CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 4:00 P.M. | Adjourned: 4:52 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 Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio as the Chair, except for Councilor Bergman, Councilor King, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Toomey and Mayor Petty. Councilor Rose participated in the meeting remotely. Councilor Toomey arrived at 4:05 P.M. Councilor Bergman and Councilor King arrived at 4:34 P.M. Mayor Petty arrived at 4:45 P.M. | | | | | Also: | Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista
Chief Financial Officer Timothy McGourthy
Budget Director Erin Taylor
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 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 June 7, 2022. | View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 6 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman, King, Rivera, Toomey, Petty absent) | |
| 3. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings - City Manager's Office | |
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| | | 3a. | City Manager's Office - XVI-1, pg. 255 | View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the City Manager budget.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the department’s allocations relative to the two Assistant City Manager positions with the Acting City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed allocations relative to police details within the City department’s budget with the Acting City Manager.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed previous expenditures within the department’s ordinary maintenance with the Chief Financial Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed membership dues associated with the department with the Chief Financial Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #3a through #3c. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman, King, Rivera, Petty absent). | |
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| | | 3b. | City Manager's Contingency - XVI-2, pg. 261 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman, King, Rivera, Petty absent) (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3c. | Cable Services - XVI-3, pg. 263 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 7 Yeas and 0 Nays (Bergman, King, Rivera, Petty absent) (See Item #3a) | |
| 4. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings Held - Law Department | |
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| | | 4a. | Law Department - XII-1, pg. 217
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Law Department budget.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed allocations relative to the various court judgements for the city with the City Solicitor.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Nguyen, who discussed the department’s efforts to diversify with the City Solicitor.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed whether vacancy factors were considered when building the department’s budget, the city’s process for dealing with resident claims and creating a mechanism for City Council to hire outside counsel with the Chief Financial Officer, City Solicitor and City Manager.
Councilor Russell then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning creating a mechanism for City Council to hire outside counsel for various legal matters. (Russell)”.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to approve the budgets associated with items #4a through #4c. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera, Petty absent). | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning creating a mechanism for City Council to hire outside counsel for various legal matters. (Russell) | |
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| | | 4b. | Property and Casualty Insurance - XII-2, pg. 221
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera, Petty absent) (See Item #4a) | |
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| | | 4c. | Court Judgments XII-3, pg. 225
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 9 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera, Petty absent) (See Item #4a) | |
| 5. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings Held - Legislative Offices | |
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| | | 5a. | City Council - XV-1, pg. 235
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the City Council, Mayor, City Clerk and Election Commission budgets.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed overtime budget allocations for future elections with the Chief Financial Officer.
Vice Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor King, who discussed the process for creating departmental budgets with the Chief Financial Officer.
Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report as to options available to City Council concerning engaging with the city’s administration for the purpose of reviewing the City Council budget. Further, request City Manager include in said report any barriers relative to same. (King)”.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed individuals available for staffing City Council issues with the City Clerk and Chief Financial Officer.
Mayor Petty moved to approve the budgets associated with items #5a through #5d. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent). | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report as to options available to City Council concerning engaging with the city’s administration for the purpose of reviewing the City Council budget. Further, request City Manager include in said report any barriers relative to same. (King) | |
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| | | 5b. | Mayor's Office - XV-2, pg. 237
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) (See Item #5a) | |
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| | | 5c. | City Clerk's Office - XV-3, pg. 241
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) (See Item #5a) | |
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| | | 5d. | Election Commission - XV-4, pg. 247
In Committee May 17, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 24, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) (See Item #5a) | |
| 6. | FY 2023 Budget Hearings Held - Administration and Finance | |
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| | | 6a. | Administration and Finance - XX-1, pg. 287
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to approve the budgets associated with items #6a through #6c. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent). | |
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| | | 6b. | Debt Service Principal and Interest - XX-2, pg. 307
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6c. | Pension Obligation Bonds - XX-3, pg. 311
In Committee May 31, 2022 - Held
| View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) (See Item #6a) | |
| 7. | FY 2023 Budget Hearing - Line Item Budget | |
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| | | 7a. | Line Item Budget - XXII-1, pg. 317 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent). | |
| 8. | Fiscal Year 2023 Budget | |
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| | | 8a. | 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
In Committee June 7, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed budget allocations associated with the Capital Improvement Plan with the Acting City Manager.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved. Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) | |
| 9. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 9a. | 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
In Committee June 7, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved. Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) | |
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| | | 9b. | 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
In Committee June 7, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent) | |
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