Watertown, MA

Commission on Disability

The Commission on Disability will discuss various accessibility updates across the city, including sidewalk and signal issues. The body will also vote on funding for a disability awareness event and a request for ASL and CART services for the 2027 MLK Unity Breakfast.

• Vote on WFPL/World in Watertown Disability Awareness Event funding
• Funding request for ASL and CART services for the 2027 MLK Unity Breakfast
• Accessibility updates for Waverly-Belmont Street intersection and Arsenal Street trees/sidewalks
• Discussion on curb cut at Watertown Mall (550 Arsenal Street)
• Review of accessible pedestrian signals at Mt. Auburn Street & Bates Road

Board of Health

Board of Health

School Building Committee

The committee will review progress and invoices for the High School and Middle School projects. Members will vote on a change order for the High School project budget and whether to proceed with design and bidding for the Middle School project.

• Vote on High School Project total project budget update and change order
• Vote to proceed with design and bidding for the Middle School project
• Approval of September 2026 monthly invoices for the High School Project
• Approval of September 2026 monthly invoices for the Middle School Project
• Review of High School Project schedule and upcoming milestones

Board of Health

City Council: Committee on Public Works

The Committee on Public Works will meet to discuss one personnel matter. The body is considering the reappointment of a member to a city committee.

• Reappointment of Eileen Ryan to the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee for a term expiring May 15, 2029

Historic District Commission

Elections

The Election Commission is meeting to conduct ballot testing for the upcoming state election on November 3, 2026.

• Testing of Ballots for November 3, 2026 State Election

City Council: Committee on Economic Development and Planning

The Committee on Economic Development and Planning will meet to discuss three appointments to local commissions. The items involve filling seats on the Historical Commission and the Historic District Commission.

• Reappointment of Rich Gelnn to the Historical Commission (term expires October 1, 2029)
• Appointment of Mark Saunders to the Historical Commission (term expires October 1, 2029)
• Appointment of Tom Acitelli to the Historic District Commission (term expires November 15, 2027)

Public Arts and Culture Committee

The committee will meet to review event reports and vote on chairs for governance, outreach, and programs subcommittees. Members will discuss mural funding and a grant from the Mass Downtown Initiatives in partnership with the Watertown Cultural District.

• Vote on chairs for Governance & Funding, Outreach, and Programs subcommittees
• Discussion of Mural Funding
• Discussion of Mass Downtown Initiatives Grant

Public Arts and Culture Committee

The committee will review its roles, responsibilities, and resources. Members will discuss the arts calendar and brainstorm ideas for large-scale programming.

• Review of roles, responsibilities, and resources
• Arts calendar review
• Discussion on programming and functions
• Brainstorming for big program ideas

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission will meet to discuss the election process for a new chair and community needs liaisons. The body will also review responses to an immigrant support letter and student advisor roles.

• Request for $800 for Human Rights Day planning
• Discussion of new chair expectations and election process
• Review of responses to Immigrant Support Letter
• Discussion of Community Needs Liaisons
• Discussion of Student Advisors to the HRC

WE3C - Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee

The Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee will meet to receive reports from the Sustainability and Energy Managers. The meeting includes a discussion on the proposed process for updating the Climate and Energy Plan over the next five years.

• Proposed Climate and Energy Plan 5-year update process
• Sustainability Manager Report
• Energy Manager Report regarding potential ordinance updates

Board of Assessors

City Council

Board of Assessors

The Board of Assessors will vote on the September 22, 2026, minutes and specific tax commitments. The board will also enter an executive session to review and vote on confidential exemption applications.

• Vote and signing of Boat Commitment 2026-1
• Vote and signing of Motor Vehicle Commitment 2026-4
• Review and vote on exemption applications in executive session
• Posting of Associate Assessor position

Zoning Board

Traffic Commission

The Watertown Traffic Commission will discuss several requests regarding parking restrictions and traffic calming measures. The body will review specific handicap parking requests and proposals for speed humps and signage in residential areas.

• Handicap parking review for 21 George Street
• Handicap parking request for 37 Adams Street
• Proposed parking prohibitions and speed humps on Irving, Phillips, and Garnet Streets
• Request to remove No Parking restrictions on Pierce Road and Grant Avenue
• Proposal to introduce a residential parking permit program

Developer Community Meeting

The RMR Group LLC is hosting a required public information meeting on a proposed transit-oriented, mixed-use redevelopment of the 2.84-acre site at 9 Galen Street in Watertown Square. The proposal calls for a five-plus-story residential building with approximately 285 residential units and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and/or restaurant space. The project would preserve most existing public-facing building façades, retain the existing parking structure, and add publicly accessible open space along the Charles River. This meeting is required before formal application and public hearings before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals; no decisions are being made at this meeting.

