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News & Announcements
Councilor Caroline Bays's Annual City Councilor Meeting
Please join City Councilor Caroline Bays at her Annual City Councilor Meeting today, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 6:00 - 7:30 PM.
This meeting is now on Zoom ONLY.
ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan
The City of Watertown is completing an ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan for its programs and city-owned and operated structures. Working with our vendor, KMA LLC, the city is hosting a public meeting to discuss the draft findings from the ADA. Please join us on May 28, 2025, at 6PM to hear from KMA and the Watertown Commission on Disability and to share your thoughts. The meeting will be held in the City Hall Lower Hearing Room, and via Zoom. See the agenda.
Mount Auburn Street Tree Hearing Statement
At the scheduled tree hearing on May 14, 2025, city staff indicated that the trees on Mount Auburn Street that are scheduled to be removed are not under the purview of the city’s Tree Warden. This information was based upon an interpretation that Mount Auburn Street is a state highway subject to an exemption in Chapter 87, Section 2 of Massachusetts General Laws.
Following further consultation with Legal Counsel, it has been determined that Mount Auburn Street is not classified as a state highway for the purpose of Chapter 87. Therefore, a tree hearing by the city’s Tree Warden will be required for the trees listed on the May 14, 2025 Public Shade Tree Removal Hearing agenda. (See agenda linked below)
This new hearing is now scheduled for June 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and please refer to watertown-ma.gov for the agenda of the newly scheduled hearing when posted.
Town Wide Yard Sale
Watertown Community Education’s 2025 Town Wide Yard Sale is Saturday, June 7, 2025 & Sunday June 9, 2025, rain or shine. There will not be a rain date.
- Household Items
- Children’s Items
- Furniture
- Antiques
- Clothing
- Jewelry
- Toys
- Collectibles
- Records
- Vintage Goods
- Handmade Crafts
- And more!
Come & find your neighbors’ hidden treasures!
Join us for the annual Town Wide Yard Sale. For one fee of $10, you can schedule your yard sale on Saturday, June 7th, Sunday, June 8th, or both days! We'll do the advertising, provide a list of addresses to buyers and make it a community event for all to enjoy!!!
Please access the online 2025 Watertown Community Education Town Wide Yard Sale Registration Form.
Upon completing the form, you will receive instructions on how to make payment.
The Deadline to Register is Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
A list of participating houses will be available on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Follow the 2025 Town Wide Yard Sale on Facebook.
For questions or comments, please contact Jeff Bodner at 617-926-7764 (office), 857-241-8499 (cell), or jeffrey.bodner@watertown.k12.ma.us.
Historical Commission 2025 Preservation Awards
Meet the Director and DPW Open House
Come meet Watertown’s DPW Director, Tom Brady, and the whole DPW team on May 20, 2025, from 5-7:30pm at 124 Orchard Street for Watertown’s first Meet the Director and DPW Open House!
Join the fun to learn more about all the important work Watertown’s Public Works staff does to keep our community great! Each of the below teams will be stationed at booths to answer questions, engage you in hands-on exhibits, and you can also explore some of the trucks in the DPW Fleet. See the map of the stations you can expect at the event. We can’t wait to see you there!
- Meet the DPW Director Tom Brady!
- Administration
- Engineering
- DPW Fleet
- Forestry
- Parks & Cemeteries
- Highways Department
- Solid Waste
- Traffic & Wiring
- Water & Sewer
Eco Fest!
The City of Watertown's first Resilient Watertown Eco Fest is Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 11am-2pm at the Commander's Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave. It is open to the public and free to attend.
Come join us to learn about how to make your life greener, explore sustainability concepts, and have some fun along the way. The day will include exhibits and activities from a wide range of vendors, community groups, City committees, and services.
Eco Fest is confirming more vendors and event experiences every day, including:
- Solar vendors
- Food vendors Seed Bakery (pastries and boba tea) and Flavor Boom (lunch)
- E-bike test rides with Farina’s
- 30 minute heat pump talk with Loie Hayes of Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Panel discussion on Watertown’s sustainability work with Watertown’s City Council President, Assistant Director for Energy Management, and Sustainability Manager. Moderated by Erika Oliver Jerram, Director of Community Design.
Learn more on the Watertown Eco Fest website.
We hope you can join us for this exciting new event as we work together to build a greener future!
HomeWorks Energy Letters
Charles Watershed
Learn about the Charles Watershed and your community's updated flood maps on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, any time between 4-7pm at Quincy City Hall, located at 1305 Hancock Street in Quincy, in the General Room in the Basement of City Hall.
