CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:35 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 7:01 P.M. Reconvened to Open Session: 7:44 P.M. Adjourned: 9:21 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Prior to the Star Spangled Banner, the Ukrainian National Anthem was played in the Esther Howland (South) Chamber to show support for the country, as it faces an invasion by the Russian military. Mayor Petty also read a statement relative to a vigil held in front of Worcester City Hall earlier in the day.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of February 8, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10a CC 2. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #10c CC and #10d CC, as well as in opposition of item #10f CC and #13a CC 3. Jason Richard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #15f CC 4. Kevin Ksen, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to #6a CC 5. Elaine Baskin, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10b CC

ORDER – That the City Council convene in Executive Session at the March 1, 2022 meeting for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to contract negotiations with I.A.F.F. Local 1009, Worcester Fire Fighters and the City Council will reconvene in open session.

Sergio Melgar, Executive Vice President & CFO of UMass Memorial Healthcare, Inc., request the Zoning Map be amended by revising the zoning designation of a parcel of land known as and located at 378 Plantation St. from RL-7 to IN-H in its entirety.

Philip Massad et al. request Grand St. from the southeasterly line of Illinois St. southeasterly to the railroad property be discontinued as a public way and removed from the Office Map.

David Chearo, on behalf of Clark University, request Woodland St. from 151 Woodland St. to the intersection of Woodland St. and Main St. be given honorary street name Jack Foley Way.

Carl Gomes request the sidewalks from the intersection of West Boylston Dr. and Mattson Ave. to the intersection of West Boylston Dr. and Merril Rd. be reviewed to ensure they are ADA compliant.

Gwendolyn Bui request installation of Slow Down signage on Seattle St.

Michael Grandone request installation of electric traffic light at the intersection of Sunderland Rd. and Massasoit Rd.

Hassan Ijaz request installation of speed signage at entries and exits of Chilmark St.

Hassan Ijaz request installation of speed humps at entries and exits of Chilmark St.

Bashkim Kaba request installation of handicap parking space in front of 15 Homer St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request the “One Hour” paid parking zone in front of 332 Main St. be changed to a “15 Minute” paid parking zone.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: LAGRANGE ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: BURNCOAT ST., WAWECUS RD., BARNARD RD. & BURNCOAT TER.

Carl Gomes request City Council request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks establish a Master Plan for the parcel of land located at 149 West Boylston Dr.

Carl Gomes request City Council request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review the recommendations from Indian Lake Walk Audit sponsored by the Indian Lake Community Association.

Michael Grandone request City Council request City Manager mandate all department heads to submit to him a list of all various machinery, computers, devices, etc. within their departments be placed upon a list for scheduled visible inspection as preventive maintenance on a quarterly basis with the forethought of corrective repair or replacement before a breakdown happens.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Anthony Dell'Aera to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Michael W. Dugan to Constable.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Lovo D. Koliego to the Elder Affairs Commission.

Recommend the appointments of Stephanie Covino, Deirdra Murphy, and Nathan Fournier to the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.

Recommend the appointment of Esther Boama-Myarko to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women.

Recommend adoption of an amendment to the table of organization of Human Resources Department by adding a Staff Assistant II position.

Transmitting informational communication relative to Economic Development Initiatives.

Transmitting informational communication relative to housing and neighborhood activities.

Transmitting informational communication relative to semi annual TIF/TIE reporting.

Transmitting informational communication relative to street art in various underpasses in the City.

Recommend adoption of an Order relative to the sale of 146 Goddard Memorial Drive.

Recommend adoption of an Order relative to the release of deed restrictions at 809 and 811-813 Main Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to installation of signage at East Park detailing the hours of operation

Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Construction Progress Report for month ending January 31, 2022

Transmitting informational communication relative to the homeless population on upper Lincoln Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on power outage that occurred February 4, 2022 through February 6, 2022 in the area of Lincoln Street and adjacent streets.

Recommend adoption of a proposed ordinance concerning the compensation of the Cultural Development Officer.

Recommend that Sixty One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy One Dollars And Ten Cents ($61,671.10) be transferred from Account #91C7804, Citywide Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #27C701, Communications Capital Equipment, to fund the purchase of a department vehicle.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Four Hundred Seventy Five Dollars And Sixty Eight Cents ($475.68) from FEMA for Worcester Fire Department personnel to attend a Management and Safety in Response to Hazardous Materials/WMD Incidents training course.

Recommend City Council accept with gratitude an in-kind donation valued at Four Hundred Seventy Five Thousand And No Cents ($475,000.00) from Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF) via Mass Development's Underutilized Property Program (UPP).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a grant in an amount up to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($250,000.00) from MassDOT under the Shared Streets and Spaces program program.

Recommend that Five Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($500,000.00) be transferred from Account #260-93000, Fire Capital Outlay, and be appropriated to Account #260-92000, Fire Ordinary Maintenance, to fund the purchase of safety equipment for the upcoming firefighter recruit class.

Recommend that Thirteen Thousand Nine Hundred Forty Dollars And No Cents ($13,940.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to Account #260101-92000, Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance, to provide sufficient funds associated with the Lexipol Service Agreement for Fire Learning Platform Services.

Recommend that Eighty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($80,000.00) be transferred from Account #270-91000, Communications Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #270-97000, Communications Overtime, to cover overtime costs for the remainder of the year.

Recommend that Eighty Two Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($82,000.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to various Communications accounts to provide funding for the purchase of equipment necessary for further improvements.

