Watertown City Council Meeting (Tuesday September 22, 2026)

It is a hybrid meeting. The Zoom information is available on the website as well as a telephone number and email address.

I'm going to ask the clerk to please call the roll. Bayes, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo. Sideris.

President, let me remind everyone that Councilor Gannon is joining us tonight remotely and we will be doing all our votes as a roll call. can I get a motion to go into executive session on two items, to consider the purchase exchange lease or value of real estate. If the chair declares that an open meeting of Watertown Square Demonstration Project, and also to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigated position of the public body Declare, and I do. So can I get that motion? So moved. Is there a second? Second.

Roll call please. Councilor Palomba Yes Councilor Piccirilli yes Councilor Bayes yes Council Feltner yes Council Gannon Yes. Councilor Gardner? Yes. Councillor Offei? Yes President Sideris? Yes, we will be returning to open session at approximately 7pm

The next item is to

of the United States of America, and two new people, which stand with us, running for our liberty and justice.

The next item is examination of minutes. Can I get a motion on the Public here at home, please go to the podium and identify yourself for the record.

Mr. President, city councilors, Russ Zirico, you all know me pretty well. I'm sure sometimes you wish I'd stay home, but that's another story. In order for society to properly function there must be a balance. Let me relate this to Watertown Square. With all probability, we are overdue for a downturn or recession, whatever you want to call it in this area. It has already started. Prices have gone down in certain cities and towns Rents have gone down in cities and towns. You've also seen the fact that if you drive around Watertown, you'll see a lot of for rent signs which you didn't see a year ago. When new rental units in Watertown Square ready for occupancy and the unit owners have trouble renting them, and they are not getting the price they expected, they will rent many of these units to those who are getting government assistance with the government paying 70% of the rent. Unfortunately, they will have other needs.

Our food pantry will need much more food. Our community refrigerator will have to be replaced with a refrigerated trailer. The city will have if we have to have an employee oversee the distribution of food, there will still be a list of other needs. In order to keep a balance along with no garage, we must reduce the planned units If I'm not mistaken, cities and towns with commuter rail are expected to allow 5,000 units. What a joke! Andover, Belmont, Cohasset, Concord, Lincoln, Manchester by the Sea, Natick, Rockport or Winchester. You live in fantasy land. The leaders will protect their communities at all costs and I hate to say this, but what has this council done? And I will demonstrate.

Your Majesty, Queen Healy, your slightest wish is our command. So far that's what I've seen in reference to this project, okay? Now next meeting.

I'll leave them for next meeting. See none. We'll move on now to the examination of minutes. Can I get a motion on the minutes of September 8th? Mr. President, make a motion that we adopt the minutes

Feltner?

Yes.

Councilor Gannon? Yes Councilor Gardner? Bayes, and President Sideris.

and commending Charles Curtis. Whereas Charles joined Watertown's scouting tradition in 2017 as a Cub Scout in Pac-30, and earned the Arrow of Light rank in 2021. And whereas Charles was the youngest to serve in troop leadership in the last decade, beginning in the role of assistant senior patrol leader at 12 and senior patrol leaders at 13 and has guided others as quartermaster, troop guide and instructor. And whereas Charles being an avid swimmer was awarded Scouting's National Outdoor Achievement Award for aquatics having completed the swimming life-saving and kayaking merit badges, 25 hours of on the water time in the mile swim. And whereas Charles has earned the National Outdoor Achievement Award camping having camped 49 nights with Scouting America.

And whereas Charles has earned the National Conservation Award, having completed Environmental Science, Soil and Water Conservation, and Citizenship in the world merit badges and participating in a conservation community service project. And whereas as a life scout, Charles chose to build a reusable resilient and professional stage scenery stock for Watertown High School using 25 volunteers who gave 207 and a quarter hours for their community, creating a set that was used immediately for the high school production of Mamma Mia!, a production that Charles starred in as Harry Bright. and whereas Charles was elected a member of Scouting's Honor Society, the honor of The Arrow. And in September of 2023 he underwent an ordeal to become an arrowman joining Pinnacook Lodge

and whereas Charles after completing all rank requirements and earning 30 merit badges, 13 of which were Eagle required including the recently paused Citizenship in Society earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout on June 16, 2026. And whereas Charles has earned the bronze eagle pound number one for completing five merit badges after earning a rank of Eagle. Now therefore be it proclaimed that the city council of Watertown, commends Charles Curtis on his recent accomplishment of earning the rank of Eagle Scout and extends well wishes for him for his promising future. In witness whereof I have here unto set our hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Watertown to be affixed on this 22nd day of September, 2026. Congratulations!

