Watertown council to vote on lifting residency requirement for city manager, others

Yahoo

13-06-2025

Jun. 13—WATERTOWN — After it came up more than a year ago, City Council members will finally deal with passing a local law that would allow City Manager Eric Wagenaar to continue to live in Chaumont.
The issue was first brought to the public's attention last month when Watertown resident Robert Avallone questioned why council members had failed to act on a local law that would not require Wagenaar to live in the city.
On Monday night, council members will be asked to pass the ordinance that would not require Wagenaar, Public Works Superintendent Brian MacCue, City Engineer Tom Compo and City Assessor Kimberli Johnston to live in Watertown.
During three subsequent council meetings in recent weeks, Avallone brought up the subject.
"It's not a good look to leave a breach of contract," Avallone said. "I'm glad they're addressing it."
He wasn't blaming Wagenaar for the situation. Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce, City Attorney Kristen Smith and council members should have acted on it long before Monday's meeting, Avallone said.
On Dec. 23, 2023, the City Council approved the contract to hire Wagenaar with the stipulation that he'd move into the city within six months.
Under the contract, Wagenaar was given until June 29, 2024, to make the move, with a possible six-month extension until last December.
About a year ago, council members discussed the issue during an executive session, but took no action.
Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero said Friday that the city attorney wrote up a resolution to address it on May 20, 2024. In an email, Pierce told council members she would review it. There it sat, the councilwoman said.
So Ruggiero sent out an email to Smith asking about it on May 20, 2025 — exactly a year after the city attorney had penned the ordinance — and then forwarded the email to Pierce and council members, she said.
"Eric is doing an excellent job," Avallone said. "He's an asset for the city. I'm glad he's on board."
On Monday night, council members will consider adopting a local law to create an exception to the residency requirement under Section 3 of the state's Public Officers Law for the city manager and the three other appointed city officials.
Pierce, who could not be reached for comment, and council members Cliff G. Olney III and Ruggiero were on council when Wagenaar was hired. Council members Robert O. Kimball and Benjamin P. Shoen have served on council during Wagenaar's tenure as city manager.
Wagenaar replaced former City Manager Kenneth A. Mix, who retired at the end of Decembers 2023. Mix lived in Champion before moving to Watertown to become city manager.