matters. This hearing tonight, together with the meetings of the Committee of the Whole, which were held on May 6th, May 11th, May 12th of 2026, is being held in compliance with the provisions of Article 5, the Home Rule Charter of the City, known as the Town of Watertown. I'm sorry, the city known as the city of Watertown. It says city here, but I'm going back to my... The proposed budget has been published as required by Section 5 of the Charter, and the schedule of hearings I have referred to was included in the publication of the budget, again in compliance and conformity with the provisions of Section 5-3. The Committee of the Whole has referred the budget back to the Council for this final public hearing tonight, an action by the City Council.

We will open the public hearing, give anyone in the audience who wish to speak an opportunity to do so. We will follow our usual procedures for a public hearing, and I ask each speaker to come to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Under the council rules, each speaker will be allowed two minutes. When I close the public hearing, the city council will take up the budget in our legislative mode. as we have done in the past. It is the intention of the chair in considering the budget to give the members of the council an opportunity to pass over any item they wish to have clarified, discussed, or debated. all sections and or items not passed in accordance with longstanding legislative practice will be considered as having been adopted. following which the council will consider each of the past items individually and act upon them until the entire budget has been acted upon.

The Chair would also like to remind the members and the public generally that under the provisions of the Charter, this Council is limited in the actions it can take with regard to the budget in its entirety or any section or line item it contains. the council may adopt, reject, or reduce the recommended amounts. It lacks authority to increase any appropriation above the amount contained in the manager's submission or to add to the budget except as provided in the Charter Amendment which expanded the Council's budgetary authority consistent with the provisions of General Laws Chapter 44, Sections 32 and 33. As a result, pursuant to general laws section 32, the council may now on the recommendation of the school committee and by a two thirds vote, increase the total amount appropriated for the support of schools provided that any such increase does not render the annual budget in excess of the limitation of proposition two and a half.

Additionally, if the City Council deems an appropriation for some purpose not included in the City Manager's recommended budget is necessary. and the city manager fails to recommend such an appropriation after having been requested by the city council to do so, the council may on its own initiative after seven day notice make such an appropriation by a vote of at least two-thirds of its members. This procedure is limited to an appropriation for a purpose not recommended by the city manager and cannot be used to increase the amount of the appropriation for any purpose which was included in the city manager's recommended budget. Finally, it should be noted that the budget as submitted is in accordance with Proposition 2 1⁄2 and insofar as it can practicably be determined, all other local and state rules, regulatory, in statutory mandates and requirements.

What this essentially means is that the bottom line cannot be increased. Therefore, if the members wish to urge the city manager to increase any section or line item, you must be prepared to suggest what section or sections or line item or line items you wish to have reduced or eliminated to fund the increase. Because this is a public hearing at this point, I would like to open it up to the general public for any comments or questions. Seeing none, I close the public hearing and I'm going to go into our legislative action mode. And in front of you is a document that was provided by the auditor.

the auditor will go through this line by line section by section and if you wish to have an item be discussed you will pass on that section if not as I stated previously under longstanding practice. If you do not pass, that budget is approved. So Madam Auditor, the floor is all yours.

Thank you, Mr. President and members of the City Council. As the Council President stated, I'll be reading the departments and the associated numbers for each department. If you'd like to discuss a particular area of the department, please note pass. I'll take note. and go through the rest of the page, which is the first page of the handout in front of you. And with that, I will start. So the first department is the city council. on the personnel related costs, we have $263,692. Supplies and services, $2,932,550, giving a total for the department of $3,196,242. The next department is the city manager department. with personnel related costs of $1,019,184, supplies and services of $159,400, giving a departmental total of $1,178,584.

The next department is the city auditor with personnel related costs of $591,725. supplies and services of $149,900, giving a departmental total of $741,625. Next is procurement with personnel related costs of $305,344. Supplies and services of $311,340. giving a departmental total of $616,684. Following that is the city assessor, with personnel-related costs of $491,444, supplies and services in the amount of $123,730,

giving a departmental total of $615,174. Next is the treasurer collector with personnel related costs of $546,195, supplies and services of $131,800, giving a departmental total of $677,995. Next is the city attorney which just has supplies and services of $315,000 giving a departmental total of $315,000. Following that, we have human resources with personnel-related costs of $540,225, supplies and services of $238,330, giving a departmental total of $778,555.

