CITY OF WORCESTER

JOURNAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:35 P.M.

Adjourned: 9:28 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

www.worcesterma.gov

City Manager
Eric D. Batista

City Auditor
Robert V. Stearns

Councilors

MOMENT OF SILENCE in memory of Christopher Condon, who passed away on January 30, 2023 at the age of 46 and Allen Jenkins, who passed away on January 31, 2023 at the age of 37.

Mayor Petty provided members of the Holy Cross Crusaders football team with Keys to the City for their efforts during this year’s football season, which saw them win the Patriot League Title.

Mayor Petty read the Proclamation declaring the month of February 2023 as Black History Month in the City of Worcester.

Mayor Petty recognized Assistant City Manager Nicole Valentine, who would be leaving the city for other professional opportunities. The City Council provided gratitude for the Assistant City Manager's service to the city.

Order - That the City Council of the City of Worcester hereby approves the minutes of the City Council Meeting of January 24, 2023.

Mayor Petty read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Adam Thielker, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #12e CC and #12f CC 2. Richard Cipro, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #11c CC through #11e CC 3. Guillermo Creamer, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #8.14A CM

Patricia Tricomi request sidewalk repair in front of 48 and 52 Thorndyke Rd.

Bruna Alvarenga request installation of 30 minute parking zone in front of Queiroz Meat Market (11 Suffolk St.)

Thoma Xhupi request installation of No Parking Anytime signage in front of 325 Pleasant St. on the Merrick St. side.

Demetra Edwards, on behalf of Korpo Johnson, request installation of a handicap parking space in front of 40 Aetna St.

Joanne Troiano request installation of "No Parking Anytime" signage on Short St.

Timothy Gill request installation of handicap parking space in front of 862 Main St.

Joseph Johnson request repair or replacement of the wooden bridge over the main drainage ditch at the lower half of Dodge Park (81 Randolph Rd.)

CROWN CASTLE NG EAST, LLC for a conduit location on: OAK AVE.

NATIONAL GRID for a conduit location on: CAMBRIDGE ST.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Amy Sciannameo to the Worcester Arts Council.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the appointment of Daniel Gately to Constable for a term to expire on December 31, 2025.

Recommend the appointments of Deborah Gonzalez, Giovanni Ayala and Eric Diaz to the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.

Recommend the appointment of Isabelo Cruz to the Citizen Advisory Council with a term to expire on March 31, 2026.

Recommend adoption of an order to grant an exemption to one (1) Site Coordinator who is also an employee of the City of Worcester Public Schools.

Recommend adoption of a Salary Ordinance Amendment to create a flat hourly rate for “Emergency Shift Coverage, When Assigned” in Communications Department.

Recommend adoption of two (2) salary ordinance amendments related to the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Refer To CCM Item 8.40A

Transmitting informational communication relative to Community Preservation Committees.

Recommend adoption of an Order to lease space at the Chester Street Water Tank located at 175 Chester Street.

Transmitting informational communication relative to relative to “Save the Date” for the 2023 Arbor Day Celebration for the morning of Friday, April 28, 2023.

Transmitting informational communication relative to a report detailing the implementation and structural organization of the Body Worn Camera Program and final policy thereofRefer to CCM Item 8.37B

Recommend adoption of a Reorganizational Ordinance for the Executive Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Department of Health & Human Services.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the Fiscal Year 2023 financial update, as of December 31, 2022.

Recommend that Seven Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($775,000.00) be transferred from Account #72C70214, Institute Park, and be appropriated to various Parks Improvement Accounts to allow for contractually obligated payments associated with current park projects.

Recommend that One Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars And No Cents ($135,499.00) be transferred from Parks Account #72C703, Parks Building Rehabilitation, and be appropriated to Account #74C701, Auditorium Building Rehabilitation, to allow for current financial obligations to be met.