Request City Manager consider allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to establish a down payment assistance program for first time homeowners in owner occupied properties that would assist current Worcester residents with substantial down payments. Further, request City Manager provide additional assistance of up to three (3) times the regular amount for each homebuyer who would become their family's first generation of homeowners. (Russell, Rose, Rivera, Toomey)

Request City Manager consider creating neighborhood/district ad hoc committees to assist with zoning ordinance changes resulting from and pursuant to the "10 Year Master Plan." Further, request City Manager consider that meetings also be planned in district/neighborhoods regarding same. (Bergman, Haxhiaj)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks consider creating a 24/7 “pot hole” priority repair hotline. (Bergman)

Request City Manager consider creating a winter youth “pay to shovel“ program to assist the elderly and disabled homeowners in removing snow from their sidewalks and to provide income opportunities to our youth in doing same. (Bergman)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any actions taken relative to the installation of a playground at the Goddard School of Worcester, located at 287 Grove St. (Rivera)

Request Standing Committee on Public Health and Human Services meet quarterly with the Department of Public Health and the Board of Health in an effort to discuss public health issues within the city, including but not limited to the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Project. (Rivera)

Request City Manager request Chief Development Officer work with various stakeholders, including but not limited to the community and the City Council, to create policy solutions that advance racial equity in housing. (Rivera)

Request City Manager consider utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create a rent-to-own program, which would also incorporate a sweat equity component for those wishing to purchase a three decker in the city that is not fully rented out, which would open up more apartments and home ownership availability. (Toomey)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support and recognize March of 2022 as Women’s History Month in the city of Worcester and that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby call upon its public officials, community members and residents to observe in the celebration of Women’s History Month by participating in the various happenings that honor the many achievements of women throughout history. (Petty)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support and recognize March of 2022 as National Disability Awareness Month in the city of Worcester and that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby call upon its public officials, community members and residents to observe in the celebration of National Disability Awareness Month by participating in the various happenings that honor the many achievements of persons with disabilities in our community. (Rose)

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group M – Recreation for all seasonal employees commencing calendar year 2022. Amending the Salary Ordinance Of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group R – Laborer And Craftsman for Temporary Laborers.

RESOLUTION of Councilor Sean M. Rose - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby call upon our federal leaders and our nation to make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of our national security policy and join the global effort to prevent nuclear war, as outlined in the Back from the Brink campaign, by: 1) Renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first; 2) Establishing a system of checks and balances ensuring that the President of the United States no longer has the sole and unchecked authority to launch nuclear weapons; 3) Taking US nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert; 4) Cancelling the plan to replace the entire United States nuclear arsenal with next-generation nuclear weapons; and 5) Actively pursuing a verifiable and multilateral agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate nuclear arsenals. Further, that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and calls upon the United States federal government to join the treaty. Further, that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby authorize the passage of this resolution be considered by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for the ICAN Save Cities Campaign, joining cities from around the world in formally supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rose February 15, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Richard Phan request light pole #1 on Homer St. be relocated approximately 35' to the right, beyond the front steps of 174 Park Ave. toward Park Ave., or across the street, to allow for the installation of a driveway: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order. (Tabled Under Privilege - Russell February 15, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Petition of Daniel A Buduo, Jr. request abatement of street betterment assessment #25696 in the amount of $15,000.00 for Toronita Ave: recommend Petition be denied. (Tabled Under Privilege - Russell February 15, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey on behalf of Joan Bertrand request a traffic study at the intersection of Lincoln St. and Catherine St: recommend Petition be filed. (Tabled Under Privilege - Colorio February 15, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a stop sign on Agate Ave. where the road makes a sharp right turn, in the vicinity of 2 Agate Ave: recommend Petition be filed. (Tabled Under Privilege - Colorio February 15, 2022)

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)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning various timelines associated with actions the city is taking to address and assess institutional and structural racism. – Item #24a 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 an update relative to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning removing School Resource Officers (SROs) from the city’s schools. Further, request City Manager include in said update access to any drafts of the MOU and information as to how outcomes will be measured. – Item #24b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with an update of the ongoing efforts to mitigate issues associated with the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station. Said update should include information relative to why said sewer pumping station was put in that location, whether there is an odor at Lake Quinsigamond and the failure at the sewer pumping station’s effect on the lake’s ecological system. – Item #24c 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 Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a reoccurring report relative to the ongoing challenges and gains associated with the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station, including information relative to whether any fish kills have occurred. – Item #24d 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 whether residents on the Shrewsbury side of Lake Quinsigamond are connected to sewage. – Item #24e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact the Speed Hump Pilot Program had on the neighborhoods where the speed jumps were placed. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning the pros and cons of installing speed humps on said streets. – Item #24f CC Order adopted as amended on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose – Request City Manager explore whether there is “Baby Safe Haven” signage at the city’s Police Department Headquarters. – Item #24g CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio – Request City Clerk provide additional information with items being reported out of various Standing Committees in which additional work will be completed beyond the scope of the item, such as work orders. – Item #24h CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion King @ #9.11A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council outlining the systemic barriers the city and homeless individuals are faced with when trying to assist accessing various services.

Motion Toomey @ #9.11A CM – Request City Manager work with the Station Delegation to explore the feasibility of receiving monies from other cities and towns whose homeless populations receive services in the city.

Motion Toomey @ #9.11A CM – Request City Manager work with the Station Delegation to explore the feasibility of receiving monies from other cities and towns whose homeless populations receive services in the city.

Motion Haxhiaj @ #10a CC – Request City Manager take into account the various racial and ethnic factors certain communities have endured when allocating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to issues around housing, such as rental and down payment assistance. Further, request City Manager provide data outlining the importance of equity in housing to any ad hoc committees that will be included in ARPA funding decisions.

Motion Toomey @ #10d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any liabilities associated with the creation of a youth snow-shoveling program.