CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:30 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:55 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 June 8, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to an item not listed on the agenda 2. William S. Coleman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #13e CC

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio - As Chair of the City Council Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking in accordance with Rule 33 (e) of the Rules of City Council, request City Council suspend its rules at its June 22, 2021 meeting to take up the Report of the Committee on Traffic and Parking Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a comprehensive plan to improve the City's parking management system citywide, as presented by the City Manager and referred to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking Committee as Item #9.7A CM on the City Council agenda for April 27, 2021, along with related items pending before the Committee.

Councilor Sean M. Rose request sidewalks on Rexhame Rd. between Beverly Rd. and Bay State Rd. be replaced.

Narendrakumar Barvaliya request installation of resident permit parking on Taylor St.

Judith McManus request installation of handicap parking space in front of 31 Dartmouth St.

Daniel Sullivan, on behalf of Greendale Owner, LLC., request approval to install crosswalk improvements, including accessible curb ramps and flashing indicators on Neponset St.

Councilor Sean M. Rose request installation of resident permit parking on Stowell Ave.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: BENEFIT ST. and SARGENT CT.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: MURRAY AVE. and PIEDMONT ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: WINDSOR ST.

Michael Grandone request City Council rewrite the bid process for all utility companies and contractors as described in the petition.

Recommend adoption of Salary Ordinance Amendments for budget changes in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget.

Recommend adoption of Salary Ordinance Amendments for Local 170, Department of Public works Clerks, to ensure consistency with the recent Memorandum of Agreement between the Union and the City.

Recommend adoption of Salary Ordinance Amendments for non represented employees in the City.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the temporary suspension of irrigation meter installations.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the City of Worcester’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Recommend City Council's review and approval of amendments to the City’s organizational ordinances.

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

Recommend that Six Hundred Sixty Three Thousand Two Hundred Two Dollars And Sixty Four Cents ($663,202.64) be transferred from various Parks capital project accounts and be appropriated to Loan Account #91C784, Park Improvements.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a MassWorks Infrastructure Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development in the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Seventy Six Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($2,276,000.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the amount of One Hundred Ten Million Six Hundred Seventeen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Nine Dollars And No Cents ($110,617,389.00) from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend grant funds in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand Three Hundred Five Dollars And No Cents ($134,305.00) from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security through the 2021 Sen. Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Initiative Grant program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file and accept with gratitude a donation from the Worcester County Senior Athletic Association in the amount of Four Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($400.00) towards Logan Field.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) from the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts Department Of Veterans Services under the Vietnam Veterans Memorial program.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) be transferred from Account #14SSFD46, CDBG Finance Department Salary & Fringe, and be appropriated to Account #14SSED46, CDBG Economic Development Salary & Fringe, to provide sufficient funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021 for salary and fringe expenses for CDBG funded Executive Office of Economic Development employees.

Recommend City Council's authorization of Revolving Fund Accounts in Fiscal Year 2022 at the limits in each account, so that revenue derived from a particular service is allowed to be used for associated program costs, per M.G.L. Chapter 44 Section 53E 1/2.

Recommend that Twenty Five Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Two Dollars And Forty One Cents ($25,822.41) be transferred from Account #29-33007, Reserve Damage Settlement, and be appropriated to Account #260-92000, Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance.

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) be transferred from Account#900-92000, City Manager Contingency, to Account #040-92000, City Manager Ordinary Maintenance, to pay for funeral expenses as allowed under MGL Ch.41, Sec.100G 1/4.

Recommend City Council's approval of Fiscal Year 2021 year-end transfers to make adjustments to City accounts to balance the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget.

Recommend adoption of an order to approve the filing of a petition with the general court that would authorize the Retirement Board to provide certain survivor benefits to the wife and children of fallen police officer Enmanuel "Manny" Familia.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reopening of all municipal buildings and services, including boards and commission meetings.

Transmitting informational communication relative to my self-evaluation of the work and accomplishments of my Administration for Fiscal Year 2021.

Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk, transmitting an informational communication concerning pandemic-era policies relative to remote, public meetings.

Amending Chapter 13 Section 42 of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 to Relaive to the Creation of an Honorary Street-Name Designation Program.

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request City Manager work with the Superintendent, the School Safety Coordinator and the Smart911 staff to provide a presentation on the benefits of the WPS to participate in the Smart911 program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 15, 2021)

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)

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)

PETITION of Meighan Sharry request City Council request City Manager effectively stop efforts to develop athletic fields at Duffy Field/Wetherall Park. (Tabled - Petty March 30, 2021)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication Relative to the FY22 water and sewer rate recommendation: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance. – Item #17a CC Voted to advertise proposed Ordinance on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 1 Nay

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the maximum hour rules that limits the hours a police officer may be worked in a twenty-four (24) hour period to sixteen (16) hours unless noted exceptions are met. – Item #17b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager work with Police Chief to determine the feasibility of outfitting police vehicles/officers with NRS Rapid Rescuer for the purposes of preventing drowning-related accidents. – Item #17c 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 the feasibility of using American Response funds for recreational infrastructure such as pools. – Item #17d 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 the demographics of city residents who contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. (See Item #17e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a comprehensive plan to improve the City's parking management system citywide: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

Motion Wally – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner Public Works and Parks review ways to increase pedestrian safety, including appropriate signage and blinking crosswalks, on Pleasant St./Route 122 from Tatnuck Square to the Paxton Line. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased speed enforcement in said location.

Motion Wally – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner Public Works and Parks review ways to increase pedestrian safety, including appropriate signage and blinking crosswalks, on Bailey St. from the airport rotary to the Leicester Line. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased speed enforcement in said location.

Motion Mero-Carlson – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager conduct a traffic study for increased signage on Suffolk St., Wall St. and Franklin St. in the vicinity of the David Clark Company, located at 360 Franklin St.

PETITION – Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of two (2) crosswalks in the vicinity of the David Clark Company, located at 360 Franklin St., where the employees cross the road to go to work.

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the usage of lithium ion batteries (e.g. solar, vehicle, etc.). Further, request City Manager include in said report information relative to the training Worcester Fire Department members have had concerning the issue.

Motion Russell – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks expedite the process for cleaning up the property at 37 Ernest Ave., where a tree was cut down.

Motion Russell – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased police presence in the vicinity of Lou Gehrig Field, as a number of break-ins have occurred at the field.

Motion Russell – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased police presence in the vicinity of Lou Gehrig Field, as a number of break-ins have occurred at the field.