CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:30 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:23 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 Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005, who passed away on October 18, 2021 at the age of 84.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of October 5, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. (No name given), Worcester resident, spoke concerning American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding 2. Hilda Ramirez, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18B CM 3. Grace Sadoski, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18B CM 4. Nancy Tebow, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18B CM 5. Amy Borig, Holden resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18B CM 6. Karen Valentine Lawrence, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #9.4B CM, #9.4C CM, #9.18A CM and #9.18B 7. Jahyra Rosas, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18B CM 8. Richard Cipro, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.8B CM 9. Paul Popinchalk, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.8B CM 10. Sarah Shields, Northborough resident, spoke in favor of items #9.18A CM and #9.18B CM 11. Casey Burns, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.18A CM 12. Kathy Kreiger, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.8B CM 13. Shayman (no last name given), no residence given, spoke in favor of item #9.8A CM and #9.8B CM 14. Monica Lowell, West Boylston resident, spoke in favor of item #9.8A CM 15. Laura Martinez, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.8B CM 16. Jordan Berg Powers, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #13b CC 17. David Slacken, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8m CC 18. William S. Coleman, III, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8l CC, #8m CC, #8n CC

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CANTERBURY ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CANTERBURY ST.

Junaid Marvi request Brookdale St. be resurfaced.

Wilson Silva request sidewalk repair in the vicinity of 124 May St. be repaired.

Michael LeBoeuf request installation of handicap parking space in front of 27 Shannon St.

Vui Lam request parking issues at 86-90 Ward St. on Wade St. side be addressed in order to allow for trash pick up.

Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on James St.

Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on Ludlow St.

Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on Genesse St., with "No Parking Anytime" signage being installed at its intersection with James St.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: BROOKS ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CAMELOT DR.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: PAINE ST.

Michael J. Grandone request City Council request Administration explore a 5% tax reduction in personal property real estate tax for seniors 70 years and older.

Bill Coleman request City Council invite the public to send a postcard in favor or against the Preservation Act for the City of Worcester from October 20, 2021 to November 2, 2021 with cards tallied on November 5, 2021 to give an indication of the support or lack of support for this program advisory question.

Bill Coleman request City Council and Administration hold a "Crisis in Worcester Housing" summit at the Worcester Center inviting public and private housing professionals in Worcester with the public to give testimony to the council on the needs and challenges for housing available in Worcester.

Bill Coleman request City Council request City Clerk provide the number of eligible citizens who can vote in this year's election and also list the number who have voted in the last 5 municipal elections with eligible population.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Khanh Van Tran, M.D. Ph.D. to the Health Board with a term to expire on December 31, 2025.

Recommend adoption of a Salary Ordinance Amendment to increase the hourly rate of Snow Customer Service Representatives (when assigned).

Recommend adoption of a Salary Ordinance Amendment to increase the hourly rates of Snow Inspectors, Snow Supervisors, and Winter Operations Coordinators (when assigned).

Transmitting informational communication relative to the topic of design review and the potential roles of a Design Review Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Citywide streetscape policies.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) and its role in supporting implementation of complete streets in Worcester.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fall Leaf Collection Program.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Residential Resurfacing Program for FY23 and FY24.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Urban Forestry Master Plan.

Recommend adoption of an amendment to the City’s organizational ordinances to create the Urban Forestry Tree Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the cable license renewal process.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the City’s private street conversion program and alternatives for consideration.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the upcoming launch of the 2021 Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Worcester Division of Public Health's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Project.

Recommend adoption of an order to solicit bids for a contract for services to manage a fitness center at the Worcester Senior Center.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of September 30, 2021.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the certification of funds in the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to apply for and accept a gift of services from MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Program.

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 Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents under the Workplace Safety Grant Program program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Two Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Three Dollars And No Cents ($2,683.00) from FEMA/Department of Homeland Security for an Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response Operations training course.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($10,000.00) from Greater Worcester Community Foundation under the Creative Intersections grant program.

Recommend that Three Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($300,000.00) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Worcester Fire Department Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #260-97000, Worcester Fire Department Overtime.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group X Human Services, Law Enforcement and Public Health relative to Social Worker/Clinician, Health & Human Services.

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request City Manager dedicate new growth over the budgeted amount to the Fire Department’s Community Risk Assessment Master Plan. (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey October 12, 2021)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson and Councilor Matthew E. Wally – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the State Legislature’s Redistricting Committee’s use of the local census building blocks and local knowledge of the City Clerk and Board of Election Commissioners to redraw the State Legislature’s districts for the next ten (10) years. (Tabled Under Privilege - King October 12, 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)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks install two (2) bollards in the vicinity of the Protano Square Memorial plaque in the vicinity of Solferino St. and Plantation St. – Item #19a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

RESOLUTION of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson and Councilor Matthew E. Wally – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the State Legislature’s Redistricting Committee’s use of the local census building blocks and local knowledge of the City Clerk and Board of Election Commissioners to redraw the State Legislature’s districts for the next ten (10) years. – Item #19b CC Tabled Under Privilege – King

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby authorize the City Solicitor to execute the consent decree containing the following three electoral system options: Option #1: A single-member district-based system for electing all members of the Worcester School Committee with no at-large seats (the “Single Member System”). Under any such Single Member System, there shall be a total of six (6) single-member Worcester School Committee districts, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, and the Mayor as Chair. Option #2: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 1 at-large seat. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of seven (7) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with one (1) at-large seat and the Mayor as chair. Option #3: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 2 at-large seats. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of six (6) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with two (2) at-large seats and the Mayor as chair. – Item #19c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 3 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning split precincts, including information as to other locations in the state where split precincts exist and how they handle said split precincts. – Item #19d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the process of establishing a Charter Commission. – Item #19e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Matthew E. Wally – Request City Manager engage with leadership of the Worcester Red Sox in an effort to invite Worcester Public School students to play football and soccer games at Polar Park in the fall of 2021. – Item #19f CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Wally @ #9.4B CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the status of the city’s planning efforts in its Worcester Now Worcester Next long-range plan and the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.

Motion King @ #11b CC – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the efforts being made between the city and stakeholders in the state’s re-districting committee when the city’s map is finalized at the state level.

Motion Mero-Carlson – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased speed enforcement on Millbrook St., including use of the city’s mobile unit, during the evening hours.

Motion Mero-Carlson – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased speed enforcement on Millbrook St., including use of the city’s mobile unit, during the evening hours.