I would like to say huge thanks to first my family who have supported me throughout my many, many years in scouting. I'd like to thank you to Cat Powers, Doug Sire, David Russo Ian Clark, Steve Lipscomb who have all guided me throughout my scouting journey in achieving these ranks. I would like to thank all the members of my community who helped me construct these flats for my theater department so that we can create more professional theatre for the community. I would like to thank Dean Pellucci, the woodshop teacher at the high school who helped me in my design and construction of these flats to assure that they were as sound and as structurally capable as they could be.

and it means a lot to me that I have all the support from my community in this process that I underwent over these past many years. Thank you.

Congratulations.

I have a motion to accept the proclamation. Is there a second?

Second.

Any discussion?

Roll call, please. Gannon, Gardner, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Sideris.

Thank you. The next item I have is a proclamation for National Long-Term Care Reform Day. Whereas all individuals deserve to age with dignity, respect and access to safe high quality care and whereas millions of Americans rely on long-term care services, including older adults and individuals with disabilities along with the families and caregivers who support them. And whereas residents of Massachusetts are directly impacted by long-term care systems and deserve transparency, accountability, and compassionate care. Whereas for decades advocates, families, and professionals have worked to strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability within the long-term care system. And whereas significant challenges remain in ensuring consistent standards of care, workforce support and protections for vulnerable populations

and whereas communities across the United States are coming together to raise awareness and promote meaningful reform through education, advocacy and public engagement. And whereas on September 27th of 2026 individuals and organizations nationwide will participate in the Roar National Walk for Long-Term Care Reform to bring visibility to these issues, and amplify the voices of those impacted. Now therefore be proclaimed. City Council of Watertown nearby names September 27, 2026 as National Long-Term Care Reform Day in Watertown and encourages all residents to recognize the importance of dignity, quality care and advocacy for those who rely on long-term care services. In witness whereof I am here unto set out a hand

caused the Great Seal of the City of Watertown to be affixed on this 22nd day of September 2026. Can I get a motion to accept the confirmation? So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Any discussion?

Gardner, Issa, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon.

and thank you again. And it's a very important night. The Charter Review Committee needs to be formed. And it's a little different this year because when we did the most recent charter review, we decided that we were going to do this after five years to see The changes that were made and how they were working a major difference this time is the Committee will consist of three city councilors and six residents which will be will have to be confirmed by the City Council. That's completely different, before it used to be the complete city council and six members that didn't need confirmation I did the interview and brought them on board.

and this is an area where this child was going to have to be cleared up. And I'm gonna explain, I talked to the attorney about it. It was unclear who was going pick the citizens to bring in front of the city council and we have this discussion a couple of times. And because it is unclear, it's going to fall on me to bring forth names, interview people that bring forth name to the city council for their approval. So that's how we're going to follow the process. What I'm requesting tonight, and I'm gonna work with Tyler to get this message out as much as we possibly can. We are looking for six citizens that are interested in looking at our charter, looking at the reforms and things that were changed and made. Are there any areas that we should be looking at to make things better? I think we've made such beautiful, immense strides in the last review.

We've implemented pretty much everything that's there from an annual discussion with the community, with the manager and the president to city councilors having annual meetings themselves. I mean there's so many improvements we have a residence advisory committee, so many things that have gone well I don't think this is, the last process took us over a year every other Tuesday and I don' t think it's going to take this kind of time so if you're interested we are not gonna do this every other tuesday for the next 52 weeks. So I would encourage you if you have any interest in local government, we will get the message out. We will get information and everything will be submitted to the council clerk and I will be reviewing the submissions and bringing something forward to the City Council. I'm going to say it is late in September 26, but this has to go to a ballot when it's done.

