Government

Watertown Receives Some Strong Candidates for City Manager, Screening Committee to Narrow Pool

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Watertown City Hall

The pool of candidates applying for the Watertown City Manager position includes some strong applicants, according to the consultant hired to help with the process. The Ad Hoc City Manager Screening Committee met Thursday night to start the process of reviewing resumes of the applicants for City Manager. They are being assisted by Bernie Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates, who said the number of hopefuls is pretty typical. “In the end we had 23 candidates apply for the position, which is consistent with where we are with many of our communities: somewhere between 20 and 30 candidates,” Lynch said. City Council President Mark Sideris, the chair of the Ad Hoc City Manager Search Committee, said there are also some who will not likely make the list.

City Manager

City Manager Candidate Screening Committee Meeting This Week

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Watertown City Hall

The committee screening candidates for Watertown’s next City Manager will review the process for how hiring process will proceed. The Ad Hoc City Manager Screening Committee will meet vitually on Thursday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. At the meeting the City’s consultant, Community Paradigm Associates, will review the process. After the presentation, the Committee will go into executive session to begin evaluating the candidates. The Ad Hoc Screening Committee includes: Mark Sideris (City Council President) – Chair, Vincent Piccirilli (City Council Vice President), Caroline Bays (Chair of Personnel and City Organization Committee), Steve Magoon (Acting Deputy City Manager), Deanne Galdston (Superintendent of Schools), Daniel D’Amico (Resident), and Felicia Sullivan (Resident). The public can join the virtual meeting online: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/86093009517

The public can also join the virtual meeting audio only by phone: (877) 853-5257 or (888)475-4499 (Toll Free), and enter Webinar ID: 860 9300 9517 #

Comments can be sent by email to: cbays@watertown-ma.gov

City Council

Council Approves Job Description for Watertown’s Next City Manager

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The City Council made tweaks to the description of what Watertown is looking for in its next City Manager, and will soon use it to advertise the position. The job description calls for a salary of $200,000 or higher, with preference for someone with knowledge of Massachusetts municipal laws and operations, with good communication skills and strong personnel management and project management skills. The draft of the job description was presented to the Council by Bernie Lynch, the consultant hired by the Council to assist in the search. The description also includes information about Watertown, and background of the previous manager, Michael Driscoll, who retired after working in the Watertown Municipal government for 45 years, the last 29 as Town and City Manager. Also, it included descriptions of the local government, education, the economy, and Watertown’s recreation and open space amenities.

City Manager

Retiring City Manager Reflects on His 3 Decades Leading Watertown

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Michael Driscoll attended his final City Council meeting during his career as Watertown’s Town and now City Manager that lasted nearly three decades. At the end of the meeting, Driscoll spoke to the Council, the staff and the community and reflected upon his accomplishments, his appreciation of Watertown’s departments and their leaders, and provided some advice for “good government.” Some of the highlights include improving Watertown’s facilities, building three elementary schools and constructing a new high school in coming years, and paying off the deficits in the City’s retirement and benefits accounts. He thanked the City departments, and had some advice for the future direction of some, including the Watertown Police Department. Driscoll also congratulated a couple of department head who will also soon be retiring.

Government

Public Invited to Community Forum on Hiring New City Manager, Will be In-Person and Virtual

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is pleased to announce a community forum will be held on January 12th to offer Watertown residents the opportunity to share their thoughts regarding the skills and experience the next City Manager should possess. The forum will be held on Wednesday, January 12th, at 6 p.m. in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber at the Administration Building, 149 Main Street. This will be a hybrid event, supporting both in-person and remote participation. “We are very interested in hearing recommendations regarding the skills and experience Watertown residents would like to see in their next City Manager,” said Mark Sideris, Council President. “It is critical that residents are an integral part of the City Manager selection process.”The City has hired the consulting firm Community Paradigm Associates to assist in the search process.

Government

Retirement Party for City Manager Postponed Due to COVID-19

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The retirement party planned for City Manager Michael Driscoll has been postponed due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. Driscoll announced his retirement in June, and will complete nearly 30 years as Town and City Manager of Watertown. He was first hired by Watertown in 1977. The City sent out the following announcement:

Given the current COVID-19 situation, City Council President Mark S. Sideris announced today that the planned January 29, 2022 Event honoring Michael J. Driscoll upon his retirement the end of January after serving our community for 45 years, with the last 29 years as Watertown’s City Manager, has been postponed. We will be sure to let you know the revised date of the Event honoring Mr. Driscoll once it has been determined.

Around Town

City Surveying Residents About Qualifications, Characteristics Desired in Next City Manager

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The process to hire the next City Manager for Watertown has begun, and residents can weigh in on what they think the most important qualifications and characteristics for the next chief executive of the City to have. They survey is being conducted online, and the City sent out the following message:

“Watertown residents, please participate in this citizen survey which is designed to help identify the desired experience and attributes of Watertown’s next City Manager. Your opinions will assist our recruitment consultant and the City Manager Screening Committee as they identify candidates and work to narrow the field to a small group of finalists to submit to the City Council.” The survey has five questions about the next City Manager:

Which professional qualifications are most importantWhich personal characteristics are most importantWhat challenges and opportunities are most critical for the City Manager to be able to addressThe most important thing a new City Manager should know about Watertown, andWhat other information the City Manager Search Committee should know in the search for a new City Manager

Access the public input survey by clicking here.

City Manager

A History of Watertown’s Town Managers, 1981 to the Present

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City Manager Michael Driscoll will retire in January after 29 years in the position. by DeWitt Henry

As Watertown prepares for Michael Driscoll’s retirement after his 29 years of service as Town Manager; and as the City Council works with the specialized consulting firm Community Paradigm Associates LLC to search for his successor, it may be useful to remember how Michael Driscoll himself was hired. I refer readers to https://www.watertown-ma.gov/1065/Town-Council-Yearbook as well as to the Watertown Public Library’s archives of The Watertown Sun and the Watertown Press along with the Town of Watertown’s Annual Reports for these decades. THE FIRST MANAGER, PETER BOYER (1981-86)

Watertown’s government changed in 1980 from a Town Meeting and Selectman form to the Town Council and Manager form. The first town manager search was conducted by a Council presided over by Louis Andrews, a former Selectman, and included Roberta Miller, Marilyn Devaney, John Diliberto, Wayne MacDonald, William Oates, Mark Basile, and Renato D. Ray Musetti.