CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Wednesday, April 27, 2022 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 6:05 P.M. | Adjourned: 08:07 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 George J Russell | | Councilor Sean M Rose |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King
Vice Chairperson Councilor George J Russell
Councilor Sean M Rose, who particiated in the meeting remotely | | | | | Also: | City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Auditor Robert Stearns
Chief Financial Officer Timothy McGourthy
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.
Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/99524470181
Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Zoom Access Code: 995 2447 0181 | 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 Committee meeting of March 23, 2022. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting the financial statements of the operations of the DCU Center for the year ended June 30, 2021 as audited by CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP.
# 14b CC February 15, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who provided a presentation on the financial statements of the operations of the DCU Center for the year ended June 30, 2021.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the ARPA funding for the DCU Center, expenses for the field hospital whether staff members at DCU were compensated for their work, financial impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the DCU management company and the contract between the city and the management company with the City Auditor.
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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| | | 3b. | Transmitting the OPEB valuation as prepared by KMS Actuaries, LLC for the financial disclosure date of June 30, 2021.
# 14e CC February 15, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who discussed whether there had been any changes to the bond rating with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the inflation rate with the City Auditor.
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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| | | 3c. | Transmitting the financial statements of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority (WRA) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 as audited by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.
# 14c CC February 15, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who provided a presentation on the financial statements of the WRA in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the custodial credit risk with the City Auditor.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Auditor, who discussed the lack of policy concerning the custodial credit risk.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the committee’s ability to propose for a custodial credit risk policy to be adopted.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays: Request City Manager work with the Worcester Redevelopment Authority for the consideration to adopt a policy for custodial credit risk of deposit per the recommendation of the City Auditor.
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 work with the Worcester Redevelopment Authority to consider the adoption of a policy for custodial credit risk of deposit per the recommendation of the City Auditor. | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Clerk | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting an information communication relative to the implementation a new, secure, online option for residents to engage and attend live meetings via the ZOOM Webinar platform.
# 11a CC February 1, 2022
In Committee March 23, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rose absent) | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting an informational communication relative to the process and timeline that the City Council followed during the 1993, 2004 and 2014 City Manager search and appointment process.
# 14a CC April 12, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item up with Items #5a, #5b and #5c.
Chairperson Councilor King moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 5a. | Order of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations meet in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the contract and salary associated with the hiring of Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista.
# 21d CC April 12, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #4b) | |
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| | | 5b. | Order of Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request City Council proceed forthwith with the selection of a permanent City Manager by initiating and completing a process for said selection to include the appointment of an Ad Hoc Committee, as outlined in Rule 50 of the Rules of City Council regarding Ad Hoc Committees, including the Mayor selecting the composition of said Ad Hoc Committee; the purpose of the committee being to determine the following:
1) The Ad Hoc Committee will exist until such a time that a permanent City Manager is appointed.
2) The inclusion of the following procedures:
A. Review of the prior processes used in the selection of a City Manager in 1993, 2004 and 2013-2014 and report to City Council regarding a timetable for the following steps:
i. Provide for an opportunity for community input relative to the search process for a permanent City Manager.
ii. Placement of an Request for Proposals (RFP) for a search firm to aid in the search process;
iii. Ad Hoc Committee to review of responses for said RFP; selection of a search firm and entering into a contract with said search firm.
iv. Ad Hoc Committee to provide the selected search firm with a copy of specifications and a job description for the permanent City Manager, including best practices used in other search processes;
v. Ad Hoc Committee to review the list of potential candidates for the permanent City Manager position, provided by the search firm in Executive Session, for interviewing said potential candidates in said Executive Session.
vi. Final referral of a recommendation of finalists to be interviewed in Open Session by the entire City Council, followed by a vote to determine the selection for the position of a permanent City Manager.
# 11a CC April 12, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #4b) | |
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| | | 5c. | Order of Councilor Thu Nguyen - Request City Council authorize and create a community ad-hoc committee to engage Worcester residents in the process of hiring a city manager, do community listening sessions in all five districts, and provide a report with feedback and data to city council.
# 11c CC April 12, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #4b) | |
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