CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 12, 2020 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 5:41 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 Matthew E Wally |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Sean M. Rose
Councilor Matthew E. Wally
| | | | | Also: | Councilor Gary Rosen
Director of Energy and Asset Management John Odell
Director of Housing and Health Amanda Wilson
Chief Information Officer Eileen Cazaropoul
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on April 7, 2020. | View Agenda | | | | | | | 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 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
| 2. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 2a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report as to status and condition of 18 Palisades Street.
# 9.16A CM November 12, 2019
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who provided an overview of the status and condition of 18 Palisades St., including information concerning an enforcement order was issued to the property owner to clean the location.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson spoke to looking into new strategies and programs that could try to help resolve the ongoing issues at the property. Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson then discussed the housing court process with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Wally, who thanked the administration and the committee for the work to minimize the problem properties throughout the city.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose, who spoke with the Director of Housing and Health Inspections regarding new software available through a grant with the Attorney General’s Office to help mitigate some of the cyclical issues associated with problem properties, including predictive analytics the program makes available.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Chief Information Officer, who discussed the capabilities of the new software available through the grant.
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. | |
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| | | 2b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a list of all current problem properties in the court system or foreclosure process as well as an overview of the system the City uses to track and provide follow up on issues concerning problem properties.
# 9.16B CM November 12, 2019 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Director of Housing and Health Inspections, who discussed the list of problem properties in the court system and foreclosure process.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson discussed whether information the Assessor’s Office holds could be cross-referenced with the new program available through the grant.
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. | |
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| | | 2c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the Municipal Electric Aggregation Plan in Worcester which offers participants a greener electricity supply, improved price stability, and consumer protections.
# 9.27A CM November 12, 2019
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 9, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
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| | | 2d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to the development of a Permit History application.
# 10.29A CM March 26, 2019
In Committee November 18, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized Councilor Wally, who spoke to the need for a Permit History application in the city and was grateful that information relative to building permits being more readily available on the city’s website. Councilor Wally then praised the administration for their work in completing the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose, who gave his thanks to the administration for completing the application.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson spoke to the ease of access for more information on the access and thanked the administration for their work on the application.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
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