Watertown City Council (Tuesday March 10, 2026)

City Council
March 10, 2026
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Executive Summary

The Watertown City Council met on March 10, 2026, to address several financial and administrative matters, most notably the approval of the FY2027-FY2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) featuring 36 specific recommendations and a total FY27 capital spending plan of $40,587,000. The Council approved a $750,000 loan order for sewer improvements, authorized an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Belmont for shared therapeutic recreation services, and advanced a proposed ordinance to prohibit the sale of certain animals in pet shops. Additionally, the City Manager announced the lifting of the winter overnight parking ban and highlighted upcoming commemorative events, including the 250th anniversary of Treaty Day.

Meeting Information and Attendance

  • Governing Body: Watertown City Council
  • Meeting Type: In-person with remote access
  • Date: March 10, 2026
  • Attendees:
    • Mark S. Sideris, Council President
    • 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, Councilor

Public Forum

  • Ed Scheinbart (275 Main Street): Expressed gratitude to Councilors Palomba, Offei, Piccirilli, and Gannon for attending a recent session regarding antisemitism. He stated, "Personally, it meant a lot to me that four of you were there... and that the four of you were here for the city."
  • Laina Vai: Urged the Council to adopt an executive order similar to one issued in Chelsea, MA, to protect residents from aggressive federal immigration enforcement. She stated, "Watertown should adopt comparable measures that reaffirm that local resources will not be used for federal immigration enforcement."

Examination of Minutes and President's Report

  • Minutes Approval: The Council unanimously approved the minutes for the meetings held on February 10, 2026, and February 24, 2026.
  • Committee Appointment: The appointment of Alana Berman-Navecki to the Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee (term expiring May 15, 2028) became automatic under Council rules.

Public Hearing: Sewer System Improvements Loan Order

  • Item 6A: A public hearing was held on a proposed loan order for $750,000 to pay costs of sewer system improvements for the Department of Public Works, as described in line 51 of the Capital Improvement Plan incorporated with the FY2026 annual budget.
  • Action: The loan order was approved.
  • Vote (9-0): Councilor Izzo (Yes), Councilor Offei (Yes), Councilor Palomba (Yes), Councilor Piccirilli (Yes), Councilor Bays (Yes), Councilor Feltner (Yes), Councilor Gannon (Yes), Councilor Gardner (Yes), President Sideris (Yes).

Motions, Orders, and Resolutions

  • Fire Department Turnout Gear (7A): First reading of a proposed loan order for $450,000 to replace turnout gear. The total cost is $480,000, with the remaining $30,000 to be covered by a fund transfer.
  • Fund Transfer (7B): Resolution authorizing the transfer of $30,000 from the FY2026 City Council Reserve to the FY2026 Fire Replacement of Equipment account.
    • Action: Approved via roll call vote (Bays, Feltner, Gannon, Gardner, Izzo, Sideris recorded as 'Yes').
  • Intermunicipal Agreement (7C): The Council approved an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) with the Town of Belmont for shared Therapeutic Recreation Services.
    • Details: The agreement establishes a 50/50 split for a full-time staff position managed by Belmont. The program serves approximately 200 participants with 15 Special Olympic programs.
    • Action: Approved via voice vote.

Committee Reports: Appointments and Personnel

  • Conservation Commission (8A): The Council confirmed the appointment of Marie-Sophie Royder and the reappointment of Leo Martin to the Conservation Commission, both for terms expiring February 15, 2029.
  • Personnel and City Organization (8B & 8C): Reports from January 27 and February 10 were accepted. Discussions included:
    • Accessibility and childcare for board/committee members.
    • Qualifications for the City Treasurer Collector, emphasizing the need for MUNIS accounting system experience and certification from the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association.
  • Board of Health (8D): The Council confirmed the reappointment of Dominic Amirtharaj, MD, to the Board of Health for a term expiring February 5, 2029.

Committee Reports: Human Services and Environment

  • Human Services Department Update (8E): Director Jenna Bancroft presented on departmental goals, including the relocation of the Watertown Food Pantry to the Parker Building (serving 170 households/week) and the allocation of $250,000 in opioid settlement funds.
  • Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee (8F): The Council confirmed the appointments of Laurel Shader and Susan Ledoux for terms expiring November 15, 2028.
  • Pet Shop Ordinance (8G): The Committee on Rules and Ordinance recommended a draft ordinance to prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Watertown. The ordinance states: "Puppies, kittens, and rabbits deserve to be free from the abuse that is rampant in commercial breeding mills."
    • Action: The item was referred for a first reading at the next Council meeting.

Committee Report: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) FY2027-FY2031

  • Overview: The Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight presented 36 recommendations for the FY27-FY31 CIP.
  • Financial Highlights:
    • Total proposed capital spending for FY27: $40,587,000.
    • Total proposed operating budget: $223,181,000.
    • Capital spending represents 18.19% of the operating budget (7.95% if the school project is excluded).
  • Key Recommendations:
    • Item 30 (Middle School): Maintain a $10,000,000 placeholder for the Watertown Middle School new building project (estimated total cost $112,239,426) until a final construction decision is reached.
    • Item 21: $1,425,000 for the Fire Department, including $1.25M for an engine truck replacement.
    • Item 16: $2,875,000 for local road construction (Cottage Street and others) and $2.3M for Forest and Springfield Streets.
  • Action Items Approved:
    • Adoption of the 36 CIP recommendations.
    • Requirement that FY27 capital spending (excluding schools/enterprise funds) not exceed 8% of the operating budget.
    • Request for DPW memos regarding ADA compliance on Arsenal Street and the status of lead water service replacements.

Communications from the City Manager

  • Winter Parking Ban: The City Manager announced that the winter overnight parking ban would be lifted effective March 11, 2026.
  • Commemorations:
    • Firefighter Toscano Memorial: A ceremony will be held March 17 at 10:15 AM on Bigelow Ave to mark the 9th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Joe Toscano.
    • Treaty Day 250: An event is planned for July 18, 2026, to mark the 250th anniversary of the treaty between Watertown and the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet peoples.
  • Economic Development: Highlighted the Knox Trail commemoration and recent presentations to the Watertown Business Coalition regarding the life sciences sector.

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Last updated: Mar 16, 2026

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