CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Health and Human Services Committee Meeting | Tuesday, March 23, 2021 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:29 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Sarai Rivera | | Vice Chairperson George J Russell | | Councilor Gary Rosen |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Sarai Rivera
Councilor Gary Rosen | | | | | Also: | Director of Public Health Karyn Clark
Medical Director Michael Hirsh
Homeless Projects Manager Evis Terpollari
Homeless Outreach Strategist Eniya Lufumpa
Coordinator of Community Initiatives Leah Serafin
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk
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| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order- That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Health and Human Services hereby approves the minutes of the Public Health and Human Services Committee meeting on January 26 2021. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Russell absent) | |
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| | | 2a. | In order to ensure the continuation of active public engagement, the City of Worcester will now use a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. To participate during the public participation phase of City Council, you may call the direct line indicated: Esther Howland Chamber - 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 157 087 8590) or enter the below URL into your web browser. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user during public participation you may dial *3.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=e4ffeee06b75435810b4ad49daab46c30 | Attachments | | | | | | | No speakers were recognized during this portion of the agenda. | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the second Annual Report on the Housing First Coordinating Council.
# 9.17B CM February 23, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved to take the item collectively with Item #3b.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Homeless Outreach Strategist, who provided an overview of actions taken to reserve the increase of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in the city.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Homeless Projects Manager, who discussed housing projects coming forward to aid individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Russell absent)
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the outcomes of the Worcester Hub initiative over the past year.
# 9.17C CM February 23, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Russell absent) (see item #3a) | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of the the Housing First Initiative.
# 9.17A CM December 10, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Russell absent) | |
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| | | 4a. | Discussion concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the city's planned responses, its impact, prevention measures and vaccine distribution. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Rivera read the item and recognized the Medical Director, who provided an overview of the city’s actions as they relate to COVID-19, including information about preparing against many of the high risk threats of the virus, the various variants and the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against them, as well as the percentage of the population that has been vaccinated.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized the Director of Public Health, who provided information as to the amount of individuals who have been vaccinated in the city, future distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines available for populations that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera recognized Councilor Rosen, who discussed the city’s process for receiving vaccines from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, how to encourage individuals to accept the vaccine and the decline in individuals getting tested with the Director of Public Health.
Chairperson Councilor Rivera brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager consider ways to work with the city’s population to continue encouraging residents to be tested for COVID-19. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager consider ways to work with the city’s population to continue encouraging residents to be tested for COVID-19. | |
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