• Proposed 2.84-acre mixed-use redevelopment at 9 Galen Street, at Galen Street and Pleasant Street
• Approximately 285 residential units in a five-plus-story building
• 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and/or restaurant space along Galen Street
• Existing parking structure retained; majority of public-facing façades preserved
• Publicly accessible open space fronting the Charles River with landscaping and improved river connections

Conservation Commission

City Council

Residents’ Advisory Committee

BioSafety Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Licensing Board

School Committee

School Site Council

School Building Committee

Community Preservation

School Site Council

Board of Assessors

City Council

Historic District Commission

Residents’ Advisory Committee

Conservation Commission

School Site Council

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

School Site Council

School Building Committee

Community Preservation

Historic District Commission

Board of Assessors

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

Conservation Commission

School Committee

Planning Board

Historical Commission

School Site Council

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

School Committee

Board of Assessors

Historic District Commission

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

Conservation Commission

School Site Council

School Committee

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Community Preservation

Board of Assessors

School Site Council

Historic District Commission

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

Planning Board

School Site Council

Community Preservation

School Committee

School Site Council

School Committee

School Site Council

Planning Board

Community Preservation

School Committee

Planning Board

School Site Council

Community Preservation

School Committee

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

City Council: Committee on Public Works

The Committee on Public Works will meet to discuss recommendations regarding a proposed loan order. The funding is intended for local road construction projects scheduled for the summer of 2027.

• Proposed $3,000,000 loan order for Fiscal Year 2027 highway and sidewalk construction

Senior Center Building Committee

The Senior Center Building Committee will meet to conduct interviews with two finalists for a feasibility study.

• Interviews with two finalists for the feasibility study

School Site Council

The School Site Council will meet to review the School Improvement Plan and revisit previous action steps. The meeting includes standard procedural items such as the acceptance of prior minutes.

• School Improvement Plan
• Review of action steps

Watertown Affordable Housing Trust

The Watertown Affordable Housing Trust will review a housing plan for a proposed development at 45-59 Mt Auburn Street. The body will also discuss expiring architectural and engineering contracts and the 2026-2030 Housing Plan.

• Affordable housing plan for proposed development at 45-59 Mt Auburn Street
• Election of Vice Chair
• Discussion of on-call architectural and engineering contracts expiring November 30, 2026
• Discussion of 2026-2030 Housing Plan
• Public meeting for 9 Galen Street project scheduled for October 29, 2026

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission will review reports from several subcommittees and discuss the election process for a new Chair. The agenda includes a request for $800 for Human Rights Day planning and discussions regarding immigrant support and community needs liaisons.

• Request for $800 for Human Rights Day planning
• Discussion on new Chair expectations and election process
• Discussion on responses to Immigrant Support Letter
• Discussion on Community Needs Liaisons
• Discussion on Student Advisors to the HRC

School Site Council

The Lowell School Site Council will meet to discuss student performance and planning. The agenda includes a presentation on MCAS and a review of the School Improvement Plan.

• Presentation of MCAS
• School Improvement Plan

Public Arts and Culture Committee

The committee is meeting to review the WCD Organizational Plan and the MCC Redesignation Process. Members will also receive reports on the Public Arts Master Plan update and the MDI Downtown Initiatives Grant.

• WCD Organizational Plan
• MCC Redesignation Process
• Public Arts Master Plan Update Process
• MDI Downtown Initiatives Grant
• Marketing Subcommittee membership drive

School Committee

The Watertown School Committee will review 2026 MCAS data, the FY27 budget, and the Building for the Future project. The body will vote on several field trips and the FY28 budget calendar.

• Vote on Washington, D.C. field trip
• Vote on Model UN field trips (BOSMUN and EagleMUNC)
• Vote on FY28 Budget Calendar
• First reading of policies regarding ACL: PROTECT Act and BEDF: Voting Methods
• Report on 2026 MCAS Data

City Council

The Historical Commission is conducting preliminary reviews for two properties under the Demolition Delay Ordinance. The commission will determine if the buildings are significant or if the applications must move to a full hearing.

• Preliminary review for 44 Bennett Road: adding a garage, roof modifications, and first-floor demolition to studs
• Preliminary review for 66 Emerson Road: demolition of a detached garage and construction of a new garage on the existing foundation

Community Preservation

The Community Preservation Committee will review an application analysis and vote on a project located at 108 Water St. The body will also discuss engagement for the CPA Plan update.

• Analysis and vote on 108 Water St. project application
• Discussion on CPA Plan Update engagement
• Update on CPA funds and projects

Licensing Board

The Licensing Board will consider license applications for two businesses on Mount Auburn Street. The board will also review requests for special one-day event permits.

