CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:30 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 November 16, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Ben White, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.2A CM 2. Hilda Ramirez, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40A CM 3. Gina Plata-Nino, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #9.40A CM 4. Louis Pedraja, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #9.40A CM 5. Michael Papagani, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #12i CC 6. Nelly Medina, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #9.40A CM and #8e CC 7. Matt Whitlock, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #9.10A CM 8. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.10A CM 9. Casey Burns, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40B CM 10. Anne Bureau, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40B CM 11. Deborah Gonzalez, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40A CM 12. Esmeralda Pena, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #9.40B CM 13. Gladys Rodriguez-Parker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40A CM 14. Margot Barnett, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #8e CC and #9.13A CM 15. Maddie Morales, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #9.40A CM and #9.40B CM 16. Navidad Aybar, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #9.40B CM 17. Shawn Mayford, Rutland resident, spoke in favor of item #9.40B CM

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

Hearing: To determine tax rates for residential, commercial, industrial and personal properties for Fiscal Year 2022.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 Tax Classification package. (Submitted to City Council on November 23, 2021)

Xiu Lin request sidewalk resurfacing between 323 Grafton St. and 325 Grafton St.

Helen Given et al. request installation of No Parking Here to Corner signage for at least two car lengths on both sides of Fairlawn Dr. at the intersection of Fairlawn Dr. and June St.

Michael J. Grandone request City Council request City Manager ask all Worcester Colleges purchase fifty (50) tickets per family orientated event/show at the DCU Center or Polar Park on a continued basis to be donated to Worcester organizations to be distributed to single parent households, households on fixed financial support and households which lack extra monies to afford for their children.

Michael J. Grandone request City Council request City Manager explore the feasibility of adding a 50 cents education fee to all paid DCU Center and Polar Park events to be earmarked for the School Committee to use.

David Slatkin request City Council request City Manager consider using ARPA funds to fix the broken HVAC system at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy, which is estimated to cost $3.5 million to repair, more than the entirety of its annual building rehabilitation budget.

Recommend appointment of Jenny Pacillo to the Citizen Advisory Council with a term to expire on March 31, 2025.

Recommend adoption of a salary ordinance amendment to regrade the job classification of "Grants Compliance Manager" from pay grade 42M to 44M.Refer to CCM Item 9.37D

Recommend adoption of a salary ordinance amendment to create two (2) new job classifications within the Department of Technical Services.

Transmitting informational communication relative to public outreach for winter parking bans.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report listing all recommendations from previous reports concerning line-of-duty deaths and tri-data in order to identify work that has been done and progresses made relative to line-of-duty deaths as they relate to the Fire Department Community Risk Assessment Master Plan for the Worcester Fire Department.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the history of personnel, facilities, changes and training as a result from incidents, expanding roles of department, city demographic, and current challenges of the Fire Department.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on the ShotSpotter Connect.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the recommendations and training relative to the Blue Card system.

Transmitting informational communication relative to using reverse 911 technology when tornado watch/warnings are issued by weather services.

Recommend adoption of an ordinance to ban the use of facial recognition technology and forward notice of City Manager Executive Order establishing a policy for the acquisition and use of surveillance technology.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 Tax Classification package.

Recommend adoption of an order to solicit a long-term lease for the installation, maintenance, and operation of a distributed antenna system at the DCU Center.

Recommend that Fifty Eight Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Three Dollars And No Cents ($58,423.00) be transferred from Account #91C7114, Citywide Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #26C704, Fire Department Building Rehabilitation, to provide funding for improvements to the Tatnuck and Webster Square Fire Stations.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Five Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($524,000.00) from the Commonwealth Corporation for high-priority, persistent workforce challenges in community-based mental health, substance use disorder (SUD), and opioid use disorder (OUD) employers.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) from Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources under the Municipal Energy Technical Assistance (META) Grant program.

Recommend City Council's Authorization to create a revolving account, #11S501, Becker Properties Revolving Fund, at the annual limit not to exceed Six Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($600,000.00).

Recommend that Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) be transferred from Account #112-91000, Public Facilities Regular Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #112-97000, Public Facilities Overtime, to cover costs associated with Library renovations, fall cleanup, and other assorted tasks.

Recommend that Eight Thousand Six Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($8,600.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Managers Contingency, and be appropriated to Account #113-91000, Sustainability Regular Salaries, to account for the Non-Rep COLA expenses that were not budgeted under the department for Fiscal Year 2022.

Recommend amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 Table of Organization of the City Auditor and Department of Administration & Finance, Budget Division.Refer to CCM Item 9.3A

Recommend that Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($10,000.00) be transferred from Account #120-91000, Law Regular Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #120-92000, Law Ordinary Maintenance, to provide additional funding for legal experts and depositions for litigation matters.

Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($500,000.00) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Worcester Fire Department Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #260-97000, Worcester Fire Department Overtime.

Recommend that Sixty Four Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Dollars And No Cents ($64,840.00) 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 the costs associated with the issuance of the Bond Anticipation Notes.

Recommend that Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Three Dollars And Ninety Six Cents ($7,743.96) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2022 funds to pay prior year invoices for the Worcester Fire Department.

Recommend that Ninety Three Dollars And Fifty Three Cents ($93.53) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2022 Account #040-92000, City Manager's Ordinary Maintenance, to provide funding for a prior year utility invoice for the Municipal Service Center.

Recommend adoption of an amendment to the City’s organizational ordinances to create the Latino Advisory Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to detailed results of the Community Input process for the American Rescue Plan funds.

Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the Worcester Research Bureau, transmitting, "Bureau Brief— Changing the Worcester School Committee to District Representation."

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Donna M. Colorio - Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report as to the cost of implementing and projected yearly cost of each of the new “3 options” for 2023 School Committee elections. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose November 23, 2021)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager recommending City Council’s approval to make necessary adjustments required to finalize the FY22 City Budget. (Tabled Under Privilege - King November 23, 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 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 and October 19, 2021 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson October 26, 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 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson October 19, 2021 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson October 26, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Clerk research the feasibility of authorizing legal residents who have not been naturalized yet to vote in elections at the local level. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson October 26, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty November 9, 2021 and Tabled - Rivera November 16, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Manager consider prioritizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for REC Worcester’s capital project involving the development of the new REC Worcester headquarters and Center for Food Justice and Urban Agriculture (for Worcester and Central Massachusetts), in an effort to support community food security, as well as youth development and employment. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson October 26, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty November 9, 2021 and Tabled - Rivera November 16, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager consider making funds available to the City Clerk for the purpose of retrieving a separate opinion concerning creating potential six (6) and seven (7) district options associated with electing School Committee members. – Item #19a 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 an updated brochure explaining the process of private to public street conversion. – Item #19b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Petty @ #8e CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the air quality at Columbus Park Preparatory School, including information as to whether the installation of air ionization systems at the school have helped said air quality.

Motion Toomey @ #8e CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the work done in the city’s schools relative to recommendations made to increase the air quality throughout the facilities.

Motion Petty @ #11b CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning amending the city’s Financial Integrity Plan to include school facility projects, needs of the fire department and any other changes the administration deems necessary.

Motion King @ #11b CC – That $196, 458.98 of ARPA Revenue Recovery funds be cut from the FY22 City Budget adjustments, intended to be allocated for the Body Worn Cameras/Contingency.

Motion King @ #9.10A CM – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with an update in six (6) months and one (1) year relative to ShotSpotter Connect that included detailed, quantitative research.

Motion King @ #9.13A CM – Request City Manager consider amending Section 3, Subsection D of the Executive Order establishing oversight and control over surveillance technology to replace the word, “may,” with the word, “shall.”