Watertown, MA

City Council: Committee on State, Federal, and Regional Government

The Committee on State, Federal, and Regional Government is meeting to discuss a single item: the appointment of Antonio Molle to the Board of Election Commissioners for a term expiring April 1, 2030. No other substantive matters are on the agenda.

• Discussion of appointing Antonio Molle to the Board of Election Commissioners, term expiring April 1, 2030

Conservation Commission

Residents’ Advisory Committee

City Council: Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee

Human Rights Commission

BioSafety Committee

BioSafety Committee

The Watertown Biosafety Committee will meet remotely to review a permit for Repertoire Immune Medicines at 99 Coolidge Avenue #100 and an amendment for Bioinnovation Labs at 134 Coolidge Avenue. The agenda also includes approval of minutes from the August 6, 2026 meeting and public comment.

• Permit review: Repertoire Immune Medicines, 99 Coolidge Avenue #100
• Amendment review: Bioinnovation Labs, 134 Coolidge Avenue
• Approval of draft minutes from August 6, 2026
• Public comment via Zoom, phone, or email

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Board of Library Trustees

City Council: Committee on Climate and Energy

The Watertown City Council Committee on Climate and Energy will meet on September 10, 2026, to discuss one specific personnel action. The committee will vote to appoint Andrew Luutu as a member of the Watertown Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee. This appointment carries a term expiring on November 15, 2029. No other substantive items are listed on the agenda.

• Appointment of Andrew Luutu to the Watertown Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee (term expires Nov 15, 2029)

City Council: Committee on Climate and Energy

School Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

Public Meeting

Board of Health

Board of Health

Board of Health

School Building Committee

Licensing Board

Community Preservation

City Council

Zoning Board

Zoning Board

Historic District Commission

Public Arts and Culture Committee

Board of Assessors

BioSafety Committee

BioSafety Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

Residents’ Advisory Committee

Historical Commission

City Council

Planning Board

Community Preservation

School Committee

Board of Health

Board of Health

School Building Committee

Board of Health

Historic District Commission

City Council

Board of Assessors

Zoning Board

Residents’ Advisory Committee

BioSafety Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

School Committee

School Building Committee

Community Preservation

Board of Assessors

City Council

Historic District Commission

Residents’ Advisory Committee

School Committee

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

City Council

Planning Board

Historical Commission

School Building Committee

Community Preservation

Historic District Commission

Board of Assessors

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

School Committee

Board of Assessors

Historic District Commission

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

Planning Board

Historical Commission

Community Preservation

Board of Assessors

Historic District Commission

Bike & Pedestrian Committee

School Committee

Planning Board

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

Community Preservation

School Committee

The Watertown School Committee is meeting in executive session over Zoom to discuss strategy regarding superintendent salary negotiations, as an open meeting could harm the district's bargaining position. The committee will also consider approving minutes from a prior executive session. No other business is on the agenda.

• Executive session to discuss strategy on superintendent salary negotiations
• Approval of executive session minutes

Historic District Commission

Zoning Board

The Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on two new cases. The first is a request by Target at 550 Arsenal St. for outdoor transfer of retail goods to customers, including parking and signage changes. The second is a request at 59 Clarendon St. to replace existing buildings with a 5-story self-service storage facility and a 1-story light industrial building, requiring special permits for reduced setbacks and increased FAR. The board will also approve minutes from its June 24, 2026 meeting.

• 550 Arsenal St: outdoor retail transfer for Target, new crosswalk, designated parking (PZ-26-12)
• 59 Clarendon St: 5-story storage facility and 1-story light industrial building (PZ-26-16)
• Special permit requests for reduced side-yard setbacks, increased façade length, and increased FAR
• Approval of June 24, 2026 meeting minutes

School Building Committee

The Watertown School Building Committee will hold a virtual meeting on August 26, 2026, to receive a project update on the High School Project. No other substantive items, votes, or public hearings are listed on the agenda.

• High School Project – Project Update

Zoning Board

Board of Assessors

Licensing Board

The Watertown Licensing Board will meet virtually to consider a common victualer license application from Mangiamo LLC, doing business as Bougie Pizza at 212 Waverley Ave. The meeting is open to the public via Zoom, and comments can be submitted by email.

