HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-24-2011 Draft HS reportTown Council
City of Watertown Known as the Town of Watertown
Committee on Human Services
May 20, 2011
Draft Report, May 23, 2011
Committee on Human Services (Committee) met on Tuesday, May 20 to discuss the
Harvard/Watertown Community Enrichment Fund (Fund). Present at the meeting were Councilors
John Donohue (Chair), Tony Palomba (Vice Chair), John Lawn (Secretary), and Council President Mark
Sideris. Also attending was Mr. Tom Tracy, Town Auditor. The meeting began at 5:40 PM in the Town
Council Office. The meeting was not being recorded.
Councilor Donohue expressed concern that the ongoing economic downturn continues to impact many
of the programs/organizations that traditional apply for grants from the Fund and the hope that the
sooner the Committee can make a recommendation to the Council regarding the grant process and
allocation the better. He also felt that that the Committee should recommend the distribution of the
annual $100,000 from the Fund and refrain from awarding any of the accrued interest or the principle
from the $1 million O'Neill Properties Charitable Gift Fund.
Council President Sideris noted that last year we had informed applicants that the Committee and
subsequently the Council would be reviewing and revising the present grant guidelines and process in
order to address concerns raised during the past few years. Councilor Palomba also referred to this
decision and agreed with Council President Sideris that the Committee has not been able to achieve this
goal. However, there was general agreement that reviewing and revising the grant guidelines and
process would be a priority for the Committee and that they would begin this effort in late summer or
early fall.
Councilor Palomba made a motion that the Committee recommend to the Council that the guidelines
and process used to distribute the Fund in 2010 be used again in 2011 including the establishment of an
ad hoc committee composed of the same members. Councilor Lawn requested an amendment to the
motion to include the date of July 8 as the deadline for the submission of applications. Councilor
Donohue seconded the motion as amended and the motion passed unanimously.
Town Auditor Tom Tracy volunteered to work with Council President Sideris to expedite the
announcement of the grants via public media and the Town's website. Council President Sideris
suggested that the Committee make its formal recommendation at the May 24 Town Council meeting
under the agenda item of "New Business" and that the written report by sent to the Town Clerk as soon
as possible. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 PM.
Tony Palomba, Vice Chair