Next we have information technology with personnel related costs of $546,895. Pass. supplies and services in the amount of $1,793,010 with capital costs other in the amount of $153,000 giving a departmental total of $2,492,905. Next we have the city clerk with personnel related costs in the amount of $373,946. supplies and services in the amount of $18,100, given a departmental total of $392,046. Next we have elections with personnel related costs of $153,285. Supplies and services in the amount of $69,750.

giving a departmental total of $223,035. following that is community development and planning with personnel related costs in the amount of $2,621,558. supplies and services in the amount of $806,300, giving a departmental total of $3,427,858. Next we have constituent services with the personnel related costs in the amount of $185,050. Supplies and services in the amount of $26,000. giving a departmental total of $211,050. Following that is parking lot and meters with personnel related costs in the amount of $198,945.

supplies and services in the amount of $162,500, giving a departmental total of $361,445. Next is public buildings with personnel related costs in the amount of $2,058,487. Supplies and services. in the amount of $2,908,538. Capital costs other of $272,000. giving a departmental total of $5,239,025. Next is our police department with personnel related costs of $12,805,964. supplies and services in the amount of $1,405,647.

and capital costs other of $420,300, giving a departmental total of $14,631,911. Next is our fire department with personnel related costs in the amount of $14,871,998. Supplies and services in the amount of $1,203,360. Capital costs other of $250,000. $15,000 giving a departmental total of $16,290,358. following that is emergency management with personnel related costs of $2,660, supplies and services of $62,000 giving a departmental total of $64,660.

Next is the public works with personnel related costs of $5,024,417. supplies and services of $11,883,320, capital costs other of $552,000, giving a departmental total of $17,459,737. Next is our health department with personnel related costs of $772,186. Supplies and services in the amount of $246,190. giving a departmental total of $1,018,376. Next is senior services with personnel related costs of $495,562.

Supplies and services in the amount of $87,800. Capital costs other in the amount of $17,000, giving a departmental total of $600,362. Next is the library with personnel related costs of $3,327,576. supplies and services in the amount of $844,440, and capital costs other in the amount of $128,000. giving a departmental total of $4,300,016. Next is recreation with personnel related costs in the amount of $566,532. Supplies and services of $126,490.

giving a departmental total of $693,022. Following that is the Johnny Ryan Skating Arena with personnel related costs of $289,864. Supplies and services in the amount of $49,300. capital costs other of $32,000, giving a departmental total of $371,164. Next is the Human Services Department with personnel-related costs of $559,788, supplies and services in the amount of $336,800, giving a departmental total of $896,588.

Following that, we have our debt retirement with capital costs other of $36,752,223. giving a departmental total of $36,752,223. Next we have state and county charges with supplies and services of $3,263,647, giving a departmental total of $3,263,647. Next is retirement benefits with personnel related costs in the amount of $12,013,051. and capital costs other in the amount of $2,111,444, giving a departmental total of $14,124,495.

following that is insurance and employee benefits with personnel related costs in the amount of $20,147,000. Supplies and services in the amount of $1,300,000. and capital costs other in the amount of $5,450,000, giving a departmental total of $26,897,000. Next is transfers to capital projects with capital costs other in the amount of $2,328,800, giving a departmental total of $2,328,800. Then we have miscellaneous and other financing uses with capital costs other in the amount of $1,463,330. giving a departmental total of $1,463,330.

and the final section of the general fund budget is the education department, which does not come under the three different categories, it just gives a total. And the total for this section of the budget is $64,590,018. giving a total for the general fund budget for fiscal year 27 of $226,212,930. Mr. President, I noted two passes both by yourself, the first being with the Information Technology Department related to the personnel costs.

So this question, I guess, is to the manager. A year ago when we were sitting in this position, we chose to eliminate a position that was newly created that we felt wasn't necessary. In this department, we're eliminating a position, and the position has been in place for more than 20 years. My question is, What are we doing to support the employee that is no longer supported by this budget and helping them as they transition to another area?

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. And that is a perfectly fair and reasonable question. What I can share with you is that the union contract that we have with the Teamsters Watertown Municipal Employees Group requires us to impact bargain when a position is eliminated. The deputy manager has been in the midst of conversations with the human resources director and the individual folks at the Teamsters Union about the steps in that impact bargaining. It's a complex conversation which my understanding is is not yet finished at this time. But it is ongoing. It is something that we do understand oftentimes. does come with some specific costs to try to ensure that someone has what I will call the softest landing possible under those circumstances. The situation is complicated for us.

This is a long-time position and a long-time employee in the evolution of the organization. My recommendation was that we didn't need it anymore, but we're working very carefully with that employee to do that. What I can share today is that conversation isn't complete yet.

I appreciate that and the reason I say that this is not most of us this is we've been here for quite a while we've done a lot of budgets and this has never been a this has never happened before except for last year. So I just want to make sure that we're being as kind as humanly possible in cases like this. And I appreciate that you're you're doing the best you can and I'm just you know I want to make sure that anybody that works here is treated fairly whether they're here for five minutes or they're here for 25 years so thank you. I'll withdraw my pass.

