CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 21, 2019 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:09 P.M. | Recessed: 7:02 P.M.
Reconvened: 7:08 P.M.
Recessed: 8:12 P.M.
Reconvened: 8:49 P.M.
Adjourned: 10:11 P.M. |
|
Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Susan M. Ledoux | Committee Members | | Chairperson Joseph M Petty | | Vice Chairperson Konstantina B Lukes | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
| | Councilor Khrystian E King | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Sean M Rose | | Councilor Gary Rosen | | Councilor George J Russell | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey | | Councilor Matthew E Wally |
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | All members were present with the Mayor as the Chair
except for Councilors Rose and Toomey. Councilor Toomey arrived at 5:22 P.M.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer Thomas F. Zidelis
City Auditor Robert V. Stearns
City Solicitor David M. Moore
City Clerk Susan M. Ledoux | | | | | Also: | Also Present Were:
Superintendent of Public Schools Maureen Binienda
Chief Development Officer Michael Traynor
Commissioner of Health and Human Services Matilde Castiel
Assistant Director of Human Resources Dori Vecchio
Assistant City Manager Kathleen Johnson | | | |
| 1. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings Held - Economic Development | |
| | | | | |
| | | 1a. | Economic Development - V-1, pg. 87
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what the five-hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) allocated to the ordinary maintenance of the Marketing Campaign within the Economic Development Office’s budget was spent on in FY19, as well as what it projects to be spent on in FY20. (Russell) | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether City Council would be notified or whether any votes would be required prior to any monies being allocated for the purpose of using eminent domain to take land as part of the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan. (Russell) | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the successes and challenges associated with providing affordable housing in the city. (King) | | | | Request City Manager consider any role Discover Central Massachusetts can have in regards to marketing the Worcester Public Schools system. (King) | | | | Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report reviewing whether the passage of time taken to develop the Madison Properties will have an impact on the solvency in terms of any payment on any loans or bonds. (Lukes) | |
| | | | | |
| | | 1b. | Union Station/Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) - V-2, pg. 93
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 1c. | MassHire Central Regional Workforce Board - V-3, pg. 97
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 1d. | MassHire Central Career Center - V-4, pg. 101
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 1e. | Marketing Campaign - V-5, pg. 107
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget heard and hearing recessed until June 4, 2019 | |
| 2. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - Worcester Public Schools | |
| | | | | |
| | | 2a. | Worcester Public Schools - VI-1, pg. 109 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget heard and hearing recessed until June 4, 2019 | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools consider purchasing a plot of land in the vicinity of Roosevelt Elementary School to help alleviate the parking concerns during pick up and drop off at the school. (Russell) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with their last October report that includes a breakdown determining the needs of the Worcester Public Schools Department for its next school year based on its enrollment projections to assess what is happening in each school building. (Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report concerning any costs incurred as a result of the Worcester Public School’s new strategic plan. (Lukes) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with Worcester Public Schools’ Facilities Master Plan. (Toomey) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with the maintenance and condition of the city’s school buses. (Toomey) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools consider creating a position to work on intergovernmental affairs relating to School Department issues. (King) | | | | Request City Manager consider utilizing his Intergovernmental Affairs personnel to help the School Department advocate for the Senate and House Promise Act Bills at the State level, which would increase state education funding. (King) | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the city is incrementally improving upon the ratio of school adjustment counselors to students, targeting a ratio of two-hundred and fifty (250) to one (1). (King) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools consider increasing and enhancing the budget for middle school sports if more funding becomes available. (King) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report concerning the practices previously used by the School Department to recruit teachers from areas like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Further, request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools include in said report information concerning what will be done moving forward. (Mero-Carlson) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools consider decreasing the city funds dedicated to Recreation Worcester within the School Department budget by one-hundred thousand dollars (100,000.00) so that the city can use those monies to expand the program. (Mero-Carlson) | | | | Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a financial breakdown of costs associated with creating a sex education curriculum. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning any impact building such a curriculum would have on the city’s budget. (King) | |
