CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Wednesday, November 10, 2021 | Auditorium | Convened: 6:04 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:20 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 View Discovery School, 80 Prospect Street, Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King
Vice Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | | | | Also: | City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Assistant City Solicitor Wendy Quinn
Professor of Law at Stanford University Nathan Persily
Principal Clerk Lorena Castillo
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, 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 join us directly within the location, follow the below link to join via the WebEx application or dial the direct line as indicated. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user you may dial *3. – Phone Number: 415-655-0001, Access Code: 2305 641 9359.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea281f8fb7edca9d2911b2f318235bf46 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Municipal and Legislative Operations hereby approves the minutes of the Municipal and Legislative Operations meeting of November 4, 2021. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a voice vote to adopt the Order. Order adopted. | |
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| | | 3a. | Order of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby authorize the City Solicitor to execute the consent decree containing the following three electoral system options: Option #1: A single-member district-based system for electing all members of the Worcester School Committee with no at-large seats (the “Single Member System”). Under any such Single Member System, there shall be a total of six (6) single-member Worcester School Committee districts, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, and the Mayor as Chair. Option #2: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 1 at-large seat. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of seven (7) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with one (1) at-large seat and the Mayor as chair. Option #3: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 2 at-large seats. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of six (6) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with two (2) at-large seats and the Mayor as chair.
# 19c CC October 12, 2021
In Committee for informational purposes only
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and provided an overview concerning the decision to execute the consent decree and discussed the demographic composition of registered Worcester voters and School Committee elected officials.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who provided information concerning upcoming Municipal & Legislative Operation standing committee meetings relative to the consent decree.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the following speakers:
1. Sue Mailman, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a
2. Shelly Rodman, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a
3. David Coyne, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a
4. George Cortez, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a
5. Ambrose D., Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor nor in opposition to item #3a
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the feasibility of creating a fourth option for the consent decree.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Professor of Law at Stanford University and the City Solicitor, who discussed the reason for the three options to create either six (6) or seven (7) districts for School Committee as existing five (5) school committee districts layout do not satisfy the requirements for majority-minority school districts.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk provide City Council with an analysis of the potential six (6) and seven (7) district options associated with electing School Committee members, as provided by the consent decree and illustrated by the example maps.
Chairperson Councilor King then read the testimony submitted by Gary Vecchio relative to the item.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Professor of Law at Stanford University, who discussed School Committee representation relative to the redistricting process.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the plaintiffs’ requests relative to voting rights and equity and the redistricting process relative to the consent decree.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Professor of Law at Stanford University, who discussed voting rules and previous election results from existing majority-minority districts.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed efforts to increase public engagement with the Municipal Legislative and Operations meetings concerning the redistricting process.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a voice vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold
| | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Clerk provide City Council with an analysis of the potential six (6) and seven (7) district options associated with electing School Committee members, as provided by the consent decree and illustrated by the example maps. | |
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| | | 3b. | Communication of the City Clerk transmitting an informational communication concerning House Bill 4118 an Act Relative to Re-precincting (formerly H.3863), relative to the City Council 2020 Redistrciting process, as indicated in the City of Worcester's Charter Section 7-6 Districts: Section A&B.
# 12a CC October 12, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a voice vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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