• Common victualer license application by Mangiamo LLC dba Bougie Pizza at 212 Waverley Ave

School Committee

The Budget and Finance Subcommittee of the Watertown School Committee is meeting to discuss and vote on room rental rates for school facilities. The meeting is open to the public in person and via Zoom. No other substantive items are on the agenda.

• Discussion and vote on room rental rates

Public Arts and Culture Committee

The committee will meet to discuss various programs and new project ideas. The agenda includes discussions regarding outreach event programs.

• Program Discussion
• Outreach Event Programs
• New Project Ideas

Election Commission

The Watertown Election Commission will conduct ballot testing on August 21, 2026, in preparation for the upcoming State Primary on September 1, 2026. The meeting is scheduled for 10:00 am in the Philip Pane Lower Hearing Room at the Administration Building. The agenda contains no other substantive items, contracts, or decisions.

• Ballot testing for the State Primary on September 1, 2026

Licensing Board

The Watertown Licensing Board is meeting to consider two special one-day event permits, continue discussions on amendments to rules and regulations, and hear comments from police and board members. The meeting includes standard procedural items like call to order, roll call, and acceptance of minutes.

• Special event permit: Mighty Squirrel, 149 Main St, Fair On The Square, September 19, 2026
• Special event permit: Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge, 520 Pleasant St, Annual Dinner, September 17, 2026
• Continued discussion on amendments to Rules and Regulations

Community Preservation

The Watertown Community Preservation Committee is meeting to handle routine business including approving minutes, receiving a chair report and coordinator update, and discussing project eligibility forms, an administrative funds transfer, and Community Preservation Coalition membership renewal. The committee will also review public hearing comments and a summary by Amy Plovnick. The agenda is largely procedural with no specific project decisions or dollar amounts listed.

• Acceptance of draft minutes from June 25 and July 23, 2026
• CPA Projects Status and Financial Tracking update
• Project Eligibility Form Review
• Administrative Funds Transfer discussion
• Community Preservation Coalition Membership Renewal discussion

School Building Committee

The Watertown School Building Committee is meeting to discuss and vote on matters related to the high school and middle school construction projects. The agenda includes approving monthly invoices for July 2026, reviewing project progress, and voting on a change order and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) purchases for the high school project. The meeting is being held virtually via Zoom.

• Approval of SBC Meeting Minutes from 7/15/26
• High School Project – Approval of Monthly Invoices – Month of July 2026
• High School Project – Total Project Budget Update, Vote Change Order & FF&E Purchases
• Middle School Project – Approval of Monthly Invoices – Month of July 2026
• Middle School Project – Status Update

Board of Health

Board of Health

Board of Health

Commission on Disability

The Watertown Commission on Disability is meeting remotely to discuss and vote on accessibility issues, including a vote on the Watertown Recreation/All Out Outdoor proposal. The agenda includes updates on ADA complaints, sidewalk and path issues, and accessibility at various locations. The meeting is open for public comment via email or virtual participation.

• Vote on Watertown Recreation/All Out Outdoor proposal
• Update on Sons of Italy ADA Accessibility Complaint
• Discussion on curb cut at Watertown Mall (550 Arsenal Street)
• Automatic doors request at 22 Bond Street
• Accessible voting equipment sign-on letter request

Board of Assessors

The Watertown Board of Assessors is meeting to review and vote on routine administrative items, including accepting prior meeting minutes and authorizing the Fiscal Year 2027 tax submission to the Department of Revenue. The board will also receive an office update on FY2027 property values, FY2026 Appellate Tax Board cases, and the overlay balance. In executive session, the board will vote on abatement and exemption applications, which are confidential under state law.

• Vote on acceptance of June 23, 2026 minutes
• Department of Revenue submission authorization for Fiscal Year 2027
• Review of FY2026 Appellate Tax Board cases filed to date
• Vote on 8 of 58 abatement applications in executive session
• Review/strategy on FY2026 Appellate Tax Board appeals

School Committee

School Committee

The Watertown School Committee is meeting to review reports on student data, health programs, personnel, and budget, and to vote on the superintendent's annual evaluation, a new student services subcommittee, and policy changes. The agenda includes several action items and policy first readings, with public forums at the start and end.

