CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 6:36 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

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of March 2, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Bob Michel, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #9.3A 2. Benjamin Desjarlais, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #13a CC, #13b CC, #13c CC 3. Crystal Jackson, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #13j CC 4. Caroline Moore, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #13j CC

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: ACTON ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: ACTON ST.

UMass Memorial Health Care COVID-19 Presentation, as prepared by their Office of Clinical Integration.

Paul and Marcia Hansen request installation of "Not a Truck Route" signage entering Garrison Ave.

Sean Kelly et al. request the winter parking ban on Trumbull St. be amended from a "permanent" ban to become a "declared" ban.

Sean Kelly et al. request the winter parking ban on Eaton Pl. be amended from a "permanent" ban to become a "declared" ban.

Sean Kelly et al. request the winter parking ban on Mercantile St. be amended from a "permanent" ban to become a "declared" ban.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: GRAND ST. and HOLLIS ST.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: DIVISION ST.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Richard L. Mattioli as a constable for the City of Worcester for a 3 year term to expire December 2023.

Recommend the reappointments of Rachel Brown and Carol Stovall to the Citizen Advisory Council for terms to end on March 31, 2024.

Recommend appointment of Philip Niddrie to the Airport Advisory Committee with a term to expire on June 30, 2024.

Transmitting informational communication regarding a virtual Opportunity Fair established by the Worcester Police Department and Human Resources.

Recommend adoption of an order to solicit bids and award parking management contract for the Pearl & Elm, Federal Plaza, Major Taylor Boulevard, Union Station, Worcester Common Parking Garages, all paid surface lots and On Street Parking Management.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a legal opinion concerning the ramifications of Section 7 of SD 699 and HD 1283.

Transmitting informational communication regarding the recipients of 2021 Worcester Arts Council (WAC) grants.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,000.00) to the Worcester Fire Department from The Silverbrick Group for the purchase of equipment and/or technology.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend grant funds in the amount of One Million, One Hundred Thirty Six Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Dollars and No Cents ($1,136,680.00) from the Commonwealth Corporation through the FY2021 YouthWorks Summer 2021 - Jobs for Youth and Young Adults Placed at Risk Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,000.00) to the Worcester Police Department from the Silverbrick Group.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a training grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Technology Services and Security under the Cybersecurity Awareness Training Grant program with an approximate value of Thirty Two Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($32,000.00).

Recommend that Four Hundred Forty Nine Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Four Dollars and Fifty Cents ($449,424.50) be transferred from Account #330-08, Reserve for Appropriation on Loans, to Account #660-92000, Treasurer's Office Ordinary Maintenance.

Recommend that Three Hundred Seventy Six Thousand Six Hundred Twenty One Dollars And Eighty Three Cents ($376,621.83) be transferred from Account #330-08, Reserve for Appropriation on Loans, and be appropriated to Account #660-92000, Treasurer's Office Ordinary Maintenance, to fund costs associated with the City's recent Bonds dated March 2, 2021.

Recommend that One Million One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand One Hundred Sixty Five Dollars And No Cents ($1,175,165.00) be transferred from various reserve accounts so as to provide sufficient funding for the Off-Street Program for the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021.

Recommend that Three Hundred Twenty Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Four Dollars And No Cents ($320,254.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to Account #680-92000, Technical Services Ordinary Maintenance, to fund various hardware and software maintenance and support costs through the remainder of the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021.

Recommend that Forty Six Dollars And Thirty One Cents ($46.31) be authorized from the Fiscal Year 2021 Auditing Ordinary Maintenance Account #650-92000, to provide additional funds for a prior year invoice from WB Mason.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a city-wide Out-of-Home Advertising plan for the city of Worcester.

