CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Safety Committee Meeting | Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:33 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:29 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey | | Vice Chairperson Morris A Bergman | | Councilor Luis A Ojeda |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey
Councilor Morris A. Bergman
Councilor Luis A. Ojeda, who arrived at 5:36 P.M. | | | | | Also: | Interim Police Chief Paul B. Saucier
WPD Lieutenant Sean Murtha
Director of Housing and Health Inspections Lee R. Hall
Interim Commissioner of Inspectional Services David C. Horne
President of Local 911 Union WPD Officer Thomas Duffy
Deputy City Clerk Clare M. Robbins, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated. If you join a Zoom meeting by dialing in with a phone number, you can raise your hand by dialing *9.
Public Safety Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87545787380
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 875 4578 7380 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on September 11, 2024. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Ojeda absent) | |
| 3. | Communication of the City Manager - Police Department | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to internal police detail spending in fiscal years 2023 and 2024.
# 9.13A CM October 1, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Police Chief, who provided an overview related to the $1,403,682.00 allocated to police details in fiscal year 2023, the $1,693,393.00 allocated to police details in fiscal year 2024, and the internal and total amount of police details worked and unfilled.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the rate related to unfilled police details, incentives related to decreasing unfilled police details, and non-city owned entities that require a higher police detail demand with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning the amount of unfilled police details and what details are not being filled with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then spoke concerning situations related to detail officers surveilling additional crime unrelated to their assigned detail in with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a quarterly report on the use of WPD's SUAS/Drone.
# 9.13A CM September 17, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Police Chief, who provided an overview of the seven (7) occasions WPD deployed small, unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS)/drones.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning deploying SUAS/drones during a Silver Alert with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then spoke concerning software updates related to SUAS/drones with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be file.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to internal police detail spending.
# 19e CC September 10, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman absent) | |
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| | | 3d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to ShotSpotter and Resource Router programs.
# 19f CC September 10, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Police Chief, who provided an overview related to a report published by the Massachusetts American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Boston concerning ShotSpotter alerts and an overview related to ShotSpotter alerts specific to the City of Worcester.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the number of shootings reported related to drug activity and concerns related to youth in possession of illegal firearms with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning community outreach related to encouraging residents to notify officials of firearm violence and the process relative to addressing areas where ShotSpotter alerts are consistent with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed methods used to inform residents about submitting anonymous crime tips with the Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Police Chief consider new methods of alerting residents about the anonymous crime tip line via ALERT Worcester.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police Chief consider new methods of alerting residents about the anonymous crime tip line via ALERT Worcester. | |
| 4. | Communication of the City Manager - Inspectional Services Department | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting an informational communication relative to bodywork spas in the city.
# 11.16A CM October 15, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who provided an overview related to the process relative of establishing city ordinances concerning bodywork spas, the number of bodywork spas in the city, regulations concerning licenses for practitioners, establishment permits, and apprenticeships.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey spoke concerning violent crimes committed at bodywork spas with the Interim Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed parking and noise concerns with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning updating Worcester 311 to include functions related to reporting bodywork spa concerns.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed preventative measures taken concerning bodywork spas, the differences between massage therapy spa facilities and bodywork spa facilities, state license requirements, and concerns related to illegal activity with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections and Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Ojeda, who spoke concerning the process relative to reviewing new regulations related to bodywork spas and enforcement practices, concerns related to current bodywork spa inspections and practices with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then spoke concerning established bodywork spas being legally registered as business in the city with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services provide City Council with a report verifying all bodywork spas in the City of Worcester have a business license. Further, request said report include details concerning who owns which business and how many locations have the same owners.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning reasons individuals would choose services and what services are provided at bodywork spas with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning updating Worcester 311 to include functions related to reporting bodywork spa concerns. | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services provide City Council with a report verifying all bodywork spas in the City of Worcester have a business license. Further, request said report include details concerning who owns which business and how many locations have the same owners. | |
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