CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Wednesday, May 25, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 6:01 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:23 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 | | | | | Also: | Chief Financial Officer Timothy McGourthy
City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes Deanna Foster
Assistant City Manager Eric D. Batista
Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. 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 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/93823030890
Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Zoom Access Code: 938 2303 0890 | 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 May 19, 2022. | 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 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of January 31, 2022.
# 10.30A CM March 8, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #3b and #3c.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who discussed the financial revenues associated with city property taxes, governmental aid and returns on local receipts.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed whether inflation has had an impact on the city’s budget and strategies associated with dealing with said inflation with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the long-term contract associated with gas prices paid for by the city with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed payments on taxes tied into residents’ mortgages with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the items be placed on file. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of February 28, 2022.
# 9.30A CM March 22, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of March 31, 2022.
# 9.30A CM April 26, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #3a) | |
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| | | 3d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the certification of funds in the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.
# 8.30B CM January 25, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the amount of funds associated with the DCU Center.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who discussed the process the city uses for borrowing funds on behalf of the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, who provided an update as to funds available in the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed ensuring the DCU Center be updated as much as possible, as well as whether any similar funds exist within the state with the Chief Financial Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager determine a trigger point at which City Council will be notified relative to reevaluating the allocation of funds to the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.
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 determine a trigger point at which City Council will be notified relative to reevaluating the allocation of funds to the DCU Special District Improvement Fund. | |
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| | | 3e. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a summary of the FY23 health insurance procurement process and resulting premium rates.
# 9.3A CM March 22, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and discussed the benefits associated with being a municipal employee.
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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| | | 3f. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the transition plan of Eric Batista as he assumes the role of Acting City Manager.
# 10.41A CM May 3, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and provided an overview of the qualifications and previous roles held by the Assistant City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Assistant City Manager, who discussed the process the City Manager’s department is using as part of a transition plan between Mr. Augustus and Mr. Batista, including the plans for the Office of Urban Innovation and duties associated with Human Resources Department.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed the process for identifying needs within various departments with the Assistant City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed whether the Assistant City Manager feels he could be at a disadvantage hiring individuals as an Acting City Manager instead of holding the position in a permanent setting, as well as how the Assistant City Manager plans to backfill positions left vacant as a result of his temporary promotion with the Assistant City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the department’s philosophy relative to Human Resource’s roles associated with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work as well as staffing needs within the city with the Assistant City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed the practices associated with DEI work within the various departments within the city with the Assistant City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning recommendations made by the outgoing Chief Diversity Officer.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Assistant City Manager, who provided thanks to the Standing Committee for recommending him as the Acting City Manager.
Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be place on file. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning recommendations made by the outgoing Chief Diversity Officer. | |
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| | | 4a. | 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 Tuesday, April 12, 2022
In Committee April 27, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 4, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #4b.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed the City Council moving forward with a Request For Proposal at the May 24, 2022 City Council meeting.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the successes of the 2013-2014 process for appointing a permanent City Manager.
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 | |
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| | | 4b. | 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
In Committee April 27, 2022 - Held
In Committee May 4, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and 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 | |
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