Watertown city council

At Monday’s Watertown City Council meeting, two councilors switched their vote on a resolution allowing the city to raise taxes more than the state cap of 2.5 percent, allowing the motion to pass.

Zoo New York and an 18.8% property tax increase brought people who live in Watertown out to Monday’s meeting.

The city of Watertown’s flag policy is getting another look after one council member called last year’s controversial decision “hasty.”

Watertown lawmakers are banning camping on city property.

Watertown City Councilor Cliff Olney is accused in a 2023 ethics complaint of disclosing confidential information and violating a conflict of interest in relation to the city’s purchase of the Watertown Golf Club last year.

The Watertown City Council voted for an administrative hearing regarding an ethics complaint against Councilmember Cliff Olney made by former Watertown Mayor Jeff Smith in fall 2023 saying Olney publicized information shared in executive session.

The Zoo leadership is looking for $750,000 in yearly payments from local government funding for at least five years, split evenly between the City of Watertown and Jefferson County.

The zoo is cutting back operations and is closed to the public until further notice.

The Watertown City Council unanimously approved a resolution that will bus some Jefferson County voters to the polls.

The Watertown City Council is looking to auction abandoned bicycles in the city and encourages cyclists to take steps to keep their bikes secure.