HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-05-05 Ad hoc committee to replace town councilor - Dist D rvsd_202105240921186479Watertown Town Council
149 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470 Via Remote Opportunities
Ad Hoc Committee on District D Councilor Vacancy
May 17, 2021, 5:15 PM via Zoom
Attendees: Councilor Anthony Donato, chair, Councilor Lisa Feltner, Vice Chair, Councilor
Caroline Bays, Secretary, Councilor John G. Gannon, and residents Jimmy Mello, Erin
Macomber, and Elodia Thomas
Councilor Donato called the meeting to order with a unanimous roll call vote at 5:16 pm.
The purpose of the meeting was to continue to discuss the process by which we would attempt to
choose a town councilor to fill the vacant District D seat.
We went over the timeline and amended the announcement (see attached) and process to be
voted on at the council May 25 meeting and we would request all applications be submitted by
noon on June 4 deadline.
The announcement (see attached) will be released to the public upon approval. Any registered
voter who resides in District D and who commits to not run in the 2021 municipal elections
must submit an application as described in the announcement, to the Council Clerk by Friday,
June 4, at noon. Applications will be vetted by the Council President and the Council Clerk to
ensure that they are registered voters who live in D. Based on the number of applications
received, the Council President can refer the applicants back to the Ad Hoc committee on the
District D Vacancy for further vetting should he deem it necessary. Otherwise, all applicants will
be forwarded to the Council of the Whole for interviews.
Council Feltner made a motion to recommend the process be adopted by the full Town Council
and Councilor Bays seconded. The motion was adopted by a 3-o roll call vote.
We will address how the interview process will work at a future meeting.
ACTION ITEM: That the full Town Council adopt the process recommended by the
Ad Hoc Committee on District D Councilor Vacancy.
The meeting was adjourned by a unanimous roll call vote at 5:39
Minutes submitted by Caroline Bays
The Town Council of the City Known as the Town of Watertown is
accepting applications to fill the vacancy in District D.
Pursuant to Watertown's Home Rule Charter, the appointment will stand
until the 2021 Watertown municipal election, which will be held on
November 2, 2021. Also pursuant to said Charter, an appointment shall be
made by a vote of not less than six (6) Councilors.
All applicants must commit to not run in the 2021 municipal election.
The Watertown Town Council regularly meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
of the month, except during July and August. Meetings are held at 7:oo
p.m. in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber, Administration
Building, 149 Main Street or through virtual meetings until further notice.
Additionally, Town Councilors serve on the Charter Review Committee and
are expected to serve on at least three of the Council's standing committees
and attend all Special Meetings of the Town Council.
Any interested party who is a resident and registered voter of District D
should submit a resume, a cover letter explaining any past or current public
service and why he or she is interested in serving on the Town Council, as
well as a maximum of two (2) letters of endorsement.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 4, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. and
should be emailed to Marilyn Pronovost, the Town Council Clerk,
at mpronovost@watertown-ma.gov.
Candidates will be required to be interviewed at a later date.
Please note that should an individual be appointed to fill the
District D vacancy and then seek election for the District D
Councilor position in the 2021 municipal election, the
appointment shall be automatically terminated.