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 (Wally absent)

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Police Department budget.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the hours of operation for the Summer Impact Program with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council provide City Council with an update concerning the successes of the Summer Impact Program.”

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the price of gasoline and whether the Police Department has enough funds for their vehicles with the Police Chief and Chief Financial Officer.

Councilor Toomey then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the specifications of the new vehicles ordered by the Worcester Police Department.”

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the implementation of the Cadet Program and the staffing levels of such a program with the Police Chief and the City Manager.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the how staffing levels are evaluated for sector coverage, how unanticipated retirements are accounted for in the WPD budget, the department’s vacancy factor, variables associated with police deployment for emergency call responses, the way the department’s overtime budget is projected, whether WPD’s budget has any funds allocated to aid in diversifying the department, finances associated with the Shannon Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Grant and whether the department returned the body cameras used during the Pilot Program with the Police Chief, City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

Councilor King then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning average response times for emergency calls requiring the Police Department, how the department grades each call and the department’s expectations for responses to such calls.”

Councilor King then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the various undertakings being taken the Police Department related to diversifying the department.”

Councilor King then brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the Shannon Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Grant is allocated. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning how other communities manage their funds received relative to said grant.”

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed how many patrol officers are included in the department’s budget, whether there has been an increase in violent crimes, how the cybercrime unit operates and funding allocations for various protests and other major events with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the Cadet Program for the Worcester Police Department, how overtime costs associated with disorderly behavior at bars are funded, renaming the “Vice Prostitution Overtime” line item and reallocating funds to expand programs similar to the Summer Impact Program with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who discussed whether the State’s potential police reform guidelines will affect the department’s budget, what training the Police Department receives relative to mental health issues and whether there are limits associated with how much overtime an officer is allowed to work with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed prioritizing public safety issues, how community conversations relative to body camera issues will occur and how major overtime events are scheduled with the City Manager and Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the number of police officers eligible for retirement, the jurisdiction of policing waterbodies, how COVID-19 impacted the police department and whether the population increase in the city should have an effect on increasing the Police Department with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed the number of individuals taking civil service exams, as well as the decrease in arrests in the city with the Police Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who moved to Table the Item Under Privilege. – Not Put.

Mayor Petty discussed the procedure for Tabling Items Under Privilege in Committee with the City Solicitor.

Mayor Petty brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the City Clerk to provide City Council with a report concerning Robert’s Rules of Order relating to members speaking in Standing Committee, as well as whether members of a Standing Committee are allowed to Table Items Under Privilege in Committee.

Mayor Petty recognized the City Clerk, who provided information relative to whether items can be Tabled Under Privilege in Committee.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the procedures associated with hearing items in the Standing Committee on Finance, as well as the approval process for the FY 2022 Budget in whole with the Mayor and City Clerk.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed scheduling associated with City Council and Finance Committee meetings moving forward, including a desire to cancel the following City Council agenda to have an expanded Finance Committee agenda with the Mayor.

Councilor Russell then moved, “That the Standing Committee on Finance does hereby amend the 2021 Finance Committee Meeting Schedule by amending the time of the remaining meetings relative to FY 2022 to 4 p.m.”

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Motion approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nays (Nay – King).

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed items appearing before the City Council relative to police operations and when additional questions relative to the Police Department’s Budget may be asked with the Mayor and the City Clerk.

Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote on Councilor Russell’s motion to amend the Finance Committee meeting schedule to begin at 4 p.m. Motion approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Colorio absent).

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the timeline for approving the FY 2022 Budget with the Mayor.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the process for reconsidering items relative to the budget with the Mayor and the City Solicitor.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the process for approving the annual budget with the Mayor.

Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 1 Nays (Nay – King) (Refer to vote on Mayor Petty’s motion to move the question in record of item)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council provide City Council with an update concerning the successes of the Summer Impact Program. (Petty)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the specifications of the new vehicles ordered by the Worcester Police Department. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning average response times for emergency calls requiring the Police Department, how the department grades each call and the department’s expectations for responses to such calls. (King)

Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the various undertakings being taken the Police Department related to diversifying the department. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning how the Shannon Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Grant is allocated. Further, request City Manager include in said report information concerning how other communities manage their funds received relative to said grant. (King)

Request City Manager request City Solicitor work with the City Clerk to provide City Council with a report concerning Robert’s Rules of Order relating to members speaking in Standing Committee, as well as whether members of a Standing Committee are allowed to Table Items Under Privilege in Committee. (Petty)

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Fire Department budget.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the process and successes associated with diversity training, as well as the number of recruits coming on from the previous class with the Deputy Fire Chief.

Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Emergency Communications budget.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed funding more training for dispatchers with the Interim Director of Emergency Communications and the City Manager.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed whether the search for the position of Director of Emergency Communications has commenced, the salary range for said position and how the department collaborates with the Police Department with the Interim Director of Emergency Communications and the Chief Financial Officer.

Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: “Request City Manager provide City Council with information relative to the proposed increase in salary allocations for the Director of Emergency Communications in FY 2022.”

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the impact opening Polar Park has had on the department with the Interim Director of Emergency Communications.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the multilingual diversity associated with individuals who answer emergency communications with the Interim Director of Emergency Communications.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed turnover concerns in the Emergency Communications Department, the department’s involvement with dispatching police officers, counseling available to employees following distressing engagements and positions being regraded with the City Manager, Interim Director of Emergency Communications and Chief Financial Officer.

Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report how data collected within the Emergency Communications department informed improvements relative to dispatching emergency calls during shift changes.”

Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning plans to address the gaps in preparedness planning, training and exercising in the Emergency Communications department.”

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the importance the department during COVID-19 with the City Manager.

Mayor Petty 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 provide City Council with a report how data collected within the Emergency Communications department informed improvements relative to dispatching emergency calls during shift changes. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning plans to address the gaps in preparedness planning, training and exercising in the Emergency Communications department. (King)

Request City Manager provide City Council with information relative to the proposed increase in salary allocations for the Director of Emergency Communications in FY 2022. (Mero-Carlson)

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rose absent)

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Inspectional Services budget.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed staffing levels within the department with the Interim Inspectional Services Director.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the times individuals are able to pull permits for construction, as well as the processes used by the department when evaluating blighted properties with the Interim Inspectional Services Director and the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed whether the department is seeing an uptick in complaints around unrelated occupants in a single living space, as well as how COVID-19’s impact has affected the amount of building permits granted with the Interim Inspectional Services Director and Director of Housing and Health Inspections.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rose, who expressed praise for the department.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed whether positions for inspectors within the department were filled, as well as hiring a permanent Commissioner of Inspectional Services with the City Manager.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed whether there was an increase in rats in the city with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections and City Manager.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed communication between the City Council and the department relative to blighted properties, as well as the strategies used to diversify the department with the City Manager.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed whether there would be any budgetary impacts around automatization, communications between the department with public safety officials and what the impact of working remotely was on the department with the Interim Inspectional Services Director and Director of Housing and Health Inspections.

Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the role of the proposed, additional Assistant City Clerk position with the City Clerk.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the various duties the proposed new Assistant City Clerk position may have, the staffing within the department associated with supporting City Council and the operations of the Municipal Service Center with the City Clerk.

Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to collectively recommend items #11a and #12a be held.

Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays

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