CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Monday, November 22, 2021 | Recreation Center | Convened: 6:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:50 P.M. |
|
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 |
|
Belmont AME Zion Church - 55 Illinois Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | | | | Also: | City Socilitor Michael Traynor
Professor of Law at Stanford University Nathan Persily
Assistant City Clerk Clare Robbins, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
| | | | | |
| | | 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: 2317 243 4932.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee4f54a922f38167dbf4029036456f3b7 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
| | | | | |
| | | 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 18, 2021. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| | | | | |
| | | 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 City Solicitor, who discussed the role City Council has in the process for amending the School Committee election process, including the drawing of districts once a vote has gone through proper approvals.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Professor of Law at Stanford University, who discussed the various options available to the city for electing School Committee officials.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the following speakers:
1. Paul Matthews, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
2. Jennifer Davis Carey, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
3. John Provost, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to item #3a
4. Jordan Berg Powers, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
5. Bill Coleman, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor and the Professor of Law at Stanford University, who discussed the decision to execute the consent decree, the intent and impact of creating majority-minority districts on the voting power of minorities.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Assistant City Clerk, who discussed available public records of the public testimonies regarding the consent decree.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the recommendations and comments concerning the various options for electing School Committee officials provided by public participants at Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee meetings relative to the School Committee election process.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning the recommendations and comments concerning the various options for electing School Committee officials provided by public participants at Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee meetings relative to the School Committee election process. | |
| | | | | |
| | | 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 recognized the Assistant City Clerk, who discussed provision of an update to the item.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
|