Committee Agenda for Public Safety Committee 12/21/2021

CITY OF WORCESTER

Public Safety Committee Meeting

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Esther Howland South Chamber

Convened: 5:00 P.M.

Adjourned: 5:51 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members
Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey
Vice Chairperson Sarai Rivera
Councilor Donna M Colorio

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey Councilor Donna M Colorio

	Also:	WPD Lieutenant Sean Murtha Director of Human Rights and Disability Jayna Turchek Assistant City Clerk Clare M. Robbins, clerk

Virtual Attendee Call-In Information



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 location, 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: 2314 281 0161. Event Password for Attendees: 0000. https://cow.webex.com/cow/j.php?MTID=m08b0da55b95f678fa13060397afeeb11	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the following speaker: 1. Bill Hoffner, New Hampshire resident, spoke in favor of the item

Approval of the Minutes



2a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on October 20, 2021.	View Agenda

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)

Communications of the City Manager



3a.	Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the restructuring of the WPD Operations Division. # 9.10A CM December 14, 2021	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized WPD Lieutenant, who discussed of the restructuring of the WPD Operations Division. Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the conditions of the current WPD vehicles and the amount of vehicles needed for efficient operations. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed district policing and foot patrol operations with the WPD Lieutenant. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Worcester Police Union President, who discussed the needs for more police officers in the city and to increase additional resources for the department. Chairperson Councilor Toomey then read the information concerning the civil service exam. Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved to support the restructuring of the WPD Operations Division. Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the conditions of the current WPD vehicles and the amount of vehicles needed for efficient operations.


3b.	Transmitting informational communication relative to a summary of the listening sessions on police body cameras. # 9.20A CM November 16, 2021	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Director of Human Rights and Disability, who provided an overview of the listening sessions on police body cameras. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the WPD Lieutenant, who discussed the timeline for the body camera program. Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the body camera policy for the Worcester Police Department. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the process of public input and concerns raised by public participants at the listening sessions with the Director of Human Rights and Disability and the WPD Lieutenant. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Worcester Police Union President, who spoke in favor of the program and discussed the timeline and process of the installation of the program. Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Resolution: That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support implementing a Body-Worn Camera program for the Worcester Police Department. Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager provide City Council with a report detailing the body camera policy for the Worcester Police Department.

	Chairman's Resolutions
	That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support implementing a Body-Worn Camera program for the Worcester Police Department.

Miscellaneous Items



4a.	Resolution of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the city’s recommendation to ban all facial recognition technology subject to the future adoption of an ordinance. # 16i CC March 2, 2021	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)


4b.	Resolution of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby support the city’s recommendation to require a public hearing and approval by the city council prior to the acquisition of any new surveillance technology subject to the future adoption of an ordinance. # 16j CC March 2, 2021	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Worcester Police Union President, who discussed the needs to be embrace new technology in order to combat crimes. Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the classification of surveillance technology and the needs to clearly define boundaries in the future as technology evolves. Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rivera absent)