CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 6:30 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:26 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty read a Proclamation declaring February 2021 as Black History Month in the city. The Proclamation acknowledged and celebrated the contributions to the city of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States made by African Americans.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of January 19, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Benjamin Desjarlais, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.34B CM 2. Andrew Ahern, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 3. Nathaniel Homer, Dudley resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 4. Erin Bryan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 5. Gwen Weissinger, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 6. Jeuji Diamondstone, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #11a CC 7. Nathalie Larrea, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 8. Paul Popinchalk, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 9. Walter Burns, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #9b CC 10. Yenni Desroches, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.17A CM

Nilda Barreto request the sidewalk in the vicinity of 43 Dillon St. be repaired.

Ronald Wallace request installation of a handicap parking place in front of 32 Lakeside Ave.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: IDEAL RD.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Andrew Lizotte to the Hope Cemetery Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Erin Zamarro to the Parks Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Brandon Lewis to the Worcester Arts Council.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointments of Denise J. Marois Lecuyer, Jeffrey J. Cammuso, Scott A. Derry and Peter M. Derry as Constables for the City of Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on Columbus Park.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the state of food insecurity in Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to citywide programming for Black History Month.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an overview of the "My Brother's Keeper Initiative."

Transmitting informational communication relative to Municipal Broadband.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2021 financial update, as of December 31, 2020.

Recommend adoption of an order to amend the FY2021 Table of Organization for the Treasurer and Collectors Office by adding one Accountant.

Recommend that One Million Nine Hundred Seventy Four Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($1,974,937.00) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #68C701, Technical Service Capital Equipment, to provide funding for capital equipment purchases.

Recommend that One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Four Hundred Sixty One Dollars And Ninety Six Cents ($114,461.96) be transferred from various loan accounts and be appropriated to Police Capital Equipment and Police Building Rehab accounts.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant from the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) under the Drunk Driving Trust Fund (DDTF) Prevention, Education and Training program in an amount up to Twenty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($20,000.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Three Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($3,900.00) from the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents through the FY21 Workplace Safety Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($7,500.00) from the Digital Federal Credit Union and One Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($100.00) from Double G Enterprises, to support the Worcester Police Department’s efforts to provide programs to children and their families in the Worcester community.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Three Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Six Dollars And No Cents ($3,236.00) from FM Global under the Fire Prevention Grant program.

Recommend that Five Hundred Sixteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars And No Cents ($516,387.00) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Worcester Fire Department Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #260-97000, Worcester Fire Department Overtime, to provide overtime funding through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021.

COMMUNICATION of the City Clerk transmitting a draft of social media policies and procedures for City Council, in the event that a Facebook page for the City Council is created, including information relative to best practices used in other communities. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 26, 2021)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Report of the Committee on Public Works Upon the Petition of Susan Burns & Mary Landry request abatement of sewer betterment assessment #31247 in the amount of $36,000.00 for Luther Ave: recommend Petition be denied. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose January 26, 2021)

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 Manager 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 Donna M. Colorio – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the current costs associated with converting a home from gas heat to electric heat. – Item #23a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager look to identify places in the city’s Green Worcester Sustainability and Resilience Strategic Plan Draft Plan that can be implemented by at least an additional five years sooner. – Item #23b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing any costs associated with using electric heat at a new Doherty Memorial High School building. – Item #23c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager consider ways to engage the city’s youth in conversations and planning around the city’s Green Worcester Sustainability and Resilience Strategic Plan Draft Plan. – Item #23d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing any successful programs similar to Boston’s self-cleaning bathroom stations. – Item #23e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman – Request City Manager reach out to Spectrum to determine whether their services are insured, as a means of providing credits to individuals who lose services for a certain amount of time. – Item #23f CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Russell @ #9b CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to provide City Council with a report concerning the appropriate times an abatement on a sewer or street assessment can be granted, including specific information as to whether an abatement can be granted on sewer betterment assessment #31247 for Luther Ave.

Motion King @ #9b CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the impact of City Council approving abatements on sewer and street assessments when there are no legal grounds to do so.

Motion King @ #8.8A CM – Request City Manager delay the pursuit of any approvals associated with the Conservation Commission as they relate to the Columbus Park project adjacent to Hillside Beach.

Motion King @ #8.17A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the availability of state and federal funding to be used to alleviate food insecurity concerns in the city.

Motion Rosen @ #8.17A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact COVID-19 has had on food insecurity on college and university students.

Motion King @ #8.17A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact hydroponic farming could have to help relief concerns around food insecurity in the city.

Motion King @ #8.22A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the entirety of implementing the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative in the city.

Motion King @ #8.22A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing My Brother’s Keeper’s Reimagining Policing Pledge.

Motion Toomey @ #8.26A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the potential impact municipal broadband internet services could have on businesses and economic development in the city.

Motion Russell @ #8.26A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning outreach done by the city to attract additional internet providers into the city. Further, request City Manager include in said report the history of Spectrum becoming the city’s primary source of internet services.

Motion King @ #8.26A CM – Request City Manager consider including a diverse group of individuals in an ad-hoc group discussing municipal broadband in the city.

Motion King @ #8.26A CM – Request City Manager consider including a diverse group of individuals in an ad-hoc group discussing municipal broadband in the city. Further, request City Manager include in said report information relative to the position’s dollar amount.