CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Safety Committee Meeting | Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:34 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:10 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 | | | | | Also: | Fire Chief Martin W. Dyer
WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division Ken Davenport
WPD Lieutenant Sean Murtha
Interim Commissioner of Inspectional Services David C. Horne
Director of Housing and Health Inspections Lee R. Hall
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, 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/93622914564
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 936 2291 4564 | 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 November 20, 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. | Communications of the City Manager - Fire Department | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the status of existing firefighter turn out gear.
# 9.12A CM October 1, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Fire Chief, who provided an overview of the item and discussed the product quality related to different manufacturer’s PFAS-free turnout gear and the process relative to testing different PFAS-free turnout gears.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed the positive and negative consequences related to both current firefighter turnout gear and new PFAS-free turnout gear including alternative solutions related to turnout gear materials, and the cost associated with fully replacing turnout gear with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed if other municipalities have additional funding sources to replace firefighter turnout gear with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the location of all the fire hydrants in the city.
# 9.12B CM October 1, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Fire Chief, who provided an overview of the item which included how many gallons of water a fire engine carries, the positive impact related to connecting an engine to a fire hydrant, and functions related to the city’s water system.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the process relative to increasing water supply in the vicinity of Route 20 and that the process relative to evaluating each fire hydrant is in working order with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning the process relative to where low water pressure and high water pressure is located in the city, the process relative to ensure equal amounts of water is available to extinguish a fire regardless the water pressure in the area, and issues related to locating fire hydrants during the winter months with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of installing pole attachments to fire hydrants in the city and what the associated maintenance and cost would be to do so.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning water supply during a drought and the impact droughts have related to extinguishing fires with the fire chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speaker:
1. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to investigate and address the missing fire hydrant on Main St. at the intersection of Henshaw St.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of installing pole attachments to fire hydrants in the city and what the associated maintenance and cost would be to do so. | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to investigate and address the missing fire hydrant on Main St. at the intersection of Henshaw St. | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Manager - Inspectional Services Department | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a Worcester Rodent Action Plan.
# 9.16A CM November 19, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized Commissioner of Inspectional Services, who provided an overview of the item which included an overview of Boston’s Rodent Action Plan, the history of Worcester’s Rodent Action Plan, the importance related to rodent control rather than rodent extermination, and best practices related to working with other departments in the city to successfully mitigate the rodent problem.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who provided an additional overview of the item and discussed previous practices used in the city to mitigate rodent sightings, the increase of rodent complaints relating to the increase of infrastructure in the city, and public outreach and education related to mitigating rodents.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then spoke concerning public rodent sighting complaint maps, communications with Worcester Housing Authority, and the Keep Worcester Clean Program with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning inclement weather negatively impacting the ability to mitigate the rodent problem, educational programs available to the public related to differentiating between mice and rats, negative ecological impacts due to the rat population increase and concerns related to negative ecological impacts if decreased, the amount of rodent sightings at residential properties compared to business properties, and rodents being nocturnal animals and concerns related to seeing a nocturnal animal during the daytime with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services and Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then spoke concerning the importance related to educating the public, especially children, about rodents being a public health and public safety issue with the Director of Health and Housing Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services consider working with Worcester Polytechnic Institution’s (WPI) Major Qualifying Project (MQP) and/or Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) to participate in the Worcester Rodent Action Plan studies.”
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the process relative for residents to call 311 to report rodent sightings with the Director of Health and Housing Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services consider working with Worcester Polytechnic Institution’s (WPI) Major Qualifying Project (MQP) and/or Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) to participate in the Worcester Rodent Action Plan studies. | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the last three 110 Periodic Inspections occurring at Washington Heights, including information relative to when such inspections occurred.
# 9.17A CM September 17, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized Commissioner of Inspectional Services provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed who the property owner of Washington Heights is, concerns related to the number of inspections at the property, and clarifying information that Washington Heights is not a problem property in the city with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services and Director of Health and Housing Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | |
| 5. | Communication of the City Manager - Police Department | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Summer Impact Program.
# 9.13A CM November 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey spoke concerning the decrease in non-fatal shootings and reported gunshots, the process relative to collecting data related to reported gunshots, firearms seized by WPD and crimes from other cities connected with those seized firearms, and increased numbers of aggravated assaults with WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division and WPD Lieutenant.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning Summer Impact Program funding sources with WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speaker:
1. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit, the increase of violent crimes, additional WPD Units who are equipped and readily available to assist the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit to combat extreme violent crimes, and the process relative to distributing service revolver firearms in the department with the WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning the one (1) year mandatory minimum penalty related to carrying an unauthorized weapon with the WPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Division.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the law regarding the age related to minors increasing to 21 with the WPD Lieutenant.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File | |
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