CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:51 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 Commissioner of Public Works and Parks Paul J. Moosey, who passed away on October 16, 2020 at the age of 63. Commissioner Moosey began working for the Department of Public Works in 1984 and served as the Commissioner beginning in 2014. A dedicated member of the City of Worcester administration, Mr. Moosey will be missed by all those who knew him.

Mayor Petty read a Certificate of Mayoral Recognition for Mark Epstein for a lifetime of accomplishments, and in particular on the launch of his new book, “They Call Me Pathfinder.”

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 6, 2020.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Beth Proko, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8k CC 2. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 3. Brenda Jenkins, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 4. David Fort, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 5. Margot Barnet, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 6. Christina Booker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 7. Sue Mailman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM 8. Stacey Dubois Luster, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.13B CM

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: FLAGG ST. and BROOKSHIRE RD. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: FLAGG ST. and BROOKSHIRE RD.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Brendan Keenan request sidewalk on Knowles Rd. be repaired or replaced, in the interest of public safety.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Brendan Keenan request sidewalk on Fairlawn Dr. be repaired or replaced, in the interest of public safety.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Brendan Keenan request sidewalk on Rosewood Dr. be repaired or replaced, in the interest of public safety.

Pamela Hubley et al. request the grading on Reed St. be corrected when a final paving is completed.

Ramon Guerrero request installation of a handicap parking space across from 8 Strathmore Rd.

Andy Martin et al. request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage on both sides of Pond St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of “No Parking Anytime” signage on the south side Nonquit St., from Lake Ave. easterly to the end of the street, directly abutting the parkland at 283 Lake Ave. and opposite of 2 Nonquit St.

Councilor Khrystian E. King and Councilor Sean M. Rose request the “No Parking Anytime” ordinance on west side of West Boylston St. be amended to include five (5) on-street parking spots for thirty (30) minute parking beginning 5’ south of the curb cut for 609 West Boylston St. continuing southerly in front of 607 West Boylston St.

Joseph Forjette request the speed limit of Navasota Ave. be set to 20 mph.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: SOUTHBRIDGE ST. at MAIN ST.

Elizabeth Proko, President of Indian Lake Watershed Association, Inc., request a review be initiated and a comprehensive plan be developed to address challenges including excessive noise, illegal activities and overcrowding at the three (3) city-owned properties on Indian Lake, including Morgan Park, Shore Park and City Beach.

Recommend adoption of Salary Ordinance amendment to regrade the position of Chief Diversity Officer.Refer to CCM Item 9.13B

Recommend allocation of funds relative to the City’s COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a Stage 1 Water Supply Drought Declaration.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Hired Equipment Plowing and Sanding Rates.

Recommend adoption of an Ordinance related to small wireless facilities in public rights of way.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2020 Fall Leaf Collection Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Duffy Field Master Plan.

Request adoption and approval of the attached resolution for the Stearns Tavern at Coe's Park from Preservation Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Sand Buckets for Seniors Program

Transmitting informational communication relative to eliminating or decreasing the use of jet skis on Indian Lake.

Request review, consideration and approval of a reorganization to create an Executive Office of Diversity and Inclusion.Refer to CCM Item 9.3A

Transmitting informational communication relative to the proposed Worcester Ballpark Authority.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning steps taken by the city's local colleges and universities to control/regulate off-campus social gatherings.

Recommend an amendment to the Division of Public Health's Fiscal Year 2021 Table of Organization to allow for the addition of one full time grant funded position.

Recommend adoption of an Order to authorize a lease at the Worcester Senior Center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Senior Center Stay Connected videos.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2021 financial update, as of September 30, 2020.

Recommend that Three Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand One Hundred Ninety Eight Dollars And Thirty Five Cents ($367,198.35) be transferred from DPW Sewers Account #44C752, Interception Inspections/Cambridge St, and be appropriated to DPW Sewers Account #44C764, Sewer Pumping, to reallocate funding from a completed Sewer Construction project and appropriate to the sewer pumping station upgrade project.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account # 91C724A, Streetlights, and be appropriated to DPW Account # 40C704, Signal Installation to allow for contractually obligations associated with traffic signal lighting.

Recommend that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($200,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C724A, Streetlight Replacement, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C712, Streetlights, to allow for contractually obligated payments associated with the replacement and upgrades to the City Streetlights.

Recommend that Thirty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($35,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C713F, Cross Connection, and be appropriated to DPW Account #45C720, Water Mains/Clean & Line, to allow for contractually obligated payments associated with hydrants.

Recommend that Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($2,800,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7134, Water Mains, and be appropriated to various Water Accounts as noted to allow for contractually obligated commitments associated with ongoing water construction projects throughout the city.

Recommend that Two Million Nine Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($2,975,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C745B, Sewer Construction, and be appropriated to various Sewer Accounts as noted to allow for current contractually obligated commitments associated with sewer construction throughout the city.

