The inhabitants of the Town of Watertown, within the territorial limits established by law, shall continue to be a municipal corporation, a body corporate and politic, under the name "City of Watertown."
This instrument shall be known and may be cited as the Watertown Home Rule Charter.
The fiscal, prudential and municipal affairs of Watertown, with the government thereof, shall be vested in a legislative branch to consist of a city council and an administrative branch headed by a city manager. The legislative branch shall never exercise any administrative power and the administrative branch shall never exercise any legislative power.
Subject only to express limitations on the exercise of any power or function by a municipal government in the constitution or general laws of the Commonwealth, it is the intention and the purpose of the voters of Watertown through the adoption of this charter to secure for themselves and their government all of the powers it is possible to secure as fully and as completely as though each such power were specifically and individually enumerated herein.
For the purposes of classifying Watertown in those instances where laws of the Commonwealth may distinguish between municipalities classified as "towns" and other municipalities classified as "cities," it is intended that this charter shall be construed as providing a city form of government.
The powers of Watertown under this charter are to be construed liberally in its favor, and the specific mention of any particular power is not intended to limit the general powers as stated in section 1-4.
Subject only to express limitations in the constitution or general laws of the Commonwealth, Watertown may exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions, and may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with the Commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or with the United States government or any agency thereof.
Unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the manner in which the word or phrase is used, the following words and phrases as used in this charter shall have the following meanings:
(a) 
Charter - The word "charter" shall mean this charter and any amendment to it hereafter adopted.
(b) 
City - The word "city" shall mean the City of Watertown.
(c) 
City Bulletin Board - The words "city bulletin board" shall mean the bulletin board in the administration building on which the city clerk posts official notices of meetings and upon which other official city notices are posted, and the bulletin boards at any other locations as may be designated city bulletin boards by the city council. Any information required to be posted on the city bulletin board shall also be posted on the city website.
(d) 
City Agency - The words "city agency" shall mean any multiple-member body, any department, division, or office of the city of Watertown.
(e) 
City Officer - The words "city officer" when used without further qualification or description, shall mean a person having charge of an office or department of the city who in the exercise of his or her powers or duties exercises some portion of the sovereign power of the city.
(f) 
City Website - The words "city website" shall mean the official website maintained by the City of Watertown.
(g) 
Department Head - The words "department head" shall mean a person having responsibility and oversight for the operation and management of a city department.
(h) 
Emergency - The word "emergency" shall mean a sudden, unexpected, unforeseen happening, occurrence or condition which necessitates immediate action or response.
(i) 
Full Council, Full Multiple-Member Body - The words "full council" or "full multiple-member body" shall mean the entire authorized complement of the city council, school committee or other multiple-member body notwithstanding any vacancy which might exist.
(j) 
general laws - The words "general laws" (all lower case letters) shall mean laws enacted by the state legislature which apply alike to all cities and towns, to all cities, to all towns, or to a class of two or more cities and or towns of which Watertown is a member
(k) 
General Laws - The words "General Laws" (initial letter of each word in upper case letters) shall mean the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a codification and revision of statutes enacted on December 22, 1920, and including all amendments thereto subsequently adopted.
(l) 
Initiative Measure - The words "initiative measure" shall mean a measure proposed by the voters through the initiative process provided under this charter.
(m) 
Local Newspaper - The words "local newspaper" shall mean a newspaper or electronic or other media of general circulation within Watertown, with either a weekly or daily circulation. Any information required to be published in a local newspaper shall also be posted in the city website.
(n) 
Majority Vote - The words "majority vote" shall mean a majority of those present and voting, unless another provision is made by ordinance, by law, or by its own rules.
(o) 
Measure - The word "measure" shall mean any ordinance, order, resolution, or other vote or proceeding adopted, or which might be adopted by the city council or the school committee.
(p) 
Multiple-member Body - The words "multiple-member body" shall mean any board, commission, committee, sub committee, or other body consisting of two or more members whether elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, but not including the city council, the school committee, and the trustees of the public library.
(q) 
Referendum Measure - The words "referendum measure" shall mean a measure adopted by the city council or by the school committee which is protested by the referendum procedures provided under this charter.
(r) 
Vacancy - The word "vacancy" shall mean an office that becomes open prior to the end of a person's elected or appointed term due to the death, resignation, or removal of that person, or as a result of a failure to elect.
(s) 
Voters - The word "voters" shall mean registered voters of the city of Watertown.