About the Charter Review
Watertown's Home Rule Charter (The Charter) is our "constitution." The Charter explains the responsibilities of the City Council, City Manager, School Committee, Library Trustees, and other decision-making bodies. It describes every aspect of governance from Watertown's form of municipal government, to how elections are run, to how our budget is developed.
Our Charter is reviewed every ten years by a Charter Review Committee, most recently in 2020. In January of 2020, the President of the Town Council chose six residents who together with the members of the Town Council, made up the Charter Review Committee. In multiple sessions during an 8 to 12 months period, the Charter Review Committee reviewed all provisions of the Charter. The meetings were public and participation was encouraged. The Residents approved the changes by voting in favor on November 2, 2021.