CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:45 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 7:42 P.M. Adjourned from Executive Session: 8:32 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 February 15, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10.14A CM 2. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10.36B CM and in favor of item #10.37C CM 3. Claire Schaeffer-Duffy, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC 4. Nick Cantrell, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC 5. David Macheski, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC 6. Paul Popinchalk, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC

Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: LAGRANGE ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: LAGRANGE ST.

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

That the City Council convene in Executive Session at the Tuesday, March 8, 2022, meeting for the purpose of discussing litigation strategy with respect to the case of City of Worcester v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al.; Massachusetts Superior Court Department Business Litigation Session, No. 1984CV00543-BLS2; and be it further ordered that the City Council convene in Executive Session at the aforementioned meeting for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to contract negotiations with N.E.P.B.A. Local 9-1-1, Worcester Police Officers; and the City Council will reconvene in open session.

James Frederickson et al. request Umbagog Dr. be made public.

Anette Mystiwia and Elvira DiLiddo request Chequesset Rd. be made public.

Anette Mystiwia and Elvira DiLiddo request Pocono Rd. be made public.

Elizabeth Molinari request installation of a street light on Officer Manny Familia Way between Worcester Technical High School after the school speed hump and the intersection with Belmont St.

Ligor Gaba request removal of utility pole in front of 1211 Main St.

Michelle Narvaez Ramos request the property at 388 Plantation St. be made eligible to receive a resident permit parking sticker for the existing resident permit parking zone on Dominion Rd.

Paul Gunnerson request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 512 Mill St.

Julianie Rodriguez request Portland St. be made one way street.

Evan Corrigan request City Council request City Manager establish a municipal ID program.

Recommend City Council's authorization to establish a Police Cadet Program by filing special legislation to authorize appointments of police cadets, under special circumstances, to the Worcester police force.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of January 31, 2022.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Twenty One Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Seven Dollars And Seventy Six Cents ($721,387.76) be transferred from Account #91C711F, Library Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #11C70201, Public Facilities - Library Building Rehabilitation.

Recommend that Two Hundred Ninety Six Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Eight Dollars And Fifty Six Cents ($296,338.56) be transferred from Loan Account #91C744A, Off Street Parking Meters, and be appropriated to DPW Account #46C705, Off Street Equipment, to allow for the contractually obligated payments associated with new pay stations throughout the city.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept and expend a FY2021-2022 U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Planning Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in an amount up to Ten Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($10,000.00) to support training and exercise planning.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of one vehicle from Lou’s Custom Exhaust for use by WPD's Alcohol Enforcement Unit with an approximate value of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($2,500.00).

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation of bicycle helmets for youth and adults with an estimated value of Three Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($3,000.00) from the Walmart Superstore, Worcester.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude the donation of water safety/rescue equipment with an estimated value of Three Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($3,000.00) from Waves of Hope for the Worcester Police Department to promote water safety and prevent boating and open water tragedies.

Recommend that Eighty Four Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Five Dollars And Thirty Eight Cents ($84,265.38) be transferred from Account #112-93000, Public Facilities Capital Outlay, and be appropriated to Account #112-92000, Public Facilities Ordinary Maintenance.

Recommend that Sixteen Thousand One Hundred Fourteen Dollars And Sixty Cents ($16,114.60) be transferred from Parks Account #720-91000, Park Salaries, and be appropriated to Golf Account #710-94000, Golf Debt Service, to cover costs through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the opportunities available on municipal boards and commissions.

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 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty March 1, 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 and March 1, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - 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. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera March 1, 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 outlining the systemic barriers the city and homeless individuals are faced with when trying to assist accessing various services. – Item #16a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – 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. – Item #16b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager hold discussions concerning options available to create unique housing opportunities in the city, through grants and other means, in an effort to provide increased access to housing in the city. – Item #16c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Etel Hahiaj – 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. – Item #16d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any liabilities associated with the creation of a youth snow shoveling program. – Item #16e CC Order adopted

Motion King @ #10.37D CM – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with an update concerning any inroads made relative to the Worcester Police Department securing water safety equipment.

Motion King @ #11a CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report back in support of the protocols, procedures and interfacing City Council has with federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety entities in regards to City Council’s endeavors relating to instances where emergency preparedness is necessary in the midst of a national security threat, be it imminent or not so imminent.

Motion Petty – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager and City Auditor provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city has any investments in Russia or Russian-owned entities.

Motion Petty – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the cyber security measures in place in the city.

Motion King – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report regarding the position of the Chief Diversity Officer, in the interest of position retention. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning exit interviews associated with said position and any barriers or concerns identified in said interviews that were or were not addressed.