CITY OF WORCESTER | Economic Development Committee Meeting | Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:07 P.M. | Adjourned: 5:35 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
Vice Chairperson Councilor Sean M Rose
Councilor Matthew E Wally | | | | | Also: | City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Chief Financial Officer Tim McGourthy
Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Assistant Chief Development Officer Stephen Rolle
Commissioner of Inspectional Services Christopher Spencer
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may join us directly within the Esther Howland (South), follow the below link to join via the WebEx application or dial the direct line as indicated. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user you may dial *3. – Phone Number: 415-655-0001, Access Code: 2301 084 8393.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=efcbf0882542c64513624f4820994c6bb | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Economic Development hereby approves the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting on October 26, 2021. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of David Tetteh request to change the underlying zoning classification for the property at 18 Mountain St. East from Residential, Single (RS-7.0) to Business, Local (BL-1.0).
# 15a CC September 22, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the proposed zone change to the Standing
Committee, including the Planning Board’s favorable recommendation for the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3b. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Todd Rodman, Esq. on behalf of Boston Capital Development, LLC request to change the underlying zoning classification for the following property from Business, General (BG-4.0) to Business, General (BG-6.0), in accordance with the attached plan regarding 153 Green St. and 139 Green St.
# 14b CC August 10, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Assistant Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview of the proposed zone change to the Standing
Committee, including the Planning Board’s favorable recommendation for the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlon recognized the following speakers:
1. Todd Rodman, No residence given, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson moved for a roll call vote to recommend item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 4. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a status report on 65 Kenwood Avenue.
# 10.13A CM August 13, 2019
In Committee October 15, 2019 - Held
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 2, 2020 - Held
In Committee April 7, 2020 - Held
In Committee October 27, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 9, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #4b.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the City Solicitor, who provided information concerning the global settlement agreement with the owners of the property.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Wally and Councilor Rose, who both spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 | |
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| | | 4b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a status update concerning 65 Kenwood Ave.
# 8.16A CM June 19, 2018
In Committee June 25, 2019 - Held
In Committee October 15, 2019 - Held
In Committee January 28, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 2, 2020 - Held
In Committee April 7, 2020 - Held
In Committee October 27, 2020 - Held
In Committee March 9, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4b) | |
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| | | 4c. | 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
In Committee May 12, 2020 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, who provided an overview of the current software used to track properties with issues and the procedural system to assign staff to track the properties and address the issues as well as expediting the cases through legislative system.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Rose, who discussed the challenges relative to program licenses and staff training, and the time frame for information reports on problem properties to be generated with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 | |
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| | | 4d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an update of the Economic Development initiatives.
# 10.4D CM October 5, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Chief Development Officer, who discussed some of the significant milestones achieved by the Economic Development department since Spring 2021 including the Worcester Now Worcester Next masterplan, the Center Platform Project at the Worcester Union Station, the completion of the Table Talk Pie Headquarters, the opening of Courthouse Lofts and Major Taylor Museum, the plans concerning the Lincoln Square Boys Club, plans concerning the Auditorium, the Outdoor Dining Grant Program for local small businesses, and the work done by Workforce Development Division.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized Councilor Wally and Councilor Rose, who both spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson move for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 4e. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an update on the Outdoor Dining Grant Program.
# 10.4B CM October 5, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with Item #4f.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson recognized the Chief Development Officer, who provided an overview concerning the Outdoor Dining Grant Program, the regulatory flexibility provided by state legislation concerning outdoor dining for the upcoming season and plans concerning making regulatory flexibility permanent through zoning ordinances.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 | |
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| | | 4f. | Transmitting informational communication relative to outdoor dining.
# 11.4A CM September 8, 2020
In Committee March 9, 2021 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #4e) | |
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| | | 4g. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report detailing what the management company of the DCU Center and the Civic Center Commission are currently spending during COVID-19, what is normally spent and what cuts have been made to spending.
# 8.28A CM November 10, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson read the item and recognized the Chief Financial Officer, who provided an overview of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the DCU Center and the Off-Street Parking Board and actions taken by the DCU to reduce operational costs.
Chairperson Councilor Mero-Carlson 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 | |
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