That the sum of Two Million Dollars and No Cents ($2,000,000.00) be appropriated to Account #91C71131, Worcester Arts Magnet MSBA, to pay for costs associated with replacement of the roof for the Worcester Arts Magnet School project, at 315 St. Nicholas Avenue.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an updated Economic Development Report. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 2, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Rose March 9, 2021)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an update of the Division of Housing & Neighborhood Development Activities. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 2, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Rose March 9, 2021)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting Information Communication Relative to the Semi-Annual TIF/TIE Reporting. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 2, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Rose March 9, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio - Request City Manager and Mayor consider resuming fully in-person City Council meetings, including actions pertaining to public participation, starting at the April 6, 2021 City Council agenda. (Tabled Under Privilege - King March 9, 2021)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Donna M. Colorio - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support House Bill HD 106, An Act establishing a commission to study post-traumatic stress disorder in law enforcement officers, presented by Representative Peter J. Durant. (Tabled Under Privilege - King March 9, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – That City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the Worcester Police Department’s adoption of the ShotSpotter Connect Program. (Tabled Under Privilege - King March 9, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report reviewing the ShotSpotter Connect Pilot Program at the end of its year-long pilot. (Tabled Under Privilege - King March 9, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager work with the appropriate representatives from ShotSpotter Connect to align any ShotSpotter Connect Pilot Program in the city with the city’s upcoming fiscal year. (Tabled Under Privilege - King March 9, 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)

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, Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson February 2, 2021 and Tabled - Petty February 9, 2021)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Khrystian E. King - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support Representative Rebecca Rauch and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz’s SD 699 HD 1283, An Act effectuating equity in COVID-19 Vaccination Bill. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman February 9, 2021 and Tabled - Bergman February 23, 2021)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – That City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the Worcester Police Department’s adoption of the ShotSpotter Connect Program. – Item #18a CC Tabled Under Privilege – King

ORDER of Councilor Gary Rosen – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report reviewing the ShotSpotter Connect Pilot Program at the end of its year-long pilot. – Item #18b CC Tabled Under Privilege – King

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager work with the appropriate representatives from ShotSpotter Connect to align any ShotSpotter Connect Pilot Program in the city with the city’s upcoming fiscal year. – Item #18c CC Tabled Under Privilege – King

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose – Request City Manager reach out to the Lakeside Apartments community to explore options for recreation in their area for their youth and families. – Item #18d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 2 Nays (Yeas – Bergman, Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Rose, Rosen, Russell, Toomey, Wally, Petty) (Nays – King, Rivera)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager request City Solicitor draft a Home Rule Petition exempting the Worcester City Council from the portion of the Open Meeting Law that disallows information relative to members of the City Council signing onto items as co-sponsors becoming public prior to the start of a City Council meeting. – Item #18e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations meet with the appropriate representative from the Attorney General’s Office to discuss the portion of the Open Meeting Law that disallows information relative to members of the City Council signing onto items as co-sponsors becoming public prior to the start of a City Council meeting. – Item #18f CC Referred to Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 2 Nays (Yeas – King, Mero-Carlson, Rivera, Rose, Rosen, Russell, Toomey, Wally, Petty) (Nays – Bergman, Colorio).

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the economic impact Becker College has to its neighborhood and the city at-large. – Item #18g CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager consider any new recommendations and strategies in an effort to diversify participation in the city’s various neighborhood crime watch associations. – Item #18h CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council does hereby suspend the rules to allow for the City Council meeting held on March 9, 2021 occur past midnight. – Item #18i CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

RESOLUTION of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – That the City Council of the City of Worcester express their support and gratitude to all healthcare staff and registered nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital and throughout the City of Worcester, and furthermore; that City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby encourage Tenet Healthcare, Saint Vincent Hospital to reengage in negotiations with the Massachusetts Nurses Association to reach an agreement that ensures the safety of registered nurses, healthcare staff, and patients along with fair compensation for their work. – Item #18j CC Resolution adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Wally @ #9.5A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report that includes information concerning the current pricing of the city’s parking garages, a historical snapshot as to when those prices have increased and whether the Off-Street Parking Board has had any discussions relative to changing said garages’ rates.

Motion Petty @ #11d CC – Request City Manager work with the Medical Director to provide City Council with a report concerning suggestions around how best to allow for in-person public participation during public meetings. Further, request City Manager include in said suggestions when such an action would be appropriate.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #11d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether other municipalities have returned to participating in their City Council meetings in person.

Motion Colorio @ #11d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of resuming in-person public participation during public meetings.

Motion Toomey @ #11e CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief work to be proactive in supporting police officers’ wellness, given the stress the department has been under due to COVID-19.

Motion King @ #11e CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief conduct a health and wellbeing survey of the Worcester Police Department.

Motion King @ #11e CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the work being done by the Civilian Academy.