CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:33 P.M.

Adjourned:9:47 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Eric D. Batista

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 May 24, 2022.

Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10d CC 2. School Committee Member Susan Mailman, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #10a CC and #10b CC 3. Alex Guardiola, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #8.30A CM 4. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10d CC 5. Bruce Hoffner, Milford, NH resident, spoke in favor of item #10d CC 6. Yenni Desroches, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #10a CC and #10b CC and in opposition to item #10d CC 7. Mary Liewictz, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition of item #10d CC 8. John Keough, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10d CC 9. Jack Murray, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10b CC and in opposition to item #10d CC

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - As Chair of the City Council Standing Committee on Finance in accordance with Rule 33 (e) of the Rules of City Council, request City Council suspend its rules at its June 14, 2022 meeting to take up the Report of the Committee on Finance Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Operating Budget for City Council review and consideration, as presented by the City Manager and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance as Item #5a CC on the City Council agenda for May 13, 2022, along with related budget items pending before the Committee.

Joe Boynton, on behalf of Rhonda Cotton, request Sala St. be removed from the official map of the City of Worcester.

Florinda Lopez request sidewalk repair in front of 14 Enfield St.

Teresa Marie Inangelo request Kenberma Rd. be repaved.

Olsi Gjinko request resident permit parking zone on Shirley St. be reduced on the even side to encompass 2 Shirley St. to 60 Florence St.

Yaritza Guerrero request installation of handicap parking space in front of 7 Stoneland Rd.

EVERSOURCE for a conduit location on: NEPONSET ST.

EVERSOURCE for a conduit location on: BOARDMAN ST. and MERRILL RD.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: BEATRICE DR. and GODDARD MEMORIAL DR.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: INSTITUTE RD. and RUSSELL ST.

Nathan Cummings request City Council request City Manager provide report to City Council concerning the known and potential impacts of the following proposals: Converting at least some current zone RS-10 parcels to zone RS-7, and/or converting at least some current zone RS-7 parcel to zone RL-7. Further request that said report specifically address impacts on housing availability and affordability.

Recommend adoption of an amendment to the Salary Ordinance that will bring the ordinance in compliance with the FY23 Budget recommendation for the implementation of a model wage package for non-represented employees.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Park Worcester program and the Passport app.

Transmitting informational communication regarding a final proposal to initiate an Unmanned Aircraft System Program.

Recommend adoption of amendments to the City’s organizational ordinances to conform to the FY23 budget recommendations.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the 110 periodic inspections.

Transmitting informational communication relative to City funding for Chamber, Discover Central Massachusetts, and the Regional Food Hub.

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

Recommend City Council's approval of Fiscal Year 2022 year-end capital transfers to make adjustments to City Capital accounts to balance the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($180,000.00) from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education STEM Advisory Council.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) from the George I. Alden Trust to support the establishment of a centralized City archive.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude a donation in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($2,500.00) from Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association for fire prevention materials, education, equipment, and outreach.

Recommend that One Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($190,000.00) be transferred as indicated to make the adjustments to the Fringe Benefits accounts for Water, Sewer and Golf for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022.

Recommend City Council's approval of Fiscal Year 2022 year-end operating transfers to make adjustments to City accounts to balance the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.

Amending Chapter Seven Section Sixteen of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 Relative to Water Rates Use Charges (FY 2023).

Amending Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991 Relative to Extension of the Institutional-Hospital (IN-H) Zoning District in the Vicinity of Plantation Street.

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION - Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion as to the process of changing the City Charter as it relates to salaries for elected officials. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson May 24, 2022 and June 7, 2022)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION - Request City Council work to ensure City Council and School Committee districts are parallel, so as to ensure public clarity. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson May 24, 2022 and June 7, 2022)

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: DIX ST. and LANCASTER ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: DIX ST. and LANCASTER ST. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 7, 2022)

CHAIRMAN'S RESOLUTION FROM THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the implementation of city’s Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal. (Tabled Under Privilege - June 7, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to an Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera June 7, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the 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: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera June 7, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication regarding the City Council’s role relative to the creation of departmental policies and in particular its role and authority relative to the police department’s proposed acquisition of an Unmanned Aircraft System: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera June 7, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication be placed on file. Transmitting informational communication relative to the use of aerial surveillance in the context of an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 14 of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera June 7, 2022)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a report on follow up regarding Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS): recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Rivera June 7, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report identifying standard operating procedures (SOP)'s for inspections and complaint responses to the following Section 236 communities: 1) Housing authorities; 2) State owned properties; and 3) Municipal properties. Further, request City Manager include in said report public education strategies related to same. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 7, 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 George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report clarifying the Worcester Policy Department’s unmanned aircraft system policy as it relates to its usage with the unhoused population. – Item #23a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager request Police Chief hold a meeting with representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to address concerns associated with the Police Department’s unmanned aircraft system policy as it relates to the system’s usage around unhoused individuals. – Item #23b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager provide City Council with quarterly reports concerning the Police Department’s usage of unmanned aircraft systems/drones. – Item #23c CC Order adopted

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Operating Budget for City Council review and consideration: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 proposed Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Worcester: recommend adoption of the accompanying Order.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Upon the Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the department development plans for Cable Services, City Clerk, Elections, and the Police Department: recommend Communication be placed on file.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning creating a mechanism for City Council to hire outside counsel for various legal matters. (Russell)

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report as to options available to City Council concerning engaging with the city’s administration for the purpose of reviewing the City Council budget. Further, request City Manager include in said report any barriers relative to same. (King)

Motion King @ #8.11A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report outlining research for the use of unmanned aircraft systems as it relates to individuals with mental health challenges, including how the city’s policy will be used in those circumstances.

Motion Haxhiaj @ #8.11A CM – Request City Manager consider capping the number of unmanned aircraft systems/drones purchased by the city at one (1).

Motion Rose @ #8.11A CM – Request City Manager consider not purchasing any additional unmanned aircraft systems/drones until one (1) year after the initial purchase.

Motion Rose @ #10b CC – Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee hold a discussion regarding exploring the creation of a Charter Commission.

Motion Petty – Suspension of Rules – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend its meeting schedule to cancel its agenda on June 28, 2022, which was originally set to be an evaluation of the City Manager and further, does hereby amend its meeting schedule to hold a joint City Council and City Manager agenda at its June 21, 2022 meeting. 10-0