Committee Agenda for Rules and Legislative Affairs Committee 12/16/2019

CITY OF WORCESTER

Rules and Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting

Monday, December 16, 2019

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:05 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:55 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Susan M. Ledoux
Committee Members
Chairperson Khrystian E King
Councilor Morris A Bergman
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King Councilor Morris A Bergman

	Also:	City Solicitor David M. Moore City Clerk Susan M. Ledoux, clerk

Communications of the City Manager



1a.	Transmitting information requested by City Council regarding an Amendment to the Rules of the City Council giving a Motion to File a Higher Priority. # 8.13A CM April 9, 2019	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and requested the City Solicitor Moore to provide a review of Rule 27 regarding Orders of Motions and also answered questions from the committee. Chairperson Councilor King moved to recommend adoption to amend Rule 27as presented in the City Manager’s communication of April 9, 2019 item #8.13A. Motion approved on a voice vote. Recommend Approval to amend Rule 27.


1b.	Transmitting informational communication relative to information concerning why municipal employees cannot serve on Worcester’s boards and commissions. # 9.13A CM February 27, 2018	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and requested the City Solicitor Moore to explain the difference between an Advisory Board or Commissions or a Regulatory Board or Commission and answered questions from the committee. Chairperson Councilor King moved to recommend a Chairman’s Order to “Request City Manager report to City Council the number of city employees who are currently appointed to an Advisory Board or Commission and provide their department of employment.” Councilor Bergman move to request a Chairman’s Order to “Request City Manager request an advisory opinion from the State Ethics Commission regarding the city’s policy as to city employees serving on advisory boards and commissions”. The Chair moved to accept this request. The Chairperson moved to Hold the item. Motion approved on a voice vote. Recommend Hold and Approval of the two Chairman’s Orders.

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager report to City Council the number of city employees who are currently appointed to an Advisory Board or Commission and provide their department of employment.
	Request City Manager request an advisory opinion from the State Ethics Commission regarding the city’s policy as to city employees serving on advisory boards and commissions.

Miscellaneous Items



2a.	Communication of the City Clerk transmitting information regarding the feasibility of adding the rules of City Council regarding Public Participation to the City Council Calendar. # 12a CC November 22, 2016	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and requested City Clerk Ledoux to provide an overview of this communication. The Clerk stated that since this communication was presented to City Council a new vendor is being sought to upgrade the existing calendar process and recommended not to make changes to the existing calendar process at this time but to wait until the new version is implemented. Further, in the meantime the clerk will attach the rules manually to the city council agenda and create a poster in the chamber listing the rules of public participation. Chairperson Councilor King moved to recommend a Chairman’s Order to “Request City Clerk attach the City Council’s rules regarding public participation to the City Council agenda and post them in the City Council Chamber”. The Chairperson Councilor King moved to Hold the item. Motion approved on a voice vote. Recommend Hold and Approval of the Chairman’s Order.

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Clerk attach the City Council’s rules regarding public participation to the City Council agenda and post them in the City Council Chamber.


2b.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Konstantina B. Lukes, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Morris A. Bergman - In light of the City Council's recent unanimous vote to declare and respond to a climate emergency, request City Council amend its Committees of the City Council so that a new Environment and Sustainability standing committee be formed. As in Boston, this committee shall concern itself, among others, with the natural resources of the city, issues of air, land, and water pollution, resource recovery efforts and issues related to waste disposal and land reclamation. The committee also shall examine technologies and innovations regarding energy savings and efficiency. # 10d CC September 24, 2019	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and requested the City Solicitor Moore to explain the process of changing the rules relative to City Council Standing Committees and answered any questions from the Committee. The Chair moved to recommend Approval to endorse and support the concept to amend the City Council’s Standing Committees (Appendix B of the City Council Rules) to include topics concerning the city’s environment, its sustainability and green initiatives as well as technologies and innovations. Motion Approved on a voice vote. Recommend Approval to endorse and support the concept to amend the City Council’s Standing Committees (Appendix B of the City Council Rules) to include topics concerning the city’s environment, its sustainability and green initiatives as well as technologies and innovations.


2c.	Petition of Jo Hart request City of Worcester immediately cease its current practice of allowing item to be brought up under suspension at City Council meetings, with the exception of truly emergency situations, in fairness to the public and in the spirit of having a truly open meeting. # 7i CC October 25, 2016	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor King read the item and requested the City Solicitor to provide an overview of City Council’s regarding motions made under suspension of rules and answered questions from the committee. Councilor Bergman move to request a Chairman’s Order to “In an effort to be in compliance with the Open Meeting Law, Request City Manager request the City Solicitor, at the next City Council meeting, inform City Council of the importance of understanding and adhering to City Council’s Rule 33 – “Emergency Items and Items Not Reasonably Anticipated” relative to items not appearing on the posted agenda. (See attached copy of Rule 33) as well as the responsibilities of the Chair to ensure these rules are enforced” The Chair moved to accept this request. The Chairperson Councilor King moved to Hold the item. Motion approved on a voice vote. Recommend Hold and Approval of the Chairman’s Order.

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager request the City Solicitor, at the next City Council meeting, inform City Council of the importance of understanding and adhering to City Council’s Rule 33 – “Emergency Items and Items Not Reasonably Anticipated” relative to items not appearing on the posted agenda. (See attached copy of Rule 33) as well as the responsibilities of the Chair to ensure these rules are enforced.