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.