CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 6:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:03 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

MOMENT OF SILENCE in memory of the ninety-five (95) individuals from the city who have passed away due to complications surrounding COVID-19.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of April 7, 2020.

Mayor Petty recognized the following speaker, who participated remotely: 1. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of #10b CC and #10c CC

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a underground conduit location at: MADISON STREET. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a underground conduit location at: MADISON STREET.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a underground conduit location at: MILLBURY STREET. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a underground conduit location at: MILLBURY STREET.

Councilor Matthew E. Wally request Healy Rd. be resurfaced.

Councilor Matthew E. Wally and Councilor Gary Rosen request sidewalk repair from 124 South Flagg St. to 132 South Flagg St.

NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location at: MASSASOIT ROAD.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointments of Edward Robinson and Latoya Lewis to the Human Rights Commission for terms to expire on April 30, 2023.

Recommend adoption of a Salary Ordinance Amendment to add the positon of Deputy City Clerk to the City Clerks Table of Organization.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Grant Program.

Recommend adoption of an order of taking to acquire four parcels of land along Sunderland Road for the purpose of providing additional off-street parking and a student drop off/pick up area to serve the Roosevelt School.

Recommend City Council's authorization to increase the spending limit for Account #75S503, Revolving Fund Account, in Fiscal Year 2020, by Three Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($390,000.00).

Recommend that Thirty Two Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($32,000.00) be transferred from DPW Account #412-92000, Street Lights Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Auditorium Account #740-92000, Auditorium Ordinary Maintenance, to cover the cost of utilities thru year end.

Recommend that Ninety Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($90,000.00) be transferred from Account #412-92000, Street Lights, and be appropriated to Parks Account #720-97000, Overtime, to cover anticipated overtime costs through year end.

Recommend that Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000.00) be transferred from Account #14S48745, Affordable Housing Programs, and be appropriated to Account #14S47645, South Worcester Neighborhood Center, provide sufficient funding for the provision of baseline social services in the South Worcester neighborhood.

Recommend that Nine Hundred Thirteen Dollars And Seven Cents ($913.07) be transferred from Account #29-33007, Law Department Damage Settlement, to Account #2602-92201, Fire Department Automotive Supplies.

Transmitting informational communication relative to challenges associated with the FY21 budget.

Because the United States expects a dangerous, second wave of coronavirus this winter, perhaps coinciding with the flu season, request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what steps must be taken during the next few months to prepare and insure that the city, its hospitals, clinics and health care providers, will have an adequate supply of various personal protective equipment, ventilators, test kits, hospital beds, medical staff and volunteers, among other items and personnel. (Rosen)

Request City Manager work with UMass Memorial Medical Health Care, Inc. to provide City Council and the Board of Health with a bi-monthly report consisting of COVID-19 data sharing between the city of Worcester and UMass Memorial Medical Health Care, Inc., for the purpose of analyzing and discussing the information. Said report should include data analysis conducted by the UMMHC Office of Clinical Integration and should also include statistics pertaining to race and ethnicity, for the purpose of advancing health equity in the city and in accordance with a previous order, filed April 21, 2020. (King, Rivera, Petty)

Request City Manager determine the health and safety measures implemented by the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, as it pertains to mitigating the spread and medicinal response protocols and procedures related to COVID-19 and the impact on the public health of the city. (King, Rivera)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report within the next two (2) weeks that includes a detailed list of all permanent and temporary new hires in the city within the last ninety (90) days, including their job title and job description. (Colorio)

Request City Manager provide City Council with the new memorandum of agreement between the City of Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as it relates to the temporary DCU field hospital. (Colorio)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning public safety issues on Main St./in the Main South area. (Petty, Rivera, Toomey)

Request City Manager consider revising the Financial Integrity Plan for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) to allocate excess New Growth above budgeted to: 1) The High School Building Fund; and 2) The City Manager Capital Campaign Fund, to prepare for the capital costs for the South Division Fire Station and the city wide Financial Management System. (King, Petty)

Request City Manager consider reaching out to local businesses to provide alternative options for purchase of yellow city bags such as delivery or curbside pickup. (Rose)

Request City Manager work with Police Chief to have a plan in place to address the safety concerns in some of the Main South area, specifically in the vicinity between Ionic St. and Hammond St. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a weekly report concerning what was addressed that week that can be forwarded to residents. (Rivera)

Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report, as soon as possible, regarding Part I, Chapter Two, Section 8 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008, as Amended Through October 29, 2019, Residency of Officers & Employees, (“Revised Ordinance”) specifically as to: 1) the history of the Revised Ordinance and any amendments therein; and 2) the interplay of the Revised Ordinance and Worcester Home Rule Charter – Section 3-3 (Appointments and Removals). (Bergman)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester, in compliance with guidance from State of Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker’s Executive Order and the City of Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.’s Executive Orders and Emergency Declarations, and in acknowledgment of the serious and unique health risk posed by COVID-19, supports continued social distancing and physical self-isolation. (King, Rose, Toomey, Rivera, Petty)

COMMUNICATION of the City Auditor transmitting an informational communication regarding the passage of time taken to develop the Madison Properties' effect on the timing of the receipt of revenues required to service Series A bonds. (Referred to Finance Committee - #8a CC June 4, 2019)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Iris Estrada request removal of a handicap parking space in front of 7 Irene St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Iris Estrada request relocation of the handicap parking space in front of 53 Upsala St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Carol Allen request removal of a handicap parking space in the vicinity of 86 Lakewood St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Dominic Ngo request installation of "30 Minute Parking" in front of 1 Winter St., which would replace the "15 Minute Parking" regulation: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Walter Shea request installation of a stop sign on both sides of Institute Rd. at the corner of Wachusett St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' MEMORIALS, PARKS AND RECREATION Upon the Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request restoration and relocation of the Sullivan Memorial located in Melrose St. to a location approximately 50 feet north of its current location: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson April 21, 2020)

TO BE ORDAINED: An Ordinance Amending The Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991, Relative To Driveways And Front Yard Paving (Tabled Under Privilege - King April 7, 2020 and Tabled Under Privilege - Russell April 21, 2020)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes – That the City Council go on record in favor of supporting the Worcester Bravehearts as they plan for the future. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes August 21, 2018 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty September 12, 2018 and Tabled - Lukes September 25, 2018)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes, Councilor Khrystian E. King and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Council have the City Council Standing Committees on Public Works and Municipal Operations conduct a joint meeting about the future recommended staffing of the City Council office as well as logistics for office space for staff and City Council. Further, request the joint committee discuss potential recommendations regarding the job description and role of the City Council staff persons and further, encourage other City Councilors who are not members of the joint committee to attend and be included in the conversation. (Tabled - Petty February 26, 2019)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manger transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion as to the jurisdiction of office space and facilities within City Hall. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson March 12, 2019; Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 19, 2019 and Tabled - Petty March 26, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion regarding the process of instituting a residential rent control program and the resulting impact of implementing such a program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes September 17, 2019 and September 24, 2019 and Tabled - Lukes October 15, 2019)

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - In light of recent events, request City Manager consider establishing a process to inspect rental apartments, which would help to confirm structural changes are done to the standards set by Inspectional Services, in the interest of public service. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a recommendation as to how often these inspections should take place. (Tabled - King December 17, 2019)

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the City Clerk Department’s staffing levels, including information concerning how staff will be allocated. – Item #19a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide information and directions relative to calling in for City Council, Standing Committee and Board and Commission meetings on the front page of the city’s website. – Item #19b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what the public safety official emergency exemptions to the Constitution are in respect to COVID-19. – Item #19c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what planning has occurred to prepare the opening of Department of Public Works and Parks yard waste drop-off sites. – Item #19d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning any legal liabilities associated with testing Worcester residents for COVID-19. – Item #19e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any documentation the city’s Inspectional Services Department has regarding SMOC, located at 25 Queen Street, as well as any issues requiring city response in the last year. – Item #19f CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding violations incurred by SMOC, both in city and elsewhere in the State. – Item #19g CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the history of the city’s decision to not move forward with utilizing the Quality Inn property as a temporary shelter for homeless people who have tested positive for COVID-19. – Item #19h CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any new circumstances or regulations available in regard to providing an abatement for 10 Knapp Ave., Sewer Betterment Assessment #31247, as well as whether those same circumstances can be used for any other properties. – Item #19i CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion King @ #14b CC – Request City Manager develop a comprehensive Parking Master Plan in the city.

Motion King @ #10b CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning the powers and duties of the Board of Health in cases of infectious diseases.

Motion Toomey @ #10b CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Worcester Housing Authority’s successes in managing individuals in close proximity to one another during COVID-19.

Motion Russell @ #10e CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning financial reimbursements associated with using the DCU Center as a temporary hospital.

Motion King @ #10e CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with the sublicense with UMass concerning pods at the DCU Center.

Motion Toomey @ #10f CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning advanced planning to address neighborhood issues that may arise after the COVID-19 pandemic.