Executive Summary
The Watertown City Council met on January 27, 2026, to address several financial and administrative matters, including the approval of over $2 million in loan orders for Department of Public Works equipment and utility vehicles. Key actions included the authorization of a 20-year net metering credit purchase agreement with Rewild Renewables LLC to reduce city energy costs and the approval of fund transfers for collective bargaining settlements with the Fire and Library unions. The Council also discussed capital improvement projects, including EV charging infrastructure and a new transit van for food security services. Notably, the City Manager announced the termination of the contract with Flock for license plate reader technology following community feedback and privacy concerns.
Call to Order and Roll Call
- Meeting Date: January 27, 2026
- Governing Body: Watertown City Council
- Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
- Attendees:
- Councilor Caroline Bays
- Councilor Lisa J. Feltner
- Councilor John G. Gannon
- Councilor Nicole Gardner
- Councilor Emily Izzo
- Councilor Anthony Palomba
- Councilor Vincent J. Piccirilli
- Council President Mark S. Sideris
- Councilor Theophilus Offei (Joined during the meeting)
- Action: The meeting was called to order at 12:00 AM and broadcast by Watertown Cable Access.
Executive Session
- Purpose: To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining for the DPW Union, Watertown Municipal Employee Group, Library Union, Fire Union, Police Patrol Union, and Police Supervisors Union.
- Action: Motion to enter executive session passed unanimously via roll call vote.
- Vote Outcome: 8-0-0 (Yes: Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Palomba, Sideris).
Public Forum and Examination of Minutes
- Public Forum: No members of the public spoke during the initial forum.
- Minutes: The Council voted to adopt the minutes of the January 13 meeting as written.
- Vote Outcome: Passed unanimously via voice vote.
President's Report
- Snow Removal: President Sideris thanked the DPW, Public Safety, and Public Buildings departments for their efforts during a challenging snow event involving over 19 inches of snow.
- MMA Conference: President Sideris congratulated Councilor Feltner on being elected President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).
Public Hearings: Loan Orders for Department of Public Works
- Item 8A: DPW Equipment Loan Order: A public hearing and vote on a proposed loan order of $1,417,000 for departmental equipment.
- Key Detail: Includes a transition from a tandem axle chip truck to a small bucket truck for tree maintenance.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 9-0-0 (Yes: Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Sideris).
- Item 8B: Sewer Enterprise Fund Loan Order: A public hearing and vote on a proposed loan order of $510,000 for a dump service truck, sewer pump truck, and service response truck.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 9-0-0 (Yes: Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Sideris).
- Item 8C: Water Enterprise Fund Loan Order: A public hearing and vote on a proposed loan order of $80,000 for a utility truck for the Water Division.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 9-0-0 (Yes: Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Sideris).
- Item 8D: Waste and Reduction Ordinance: The public hearing for the proposed ordinance was continued to February 24, 2026.
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions: Net Metering and Food Pantry
- Item 9A: Net Metering Credit Purchase Agreement: Authorization to enter into a 20-year agreement with Rewild Renewables LLC (specifically Logging Swamp Solar LLC in Rochester, MA).
- Financial Impact: Estimated 10% savings on electricity supply and delivery costs for approximately half of the city's energy use.
- Discussion: Energy Manager Silas Feiler clarified that the city gives up Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) in exchange for the 10% discount.
- Vote Outcome: Passed unanimously via voice vote.
- Item 9B: Watertown Food Pantry Gifts: Resolution authorizing the expenditure of $51,582.58 in gifted funds received in November and December.
- Vote Outcome: Passed unanimously via voice vote.
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions: Fund Transfers
- Item 9C: Personnel Account Transfer: Resolution authorizing a transfer of $421,500 from the City Council Reserve to fund settlements for Firefighters Local 1347 and Library Union contracts, as well as the City Manager's FY26 salary adjustment.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 9-0-0 (Yes: Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Sideris).
- Item 9D: Capital Improvement Transfer: Resolution authorizing a transfer of $283,500 from the City Council Reserve for various projects:
- $9,500: Police Department Level 2 charger expansion.
- $84,000: Fire Headquarters kitchen renovation shortfall.
- $135,000: Traffic signal and safety improvements (Galen/Watertown St, Watertown/California St).
- $55,000: EV transit van for Human Services to support mobile food access.
- Vote Outcome: Passed 9-0-0 (Yes: Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Piccirilli, Bays, Sideris).
First Readings: EV Charging Infrastructure
- Item 9E: First reading of a loan order for $300,000 for a Spark Charge Level 3 mobile electric vehicle charging platform for the police station.
- Item 9F: First reading of a loan order for $900,404 for three fixed Level 3 electric vehicle chargers for the police station.
Communications and Manager's Report
- Capital Improvement Program (CIP): The Manager submitted the FY27-30 CIP. He noted concerns regarding debt service reaching $53 million (over 20% of the projected budget) by FY31 if the middle school project is funded at $120 million.
- Snow Update: The Manager reported 19 inches of snow since Sunday, with DPW crews working over 50 hours. A snow emergency remains in effect for overnight parking to allow for snow removal from corners and bus stops.
- License Plate Readers (Flock): The Manager announced his intention to terminate the contract with Flock Safety.
- Quote: "My intention at this point is to inform Flock that we're not going forward with this particular contract... I think we need to go from a hold to a stop."
- Reasoning: Significant community concern regarding privacy and data management by the vendor. The Manager emphasized that no readers are currently installed in Watertown.
- Treasurer Collector: The Manager requested a committee meeting to discuss qualifications for the vacant Treasurer Collector position (referred to the Committee on Personnel).