CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:09 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:43 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Khrystian E King | | Vice Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King
Vice Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey, who arrived at 5:12 P.M.
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | | | | Also: | City Auditor Robert Stearns
Chief Financial Officer Tim McGourthy
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Municipal and Legislative Operations hereby approves the minutes of the Municipal and Legislative Operations meeting of March 4, 2021. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Toomey absent) | |
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| | | 2a. | In order to ensure the continuation of active public engagement, the City of Worcester will now use a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. To participate during the public participation phase of City Council, you may call the direct line indicated: Levi Lincoln Chamber - 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 160 971 1938) or enter the below URL into your web browser. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user during public participation you may dial *3.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=edcb3bdbc87f119dd6533acb0244e8e6e | Attachments | | | | | | | No speakers were recognized during this portion of the meeting. | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting the management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019, prepared by the independent CPA firm of CliftonLarsonAllen, LP.
# 11a CC September 29, 2020
In Committee March 4, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who discussed information concerning the ERP, plans concerning acquisition of new program to replace the ERP, the impact of the new system on office work and remote working experience and the financial benefits of the new system with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the procurement process and implementation of a new ERP program for the city.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the city’s actions relative to a number of recommendations that were provided by the firm during the audit with the City Auditor.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the actions taken to address recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Auditor, who discussed the timeline of the audit, as well as information concerning the police overtime budget.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report concerning the recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to the Worcester Police Department’s overtime reports, policies and budget.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed how details are listed relative to overtime expenditures with the City Auditor.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Auditor provide City Council with an audit reviewing the costs of major events where Worcester Police Department special details and other overtime events are needed over the last five (5) years.; and 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the actions taken to address recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to the “Supervising Sergeant of Liquor Establishments” detail.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the procurement process and implementation of a new ERP program for the city. | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the actions taken to address recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to Inspectional Services. | | | | Request City Auditor provide City Council with a report concerning the recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to the Worcester Police Department’s overtime reports, policies and budget. | | | | Request City Auditor provide City Council with an audit reviewing the costs of major events where Worcester Police Department special details and other overtime events are needed over the last five (5) years. | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the actions taken to address recommendations brought forth in CliftonLarsonAllen, LP’s management letter for the year ended June 30, 2019 relative to the “Supervising Sergeant of Liquor Establishments” detail. | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting an informational communication regarding the financial statements of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, as audited by the CPA firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.
# 13a CC February 25, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who discussed a financial overview relative to the management and plans of the Union Station, the police budget as relates to FTEs and the vacancy discussed at Union Station.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following two Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning how much space within Union Station is rentable; and 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with update concerning efforts made by the city to pursue placing a second restaurant in Union Station.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the leases for the second floor of Union Station with the City Auditor and the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Toomey, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning how much space within Union Station is rentable. | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with update concerning efforts made by the city to pursue placing a second restaurant in Union Station. | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting an informational communication regarding the financial statement of the DCU Center for the year ended June 30, 2019, as audited by the certified public accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP.
# 13b CC February 25, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 4. | Communication of the City Clerk | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting information regarding the feasibility of adding the rules of City Council regarding Public Participation to the City Council Calendar.
# 12a CC November 22, 2016 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and discussed how information relative to public participation is displayed to the public during City Council meetings, as well as improvements that can be made to help publicize the rules of City Council concerning their ability to speak with the City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the importance of public speakers understanding the City Council’s rules relative to public participation when addressing the body.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed translating public participation documentation into other languages, as well as reaching out to various communities and create an informational video relative to public participation with the City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following three Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Clerk ensure the City Council’s rules surrounding public participation be made language sensitive and accessible by multiple languages. Further, request City Clerk consider looking into methods to educate the public on public participation by using video technology; 2) Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of adding information pertaining to City Council’s Rules 2 to the City Council agenda; and 3) Request City Clerk post information relative to the rules of public participation within the City Council agenda.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Clerk ensure the City Council’s rules surrounding public participation be made language sensitive and accessible by multiple languages. Further, request City Clerk consider looking into methods to educate the public on public participation by using video technology. | | | | Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of adding information pertaining to City Council’s Rules 2 to the City Council agenda. | | | | Request City Clerk post information relative to the rules of public participation within the City Council agenda. | |
| 5. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the the costs associated with carrying out a special election.
# 8.23A CM October 3, 2017 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Clerk, who discussed expenses for elections and existing state laws relative to the operation of special elections during COVID-19.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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