Watertown City Council (Tuesday May 12, 2026)

City Council
May 12, 2026
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Executive Summary

The Watertown City Council met on May 12, 2026, to address several significant legislative and financial matters. Key actions included the approval of an ordinance regarding non-union personnel compensation, the authorization of over $4.4 million in loan orders for street reconstruction on Farrer, Springfield, and Forest Streets, and the allocation of $100,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for historic cemetery restoration. The Council also approved a major transfer of approximately $14.7 million from the High School Stabilization Fund to finalize the high school construction budget. Additionally, the City Manager provided updates on the status of the Watertown Square post office and requested an extension for his contract negotiations, which the Council granted.

Attendance and Call to Order

  • Meeting Date: May 12, 2026
  • Governing Body: Watertown City Council
  • Meeting Type: Hybrid
  • Attendees: Councilor Caroline Bays, Councilor Lisa J. Feltner, Councilor John G. Gannon, Councilor Nicole Gardner, Councilor Emily Izzo, Councilor Theophilus Offei, Councilor Anthony Palomba, Councilor Vincent J. Piccirilli, and Council President Mark S. Sideris.

Public Forum

  • Speaker 1 (Second Chance): Raised concerns regarding the variety of needs across different age groups in the budget. Questioned the enforcement of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rules, citing a specific instance on Hovey Street where an ADU was allegedly used to leverage a property sale without being built.
  • Joan Gumbelden: Expressed concerns regarding the assessment and valuation of ADUs by realtors and the town, noting that the lack of historical data makes it difficult to determine the value they add to properties.

Approval of Minutes

  • Action: Motion to approve the minutes of the April 28 meeting.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (9-0).

President's Report

  • Action: Motion to endorse the policy statement regarding community safety previously read by the Council President.
  • Discussion: Councilors Bays, Gannon, Palomba, and Offei expressed support for the unified message.
  • Vote: Approved unanimously (9-0).

Public Hearing: Non-Union Personnel Compensation and Leave Ordinance

  • Item: Proposed ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances regarding non-union personnel compensation and leave.
  • Summary: The ordinance establishes that the Human Resources Department will maintain policies for non-union employees, including classification compensation systems, salary steps, and leave accrual.
  • Key Language: The ordinance covers "the Human Resources Department of the City of Watertown maintaining employee policies for employees that are not directly employed by the City Council and that are otherwise not covered by a collective bargaining unit including, but not limited to, a classification compensation system, establishing a grade and salary step for each position, a policy for accruing vacation leave, a policy for accruing sick leave, a policy for accruing personal leave, and a schedule of employee holidays."
  • Discussion: Councilor Gannon expressed concern over the lack of a "just cause" provision for discipline, arguing for protections similar to union contracts. City Manager Proakis and Attorney Rich discussed the legal implications of "at-will" vs. "just cause" standards.
  • Amendment: A typo in the text ("but are not be limited to") was corrected to "but are not limited to."
  • Vote (Roll Call):
    • Yes: Piccirilli, Bays, Feltner, Gardner, Izzo, Offei, Palomba, Sideris.
    • No: Gannon.
    • Result: Passed 8-1.

Public Hearing: Loan Orders for Street Reconstruction

  • Item 6B: Loan order for $2,300,000 to reconstruct Farrer Street and Springfield Street (Line 289 of FY2026-2031 CIP).
  • Item 6C: Loan order for $2,100,000 for connector roads and longer streets at Forest Street and Springfield Street (Line 318 of FY2024-2028 CIP).
  • Summary: DPW Superintendent Brady explained the two-season construction plan. The two loan orders combined allow the city to fund the extensive project by pulling from two different fiscal years of the Capital Improvement Plan.
  • Vote 6B (Roll Call): Unanimous (9-0).
  • Vote 6C (Roll Call): Unanimous (9-0).

Community Preservation Act (CPA) Funding: Historic Cemeteries

  • Item: Expenditure of $100,000 in CPA funds for landscape architecture services for the Old Burying Ground and Common Street Cemetery.
  • Summary: Bob DiRico (CPC Interim Chair) presented the request for the development of construction documents for the restoration of grave markers, tombs, and fencing. The total implementation cost is estimated at $1.5 million.
  • Vote (Roll Call): Unanimous (9-0).

Financial Transfers: Litigation and Snow and Ice Removal

  • Litigation (7B): Transfer of $75,000 from the FY2026 City Council Reserve to the Litigation account to cover a budget deficit.
  • Snow and Ice (7C): Transfer of $824,277 from the FY2026 City Council Reserve to various Snow and Ice accounts to cover deficits from winter storms, including overtime and equipment rental.
  • Vote 7B: Unanimous (9-0).
  • Vote 7C: Unanimous (9-0).

Financial Transfer: Watertown High School Stabilization Fund

  • Item: Transfer of $14,768,576 from the FY2026 Watertown High School stabilization transfer out account to the transfer in account.
  • Summary: This transfer utilizes funds set aside to cover the remaining construction budget of $13,793,777, providing a $1 million buffer while awaiting MSBA reimbursements and energy tax credits.
  • Key Language: "The project as a whole is still at $220,538,835. We've basically held that budget since the start of construction."
  • Vote (Roll Call): Unanimous (9-0).

Committee Reports: Rules and Ordinances (Noise Ordinance)

  • Reports: Councilor Gardner presented reports from meetings on March 12, April 21, and May 5 regarding the proposed noise ordinance.
  • Key Discussions:
    • Definitions of "plainly audible" and "emergency work."
    • Tonal noise limits set at 5 dBA above ambient levels.
    • Exclusion of domestic animals from noise exemptions.
    • Decision to refer the matter of "vibration" back to the committee for further legal and technical study.
  • Action: Motion to "refer back to the Committee on Rules and Ordinances for further study, including legal considerations, the matter of vibration, and report back with a recommendation."
  • Vote: Approved unanimously.

Communications from the City Manager

  • Appointments: Kevin Lee (Historical Commission), Adrienne Roberts and Lindsey Graham (Cable Access Board), and Phyllis Perrone (Cultural Council) were referred to committees.
  • Contract Extension: The Council approved a motion to extend the City Manager's contract negotiation period to June 30, 2026.
  • Post Office Update: Manager Proakis reported that the USPS has shifted strategy and is no longer exploring the 104 Main Street location. The city is working with Congresswoman Katherine Clark's office to advocate for a return to Watertown Square.
  • Project Updates: Victory Field construction is expected to finish in late fall; Saltanstall Park pavilion roof remains delayed due to subcontractor issues.

Announcements and Adjournment

  • Announcements:
    • Porchfest: Saturday, 12-6 PM.
    • Watertown Square Demonstration Project Open House: Wednesday, May 20, 3-8 PM at 9 Galen Street.
    • Memorial Day Parade: Monday, May 25, 12 PM.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned following a final public comment regarding the city's phone system.

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Last updated: May 16, 2026

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