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New Manager Likes Watertown’s Strong Fiscal Base, Looks at Successes from Previous Community

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City of WatertownWatertown’s new City Manager, George Proakis, was sworn in by City Clerk Janet Murphy on Aug. 15, 2022. Even before his first official day as City Manager, George Proakis began to familiarize himself with the community by browsing through the booths at the Watertown Arts Market with his family. While he is new to Watertown, he knows a few things about this City’s government, and a lot about how municipal governments work. In May, the City Council chose Proakis to be Watertown’s first new manager in nearly three decades.

2023 City Budget

Council Agrees on Contract for New Manager, Budget Approved & Town Auditor Retiring

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Watertown Cable Access TVCity Manager Finalist George Proakis. George Proakis, Watertown’s next City Manger, will start working in August, after an agreement on a contract was reached with the City Counil this week. The City Council unanimously voted to approve hiring George Proakis on Tuesday night. At the previous meeting, on May 24 the Council agreed to offer Proakis the job and enter contract negotiations. The Council met in executive session prior to the June 14 public session to discuss the contract and came to an agreement which includes a salary of $217,500, said Council President Mark Sideris.

Around Town

George Proakis Appointed Watertown’s Next City Manager

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Watertown Cable Access TVCity Manager Finalist George Proakis. The City Council unanimously voted to appoint George Proakis as Watertown’s next City Manager on Tuesday night. He will succeed Michael Driscoll, who retired in January after 29 years in the position. The selection of Proakis was no surprise, with a majority of the Councilors indicated they favored him over the two other finalists after interviewing them on May 12. Proakis will be coming from the City of Somerville, where he has been the Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development for the past 3.5 years, and was the director of Planning and Zoning for nearly 9 years.

Government

City Council Tips Hat Toward Who Will be the Next City Manager

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City Manager Finalist George Proakis. The decision is not official, but a majority of members of the City Council said that they would choose George Proakis to be the next Watertown City Manager after interviewing the three finalists on Thursday night. The official vote will be made at a future meeting. Proakis, who is Somerville’s Executive Director of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, has not been the manager of a city or town, but Councilors said they liked his vision. Councilor Caroline Bays said that all three candidates appealed to her, and said if all three were combined they would have a “miracle manager.”