Recommend that Two Thousand Five Hundred Ninety One Dollars And Thirty Cents ($2,591.30) be transferred from Loan Account #91C734A, Sewer Equipment, and be appropriated to Sewer Account #44C707, Sewer Generators, to allow for contractually obligated payments associated with the generator replacement project.

Recommend adoption of a revised resolution to accept and expend a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MCH) in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($20,000.00) through MCH's Survey and Planning Program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of One Million Dollars And No Cents ($1,000,000.00) under the Great Brook Valley - LWCF Grant Program program.

Recommend adoption of a resolution to file, accept, and expend a grant in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars And No Cents ($15,000.00) from the MA EVIP Fleets Grant under the MA EVIP Fleets Grants program.

Recommend that the Fiscal Year 2023 Table of Organization for the Executive Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion be amended by increasing the total number of authorized positions from two (2) to nine (9). Refer To CCM Item 8.40A

Recommend that the Fiscal Year 2023 Table of Organization for the Law Department be amended by adding three (3) Principal Staff Assistant positions, Pay Grade 40M. Refer to CCM Item 8.12A

Recommend that the Fiscal Year 2023 Table of Organization for the Executive Office of Health & Human Services, Human Rights Division, be amended by eliminating one (1) Executive Director of Human Rights Commission position, Pay Grade 42EM, and one (1) Staff Assistant I position, Pay Grade 32. Refer To CCM Item 8.40A

Recommend that the Fiscal Year 2023 Table of Organization for the Department of Human Resources be amended by eliminating one (1) Lead Investigator position, Pay Grade 45M, and one (1) Coordinator of Training, Development, and Wellness Programs position, Pay Grade 44M. Refer To CCM Item 8.40A

Recommend that Thirty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Five Dollars And Ninety Cents ($39,805.90) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #450-92000, Water Ordinary Maintenance, to allow for the payment of prior year invoices.

Recommend that Four Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Two Dollars And Thirty Eight Cents ($4,892.38) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #250-92000, Police Department Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of a prior year invoice.

Recommend that Seven Thousand Thirty Seven Dollars And Ninety Eight Cents ($7,037.98) be authorized from Fiscal Year 2023 Account #410-92000, DPW Ordinary Maintenance, for payment of prior year invoices.

Transmitting informational communication relative to the framework for achieving diversity, equity and inclusion for our City family. Refer To CCM Item 8.3C Refer To CCM Item 8.14A Refer To CCM Item 8.37A Refer To CCM Item 8.37C Refer To CCM Item 8.37D

Nikolin Vangjeli, City Clerk, transmitting an informational communication relative to the Chief of Council position, the City Clerk's Office position that supports the Chief of Council position and a comparison of City Council support staffs of similar sized cities in the Commonwealth.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Natalie Turner request the city zoning map be amended to rezone the block situated within the borders of Mayfield St., Parket St., Winfield St. and May St. from BG-4 to RL-7.

REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD Upon the Petition of Frank Zitomersky request the Zoning Map be amended to change the zoning at 9 Castle St., 5 & 7 Castle St., 4 Castle St., 6 Castle St. and 8 Castle St. from BG-3 to RG-5.

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager work with the Director of Human Resources to develop an annual performance evaluation tool for the City Clerk and City Auditor. (Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager provide City Council with a detailed update relative to the Worcester Police Department (WPD) Equity Audit. (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update regarding body camera implementation, trainings and status of contract negotiations. (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request City Manager provide City Council with an update concerning a previously adopted Order on June 16, 2020 that read as follows: "Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a comprehensive report relative to the use of dash and body cameras by the Worcester Police Department, including information relative to implementation for such an action, an inventory of all dash cameras in the possession of the city and procedures concerning the use of dash cameras in similar municipalities." (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King - That the City Council of the City of Worcester convene in Executive Session at its February 7, 2023 meeting for the purposes of discussing contract negotiations relative to the use of body cameras. (Tabled Under Privilege - Toomey January 31, 2023)

