City Government
Watertown City Council
About the Council
The City Council holds the political power. Watertown voters elect nine members: a Council President and four at-large councillors chosen by the whole city, plus four district councillors, one each from Districts A, B, C, and D. Every seat runs for a two-year term, so the entire Council faces the voters at once, as it did in November 2025. The Council is where a daily problem becomes city policy: a flooded street, a stalled development, the tax rate on your family’s home. It also makes the single most important hire in city government, the City Manager who runs the place.
- Sets policy and law by passing ordinances and resolutions.
- Controls the budget by adopting or cutting what the City Manager proposes.
- Hires the City Manager and holds the Manager accountable.
Council Members
Five members are elected citywide: the Council President and four at-large councillors. The other four each represent a single district. The Council President runs the meetings and also sits on the School Committee.
Mark S. Sideris
Phone: 617-924-2699
John G. Gannon
Phone: 617-393-9877
Anthony Palomba
Phone: 781-664-3525
Caroline Bays
Phone: 617-894-0045
Theophilus Offei
Phone: 510-459-7281
Nicole Gardner
Phone: 617-835-4364
Lisa J. Feltner
Phone: 617-926-5344
Vincent J. Piccirilli
Phone: 617-924-0665
Emily Izzo
Phone: 617-894-6042
The City Council office can be reached at 617-972-6470 or citycouncilors@watertown-ma.gov. Full directories are posted at watertown-ma.gov.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the second and fourth Tuesday of most months at 7 PM in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber, City Hall, 149 Main Street.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the city’s online meeting portal at watertown-ma.gov.
- Public comment: residents may speak on agenda items. Check the agenda for the sign-up procedure.
- Watch: meetings are carried on Watertown Cable and stream online.
Sources
Watertown City Council (watertown-ma.gov). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.