CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Virtual Meeting

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:34 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 January 25, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Michael O’Malley, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11e CC 2. Sherry Stanley, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8.1B CM 3. Silas Anderson, Auburn resident, spoke in favor of item #8.1B CM 4. Chris Horton, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.1B CM 5. Karl Johnson, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.1B CM 6. Jared Neighbor, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11e CC 7. Bill Gemme, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 8. Carolyn Gemme, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 9. Scott Hersey, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11e CC 10. Nelly Medina, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #7j CC and #7k CC 11. Carl Holmgren, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #11e CC 12. Nancy Jansen, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 13. Alex Guardiola, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11e CC 14. Michelle Brown, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 15. Mary Ann Cameron, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 16. Jenny Pacillo, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to a portion of item #9a CC 17. Joseph Baldlander, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #9a CC 18. Kevin Ksen, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to a portion of item #9a CC and in opposition to item #8.1B CM 19. Kim McCoy, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 20. Michael Hawk, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.1B CM 21. Nicole Apostola, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to a portion of item #9e CC 22. Thomas Keating, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 23. David Molina, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #9a CC 24. William Blankenship, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #11e CC 25. Yenni Desroches, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to items #8.6A CM, #8.18A CM and in opposition to portions of item #9a CC

Philip Sciascia Jr. and Nadia Amrani request the portion of Locust Ave. from its intersection with Lake View St. up to and including 53 Locust Ave. be made public.

Tamara Torres request Richards St. be made one way street.

Rodrigo Vela request handicap parking space at the corner of Orne St. and Lincoln St. be reduced to the length of one car.

Kendall Deans et al. request removal of handicap parking space at the corner of Orne St. and Lincoln St.

Thomas Balliet request installation of handicap parking space large enough for two vehicles in front of 132 Paine St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of “No Right Turn” signage exiting Solferino St. onto Plantation St.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: HAWTHORNE ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: EXCHANGE ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: LEWIS ST.

Gordon Davis et al. request City Council request City Manager review the city ordinances pertaining to the Human Rights Commission's ability to conduct investigation discrimination complaints against City employees.

Gordon Davis et al. request City Council request City Manager provide a written copy of the City's anti-discrimination policy and procedures for filing discrimination policy and the procedures for filing a discrimination complaint against the City and its managers.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Barbara Haller to the License Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Edward L Moynihan, Francis J. Trapasso, David Hoffman as Constable.

Recommend the appointments of Mary Knittle, Evelyn Herwitz and Ted Conna to the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.

Recommend the appointment of Jully Khattar to the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Transmitting informational communication in response to Council Orders on rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and eviction / foreclosure diversion.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of an executive order to address and assess institutional and structural racism.

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

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on the annual city-wide line painting program.

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to Keep Worcester Clean (KWC) Six Month Activity Report for July - December 2021.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a “Save the Date” for the 2022 Arbor Day Celebration scheduled to be held on Friday, April 29, 2022.

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

Transmitting informational communication relative the number of homeless individuals in the City of Worcester in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the numbers of opioid fatalities in Worcester between 2020 and 2021.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a Green Worcester Plan APA Award.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Seven Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($707,000.00) be transferred from Account #330-08, Reserve for Appropriation Premium on Loans, and be appropriated to Account #660-92000, Treasury Ordinary Maintenance, to fund costs associated with the issuance of a municipal bond on February 1, 2022.

Recommend that Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($50,000.00) be transferred from Account #270-91000, Communications Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #270-92000, Communications Ordinary Maintenance, to fund building maintenance and operating costs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022.

Recommend that One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,000.00) be transferred from Account #150-91000, Elections Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #150-97000, Elections Overtime, to provide funding for overtime costs through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022.

Recommend that Forty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($40,000.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to Account #113-91000, Sustainability Salaries, to provide funding for payroll costs through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022.

Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk, transmitting an informational communication regarding updates concerning efforts to make the City Council office and City Council meetings more accessible to the public.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group EM – Executive Management for the Deputy Chief Of Public Facilities.