Do you have questions about your flood risk and insurance? FEMA has answers!
Join FEMA for an Open House where you can speak directly with local, state, and FEMA experts.
Whether you live or work in the area, this is your chance to gain vital information about flood risks and insurance options.
If you have questions, you can either reach out to the DCR Flood Hazard Management Program for the Charles River Watershed or Watertown Planning.
Councilor Emily Izzo at her Individual Annual City Councilor Meeting
Parking at an EV Charging Station
Beginning on May 1, 2025, users of the City of Watertown’s EV charging stations will be charged a rate of $0.25 per kWh to charge their vehicle. The City of Watertown owns 29 EV charging stations across the city for public use, located at:
- Watertown Free Public Library parking lot - 4 plugs
- Howard Street Parking Lot - 6 plugs
- Lowell Elementary School - 1 plug but restricted to school staff during the day
- Cunniff Elementary School - 3 plugs but restricted to school staff during the day
- Hosmer Elementary School - 6 plugs but restricted to school staff during the day
- Department of Public Works - 8 plugs (open to public 5pm – 6am)
The income gathered will go toward the City’s sustainability goals in the future.
The EV charging stations at the three elementary schools (Lowell, Cunniff, and Hosmer) will be open to the public outside of school hours, from 6pm – 6am. The EV charging stations at the Department of Public Works headquarters at 124 Orchard Street are made available to the public from 5pm – 6am. Standard charging rates apply.
Please note that in the case that a vehicle remains plugged in after being fully charged, the rate will become $1 per 15-minutes to encourage space availability when vehicles are done charging.
Also, please remember to pay the parking meter or use the Passport mobile app when parking in Watertown.
If you have any questions, please contact Watertown’s 311 Service Center by dialing 311 in Watertown, or 617-715-8660.
Join the Stormwater Advisory Committee
Join the Community Preservation Committee
City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Community Preservation Committee.
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) makes recommendations for the use of Community Preservation funds for initiatives related to open space, outdoor recreation, historic resources, and community housing. The CPC has the following key responsibilities: study the community preservation needs, possibilities, and resources of Watertown; solicit input from City Boards and Commissions and hold an annual public hearing to solicit public input; prepare a Community Preservation Plan and application process for vetting project proposals; vote on a slate of project recommendations and submit them to the City Council; submit an annual budget to the City Council; and keep records regarding all CPC meetings, project applications, funding recommendations, and annual budgetary reports.
Interested applicants can apply online.
Fair Housing in Watertown Meeting
Join us at the Fair Housing in Watertown Meeting on Wednesday April 30, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm virtually via Zoom, at: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91712481602. (The public may also join the virtual meeting audio only by phone: 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and enter Webinar ID: 917 1248 1602)
Sophia Suarez-Friedman will talk about what she has learned helping individuals and families find housing in Watertown. Elizabeth Brusie and Cliff Cook will co-moderate and discuss steps the city can take to combat housing discrimination.
There will be a panel discussion, with opportunities for public participation, with:
- Kelly Vieira, Director of Investigations and Outreach for Suffolk University Law School’s Housing Discrimination Testing Program
- Sophia Suarez-Friedman, LICSW, Program Coordinator at the Wayside Multi-Service Center
- Elizabeth Brusie, Human Rights Commissioner
- Cliff Cook, Affordable Housing Trust Chair
This meeting is in response to a February 2025 report, commissioned by the WestMetro HOME Consortium (13 communities, including Watertown), that found evidence of race and/or source of income discrimination in every community. The testing was conducted by Suffolk Law School. Kelly Vieira will discuss the basics of fair housing law and the report’s findings.
Eco Fest
The City of Watertown's first Resilient Watertown Eco Fest is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 11am-2pm at the Commander's Mansion, located at 440 Talcott Ave. It is open to the public and free to attend.
Come join us to learn about how to make your life greener, explore sustainability concepts, and have some fun along the way. The day will include exhibits and activities from a wide range of vendors, community groups, City committees, and services.
Eco Fest is confirming more vendors and event experiences every day, including:
- Solar vendors
- Food vendors Seed Bakery (pastries and boba tea) and Flavor Boom (lunch)
- E-bike test rides with Farina’s
- 30 minute heat pump talk with Loie Hayes of Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Panel discussion on Watertown’s sustainability work with Watertown’s City Council President, Assistant Director for Energy Management, and Sustainability Manager. Moderated by Erika Oliver Jerram, Director of Community Design.
Learn more on the Watertown Eco Fest website.
We hope you can join us for this exciting new event as we work together to build a greener future!
