Committee Agenda for Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee 07/14/2022

CITY OF WORCESTER

Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:01 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:30 P.M.

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

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E. King Councilor George J. Russell, who participated in the meeting remotely Councilor Sean M. Rose, who participated in the meeting remotely

	Also:	Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn Director of Human Resources William Bagley Principal Staff Assistant Jeannie Michelson Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk

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 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

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 Committee meeting of June 22, 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

Communications of the City Manager



3a.	Recommend adoption of amendments to the City’s organizational ordinances to conform to the FY23 budget recommendations. # 8.14A CM June 14, 2022	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and provided an overview of the various departments that would be reorganized in the proposed plan. Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Director of Human Resources, who discussed the rationale and effect the reorganization would have on city services. Chairperson Councilor King brought forward the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with an outline detailing the city’s reorganizational plans as it relates to the impact that moving customer service staff will have on services. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed concerns regarding the duplication of services as it related to the proposed reorganization. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who spoke concerning the item. Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved. Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with an outline detailing the city’s reorganizational plans as it relates to the impact that moving customer service staff will have on services.


3b.	Transmitting informational communication relative to the opportunities available on municipal boards and commissions. # 10.41A CM March 8, 2022	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Principal Staff Assistant, who discussed multiple hearings the Citizen Advisory Commission (CAC) has scheduled regarding bringing in additional persons to the city’s boards and commissions. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with social media analytics relative to posts made for marketing various openings on the city’s boards and commissions. Chairperson Councilor King discussed additional meeting dates for the CAC to review applicants for the License Commission with the Principal Staff Assistant. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning the city’s License Commission, including 1) who has served on the commission over past fifteen (15) years; 2) how long each person has served; 3) the feasibility of expanding the License Commission membership to five (5) members; 4) a legal opinion concerning what would be required to expand the membership of the commission; and 5) the feasibility of adding requirements for district representation on the License Commission. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed whether the License Commission is associated with district representation with the Principal Staff Assistant. Chairperson Councilor King discussed the strategy for recruiting civic involvement within underrepresented districts with the Principal Staff Assistant. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the number of individuals contacted when a board or commission needs membership with the Principal Staff Assistant. Chairperson Councilor King discussed the recent activity of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and whether they were active with the Principal Staff Assistant. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the current status of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, including information as to any inroads made relative to concerns expressed by said board, as well as the current composition of said board. Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed 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 social media analytics relative to posts made for marketing various openings on the city’s boards and commissions.
	Request City Manager provide City Council with information concerning the city’s License Commission, including 1) who has served on the commission over past fifteen (15) years; 2) how long each person has served; 3) the feasibility of expanding the License Commission membership to five (5) members; 4) a legal opinion concerning what would be required to expand the membership of the commission; and 5) the feasibility of adding requirements for district representation on the License Commission.
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the current status of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, including information as to any inroads made relative to concerns expressed by said board, as well as the current composition of said board.


3c.	Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on the American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA). # 9.4B CC June 21, 2022	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview relative to the city’s use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Chairperson Councilor King discussed meetings the administration had with community groups relative to ARPA funding with the Chief Development Officer. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Chairperson Councilor King discussed small business assistance and outreach associated with ARPA funds with the Chief Development Officer. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed working with the Assessor’s Office to determine a list of businesses to reach out to relative to applying for ARPA funding, as well as the connection between flood insurance and ARPA funding with the Chief Development Officer. Chairperson Councilor King discussed the entities responsible for marketing information about ARPA funding with the Chief Development Officer. Chairperson Councilor King moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed 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 an update concerning the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Communications of the City Clerk



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 In Committee April 27, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the switch to the ZOOM Webinar platform and the registration and verification process for public participants. 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


4b.	Transmitting an informational communication relative to parliamentary procedures used in Committees of the whole, as referred to in Robert's Rules of Order. # 13a CC June 8, 2021	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

Miscellaneous Item



5a.	Order of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee hold a discussion regarding pending state legislation, including home rule petitions, impacting the city. # 10c CC March 29, 2022 In Committee June 22, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved for a roll call vote recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays


5b.	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 In Committee May 25, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item collectively with item #5c. Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who provided an update concerning the RFP process for the City Manager search. Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk work with the Chief of Staff to the City Council and Purchasing Agent to repost the previously approved Request for Proposals (RFP) relative to the search for a premiere executive search firm to aid in the selection of a permanent City Manager, in an effort to provide specific, targeted outreach for said reposting, as well as procure additional responses to said RFP. Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the Chairman’s Order. 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


5c.	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 In Committee April 27, 2022 - Held In Committee May 4, 2022 - Held In Committee May 25, 2022 - Held In Committee June 22, 2022 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #5b)

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Clerk work with the Chief of Staff to the City Council and Purchasing Agent to repost the previously approved Request for Proposals (RFP) relative to the search for a premiere executive search firm to aid in the selection of a permanent City Manager, in an effort to provide specific, targeted outreach for said reposting, as well as procure additional responses to said RFP.