CITY OF WORCESTER | Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting | Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:09 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:01 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Vice Chairperson Sean M Rose | | Councilor Khrystian E King |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Sean M Rose, who participated remotely
Councilor Khrystian E King, who arrived at 5:17 P.M. | | | | | Also: | Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks Robert C. Antonelli, Jr.
Director of Veterans’ Services Alex Arriaga
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.
Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97625068393
Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee Zoom Access Code: 976 2506 8393 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee on Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation hereby approves the minutes of the Veterans' Memorials, Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on January 9, 2023. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 (King absent) | |
| 3. | Veterans' Memorials Hearing Petitions | |
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| | | 3a. | Councilor Morris A. Bergman on behalf of Robert and Robin Bazinet request the creation of a public memorial on the Common for World War II soldiers who died in connection with their service but are otherwise not recognized.
# 9j CC November 22, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Robert Bazinet, Grafton resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Director of Veterans’ Services, who discussed the process concerning the research to create public memorial for soldiers who died in connection with their service but are otherwise not recognized.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Veterans’ Services provide City Council with a report concerning the creation of a public memorial on the Common for World War II soldiers who died in connection with their service but are otherwise not recognized.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 request Director of Veterans’ Services provide City Council with a report concerning the creation of a public memorial on the Common for World War II soldiers who died in connection with their service but are otherwise not recognized. | |
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| | | 3b. | Walter O'Connor request a memorial for Private John Kelleher be erected on the grass apron next to the sidewalks on the southwest corner of the intersection of June St. and Chandler St.
# 9e CC July 19, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #3c.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the following speaker:
1. Walter O’Connor, Ipswich resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Director of Veterans’ Services, who discussed the criteria for approval and the installation costs of a veteran’s memorial square with Speaker #1.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed working with veteran’s service organizations to fund the installation of the memorial square with the Director of Veterans’ Services.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item to be approved, pending funding.
Recommend Approval, pending funding, on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3c. | Walter O'Connor request a memorial for Private John Kelleher be erected on the south side of the traffic island at the intersection of June St. and Chandler St.
# 8c CC December 14, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3d. | Paula Carey request a memorial square be erected in the vicinity of Envelope Terrace and Nebraska St. honoring Worcester Fire Captain and World War I veteran William J. Ormond, who passed away fighting a fire at that location.
# 8k CC May 25, 2021
In Committee November 30, 2021 - Held
In Committee April 13, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Director of Veterans’ Services, who provided the recommendation to file, as the request does not meet the criteria for the installation of veteran’s memorial square.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed the feasibility for the family members to set a memorial installment in the vicinity of Envelope Terr. And Nebraska St. with the Director of Veterans’ Services and the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the procedural steps for the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose and Councilor King, who both spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Veterans' Services work with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of installing a plaque or another appropriate memorial to honor Worcester Fire Captain and World War I veteran William J. Ormond in the vicinity of Envelope Terrace and Nebraska St.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson brought forth the following Chairman’s Resolution: The Committee support any action that is appropriate as relates to honoring Worcester Fire Captain and World War I veteran William J. Ormond.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor King, who discussed amending the petition with the Deputy City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 request Director of Veterans' Services work with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of installing a plaque or another appropriate memorial to honor Worcester Fire Captain and World War I veteran William J. Ormond in the vicinity of Envelope Terrace and Nebraska St. | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting Informational Communication Relative to the Master Plan Initiative for Improvements to Blithewood Park.
# 11.9A CM November 29, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #4b and #4c.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who provided the recommendation to file items #4b and #4c, as the items are only for informational purposes, and provided an overview as well as the recommendation to approve item #4a.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor King, who discussed feedback concerning the elimination of the infield and prioritizing the implementation of lighting in the park with the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Master Plan Initiative for improvements to Blithewood Park.
# 8.9D CM May 24, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a) | |
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| | | 4c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Master Plan Initiative for improvements to Blithewood Park.
# 13c CC May 3, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4a) | |
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