CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:34 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 7:44 P.M. Reconvened in Open Session: 8:01 P.M. Adjourned: 8:01 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 29, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10c CC 2. Cedric Arno, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9u CC 3. Gregory Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9j CC 4. Phoebe Ricker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #20e CC through #20h CC 5. Chris Bates, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #20e CC through #20h CC

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: STATE ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: STATE ST.

That the City Council does hereby convene in Executive Session at the Tuesday, April 12, 2022, meeting for the purpose of discussing the strategy and to negotiate the contract for the next Acting City Manager, Eric D. Batista with a term to begin on June 1, 2022 remaining until a permanent City Manager is appointed. The City Council will not reconvene in open session. (Tabled Under Privilege March 29, 2022 - Nguyen and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty April 5, 2022)

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of a public shade tree on Aitchison St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of two (2) public shade trees in front of American Legion Post 201, 326 Plantation St.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of seven (7) public shade trees along Franklin St. from Brown Square to the David Clark Company, 360 Franklin St.

Christopher McGovern request installation of large decorative boulder in front of 230 Salisbury St.

Brendan Gove and Dale Benander request request the Zoning Map be amended by extending the Business General (BG-3.0) and Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Elsewhere (CCOD-E) onto a parcel located at 17 Hermon St.

Steven Rothschild, Trustee of More Bricks Realty Trust, request the Zoning Map be amended by changing the zoning designation of the property located at and known as 24, 36 and 40 Jackson St. from the current zoning designation of Manufacturing, General (MG-2.0) to Business, General (BG-6.0) and Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Downtown (CCOD-D), as shown on the plan attached hereto.

Mark Borenstein, Esq. request the Zoning Map be amended by changing the zoning designation of the property located at and known as 96 and 98-100 Beacon St. from the current zoning designation of Manufacturing, General (MG-2.0) to Business, General (BG-6.0) and Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Downtown (CCOD-D), as shown on the plan attached hereto.

Amanda Shearstone request City Council request City Manager consider crafting an ordinance to allow chickens in residential communities.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request installation of a new street light fixed to wood pole 11, on Westborough St., in the area of Pioneer Rd.

Gregory Degermajian request the sidewalks at 28 and 30 Hartshorn Avenue be reviewed.

Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request Franklin St. from Harrington Field to the end of the road be resurfaced.

Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey request installation of a stop sign on Pioneer Rd. at the intersection of Westborough St.

Councilor George J. Russell request installation of “No Parking Anytime” signage on both sides of Jolma Rd.

Stephen Herriage et al. request installation of handicap parking space in front of Genesis Club House, Inc. (274 Lincoln St.)

Tony Farnsworth et al. request installation of "Slow Children Playing" signage on Third St. at the bottom of the hill.

Tony Farnsworth et al. request installation of speed limit signage on Third St. at the bottom of the hill.

Chris Farnsworth et al. request installation of speed hump on Third St. at the bottom of the hill.

CROWN CASTLE NG EAST, LLC. for a conduit location on: SEVER ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: RICHARDS ST.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: MELVILLE ST.

Cedric Arno request City Council request City Manager cease and desist making any further decisions concerning awarding and/or allotting awards to a vendor, contractor, subcontractor, business agent, non-profit entity, college or university and/or individuals that will potentially receive any and all monies from ARPA funding.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request City Manager provide City Council with a presentation of a video from the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Terry O’Toole concerning the REACH program.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request City Manager request Director of Public Health coordinate with the Mayor to invite the CDC Chief of Program Development and Evaluation in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity to the meeting for the purposes of presenting him with a Key to City.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Request City Manager consider providing cabinet members with opportunities to enroll in the Foundational Training Course offered by the Worcester Trauma, Resiliency and Racial Equity Training Institute.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS - Request City Manager consider introducing City Councilors to the management at the Emergency Communications and Management Department and provide a way for City Council to contact the department staff on a daily basis.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks include information concerning trash collection on resident notices.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning what other municipalities are doing to address nuisances and illegal dumping issues.

