Government

LETTER: City Council Should Make a Change to Its Rules

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I wish to Congratulate all the candidates that were elected or reelected to Serve The Community this past Tuesday.    

I write wishing the Council will make a small, but very important, rule change when they organize next year. I may be out of touch with how things are to operate nowadays, but if I were a Councilor today, I certainly would be a maverick. I preface my remarks by acknowledging that I don’t watch as many Council Meetings that I should. But, when I do physically or on TV, I am often disappointed in what I see. I have felt the Council is meek and couldn’t understand why. I have now found out why. The Council has abandoned the strength they have. I see a violation of Roberts Rule of Order where the President is allowed to make a motion without vacating the chair; allowing the Vice President to preside in order for him to make a motion. Of course, the Vice President, more than not, beats the other Councilors in seconding the motion. In the past, if uninformed on Roberts Rules, we were provided the necessary information.

Elections

Top Vote-Getters Did Not Always Win the Most Precincts in the 2025 Watertown Election

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The winners in the Nov. 4, 2025 Watertown Election did not always win the most precincts, and voters in different parts of town preferred different candidates. City Councilor

In the Councilor At-Large race, the candidate with the highest vote total did not win the most precincts, and the support varied by section of town. Incumbent Tony Palomba won the most precincts, with six, but finished with the second most votes, 3,389. He won precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.

Elections

Incumbents Returned to City Council, School Committee and Library Trustees, See Who Else Was Elected Tuesday

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There will be one new face on the City Council, one on the School Committee and two on the Board of Library Trustees after Tuesday’s Watertown Municipal Election. Watertown voters re-electedJohn Gannon with 3,418 votes, Tony Palomba (3,389), and Caroline Bays (3,030) in the race for Councilor At-Large, and first-time candidate Theo Offei (2,999) won a seat. Former Auditor Tom Tracy also challenged for a seat and got 2,232 votes. Vincent Piccirilli won another term with 1,042 votes for District C City Councilor. He defeated challenger Andres Guzman (307).

Elections

Election 2025 Guide: Watertown Voters Selecting City Council, School Committee, Library Trustee Seats

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Charlie Breitrose

All voters in Watertown will have three contested races to vote in, selecting members of the City Council, the School Committee, and the Board of Library Trustees. Residents of District C will also be casting votes for their district City Councilor. The Watertown Municipal Election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Half the polling locations have changed in 2025. See more details below.

Government

Council Still Considering Options for Rebuilding Middle School After Long Discussion

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Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The City Council drilled down on what factors would determine whether to do a full renovation/rebuild of Watertown Middle School, or to do more basic repairs now and a bigger project later. After more than two hours of deliberation on Tuesday night Councilors had not made a decision and some key questions remain unanswered. The City Council heard from City and school officials, as well as Watertown’s project management firm for school building projects. City Manager George Proakis outlined the financial implications of each option, and some of the hurdles that lay in the paths of even the lowest cost options. In 2024, the City Council had a similar discussion, and decided to make a new Middle School a priority.

Elections

LETTER: Statement from City Councilor At-Large Candidate

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My name is John Gannon, and for three terms, I’ve had the honor of representing Watertown as your city councilor at-large. I’m now running for re-election this coming Tuesday, November 4. I was inspired to a career in public service by my family, teachers, coaches and members of this welcoming community. I grew up in Watertown and developed my own life here. My father, a partially-disabled WWII veteran, worked at the Watertown post office, delivering mail to our neighbors, and my mother, a first-generation American, worked as a secretary.

Elections

LETTER: Trick or Treat from the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)?

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Yesterday I received a second postcard from the MTA. They appear to have a lot of money to burn on their candidate endorsements. For those who are unfamiliar with the MTA’s agenda, please review the 2025 Watertown Educators Association Candidate Questionnaire and the support materials at:https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSf30p8erVdxVlgShgKeq2ljGBj8GVqvHyCm4lvmMY6Q78J5tQ/viewform?usp=preview&urp=gmail_link&pli=1

I am curious – How many MTA members work in our schools, and how many of them live in Watertown? Could someone from the MTA or WEA provide an answer to this question? IMO, there is an information gap regarding the support for our public schools in Watertown.

Elections

Early Voting in the 2025 Watertown Election Starts Tuesday, See Who’s Running

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown City Hall, the site of early voting for the 2025 Watertown Eleciton. The Watertown City Election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, but registered voters can participate in Early In-Person Voting at City Hall beginning Tuesday, Oct. 28. Races include City Councilor At-Large, District C City Council, School Committee, and Library Trustees.