HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-26-2013 SFR subcommittee report_201303210845047484ELECTED OFFICIALS:
Mark S. Sideris,
Council President
Stephen P. Corbett,
Vice President
John A. Donohue,
Councilor At Large
Susan G. Falkoff,
Councilor At Large
Anthony Palomba,
Councilor At Large
Angeline B. Kounelis,
District A Councilor
Cecilia Lenk,
District B Councilor
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.,
District C Councilor
Kenneth M. Woodland Jr.,
District D Councilor
Watertown Town Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470
Subcommittee on State, Federal and Regional Governments
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Subcommittee Report
The Subcommittee on State, Federal and Regional Governments met on Wednesday,
March 13, 2013 to interview Mr. David Downes for reappointment to the Board of
Election Commissioners and Mr. Christopher Dunn for appointment to the Board of
Election Commissioners.
Present where Councilor Angelina Kounelis, Chair, Councilor Susan Falkoff, Vice -
Chair, and Councilor Anthony Palomba, Clerk. The Subcommittee was called to order
at 6:15 PM.
The Chair welcomed Mr. Downes and expressed the Subcommittee's appreciation for
his service as a Commissioner for the last five years. During the interview, Mr.
Downes made three suggestions that he felt would increase the Commissioners' ability
to fulfill their mission.
1) Distribution of election/voting information in a more timely fashion.
2) Consolidation of all election and voting information that is presently on the Town's
website into one page.
3) Creation of a button on the home page of the Town's website that would bring the
user to the consolidated information.
Councilor Falkoff moved that the Subcommittee recommend that the Town Council
approve the reappointment of Mr. David Downes to the Board of Election
Commissioners for a term ending April 1, 2017. Councilor Palomba seconded the
motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 3 — 0.
The Chair welcomed Mr. Dunn and expressed the Subcommittee's appreciation for his
willingness to serve the Town. During the interview it became clear that Mr. Dunn has a
strong commitment to increasing voter participation in elections. He offered the
following suggestions:
1) Create an easy to read decal that announces elections, for example,
"Watertown Votes, Tuesday, November 6, 8:00 AM — 8:00 PM", and that can be
distributed in various Town mailings as often as possible, including but not limited
to, tax bills, water bills, excise tax bills, health notices, etc.
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2) Display the decals on Town vehicles.
3) Create flags with a similar message and display them on lights poles that are presently
fitted for flags.
4) Greater use of the Reserve 911.
Councilor Falkoff moved that the Subcommittee recommend that the Town Council
approve the appointment of Mr. Christopher Dunn to the Board of Election
Commissioners for a term ending April 1, 2016. Councilor Palomba seconded the
motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 3 — 0.
At 6:55 PM Councilor Kounelis moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
seconded by Councilor Falkoff. The motion was approved by a vote of 3 — 0.
Report prepared by Councilor Palomba, Clerk
March 16, 2013