CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 6:31 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:30 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 8, 2020.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Etel Haxhiaj, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM 2. Jamie Desrosiers, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10d CC 3. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM 4. Edward McKeon, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM 5. David Coyne, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM 6. Jacob Freidman, Holden resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM 7. Nelly Medina, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.8A CM

No petitions were received.

Recommend appointment of Shakeerah McLeod to the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Penelope Herideen to the Civic Center Commission.

Recommend adoption of an Order to grant an exemption to one (1) snow plow contractor that is also a City employee.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the traffic direction of Pond Street, between Harding Street and Green Street, as well as Harrison Street, between Harding Street and Green Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Construction Progress Report for the month ending November 30, 2020.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Coes Reservoir – Columbus Park East-West Trail Improvements.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the fees at Green Hill Golf Course.

Recommend City Councils’ review, deliberation, and adoption of an Order relative to the Elderly Exemption Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to funding received to address the impacts of COVID-19.

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

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($100.00) to the Worcester Fire Department from Quyen Thao Lieu for education, training or technology.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Thirty One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($31,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the Virtual Manufacturing Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Two Hundred Seven Thousand Four Hundred Seven Dollars And No Cents ($207,407.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the Year Round YouthWorks - New Funding FY21 program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Forty One Dollars And Seventy Five Cents ($7,741.75) from FEMA, through the Public Assistance reimbursement program for COVID related expenses.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a grant in the amount of Two Million Seven Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Three Dollars and No Cents ($2,715,383.00) from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the federal fiscal year 2019 Emergency Solutions Grant program.

Recommend that One Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($135,000.00) be transferred as indicated to provide sufficient funding for the Cable PEG Program for the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021.

Recommend that One Million One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand One Hundred Sixty Five Dollars And No Cents ($1,175,165.00) be transferred as follows so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Program for the 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021.

Recommend authorization in the amount of Four Hundred Seven Thousand Three Hundred Five Dollars and No Cents ($407,305.00) for a prior year purchase of police vehicles from Account #250-93000, Police Capital Outlay.

ORDER: Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: ORIENT ST., DIVISION ST., RIDGE ST. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson December 8, 2020 and December 15, 2020)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager Recommend adoption of the attached amendment to the City’s organizational ordinances relative to the establishment of the Worcester Ballpark Authority: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman December 15, 2020)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication relative to the proposed Worcester Ballpark Authority: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman December 15, 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)

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 George J. Russell - Request City Clerk provide City Council with information relative to the process used for collecting signatures for the previous elections occurring during COVID-19 as part of a report to City Council relative to potentially decreasing signatures for the 2021 Municipal Election. – Item #21a 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 what interaction the city has had with the Worcester Together Fund as it relates to feeding individuals in need, as well as any partnerships that could be made with restaurants in the city to help feed those same individuals. – Item #21b 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 will a report relative to the impact the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s decision to approve wholesale delivery regulations in the State of Massachusetts for the marijuana industry will have on the city. – Item #21c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the applicants for the Economic Empowerment and Social Equity Program through the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), including information relative to if and how the city can assist those applicants to begin business in the city. – Item #21d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion King @ #8.8A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the options explored as it relates to Coes Reservoir, Hillside Beach, Columbus Park East-West Trail and wetland projects, if any.

Motion Rose @ #8.8A CM – Request City Clerk provide City Council with any previously provided information relative to the Coes Reservoir, Hillside Beach, Columbus Park East-West Trail and wetland projects.

Motion Russell @ #8.27A CM – Request City Manager request City Assessor provide City Council with a report concerning the impact a potential residential, owner occupied exemption for multi-family homes would have on the city. Further, request City Manager request City Assessor include in said report information relative to whether a residential exemption would only have an effect on multi-family homes or if it would impact the entire city.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #8.27A CM – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning any previously adopted orders by the Councilor relating to providing tax exemptions for instances such as owner-occupied multifamily homes.

Motion Toomey @ #8.27A CM – Request City Manager consider including highlights on abatement portion of the next tax bill to ensure individuals pay attention to the process for filing for an abatement.

Motion Rosen @ #8.27A CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning the process for renaming the Elderly Exemption Program to the Senior Exemption Program.

Motion King @ #9b CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any authorities, boards or commissions used by Pawtucket to help manage the Paw Sox, as well as any other best practices used by other communities.