Recommend that Three Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($315,000.00) be transferred from Loan Account #91C780A, Citywide Equipment, and be appropriated to DPW Account #41C703, DPW Equipment, to allow for obligations associated with the purchase of a new sanitation load packer.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a grant in the amount of Fifty One Thousand One Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars and No Cents ($51,158.00) from the State Department of Public Health through the First Responder Naloxone Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) from UMass Memorial Medical Center and Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester Determination of Need (DoN) Resource & Development Committee under the Community Benefits Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in an amount up to Fifty Five Thousand Sixty Two Dollars And No Cents ($55,062.00) from the State Executive Office of Public Safety & Security through the Local Law Enforcement Opportunity Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Seventy One Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Five Dollars And No Cents ($71,335.00) from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency under the FFY20 EMPG program.

Recommend that Thirty One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Five Dollars And Fifty Cents ($31,275.50) be transferred from Account #29-33007, Damage Settlement, and be appropriated to Parks Account #720-93000, Parks Capital, to allow for the purchase of a replacement truck from a settlement claim for damages to a Parks truck.

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty One Dollars And Seventy Six Cents ($15,881.76) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to Parks Account #720-93000, Parks Capital, to allow for the purchase and installation of security cameras at the City Hall Garage.

Recommend that One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,000.00) be transferred from Account #650-91000, Auditing Personal Services, and be appropriated to Account #650-97000, Auditing Overtime, to provide sufficient funding for anticipated overtime expenses for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021.

Recommend that Five Thousand One Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars And Thirty Four Cents ($5,137.34) be authorized from Account #110-92000, Energy & Asset Management Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of prior year invoices.

Recommend that the City Council rescind the balances of certain loan orders, that were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Budget, and replace them with the attached loan orders.

Transmitting informational communication relative to current opportunities on boards and commissions for the City of Worcester.

Amending the Salary Ordinance Of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group X Human Services, Law Enforcement And Public Health Relative to a Recovery Coach.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group X Human Services, Law Enforcement and Public Health Relative to a Coordinator of Community Services.

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)

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 and April 28, 2020 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson May 5, 2020)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Sean M. Rose and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - That the Worcester City Council urges our State Delegation and others to pursue the naming in 2020 of the Worcester District Courthouse the “Sarah E. Wall Courthouse”. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman June 2, 2020 and June 9, 2020 - Petty and Tabled - Russell June 16, 2020)

COMMUNICATION of Stephen Herzog, Project Manager at Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., on behalf of CSX Transportation, Inc. transmitting an informational communication relative to the application of herbicide on the railroad. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 9, 2020 and Tabled - Russell June 16, 2020)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey, Councilor Sean M. Rose, Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Matthew E. Wally, Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Donna M. Colorio, Councilor Gary Rosen and Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request City Manager support the (re)opening of the City’s licensed cigar and hookah lounges and for the state to amend the classification of these establishments. These establishments can, and should, fit under the guise and parameters set forth as restaurants as they have or will have a common ViC license. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera September 8, 2020 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson September 15, 2020 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson September 22, 2020)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what information relative to emergency interactions with persons with cognitive impairments the city’s smart 911 emergency system encompasses. – Item #16a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing how other municipalities who deploy voluntary Cognitive Registries register and confirm cognitive impairments of individuals into their registry. – Item #16b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager review the procedures the various boards and commissions of the city have relative to continuances with the hopes of relieving any confusion for residents associated with the action. – Item #16c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion King @ #9.4A CM – Request City Clerk determine whether any motions from City Council have been made relative to the city’s local housing court.

Motion Toomey @ #9.4A CM – Request City Manager post information on the city’s website relative to the CARES Act and any other resources available to residents who own multi-family and single family homes during COVID-19.

Motion King @ #9.8A CM – Request City Manager consider granting individuals who wish to use their camera visuals as part of the WebEx call for the Duffy Field Master Plan Meeting the opportunity to do so.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #9.13C CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a copy of the ordinances that created the Worcester Redevelopment Authority, Civic Center Commission and Board of Health.

Motion Wally @ #9.28A CM – Request City Manager request Chief Financial Officer continue to provide City Council with Fiscal Year financial updates on a monthly basis during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also on a routine basis following the pandemic.

Motion Wally @ #9.28A CM – Request City Manager request Chief Financial Officer work with the Chief Development Officer when preparing Fiscal Year financial updates to include economic indicators for the local area.

Motion Russell @ #9.28A CM – Request City Manager request Chief Financial Officer provide City Council with a report detailing information relative to blank spaces in the Fiscal Year 2021 financial update concerning the Civic Center Ordinary Maintenance Debt Service.

Motion Russell @ #9.28A CM – Request City Manager request Chief Financial Officer provide City Council with a report concerning how much has been received for using the DCU Center as a field hospital during COVID-19 and whether any additional funds can be requests.

Motion Russell @ #9.28A CM – Request City Manager request Chief Financial Officer provide City Council with a report detailing what the management company of the DCU Center and the Civic Center Commission are currently spending during COVID-19, what is normally spent and what cuts have been made to spending.