Committee Agenda for Finance Committee 05/23/2023

CITY OF WORCESTER

Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 5:08 P.M.

Recessed: 6:20 P.M. Reconvened: 9:53 P.M. Adjourned: 9:54 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members		Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Chairperson Joseph M Petty
Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio
Councilor Morris A Bergman
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
Councilor Khrystian E King
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Thu Nguyen
Councilor Sarai Rivera
Councilor Sean M Rose
Councilor George J Russell
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	All members present with Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio as the Chair, except for Mayor Petty. City Manager Eric D. Batista Chief Financial Officer Timothy McGourthy Budget Director Erin Taylor City Solicitor Michael Traynor City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk

	Also:	Human Resources Director Bill Bagley Commissioner of Health and Human Resources Dr. Matilde Castiel Chief Information Officer Michael Hamel

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. Finance Committee Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91727574825 Finance Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099 Finance Committee Zoom Access Code: 917 2757 4825	View Budget

Approval of the Minutes



2a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on May 16, 2023.	View Budget

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

FY 2024 Budget Hearing Held - Emergency Communications



3a.	Emergency Communications - III-3, pg. 65 In Committee May 16, 2023 - Held	View Budget

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to hold the budget. Budget Held.

FY 2024 Budget Hearings - City Manager's Office



4a.	City Manager's Office - XVI-1, pg. 269	View Budget

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to take items #4a through #4c collectively. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the City Manager’s budget. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #4a through #4c. Budget approved.


4b.	City Manager's Contingency - XVI-2, pg. 275	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #4a)


4c.	Cable Services - XVI-3, pg. 277	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #4a)

FY 2024 Budget Hearings - Human Resources



5a.	Human Resources - XI-1, pg. 207	View Budget

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to take items #5a through #5d collectively. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Human Resources budget. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed allocating funds for Human Resources Training and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training with the City Manager. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed employee salaries and the department’s hired services budget with the Director of Human Resources. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who discussed the Human Resources Equity Audit with the Chief Financial Officer and City Manager. Councilor King then discussed employee maternity and paternity leave, as well as recruiting efforts and diversity recruitment with the Director of Human Resources and City Manager. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed medical benefits and retirement benefits with the Director of Human Resources. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the Human Resources Ordinary Maintenance Budget and the translation services budget with the Chief Financial Officer. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #5a through #5d. Budget approved.


5b.	Worker's Compensation and Public Safety IOD - XI-2, pg. 215	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #5a)


5c.	Unemployment Compensation - XI-3, pg. 219	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #5a)


5d.	Health Insurance - XI-4, pg. 221	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #5a)

FY 2024 Budget Hearings - Health and Human Services



6a.	Health and Human Services - IX-1, pg. 175	View Budget

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to take items #6a through #6c collectively. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Health and Human Services budget. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the regrading of several positions and the ordinary maintenance budget with the Chief Financial Officer, City Manager and Commissioner of Health and Human Services. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who discussed the development of the Health and Human Services department, the implementation of recommendations received from the racial equity audit, and State earmark funding with the City Manager. Councilor King also discussed staffing levels for the Division of Youth with the Director of the Division of Youth. Councilor King then discussed Public Health Youth Initiatives and staffing levels of the Health and Human Services Department. Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a staffing analysis of the Department of Health and Human Services. (King)”. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed Recreation Worcester sites with the Director of the Division of Youth. Councilor Russell then discussed the locations of Recreation Worcester sites and staffing levels with the City Manager. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed Recreation Worcester Transportation with the Director of the Division of Youth and City Manager. Councilor Mero-Carlson then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Recreation Worcester sites for the upcoming 2023 summer. (Mero-Carlson)”. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report discussing requested State earmarks. (King)”. Councilor King also then discussed summer programming for children and youth job opportunities with the Director of Division of Youth. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #5a through #5d. Budget approved.

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a staffing analysis of the Department of Health and Human Services. (King)
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Recreation Worcester sites for the upcoming 2023 summer. (Mero-Carlson)
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report discussing requested State earmarks. (King)


6b.	Public Health - IX-2, pg. 185	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #6a)


6c.	Elder Affairs - IX-3, pg. 193	View Budget

	Budget approved (See Item #6a)

FY 2024 Budget Hearings - Innovation and Technology



7a.	Innovation and Technology - X-1, pg. 197	View Budget

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and who moved to approve the budget. Budget approved

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget



8a.	Recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating and Capital Budgets. # 10.40A CM May 9, 2023 In Committee May 16, 2023 - Held	Attachments

	Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold