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Charter Review Committee

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1. What is the Charter?

A Home Rule Charter is a document that establishes a city’s government structure and defines the organization, functions, specific powers, legal control and essential procedures of a city government. 

In Watertown, the Charter explains the responsibilities of the Town Council, Town Manager, School Committee, Library Trustees, Boards and all aspects of government, from how elections are run to how our budget is developed and approved.  The Charter is a city’s constitution & its most important legal document.

2. Where can I find a copy of the Charter?

The Charter is available here or visit the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall, 149 Main Street to acquire a copy.

3. Why is Watertown reviewing its Charter?

Watertown’s Charter states that it must review the Charter every 10 years.

4. Why are we reviewing the Charter in 2021?

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Charter Review process was delayed until October 2020.   

The Council voted in December 2020 to extend the Charter Review Process through June 2021.

5. Why is Charter Review important?

Local government provides a vast array of services to residents, ranging from public safety to utilities, recreation, education, transportation, storm water management, zoning and land use regulation and enforcement, construction permitting and inspection, not to mention transparency, accessibility, public engagement and much more. 

Charter Review enables Watertown to evaluate how well it functions and serves its residents.  It is an opportunity to learn how the town operates and guide how services are delivered in the future.

6. What can (& can’t) be accomplished through changing the charter?

Many aspects of the Charter can be changed via the Charter review process from the form of government (i.e.: Town Council & Manager to Mayor) to how often the Charter Review is conducted in the future but there are some limits:

Charter change CAN...

• restrict or increase options available to governmental leaders
• alter electoral representation
• clarify ambiguity or confusion caused by existing charter language
• redistribute powers among elected officials, appointed officials, and governing bodies as well as between city officials and citizens
• set the stage for governmental leaders to achieve desired changes such as creating positions or bodies to address identified needs
• convert elected governmental positions to appointed positions or vice versa
• define a Vision or set of Values that drive the decisions and evaluations of the administration and elected officials
• alter a form of government so the new form is better aligned with the preferences of citizens

 

Charter change CAN’T...

• automatically increase the quality of governmental products and services
• eliminate political in-fighting and make elected officials achieve consensus (although governmental form can affect the likelihood of conflict and method of resolution)
• jumpstart the local economy
• decrease local crime
• improve the school system
• stop a controversial public project
• change or eliminate state-mandated activities

 

Good charters set forth general principles rather than legislative details. While a certain level of control over governmental action is necessary and appropriate, balancing control with organizational and process flexibility and discretion should be the ultimate objective of any charter.

[edited from, Guide for Charter Commissions, 6^th ed., National Civic League, and Model City Charter, 2^nd ed. 2011, National Civic League]

7. When does the Charter Review Committee meet?

The CRC meets remotely on the first & third Tuesday of each month at 6pm via Zoom.

The public is encouraged to watch & interact via Zoom (links are found on the meeting agenda)

8. How do I keep current with the Charter Review Process?

Visit the CRC website (watertown-ma.gov/charter) to stay updated and participate in polls and/or submit questions and find links to attend or watch the meetings.

9. What information can I find on Watertown’s Charter Review website watertown-ma.gov/charter?

Agendas, minutes and a wide range of pertinent documents including the current Charter, sample charters from other cities, sample preambles and links to videos of past meetings are all available at the website.

Many of these items will also be posted on the bulletin board in front of the Town Clerk’s Office, in the basement of the Town Hall, 149 Main Street. 

10. What is Watertown’s current form of Government?

Currently the City of Watertown has a Council/Manager form of government.  Our legislative branch consists of eight Councilors & a Council President directly elected to two year terms in part-time positions.  The day-to-day management of the city is handled by the Manager, a full-time, contract employee who reports to the Council.  The manager serves under a contract that is reviewed and approved by the Council.  The manager oversees the entire administration of the city and heads of all major departments report directly to the Manager.  The Council President is also President of the School Committee.

Watertown Government Organization Chart
https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31215/Watertown-Org-Chart

11. Is Watertown a town or a city & does it matter?

Watertown became city in 1980 by making changes to the Charter through the Charter Review process. It does matter because different state laws apply to towns and cities. 

12. Is Watertown going to change its official name from “The City known as the Town of Watertown” to just the City of Watertown?

This is something that the CRC is considering.

13. Who decided who is on the Charter Review Committee?

The Charter describes the overall makeup of the CRC as 15 members consisting of all 8 sitting councilors, Council President & six residents selected by the Council President.  

14. How were the resident members of the Charter Review Committee chosen?

In January 2020, a call for letters of interest from residents was made & the Council President interviewed candidates in February, March & October 2020 before announcing the six residents immediately prior to the first Charter Review meeting.

15. Who’s on the 2020 Charter Review Committee?

Watertown’s current Charter calls for a 15 member CRC comprised of the Council President, all eight councilors and six residents (selected by the Council President)

Watertown Charter Review Committee 2020:

 

Council Members
 

Town Council President, Mark Sideris           

Angeline Kounelis, Councilor District A                  

Lisa Feltner Councilor District B                  

Vincent Piccirilli Councilor District C           

Kenneth Woodland Councilor District D       

Caroline Bays Councilor-At-Large                 

Anthony Donato Councilor-At-Large             

John Gannon Councilor-At-Large                 

Anthony Palomba Councilor-At-Large          

 

Resident Members
 

            Marcia Ciro                                                     

            Anne Fitzpatrick                                             

            Jon Hecht                                                        

            Leo Martin                                                      

            James Mello                                                    

            William Oates                                                 

Email the entire Charter Review Committee via crc@watertown-gov.ma 

16. How can I contact the Charter Review Committee (CRC)?

You can e-mail questions and comments to all Committee members at crc@watertown-ma.gov.

