Committee Agenda for Public Works Committee 02/26/2025

CITY OF WORCESTER

Public Works Committee Meeting

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 5:01 P.M.

Adjourned: 5:51 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members
Chairperson George J Russell
Vice Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Jenny Pacillo

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor George J Russell Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson Councilor Jenny Pacillo

	Also:	City Solicitor Alexandra Kalkounis Commissioner of Public Works and Parks John Westerling Director of Engineering Jason Mello Chief of Public Facilities James Bedard Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information



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 Works Committee Zoom Link: https://worcesterma.zoomgov.com/j/1615992759 Public Works Committee Zoom Phone Number: +1 646 828 7666 Public Works Committee Zoom Access Code: 161 599 2759	Attachments

Approval of the Minutes



2a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee on Public Works hereby approves the minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting on December 11, 2024.	View Agenda

	Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted

Street Discontinuance Item



3a.	Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Mark A. Borenstein request the discontinuance of certain portions of Garland St. and Veterans Ave. as depicted on the attached plans and as follows: 1) Discontinuance of the southerly portion of Veterans Ave.; 2) Discontinuance of the westerly and southerly portion of Garland St. and; 3) The abandonment of the City's property rights in the discontinued portions of Veterans Ave. and Garland St. # 13a CC January 28, 2025	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who moved to recuse herself from the item and left the room. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speaker: 1. Mark A. Borenstein, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed discontinuance of rights in the public way relative to land development, drainage and utility easements. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Speaker #1, who discussed redevelopment plans at the requested locations. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Director of Engineering, who discussed the responsibilities of maintenance upkeep plowing of the street and the impact on underground utilities relative to discontinuance of public ways. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed parking development at the locations with Speaker #1. Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be approved. Recommend Approval

Miscellaneous Item



4a.	Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works hold a meeting to draft a policy relative to the creation of “Honorary Street Names.” Said policy should include, but not be limited to: 1) what or who should be eligible for honorary street names; 2) whether the policy should be limited to Worcester residents/past Worcester residents; 3) whether business names should be included; 4) causes that would justify passage of an honorary street name title; and 5) whether passage should be limited to a certain number of years, decades or centuries that the entity gained notoriety. Further, request City Manager request City Solicitor and Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide guidance and recommendations of best practices used in other Municipalities, at said meeting to aid the Committee in drafting the Honorary Street policy. # 12i Tuesday, August 27, 2024 In Committee October 23, 2024 - Held In Committee December 11, 2024 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the City Clerk, who discussed reviewing the draft policy for Honorary Street Names program and inclusion of policy relative to include the district councilors in the event planning process around honorary street name. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed subsection G and E in the proposed updated amendment and the costs associated with installing the street signage with the Director of Engineering and the Deputy City Clerk. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed developing an average cost to install the street name sign. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the options between charging the applicants for the signs and charging the applicants for the both the signage and the installation of the signage. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed charging the cost of materials of the sign and setting the cost for the program. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the installation of the signage previously approved and proposed policy concerning paying to remove the signage with the City Solicitor. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed establishing the cost of the program to be the cost for the signage. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed amending the language of the proposed amendment. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the procedural motion to provide an option for the vote to remove the entire program. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the procedural motion for the item. Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to amend the subsection G to remove “erect and if applicable remove the designation and any other related costs will be required.” Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved as amended. Recommend Approval as Amended on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Communication of the City Manager



5a.	Recommend adoption of an order to transfer City-owned 51 and 61 Sever St. from the Department of Public Facilities to the Office of the City Manager for disposition purposes and authorizing the conveyance of properties. # 11j CC December 17, 2024	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the item. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Chief of Public Facilities, who discussed the usage history and findings from evaluation of the two properties. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the suitability of the buildings for municipal operations. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Chief Development Officer, who discussed how much the properties were acquired for and the minimum bid price for the properties. Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the rental agreement relative to the properties at 51 and 61 Sever St. with Clark University and Worcester State University, including information concerning the expenses on said properties. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Chief Development Officer, who discussed the zoning concerning the properties. Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the zoning for 51 and 61 Sever St. and the allowed usage for said properties. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Chief of Public Facilities, who discussed the plan concerning using 61 Sever St. as an archive and repurposing the furniture, fixtures and equipment in the building by the Clerk’s Office. Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the office’s impressions relative to using the 61 Sever St. property for a city archive. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the current usage of 51 Sever St. by the Law Department, the Office of Diversity and Equity and the Office of Sustainability, plans concerning finding new office spaces for said departments and the current usage of 61 Sever St. with the Chief of Public Facilities. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the feasibility of convening the meeting in another location and the appropriate procedural motion for the item. Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the feasibility of putting out separate RFPs for 51 and 61 Sever St. and where the departments are going to be relocated to with the Chief Development Officer and the Chief of Public Facilities. Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the rental agreement relative to the properties at 51 and 61 Sever St. with Clark University and Worcester State University, including information concerning the expenses on said properties.
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the zoning for 51 and 61 Sever St. and the allowed usage for said properties.
	Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the office’s impressions relative to using the 61 Sever St. property for a city archive.st