And I did not want to confuse this with nine questions to put on this year's Ballot to confuse people even further. And in talking to Attorney Rich, we are allowed to move this to the municipal election as long as we start taking it up this year which is what we're doing so I want be pretty clear that we will get the message out. I haven't decided on a date, it's going to be in the middle of October where they do possibly. I don't want to let this out there for too long so three or four weeks at the most and all that information I'll be working with Tyler to get it out. And thank you. Motions, orders, and resolutions. And 10A is a resolution authorizing a transfer of funds in the amount of $120,000 from fiscal year 2027 city council reserve to various fiscal year, 2027 police personnel accounts. Mr. Manager?

Thank you, Mr. President. As you are aware, all of our labor contracts have been enforced for the time period from July 1st 2025 to June 30th 2028. The agreement with the police patrol association, Watertown Police Association was funded by the city council on September 9th, 2025. and that funding was intertwined into the fiscal year 27 budget as all contracts were done prior to this year. Item 19 of that memorandum of agreement had a wage re-opener if the police supervisors or firefighters bargaining unit provided an increase in compensation that might have been greater than provided in this agreement. which was the case in this circumstance. So our deputy manager and team have been in negotiations with the police patrol in an effort to try to find a way to address this contract. And this $120,000 covers

any circumstance where there's a retroactive or current year increase related to the negotiated update with this agreement. One of the things I will note about this agreement, and I think it's worthy of note because from a bureaucratic operational standpoint when I started here we had six and so on. We've had six contracts with six unions that were all over the place in the way they were managed, but this particular change puts 6 that needed it, onto a 2% step system with every step effective on July 1st which means for our auditing and finance teams everyone gets a step increase in the entire organization on the same day. It used to be on the anniversary date for a lot of positions, which created constant year-round trying to keep up with when this person or that person got a step and running the risk that you miss a date or not have an anniversary correct or not and then the steps were different in this contract.

There were 4% steps, then there were years where there was no step, then the next year there might be a 3% step. So this is a uniform 2% step over the period that you move through the step process this funds transfer will address this contract. And I hope with that, I will not be back asking to fund contracts again until after June 30th, 2022. Thank you.

Can I get a motion on the transfer of funds? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? I do want to just at this point thank the Deputy City Manager because getting these things done is often difficult and no disrespect to KP law but I think that from hearing from the members of the unions. They're very comfortable speaking with you, so thank you on behalf of the city council for all your efforts. Roll call please.

Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Sideris.

10B is a resolution authorizing property tax work-off program adjustments.

Mr. Manager? Thank you, Mr. President. The property tax work-off program which allows seniors and veterans the ability to reduce their property tax in exchange for doing some work for the city has not been the most popular program in recent years but We are trying to re-up the interest in it and the possibility that people will take it on. We don't have more than a handful of people who might do it, but we can get together to work but one of the things that has happened is inflation has kind of slipped past us in this particular program by how much it lets you to work off. Both programs for veterans and for seniors, for anyone age 60 plus I should say, allows the opportunity up to right now a $1,500 reduction in property tax bill. Currently compensated at the state minimum wage. What is proposed here? is to allow up to $2,000 which the state now allows us to do based upon providing 125 volunteer service hours in a given tax year.

The item before you addresses the senior work off which I would ask for your vote on tonight to do so, and would provide a companion bill for the veterans' workoff at a forthcoming meeting that matches the same numbers. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm just curious how many people right now have been taken advantage of? My understanding is over the past few years it has and so on. And I think we have it set that we cap it at 10, because we don't want to necessarily grant more than $20,000 in tax relief, and it would be tough to find places for more people Gannon.

But I'd like to, if there are 10 people out here who want to do it, I'd

Yes, thank you, Mr. President. So I had a question with regard to the restrictions that the statute allows the administration to impose with regards to the program so if we're trying to extend the number of participants could you Explain, George what the limits are from the administration's policy as to who can take advantage of the program age limitations that kind of thing.

