Government

See Why the City Council Narrowly Rejected a Nuclear Disarmament Resolution

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Tuesday night, a citizens group presented the City Council with a petition to support a resolution encouraging the federal government to seek nuclear disarmament in the United States and the other eight nations that have nuclear weapons. The proposal split the Council, which rejected it down by one vote. The resolution was signed by 500 residents, of whom about a dozen spoke in support for a variety of reasons, while a few residents spoke against mostly saying they did not think the issue was something that a local government could impact. The debate amongst the Councilors did not revolve around the content of the resolution, but rather about whether it was appropriate for the City Council to be taking up on their agenda. Originally, the resolution was proposed by a City Councilor, but City Council President Mark Sideris said he did not think it was appropriate discussion because it was not specifically City related, and the Council has many other issues to deal with.

Letters

LETTER: Councilor’s Statement on Nuclear Disarmament Resolution

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by Tony PalombaCity Councilor At-Large

At the City Council meeting tonight, February 10 there will be a public hearing on a Citizen Petition on a Request to Call on Federal leaders to Support Nuclear Disarmament. Below is the statement I hope to make at the Council meeting. I would like to thank the members of the Nuclear Disarmament Committee of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment for bringing this Resolution to the City Council via the Citizen Petition option as delineated in our Charter.  I am honored to have worked with them for nearly two years as they collected nearly 500 signatures, held numerous public forms, appeared on WCATV, wrote and distributed brochures and handouts, arranged for a presentation on this issue to Watertown HS students, sent a letter, materials and a copy of Annie Jacobsen’s book, “Nuclear War: A Scenario,” to all City Councilors and continued to reach out to you to arrange an in-person or zoom meeting to present their case for why they hoped you would pass the Resolution.  They are remarkable and dedicated folks committed to keeping the residents ofWatertown safe from the devastating effects of a nuclear exchange or an all-out nuclear war.  Thank you. I can’t do justice to the excellent statements they made this evening, but allow me to make four points. I may repeat a bit, but what I offer are the reasons why I hope you will support the Resolution.

Government

Council Roundup: Councilor Elected Head of Statewide Board, DPW Equipment Funded, Contracts Approved

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Watertown District B Councilor Lisa Feltner was elected president of the Mass. Municipal Councillors’ Association.(Photo by Krista Photography | Krista Guenin)

The City Council had a full agenda on Jan. 27, with votes to approve equipment purchases by the Department of Public Works, approval of contracts for multiple City unions, and a Watertown City Councilor was elected head of a statewide board. Also, the date for the Skip the Stuff Ordinance to be considered was announced. At the meeting, City Manager George Proakis announced that the City will be cancelling its contract with Flock Safety for license plate reading cameras.

Government

Watertown Cancelling Contract for Flock License Plate Reading Cameras

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Watertown will cancel the contract with Flock Safety to install license plate reading cameras in the City, and City Manager George Proakis told the City Council he wants to continue to have discussions about when it is appropriate for the Watertown Police to use technology in its investigations. The City signed a contract last year with Flock with plans to install eight cameras. Proakis announced the end of the contract at the Jan. 27 City Council meeting, but said he would like the City Council to discuss use of technology by the Watertown Police Department. The cameras became a topic of discussion in recent months as more communities install them, and others have removed them due to concerns about how the data collected by the cameras is being used, and who has access to it.

Government

Watertown Renegotiating Contract for BlueBikes, Looks to Get More Beneficial Deal

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Arsenal YardsThe Bluebikes station outside Arsenal Yards. With Watertown’s contract with the Bluebikes bicycle share company expiring, City officials hope to sign a more favorable agreement. The contract ends in early 2026, and City Manager George Proakis told the City Council he hopes to sign a several year agreement. “This particular contract is a five year agreement with two optional two year renewals for a maximum term of nine years, which is designed to enhance service delivery, strengthen the sponsorship system, to make the system work better and support continued operations and stability in the bikeshare system here in Watertown,” Proakis said. Because the contract is longer than three years, the City Council had to vote to allow the City staff to enter into an agreement.

Government

Council President Lays Out Watertown’s Accomplishments & Future Challenges at Inauguration

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City Council President Mark Sideris gave his inaugural address on Jan. 2, 2026. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s elected officials face some key decisions that will impact the future of the City, including the future of Watertown Square and whether to build a new Middle School, said City Council President Mark Sideris, who also talked about the keys to successful governing of the City. Sideris spoke of what has been accomplished over the past few years, and the challenges facing the City Council, School Committee, and Library Board of Trustees during the Inauguration ceremony held on Jan. 2 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts.

Government

City Council, School Committee Bid Farewell to Departing Members

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City Councilor John Airasian, and School Committee member Lily Rayman-Read. Two Watertown elected officials served their final meetings in December, and each was bid farewell by their colleagues. City Councilor At-Large John Airasian departs the Council after two terms (four years), and Lily Rayman-Read finished two-four year terms on the School Commmittee. John Airasian

The City Council bid Airasian farewell at its Dec. 9 meeting with a proclamation in honor of his years of service to the community.

Government

Flock Cameras: City Manager Working Out Details of Contract for License Plate Reading Devices

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Watertown’s contract with the Flock Safety company for eight license plate reading cameras was signed in September, but City officials are working on changing the section covering when data will be shared with other law enforcement. Meanwhile, a neighboring community terminated its contract with Flock, and another is determining its own policy for using the cameras. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting City Manager George Proakis provided a further update about the Flock cameras. During the previous Council meeting, on Nov. 25, he said that the data from the cameras, which take photos of plates but do not have a live feed, will be used only as part of an ongoing investigation.