Watertown City Council approved a $450,000 bond ordinance on June 1st to demolish a condemned commercial building deemed an imminent public safety hazard. The property, condemned since 2020, experienced a roof collapse after water pooled on the structure, prompting safety complaints from adjacent businesses and property owners. The ordinance passed 4-1, with Councilmember Benjamin Shoen voting against it.
The vote prompted extended debate about the city's strategy for handling abandoned properties and cost recovery. Shoen raised concerns that the city will never recoup demolition costs, noting the property owes approximately $69,000 in back taxes and multiple lienholders have reportedly written off their claims. He proposed using remaining funds from the current demolition budget and next fiscal year's allocation before bonding the remainder. City Manager Mills defended the bond as a necessary "safety valve" given $600,000 in unanticipated fire department overtime. Councilmember Robert Kimball argued the city should prioritize swift demolition rather than delay proceedings in hopes of cost recovery. City Attorney Joe Gormley outlined three enforcement tools available to the city: court fines, Supreme Court actions to compel compliance, and administrative hearings, but acknowledged these approaches have limited effectiveness when property owners lack resources or abandon properties entirely.
In other business, council unanimously approved an employee assistance program contract with Pivot and authorized a National Grid agreement allowing electrical outlets for Farm and Craft Market vendors. Councilmember Shane Garrabrant indicated he plans to seek removal of the city's EV charging mandate for new commercial construction, citing costs that may push developers to build outside city limits. Multiple residents spoke during public comment expressing concerns about recently adopted pool fees.