CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:31 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:41 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty presented Councilor Matthew E. Wally with a Key to the City, acknowledging his various accomplishments over the last two (2) terms while serving as District 5’s City Councilor. Mayor Petty also recognized Councilor Russell, Councilor Rosen, Councilor Bergman, Councilor Colorio, Councilor King, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Toomey, Councilor Rose, as well as the City Manager, who also provided acknowledgments to the Councilor.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 7, 2021.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Bill Gemme, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #12d CC 2. William Blankenship, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #12d CC 3. Richard Gagne, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #12d CC 4. Michelle Brown, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #12d CC 5. No name given, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #12d CC 6. John Provost, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11a CC 7. Elena Despotopoulos, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #12c CC 8. William S. Coleman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of a previously adopted item

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Timothy Sassaman request a tree be planted in front of 49 Ideal Rd. to replace the tree that had to be cut down due to disease.

Councilor Morris A. Bergman request a safety review of existing traffic calming measures on Richmond Ave./Flagg St., including recommendations to improve same.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Roberta Adams request additional traffic enforcement at the corner of Eastern Ave. and Route 9, as well as the entrance to Green Hill Park at Green Hill Parkway.

Danielle Orlando request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 49 Richland St.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: BYRON ST.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - That City Council does hereby recommend that the Cable Television Advisory Committee incorporate in its contract renewal negotiation with Charter/Spectrum the following needs of City Cable TV subscribers: 1) Instead of paying a monthly rental fee per cable box, cable TV subscribers be allowed to make a one-time payment to purchase cable boxes either from Charter/Spectrum or private vendors; 2) All cable TV subscribers over the age of 60 be given a seniors-specific discount plan; 3) Long-time cable TV subscribers be given the same discount offers as new customers are given; 4) Customer service and efficiency be greatly improved at Charter/Spectrum Grafton St. store front; 5) The next contract between City of Worcester and Charter/Spectrum be 5-year contract.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning the advisability and feasibility of the city building a City-owned municipal broadband network.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the list of public streets and sidewalks to which 6.4 million dollars were allocated to and cross reference said list with the locations the federal government asked the city to target.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request School Superintendent request School Safety Officer contact Priscella and Brian Underwood for discussion on solutions for traffic issues in the vicinity of school buildings.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with report concerning a traffic study at the intersection of North St. and Grove St.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the process for utility work on our streets pertaining to notification, inspection and completion. (Rose)

Request City Manager explore adding a volunteer tab under the "Opportunity" section of the city’s website for volunteer opportunities in the city, in an effort to encourage community service. (Rose)

Request City Manager consider creating a review procedure of the City Charter in 2022. (Bergman, Colorio, Wally)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works realign the fencing adjacent to the parking area on Grafton St. across from Union Station for pedestrian safety. (Bergman)

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with an update concerning the time-table as to the completion of work at Bennett Field. (Bergman)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased speed enforcement on Gifford Dr. (Toomey)

Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the Life Preserver program and the “Manny Boxes.” (Toomey)

DECREE TO MAKE PUBLIC: DELMONT AVENUE

Edward M. Augustus, Jr., City Manager, recommending adoption of the following order to approve the filing of the attached petition with the general court, which would amend the Worcester Home Rule Charter to provide for a new electoral system for electing members of the school committee.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of David Tetteh request to change the underlying zoning classification for the property at 18 Mountain St. East from Residential, Single (RS-7.0) to Business, Local (BL-1.0): recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Todd Rodman, Esq. on behalf of Boston Capital Development, LLC request to change the underlying zoning classification for the following property from Business, General (BG-4.0) to Business, General (BG-6.0), in accordance with the attached plan regarding 153 Green St. and 139 Green St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Fernando Dalfior request that a portion of the premises known and numbered as 300 Southbridge St. and shown on the attached Exhibit A be rezoned to extend the boundaries of the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District (AROD) to include the premises: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Donald O'Neil request to amend the Zoning Map by changing the zoning of the two parcels of land located at 1 Brattle St. and 7 Brattle St. from RS-7 to BL-1.0: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager Recommend adoption of an ordinance establishing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF): recommend Communication be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication relative to the cable license renewal process: recommend Communication be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - In light of Charter/Spectrum's sweeping rate increases that will hike the cost of TV packages, internet service, equipment, and fees, request City Council's Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold one or more public hearings to: 1) survey customer satisfaction with this provider; 2) review the fairness of their rates for TV, internet and telephone service; 3) review the city's cable franchise agreement with this company and determine what future changes need to be made to lower costs and improve service; 4) determine whether our three PEG (Public, Educational, Government) Access channels are receiving the financial and other support they are entitled to through our franchise agreement and if, in a future contract, they can be located on channels in the “Basic Tier”; and 5) discuss the feasibility of inviting other companies to provide service to the city: recommend Order be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communications of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication relative to the City’s private street conversion program and alternatives for consideration: recommend the adoption of the accompanying Order as amended to allow for household annual earnings no greater than 80% of the Worcester Area Median Income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication relative to update on the new recycling set-out bins and recycling education: recommend Communication be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a blinking yellow traffic signal at the intersection of Hamilton St. and Coburn Ave: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Roberta Adams request installation of a handicap parking space large enough for one vehicle in front of 197 Eastern Ave. (Amended September 30th, 2021 from "installation of a handicap parking space large enough for two vehicles"): recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of school signage in the vicinity of Goddard School of Science & Technology, 14 Richards St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of school signage in the vicinity of Vernon Hill Elementary School, 211 Providence St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of school signage on Apricot St. in the vicinity of South High Community School, 170 Apricot St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Brian Underwood request installation of school signage on Goddard Memorial Dr. in the vicinity of South High Community School, 170 Apricot St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Gregory Russell, on behalf of Leo Flanagan and Learning First, LLC., request installation of crosswalk on Richland St. at a point approximately 390' east of Ward St. at the expense of the petitioner: recommend Petition be given Leave to Withdraw.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Gregory Russell, on behalf of Leo Flanagan and Learning First, LLC., request the No Parking Anytime ordinance on school days between 7 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. on Richland St. from Ward St. to a point 400' east of Ward St. on the south side of Richland St. be expanded to include both sides of the street, be extended 50' to a point 450' east of Ward St. and be amended to remain in effect until 6 P.M. on school days: recommend Petition be given Leave to Withdraw.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Gregory Russell, on behalf of Leo Flanagan and Learning First, LLC., request resident permit parking on the north side of Richland St. from Vernon St. to a point of 135' east of Ward St. be reduced by 315' to a point 450' east of Ward St: recommend Petition be given Leave to Withdraw.

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)

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)

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)

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 provide City Council with a report concerning details associated with the upcoming Upper Blackstone Clean Water FY23 Budget. – Item #15a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any new processes implemented as it relates to dispatching emergency services personnel, including the police department, in an effort to eliminate any backlogs. – Item #15b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager request Head Librarian provide City Council with a presentation relative to the recent service increases at the Worcester Public Library. – Item #15c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the trainings received by the city’s police officers. – Item #15d CC Order adopted