So this is in the fiscal year 25 note from the senior center, which I believe is attached to the document. You have to be age 60 or older and retired or be a veteran You have to own and occupy the property for which the taxes are deducted. You have skills that match a department's needs. There is a preference to individuals whose annual income is 300% of poverty level but again that's a preference. If we got more applicants than spots, we would address that otherwise we would take the folks who asked and there is a core reform and some documents necessary to do as we have with anybody who does volunteer work in the city.

Wonderful, thank you.

Bayes, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Sideris.

and Regional Government report regarding its meeting on September 9th. Councilor Feltner?

Thank you, Mr. President. And I'll note the report starts out with the incorrect date. The correct date is as noted in the title minutes that the committee convened on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 at 6.01 p.m. in the city council office present where myself as chair, Theo Offei, vice-chair joined via telephone and John Gannon was absent The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a confirmation interview for appointment to the Election Commission. Antonia Mole is committed to volunteering and considers it an honor to serve in an appointed position by the City Manager and Council. He first became involved in Watertown politics around the age of 12 when he joined the Watertown Republican Town Committee as an associate member. After moving to Belmont, he continued that involvement by serving as vice chair of the Belmont Republican Town Committee, and he ran to be elected as a Belmont town meeting member. He also pursued other public service opportunities such as volunteering for the Council on Aging and working to help connect

communities, and area businesses. Antonio moved back to Watertown last year, and he is currently furthering his education at Ocker Hill Community College. Antonio also discussed his commitment to respecting all candidates who run for office and remaining impartial He has met with our city clerk staff for a better understanding of what this means, such as not displaying lawn signs during election seasons should he be confirmed as an Election Commissioner. O'Hare, the motion by Councilor Offei and seconded by myself was to recommend that council confirm Antonia Molli for appointment with term expiring April 1st 2030. And it was unanimously approved 2-0. and I prepared the minutes.

Can I get a motion to accept the report? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any discussion? Councilor Gannon

Yes, thank you Miss President. Just had a question about the way the minutes portray such as not displaying lawn signs during election seasons I think it should be not displaying lawn signs other than election seasons? Is that the right phraseology? Because it sounds like we can't have election signs during election season according to The Minutes.

I just want to note, members of the elections commission are not supposed to publicly support candidates. during the meeting was that he would not be displaying lawn signs during the elections. and everybody else not to do so, but merely that he alone would not do so because he's a member of the Elections Commission and needs to present himself as not being an advocate for an individual candidate under those circumstances.

Well, thank you for that clarification. Could I ask for a friendly amendment such as election commissioners not displaying lawn signs?

The minutes say, should he be confirmed as an election commissioner?

It's a report.

It still doesn't clarify.

But it's a record of what was said at the meeting. OK.

This is a report of the committee and that wasn't said in the committee, unfortunately.

Well we are talking about the minutes.

Okay but Councilor, that was not stated to be provided in the minutes We're talking about the minutes of my report that happened and so we can't change

We could clarify the minutes if that reflected what was actually said.

Attorney Rich, please? I understand from Councilor Feltner what is reported in the report what happened at the meeting and the minutes are intended to reflect what happened So if the Councillor can confirm that, Councillor Feltner, I think that is what is contained in the report that she produced.

I just want to read the two sentences that Councillor Felter read one more time. It says, Antonio also discussed his commitment to respecting all candidates who run for office and remaining impartial. he has met with the city clerk staff for a better understanding of what this means and this I think refers to remaining impartial, such as not displaying long signs during election season should he be confirmed as an Election Commissioner. Should HE be confirmed? That's the two sentences.

Well, I appreciate the clarification. I will withdraw my alleged friendly amendment so thank you.

Thank you. So obviously around this time one of things that is very important to me about elections officials, and election commissioners being able to admit or affirm the who won the 2020 election. So I did ask Mr. Mull... Councilor?

We're just talking about the report. I would suggest that when we make a motion to confirm him, you can make a statement about what happened to him. This is just the report right now.