• Common Victualler application for Badam Uyghur Cuisine Inc at 58 Mount Auburn Street
• Transfer of All Alcohol and Common Victualer license for PPT Hospitality dba Klin Thai Watertown at 643-649 Mt Auburn St
• Special event hour amendment for St James Armenian Church Annual Bazaar at 465 Mt Auburn St
• Special event permit for Malla Yanalla Festival at 47 Nichols Ave
• Special event permit for Talar Abdalian Wedding Party at 1 Artsakh St

School Committee

The Athletics and Extracurriculars Subcommittee will meet to discuss and vote on several items. Topics include sports updates for fall 2026 and extracurricular activities for 2026-2027.

• 2026 Fall Sports Update
• 2026-2027 Extracurricular Activities
• Victory Field Progress Updates
• WMS Boys and Girls Hockey
• WMS Boys and Girls Soccer practice times and location

Stormwater Advisory Committee

The Stormwater Advisory Committee will meet to receive status updates on city stormwater management projects and the MS4 Year 8 Annual Report. The committee will also discuss education and outreach opportunities related to city projects with stormwater impacts.

• Evaluation of the Faire on the Square event
• MS4 Year 8 Annual Report
• Report on EBC Annual Stormwater Conference
• Discussion of city projects with stormwater impacts

School Site Council

The Cunniff School Site Council will meet to discuss student performance and planning. The agenda includes a presentation of MCAS data and a review of the School Improvement Plan.

• Presentation of MCAS Data
• School Improvement Plan

City Council: Joint Committees

The Joint Committees on Economic Development and Planning and Human Services meet Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room at 149 Main Street, Watertown, MA. The only substantive agenda item is a discussion of the Watertown Housing Plan. No votes, contracts, or public hearings are listed on the agenda. The meeting is in-person, with remote access described as a courtesy that may not be relied upon.

• Discussion of the Watertown Housing Plan
• Meeting held in person at Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room, 149 Main Street
• Public comment accepted by email at [email protected]
• Remote access via Zoom offered as a courtesy only

Planning Board

The Planning Board will meet to conduct a Site Plan Review Permit for a protected educational use project. The proposal includes a three-story building addition and updates to parking and circulation.

• Site Plan Review Permit for St Stephen's Armenian Elementary School (46 Elton Ave, 56/58 Elton Ave and 61 Bigelow Ave)

Cultural Council

The Cultural Council will review the Faire on the Square and Public Arts Master Plan Forum. The body will discuss the grant application process for the November meeting and provide updates on the panel book.

• Recap of Faire on the Square and Public Arts Master Plan Forum
• Grant funding totaling $33,800 ($17,000 from Watertown and $16,800 from MCC)
• Process for grant applications ahead of the November meeting
• Logo redesign
• WCC website and social media updates

Council on Aging

The Council on Aging will meet remotely to review prior minutes and receive a Director's Report on COA updates. The meeting includes a period for public comment.

• Review of prior meeting minutes
• Director’s Report: COA Updates
• Public comments

School Committee

The Policy Subcommittee will meet to discuss and vote on two specific policy items. The meeting includes opportunities for remote participation via Zoom.

• Vote on New Policy ACL
• Vote on updates to Policy BEDF Voting Methods

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission will meet to plan for Human Rights Day and review a draft report or presentation. The body will also discuss next steps for its Action Plan regarding alignment with the Committee on Urgent Issues, Underserved Needs and Accessibility.

• Human Rights Day planning
• Action Plan alignment with Committee on Urgent Issues, Underserved Needs and Accessibility
• Review of HRC Report/Presentation draft

Historical Commission

The Watertown Historical Commission meets on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM, remote access only this month. The agenda includes acceptance of the September 10, 2026 meeting minutes and discussion on when to address a structure's exterior conditions during a demolition delay hearing. The Commission will also review and accept its Rules of Practice and Procedures, and receive a CPC update and Agent Report. No specific properties, contracts, or dollar amounts are listed on this agenda.

• Discussion on timing for exterior conditions review during demolition delay hearings
• Review and acceptance of Historical Commission Rules of Practice and Procedures
• Acceptance of September 10, 2026 meeting minutes
• CPC update
• Agent Report

City Council: Committee on Education and School System Matters

The Committee on Education and School System Matters will meet to discuss one appointment. The body is considering the reappointment of Elaine Mello to the Watertown Cable Access Corporation Board of Directors.

• Reappointment of Elaine Mello to the Watertown Cable Access Corporation Board of Directors for a term expiring September 15, 2029

City Council

The City Council will discuss several loan authorizations for water and sewer infrastructure improvements. The body is also reviewing a budget overview for Fiscal Year 2028 and a reallotment of ARPA funds.

