[At a General Town Meeting in Watertown held 7-17-1694, the inhabitants of said Town voted to choose five Assessors according to law. At a subsequent General Town Meeting held 7-13-1696, the Town voted to reduce the number of Assessors from five to three.]
[On 3-8-1886, the first Board of Health was elected, consisting of three members. In 1896, the term of the members was increased to three years. The Board of Health originally had jurisdiction over Town cemeteries, but in 1968 the Cemetery Department was placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works.]
[Adopted 6-6-1913 ATM by Art. 14 (Ch. XXIV of the Bylaws)]
(A) 
The Planning Board which the Town of Watertown is required to elect under the provisions of Chapter 494 of the Acts of 1913, shall be composed of five citizens of the Town. At the first election of said Board, one member shall be elected for the term of one year, two for the term of two years, and two for the term of three years from the date of the Town Meeting at which they are elected; and at each Annual Town Meeting thereafter, the vacancy occurring by the expiration of the term of office of one member or of two members, as the case may be, shall be filled by election of a successor or successors for the term of three years.
(B) 
The purposes, duties and authority of said Board shall be those which are defined in said Chapter 494 and in any acts amendatory thereof which may hereafter be in force.
(C) 
Vacancies which may occur in the membership of said Board by death, resignation or removal from the Town shall be filled by vote of the Selectmen and of the remaining members of said Board, acting jointly, until the vacancy is filled by election at the next Annual Town Meeting.
[The Town, in March 1928, by Art. 2, elected six members to the School Committee. At the 10-22-1930 Town Meeting, by Art. 14, the Town voted to increase the membership from six members to seven members.]
[On 3-29-1937, the Town voted to amend the Zoning Bylaw to provide for appeals of Building Inspector decisions. In conjunction with that amendment, the Town voted to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a Board of Appeals of three members and two associate members, with staggered terms of three years.
[Veterans housing. At the 6-9-1947 Town Meeting, by Art. 3, the Town voted to adopt all sections of Chapter 372 of the Acts of 1946, and any amendments thereto, titled "An Act to Provide Housing for Veterans of World War II." The Town also voted that the Emergency Housing Board appointed pursuant to vote at the 6-20-1946 STM be authorized to carry out all provisions of said Act in order to provide either permanent or temporary housing for veterans of World War II.]
[Adoption of Housing Authority. The Town adopted a Housing Authority 4-5-1948 TM by Art. 35, providing:
"1. That the Town of Watertown hereby determines and declares that there is a need for relieving congestion of population and that there is a shortage of safe, sanitary dwellings available for families of low income at rentals which they can afford in the Town of Watertown.
"2. That the Town of Watertown hereby determines that a Housing Authority is needed in the Town of Watertown for the provision of housing for families of low incomes or engaging in a land assembly and redevelopment project.
"3. That the Town of Watertown hereby provides for the organization of a Housing Authority and hereby establishes such a Housing Authority."]
[Insurance for Housing Authority employees. At the 4-8-1957 TM, by Art. 58, the Town voted to accept Ch. 149 of the Acts of 1956, "An Act Making Certain Employees of Housing Authorities in Cities and Towns Eligible for Contributory Group General Blanket Insurance."]
[Chapter 432, Acts of 1970, approved 6-10-1970 and effective 12-31-1970, established a Board of Election Commissioners for the Town of Watertown.]