Thank you. The next pass noted was also noted by you, Mr. President, in regard to the police department budget under supplies and services.

Yes, thank you. So my intention here I love the idea that we're adding a capability of a drone to help with policing, but I do think there are some questions that need to be answered in a more deliberate fashion, and I don't think we had enough opportunity to do that. So my intention here is before this is implemented, and I'm not trying to stop implementation, at the next council meeting I'll be placing it on the agenda for a referral to the Public Safety Committee for further discussion and recommending back to the council, again, before we implement this program, so we don't implement something and get into trouble like we got into with Flock. I will preface again my remarks by saying I think this is a great idea and I think it's gonna work, but I do think that we need a broader conversation.

So, Mr. President, thank you. Should you see fit for this to maintain itself being in the budget, I will pledge on behalf of the administration of the police department that we will not make the purchase and the implementation until the council committee finishes their deliberations and conversation on that. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I will withdraw my pass on that.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We can move on to the next page.

So the next page on page two in the packet in front of you has the City of Watertown's fiscal year 27 proposed other financing sources. Oops, sorry, other, yeah, for the general fund. I have my pages backwards, I'm sorry. So page three has the fiscal 27 proposed other financing sources for the general fund. This is the utilization of free cash, which is in the amount of $3,823,100. sorry, and then going back to page two. is the fiscal 27 proposed other financing sources of the general fund, which these are transfers into the general fund and they are as follows.

So transfer from sale of lots in the amount of $20,000, transfer from parking meter fund into the amount of $250,000, transfer from the cemetery perpetual care fund in the amount of $10,000, and transfer from Capital Project Stabilization Fund in the amount of $500,000. Transfer from the ESCO Capital Project Stabilization Fund in the amount of $485,950. Transfer from the Water Enterprise Fund in the amount of $2,123,443. and transfer from the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $2,603,693 for a total amount of transfers in the amount of $5,993,086. So Mr. President, that concludes the general fund for the fiscal year 27 action.

The next and last page, well, the fourth and last page, because I skipped around on you a little. Submitted to the city council is the proposed water and sewer enterprise budgets for fiscal year 27. First we have the water enterprise fund, which has personnel-related costs in the amount of $1,325,709, supplies and services in the amount of $5,379,340, Capital costs in the amount of $286,000 and other financing uses in the amount of $3,540,493, giving a departmental total of $10,531,542. Sorry.

Next is the Sewer Enterprise Fund with personnel related costs in the amount of $1,320,030. Supplies and services in the amount of $8,410,480. Capital costs in the amount of $1,405,000. and other financing uses in the amount of $3,653,328. giving a total for the Sewer Enterprise Fund in the amount of $14,788,838. and that concludes the enterprise funds, Mr. President, thank you.

The fiscal year 27 budget as presented has been passed. I would like to ask Councilor Piccirilli to please make a motion for reconsideration in hopes that it fails.

Mr. President, for our longstanding policy. I will make a motion for reconsideration on the budget vote. Again, I'm hoping that this motion fails.

Is there a second? Second. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Roll call please.

Councilor Palomba.

No.

Councilor Piccirilli.

I'm sorry.

No. Councilor Bays.

No.

Feltner.

No.

Councilor Gannon. Oh, pardon me. Sorry. Councilor Gardner.

No.

Councilor Izzo. No. Councilor Offei. No. President Sideris. No.

Thank you. Motions, orders, and resolutions. And 11A is a resolution authorizing a transfer of funds in the amount of $1,887,000 to reduce debt associated with previously approved loan orders. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. President. Continuing our strategy of best practices in an effort to do a series of transfers as we reach the end of the year to strengthen our Bondrating, and strengthen our financial situation. There are a number of requests for transfer of funds in front of you today that I will let the auditor, if I I don't mind answering any questions on at this point. Thank you, Mr. President.

Come on up. If you could just briefly describe for the public what we're doing here.

of course. So we typically do this every year when we develop our capital improvement plan with our long-term debt. There's three different types of debt. We have permanent debt, authorized, unissued, and planned debt. We build our CIP so that If we so chose to go to market at the very beginning of the fiscal year in July, we would be able to afford to do so if we were going to borrow all of the planned and authorized unissued as presented within the capital improvement plan. typically we don't do this this year as in years past. We're getting ready to go to the market now and due to this we have some surplus in those accounts because we didn't borrow in the beginning of the year. So we tend to take that excess surplus and apply it to buy down the loan orders that you have already authorized so that our debt is not as high as it would be.

Thank you. Can I get a motion on the transfer of $1,887,000 as presented? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Discussion? Roll call, please.