Request City Council proceed forthwith with the selection of a permanent City Manager by initiating and completing a process for said selection to include the appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee, as outlined in Rule 50 of the Rules of City Council regarding Ad Hoc Committees, including the Mayor selecting the composition of said Ad Hoc Committee; the purpose of the committee being to determine the following: 1) The Ad Hoc Committee will exist until such a time that a permanent City Manager is appointed. 2) The inclusion of the following procedures: A. Review of the prior processes used in the selection of a City Manager in 1993, 2004 and 2013-2014 and report to City Council regarding a timetable for the following steps: i. Provide for an opportunity for community input relative to the search process for a permanent City Manager. ii. Placement of an Request for Proposals (RFP) for a search firm to aid in the search process; iii. Ad Hoc Committee to review of responses for said RFP; selection of a search firm and entering into a contract with said search firm. iv. Ad Hoc Committee to provide the selected search firm with a copy of specifications and a job description for the permanent City Manager, including best practices used in other search processes; v. Ad Hoc Committee to review the list of potential candidates for the permanent City Manager position, provided by the search firm in Executive Session, for interviewing said potential candidates in said Executive Session. vi. Final referral of a recommendation of finalists to be interviewed in Open Session by the entire City Council, followed by a vote to determine the selection for the position of a permanent City Manager. (Petty)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend its meeting schedule to cancel its May 17, 2022 and May 31, 2022 meetings for the purpose of holding Standing Committee on Finance meetings relative to the FY 2023 Budget. Further, that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend its meeting schedule to make its May 24, 2022 and June 7, 2022 meetings joint agendas. (Petty)

Request City Council authorize and create a community ad-hoc committee to engage Worcester residents in the process of hiring a city manager, do community listening sessions in all five districts, and provide a report with feedback and data to city council. (Nguyen)

Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report as to what "effective competition" is in regards to local control in regulating cable television rates. (Bergman, Rivera)

Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report as to the number of buses that are handicapped accessible, the number of vehicles available for para transportation and if best practice methods are used to determine same. (Bergman, Rivera)

Request City Manager conduct a focused, interdepartmental response to nuisance issues, including trash concerns, in the neighborhoods along Belmont St. from Olga Ave. to Rodney St. (Mero-Carlson)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks conduct a traffic study at Burncoat St.’s intersection with North Parkway and Randolph Rd. for the purpose of improving pedestrian safety at said intersection for students walking to Burncoat Middle School and Burncoat High School. Said traffic study should be conducted during student pickup and drop-off for said schools. (Mero-Carlson, Rose)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the city plans to continue the work being done relative to the Chief Diversity Officer position when the Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista’s term begins. (Rivera)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the Worcester Police Department’s curriculum for their Cadet Program. (Rivera)

Request City Clerk, with the assistance of the City Solicitor, provide City Council with a report relative to the process of placing a binding question on a Ballot in 2022 regarding any Charter changes. (Russell)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a status update concerning a new school safety plan that features School Liaison Officers, including the interim memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City and the School Department. (King)

That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby declares the week of April 10 through 16, 2022, to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the city, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep the city and its citizens safe. (Toomey)

Recommends approval of the firm of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP for annual auditing services for the City Auditor for fiscal years 2022 through 2024.

Transmitting an informational communication relative to the process and timeline that the City Council followed during the 1993, 2004 and 2014 City Manager search and appointment process.

