CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:35 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:29 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 March 15, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Richard Shea, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC 2. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a CC and item #10h CC 3. Carl Goldstein, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8c CC 4. Nick Cantrell, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8c CC 5. Tracy O’Rourke, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8c CC 6. Dahlee Dahash, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #11a

That the City Council does hereby convene in Executive Session at the Tuesday, March 29, 2022 meeting for the purpose of discussing the contract for the next interim City Manager, Eric D. Batista, with a term to begin June 1, 2022, for a period of nine (9) months; and the City Council will not reconvene in open session.

Kendra Nkrumah request cherry blossom trees be planted in front of South High Community High School.

Olivia Roberts request West Boylston St. from O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar, 1160 West Boylston St. to the West Boylston town line be repaved.

Councilor Etel Haxhiaj request installation of a crosswalk on Pleasant St. in the vicinity of the Charlotte Klein Dance Centers, located at 1124-1126 Pleasant St.

Councilor Etel Haxhiaj request the establishment of and installation of signage for a school zone at Mill Swan Head Start school at 337 Mill St., to ensure the safety of children, parents, caretakers and staff.

Rain Vanmoll request installation of handicap parking space in front of 5 Merrifield St.

David Porter request installation of speed limit signage on Pitt St. from Cambridge St. to Sherman St.

Tara Berry et al. request installation of four-way stop sign at the intersection of Arthur St. and Dorchester St.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: MAIN ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: WHIPPOORWILL DR.

Carl Rushton request City Council request City Manager look into the feasibility of providing parking passes for the parishioners at St. Paul's Cathedral (38 High St.) at the Federal Plaza parking garage.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Manager provide City Council with an audit of the current PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreements that are active over the last ten years, as well as which agreements are inactive and any further details that could inform the City Council.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Clerk explore the feasibility of providing multi-language options for the City Council meeting videos, including providing subtitles.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Clerk consider including information relative to State Representatives, the State Delegation and any changes in School Committee districting, if and when it occurs, in the mapping of the “Find My City Councilor” application.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning access to analytics from Facebook livestreaming and touchpoints regarding Standing Committee meetings.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning how many eligible voters reside in each current district. Further, request City Clerk compare and contrast the impact the new City Council districts would have on said numbers.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the strategies the department will use to educate the public as to the new district council lines, for civic engagement purposes.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS - Request City Manager include the name of the Department Heads of each department on City Council agenda headings.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Clerk contact the petitioner to refile petition for removal of handicap parking space in front of 7 Winthrop St.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Police Chief provide increased traffic enforcement on Fairmont Ave.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks fix the signage at the intersection of Lincoln St. and Catherine St.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks conduct a traffic study on Ernest Ave. concerning the feasibility of installing a weight-restriction on said street.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review traffic signage in the vicinity of 83 Ernest Ave.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks send public notices to residents to communicate the reason why the locations were chosen to install speed humps.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of expanding the speed humps program to provide speed humps to six (6) streets per district and the approximate cost for the expansion, establishing a system for review of metrics, methods to remove speed humps signage, and notifying the residents of the speed humps process.

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby appoint Eric D. Batista the next interim City Manager, with a term to begin June 1, 2022, for a period of nine (9) months. (Petty)

Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the procedures and timelines followed during the 1993, 2004 and 2013-2014 City Manager searches and appointments. (Petty)

Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee hold a discussion regarding pending state legislation, including home rule petitions, impacting the city. (King)

Request City Manager consider implementing strategies to encourage more city residents, especially women, minoritized people, people with disabilities and protected veterans, to apply for the city’s vacancies on boards and commissions. Further, request City Manager include as part of said strategies workshops within the community that educate residents of said vacancies as well as the responsibilities associated with belonging to said boards and commissions. (Rivera)

Request City Manager consider providing extensive training to residents recently appointed to the city’s boards and commissions that includes but is not limited to the procedures outlined within Robert’s Rules of Order relative to public meetings, the Open Meeting Law (OML) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) sensitivity training. (Rivera)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks conduct a city infrastructure audit in the Main South TDI district, including the area between Wellington St. and Allen St. along Main St., as well as the side streets of that area up to one block that identifies the feasibility of improving upon the following: 1) Replacing and/or installing additional street signage; 2) Identifying crosswalks that are faded and need to be repainted, as well as installing additional crosswalks where appropriate; 3) Identifying sidewalks that may need to be added to the Master Sidewalk Resurfacing List; 4) Determining the appropriateness of installing additional streetlights; and 5) Determining any other pertinent issues within the scope of the audit. Further, request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the findings of said audit. (Rivera)

Request Standing Committee on Education meet jointly with the School Committee’s Standing Committee on Finance and Operations for the purpose of reviewing matters pertaining to public education, the public libraries, arts, culture and higher education listed on their agenda. (Nguyen)

Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with an update concerning the city’s pending home rule petition relative to the city’s School Committee redistricting process. Said update should include information regarding the effect the passing of the March 21, 2022 deadline for the drawing of the School Committee district lines passing has on the process, as well as the general process outlined within the consent decree. Further, request City Manager request City Solicitor provide in said update the status of selecting a consultant to aid in redrawing the School Committee district lines. (King)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the proposed Fair Share Amendment that would create an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by this tax to quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation. (King, Haxhiaj, Nguyen)

Joseph M. Petty, Mayor, transmitting a communication requesting City Council to accept the Letter of Resignation from Edward M. Augustus, Jr. as City Manager, effective May 31, 2022.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Auditor transmitting the city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the year ended June 30, 2021 audited by the Certified Public Accountant firm of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Auditor transmitting the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Worcester Retirement System (WRS) for the year ended December 31, 2020 audited by the Certified Public Accountant firm of ClifftonLarsonAllen, LLP: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the 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: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Clerk transmitting an informational communication concerning the total number of public participants in City Council meetings from 2016 to present: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Clerk transmitting an informational communication concerning the district city council maps that are approved and finalized for the Five City Council districts by Local Election District Review Commission (LEDRC): recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Communication of the City Clerk transmitting an informational communication relative to an update concerning the 2020 re-districting process: recommend Communication be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Report of the Committee on Economic Development Upon the Communication of Mayor Joseph M. Petty transmitting "A Report of the Discussions of the Mayor's Tax Policy Committee"; recommend to refer to the Standing Committee on Municipal Operations the portions of the Mayor’s Tax Policy Communication relating to the following: 1.) Commonwealth Compensation for the Provision of Regional Social Services; 2.) Chapter 70 Funding Reform; 3.) State Pilot Payments; 4.) Expanding Local Pilot Program; 5.) Tax Relief Programs; 6.) Consolidation; 7.) Creating a Penny Sales Tax and; 8.) Moving Multi-Unit Housing from Residential to Commercial Tax Rate: recommend Report be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MUNICIPAL AND LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS Upon the Petition of Todd Holland request all City of Worcester agendas include the name of the specific person(s) or department presenting on each item in a given agenda: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Thomas Xhupi request installation of "No Parking Here to Corner" signage in front of 325 Pleasant St. on the Merrick St. side: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Order of Councilor Donna M. Colorio - Request Standing Committee on Traffic and Parking hold a public hearing to discuss the Speed Hump Pilot Program, including issues relative to the impact installing speed humps had on the streets involved in the pilot program, the process for petitioning City Council to be part of any future speed hump program and the feasibility of expanding the program: recommend Order be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of the Grafton Hill Neighborhood Association request consideration of reversing the one way direction of traffic on Fairmont Ave. off of Hamilton St. leading to Grafton St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of George Cortes request removal of handicap parking space in the vicinity of 258 Belmont St., with the re-installation of "No Parking Anytime" in its place on Belmont St. from Seabury Heights to the junction of Shrewsbury and Belmont St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kendall Deans et al. request removal of handicap parking space at the corner of Orne St. and Lincoln St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Rodrigo Vela request handicap parking space at the corner of Orne St. and Lincoln St. be reduced to the length of one car: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Tanya McCauthy and Nydaja Ramos request removal of handicap parking space in front of 9 Winthrop St: recommend Petition be filed.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the 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 the Report be filed.

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj - Request City Manager contact the appropriate representatives from Eversource to determine the feasibility of the company sending written communication to the residents of Flagg St. detailing the timeline for construction on the street, including ample written notification to residents whose backyards the company need to access, as well as how Eversource plans to assist landscaping in excavated areas. (Tabled Under Privilege - Haxhiaj March 15, 2022 and March 22, 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 request Police Chief provide City Council with an update concerning the timeframe for when all Worcester Police Department (WPD) vehicles will be equipped with water safety devices to assist law enforcement in water-related emergencies, as well as related costs associated with same. – Item #14a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a draft ordinance allowing for the administration to predetermine and factor in abatement amounts when providing assessment bills from private street conversions. – Item #14b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the impact inflation is having on the city’s bottom line, projects and budgeting. – Item #14c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Donna M. Colorio – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report comparing taxes collected over the last three years to determine whether more individuals and companies are defaulting on their taxes. – Item #14d CC Order adopted

Motion Haxhiaj @ #8c CC – Request City Manager reach out to MassDOT to provide City Council with historical information as to the potential installation of a crosswalk in the vicinity of Charlotte Klein Dance Center at 1122 Pleasant St.

Motion Haxhiaj @ #8d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the history of potentially installing a school zone at Mill Swan Head Start School, located at 337 Mill St.

Motion Russell @ #8g CC – Request City Manager review signage at the intersection of Arthur St. and Dorchester St. for missing stop signs.