CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 5:05 P.M.

Recessed: 6:58 P.M. Reconvened: 7:07 P.M. Adjourned: 9:22 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 28, 2024.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8c CC through #8e CC, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to item #10d CC, #8j CC and #11a CC 2. Ben Parker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #12a CC 3. Ron Rajotte, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to items #10e and 10f CC 4. Benji Kemper, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #10d CC and #10f CC 5. Arthur Mooradian, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to items #10d CC through #10f CC 6. Parlee Jones, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8j CC 7. David Webb, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #7a CC 8. Kelsey C., Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8j CC 10. Anita Jimenez, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #9e CC 11. Larry Batoon, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8j CC 12. Serenity Jones, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8j CC, spoke in opposition to item #7a CC 13. Kim Kolaczyk, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10d CC through #10f CC 14. Grace Ross, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor opposed to item #11g CC 15. Cara Berg-Powers, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10f CC 16. Joyce Mandell, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10f CC 17. Jeff St. Laurent, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #10f CC 18. Sarah Bertrand, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10f CC 19. Nathalie Gibson, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #10f CC 20. Charles Luster, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8j CC 21. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #7a CC and #8j CC

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to my self-evaluation of the work and accomplishments of my administration for Fiscal Year 2024. (Tabled Under Privilege - King June 18, 2024)

Milagros Ortiz et al. Royal Rd. be made public.

Ray Zimmerman request review of drainage on Park Ave. between Santander Bank Branch (655 Park Ave.) and Webster Square Gas Station (640 Park Ave.).

Brian Dutremble request installation of left turn arrows at the intersection of Chandler St. and Park Ave.

Brian Dutremble request installation of left turn arrows at the intersection of Salisbury St. and Park Ave.

Laurie Colwell request installation of signage in the vicinity of the driveway at 160 Goldstar Blvd. for the purposes of informing drivers that the driveway is not part of Gold Star Blvd.

Hector Diaz request installation of handicap parking space across from 68 Everard St.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location at: PLANTATION ST.

Marisol Acosta and Sean Martin request private way temporary repairs on Alden St.

Nathalie Gibson request City Council request City Clerk consider the following changes to the online petition submission process: 1) Create an easier viewable way to find petitions already submitted and their status; 2) Add a space for Date and Time on the petition form to be filled in to ensure transparency of when the petition is submitted and; 3) Send a copy of the submitted petition with the confirmation email.

Charles Luster request City Council adopt the attached Resolution to support a Black Community Center to help build the black community in the City of Worcester.

Tonya Gaston request removal of the wall at the end of Ingalls St.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Donald R. Rugg request extension of resident permit parking on Astrid Ave. to 9 Astrid Ave.: recommend passage of the accompanying Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Marcos Naranjo et al. request residential permit parking on Catharine St. be extended to encompass the entire street: recommend passage of accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Alkeia Conerly et al. request residential permit parking on the even side of Eden St. be extended to include three (3) additional parking spaces: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Mohammad Palizban request resident permit parking on Irving St. be extended to 104 Pleasant St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Report of the Committee on Traffic and Parking Upon the Petition of Councilor Sarai Rivera on behalf of Linda George request installation of resident permit parking on Piedmont St. from Austin St. to Pleasant St.: recommend passage of the accompanying proposed Ordinance to install residential permit parking on the west side of Piedmont St., except in front of 105 Piedmont St. and 300 Pleasant St., as well as installation of a timed restriction on said resident permit parking in front of 93 Piedmont St. (The Mustard Seed) from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Steven Gallati request installation of resident permit parking on both sides of Shelby St.: recommend passage of accompanying proposed Ordinance.

PETITION of Councilor Morris A. Bergman request installation of a crosswalk at or near 1122 Pleasant St. (Tabled Under Privilege - Haxhiaj May 28, 2024 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

PETITION of Gordon T. Davis request City Council consider removing from its Table a petition submitted by Gordon T. Davis at the May 14, 2024 City Council meeting relative to requesting the Standing Committee on Public Safety investigate the issue of systemic racism and public safety with public hearings included. (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey May 28, 2024 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: MASSASOIT RD. at 500 GRAFTON ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location at: MASSASOIT RD. at 500 GRAFTON ST. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson May 28, 2024 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Request City Manager ensure a process that allows third-party companies the ability to complete inspections of rental properties in the city as part of the amended Rental Dwelling Unit Periodic Inspections Program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Nguyen June 18, 2024)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Inspectional Services provide City Council with a report one year after the implementation of the Rental Dwelling Unit Periodic Inspections Program evaluating the number of registered rental properties and the number of fines in a categorized list for each City Council District. (Tabled Under Privilege - Nguyen June 18, 2024)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Upon the Communication of the City Manager recommend adoption of an amendment to the Rental Property Registration Program and Residential Rental Unit Periodic Inspection Program ordinances: recommend passage of the two (2) proposed Ordinances as amended to include the following: 1) Exemption of “newly developed dwellings” (single family, two-family, three-family, and multi-family) that received an occupancy permit on or after September 29, 2022, for a period of 5 years from the date of the occupancy permit; 2) Any change in ownership during the 5-year period requires the new owner register within 30 days of taking ownership); 3) Owner occupied 2 and 3 family dwellings exempt from program; 4) Changes to ordinance from Commissioner of Inspectional Services and City Solicitor (submitted to Committee on 5/1) included Department of Inspectional Services retaining a list of exempted properties and Penalty/Fine section limited to each month constituting a fine (not daily); 5) Exempt from State Sanitary Code inspections – 2 and 3 family owner-occupied; 6) Exemption from inspection for any newly developed single family, two-family, three-family, and multi-family rental units, as identified in Section 18 (c), that received an occupancy permit on or after September 29, 2022, for a period of 5 years from the date of the occupancy permit; 7) Upon change of ownership, inspections must occur; 8) Owner occupied 2 and 3 family dwellings exempt from State Sanitary Code inspections; 9) Addition to 19(g), related to building owners’ responsibility, to obtain consent from tenants/occupants for any inspections; 10) Changes to ordinance from Commissioner of Inspectional Services and City Solicitor (submitted to Committee on 5/1) included DIS retaining a list of exempted properties & Penalty/Fine section limited to each month constituting a fine (not daily); and 11) Editorial and stylistic changes were also made for formatting purposes. (Tabled Under Privilege - Nguyen June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Councilor Morris A. Bergman - In accordance with Section 2 of City Manager Eric D. Batista’s Employment Agreement, the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby consider negotiating a subsequent employment agreement beyond his December 31, 2024 term. (Tabled Under Privilege - Nguyen June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj - In light of recent fires, request City Manager expedite the implementation of the Rental Registry and the Periodic Inspection of Multi-family buildings programs. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson June 18, 2024)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication on the status of chronically homeless and unsheltered. (Tabled Under Privilege - King June 18, 2024)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication on five year homeless strategic plan. (Tabled Under Privilege - King June 18, 2024)

