Faith groups and residents urge Watertown to open temporary warming shelter as winter nears

Several residents and members of faith-based groups urged the Watertown City Council on Sept. 2 to move quickly to establish a temporary warming shelter for people at risk of freezing this winter, saying volunteers and existing space could address needs with minimal city expense. The appeals came during the meeting’s public comment period and did not prompt any formal motion or vote.

The most direct plea came from the Reverend Dr. Christopher Ross, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ, who said the community must act because “if anyone in our community finds themselves in danger of freezing to death, then that's on all of us.” He urged the council to prioritize a solution and said a partnership where the city grants space and volunteers staff it would be “the best solution to address what last winter showed us to be an undeniable need.”

Elizabeth Fritz, president of the group Building a Welcoming Watertown, repeated that message and said the group can provide volunteers and supplies. “We continue to ask what it will take for us as a community, as a city, to prioritize our choice to help save lives here in Watertown,” she said, noting that organizers were advocating a short-term shelter for freezing temperatures rather than long-term housing.

Resident Anthony Skola told the council it holds influence even when a decision is not on the agenda and urged members not to “pass the buck.” “Please do not sit on a fence. Please do not pass the buck,” he said, asking the council to join local groups to establish a temporary shelter.

Not all public commenters supported partnering with the identified organizing group. Margarita Haas said she opposed Building a Welcoming Watertown and urged the council to examine possible affiliations and long-term goals before entering a formal partnership. She said the group’s religious and political views raised concerns and argued that a city endorsement could be seen as an affirmation of those views.

Gary Weller spoke on behalf of Gino Smith, saying Smith already has a building and is preparing a proposal to host winter services and food distribution; Weller said Smith feeds more than 500 people a week from a pantry and would appear at a future meeting with details.

No council motion, referral, or directive to staff regarding a warming shelter was recorded in the meeting minutes or in the meeting discussion. The public comments were recorded as part of the public-comment period; speakers asked council members to consider either grafting shelter operations onto the city emergency plan or authorizing a separate, short-term arrangement.

The council did not take formal action on the warming shelter during the meeting; staff or an agenda item would be required for an official direction or funding commitment.