Can I get a roll call please? Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei. Yes, President Sideris. Yes, thank you.

Can I get a motion to confirm Antonio Molli for an appointment as member of the Board of Election Commissioners for a term expiring April 1st, 2030? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Councilor Offei.

Okay, just to finish what I was saying that it is deeply important to me anyone who serves on the election commission or an election official is able to attest and affirm who won the 2020 election. So that's just my only question for Mr. Moll, he answered my question by saying that Secretary Gavin did Affirmed President Biden as the winner of 2020 election. I was a little concerned that that wasn't his personal view but it was because the state official or the secretary is the one that

affirmed the president as the obvious winner of this 2020 election. I'm still going to vote to confirm him that because I do think it is important for any elected official to be able to just make that statement.

Bates, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Sideris, Watertown, Councilor and Sideris. Yes, it carries 6-0-2.

New Business. I'm looking for a motion to refer to the Committee on Public Works. An update on the Watertown Square intersection roadway improvement plan. This has nothing to do with the garage I think that we need to It's been some time since we got an update and this is not a full scale public discussion. It is a public discussion, but I think that the committee should take a look at where we are in respect to how we're moving to when we're going to start gathering more input because I know this particular plan, even Saturday at the fair on the square got a lot of people wondering what we're doing. So I think it was appropriate that we just have brief overview of where we are in the plan for the committee on public works to report back to the city council. So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Any discussion? Councilor Feltner.

Thank you. I don't want to assume, but I'm assuming that because the Arsenal Street corridor and community path was mentioned recently as being related

Any other comments? Call the call, please.

Councilor Piccirilli? Yes. Council Bays? Yes Councilor Feltner? Yes Councillor Gannon? Yes Palomba. Yes. President Sideris. Yes, thank you. Communications from the manager.

Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mr. President. A couple of items here this evening. The first is I wanted to share with last week we, and by we I particularly say Tyler from our communications team delivered 976 community letters supporting the Watertown Square Post Office to the folks at the Newtown Post Office. And there's a little video about that out there too, if you want to see it. So I appreciate everybody who joined in on that and helping ensure the voices will be heard. You can still submit questionnaires by October 1st if you didn't receive one, and fill it out. I believe there's nothing stopping you from still sending a letter to the post office or dropping one at Newtown and saying, hey, I think Watertown Square should remain. But it was nice for us to be able to collect 976 letters and dropped them off there. So I appreciate that.

Two notes of thank yous, first of all to those who participated in the elections recount. The city clerk's office City clerks from around the state and everyone who assisted with the election tree count were deeply grateful to everyone who participated for their professionalism, patience, and dedication throughout the process. A special thank you to those clerks from all around the state who stepped up to help. The city clerk world is small and they assist each other when different communities have a request for a recount, are definitely quite professional and amazing to watch in their process. Their support made a tremendous difference, the commitment to ensuring fair and accurate elections is truly appreciated believe that watching these recounts is helpful in continuing to provide confidence in our election process. We do this well.

machine count election with a paper ballot, which means that you have that machine count on election night but you have those original paper ballots sitting in the bottom of the machine to verify everything. And when all is said and done you end up with counts that are very, very close. A couple of points where maybe the machine didn't pick something up and the clerks and the folks on the Elections Commission have to understand the intent of that particular voter but I will note that across the four communities that did the recount, the total difference between ballots changed by one vote between the start and the election. I believe ours changed by about two. and mostly were pickups of things that machines read as blank. But they're very, very small numbers in the grand percentage of elections and you know, in circumstances where things come close, the ability to do those recounts and reaffirm the numbers the Machines. I really appreciate how that all worked out.

Second, thank you to the folks who put together the Fair on the Square. We had a very successful fair also appreciate we had very good weather this weekend that really made it helpful as well. We've had hot days, we've had rainy days, and we have really a great day but the events team is always a great job and I think they really hit it out of the park with their whole strategy of tents and organizing and how everything came together. The apple pie contest was great as usual, having our local celebrity chef Jay Santos participate there was an added benefit as well but in addition to the events team DPW police and then so many City employees and folks, fire department, health department, all these other folks participate and take on a table and share their perspective in what they do in the community. I just always appreciate the fair and everything that it is, and everything it does for our community. So thanks to everybody who participated in that. It was great to see a lot of members of the Council, the community, and the staff there this weekend.

