HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020_1211 CRC-CS Minutes1
Subcommittee Members:
Attendees:
Communications Subcommittee
Watertown Charter Review Committee
Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2020
Marcia Ciro, Chair; Anne Fitzpatrick; Councilor John Gannon; Leo
Martin
Elodia Thomas; Councilor Lisa Feltner; Nancy Hammett; Tiffany
Rose York (part time)
The ZOOM meeting was called to order with a roll call vote at 1:03 PM (note Anne Fitzpatrick
joined the meeting just after the role)
1. Methods of Outreach
Chair Ciro indicated that she would like to go out of the order of the agenda and would
like to discuss the description that is to be included in the upcoming Real Estate Tax Bill.
The information is required by Town Council President by tomorrow (December 12th).
Item 1.e was discussed first.
a. Speak/Outreach - Local Groups —There was a discussion,regarding going to local
organizations and informing their members of the ongoing Charter Review. Mr.
Gannon and Ms. Fitzpatrick mention many local groups and fraternal
organizations; however, it was brought up that many are not meeting due to
Covid-19. Attendee Ms. York mentioned a number of groups that hold regular
Zoom meetings including, Watertown Forward, Watertown Citizens for Black
Lives, Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and Environment, and Watertown
Anti -bias Coalition of Parents. Ms. Ciro added Concerned Citizens group. Ms.
Thomas mentioned redundancy with Watertown Forward and Ms. Ciro
mentioned that it would be good if there were some redundancy so that the
message would be reinforced. It was noted that Marcy Murninghan of
Watertown Forward has done a good summary of the last charter review
meeting. Ms. Fitzpatrick mentioned other groups may send out with their emails
such as the Rotary Club. Councilor Gannon indicated that he was willing to speak
to groups and will investigate options.
b. Outreach to Local Media (Tab, Patch, Watertown News) - Ms. Ciro indicated that
we could prepare a summary after the meetings and provide to the local news
outlets. Ms. Thomas mentioned that the Tab and Patch limited the number of
words that can be used. Ms. Murninghan's summary that was on Watertown
Forward was again mentioned. There was a question as to whether anything
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Communication Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Page 2
December 11, 2020
written by the subcommittee would need the approval of the entire committee
before it is released.
c. Flyer Distribution (Description of Charter Process) — Councilor Gannon discussed
the issues and what was needed. He estimated 8,volunteers could complete the
delivery flyers. We could use the same language that was approved to go into
the tax bills. There was no decision to move forward with the flyers. Councilor
Gannon will send sample flyers to Chair. Chair will use design skills to design a
flyer that can be discussed at next meeting.
d. Bulletin Board (where Senior center, Town Hall, Boys & Girls Club, Apartment
Building entrances) — See Item 1.j.
e. Insert into Town Tax/Water bills — Two members had presented drafts for the
insert into the information page included in the upcoming mailing of the tax bills.
Mr. Martin read his draft followed by Ms. Ciro. There was a discussion by the
members with Councilor Gannon indicating that brevity is important. Ms.
Fitzpatrick added that the goal is to raise awareness, provide an overview of the
charter review, and invite residents to join in our review process. There a lengthy
discussion as to how much detail should be included. Chair Ciro indicated that
the description should be kept general with no specifics. Ms. Fitpatrick provide a
succinct draft that was shared over the website with all attendees. Ms. Thomas
indicated that the wording needs to be tight since there is not a lot of space in
the announcements and it should direct people to the website. There were a few
more tweaks to the draft proposed by Ms. Fitzpatrick and Ms. Ciro will finalize
the write-up and get it to Council President Sideris. Committee member
Fitzpatrick mentioned that the email address for the group should be included.
Ms. Ciro indicated that she wasn't sure that it had been set up as yet and will
verify and if done, it will be added. A roll call vote was taken to approve the
proposed language to be finalize by Ms. Ciro, four affirmative votes.
f. Online: Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor Watertown — Ms. Ciro wanted to wait on
this item until after the meeting with the Town's ITO.
g. Local Cable: Ad/announcement — the group discussed having someone do an
interview on the cable station. Ms. Ciro needed to determine with Town Council
President who would be best to do the interview. The write up that was agreed
for inclusion with the Tax bills, could be placed as an announcement on
Watertown Cable TV. Ms. Fitzpatrick also mentioned that the timeline should be
provided. Ms. Fitzpatrick will investigate with the Watertown Cable Station.
h. Outreach to local neighborhood Groups (Concerned Citizens, Watertown
Forward, etc.) or those that have email lists — See 1.f
i. Town Councilors email lists — See 1.f
j. Sandwich Boards — There was a short discussion on the location, size and content
of the boards. Councilor Gannon mentioned that surveys of the councilors
indicated that the sandwich boards were the place where residents got their
information. Ms. Hammett indicated that also came across in the Kitchen Table
discussion program that was done last year. Ms. Thomas indicated that the
( Deleted: 0
Deleted: indicated that he had an example from the
last charter review and will bring it to the next
meeting....
Communication Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Page 3
December 11, 2020
boards are of varying sizes and mentioned the electronic message boards
controlled by the DPW. There was a discussion of the material best used on the
boards. Ms. Ciro indicated that she was familiar with the materials as well as
how to lay out the boards so she will take the lead on the sandwich boards. Ms.
Thomas provided the contact for the sandwich boards at the DPW, Bob D'Arico.
k. Watertown Forward Zoom Meetings — See 1.f.
1. Polling Possibilities — Ms. Ciro had sent out examples rom a couple of different
communities and acknowledged the draft that Mr. Martin had started. Mr.
Martin indicated that he based it on the survey done in Amesbury. Ms. Ciro did
not want to go into the details of a website polling until she has spoken to Mr.
McClure.
2. Dedicated Town email address — Ms. Ciro was not sure that it had been set up. She will
check into whether it has been set-up.
3. Look at Other Outreach Samples and decide how they can be used/revised for
Committee's Purposes — See Item 1.1
4. Discuss Website Creation, how to work with Watertown's Chief ITO — see Item 1.f
S. Input from Residents — Ms. Fitzpatrick indicated that she had a number of calls from
residents that were not happy that no minutes have been prepared for any of the
meetings as yet. There was a discussion as to how our minutes would be prepared and
approved.
6. Next meeting —The timing of our meetings was discussed. It was agreed that we meet
every two weeks. The date of the next meeting was not set.
The meeting adjourned with a roll call vote with all members voting in the affirmative at 3:40
PM.
Action Items:
A. Investigate options for speaking at Watertown groups — Councilor Gannon
B. Outreach to local news organizations — Need to investigate the release of any write-up
with the full committee — Ciro.
C. Flyer and Bulletin Boards, preparation and distribution — Councilor Gannon will provide
an example of a flyer from the last charter reviews at our next meeting.
D. Write-up for inclusion in the tax bill — Finalize and submit to TC President Sideris — Ciro
E. Sandwich board graphics and installation — M. Ciro to investigate
F. Local Cable Ad/announcement — A. Fitzpatrick will contact the Watertown Cable News
and see if we can get the announcement (approved in Item 1.e) shown and also
investigate having a speaker interviewed on the Cable Channel.
G. Meet with and discuss website organization and distribution with Chris McClure — Ciro
and Martin
Minutes by Leo Martin
Deleted: form