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Photo of Caroline Bays

Watertown Councilor

Caroline Bays

At-large · 5 terms in this record

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Council terms

2026–2027 Council2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council2020–2021 Council2018–2019 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council

51 of 51meetings attended (100%) · whole council 98%
366votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
6no votes (2% of votes cast) · whole council 2%
5 of 10split votes where Bays was in the minority (50%) · whole council 24%
0abstained
5terms in this record

On split votes, Bays voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Bays as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

In the news

No recent stories found that name Caroline Bays in the headline or opening.

Stories that name Caroline Bays in the headline or opening, newest first, from 25 free news outlets (see the list). Headlines appear as each outlet published them; MassVoter does not write, choose or rate them. Only stories that are free to read are listed.

Disclosure: MassVoter’s founder, Michael Silvia, is the publisher of Fall River Reporter and New Bedford Guide.

Attendance

At the start of 51 of 51 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.

Missed none.

Every meeting (51)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council

Dec 9Authorize sending the letter to the MWRA: Request for…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to authorize sending the letter to the MWRA…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Authorize sending the letter to the MWRA: Request for Authorization to send a letter to the MWRA

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to authorize sending the letter to the MWRA and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record a unanimous voice vote; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Voice Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Dec 9Approve the loan order: Public Hearing and Vote on…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to approve the loan order and Councilor Feltner…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Approve the loan order: Public Hearing and Vote on a Proposed Loan Order that the sum of $879,000 is appropriated to pay costs of purchasing the following items of departmental…

Adopt loan orderPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to approve the loan order and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record this vote as unanimous; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Roll Call Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Dec 9Approve the loan order: Public Hearing and Vote on…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to approve the loan order and Councilor Feltner…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Approve the loan order: Public Hearing and Vote on a Proposed Loan Order that the sum of $911,900 is appropriated to pay construction and construction administration costs of How Park…

Adopt loan orderPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to approve the loan order and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record this vote as unanimous; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Roll Call Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Dec 9Appropriate $1.5 million for the 103 Nichols Ave Group…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to appropriate $1.5 million for the 103 Nichols…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Appropriate $1.5 million for the 103 Nichols Ave Group Home from the CPA housing reserve fund

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to appropriate $1.5 million for the 103 Nichols Ave Group Home from the CPA housing reserve fund and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record this vote as unanimous; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Roll Call Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Dec 9Recommend appropriating $1 million from the housing reserve fund…Motion: He then moved to recommend appropriating $1 million from the housing…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Recommend appropriating $1 million from the housing reserve fund and $1 million from the unreserved budgeted fund with the stipulation that the disbursement of these funds be subject to remaining...

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 9 present

He then moved to recommend appropriating $1 million from the housing reserve fund and $1 million from the unreserved budgeted fund with the stipulation that the disbursement of these funds be subject to remaining the other additional funding before they’re released.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record this vote as unanimous; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Roll Call Vote..” (second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Dec 9Appropriate $610,000 from the historic preservation reserve fundMotion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to appropriate $610,000 from the historic preservation reserve…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Appropriate $610,000 from the historic preservation reserve fund

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to appropriate $610,000 from the historic preservation reserve fund and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record this vote as unanimous; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Roll Call Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 6 (PDF)

Dec 9Authorize the signing of the extension: Authorization to Sign…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to authorize the signing of the extension and…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Authorize the signing of the extension: Authorization to Sign a Contract Exceeding Three Years – Bluebikes

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to authorize the signing of the extension and Councilor Felter seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record a unanimous voice vote; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Voice Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli)

Read it in the official minutes, page 8 (PDF)

Dec 9Confirm Lei Ma for appointment to the Public Arts…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Lei Ma for appointment to the…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Confirm Lei Ma for appointment to the Public Arts & Culture Committee for a term expiring November 15, 2027

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Lei Ma for appointment to the Public Arts & Culture Committee for a term expiring November 15, 2027 and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record a unanimous voice vote; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Voice Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Dec 9Confirm Brendan Shanahan for appointment to the Historic District…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Brendan Shanahan for appointment to the…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Confirm Brendan Shanahan for appointment to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring November 15, 2026

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Brendan Shanahan for appointment to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring November 15, 2026 and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record a unanimous voice vote; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Voice Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Dec 9Confirm Dawn Scaltreto and Matt Hanna for reappointment to…Motion: Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Dawn Scaltreto and Matt Hanna for…Passed Unanimous, 9 present · Bays: Yes

December 9, 2025: Confirm Dawn Scaltreto and Matt Hanna for reappointment to the Public Arts & Culture Committee for a term expiring November 15, 2028

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 9 present

Councilor Piccirilli moved to confirm Dawn Scaltreto and Matt Hanna for reappointment to the Public Arts & Culture Committee for a term expiring November 15, 2028 and Councilor Feltner seconded.

Voted: Yes

The minutes record a unanimous voice vote; every councilor present is shown voting yes.

From the minutes

“The motion carried unanimously in a Voice Vote..” (Motion: Piccirilli, second: Feltner)

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

From the Watertown City Council’s official minutes, posted on the city’s meeting portal (linked from the City Council page on watertown-ma.gov). We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Watertown News (watertownmanews.com) candidate Q&As, candidate letters and articles that name each councilor; Mark Sideris photo by Charlie Breitrose. The city’s website has no councilor photos.

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