CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Safety Committee Meeting | Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:38 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:00 P.M. |
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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 |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Donna M Colorio | | | | | Also: | Acting Police Chief Paul Saucier
WPD Lieutenant John Murtha
Fire Chief Martin Dyer
Assistant Fire Chief Adam Roche
Commissioner of Inspectional Services Chris Spencer
Director of Emergency Communications Charles Goodwin
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, 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 attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Safety Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/93622914564
Public Safety Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Safety Committee Zoom Access Code: 936 2291 4564 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on May 25, 2023. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted | |
| 3. | Communications of the City Manager - Police Department | |
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| | | 3a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a quarterly report detailing the deployments of the newly acquired Small Unmanned Aircraft System.
# 9.12A CM September 19, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Acting Police Chief, who provided an overview of the Small Unmanned Aircraft System.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed heat sensor capability of the drones and drone deployment policies with the Acting Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning any impediments the city may be faced with relative to providing elected officials with access to body-worn camera footage.
# 10.14C CM August 22, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Acting Police Chief, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 3c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a Police Cadet Program that will impact the representation and demographics of underrepresented groups within the Police workforce.
# 9.12A CM May 2, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to recommend the item be held. Recommend Hold | |
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| | | 3d. | Transmitting informational communication relative to an analysis of the 2022 Crime Statistics.
# 9.12A CM April 11, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Acting Police Chief, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey discussed fatality data relative to the analysis of the 2022 Crime Statistics, the impact of ShotSpotter and ShotSpotter Connect, first-aid training for police officers, timeline relative to future reports and noise and disturbance ordinance and process with the Acting Police Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with report concerning the number of all-terrain vehicles that have been confiscated by the police department.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speaker:
1. Greg Degermajian, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Acting Police Chief, who discussed the needs and importance of keeping up-to-date with new technology with Speaker #1.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police Chief provide City Council with report concerning the number of all-terrain vehicles that have been confiscated by the police department. | |
| 4. | Communication of the City Manager - Fire Department | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a request for a report concerning number of smoke alarms that have been distributed and installed by the Fire Department.
# 9.11A CM July 18, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Assistant Fire Chief, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed how SmartBurner devices are obtained and their effectiveness at preventing cooking fires, installation of bed shaker fire alarms, house safety audit and public education processes with the Fire Chief and the Assistant Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the ways in which residents can obtain SmartBurner devices.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed public education concerning the fire hazard risks of storing items above the stove with the Assistant Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Fire Chief provide City Council with a report concerning the ways in which residents can obtain SmartBurner devices. | |
| 5. | Communications of the City Manager - Emergency Communications and Management Department | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting research report provided by Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management relative to communities with Disaster Relief Fund's.
# 9.13A CM January 10, 2023
In Committee May 25, 2023 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the grants and funding for the Disaster Relief Funds and whether ARPA funding could be used for said funds with the Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the advisory board with the Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 5b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to using reverse 911 technology when tornado watch/warnings are issued by weather services.
# 9.11B CM November 30, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Director of Emergency Communications & Emergency Management, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Emergency Management create a targeted marking campaign for the Alert Worcester program.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Director of Emergency Communications and Emergency Management create a targeted marking campaign for the Alert Worcester program. | |
| 6. | Communications of the City Manager - Inspectional Services Department | |
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| | | 6a. | Transmitting Informational communication relative to a report for the potential for the city to recoup legal and/or operational costs from monies spent on issues stemming from negligent landlords or property owners.
# 11.14A CM September 12, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | |
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| | | 6b. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a summary of complaints and/or violations for 2 Gage Street, 5 Eastern Ave, 21 John Street and 13 Rena Street.
# 10.15A CM August 22, 2023 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, who provided an overview of the item.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning licensing the city’s landlords.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey then discussed the fines relative to illegal apartments, available financial programs to help landlords with maintaining their properties and financial packages for new tenants with the Commissioner of Inspectional Services.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with a legal opinion concerning licensing the city’s landlords. | |
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| | | 7a. | Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request City Manager request Police Chief consider purchasing a product such as the E.M.I.L.Y. (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard) water safety robot for use during water rescue. (Reference Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3XC7YLPlhI
# 11i CC October 25, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the procedure relative to amending the item to include the Fire Chief.
Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Police Chief and Fire Chief consider purchasing a product such as the E.M.I.L.Y. (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard) water safety robot for use during water rescue. (Reference Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3XC7YLPlhI).
Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Police Chief and Fire Chief consider purchasing a product such as the E.M.I.L.Y. (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard) water safety robot for use during water rescue. (Reference Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3XC7YLPlhI). | |
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