I do want to note that we just provided to the Council and the Disabilities Commission probably like as this meeting was starting a memo about the Arsenal Street sidewalk providing both a short-term and long-term potential solution to address the concern over there. And I know that is an item that has been referred to committee, and I look forward to discussing with the committee that memo, I know that was something the council had been asking for. And I just want to note that's now in the hands of the council also being forwarded into the disabilities Commission, our staff looks forward to the opportunity to discuss the options on that particularly challenging stretch of sidewalk and what we can do on that. I also want to take a moment to recognize the city employee who's departing his work with the City this Friday because I think that sometimes you get deep into the nuts and bolts of what's going on in the city office if you don't notice the contributions that people make.

but Sean Delrose is departing Watertown to become the chief assessor for the town of Maynard in his last day with us this Friday. Sean began working for the city as a counselor at Camp DeCloset from 2004 through 2007. He joined the city as a full-time employee in October of 2015, as a parking clerk in the treasure collector's office continued to take on new challenges and responsibilities. He became head clerk in the recreation department in 2019. In 2021, he moved to the assessor's office as head clerk embracing the opportunity to take classes and prepare for a career in assessing his hard work paid off when he became assistant assessor in 2022 there's progression has a deep commitment to serving the residents of Watertown and we're grateful for all he's contributed, for his professionalism, his willingness to learn in this steady presence amongst our multiple departments.

and so while we'll miss him here in Watertown, we're excited for this next chapter as he steps into the role of Chief Assessor at Maynard. I just wanted to thank Sean for all his years of service, dedication to our city that he's had and the colleagues in the community. Sometimes, the assessor's office isn't the most noticed office Earl Smith, our chief assessor has a great team over there. He mentors them really well he helps train them really and as we talk about turning back a little bit more of the overlay money in October, it also proves that we're pretty solid with where our assessments land. We don't have outrageous abatement challenges it's all the result of having a very professional, strong assessing team there. And I know Sean will do great in Maynard and I just want to wish him well

any requests for information? Councilor Feltner.

Thank you, Mr. President. So excluding our school employees, how many city employees commute by car and how many employees have been issued a parking pass?

Announcements, any announcements? Councilor Palomba.

I just want to appreciate if I might building on the city managers of Fjordner Square. I was at the Watertown citizens table, and it was so nice to see the new veterans fair Veterans Officer walk around and come and introduce himself. I don't think I've ever seen that before, and I just wanted to appreciate him and his supervisor . That was a really nice

Announcements. I'm going to let the council and general public know, and so on. the updated capital improvement program with the numbers that were included from the middle school presentation and then we're going to have a brief presentation on the middle whether to proceed with that or not so that can be incorporated into the next week's presentation on preliminary budget overview. and the Hearer at Home. Rita, you are allowed to speak.

Hi, hello. Rita Calafella 56 Cuba Street. I'm just commenting on Noel and the clerk's office, the city clerk's Office in the recount process It was a fascinating thing to watch in Watertown as well as in Belmont. I mean, Belmont is like a machine but Noelle did a tremendous job I also want to attest for the prosperity. Our elections are clean, haven't seen a recount done many caucuses one for Hillary Clinton and poll watched. You can't find anything wrong, people know how to fill out those ballots It was very hard to find any votes, but it is a good thing that our elections function. They are clean. They work.

and one more thing about the primary, I know that's a primary split the town in half. And that's okay because Primaries, that's what they are. They are a fight for people's different visions and I hope going forward that we who are voting for the Democrats and or Republicans or Independents want to come along come along together into the general. Thanks!

Seeing none, I close the public forum and ask for a motion to adjourn. So moved. Is there a second?

Second.

Roll call please. Councillor Bayes.

Yes.

Councillor Feltner. Yes Councillor Gannon Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Sideris.