CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:35 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:47 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 November 29, 2022.

No speakers were recognized during this portion of the meeting.

Maria Montano request installation of additional lighting along the overpass walkways located on Cambridge St. near Richard St.

Sandra Carlson request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 30 Kosta St.

Maria Montano request installation of pedestrian crossing signage at the intersection of Freeland St. and Cambridge St.

Maria Montano request installation of a crosswalk on Cambridge St. in the vicinity of Freeland St. and Exeter St.

Maria Montano request installation of speed limit signage in the vicinity of the intersection at Cambridge St. and Richards St.

Maria Montano request installation of pedestrian crosswalk signage and/or crosswalk signal at the intersection of Richards St. and Cambridge St.

Councilor Etel Haxhiaj on behalf of Lila Pope request May St. be studied to determine the feasibility of putting a solar panel speed limit sign at a suitable location on the street.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a pole location on: HOUGHTON ST.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Josue Hernandez as a Constable for Civil and Criminal Business.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointments of Kira Terrill and Sarah Stillman to the Thomas Early Scholarship Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Diane Long to the Historical Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Matthew Curewitz and Christopher Faucher to the Hope Cemetery Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Brian Dardy to the Parks Commission.

Recommend the reappointments of Sergio Bacelis and Jeffrey Levering to the Cable Television Advisory Committee.

Recommend adoption of a salary ordinance amendment relative to the Public Facilities Department.

Recommend adoption of a salary ordinance amendment relative to L495 Regional Dispatchers.

Recommend that Four Hundred Seventy Thousand Five Hundred Eighty Nine Dollars And Thirty Two Cents ($470,589.32) be transferred from Account #91C780E, Schools Capital Equipment, and be appropriated to Account #50C702, School Capital Equipment, to allow for the purchase of various equipment, including servers, tractors, and vehicles.

Recommend adoption of the attached resolution to accept a donation of 1,000 re-usable bags with the approximate monetary value of One Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($1,000.00) from TJX Companies.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($150,000.00) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for improvements to Indian Lake and little Indian Lake.

Recommend that Two Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($210,000.00) be transferred from Account #171-96000, Workers Compensation, and be appropriated to Account #174-96000, Injured on Duty, to cover the costs associated with the claims through the end of Fiscal Year 2023 .

Recommend that One Million Dollars And No Cents ($1,000,000.00) be transferred from Account #260-91000, Fire Department Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #260-97000, Fire Department Overtime, to provide additional funding for departmental overtime expenses in Fiscal year 2023.

Recommend that Two Hundred Seventy Dollars And No Cents ($270.00) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #331-92000, Health & Human Services Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of a prior year invoice.

Joseph M. Petty, Mayor, submitting for approval by the City Council the City Council Meeting Schedule for the calendar year 2023.

Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk, transmitting an informational communication regarding the administration of the 2023 Municipal Elections.

Amending Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991 Relative to Extension of the Business General-3.0 (BG-3.0) Zoning District and Commercial Corridors Overlay District – Elsewhere (CCOD-E) in the Vicinity of 17 Hermon Street.

Amending Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991 Relative to Extension of the Business General-6.0 (BG-6.0) Zoning District and Commercial Corridors Overlay District – Downtown (CCOD-D) in the Vicinity of 96 and 98-100 Beacon Street.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 relative to Stipends for Water Filtration Plant Managers and Supervisors for Shift Coverage Assignment. Amending The Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 relative to Emergency Overtime Pay For Water Filtration Plant Supervisors.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group EM – Executive Management relative to the Assistant Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group EM – Executive Management relative to the Director of 311 Operations. Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group A - Administrative and Supervisory relative to the Deputy Director of 311 Operations.

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 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)

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 and Tabled - Petty June 14, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing response protocols for emergency disaster events. Further, request said report include information relative to feedback provided by residents on where improvements can be made to said protocols. – Item #19a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report exploring the feasibility of requiring apartment complexes to develop their own emergency crisis response mechanisms and accesses, either through a municipal ordinance or through working with the city’s State Legislators. – Item #19b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager consider determining what funding would be needed to implement a hybrid system of installing both pools and aspects of spray parks at University Park and the Tacoma Street Playground. – Item #19c CC Order adopted

Motion Bergman – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the city’s snow removal procedures during the December 10, 2022 to December 11, 2022 snowstorm, including information as to why there were so many accidents reported during the event, the average number of the accidents reported during snowstorms and whether the city has enough snow removal equipment for snowstorms moving forward.