Government

City’s Longtime Leader of Community Development and Planning Retiring in January

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Steve Magoon

After more than 17 years leading Watertown’s economic development and planning efforts, Steve Magoon will be retiring from the City of Watertown at the end of January. First hired in 2008 as the Director of Community Development and Planning, Magoon was elevated by the late City Manager Mike Driscoll to Assistant City Manager for Community Development and Planning in the mid-2010s. He continues to serve in that role for City Manager George Proakis, who thanked him for his service at the Nov. 12 City Council Meeting. “In the coming weeks, I know we’ll have a chance to celebrate Steve and his accomplishments in Watertown,” Proakis said at the Council meeting.

Government

Winter Parking Ban Could be Shortened by City Council

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Charlie BreitroseSnow started early Tuesday and will get much heavier during the day. The overnight parking ban may be reduced by more than a month if the City Council approves a proposal for a temporary modification to the Winter Parking Ban on Tuesday night. The proposal will be discussed on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in City Hall and on Zoom. City Council President Mark Sideris gave a preview of the changes during the Nov.

Government

Council Approves Tax Rate for FY2026, See How Much of an Increase to Expect

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Charlie BreitroseA lot of money was raised and spent on the 2015 Watertown Election. Watertown homeowners will see their property taxes rise nearly 7 percent after the City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Tax Classification on Wednesday night. The average residential tax bill is $11,328, which is up $734 or 6.9 percent, according to the presentation by Earl Smith, the chair of the Watertown Board of Assessors. The Council also adopted the residential exemption at 35 percent, which provides a savings of $3,965. The average tax bill with the residential exemption is $7,363, which is up $476 or 6.9 percent.

Elections

LETTER: City Councilors At-Large Candidate Thanks Voters

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I want to thank the voters of Watertown for allowing me to continue serving you as your City Councilor At-Large at our citywide election on Nov. 4, 2025. Over the last few months of active campaigning, my gratitude list grew three times. As I criss-crossed all neighborhoods of our city, I enjoyed hearing your ideas for Watertown, your love of this wonderfully-diverse community, your recommendations for the best local restaurant or which baker crafts the best lamejun, as you welcomed me at your door, along the street, riding your bike toward the Charles River, or at your neighborhood block parties. I was hoping just to get re-elected to continue my service on the City Council, but I was truly amazed by the total vote numbers I received in every neighborhood, and that I received the most votes of the five candidates for City Councilor At-Large.

Government

LETTER: City Council Should Make a Change to Its Rules

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I wish to Congratulate all the candidates that were elected or reelected to Serve The Community this past Tuesday.    

I write wishing the Council will make a small, but very important, rule change when they organize next year. I may be out of touch with how things are to operate nowadays, but if I were a Councilor today, I certainly would be a maverick. I preface my remarks by acknowledging that I don’t watch as many Council Meetings that I should. But, when I do physically or on TV, I am often disappointed in what I see. I have felt the Council is meek and couldn’t understand why. I have now found out why. The Council has abandoned the strength they have. I see a violation of Roberts Rule of Order where the President is allowed to make a motion without vacating the chair; allowing the Vice President to preside in order for him to make a motion. Of course, the Vice President, more than not, beats the other Councilors in seconding the motion. In the past, if uninformed on Roberts Rules, we were provided the necessary information.

Elections

Top Vote-Getters Did Not Always Win the Most Precincts in the 2025 Watertown Election

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The winners in the Nov. 4, 2025 Watertown Election did not always win the most precincts, and voters in different parts of town preferred different candidates. City Councilor

In the Councilor At-Large race, the candidate with the highest vote total did not win the most precincts, and the support varied by section of town. Incumbent Tony Palomba won the most precincts, with six, but finished with the second most votes, 3,389. He won precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.

Elections

Incumbents Returned to City Council, School Committee and Library Trustees, See Who Else Was Elected Tuesday

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There will be one new face on the City Council, one on the School Committee and two on the Board of Library Trustees after Tuesday’s Watertown Municipal Election. Watertown voters re-electedJohn Gannon with 3,418 votes, Tony Palomba (3,389), and Caroline Bays (3,030) in the race for Councilor At-Large, and first-time candidate Theo Offei (2,999) won a seat. Former Auditor Tom Tracy also challenged for a seat and got 2,232 votes. Vincent Piccirilli won another term with 1,042 votes for District C City Councilor. He defeated challenger Andres Guzman (307).

Elections

Election 2025 Guide: Watertown Voters Selecting City Council, School Committee, Library Trustee Seats

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Charlie Breitrose

All voters in Watertown will have three contested races to vote in, selecting members of the City Council, the School Committee, and the Board of Library Trustees. Residents of District C will also be casting votes for their district City Councilor. The Watertown Municipal Election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Half the polling locations have changed in 2025. See more details below.