Water Main Break
Update - The water was turned back on, on at 3:02pm on April 22, 2025. Thank you, residents and businesses, for your patience, and thank you to our Public Works team for repairing the water main.
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The Department of Public Works has announced a water main break at Elton Ave and Nichols Ave. This is a main supply line causing significant impact. To complete this repair, the water has been shut off at multiple locations. Crews are on site working on repairs. We will advise when the water supply is restored. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience as our team works to resolve the issue promptly.
Patriots Day
DPW and 311 Hours on Friday, April 18, 2025
Please be aware that on Friday, April 18, 2025, the Department of Public Works office is closing at 11 AM, and Watertown 311 will close at 1:00 PM, in observance of Good Friday.
If you would like to contact 311/Constituent Services, we advise that you send an email to 311@watertown-ma.gov or leave a voicemail at 311 (or 617-715-8660) if you want to contact Constituent Services. They will reply promptly the morning of Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Meet the Director and DPW Open House”
Save the Date! Come celebrate National Public Works Week at Watertown’s “Meet the Director and DPW Open House” on May 20, 2025, from 5-7:30pm at 124 Orchard Street.
All are invited to meet Watertown’s new Director of Public Works, Tom Brady, and the DPW staff to ask questions, engage in exhibits showing how they accomplish all the important work they do for our community, and also, touch a truck!
We hope to see you then and stay tuned for more details about this event in the coming weeks,
The City of Watertown is officially compliant with the MBTA Communities Law!
The official notice of compliance was sent to City Manager George Proakis on April 9, 2025. This marks a significant step toward the ultimate goals in implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan, and revitalizing Watertown's downtown.
A (Very) Brief History to MBTA Communities Law Compliance
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopted the MBTA Communities Law in January 2021. This required 177 Cities and Towns to establish "at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right." The purpose of the law is to allow for the opportunity to produce new housing by-right, and doing so in areas near transit.
Watertown, along with most other communities that do not have a rapid transit system in it, was required to submit compliant zoning to the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) by December 31, 2024.
For Watertown, a significant part of compliance meant zoning for a minimum by-right housing unit capacity of 1,701 housing units. Unit capacity means the maximum number of possible units zoning allows on a particular site, including all existing units.
After a series of Kitchen Table Conversations, a 3-day design charrette, three well attended community meetings, three sessions of a Joint Hearing to discuss and approve the Watertown Square Plan, and five sessions of a Hearing to discuss the zoning amendments, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a compliant zoning amendment package and zoning map on November 14, 2024.
In the weeks following, City staff compiled and submitted the compliance report to the EOHLC prior to the December 31, 2024 deadline. On April 9, 2025, the EOHLC responded with a recognition of compliance.
What is Next for the Watertown Square Area Plan Implementation?
The next steps in the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan is to further refine the roadway design (which includes streetscape, sidewalk, and open space) and redevelopment planning for the Square. The first steps in these processes are to release "Requests for Qualifications" (RFQ), which requests qualified consultants to propose to the City their abilities in executing the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan. That process for the redevelopment planning is underway, with the release of the RFQ for the roadway planning upcoming as well.
The goal of the redevelopment planning is to further examine and implement the vision of the community and City in revitalizing Watertown Square. The roadway planning will further refine the streetscape, sidewalk, and open space engineering design recommended in the Plan, do detailed traffic testing, and design a road network that best positions the Square for success.
You can expect engagement opportunities to participate in the coming months. Stay connected through Watertown Square Improvements emails, by visiting the City's website, and social media (Facebook and Instagram).
Watertown Affordable Housing Trust
Councilor Vinnie Piccirilli's Annual Councilor Meeting
Councilor Vinnie Piccirilli's Annual Councilor Meeting is Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM in the City Council Chamber in City Hall. This is an in-person meeting only, not hybrid.
Understanding Your Electricity Choice
By Silas Fyler
In many Massachusetts communities, residents have options when it comes to how they get their electricity supply. All of us receive a bill from Eversource that includes a cost for electricity delivery and electricity supply. We have no choice in who delivers electricity to our homes and businesses. In Watertown, that is always Eversource. But we do have a choice in who we pay for our electricity supply.
In Watertown there are essentially three electricity supply choices – Eversource’s Basic Service, private electricity supply offers, and Watertown’s electricity aggregation program, which is called Watertown Electricity Choice.
Eversource’s Basic Service price is not consistent and changes every 6 months, making budgeting and preparation unpredictable. Private electricity supply offers often include a low introductory price that can later spike higher than Eversource’s price, and early-termination fees. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has consistently found that most customers lose out in the long run. In comparison, Watertown Electricity Choice offers Watertown electricity customers a competitive, stable electricity supply price that does not suddenly rise, the freedom to leave at any time with no fee or penalty, and additional electricity from clean, renewable sources, which aligns with our City’s goals for renewable energy.