Edward M. Augustus, Jr., City Manager, transmitting an informational communication concerning how the city’s recently passed ordinance relative to facial recognition technology applies to the use of drones.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communications relative to a report based on a collaborative effort between Inspectional Services and the Department of Public Works, as well as recommended adoption of two (2) Ordinance Amendments, prepared by City Solicitor Michael E. Traynor, based on suggested recommendation from the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, the Director of Housing and Health, and the Commissioner of Public Works: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Communication of the City Manager Transmitting informational communication relative to safety improvements at the intersection of Heard Street and Clover Street: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Barbara Szydlik and Marek Szymborski request installation of handicap parking space in front of 92 Perry Ave: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Carmen Santiago request installation of handicap parking sign in front of 34 Beacon St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Celeste Burke request installation of a handicap parking space across from 132 Maywood St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson request installation of stop signs at the intersection of Coburn Ave. and Ayrshire Rd: recommend passage of accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Idella Hazard request the handicap parking space in the vicinity of 68 Providence St. be removed: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Councilor George J. Russell on behalf of Nick D’Andrea request removal of the “No Turn on Red” sign at the end of Blithewood Ave. at Grafton St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Danielle Orlando request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 49 Richland St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Dennis Sullivan et al. request installation of handicap parking space in front of 15 Delaware St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Frantzy Merisier request installation of handicap parking space in front of 49 Freeland St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Elizabeth Plonski et al. request installation of No Parking Anytime on both sides of the street from 7A Revere St. to 9D Revere St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Helen Given et al. request installation of No Parking Here to Corner signage for at least two car lengths on both sides of Fairlawn Dr. at the intersection of Fairlawn Dr. and June St: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Hoi Nguyen request installation of handicap parking space in front of 21 Vineyard St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Hoi Nguyen request removal of handicap parking space in front of 63A King St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Iris Estrada request removal of handicap parking space in front of 53 Upsala St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Jose Blanco and Jaqueline Alvarez request installation of handicap parking space in front of 1 Kingsbury St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Kristina Wieslander on behalf of Joan Wieslander request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 123 Brookline St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Margaret Brooks request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 13 Eureka St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Mark Kaczmarczyk request removal of the handicap parking space in front of 13 Jones St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Pamela Francil and Pamela Cannalonga request installation of handicap parking space in front of 7 Dayton St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Robin Paquette request installation of handicap parking space in front of 165 Austin St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on Genessee St., with No Parking Anytime installed on Genesee St. on the north side between Ludlow St. and James St. and No Parking Anytime installed on Genesee St. on the south side between Ludlow St. and a point 280’ west of James St. (Amended December 15, 2021): recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on James St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Robert Mura et al. request installation of a two-hour parking zone on Ludlow St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Roberta Adams request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 197 Eastern Ave: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Sandra Davis request installation of handicap parking space in front of 20 Berkeley St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Sindy Santos request installation of handicap parking space in front of 14 Chadwick St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Susan Kendrick et al. request installation of handicap parking space across from 70 Everard St. (Amended January 19, 2022 from in front of 70 Everard St.): recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Thomas McGee request removal of handicap parking space in front of 22 Loring St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Thu Tran request removal of handicap parking space in front of 4 Mott St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Thu Tran request removal of handicap parking space in front of 4 South Ward St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Wilberto Maldonado request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 26 New Vista Ln: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Winifred Octave request installation of resident permit parking on the odd side of Northampton St. between Westminster St. and Windsor St: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal. (Tabled Under Privilege - King April 5, 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 Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the City Clerk to review the process for placing a binding question on the November 8, 2022 ballot order that will allow Worcester voters to determine the adoption of the Community Preservation Act. – Item #15a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 3 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing and outlining the transitory operational succession plan for the Office of the City Manager, including how the cabinet will be operationalized. – Item #15b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager request Purchasing Agent prepare documents for a Request for Proposals (RFP) for premiere executive search firms to aid in an executive search to select a permanent City Manager and search process, if the City Council decides to move forward with said RFP. – Item #15c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Council work with a selected premiere executive search firm to create, designate and obtain a list of job qualifications routinely required in the attainment of a permanent City Manager in order to aid the City Council in the selection process. Further, request City Council review best practices used in the city of Cambridge during their City Manager search. – Item #15d CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning conversations had relative to best practices, challenges and benefits for bringing forth an unmanned aircraft system proposal. - Item #15e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how any use of an unmanned aircraft system would affect the work practitioners do with houseless individuals. – Item #15f CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion as to how the city’s recently passed ordinance relative to facial recognition technology applies to the use of drones. – Item #15g 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 number of drones in the city, as well as how often they are used and any other pertinent information kept by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). - Item #15h CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report detailing the training curriculum, including the presentation and materials, which will be used for the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera Program. – Item #15i CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Motion Nguyen @ #15a CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the draft of any policy, practices and procedures that the Police Department intends to use, should drones be acquired. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief include in said report a copy of the grant that would be used to pay for said drones.

Motion King @ #15a CC – Request City Manager request Police Chief strike from any policies relative to unmanned aircraft systems the searching of homeless encampments, unless there is a rescue attached to said search. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief include in said policy language similar to the City of Boston policy relative to not intimidating, harassing or discriminating against any individual or group and should not target persons based solely on individual characteristics. Further, request City Manager request Police Chief indicate in said policy any unmanned aircraft system shall not contain cameras using facial recognition technology.

Motion Haxhiaj – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previously requested draft of a conservation restriction for parkland at Newton Hill.

Motion Petty @ #8a CC – Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations meet in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the contract and salary associated with the hiring of Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista.