CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Safety Committee Meeting | Thursday, May 25, 2023 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:34 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:26 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey | | Vice Chairperson Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Donna M Colorio |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Donna M Colorio | | | | | Also: | Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
Director of Emergency Communications and Management Charles Goodwin
Fire Chief Martin Dyer
Deputy Fire Chief John Powers
Deputy Fire Chief Adam Roche
Chief Sanitary Inspector Lee Hall
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ 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.
Public Safety Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/93622914564
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 936 2291 4564 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on February 27, 2023. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager - Fire Department | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2022 Worcester Fire Department Annual Report.
# 9.11A CM February 28, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Fire Chief and the two Deputy Fire Chiefs, who provided a presentation of the WFD Annual Report.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed challenges concerning increasing personnel for the maintenance department, establishing a maintenance work study/intern program for high school students and the impact of reducing the civil exam service fee with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with report concerning number of smoke alarms that have been distributed and installed by the Fire Department.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with report concerning number of smoke alarms that have been distributed and installed by the Fire Department. | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the history of personnel, facilities, changes and training as a result from incidents, expanding roles of department, city demographic, and current challenges of the Fire Department.
# 9.9B CM November 30, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Fire Chief, who discussed the importance of having proper and adequate staffing levels and training for members of the department and having well-maintained equipment and fleets.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report listing all recommendations from previous reports concerning line-of-duty deaths and tri-data in order to identify work that has been done and progresses made relative to line-of-duty deaths as they relate to the Fire Department Community Risk Assessment Master Plan for the Worcester Fire Department.
# 9.9A CM November 30, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Fire Chief, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the accessibility and technical updates of the accreditation process.
# 9.9A CM August 10, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Fire Chief, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed financial benefits relative to the accreditation process with the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Manager - Emergency Communications | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting information communication relative to Emergency Management response and recovery program changes, as submitted by the Director of Emergency Communications and Management.
# 9.13B CM January 10, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Director of Emergency Communications and Management, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed public-private partnership with the Director of Emergency Communications and Management.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management distribute promotional flyers relative to volunteering for the Department of Emergency Communications and Management through social networking sites; and 2) Request City Manager work with Cable Services and the Director of Emergency Communications and Management to create a video for the purposes of advertising and promoting volunteering for the Department of Emergency Communications and Management.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed training done through the program and challenges for volunteers with the Director of Emergency Communications and Management.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management distribute promotional flyers relative to volunteering for the Department of Emergency Communications and Management through social networking sites. | | | | Request City Manager work with Cable Services and the Director of Emergency Communications and Management to create a video for the purposes of advertising and promoting volunteering for the Department of Emergency Communications and Management. | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting research report provided by Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management relative to communities with Disaster Relief Fund's.
# 9.13A CM January 10, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Director of Emergency Communications and Management, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed public-private partnerships and working with local organizations to support the Disaster Relief Funds with the Director of Emergency Communications and Management and Councilor Colorio.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speakers:
1. Julia Rose Karpicz, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Maria Ravelli, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor no opposed to the item
3. Louise Burrell, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Director of Emergency Communications and Management, who discussed the funding and distribution concerning the Disaster Relief Funds.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management explore available grants for the Disaster Relief Fund.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Management explore available grants for the Disaster Relief Fund. | |
| 5. | Communications of the City Manager - Miscellaneous | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the emergency response protocol when a building is condemned, as a result of natural disaster, fire, or construction.
# 9.15A CM November 15, 2022
In Committee February 8, 2023 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Chief Sanitary Inspector, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed usage of the emergency vendor with the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with legal opinion concerning any new provisions to the State Health Code as relates to the Mill Street apartment roof collapse.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the new laws with the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Inspectional Services create informational media to promote any new housing codes.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with legal opinion concerning any new provisions to the State Health Code as relates to the Mill Street apartment roof collapse. | | | | Request City Manager request Director of Inspectional Services create informational media to promote any new housing codes. | |
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| | | 5b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the collaborative efforts between Inspectional Service and the Department of Public Works aimed at finding solutions for dealing with rats and rodents, trash and other nuisance issues.
# 9.15B CM November 15, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Chief Sanity Inspector, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed underreporting of issues relative to rats and the needs for residents to report said issues to maintain the map with up-to-date information.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Director of Emergency Communications and Management, who discussed the methods the residents can use to report issues relative to rats.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 5c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the initiation of a Community Crisis Response Model.
# 10.39A CM July 20, 2021
In Committee February 8, 2023 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Fire Chief, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the Community Crisis Response Model.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning the Community Crisis Response Model. | |
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