CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:36 P.M.

Recessed to Executive Session: 8:40 P.M. Adjourned from Executive Session: 9:10 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Eric D. Batista

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of December 13, 2022.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Adam Thielker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11c CC, #11d CC, #17f CC and #17g CC 2. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #11b CC and #11d CC 3. Fred Nathan, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of items #17f CC and #17g CC

Hearing: CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: HOUGHTON ST. Granting permission to CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS for a conduit location on: HOUGHTON ST.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CHADWICK ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CHADWICK ST.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CHARLOTTE ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CHARLOTTE ST.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: FLORENCE ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: FLORENCE ST.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: HAWTHORNE ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: HAWTHORNE ST.

Hearing: NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: WOODLAND ST. Granting permission to NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: WOODLAND ST.

That the City Council convene in Executive Session at the Tuesday, January 10, 2023, meeting for the purpose of discussing litigation strategy with respect to the case of Town of Holden v. Department of Conservation and Recreation and the City of Worcester, Superior Court Department Civil Action No. 1385CV00910D as the last item of business of the regular City Council meeting and the City Council will not reconvene in open session.

Alex Corrales, Chief Executive Officer of the Worcester Housing Authority, request 1) discontinuance of a westerly portion of Brookview Dr.; a northwesterly portion of Brookview Dr.; and a cul-de-sac at an easterly portion of Green Brook Valley Ave. near its intersection with Joseph P. Carlson Way; 2) the alteration and layout of a northwesterly portion Brookview Dr.; a portion of the westerly end of Great Brook Valley Ave.; and portions of the northerly and southerly sides of Great Brook Valley Ave. by virtue of permanent easements to be taken in certain parcels of land as shown in the attached plans; and 3) the abandonment of the City's property rights in the discontinued portions of Brookview Dr. and Great Brook Valley Ave.

Carlos Carrasquillo request long sewer connection be completed for 2 Freeman St., with an easement being completed through 9 Arcadia St.

Alexandria Lainey request sidewalk repair on Shattuck St. from Lincoln St. to Uxbridge St.

Alexandria Lainey request curb cut repair on Shattuck St. near the intersection of Uxbridge St.

Alexandria Lainey request installation of truncated domes on Shattuck St. near the intersection of Uxbridge St.

Alexandria Lainey request installation of handrails along sidewalk on Britain St. at the intersection of Lincoln St. on the side of UMASS Memorial parking lot.

Maria Correa request installation of handicap parking space in front of 39 Perry Ave.

Terryann Henry request installation of handicap parking space in front of 100 Plantation St. on the side of Darthmouth St.

Anthony Kachadoorian request traffic review be completed and recommendations be made to address parking issues on Ivernia Rd.

Naiskys Hechavarria request removal of handicap parking space in front of 4 Doane St.

Deborah Pavlakos request installation of handicap parking space in front of 1 Berkmans St.

Alexandria Lainey request crosswalk be painted on Shattuck St. near the intersection of Uxbridge St.

Councilor Donna M. Colorio request installation of “No Left Turn” signage from Lincoln St. onto Burncoat St. when exiting the inner portion of the triangle where the two roads merge.

Muktar Yusuf on behalf of Ardo Abdi request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 24 New Vista Ln.

Muktar Yusuf request removal of handicap parking space in front of 119 Chino Ave.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Angel Rosario, Lee Hall, Kevin Derry and David Meyers as constables for 3-year terms to expire in December 2025.

Recommend the appointment of Patricia E. Austin to the Green Worcester Advisory Committee.

Recommend adoption of amendments to the Salary Ordinance to re-grade several supervisory positions.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the expiration of the stage 1 drought alert.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station failure and remediation.

Recommend adoption of an Order relative to a Snow Plow Conflict of Interest Waiver Form.

Transmitting research report provided by Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management relative to communities with Disaster Relief Fund's.

Transmitting information communication relative to Emergency Management response and recovery program changes, as submitted by the Director of Emergency Communications and Management.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the 2023 Municipal Election Calendar.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2023 financial update, as of November 30, 2022.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the certification of available funds in the DCU Special District Improvement Fund.

Recommend that One Hundred Twenty Thousand Three Hundred Sixty Six Dollars and Eighty Four Cents ($120,366.84) be transferred from Loan Account #91C7114, Citywide Capital Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #25C702, Police Capital Rehabilitation, to allow payment of an invoice for the access control project.

