City of Worcester Council Journal for 10/10/2023

CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 4:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 5:15 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty		www.worcesterma.gov	City Manager Eric D. Batista City Auditor Robert V. Stearns
Councilors
Morris A. Bergman	Donna M. Colorio
Etel Haxhiaj	Khrystian E. King
Candy Mero-Carlson	Thu Nguyen		City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli
Sarai Rivera	Sean M. Rose
George J. Russell	Kathleen M. Toomey


City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND STAR SPANGLED BANNER

PROCLAMATIONS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND MOMENTS OF SILENCE



	2a.	MOMENT OF SILENCE in memory of former Worcester Mayor and City Councilor Jordan Levy, who passed away on October 5, 2023, at the age of 79. Mr. Levy will be remembered as a person who was passionate about public service and who always worked to make his community, state, and country better.

ROLL CALL - All present with the Mayor as the Chair, except for Councilor Haxhiaj and Councilor Nguyen. Councilor Rivera, Councilor Rose and Councilor Toomey participated in the meeting remotely.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION



	4a.	Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speaker: 1. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5b CC

TABLED UNDER PRIVILEGE



5a.	ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby recommit Item #9f CC on the October 3, 2023 City Council meeting that reads as follows back to the City Manager: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager Recommend adoption of an amendment to the City’s organizational ordinances that deletes the Worcester Ballpark Commission and places 100 Madison Street (Polar Park) under the care, custody, and control of the Department of Public Facilities: recommend proposed Ordinance be denied. (Tabled Under Privilege - Russell October 3, 2023)	Attachments
	Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who moved to place the item on file. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote on Councilor Mero-Carlson’s motion to file the item. Placed on file on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 0 Nays (Haxhiaj, Nguyen, Rivera absent).



5b.	REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS Upon the Communication of the City Manager Recommend adoption of an amendment to the City’s organizational ordinances that deletes the Worcester Ballpark Commission and places 100 Madison Street (Polar Park) under the care, custody, and control of the Department of Public Facilities: recommend proposed Ordinance be denied. (Tabled Under Privilege - King September 26, 2023 and October 3, 2023)	Attachments
	Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell and Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty recognized the City Manager and the City Clerk, who responded to questions raised by Councilor King. Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city’s ability to host revenue generating events at Polar Park ceases after five (5) years,” (See Item #6a CC). Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell for a second time, who spoke concerning the item. Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Mayor Petty, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, Councilor Toomey, and Councilor Mero-Carlson, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to accept the item. Accepted on a roll call vote of 8 Yeas and 1 Nay (Yeas – Bergman, Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Rivera, Rose, Russell, Toomey, Petty) (Nay – King) (Haxhiaj, Nguyen absent). Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to reconsider the item. Reconsideration denied on a roll call vote of 0 Yeas and 9 Nays (Haxhiaj, Nguyen absent).



5c.	ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager determine the feasibility of transferring the individuals who remain as part of Worcester Ballpark Commission to a different advisory group. (Tabled Under Privilege - Russell October 3, 2023)	Attachments
	Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor King, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty recognized the City Manager, City Clerk and City Solicitor, who responded to questions raised by Councilor King. Councilor King then moved to amend item #6a: “Further, request City Manager give consideration to renegotiating the city’s ability to host revenue generating days at Polar Park in perpetuity.” (See Item #6a CC). Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who moved to place the item on file. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote on Councilor Mero-Carlson’s motion to file the item. Placed on file on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 1 Nay (Yeas – Bergman, Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Rivera, Rose, Russell, Toomey, Petty) (Nay – King) (Haxhiaj, Nguyen, Rivera absent).

NEW BUSINESS UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES - Items brought forth under suspension at the October 10, 2023 City Council meeting.



6a.	Motion King @ #5b CC - Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city’s ability to host revenue generating events at Polar Park ceases after five (5) years.	Attachments
	Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who introduced the item while discussing item #5b CC. Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who moved to amend the item while discussing item #5c CC: “Further, request City Manager give consideration to renegotiating the city’s ability to host revenue generating days at Polar Park in perpetuity.” Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty recognized the City Clerk, who responded to questions raised by Councilor Bergman. Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order denied as amended on a roll call vote of 1 Yea and 7 Nays (Yea – King) (Nays – Bergman, Colorio, Mero-Carlson, Rose, Russell, Toomey, Petty) (Haxhiaj, Nguyen, Rivera absent)

ADJOURNMENT