City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Wally 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 Wally read the item and recognized Executive Director and CEO of Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB), who provided an overview of the Broadening Broadband communication, including information the requirements for creating a municipally owned broadband network and internet accessibility.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized WRRB Research Associate, who conducted a presentation concerning the quality of internet access in the city, providers of high-speed internet access and costs associated with making a municipally owned broadband network.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized UMASS Memorial Government & Community Relations Vice President, who discussed the social factors and quality of life associated with internet access and how internet access correlates to issues around public health.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized UMass Chief Quality Officer, w who discussed telehealth issues around residents not having affordable internet.

Chairperson Councilor Wally spoke regarding concerns he has about some residents of the city not having access to internet and the detriments of not having access to internet for Worcester Public Schools students during COVID-19 and beyond.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed how some colleges in the city have been able to build their own private networks and potential grants available to help offset costs associated with creating a municipal broadband network with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who experienced technical difficulties.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor King, who discussed the estimated costs associated with implementing a municipally owned broadband system and similar communities who have implemented such a system with CEO of WRRB and WRRB Research Associate.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who thanked the members for bringing the conversation forward and discussed future considerations for broadband internet, including issues around bringing competition and wireless internet access.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the Chief Information Officer, who discussed other municipalities processes for considering the implementation of municipal broadband access, the potential for public and private partnerships when implementing such a program and available grant fundings for municipal broadband program.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed differences in Shrewsbury’s infrastructure and public utility company from Worcester, who does not have such a program and how that might have an effect on the city’s ability to implement these services with the Chief Information Officer.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the Chief Information Officer, who discussed how the operations of the City can be improved with the implementation of a municipal broadband program, the need for municipalities with public utility companies to have ongoing investments for the programs to be technologically up-to-date, and the options Worcester will need to consider during the implementation of the program.

Chairperson Councilor Wally put forth the following two Chairman's Orders: 1) Request City Manager create a task force of both municipal employees and stakeholders from the community for the purpose of considering the feasibility of implementing a municipal broadband and; 2) request City Manager request Chief Information Officer provide report on what options the City has to develop a municipally-owned broadband network, including usage of solar farms, partnership with colleges, the cost of the program, and specific areas of the City that the program should target.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the consideration to include Worcester solar farm in the operations for the municipal broadband program.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the roll call procedure for the Chairman's Orders with the Deputy City Clerk.

Chairperson Councilor Wally moved for a roll call vote to file the item.

Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager create a task force of both municipal employees and stakeholders from the community for the purpose of considering the feasibility of implementing a municipal broadband network.

Request City Manager request Chief Information Officer provide City Council with a report concerning what options the City has for developing a municipally-owned broadband network, including information relative to the usage of solar farms, partnership with colleges, the cost of the program, and specific areas of the City that the program should target.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the Director of Urban Innovation, who discussed the successes of the Division of Urban Innovation, including the continued use of performance metrics in the city’s budget, the creation of an open data portal, which is available on the city’s website and the use of lean management in the city.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed improvements to the city’s website, including information relative to real estate development.

Chairperson Councilor Wally discussed the implementation of dashboards for the City Council, which helps to provide information on how the City Council is managing the city.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed access to information on properties available to the Worcester Police Department and Worcester Fire Department, including a, “data warehouse” available to said departments with the Director of Urban Innovation.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Toomey, who brought forth the following Chairman's Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning access to information on properties available to Worcester Police Department and Worcester Fire Department.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor King, who discussed the importance of supporting individuals who have to work and go to school remotely.

Chairperson Councilor Wally moved for a roll call vote to file the item.

Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning access to information on properties available to Worcester Police Department and Worcester Fire Department.