HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021_0627_Charter Chat agendaLarry Raskin <I.larryraskin@comcast.net>
Thu 6/24, 11:42 AMFeltner, Lisa;Ciro, Marcia;'Janis Greim Hudson' <janisghudson@gmail.com>
Hello Lisa and Marcia,
Thank you both for agreeing to join Watertown Forward at this Sunday's Charter Chat. We are excited to have you as co -
panelists! People have enjoyed these guest conversations, and we again expect good participation.
As you may know, Watertown Forward's mission is to educate, empower, and engage the Watertown community in our
Charter Review process. We do not take a position on specific Charter changes. Here's the link to our
website: https://www.watertownforward.org.
This Sunday's Charter Chat will run from 5:00 to 6:45 p.m. The Zoom link to the meeting is here. It will also be in an
announcement that will be sent in the next few days, and is on our website. The team will be on the call starting at 4:45 p.m. to
answer any last-minute questions -- feel free to jump on early if you'd like.
Here's what to expect:
During the first half of the meeting, we will update attendees with relevant information about the Charter Review. We will then
focus on the Preamble and parts of Article 3 in preparation for what may be coming up at the next CRC
meeting(s). Residents will have an opportunity to learn more, express their opinions and ask questions. Then, around 6:00
p.m., we'll move to the second half, where we'll introduce you both.
We are entering a key phase of the Charter Review process. Soon the CRC will complete its work and deliver its
recommendations to the Town Council. After introductions, we will ask you to answer the following question to get things
started:
Transparency and Communication are two key areas that have been identified by many Watertown residents as needing
improvement, particularly during this Charter Review. What are the best ways to keep the public informed about the
remainder of the Charter Review process, through to the November ballot? What, if any, plans are in place for education,
communication and community engagement about Charter changes?
You will each have about 5 minutes to answer, and then we will open it up for questions and comments. Larry will facilitate the
conversation. Depending on how the discussion goes, we may ask you to make a brief closing statement and share your
reflections on public participation during the Charter Review process:
This has been a challenging time to undertake a Charter Review. The CRC has been working hard, and many residents have
tried to stay actively involved. What are your thoughts regarding the level of public participation in the Charter Review?
We will have a short close, and end at 6:45 p.m. While we hope you will attend the entire meeting, we understand that your
time may be limited.
We kindly ask that you provide us with a brief bio that we can use to introduce you; a few sentences or a short paragraph
will be fine.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call either of us: Larry Raskin (617-966-2629) or Janis Hudson (207-754-2470). As
you may know, Mark Sideris, Carolyn Bays, Bill Oates, John Gannon, Jon Hecht, Vinnie Piccirilli, Anne Fitzpatrick, Anthony
Donato and Leo Martin have all served as panelists at previous Charter Chats -- feel free to reach out for their perspectives if
that is helpful.
Thank you both for your time and commitment to the Watertown community and to providing the opportunity for more
resident -CRC interaction.
Best regards, Larry and Janis