Piccirilli. Yes. Councilor Bayes. Yes. Councilor Feltner. Yes. Councilor Gardner.

Yes.

Izzo. Yes. Councilor Izzo. Yes. Councilor Offei. Yes. Councilor Palomba. Yes. President Sideris.

Yes. Thank you. 11B is consideration and approval of exemptions of interest of existing City employees in contracts with City with the city, including summer, winter, holiday, and after-school program employment positions in response to disclosures filed with the city clerk by prospective employees and certification by the the mistake here is this should be the library department my mistake and I'm just correcting that here for the record so it's the library department this is for project literacy that no employee of that department is available to perform those services as part of their regular duties in accordance with general law, chapter 268A, section 20B. As you recall, Pequasset employees typically we do this for and some other things so this is just a person that works for the city in a different role is going to do some summer work for

Project Literacy, which is run through the Library Department, and this exempts them from, allows them to do that. So can I get a motion to approve this exemption? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please.

Councilor Bays.

Yes. Yes.

Councilor Feltner.

Yes.

Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Sideris.

Yes, thank you. Communications from the City Manager, and the first is a request of confirmation of appointment to the Cultural Council. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am requesting appointment of Simone Worsdale to fill a position on the Cultural Council of the unexpired term of Nick Haddad. and Izzo, expiring May 15th, 2027. This particular person went through the process with the Residence Advisory Committee and with the Residence Advisory Committee's recommendation, I am passing this along to you for your review. and confirmation. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. This goes to the Committee on Economic Development and Planning. 12B is a request for confirmation of appointment to the Stormwater Committee. Mr. Manager.

Thank you. Requesting appointment of Christopher Connor as a member of the Stormwater Committee to fill the unexpired term of Lilia Moskalou, expiring July 15, 2027. Again, Connor interviewed through the Residence Advisory Committee, and I'm happy to bring along his recommendation for your confirmation, his appointment for your confirmation. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. This goes to the Committee on Public Works. Continue on, Mr. Manager.

I only have one other announcement today. A sustainability win for Watertown. I know we've worked very hard on working with implementation of our sustainability plan and continuing with the tradition of sustainability and the work of our partners here in the community. Mount Auburn Cemetery, just in case you've forgotten is mostly in Watertown despite their Cambridge address. It's become the first cemetery in the U.S. to earn the AGZA Green Zone certification slashing 16 tons of carbon emission every year and transforming its grounds with clean, quiet battery electric equipment, an event that they are celebrating Thursday morning there at the cemetery. I'm just always happy to share more about the efforts for folks in Watertown to provide a more sustainable community. That is all I have this evening. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Requests for information? Any requests for information? seeing none announcements. Any announcements? Councilor Gardner.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just a quick announcement to the community that tomorrow from 6 to 7.30 in Coolidge Square will be a reception and celebration of two new public art installations that the city has installed as kind of a thank you to the residents and businesses. I want to encourage everyone to come on out, do a little shopping, maybe get some ice cream, grab a meal and enjoy these two beautiful installations. Thank you.

Any other announcements? I have a couple. First, I will be holding an annual councilor meeting in this chamber on June 8th at 5.30, from 5.30 to 7. And I'm going to bill this as like a town hall meeting style. just come in and have anything you want to say. We'll try to answer it to the best of my ability. I thought it's a little different than George and I doing a State of the City. I think this is just an opportunity that people just come in and have a informal conversation. And this announcement I'm also going to make at the school committee on Monday evening. Save the date. This has finally come. Grand opening and open house of the high school will be on September 1st. exciting time, very, you know, I think that's going to be well attended. Please, if you can save the date, it's probably going to be

from like three to eight or four to eight, there'll be plenty of time, but it'll be an opportunity for everybody to really take a look at what the taxpayers of this community have helped us build. So that's it, public forum. Any member of the public wish to be heard? David, you're welcome again.

Hello again. U.S. law requires every congressional district to have the same number of people in it. So over a long period of time, as measured and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau, if a lot of people run away from certain states because of high taxes, high crime, high corruption, the Census Bureau documents it and under federal law, Congressional districts have to move. That is what happened when the US Census Bureau released the report in 2020 to show a big move from seven states to six other states. the states that have a new district, including Texas and Florida, guess what? They also have an increased surplus. They have have low taxes.

They have a lot of reasons for people to live there. So this message for my city and my state if you want to have a big surplus, a budget surplus, and an increasing population, do what the red states do. Cut taxes, give this guys department a big budget. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there any other member of the public that wish to be heard at this time? Seeing none, can I get a motion to adjourn? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Roll call, please.

Councilor Feltner.

Yes.

Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Sideris, Watertown, Councilor