City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Ojeda, who moved to recuse himself from the item and left the room.

Mayor Petty recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the funds provided in the Worcester Public Schools budget.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed how an inflation factor could impact the department’s budget and create a $22,000,000.00 deficit, whether the department was still on target to complete capital projects including installing new windows at Worcester East Middle School and plans to expand the sidewalk on Sunderland Rd. in the vicinity of Roosevelt Elementary School with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools, Superintendent of Public Schools and City Manager.

Councilor Russell then moved to, “Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning plans to expand the sidewalks on Sunderland Rd. in the vicinity of Roosevelt Elementary School, located at 1006 Grafton St. (Russell)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed projections for student enrollment and how its decrease will impact the student-teacher ratio, whether there are any teacher or administrative reductions anticipated for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) and how any anticipated monies received from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) Funds and other sources will be allocated with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Councilor Colorio then moved to, “Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning how many positions in the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget that were previously being funded through grant monies are now being funded through the department’s general budget. (Colorio)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the department’s plans relative to teachers who have not gained permanent teaching status, as well as teachers who may retire or resign during the summer season with the Superintendent of Public Schools.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the process the department uses to remove snow with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Councilor Bergman then moved to, “Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning how Worcester Public Schools (WPS) funds its snow removal operations, including information relative to what equipment is used during its process. (Bergman)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed allocations for gas and electric utilities, the increase in spending for school safety and the process for determining any program reductions at any given school with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Councilor Toomey then moved to, “Request City Manager request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report detailing anticipated costs associated with fully implementing the recommendations within the School Safety Audit over a seven-to-ten year period. Said report should include information relative to which aspects of the audit will be prioritized each year. (Toomey)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed strategies associated with providing school psychologist resources to students, strategies used to diversify the Worcester Public Schools’ workforce, how the department budgets for potential needs relative to how many students attend the city’s schools each year, the city’s contributions to the Worcester Public Schools annual and capital improvement budgets, potential funding gained from the Fair Share Amendment and resources available to the city’s English Language Learners (ELL) with the Superintendent of Public Schools, Chief Financial Officer, City Manager and Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report detailing the legislative priorities of the Worcester Public Schools department. (King)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the funding strategies relative to buses and bus drivers, staffing levels for crossing guards and which positions are most likely to be kept vacant in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) with the Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools.

Mayor Petty moved to approve the budget. Budget approved.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning plans to expand the sidewalks on Sunderland Rd. in the vicinity of Roosevelt Elementary School, located at 1006 Grafton St. (Russell)

Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning how many positions in the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget that were previously being funded through grant monies are now being funded through the department’s general budget. (Colorio)

Request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report concerning how Worcester Public Schools (WPS) funds its snow removal operations, including information relative to what equipment is used during its process. (Bergman)

Request City Manager request City Manager work with the Superintendent of Public Schools to provide City Council with a report detailing anticipated costs associated with fully implementing the recommendations within the School Safety Audit over a seven-to-ten year period. Said report should include information relative to which aspects of the audit will be prioritized each year. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request Superintendent of Public Schools provide City Council with a report detailing the legislative priorities of the Worcester Public Schools department. (King)

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to hold the budget. Budget held.

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to hold the budget. Budget held.

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 Toomey, who discussed the city’s growing population as it relates to appropriate staffing levels for the Fire Department, the timetable for receiving replacement apparatus, the hiring process within the department’s maintenance division and efforts to obtain gear free of PFAS with the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief.

Councilor Toomey then moved to, “Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning efforts being made to obtain PFAS-free firefighter turn out gear. (Toomey)”.

Councilor Toomey then moved to, “Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report detailing the Fire Department’s staffing levels over a three (3) year period that includes information relative to union and civilian employees, as well as any individuals that may have transferred in or out of the department. (Toomey)”.

Councilor Toomey then moved to, “Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the status of building the new South Division Fire Station. (Toomey)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the salary of the Fire Chief with the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Pacillo, who discussed the department’s fleet replacement and management plan, including when the Greendale Fire Station engine was replaced, with the Deputy Fire Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor King, who discussed the efficacy of PFAS-free turnout gear, mental health and wellness initiatives being undertaken within the department, overtime expenditures within the department during FY23 and FY24, the number of fire investigators currently employed, and how the department continues to realize recommendations associated with the Fire Department Audit with the Fire Chief, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Fire Chief.

Councilor King then moved to, “Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report detailing the status of implementing the various recommendations associated with the Fire Department Community Risk Assessment Master Plan. (King)”.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Ojeda, who discussed initiatives undertaken by the department relative to fire safety education with the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief.

Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the salary of the Fire Chief position with the Chief Financial Officer.

Mayor Petty moved to approve the budget. Budget approved.

Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning efforts being made to obtain PFAS-free firefighter turn out gear. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report detailing the Fire Department’s staffing levels over a three (3) year period that includes information relative to union and civilian employees, as well as any individuals that may have transferred in or out of the department. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the status of building the new South Division Fire Station. (Toomey)

Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report detailing the status of implementing the various recommendations associated with the Fire Department Community Risk Assessment Master Plan. (King)

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to hold the budget associated with items #7a through #7c. Budget held.

Budget held (See Item #7a)

Budget held (See Item #7a)

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold

Mayor Petty read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold