CITY OF WORCESTER | Finance Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 19, 2020 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:03 P.M. | Adjourned: 5:56 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Joseph M Petty | | Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
| | Councilor Khrystian E King | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Sarai Rivera | | Councilor Sean M Rose | | Councilor Gary Rosen | | Councilor George J Russell | | Councilor Kathleen M Toomey | | Councilor Matthew E Wally |
City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | All members were present with the Mayor as the Chair except for Councilor King, who arrived at 5:37 P.M.
City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
Acting Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Johnson
City Auditor Robert V. Stearns
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
City Clerk Nikolin Vangjeli, clerk | | | | | Also: | Police Chief Steven M. Sargent
Fire Chief Michael J. Lavoie
Director of Emergency Communications Michael Shanley
Chief Information Officer Eileen Cazaropoul
Commissioner of Inspectional Services John Kelly
Retirement Agent Lisa Poske | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on May 14, 2019. | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to take up items #1a through #1d collectively and to adopt the items. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent) | |
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| | | 1b. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on May 21, 2019. | View Budget | | | | | | | Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent) (See Item #1a) | |
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| | | 1c. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on June 4, 2019. | View Budget | | | | | | | Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent) (See Item #1a) | |
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| | | 1d. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Finance hereby approves the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting on June 11, 2019. | View Budget | | | | | | | Order adopted on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent) (See Item #1a) | |
| 2. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Police Department | |
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| | | 2a. | Police Department - III-1, pg. 1 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Rosen, who moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent). | |
| 3. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Fire Department | |
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| | | 3a. | Fire Department - III-2, pg. 15 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed the need for the new South Division Fire Station with the Fire Chief.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the timeline for the new South Division Fire Station with the City Manager.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent). | |
| 4. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Emergency Communications | |
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| | | 4a. | Emergency Communications - III-3, pg. 25 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent). | |
| 5. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Technical Services | |
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| | | 5a. | Technical Services - IX-1, pg. 141 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed small cell technology and implementing 5G with the Chief Information Officer.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
| 6. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Department of Inspectional Services | |
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| | | 6a. | Inspectional Services - III-4, pg. 31 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized both Councilor Bergman and Councilor Mero-Carlson, who briefly spoke in regard to the work of the department.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who discussed the potential for adding additional staffing in the Inspectional Services Department if the economic uncertainty associated with COVID-19 were to be resolved with the City Manager.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who discussed the process of lead inspections with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, who explained the process was handled by the Housing Division of the Economic Development Office. The City Manager also spoke to the lead inspections process.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
| 7. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - City Auditor | |
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| | | 7a. | City Auditor - XII-1, pg. 173 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the funding level of the office, the potential need for special projects and what items may require the review of an outside auditor with the City Auditor.
Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Rosen, who discussed with the auditing office’s role working with the Worcester Public Schools and the office’s ability to work during the COVID-19 pandemic with the City Auditor.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent). | |
| 8. | FY 2021 Budget Hearing - Retirement | |
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| | | 8a. | Contributory Pensions and Non-Contributory Pensions - XIII-1, pg. 177 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to approve the budget. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 10 Yeas and 0 Nays (King absent). | |
| 9. | FY 2021 Budget Hearings - Legislative Offices | |
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| | | 9a. | City Council - XIV-1, pg. 183 | View Budget | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to take up items #9a through #9d collectively. Mayor Petty then recognized Councilor Wally, who discussed the objective of creating an open meeting portal and the potential for including Planning and Regulatory Services in the process with the City Clerk.
Mayor Petty moved for a roll call vote to approve the budgets. Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays. | |
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| | | 9b. | Mayor's Office - XIV-2, pg. 185 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9a) | |
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| | | 9c. | City Clerk's Office - XIV-3, pg. 189 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9a) | |
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| | | 9d. | Election Commission - XIV-4, pg. 193 | View Budget | | | | | | | Budget approved on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #9a) | |
| 10. | Fiscal Year 2021 Budget | |
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| | | 10a. | Communication of the City Manager submission of the Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Operating Budget for City Council review and consideration.
# 8.36A CM May 12, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Mayor Petty read the item and moved for a roll call vote to take items #10a, #11a, #12a and #13a collectively, and to recommend the items be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 11. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 11a. | Recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2021 proposed Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Worcester.
# 8.36B CM May 12, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC) | |
| 12. | Communication of the City Auditor | |
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| | | 12a. | Transmitting an informational communication regarding the passage of time taken to develop the Madison Properties' effect on the timing of the receipt of revenues required to service Series A bonds.
# 8b CC June 4, 2019
In Committee June 11, 2019 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC) | |
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| | | 13a. | Order of Councilor Khrystian E. King, Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request City Manager consider revising the Financial Integrity Plan for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) to allocate excess New Growth above budgeted to: 1) The High School Building Fund; and 2) The City Manager Capital Campaign Fund, to prepare for the capital costs for the South Division Fire Station and the city wide Financial Management System.
# 10b CC May 12, 2020 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 11 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #10a CC) | |
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