Recommend that Five Million Four Hundred Seventy One Thousand Nine Hundred Seventeen Dollars And Twenty Three Cents ($5,471,917.23) be transferred from Account #91C711F, Main Library Master Plan, and be appropriated to Account #11C70802, Doherty High School Construction, to fund expenses associated with the construction of the new high school.

Recommend adoption of the attached resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($7,500.00) from AKC Reunite, to expand the Worcester Police Department's K9 program with the addition of one new dog.

Recommend adoption of the attached resolution to apply for, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of One Million Dollars and No Cents ($1,000,000.00) from the Commonwealth Corporation through the 2023-2024 YouthWorks program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Five Thousand One Hundred Dollars And No Cents ($5,100.00) from the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) through their Workplace Safety Grant Program.

Recommend that Three Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($3,000.00) be transferred from Account #040-92000, City Manager's Office Ordinary Maintenance, and be appropriated to Account #040-97000, City Manager's Office Overtime, to allow for the payment of overtime to Parks employees who work overtime during special events held on the Worcester Common, such as the Festival of Lights.

Recommend that Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) be transferred from Account #112-91000, Public Facilities Salaries, and be appropriated to Account #112-97000, Public Facilities Overtime, for overtime costs in support of facility operations and construction in multiple buildings, due to employee medical leave, as well as vacancies in funded positions.

Recommend that Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($75,000.00) be transferred from Account #900-92000, City Manager's Contingency, and be appropriated to Account #040-93000, City Manager's Capital Outlay, to provide funding for the purchase of a vehicle for the City Manager.

Recommend that Fifty Four Dollars and Seventy Six Cents ($54.76) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #331-92000, Health & Human Services Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of a prior year invoice for a Youth Division employee mileage reimbursement.

Recommend that Two Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Three Dollars And Ninety One Cents ($2,673.91) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #260-92000, Worcester Fire Department Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of prior year electricity invoices.

Recommend that Ten Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Four Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($10,354.83) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #250-92000, Police Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of a prior year invoice for the public records cloud-based software system.

Recommend that Three Thousand Five Hundred Sixty Five Dollars And No Cents ($3,565.00) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #112-92000, Public Facilities Ordinary Maintenance, to allow for payment of a prior year invoice.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Police Chief provide enforcement with speed monitoring equipment on Grafton St. in the vicinity of Standish St.

FROM THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING - Request City Manager request Director of Transportation and Mobility review “No Parking Anytime” signage on the north side of Quinapoxet Ln.

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the city’s emergency management/evacuation plan for natural or man-made disasters. Said report should include the last date the city exercised this plan and the departments involved in its execution. (Colorio)

Request City Manager organize a meeting that brings together the various stakeholders associated with sheltering the city’s chronic homeless population for the purpose of discussing the sheltering process in the city, in an effort to make improvements to said process and address the various needs of the individuals being sheltered. (Rivera, Bergman, Rose, Toomey, Russell)

Request City Manager work with the Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility to consider activating the Traffic Signal Priority system (TSP) for busses. TSP would ensure less time idling, faster completion of routes, increased frequency and more reliability for the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) busses. (Haxhiaj)

Request City Manager request Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility provide City Council with a report relative to the feasibility of establishing a temporary dedicated bus lanes pilot, similar to Arlington and Everett. Said report should include information relative to the success of other Massachusetts communities transitioning from temporary to permanent dedicated bus lanes, and the benefits of having dedicated bus lanes. (Haxhiaj)

In an effort to assist home owners, and especially Senior Citizens, stay in their homes and to provide for much needed additional housing units, Request City Manager draft a zoning ordinance amendment that allows, by Special Permit in all zones, an accessory extra dwelling unit with no added parking requirements or dimensional requirements in any owner occupied dwelling. Said ordinance would allow neighbors an opportunity to be heard and suggest conditions to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). (Russell, Bergman, Toomey)

Request City Manager review the newly signed "Act To Reduce Traffic Fatalities," and provide City Council with a report regarding plans to utilize elements of the Act to reduce traffic fatalities in the city. (Toomey)

Request City Manager provide City Council with a report and update concerning the status of 2 Gage St., including information as to the status of any violations associated with the property and/or the property owner. (Mero-Carlson)

John W. Parsons, Executive Director of PERAC (Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission) transmitting communication regarding the amount appropriated for the city's retirement system for Fiscal Year 2024.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Jose Brisita request installation of handicap parking space in front of 209 Constitution Ave.: recommend Petition be placed on file.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRAFFIC AND PARKING Upon the Petition of Aidan Chabot request installation of rapid flashing beacons for crosswalks on Grove St. in front of Forest Grove Middle School (495 Grove St.): recommend Petition be placed on file.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996 Occupational Group A - Administrative and Supervisory for the Special Project Architect, Public Facilities and Project Manager, Public Facilities.

