CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Wednesday, August 24, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 6:00 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:48 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
Councilor George J. Russell, who participated in the meeting remotely
Councilor Sean M. Rose, who participated in the meeting remotely | | | | | Also: | Chief Financial Officer Timothy J. McGourthy
City Auditor Robert V. Stearns
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli
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 July 14, 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. | Communication of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting an audit of the city’s payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) funds for the past ten years indicating which agreements are inactive and to providing further details that could inform the City Council.
# 17b CC August 9, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized Councilor Russell and Councilor Rose, who both spoke concerning 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 | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting the annual actuarial valuation for the Worcester Retirement System (WRS) as of January 1, 2022, as prepared by Segal Consulting.
# 12a CC August 9, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the City Auditor, who provided an overview of the annual actuarial valuation of the Worcester Retirement System (WRS).
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed whether a mechanism exists to account for early retirements within the Worcester Retirement System with the City Auditor.
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 | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Clerk | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting an informational communication updating the City Council as to the process of electing School Committee, based on six (6) districts, starting with the 2023 Municipal Election.
# 13a CC August 9, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #4c.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Clerk, who provided an update concerning the process for electing School Committee members in the city, including providing the public with opportunities to give feedback on the process, minimizing split precincts associated with election and using existing polling locations to cover said splint precincts.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed reassigning individuals within split precincts inside the State’s voter registration system, as well as communication made between the city and the Secretary of State’s Office with the City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized Councilor Rose, who expressed gratitude for equity associated with the new School Committee election process.
Chairperson Councilor King discussed challenges associated with there being five City Council districts and six School Committee districts with the City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor King brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk provide City Council with sample ballots depicting the differences between the city’s election process if the School Committee and City Council districts were and were not aligned.
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 | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Clerk provide City Council with sample ballots depicting the differences between the city’s election process if the School Committee and City Council districts were and were not aligned. | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting an informational communication relative to information regarding the process of making charter changes and placing ballot questions on a State Election ballot.
# 13a CC June 7, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and 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 legal representation concerning making Charter changes and placing ballot questions on a State Election ballot during discussions regarding same.
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 | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with legal representation concerning making Charter changes and placing ballot questions on a State Election ballot during discussions regarding same. | |
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| | | 4c. | Transmitting an informational communication concerning split precincts in election operations.
# 12d CC November 9, 2021
In Committee December 20, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a) | |
| 5. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2022 financial update, as of June 30, 2022.
# 9.30A CM August 9, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an update concerning the city’s finances, including revenues being slightly above expected and strength associated with local receipts.
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 | |
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| | | 6a. | 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
In Committee May 25, 2022 - Held
In Committee June 22, 2022 - Held
In Committee July 14, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #6b.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the timeline concerning the RFP process.
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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| | | 6b. | 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
In Committee July 14, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #6a CC) | |
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| | | 6c. | 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 Tuesday, March 29, 2022
In Committee June 22, 2022 - Held
In Committee July 14, 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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