CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, June 7, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 4:07 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:30 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Joseph M Petty | | Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
| | Councilor Etel Haxhiaj | | Councilor Khrystian E King | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Thu Nguyen | | Councilor Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Sean M Rose | | Councilor George J Russell | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey |
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | All members were present with the Mayor as the Chair.
Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista
Chief Financial Officer Timothy McGourthy
Budget Director Erin Taylor
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | | | Also: | Police Chief Steven M. Sargent
Director of Human Resources William Bagley
Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Stephen Rolle | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Finance Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87827034961
Finance Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Finance Committee Zoom Access Code: 878 2703 4961 | View Budget |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on May 31, 2022. | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted | |
| 3. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings Held - Human Resources | |
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| | | 3a. | Human Resources - XI-1, pg. 197
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Human Resources budget.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed successes associated with hiring from a diverse pool and ways to create a uniform hiring process throughout city departments with the Director of Human Resources.
Mayor Petty moved to approve the budgets associated with items #3a through #3d. Budget approved. | |
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| | | 3b. | Worker's Compensation and Public Safety IOD - XI-2, pg. 205
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3c. | Unemployment Compensation - XI-3, pg. 209
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3d. | Health Insurance - XI-4, pg. 211
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #3a) | |
| 4. | FY 2023 Budget Hearing Held - Executive Office of Diversity and Inclusion | |
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| | | 4a. | Executive Office of Diversity and Inclusion - XVII-1, pg. 267
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and discussed the hiring process for the Chief Diversity Officer with the Director of Human Resources.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed implementing technology to complete work more efficiently with the Director of Human Resources and Acting City Manager.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed a citywide salary survey and establishing an investigation policy with the Director of Human Resources.
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any challenges associated with the Worcester Police Department having their own Bureau of Professional Standards as it relates to the creation of a citywide investigation policy. (King)”.
Mayor Petty moved to approve the budget. Budget approved. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning any challenges associated with the Worcester Police Department having their own Bureau of Professional Standards as it relates to the creation of a citywide investigation policy. (King) | |
| 5. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings - Economic Development | |
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| | | 5a. | Economic Development - VI-1, pg. 133 | View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #5b through #5d.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Economic Development budget.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the accessibility of the Economic Development team and challenges associated with economic opportunity for the Latino/Latina population with the Chief Development Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the diversity of individuals and companies participating in economic development initiatives in the city with the Chief Development Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed successes of the city’s job fairs and outreach strategies with small businesses with the Director of MassHire Central Career Center and Chief Development Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed options available to the department relative to inclusionary zoning, as well as further developing the TIF/TIE policy with the Chief Development Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who moved to, “Request City Manager inform City Council as to any major projects occurring within the city, including briefings for district City Councilors when said projects are in their district. (Russell)”.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #5a through #5d. Budget approved. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager inform City Council as to any major projects occurring within the city, including briefings for district City Councilors when said projects are in their district. (Russell) | |
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| | | 5b. | Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA)/Union Station - VI-2, pg. 143 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #5a) | |
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| | | 5c. | MassHire Central Regional Workforce Board - VI-3, pg. 145 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #5a) | |
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| | | 5d. | MassHire Central Career Center - VI-4, pg. 149 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #5a) | |
| 6. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings - Department of Public Works and Parks | |
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| | | 6a. | Auditorium - IV-1, pg. 81 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #6b through #6l.
Mayor Petty recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Department of Public Works and Parks budget.
Mayor Petty discussed the number of open positions with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the department not retaining employees with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and Acting City Manager.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed seasonal employees hired by the department and the effectiveness of the previous winter’s snow removal program with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and Chief Financial Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed assigning a person to work with the Chief Diversity Officer for the purpose of diversifying the department with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed recruiting and retaining city residents for positions within the department and how removing customer service from the department will have an effect on constituent responses with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed changes being made to the structure of the department.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #6a through #6l. Budget approved. | |
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| | | 6b. | Administration and Finance - IV-2, pg. 83 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6c. | Engineering - IV-3, pg. 91 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6d. | Streets and Sanitation - IV-4, pg. 95 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6e. | Fleet Management - IV-5, pg. 99 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6f. | Parks, Recreation and Hope Cemetery, IV-6, pg. 101 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6g. | Enterprise: Green Hill Golf Course - IV-7, pg. 105 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6h. | Snow Removal - IV-8, pg. 109 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6i. | Streetlights - IV-9, pg. 111 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6j. | Enterprise: Sewer - IV-10, pg. 113 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6k. | Enterprise: Water - IV-11, pg. 119 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6l. | Enterprise: Off-Street Parking - IV-12, pg. 125 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved (See Item #6a) | |
| 7. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings - Transportation and Mobility | |
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| | | 7a. | Transportation and Mobility - V-1, pg. 127 | View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Transportation and Mobility budget.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed advocating for the advancement of “Vision Zero.”
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budget. Budget approved. | |
| 8. | FY 2023 Budget Hearing Conditionally Approved - Police Department | |
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| | | 8a. | Police Department - III-1, pg. 37
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #10b and #10c.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed funding relative to assessing the mental wellness of police officers, additional trainings available to police officers, how various divisions within the department that oversees youth relations and increasing the diversity of the department with the Police Chief.
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the number of women and people of color who have been promoted from patrollers to officers from 2018 to present. (King)”.
Councilor King then discussed training completed by the department specific to engaging and deescalating youths with the Police Chief.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed whether drones would be used for surveillance of unhoused individuals with the Police Chief.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed data concerning the amount of time drones have been used by the Police Department with the Police Chief.
Mayor Petty moved to approve the budget. Budget approved. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the number of women and people of color who have been promoted from patrollers to officers from 2018 to present. (King) | |
| 9. | Fiscal Year 2023 Budget | |
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| | | 9a. | Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Operating Budget for City Council review and consideration.
# 5a CC May 13, 2022
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
| 10. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 10a. | Communication of the City Manager recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2023 proposed Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Worcester.
# 5b CC May 13, 2022
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 10b. | Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to training courses at the Worcester Police Department.
# 8.11B CM May 24, 2022
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to recommend the item be file.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 10c. | Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the department development plans for Cable Services, City Clerk, Elections, and the Police Department.
# 8.41C CM May 24, 2022
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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