City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent).

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed what areas would be revised or cut if state and federal aid was not received and whether online learning programs are available with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools and the Chief Financial Officer of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed national trends to homeschooling, social distancing on school busses and the need for repairs at Worcester East Middle with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools and the Chief Financial Officer of Worcester Public Schools.

Councilor Russell then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report concerning how issues around plastic tarps being used to block the draft and chipped paint on the ceilings at Worcester East Middle will be addressed.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the sufficiency of the budget due to COVID-19 related issues with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools and the Chief Financial Officer of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed personal protective equipment (PPE) needs for the school system, whether online learning could be done in place of snow days and how COVID-19 affected planning for the school year with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools and the Chief Financial Officer of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed steps taken for trauma response for students, cultural responsiveness training and Worcester Public Schools’ online learning needs with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the feasibility of utilizing the WRTA for transporting students, technological advancement in the schools and the work being done to diversify the school system with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools and the Chief Financial Officer of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who discussed the training process for teaching virtually, student responses to online learning and the process for homeschooling with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed residency requirements for Worcester Public Schools staff, funding for social emotional learning, the purchase of Chromebooks, diversifying the staff of the Worcester Public Schools, the hiring of the Chief Diversity Officer and transportation issues surrounding getting to athletic fields with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools.

Councilor King then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools ensure child safety components are addressed, should use of the WRTA busses for Worcester Public Schools students be considered.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed how Worcester Police Department officers are used in Worcester Public Schools with the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools. Councilor Toomey then moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget.

Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report concerning how issues around plastic tarps being used to block the draft and chipped paint on the ceilings at Worcester East Middle will be addressed. (Russell)

Request City Manager request Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools ensure child safety components are addressed, should use of the WRTA busses for Worcester Public Schools students be considered. (King)

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed whether there were any new needs or gaps in the department’s budget due to COVID-19 with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Director of Public Health.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the vacancies within the Health and Human Services Department with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Director of Public Health.

Councilor King then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager conduct a staffing analysis to determine how the city can be most effective in ensuring the health needs of the city’s residents.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the work done to ensure the safety of the homeless population during COVID-19 with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed inter-municipal agreements associated with other towns with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Director of Public Health.

Councilor Wally then put forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the projected revenue in FY21 of the towns associated with the inter-municipal agreements regarding public health services.

Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budgets associated with #3a through #3c.

Budgets approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays.

Request City Manager conduct a staffing analysis to determine how the city can be most effective in ensuring the health needs of the city’s residents. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the projected revenue in FY21 of the towns associated with the inter-municipal agreements regarding public health services. (Wally)

Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a)

Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a)

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to take items #4a through #4c, #5a through #5f, #6a, #7a, #8a, #9a, #10a, #11a through #11c, #12a and #13a collectively, and to recommend the items be held.

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a)