Or find their individual email addresses in the answer to the previous question

If you do not have e-mail, you can call the Council Clerk at 617-972-6470 with any questions or comments for the Committee members.

17. Who approves changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee?

The CRC votes to recommend any changes to the Charter, those recommendations are sent to the Town Council for a vote. If they accept & there are major changes to the Charter, a ballot question must be voted on by the town & if approved, registered with the state.

18. What is the timeline for Charter Review?

The Charter Review process was started in January 2020 with a call for letters of interest from residents to serve on the CRC by Council President Mark Sideris.
Interviews were held in February and March before the Charter Review was put on hold by Council President Sideris due to the COVID-19 global pandemic outbreak. Council President Sideris conducted more interviews in October 2020 and announced the six resident members the day before the first CRC meeting which was held on October 6, 2020.

It was announced that the CRC would meet on the first and third Tuesday on the month at 6pm via Zoom video conference & that the meetings would be available to the public via Zoom & broadcast live on Watertown Cable Access. Links to the meetings can be found in the agendas posted here. 

The CRC has been meeting regularly since October and will continue until a report is completed (tentatively June). 

The CRC reviewed the charters of several other cities in Massachusetts, hosted Q&As with several town managers, councilors and mayors to learn about different forms of government.  

In February CRC began discussing Watertown’s charter specifically and potential changes that may be recommended.

CRC meetings and discussion of changes to the charter are expected to continue through the spring with a report of recommendations that is tentatively planned to be finalized in June. 

The final report is then forwarded to the Town Council for approval.  Recommendations will be on the November ballot for approval by the electorate if necessary.

 The draft timeline prepared by the Collins Center is located on the website.

19. This sounds complicated; does Watertown have any help sorting this out?

Watertown has engaged the Collins Center to facilitate the Charter Review process.

20. Who should participate in Charter Review?

All Watertown residents and employees are invited to participate in the Charter Review Process.

21. Why should I participate in the Charter Review?

It’s important that voices representing a wide range of perspectives are represented in the Charter Review process.  All residents have the opportunity to learn how their town government operates and how decisions are made that affect the quality of our services, schools and the strength of our community. Learn about your local government and invest in Watertown's future by participating in the Charter Review.

22. How can I participate in Charter Review?

Every resident is encouraged to participate in Charter Review.
There are many ways to get involved:

• Visit the CRC website (watertown-ma.gov/charter) to stay up to date
• Attend and speak at CRC meetings via Zoom (links are found in the meeting agenda) on the first & third Tuesday of the month at 6pm. During COVID, these meetings are all held virtually through Zoom and can be accessed here
• Watch CRC meetings on cable television
• Catch up on CRC meetings that you may have missed by watching them online 
• Vote in the CRC Poll 
• Email your ideas/thoughts/experiences/questions/comments to the CRC@watertown-gov.ma 
• Attend resident civic group Watertown Forward’s Charter Chat Zoom meetings on Sundays following CRC meetings (please visit Watertown Forward’s website to learn more)
• Connect with community groups already active in the Charter Review process
• Discuss the Charter Review with friends and neighbors
• Invite a Committee member to your social or civic group to discuss the review process
• Involve young people by discussing the Charter Review in class and invite a Committee member to speak
• Visit the CRC website (watertown-ma.gov/charter) for agendas, meeting minutes, links to videos of past meetings, participate in polls and/or submit questions or feedback.

THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS WITH NEIGHBORS

1. Think about your interactions with Watertown Government. What has been your experience with police, fire, other Town Hall services?
2. Ask yourself why you like living in Watertown. What do you see happening around you that you like or dislike?
3. What is your vision for the future of Watertown? How should Watertown measure success?
4. How do you find out about government decisions and policies, such as the yearly budget? What would be the best way to communicate these things to you?
5. How do you know that your Town Councilor or the Town Manager is doing a good job?

23. What are the main components of Watertown’s Charter?

Watertown’s Charter is divided into nine sections, or articles.

Article 1: Defines the type of government and its scope of powers
Article 2: Defines the composition and general powers of the Town Council (Legislature)
Article 3: Defines the role and powers of the Town Manager (Administration)
Article 4: Defines other elected officials besides the Town Council. In Watertown, this is the School Committee and the Library Trustees.
Article 5: Financial Management: Defines how the budget is created and approved.
Article 6: Describes how the administration is organized and rules for reorganization by the Town Manager.
Article 7: Elections: Defines how elections are run, eligibility; also defines citizen’s initiatives
Article 8: General Provisions: Describes charter changes, rules and regs, ordinances, meetings, etc.
 Article 9: Transitional Provisions: Describes transfer of powers if necessary when changes are made to the charter. 

 

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