City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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 Pacillo read the item and recognized the following speaker:
1. Madeliene Del Toro-Cournoyer, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed existing and planned pickleball lines and courts in the city, noise-related issues concerning building new pickleball courts or adding pickleball lines to existing courts, the needs for public input relative to building new pickleball courts due to noise-related issues, plans concerning Morgan Court, the pole and net height required for pickleball and feasibility of using tennis net for the sports, and funding and timeline concerning addition of new pickleball lines or courts.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the increased interest in pickleball, whether there are outstanding complaints from residents relative to pickleball noise and the process required to revise existing masterplans in a way that would add pickleball lines or courts with Speaker #1 and the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed plans concerning Morgan’s Landing.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks hold public meetings for community input concerning adding pickleball lines or pickleball courts to the Crompton Park and Shore Park Master Plans.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed whether there are any public facilities that can potentially house an in-door pickleball court with the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo brought forth the following two (2) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager reach out to the Superintendent of Public Schools to determine the feasibility using of school facilities for pickleball activities; and 2) Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of revising the Newton Square Masterplan to include the painting pickleball lines to the tennis court.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks hold public meetings for community input concerning adding pickleball lines or pickleball courts to the Crompton Park and Shore Park Master Plans.

Request City Manager reach out to the Superintendent of Public Schools to determine the feasibility using of school facilities for pickleball activities.

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of revising the Newton Square Masterplan to include the painting pickleball lines to the tennis court.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed the closing time for Indian Lake Beach.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who spoke concerning the item.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed working with the WPD and district councilors to address issues relative to parking at Indian Lake Beach.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo read the item and recognized the following speakers:
1. Rick Miller, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. John Goins, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
3. Carly Miller, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed working with neighborhood groups to address issues relative to the neighborhoods, challenges concerning homelessness in the neighborhood, challenges concerning cleaning up trash in the area due to limited resources, the camera system currently being used the city and working with WPD to address after-hour parties on Newton Hill.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Speaker #1, who discussed existing infrastructure that can be used to install security cameras.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed the security camera system, what type of cameras can be installed and how Newton Hill is currently being accessed after-hour.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Speaker #3, who discussed the trail camera currently being used at Newton Hill.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed cameras that can be installed at the entrances of the Newton Hill trails.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the issues at Newton Hill, accountability for students having after-hours parties at Newton Hill, responses from the Parks Department, costs to install hardwired cameras at Newton Hill, the schools that the students go to and the feasibility and costs of installing wireless cameras at the location with Speaker #1, Speaker #2 and the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the cost analysis and feasibility of installing a portable wireless security pilot program at all three entrances at Newton Hill.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed working with the School Department and challenges concerning trash barrels not being distributed to places that require them.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the feasibility of increasing fines for illegal dumping and contacting the parents of students who attend after-hour parties at Newton Hill.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo brought forth the following five (5) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks explore the potential for grant opportunities and solar-powered options for wireless surveillance cameras for Newton Hill; 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with any necessary documentation relative to increasing theine for illegal dumping. Further, if said fines are already at the maximum amount allowed by the state, request City Manager advocate to the appropriate state legislators as a means of increasing said limit; 3) Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of obtaining additional security cameras through grant funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Recycling Dividends Program; 4) Request City Manager request Police Chief explore the feasibility of working with Cornerstone Bank on Park Ave. to install a security camera at the entrance of Newton Hill; and 5) Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks replace the solar-powered lights on the Newton Hill flagpole.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed contacting the School Department and School Committee concerning distribution information relative to environmental protection to students with Councilor Toomey.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Clerk send a letter on behalf of the Standing Committee on Veterans’ Memorials, Parks and Recreation to the School Committee and the Superintendent of Public Schools concerning issues relative to illegal dumping and after-hour parties occurring on Newton Hill. Further, request said letter include a request to ensure students are educated about their responsibility to protect the environment and being respectful to the neighbors.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report concerning the cost analysis and feasibility of installing a portable wireless security pilot program at all three entrances at Newton Hill.

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks explore the potential for grant opportunities and solar-powered options for wireless surveillance cameras for Newton Hill.

Request City Manager provide City Council with any necessary documentation relative to increasing the fine for illegal dumping. Further, if said fines are already at the maximum amount allowed by the state, request City Manager advocate to the appropriate state legislators as a means of increasing said limit.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the feasibility of obtaining additional security cameras through grant funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Recycling Dividends Program.

Request City Manager request Police Chief explore the feasibility of working with Cornerstone Bank on Park Ave. to install a security camera at the entrance of Newton Hill.

Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks replace the solar-powered lights on the Newton Hill flagpole.

Request City Clerk send a letter on behalf of the Standing Committee on Veterans’ Memorials, Parks and Recreation to the School Committee and the Superintendent of Public Schools concerning issues relative to illegal dumping and after-hour parties occurring on Newton Hill. Further, request said letter include a request to ensure students are educated about their responsibility to protect the environment and being respectful to the neighbors.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who provided the overview of the item.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the jurisdiction for wall, funding opportunities to address wall-related issues and communications with the school concerning the contaminated soil and the wall at Bennett Field with the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo read the item and recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who provided the recommendation to not move the statue, as bringing it closer to the roadway may cause harm to it if a car runs into it, as well as there being an increased possibility of damage as the monument is required to be taken apart to move it and discussed improvement plans for the statue and Elm Park and improvement work done at Elm Park.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed feasibility of diverting rainwater from other areas into the pond at Elm Park with the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.

Chairperson Councilor Pacillo 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