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)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation Committee hold a public discussion with the WRTA Administrator relative to the removal of a bus route that passes the EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way: recommend Communication be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 17, 2023 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson January 24, 2023 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson January 31, 2023)

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION Upon the Order of Councilor Sarai Rivera and Councilor Khrystian E. King - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation meet with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the WRTA’s winter weather plan, especially including information as to how snow will be removed at each of the bus stops: recommend Order be placed on file. (Tabled Under Privilege - Bergman January 17, 2023 and Tabled Under Privilege - Mero-Carlson January 24, 2023 and Tabled - Mero-Carlson January 31, 2023)

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the number of seniors in the city using utilizing a Senior Work off Program to pay off their taxes. – Item #22a CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager consider working with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force to conduct a survey of the city’s seniors to determine what that portion of the city’s population’s stressors and how the city can provide any needed relief. – Item #22b CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the number of individuals using city programs to aid residents in housing/purchasing homes in the city. Further, request City Manager include in said report ways the city can better advertise such programs. – Item #22c CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the number of Parking Control Officers (PCOs) employed by the city. – Item #22d CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning what is being done to enforce Chapter 13 Section 37 (p) relative to trucks parking overnight on city streets. – Item #22e CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk provide City Council with report detailing draft language as it relates to the possibility of reorganizing the Chief of Council position to make City Council the position’s appointing authority, similar to City Council’s ability to hire the City Auditor, City Manager and City Clerk, as the City Council explores the possibilities surrounding constituent services moving forward. – Item #22f CC Order adopted

ORDER of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning who the Secretary to the Council reported to during the 1990’s and 2000’s, in an effort to review a roadmap on how to complete a similar structured office in the future. – Item #22g CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor George J. Russell – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report concerning options for how best to organize the City Council office. – Item #22h CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Clerk provide City Council with a report comparing the structure of City Council Office support staffs in other communities with the support staff of the Worcester City Council. – Item #22i CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning whether any grants exist the city can pursue to support the creation of warming and cooling centers in the city to aid the homeless population. – Item #22j CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Thu Nguyen – Request City Manager reach out to the appropriate staff working for the City of Somerville to determine how the city is working to abolish debt individuals face relative to medical bills. – Item #22k CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Khrystian E. King – Request City Manager provide City Council with information as it relates to city responsibilities associated with snow removal at bus stops. – Item #22l CC Order adopted

ORDER of Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson – Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks expeditiously install additional signage properly outlining the existing resident permit parking zone on both sides of Schussler Rd. from Highland St. to Institute Rd. – Item #22m CC Order adopted

Motion Russell @ #8.9A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a detailed report concerning how the city is addressing issues relative to tree replanting. Further, request City Manager include in said report a list of all areas where trees have been removed and not replaced, especially locations impacted by the Asian Long Horned Beetle.

Motion King @ #8.12A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the feedback provided to the city by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as it relates to the Worcester Police Department (WPD) Body Worn Camera policy.

Motion King @ #8.12A CM – Request City Manager request Police Chief consider consistently not allowing Worcester Police Department (WPD) officers access to body worn camera footage until their initial reports are filed.

Motion Nguyen @ #8.12A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the narrative that the queer community is against the use of body worn cameras by police officers.

Motion Rose @ #8.12A CM – Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with a report following the implementation of the body worn cameras program to understand whether any variances or adjustments to the city’s policy are required.

Motion King @ #8.14A CM – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the workload of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and the Human Rights Commission.

Motion Rose @ #11a CC – Request City Manager request Director of Human Resources provide City Council with a report concerning how similar municipalities evaluate their City Auditor and City Clerk.

Motion Petty @ #11e CC – That the City Council convene in Executive Session at its February 7, 2023 meeting for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to contract negotiations with the following labor unions: N.E.P.B.A. Local 9-1-1 and I.B.P.O. Local 504.

Motion Haxhiaj – Suspension of Rules – Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the infrastructure associated with the city’s overnight warming center, the lessons learned from opening the warming center and how many individuals were served at the location.