[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); amended Ord. No. 2024-O-28, passed 3-26-2024]
(A) 
The Planning Board of the City of Watertown shall consist of five members and one associate member to be appointed by the City Manager, subject to the approval of the City Council.
(B) 
Members and the associate member shall be appointed to three-year terms beginning on February 15 of the year of appointment. Members' terms shall be arranged so that the term of at least one member expires each year.
(C) 
The Planning Board shall be empowered to carry out all duties entrusted to it by law and regulation, including, but not limited to, development of a comprehensive plan and administration of the Subdivision Control Law pursuant to MGL c. 41 as well as actions pursuant to the Zoning Act, MGL c. 40A. The Planning Board shall also have the powers granted to it by the Home Rule Charter and Code of Ordinances.
(D) 
Upon the adoption of any regulation by the Planning Board, the Planning Board shall forthwith notify the Council President and City Manager.
(E) 
The associate member shall be entitled to participate in all Planning Board meetings and discussions, but shall have no vote unless the Planning Board chair shall designate the associate member to sit as a member for the sole purpose of acting on a special permit application upon the absence, inability to act, or conflict of interest of any member of the Planning Board or upon a vacancy on the Planning Board.
(F) 
No member or associate member of the Planning Board shall represent before such board any party of interest in any matter pending before it.
[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."]