City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Ben Parker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a
2. Bruce Chansky, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a

Chairperson Councilor Russell 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

Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of potential private street conversion program changes, specifically related to payment options associated with the betterments, the median income in the city and which residents would qualify for financial help with the abatements.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the process concerning the home rule petition for the private street conversion program.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the costs associated with the current private street conversion process.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed best practices for protecting the city’s interests in creating such a program that would amend the private street conversion program, the appropriateness of refinancing triggering funds returning to the city and potentially using infrastructure money for kick starting the program with the City Solicitor and Chief Financial Officer.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the list of public streets and sidewalks to which 6.4 million dollars were allocated to and cross reference said list with the locations the federal government asked the city to target.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the eligibility of allocating certain federal relief funds to private street conversion, as well as increasing the household annual earnings with the Chief Financial Officer and the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to amend the household annual earnings threshold to 80% of the Worcester Area Median Income.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who discussed where the funding for public streets and sidewalks repair/resurfacing program comes from, the usage limitations of the reimbursement fund and how the priority areas are determined for ARPA fund distribution.

Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with report concerning the feasibility of using federal relief funding for private streets in areas that were more impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved as amended.

Recommend Approval As Amended on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the list of public streets and sidewalks to which 6.4 million dollars were allocated to and cross reference said list with the locations the federal government asked the city to target.

Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who provided an overview of new recycling set-out bins, including information as to distributing the new bins received by the city.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the process for distributing the new recycling set-out bins to members of the community, as well as the importance of educating individuals of which items are appropriate for recycling.

Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Wally, who spoke to supporting the city’s plans associated with its new recycling set-out bins program, as well as the education program the city is undertaking relative to which items are appropriate for recycling.

Chairperson Councilor Russell 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