City of Watertown, MA
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2023-09-26
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Watertown Home Rule Charter
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Chapter C Watertown Home Rule Charter
- Watertown Home Rule Charter
- Ch C Watertown Home Rule Charter
- Ch C Art 1 SHORT TITLE; POWERS; DEFINITIONS
- § C-1-1 INCORPORATION.
- § C-1-2 SHORT TITLE.
- § C-1-3 DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.
- § C-1-4 POWERS OF THE CITY.
- § C-1-5 CONSTRUCTION.
- § C-1-6 INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
- § C-1-7 DEFINITIONS.
- Ch C Art 2 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
- § C-2-1 COMPOSITION, TERM OF OFFICE.
- § C-2-2 COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
- § C-2-3 COMPENSATION, EXPENSES.
- § C-2-4 GENERAL POWERS.
- § C-2-5 EXERCISE OF POWERS; QUORUM; RULES.
- § C-2-6 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
- § C-2-7 OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL OR COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
- § C-2-8 ORDINANCES AND OTHER MEASURES.
- § C-2-9 FILLING OF VACANCIES.
- § C-2-10 ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
- § C-2-11 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Ch C Art 3 CITY MANAGER
- § C-3-1 APPOINTMENT, TERM OF OFFICE; QUALIFICATIONS.
- § C-3-2 POWERS AND DUTIES.
- § C-3-3 COMPENSATION.
- § C-3-4 REMOVAL.
- § C-3-5 ACTING CITY MANAGER.
- § C-3-6 EVALUATION OF CITY MANAGER.
- § C-3-7 RESIDENTS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE
- Ch C Art 4 OTHER ELECTED OFFICES
- § C-4-1 SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
- § C-4-2 LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
- Ch C Art 5 FINANCIAL PROCEDURES
- § C-5-1 BUDGET HEARING AND GOAL SETTING.
- § C-5-2 SUBMISSION OF BUDGET, MESSAGE.
- § C-5-3 ACTION ON THE BUDGET.
- § C-5-4 INDEPENDENT AUDIT.
- § C-5-5 CAPITAL OUTLAY PROGRAM.
- Ch C Art 6 ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION
- § C-6-1 REORGANIZATION PLANS BY ORDINANCE.
- § C-6-2 REORGANIZATION PLANS BY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
- § C-6-3 PUBLICATION OF REORGANIZATION PLANS.
- Ch C Art 7 NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
- § C-7-1 BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.
- § C-7-2 CITY ELECTIONS: GENERAL; PRELIMINARY.
- § C-7-3 NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS.
- § C-7-4 PRELIMINARY ELECTION.
- § C-7-5 BALLOT POSITION, REGULAR TOWN ELECTION.
- § C-7-6 DISTRICTS.
- § C-7-7 APPLICATION OF STATE GENERAL LAWS.
- § C-7-8 CITIZEN PETITIONS TO COUNCIL OR SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
- § C-7-9 CITIZEN INITIATIVE MEASURES.
- § C-7-10 CITIZEN REFERENDUM PROCEDURES.
- § C-7-11 INELIGIBLE MEASURES.
- § C-7-12 SUBMISSION OF OTHER MATTERS TO VOTERS.
- § C-7-13 CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.
- Ch C Art 8 GENERAL PROVISIONS
- § C-8-1 CHARTER CHANGES.
- § C-8-2 SEVERABILITY.
- § C-8-3 SPECIFIC PROVISION TO PREVAIL.
- § C-8-4 RULES AND REGULATIONS.
- § C-8-5 CODIFICATION OF ORDINANCES.
- § C-8-6 UNIFORM PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO MULTIPLE MEMBER BODIES.
- § C-8-7 NUMBER.
- § C-8-8 REFERENCES TO GENERAL LAWS.
- § C-8-9 CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT.
- § C-8-10 NOTICE OF VACANCIES.
- § C-8-11 PENALTIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS CONVICTED OF A FELONY.
- Ch C Art 9 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
- § C-9-1 CONTINUATION OF EXISTING LAWS, ETC.
- § C-9-2 CONTINUATION OF GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
- § C-9-3 TRANSFER OF RECORDS AND PROPERTY.
- § C-9-4 CONTINUATION OF PERSONNEL.