Watertown Electricity Choice is a type of municipal group electricity buying program that is regulated by the state. Electricity aggregations were enabled by the Massachusetts Restructuring Act of 1997 (Chapter 164, Section 134), which allows municipalities to select an electricity supplier and determine the community’s electricity supply prices and amount of renewable energy in the community’s electricity supply. In accordance with state law, all programs like Watertown Electricity Choice use an automatic enrollment model.
The City of Watertown does not receive any financial benefit from Watertown Electricity Choice, but Watertown residents and businesses enrolled in Watertown Electricity Choice have saved over $14.7 million since the program inception compared to those receiving Eversource’s Basic Service price, though future savings cannot be guaranteed. More than 200 cities and towns in Massachusetts have programs similar to Watertown Electricity Choice.
Price stability is a hallmark of programs like Watertown Electricity Choice. The City achieves that benefit by using the group buying power of the community to lock in long-term prices. For example, the current prices were locked in December 2023 and remain fixed until December 2026. Securing long-term prices provides protection from the seasonal spikes that can happen as Eversource’s Basic Service prices change over the course of the year. However, it also means that sometimes Eversource’s price can drop below Watertown’s price. For example, last year’s unusually warm fall
resulted temporarily lower electricity prices, so right now, Eversource’s residential Basic Service price is 13.241¢/kWh, which is slightly below the Watertown Standard price of 13.74 ¢/kWh.
This temporary drop does not mean participants will lose money compared with Eversource overall. It is actually not typical for a fixed-price program like Watertown’s to beat Eversource for each of Eversource’s 6-month price periods. Rather, the typical pattern for a program like Watertown Electricity Choice is to be sometimes higher than Eversource’s prices and sometimes lower, but to provide savings on average. Our program’s history shows that the prices have been competitive and more affordable over the long term. And for those who are not comfortable with participating in Watertown Electricity Choice, the option to opt out with no penalty or fee is always there.
We encourage all of Watertown electricity customers to learn more about Watertown Electricity Choice. Within the program, participants have three options:
- New participants are automatically enrolled in the Standard option, which provides electricity that is 100% from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and small hydroelectric projects. Providing electricity that is 100% from renewable sources exceeds the state’s requirements but is consistent with the City’s sustainability plan goals.
- Those who prefer the least-expensive option in the program can opt down to the Basic option, which provides just the minimum amount of electricity from renewable sources required by law but retains the benefit of a long-term, stable price.
- Those who want to make a larger commitment to renewable energy and don’t mind paying a small premium can opt up to the 100% Green option, which provides electricity that is 100% from new renewable sources in the New England region.
Since the program’s launch in 2019, participants in the Standard and 100% Green options have avoided over 114 million pounds of CO₂ emissions – a significant and meaningful contribution to the climate resiliency goals we have as a community.
The program website, WatertownElectricityChoice.com, provides details about prices and the renewable energy content of each program option. Look in the upper-right corner of the site for access to simple forms for enrolling, changing to a different option within the program, or opting out. And if you have questions the website does not answer or need additional help, you can always call customer support with our program consultants at 844-278-9864.
Silas Fyler is the Assistant Director for Energy Management in the City of Watertown’s Public Buildings Department.
Weatherization Webinar
Fair Housing in Watertown Meeting
After a February 2025 report found evidence of housing discrimination in Watertown, let’s talk about what that means and what can be done. This panel discussion, with opportunities for public participation, will include:
- Kelly Vieira, Director of Investigations and Outreach for Suffolk University Law School’s Housing Discrimination Testing Program
- Sophia Suarez-Friedman, LICSW, Program Coordinator at the Wayside Multi-Service Center
- Elizabeth Brusie, Human Rights Commissioner
- Cliff Cook, Affordable Housing Trust Chair
The February 2025, commissioned by the WestMetro HOME Consortium (13 communities, including Watertown), found evidence of race and/or source of income discrimination in every community. The testing was conducted by Suffolk Law School. Kelly Vieira will discuss the basics of fair housing law and the report’s findings. Sophia Suarez-Friedman will talk about what she has learned helping individuals and families find housing here. Elizabeth Brusie and Cliff Cook will co-moderate and discuss steps the city can take to combat housing discrimination.
Wednesday April 30, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtually, via Zoom
Public may join the virtual meeting audio only by phone: 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and enter Webinar ID: 917 1248 1602.