Government

LETTER: Council Would Overstep its Authority by Making the Town a Sanctuary City

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Open Letter to Honorable Watertown Town Council President and Councilors,

I’m writing to weigh in, as a Watertown Citizen, Taxpayer, and Voter on any possible measure that would declare Watertown a Sanctuary City or in anyway and or any measure that uses the Watertown Town Council as a partisan vehicle to make statements about Federal Immigration Policy. The Town Council is elected to govern Watertown. That being the case, its role is limited to municipal issues. While Public Safety and the actions of our Police Department fall within the purview of the Council’s authority, anything remotely connected for Federal Immigration Law or National Security is far beyond the scope of the Council’s Authority. Further passing proclamations, resolutions, or ordinances that make political statements, in order to appease partisan special interest groups, is nothing short of an abhorrent abuse of the Town Council’s time and the Town’s resources.

Budget Guidelines

Town Council Debates How to Get Items Into Watertown’s Annual Budget

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Each year the Town Council creates budget guidelines and Councilors can present their proposals for the budget during hearings of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight Committee. However, why some proposals make it and some do not is not always clear. 

In the presentation at last week’s  Town Council meeting, Councilor Vincent Piccirilli said the Budget and Fiscal Oversight subcommittee does not decide whether each request is a good idea or not but rather acts as an editor to take input from Town Councilors and “synthesize it into a concise, actionable document for the Manager.” (Click here to see the budget guidelines report). “The Committee may decide to not include a request because it requires policy direction from the Council before the Manager can include it in the operating budget; because it is too ambiguous to be included in the operating budget; because it is part of the Capital Improvement Program and not the operating budget; because it is within the authority of another elected body who has not weighed in it; or because it overlaps with other existing goals or requests,” Piccirilli was quoted as saying in the committee report. Councilor Tony Palomba said that he has been frustrated with his efforts to get items into the budget.

Government

Town Council Gives Homeowners a Bit of a Break on Property Taxes

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The Town Council voted to give Watertown residents living in their property a bit of a break on property taxes Tuesday night be increasing the residential tax exemption, but some on the Council wanted to increase it more. 

Since 2002, the Town Council voted to have a 20 percent owner-occupied exemption, but this year – Fiscal Year 2017 – Councilors increased the exemption to 22 percent. With the 22 percent exemption and the tax shift of 175 percent from residential to commercial/industrial and personal (CIP), the tax rate will be $13.90 per $1,000 of assessed value, said Watertown Assessor Francis Golden. See the tax levy presentation here. With those factors, there will be a $192 (3.80 percent) increase on bill of the average valued owner-occupied home, worth $547,540. With the 20 percent exemption, the increase would have been $267 (5.27 percent), on the same property.

Government

Town Councilors Will Be Able to Participate in Meetings by Video Conferencing

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The Town Council voted to allow members to take part in meetings remotely by linking in using video conferencing technology, but only under certain circumstances. Under the new policy, a Councilor may participate in a meeting if he or she has an acceptable reason and is able to hook into the meeting and see, hear and be heard by the other board members. Only one or a few members may participate remotely, said Councilor Ken Woodland, who presented the proposal Tuesday night. The board must have a quorum of members physically present at the meeting to hold the meeting, he said. In the case of the Council that is five of the nine members.

Branch Libraries

Fate of Watertown’s Branch Libraries on Council Agenda Tuesday Night

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The two former-branch libraries have sat unused for several years, and Tuesday night the Town Council will talk about what to do with the two buildings. The East Branch is located on Mt. Auburn Street and the North Branch sits on Orchard Street. Tuesday, the Council will hear from Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon about what to do with the old libraries. Some in town have suggested having the Watertown Public Schools use the branch libraries to help relieve the crowding in the elementary schools.

Government

Friend Pays Tribute to Longtime Town Councilor, Purple Heart Recipient

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At the end of last week’s Town Council meeting, a long-time follower of Watertown government paid tribute to a former Council Vice President and friend, Ray Musetti. Musetti died on Aug. 3 at the age of 92, and a funeral service was held on Aug. 8. Musetti’s friend, Burt Greenberg, spoke about the man who was involved in many groups around Watertown, including being Past Commander American Legion Post 99, Past Distinguished President Watertown Kiwanis Club, Lodge Piave Fiume #1036, Waltham-Watertown Lodge #953, the Disabled American Veterans, and the AMVETS, according to the obituary on Legacy.com.

Government

Town Council Gets a Pay Raise, Councilors Say it Matches Their Work Load

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The Town Council will get a significant raise starting in 2018 after members approved an increase at Tuesday’s meeting. Pay for Councilors will rise from $5,000 to $7,500 and the Council President will received $10,500 (including a stipend for serving on the School Committee) up from $6,500. The Council did not technically give itself a raise, said Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli, because the raise does not start until the next Town Council takes office. Therefore current councilors must be reelected to get the increase. The Council has not had a pay raise since 1999.