Watertown Council Approves $3.75 Million in Capital Transfers, Advances Noise Ordinance

WATERTOWN -- June 9, 2026, Watertown City Council unanimously approved $3.75 million in capital fund transfers Tuesday, advancing the middle school design phase and accelerating several deferred projects. The council voted 8-0 to move $3 million into the middle school feasibility design account, funding a design development phase that architect AI3 has priced at $2.92 million, with the remainder covering project management contingency through Vertex; Council President Mark Sedaris said cost estimates from two independent estimators are expected before the building committee in July or August. A separate $754,600 reserve transfer funds accelerated capital work including pickleball courts at Filippello Park, moved up three years from fiscal 2030 to fiscal 2027, rink deck replacements at Moxley and Casey parks, library carpet, and a police uninterrupted power supply battery. The council also appropriated $3,944,015 in Community Preservation Act funds for fiscal year 2027, placed a proposed noise ordinance on the agenda for a first reading after months of Rules and Ordinances Committee work, and approved a five-year server lease at $40,543.59 annually. City Manager George Proakis outlined a proposed contract extension carrying a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment and 2 percent merit increase, with a public hearing scheduled in two weeks.