• Superintendent 2025/2026 Annual Evaluation Composite
• Recommendation for Ad Hoc Student Services Subcommittee
• Policy first readings: BEDF (Voting Method), BEDB (Agenda Format), JKAA (Time Out, Seclusion, and Physical Restraint), AI Citation Policy
• Update on hiring process for Director of Student Services
• Vote to schedule public meeting for caregivers on student services

School Committee

The Watertown School Committee's Policy Subcommittee is meeting to discuss and vote on four policy items: voting procedures (BEDF), agenda format (BEDB), the policy on time-out, seclusion, and restraint of students (JKAA), and an AI citation policy for district employees. The meeting is in person at Lowell Elementary School with remote access via Zoom.

• Vote on BEDF (Voting Procedures)
• Vote on BEDB (Agenda Format)
• Vote on JKAA (Time-Out, Seclusion, and Restraint of Students)
• Discussion of AI Citation for WPS Employees

School Committee

WE3C - Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee

The Environment & Energy Efficiency Committee will meet to approve minutes, hear reports from the Sustainability and Energy Managers, and discuss the status of BERDO (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance) as requested by Susan LaDue. The committee will also plan outreach for the Sept 19th Fair on the Square.

• Discussion of BERDO status and actions
• Sustainability Manager report and ordinance updates
• Energy Manager report
• Outreach planning for Sept 19th Fair on the Square
• Approval of July 20th minutes

Historical Commission

Planning Board

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on two development proposals. One would replace existing buildings at 59 Clarendon St with a 5-story self-storage facility and a 1-story light industrial building. The other would allow Target at 550 Arsenal St to create designated parking spaces for outdoor curbside pickup of online orders.

• 550 Arsenal St – Target seeks special permit for outdoor transfer of retail goods to customers, including new crosswalk and signage
• 59 Clarendon St / 60-80 Coolidge Ave – proposal to replace existing buildings with 5-story self-storage and 1-story light industrial/office building
• Special permit requests include reduced side-yard setbacks, increased building façade length, and increased FAR
• Meeting will be held in person with remote participation options via Zoom and televised on WCATV

Board of Health

The Board of Health will hold a remote meeting to review draft minutes from May 20, 2026, receive public comment, and hear staffing and department updates. No substantive decisions or proposals are listed on the agenda.

• Review of draft minutes from May 20, 2026
• Public comment period
• Staffing and department updates

Cultural Council

The Watertown Cultural Council will discuss the upcoming Faire on the Square, review findings from an Arts Market flash survey, and consider updates to the council handbook. The meeting also includes welcoming a new member and noting upcoming grant cycle deadlines.

• Faire on the Square scheduled for Saturday, September 19th, 12pm-5pm
• Flash survey findings on the Arts Market to be presented
• Handbook updates, review, and approval
• Grant applications open September 1st, close October 15th
• Welcome of new Council member Simone Worsdale

City Council

The Watertown City Council will hold public hearings and votes on ordinances adjusting the City Auditor's and Council Clerk's salaries, and consider spending $990,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the second phase of the Walker Pond Project. The council will also take first readings on two loan order amendments to increase borrowing for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the police station, and consider several appointments and reappointments to city boards and committees.

• Public hearing and vote on ordinance adjusting City Auditor's salary
• Public hearing and vote on ordinance adjusting Council Clerk's salary
• Expenditure of $990,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for Walker Pond Project Phase 2
• First reading to increase borrowing for EV charging platform from $300,000 to $439,580
• First reading to increase borrowing for three Level 3 EV chargers from $900,404 to $1,026,078

Human Rights Commission

The Watertown Human Rights Commission is meeting to discuss several items, including the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians, draft letters to the School Committee and elected officials, and an FY27 budget update. The agenda includes committee reports, public comment periods, and discussions on representation and statement revisions.

• Discussion of TPS termination for Haitians and Syrians and community response
• Review draft letter to Watertown School Committee
• FY27 Budget Update
• Revision to HRC Statement on Supreme Court TPS Ruling
• Review letter to Watertown elected officials on immigrant community support

City Council: Special Meetings

The Watertown City Council, acting as the Watertown Redevelopment Authority, will hold a special meeting to discuss the Draft Demonstration Project Plan. The meeting is open to the public in person, via Zoom, and by phone, with options for email comments.

• Discussion on the Draft Demonstration Project Plan