- § C-9-5 EFFECT ON OBLIGATIONS, TAXES, ETC.
- § C-9-6 TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
- § C-9-7 CREATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
- § C-9-8 CREATION OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER POSITION.
- Title I: General Provisions
- Ch 10 General Provisions
- Title III: Administration
- Ch 30 City Officials and Employees
- Ch 31 Boards, Commissions and Departments
- Ch 32 Finances
- Ch 33 Taxation
- Ch 34 Purchasing Procedures
- Ch 35 Code Enforcement
- Ch 36 Committees
- Ch 37 Municipal Housing Trust
- Ch 38 Administrative Policies
- Title V: Public Works
- Ch 50 General Provisions
- Ch 51 Electricity
- Ch 52 Garbage and Refuse
- Ch 53 Sewers
- Ch 54 Water
- Ch 55 Curbs and Sidewalks
- Title VII: Traffic Regulations
- Ch 70 Traffic Commission
- Ch 71 Parking and Stopping Regulations
- Ch 72 Transportation Demand Management Programs
- Ch 73 Traffic Rules and Orders
- Title IX: General Regulations
- Ch 90 Abandoned Vehicles
- Ch 91 Animals
- Ch 92 Fire Prevention
- Ch 93 Health and Safety
- Ch 94 Newsracks
- Ch 95 Noise Regulations
- Ch 96 Streets and Sidewalks
- Ch 97 Stormwater Regulations
- Ch 98 Stormwater Management and Erosion Control
- Title XI: Business Regulations
- Ch 110 General Provisions
- Ch 111 Junk and Second-Hand Dealers
- Ch 112 Peddlers and Solicitors
- Ch 113 Retail Food Stores
- Ch 114 Service Stations
- Ch 115 Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction
- Ch 116 Bring Your Own Bottle Regulations
- Title XIII: General Offenses
- Ch 130 General Offenses
- Title XV: Land Usage
- Ch 150 Building Regulations
- Ch 151 Planning and Development
- Ch 152 Historic Districts
- Ch 153 Demolition of Historic Buildings
- Ch 154 Wetlands
- Ch 155 Zoning Code
- Ch 156 Historic Landmarks
- Table of Special Ordinances
- Ch TSO Table of Special Ordinances
- Derivation Table
- Ch DT Derivation Table
- Disposition List
- Ch DL Disposition List
[HISTORY: This Home Rule Charter is as amended through Chapter
98 of the Acts of 2001 and acceptance by the voters, November 6, 2001;
further amended by Town Council proposal and accepted by the voters
on November 8, 2011, and November 2, 2021.]
Preamble
We, the people of Watertown — mindful of generations who
came before us and those yet to come as we seek a more perfect union
— are committed to preserving the blessings of life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness. In recognition of the historical truth
that we live on land that is the traditional territory of the Pequossette
people, we hereby establish the following Ethic of Civic and
Environmental Stewardship, supported by a group of Guiding Principles for this Home Rule Charter for our city.
These guiding principles find multiple expression in Watertown's
policy priorities, practices, and partnerships, in furtherance of
the Charter's purpose: to provide the residents of Watertown with
a government that represents all who live, work, play, and create
here, and affirms our right to live and grow in freedom, dignity,
and tranquility. They also foster wise management of resources that
guarantee the opportunity for all residents to reach their full potential
while caring for one another and promoting the health, safety, and
welfare of our community.
ETHIC OF CIVIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP:
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
*SAFETY & TRANQUILITY
*LEARNING & EXCELLENCE
*EQUITY & DIVERSITY
*HEALTH & WELL-BEING
*CREATIVITY & INNOVATION
*ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY
We believe that this stewardship ethic and related guiding principles
uphold public trust in the competent and faithful execution of government
duties, including loyalty and care. Taken together, they yield vibrant
and welcoming neighborhoods, high quality and inclusive schools, transparent
and accountable municipal operations — including performance
excellence, responsiveness, and collaboration and thriving local businesses.
Recognizing the impact of our decisions on future generations, and
committing to practices that foster a sustainable environment in service
to the common good, we, the people of Watertown hereby adopt the following
Home Rule Charter for our city, all in accord with the Home Rule Amendment
to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Precinct Map