Amending the Salary Ordinance of August 20, 1996, Relative to Local 495, Regional Dispatchers.

Amending Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991, Relative to Extension of the Commercial Corridors Overlay District – Elsewhere (CCOD-E) in the Vicinity of 48 Mason Street.

Amending Article III of the Worcester Zoning Ordinance Adopted April 2, 1991, Relative to Extension of the Business General-3.0 (BG-3.0) Zoning District in the Vicinity of 350 Plantation Street, 306 Belmont Street, and 13 Natick Street.

ORDER of Councilor Sean M. Rose - Request City Manager explore the feasibility of recruiting and hiring lifeguards for the 2023 summer season by way of paying for the lifeguards’ certification programs and offering to pay for transportation to their trainings in a way that is comparable to other municipalities in the state. (Tabled Under Privilege - Petty December 20, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes - Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion regarding the process of instituting a residential rent control program and the resulting impact of implementing such a program. (Tabled Under Privilege - Lukes September 17, 2019 and September 24, 2019 and Tabled - Lukes October 15, 2019)

RESOLUTION of Councilor Khrystian E. King - That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support Representative Rebecca Rauch and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz’s SD 699 HD 1283, An Act effectuating equity in COVID-19 Vaccination Bill. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman February 9, 2021 and Tabled - Bergman February 23, 2021)

ORDER of Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Manager consider prioritizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for REC Worcester’s capital project involving the development of the new REC Worcester headquarters and Center for Food Justice and Urban Agriculture (for Worcester and Central Massachusetts), in an effort to support community food security, as well as youth development and employment. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson October 26, 2021 and Tabled Under Privilege - Petty November 9, 2021 and Tabled - Rivera November 16, 2021)

CHAIRMAN'S ORDER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION - Request City Council work to ensure City Council and School Committee districts are parallel, so as to ensure public clarity. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson May 24, 2022 and June 7, 2022 and Tabled - Petty June 14, 2022)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report explaining Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) zones, as well as the Massachusetts General Laws associated with said zones. – Item #18a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager request Chief Development Officer reengage with the property owner of 195 Mill St., to the extent possible, to help understand the complexity of moving forward with actions associated with the property. – Item #18b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager request City Assessor provide City Council with a report determining whether 195 Mill St. has a high property assessment due to it being a property with a water view. – Item #18c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether designating 195 Mill St. as an Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing (UCH-TIF) zone would make the property a more desirable and viable location for potential buyers and developers to purchase and complete a project at the site. – Item #18d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk work with the GIS Manager to provide City Council with a report and map outlining the new School Committee districts and where each Worcester Public School falls in said districts. Further, said map should be listed on the city’s website. – Item #18e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to present to City Council, in person, a comprehensive report detailing the operations of the WRTA, including but not limited to information relative to whether the buses will remain fare free. – Item #18f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk work with the Chief of Staff to City Council and the Mayor’s Office to create a joint letter from City Council to the city’s State Delegation outlining the concerns the City Council has relative to the operations of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), in an effort to increase their responsiveness to various issues associated with bus ridership and public transportation in the city. – Item #18g CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning plans for warming and cooling centers in the city. – Item #18h CC Order adopted

Motion King @ #11b CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the delineation of federal and state funding that is received and goes towards housing in the city.

Motion Russell @ #11c CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report outlining the operations of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), including information as to how the WRTA Administrator is appointed, the city’s voting power and representation on the WRTA Advisory Board and how the city can appropriately bring about action and provide recommendations to the WRTA.

Motion King @ #11c CC – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report of the minutes of previous Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) Advisory Board meetings.

Motion King @ #11c CC – Request City Manager identify the appropriate State Delegation representative associated with issues relative to public transportation for the purpose of holding discussions concerning the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA).

Motion Toomey – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning whether a pilot program at Vernon Hill Baseball and Softball fields relative to requiring Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) was implemented. Further, request City Manager prepare a plan to implement the requirement of AED's at all ball fields, citywide.

Motion Petty – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report relative to the rules and regulations affecting the closure of One Eyed Jack’s Tiki Bar and Grill, located at 433 Park Ave.