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)

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)

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. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose December 21, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty January 11, 2022 and Tabled - Petty January 18, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager considering creating an index of helpful information for residents to view, as it relates to housing and housing issues. – Item #16a 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 status of shopping carts left near the hotel on Oriol Dr. Further, request City Manager consider installing a camera near said hotel in an effort to curb illegal dumping in the area. – Item #16b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Health and Human Services provide City Council with a status report concerning the progresses made relative to the homeless population in the Upper Lincoln St. area, including information concerning the hotel on Oriol Dr. – Item #16c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request Standing Committee on Economic Development hold a public discussion concerning the future of electric vehicles in the city, including how to encourage their usage in the city and the future development of fossil-fuel automobile refueling stations. – Item #16d CC Referred to Economic Development Committee as amended on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nay

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether any changes have been made as it relates to how the city oversees and enforces snow removal on sidewalks at public buildings, as well as the compliance rate at public buildings and crosswalks. Further, request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools include in said report information concerning their processes for removing snow at their properties, as well as whether any planning is done to remove snow within a certain distance to aid children walking to school. – Item #16e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion King @ #8.1A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the training the city’s constables go through as part of their position.

Motion King @ #8.1A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the role constables have during issues of foreclosures and evictions, as well as what constables are and are not able to do by law in said situations.

Motion Nguyen @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report relative to the city’s homeless population concerning feedback from stakeholders, agencies and individuals impacted by homelessness, as well and an analysis of best practices and possible alternatives for working with homeless individuals, such as sanctioned encampments, as well as low threshold and supportive housing.

Motion King @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning whether the city has a legal responsibility to ensure homeless individuals moved off of encampments on public property are brought to other housing opportunities.

Motion King @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the recent work done relative to South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC).

Motion King @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what actions city’s schools are taking relative to youth homelessness in the city.

Motion Rose @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report identifying the challenges external stakeholders have relative addressing the issues surrounding the homeless population in the city.

Motion Toomey @ #8.18A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the costs, as well as the best practices, used by other cities and towns for homelessness outreach. Further, request City Manager meet with other cities and towns to ensure there are contributions made to the city from other municipalities whose homeless populations come to the city due to lack of services in their municipality.

Motion Colorio @ #8.19A CM – Request City Manager consider exploring access to fentanyl test strips for the Worcester Police and Public Health and Human Services departments. Further, request City Manager determine whether the city could collaborate with any existing pilot programs regarding same.

Motion Colorio @ #8.19A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the number of opioid fatalities in the city in 2022 at the conclusion of the year.

Motion King @ #8.19A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning work being done by the city relative to overdose prevention sites, as well as Community Resources for Justice (CRJ) housing.

Motion Rose @ #8.19A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report exploring the potential of expanding Recreation Worcester’s programming, including information concerning any additional funding required to do so.

Motion Russell @ #9a CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the City Clerk to provide City Council with a report concerning what actions, if any, can be taken to ensure individuals calling into various City Council and Standing Committee meetings virtually can be properly identified.

Motion King @ #9a CC – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the best practices used by other communities to contact their local representatives.

Motion Mero-Carlson – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why the city did not receive any notification of a blackout in the upper Lincoln St. and Burncoat St. neighborhood, which lasted twenty-one (21) hours.

Motion Mero-Carlson – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the events that took place leading to four million gallons of sewage going into Lake Quinsigamond. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning what action have occurred to mitigate the issue, what will be done to ensure it does not happen again and what environmental impact this may have on Lake Quinsigamond.

Motion King – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the state and federal supports the city is receiving relative to the sewage going into Lake Quinsigamond. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning the part other municipalities that border Lake Quinsigamond are taking in said issue.

Motion Russell – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why the city did not immediately communicate with its residents who are serviced by the pump station that had sewage go into Lake Quinsigamond to cut down on their water usage until a solution was found.

Motion Russell – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a detailed report concerning all actions previously completed to mitigate sewage being brought into Lake Quinsigamond, as well as what actions needed to be completed to ensure it does not happen again.