Watertown, MA

Residents’ Advisory Committee

The committee will review its policies and procedures and discuss outreach efforts regarding social media, video editing, and Faire on the Square sign-in sheets. The meeting will conclude with an executive session to consider or interview applicants for employment or appointment.

• Review of RAC Policies and Procedures
• Outreach discussion: video editing and social media
• Follow-up on Faire on the Square sign-in sheets
• Executive session to interview applicants for employment or appointment

City Council

City Council: Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee

The Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee will meet to discuss waste management and infrastructure. The body is scheduled to review a composting awareness survey and prioritize items related to bike racks.

• Review and approval of Composting Awareness Survey
• Prioritization of Bike Rack items

Conservation Commission

Planning Board

The Planning Board will meet to conduct a site plan review for a proposed development at 45 Mt Auburn St. The board will also review minutes from the October 14, 2026 meeting and a report from the Community Preservation Committee designee.

• Site Plan Review for 45 Mt Auburn St (49-59 Mt Auburn St): 4+ story mixed-use building with approx. 160 residential units, 9,500 SF of commercial space, and 99 parking spaces

BioSafety Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission will meet to discuss its rules of practice and procedures. The meeting includes updates from the CPC and the Agent.

• Review of Historical Commission Rules of Practice and Procedures

Licensing Board

School Committee

School Site Council

Memorialization Committee

The Memorialization Committee will meet to elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Clerk. The committee will also discuss memorial policies.

• Election of officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Clerk)
• Discussion of memorial policies

School Building Committee

Historic District Commission

School Site Council

Community Preservation

School Site Council

Board of Assessors

City Council

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

School Site Council

Community Preservation

Historic District Commission

Board of Assessors

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

Conservation Commission

School Committee

Planning Board

Planning Board

Historical Commission

School Site Council

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

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Community Preservation

Board of Assessors

School Site Council

Historic District Commission

School Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

Conservation Commission

Planning Board

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

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

Zoning Board

The Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals will meet to review two special permit requests for residential properties. One case involves modifications to a structure on California Street, while the other concerns additions to a home on Katherine Road. The board will also approve minutes from its previous meeting in September.

• Special permit for 48-50 California St: modifications to a 2.5-story structure and increased FAR in the Two-Family Zoning District (PZ-26-13).
• Special permit for 60 Katherine Rd: additions in non-conforming rear and front setbacks in the Single Family Conversion Zoning District (PZ-26-22).
• Approval of September 23, 2026 meeting minutes.

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

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

Board of Assessors

City Council

The City Council will hold public hearings and votes on three loan orders for water and sewer infrastructure. The body will also consider budget amendments, property tax levy allocations, and zoning changes for a historic property.

• Proposed $2,600,000 loan for Project 5 area sewer rehabilitation
• Proposed $2,651,000 loan for water distribution system improvements
• Proposed $780,000 loan for sewer system design and construction
• Proposed zoning amendment to remove 6 Riverside St from the Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District
• First reading on proposed amendments to Chapter 153 regarding demolition of historic buildings

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

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission will meet remotely to discuss planning for Human Rights Day. The agenda also includes time for public comment and other business.

• Planning for Human Rights Day

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

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

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

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

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)

Historic District Commission

Board of Health

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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