• First reading of a $2,600,000 loan for sewer rehabilitation in Project 5 area
• First reading of a $2,651,000 loan for water distribution system improvements
• First reading of a $780,000 loan for sewer system improvements (CIP Line 12)
• Resolution to reallot $427,564.26 in ARPA funds from Cottage Street project to hydrant replacements
• Proposed five-year Intermunicipal Agreement for the Watertown 'Buy-Down' Data Model

School Committee

The Curriculum Subcommittee will meet to discuss student performance and educational guidelines. The agenda includes a review of recent testing data and graduation metrics.

• Review of 2026 MCAS Results
• K-5 Ed Tech Guideline Development
• Graduation Readiness Scorecard

School Site Council

The Watertown High School School Site Council meets Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM via Zoom only. The agenda includes a principal's update and a review of School Improvement Plan Objective #1, followed by adjournment. The agenda lists no votes, contracts, or public hearings. Future meeting dates are December 3, 2026, February 4, 2027, and April 1, 2027.

• Review of School Improvement Plan (SIP) Objective #1
• Principal's Update
• Meeting held via Zoom only; public can join online or by audio at +1 (301) 715-8592, Webinar ID: 849 9187 8962
• Upcoming meeting dates: December 3, 2026; February 4, 2027; April 1, 2027

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

The committee will review the status of the Arlington-Nichols-Greenway intersection improvements and pedestrian signals. Members will also discuss a snow-removal recommendation for the City Council and a future City Council presentation.

• Arlington-Nichols-Greenway intersection improvements status
• Pedestrian signals outreach and crash report status
• Snow-removal recommendation or request to City Council
• Faire on the Square debrief regarding attendance and bike-valet use
• Status of bike racks at Watertown High School

Residents’ Advisory Committee

The Residents' Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM at 149 Main Street in the Louis P. Andrews Upper Conference Room. The public portion covers acceptance of the September 2, 2026 minutes, outreach on the Faire on the Square, video editing, and social media, plus announcements. The meeting then goes into executive session under MGL 30A, Section 21(a), Subsection (8), to consider or interview applicants for employment or appointment, and the public meeting will not reconvene. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

• Acceptance of minutes from the September 2, 2026 meeting
• Outreach discussion: Faire on the Square, video editing, social media
• Executive session under MGL 30A, Section 21(a), Subsection (8) to consider or interview applicants for employment or appointment
• Public meeting will not reconvene after executive session
• Next meeting: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Conservation Commission

The Watertown Conservation Commission meets Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM at the Parker Building, Conference Room 2E, 124 Watertown Street, with remote participation offered as a courtesy. The main item is a public hearing on a Notice of Intent (MassDEP #: 321-0193) for proposed ecological restoration of Willow Pond on Pond Street, within state and local buffer zones and other resource areas. The Commission will also take up general business on the Arsenal Park Recreation Shed and Whitney Hill Park/WHS Town-Gown, hear updates, and vote on minutes from September 2, 2026.

• Public hearing: Willow Pond Notice of Intent (MassDEP #: 321-0193), Pond Street, proposed ecological restoration within the state 100-foot and local 150-foot Buffer Zone and other resource areas; Mount Auburn Cemetery is property owner, SWCA Environmental Consultants, LLC the representative
• General business: Arsenal Park Recreation Shed follow-up
• General business: Whitney Hill Park/WHS Town-Gown
• Minutes to be approved: September 2, 2026 Conservation Commission
• Updates: Chair, CPC, and Agent Report, including MassDCR 2026 Annual Town Forest Conference on 10/17/26 and MACC Annual Fall Conference on 10/24/26

City Council: Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee

The Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 4:30 PM at 124 Orchard Street, with remote access offered as a courtesy only. The agenda covers accepting the September 2, 2026 minutes, DPW announcements, and discussion of increasing household participation in the composting program, including review of a draft awareness survey and how to deliver it. Members will also prioritize bike rack items and discuss contaminated recycling problems and solutions. No votes on ordinances, contracts, or fees appear on the posted agenda.

• Review of a draft composting awareness survey and a mechanism to deliver it to residents
• Discussion of increasing the number of households in the composting program
• Prioritization of bike rack items
• Contaminated recycling problems and solutions
• Acceptance of minutes from the September 2, 2026 meeting

Board of Library Trustees

The Board of Library Trustees meets Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Raya Stern Trustees Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street. The board will hear a financial report covering the FY27 budget, the Burke Fund Report, and HATCH financials, and may take action on accepting donations. It will also review minutes from the September 10, 2026 meeting, hold a public forum, and hear reports from the Chair and Director. No old business is listed; new business has no items specified on the agenda.

• Financial Report: FY27 Budget
• Burke Fund Report
• HATCH Financials
• Consideration and Action on Acceptance of Donations
• Minutes of September 10, 2026 Meeting