| 3. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - Health and Human Services | |
| | | | | |
| | | 3a. | Health and Human Services - VIII-1, pg. 119 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Health and Human Services provide the Worcester Public Schools with information concerning the importance of moving forward with comprehensive sex education. (King) | | | | Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning whether the city can treat vaping products in the same manner in which it treats cigarettes. (Lukes) | |
| | | | | |
| | | 3b. | Public Health - VIII-2, pg. 125 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 3c. | Elder Affairs - VIII-3, pg. 131 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 4. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - Technical Services | |
| | | | | |
| | | 4a. | Technical Services - IX-1, pg. 137 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 5. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - Human Resources | |
| | | | | |
| | | 5a. | Human Resources - X-1, pg. 143 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 5b. | Workers' Compensation - X-2, pg. 149 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 5c. | Unemployment Compensation - X-3, pg. 153 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| | | | | |
| | | 5d. | Health Insurance - X-4, pg. 155 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget Approved | |
| 6. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - Law Department | |
| | | | | |
| | | 6a. | Law Department - XI-1, pg. 161 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 6b. | Property & Casualty Insurance - XI-2, pg. 165 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 6c. | Court Judgments XI-3, pg. 169 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 7. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - City Auditor | |
| | | | | |
| | | 7a. | City Auditor - XII-1, pg. 171 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 8. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - Retirement | |
| | | | | |
| | | 8a. | Contributory Pensions & Non-Contributory Pensions - XIII-1, pg. 175 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 9. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - Legislative Offices | |
| | | | | |
| | | 9a. | City Council - XIV-1, pg. 181 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 9b. | Mayor's Office - XIV-2, pg. 183 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 9c. | City Clerk's Office - XIV-3, pg. 187 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 9d. | Election Commission - XIV-4, pg. 191 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 10. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - City Manager's Office | |
| | | | | |
| | | 10a. | City Manager's Office - XV-1, pg. 197 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 10b. | City Manager's Contingency - XV-2, pg. 203 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 10c. | Cable Services - XV-3, pg. 205 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 11. | FY 2020 Budget Hearings - Administration and Finance | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11a. | Administration and Finance - XVI-1, pg. 209 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11b. | Assessing - XVI-2, pg. 223 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11c. | City Energy and Asset Management - XVI-3, pg. 227 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11d. | Debt Service Principal and Interest - XVI-4, pg. 233 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11e. | Pension Obligation Bonds - XVI-5, pg. 237 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| | | | | |
| | | 11f. | DCU Center - XVI-6, pg. 241 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 12. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - Five Point Plan Funds | |
| | | | | |
| | | 12a. | Five Point Plan Funds - XVII-1, pg. 243 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 13. | FY 2020 Budget Hearing - Line Item Budget | |
| | | | | |
| | | 13a. | Line Item Budget - XVIII-1, pg. 247 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget held until June 4, 2019 | |
| 14. | Fiscal Year 2020 Budget | |
| | | | | |
| | | 14a. | Communication of the City Manager regarding an Introduction of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget for City Council deliberations to begin on May 14, 2019.
# 9.36B CM May 07, 2019
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold | |
| 15. | Communications of the City Manager | |
| | | | | |
| | | 15a. | Recommending approval of the FY20 Capital Improvement Plan.
# 18a CC April 30, 2019
In Committee May 14, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold | |
| | | | | |
| | | 15b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to City Council’s request for information regarding the FY20 Operating Budget.
# 5a CC May 21, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Councilor Lukes moved to recommend recommitting the Item back to the City Manager with the following Order:
Request City Manager provide City Council with a report clarifying whether the movements within the City Manager’s budget concerning the Cultural Development and Communications Divisions are new positions or reorganizational changes. Further, request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what affirmative action guidelines were applied to any succession planning. Further, request City Manager provide information regarding whether any new job slots have a recommended salary that is different from the prior salary held by the person in those slots. Further, request City Manager include in said report information regarding whether there were any significant changes in the job descriptions of any changed slots. | |
|