Government

Charter Committee Looks at Areas to Improve Watertown’s Government

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Watertown Town Hall

The group looking at making changes the Watertown Town Charter talked about their views on changing to a mayor, how to make the Town government more responsive to residents and how to get residents involved in the charter review. Last week, the Charter Review Committee held its second meeting, and welcomed members of the Collins Institute, the UMass-Boston based group with expertise in municipal governments that is working with the group on the Charter Review. Going into the charter review, some residents have called for Watertown to move from the current strong-town-manager model of government to one headed by a mayor. The Charter Review Committee can make major changes, said Michael Ward of the Collins Institute, such as the form of government, or smaller changed such as who reports to the Town Manager, who reports the Town Council, and which positions and boards are elected vs. appointed.

Charter Review Committee

6 Residents on Charter Review Committee Revealed, Consultant Will be Hired

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The 15 members of the Charter Review Committee met for the first time Tuesday night, including the six residents appointed to serve on the group that will make recommendations for how to change the document described as the Town’s constitution. An overview of charter reviews was presented during the virtual meeting by attorney Lauren Goldberg of KP Law, who said the amendments to the Watertown Home Rule Charter could be as minor as changing the wording and fixing grammar and as major as changing the form of government (such as having a mayor or going to a Town Meeting) or changing the way members of a board are selected from elected to appointed. Depending on the magnitude of the change, Goldberg said, the final approval may only need approval of the Town Council and approved by the State Legislature for a small change or having a ballot measure to be approved by Watertown voters for big alteration. The committee will get help during the review from the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass-Boston, which studies municipal governments in Massachusetts and across the country. Town Council President Mark Sideris said that he hopes to have someone from the Collins Center at the next meeting, on Oct.

Government

Watertown Charter Review Committee to Hold First Meeting

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The group that will be reviewing and likely proposing changes to the Watertown Charter will hold its first meeting on Oct. 6. The review of the Home Rule Charter, the document that determines how Watertown’s government works and its structure, takes place every 10 years in years ending in 0. The Charter Review Committee is made up of the nine Town Councilors and six residents appointed by the Town Council President. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct.