CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 8:22 p.m.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Eric D. Batista

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Mayor Petty presented Councilor Rivera and Councilor Rose with plaques honoring them for their dedication to their districts and the City of Worcester during their tenures on the City Council.

Councilor King, Councilor Toomey, Councilor Russell, Councilor Haxhiaj and Councilor Colorio spoke concerning Councilor Rivera and Councilor Rose’s tenures on the City Council.

Councilor Rivera and Councilor Rose both spoke to their experiences on the City Council.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 5, 2023.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8.4A CM 2. Shaun Bartone, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #7b CC 3. Jose Encarnacion, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 4. Margot Barnett, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 5. Alex Corrales, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sean M. Rose and Sarai Rivera 6. Molly McCullough, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sean M. Rose and Sarai Rivera 7. Fred Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sean M. Rose and Sarai Rivera 8. Feanna Jattan-Singh, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #7a CC and concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 9. Grace Ross, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 10. Paul Hernandez, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 11. Liz Ward, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sean M. Rose 12. Maureen Rose, Worcester resident, spoke concerning the final City Council meeting of Sarai Rivera 13. Colin Novick, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8.4B CM 14. Bruce Harper, Milford, NH resident, spoke in opposition to item #8.4A CM 15. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #7a CC 16. Jennifer Gaskin, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #7a CC

Jennifer J. Gaskin and Councilor Khrystian E. King request an honorary street name designation on Main St. from 261 Main St. to 340 Main St. for Daniel L. Gaskin, who co-founded the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association.

Shaun Bartone request installation of sidewalks along the total length of Flagg St. from the intersection of Flagg St. and Pleasant St. to the intersection of Flagg St. and Richmond Ave.

Brianna Vega request the location of the "No Parking Here to Corner" signage in the vicinity of 400 Shrewsbury St. be reviewed and relocated to its original location.

Jerry Condo request implementation of program to build social support systems in the city to ensure the overall health of veterans, to help them socially and enhance communication and foster bonds among veterans and other community members.

Nathalie Gibson request the Ordinance Relative to Excessive & Unreasonable Noise be amended to limit the construction activity hours in thickly-settled neighborhoods to 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Erika Helnarski to the Historical Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Idris Fatima to the Hope Cemetery Board of Commissioners.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Anthony Vigliotti to the License Commission.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the reappointment of Amy Sciannameo and the appointment of Osaghale "Sage" Aisagbonhi to the Worcester Arts Council.

Transmitting informational Communication relative to the reappointment of George Cortes to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Recommend the appointment of Julie Cohen to the Citizen Advisory Council.

Recommend the appointment of Abby Doyle to the Advisory Committee on the Status of Women.

Recommend the reappointments of Soriano Hamilton and Ayala Giovanni to the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.

Designation of an Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) Program Zone and Approval of a UCH-TIF Plan for 16 and 52 Great Brook Valley Avenue.

Recommend adoption of an order relative to a Conservation Restriction for Salisbury Hill (part of 525 Salisbury Street).

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of the Community Preservation Act.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on City Council’s request to increase access to free menstrual products.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a grant in the amount of Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early and Secondary Education to support the Worcester Public Library's ESOL initiative.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a grant in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($100,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of Travel and Tourism, to support the Worcester Public Library - A Library in Every Classroom Project.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept with gratitude an anonymous donation of One Hundred Fifteen Dollars And No Cents ($115.00) to the Worcester Public Library. This donation was received in the form of five gift cards in the denominations of (3) $25.00 and (2) $20.00.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a Fiscal Year 2024 Legislative Earmark in the amount of Sixty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($60,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, to support unhoused families in Worcester.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to accept and expend a grant in the amount of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($350,000.00) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Environmental Protection, under the Fiscal Year 2024 Lead Service Line (LSL) Inventory and Planning Grant program.

Recommend that One Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Eight Dollars And Seventy Seven Cents ($1,558.77) be transferred from Cost Center #CC1004-610100, Economic Development Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Cost Center #CC1004-601100, Economic Development Overtime.

Recommend that One Million Dollars And No Cents ($1,000,000.00) be transferred from Cost Center #CC1044-600100, Fire Salaries, and be appropriated to Cost Center #CC1044-601100, Fire Overtime, for anticipated overtime expenses through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024.

Recommend authorization to set the Fiscal Year 2024 funding limit on the Revolving Fund #FD323, RRA - Greenwood Street, at Three Million One Hundred Seventy Nine Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars And Twenty One Cents ($3,179,268.21) to allow for mitigation work at the Greenwood Street Landfill.

Recommend that Forty Seven Dollars And Ninety Nine Cents ($47.99) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2024 Cost Center #CC1063, Health Insurance, for the payment of a prior year invoice.

Recommend that Five Hundred Sixty Four Dollars And Thirty Two Cents ($564.32) be authorized from various Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Public Works & Parks Cost Centers for the payment of prior year invoices.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Fifty Six Dollars and Twenty One Cents ($756.21) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2024 Cost Center #CC1008, Department of Sustainability & Resilience Ordinary Maintenance, for the payment of prior year invoices.

Recommend that Two Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($200.00) be authorized from the Fiscal Year 2024 Cost Center #CC1010, Elections Ordinary Maintenance, for the payment of a prior year invoice.

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 in the Vicinity of Grove Street and Chadwick Street.

Amending Chapter Three of the Revised Ordinances of 2008 Relative to Vacation, Sick, Parental and Compassionate and Holiday Leave for Unrepresented Employees.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group EM – Executive Management for the Deputy City Clerk I and Deputy City Clerk II. Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group A - Administrative and Supervisory for the Assistant City Clerk.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group AA – Legislative for the Chief of Staff to City Council and Aide to City Council.

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Councilor Morris A. Bergman - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks review the condition of the private portion of Wildwood Ave. to determine whether the city can make any improvements to the road. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman December 12, 2023)

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)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation Committee hold a public discussion with the WRTA Administrator relative to the removal of a bus route that passes the EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 17, 2023 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson January 24, 2023 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson January 31, 2023)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Order of Councilor Sarai Rivera and Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation meet with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the WRTA’s winter weather plan, especially including information as to how snow will be removed at each of the bus stops: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 17, 2023 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson January 24, 2023 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj and Councilor Thu Nguyen - Request City Manager work with appropriate departments and stakeholders to establish an Office of Housing Stability in an effort to prevent the involuntary displacement of city residents who are in the process of being evicted or at the risk of losing their housing, as well as to enact policies to combat displacement, homelessness and enhance tenants’ rights. (Tabled Under Privilege - Haxhiaj July 18, 2023 and Tabled - Haxhiaj August 22, 2023)

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location on: APRICOT ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID and VERIZON NEW ENGLAND, INC. for a jointly-owned pole location on: APRICOT ST. (Tabled Under Privilege - Haxhiaj October 17, 2023 and October 24, 2023 and Tabled - Petty November 14, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the economic and public health impacts that may occur as a result of vehicular congestion in the city, as well as any remedies to said concerns that can be implemented moving forward. – Item #16a CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose – Request City Manager work with various application software companies such as Google Maps and Waze to help with decreasing congestion when traffic hazards such as accidents or construction could hinder traffic flow. – Item #16b CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend the Economic Development Committee’s recommendation for the city’s Zoning Ordinance Amendment relative to Accessory Dwelling Units to include the owner occupancy requirements that were originally recommended by the city’s Executive Office of Economic Development. – Item #16c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend the Economic Development Committee’s recommendation for the city’s Zoning Ordinance Amendment relative to Accessory Dwelling Units to include special permit hearings in single-family zones. – Item #16d CC Order denied on a roll call vote of 5 Yeas and 6 Nays