COMMUNICATION of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the policies for 110 Inspections. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend its meeting schedule to reschedule its Joint City Council and City Manager agenda on August 20, 2024 City Council meeting to now take place on August 13, 2024. Further, that the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby amend its meeting schedule to schedule a Joint City Council and City Manager agenda on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 to accommodate a shift in the 2024 State Primary Election Schedule. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report, at its next meeting, detailing all traffic ordinances ordained by City Council over the last six (6) years, as well as all the items currently awaiting ordinances to be written by the Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM). (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Etel Haxhiaj - Request City Manager provide City Council with a summary of all efforts that went into responding to residents at the Washington Heights apartment complex displaced by the June 3, 2024 fire, including: A) all parties involved in the response; B) any gaps in resources that have been identified in the City's response to all fires that have taken place in the last twenty-four (24) months; C) the number of significant fires that have resulted in fatalities; and D) the number of residents displaced as a result of said fires in the last twenty-four (24) months. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Manager request Chief Development Officer create an online restaurant and dining directory/map that lists restaurants in all five (5) City Council districts. Said directory should include filters based on restaurant location and the type of food options served. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with an update concerning the status of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) relative to the street repaving projects, as selected by the District Councilors for FY25 and FY26. Said report should include a timeline for construction on said repaving projects. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility provide City Council with a final list of sidewalks approved for resurfacing by City Council, with updated cost projections, to ensure District Councilors are able to make their backlog of selections, including FY23, FY24, FY25 and FY26. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning various outreach efforts completed by the city to ensure all senior residents are made aware of the Senior Work-Off Abatement Program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Etel Haxhiaj - Request City Manager immediately communicate with Eversource to request the work being done at the rotary intersecting Webster St. and Hope Ave., and the resulting detour(s), be done in a manner that minimizes interference with businesses operating nearby. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty June 18, 2024)

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)

PETITION of Gordon Davis request City Council request Standing Committee on Public Safety investigate the issue of systemic racism and public safety with public hearings included. (Tabled - Toomey May 14, 2024)

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning why no appropriations were made relative to private street betterments or private way temporary repairs in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). – Item #26a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager create an advisory commission for police technologies. – Item #26b CC Order denied on a roll call vote of 5 Yeas and 6 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager conduct community discussions prior to the renewing the city’s contract with ShotSpotter, which is set to expire in April of 2026. – Item #26c CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a parking utilization plan as it relates to Mill St. – Item #26d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility provide City Council with a report relative to a six (6) month long traffic study detailing the impact of the full implementation of the Mill Street redesign. –– Item #26e CC Order adopted on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 4 Nays

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how flex posts being installed on Mill St. will impact plowing operations during snowstorms. – Item #26f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – That the City Council does hereby cut $500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) from the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget of the Executive Office of Economic Development #CC1004. – Item #26g CC Placed on file on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 2 Nays

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council does hereby amend its meeting schedule to begin its June 18, 2024 Agenda at 5 p.m. – Item #26h CC Order adopted

Motion Nguyen @ #8j CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning ways in which the city has funded and supported the Black community over the past few years, as well as how the city plans to fund and support the Black community in the future.

Motion Mero-Carlson @ #10d CC – Request City Manager not begin the implementation of the city’s Rental Property Registration and Rental Dwelling Unit Periodic Inspections Programs until September 1, 2024.

Motion King @ #10d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report defining a “problem property,” including criteria that establishes a landlord as the owner of such a property.

Motion King @ #10d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether owner-occupied rental properties are more likely to keep up with necessary home maintenance and have a positive impact on its surrounding neighborhood as compared to properties without owners occupying the location.

Motion King @ #10d CC – Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a report concerning whether the city is able to circumvent the State Sanitary Code as part of its Rental Property Registration Program and Periodic Inspections Program.

Motion King @ #10d CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning the creation of a process to identify and verify whether a rental property includes a dwelling unit that is owner-occupied.

Motion Russell @ #10m CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the process of ordaining traffic ordinances that includes information relative to when an ordinance is required and when it is not required.

Motion Bergman – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager ensure the “DMHS” signage at the old Doherty Memorial High School building be retained for historical purposes.

Motion Bergman – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager consider scheduling vacuum and cleaning services in City Hall in a way that does not interfere with City Council meetings.

Motion King – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the parameters in place to protect appointed officials in the event that a conflict arises between a member/members of the public and said appointed official(s). Further, request said report include information relative to whether such an event and parameters should be communicated to City Council to aid in members’ future discussions with such a member/members of the public.