CITY OF WORCESTER | Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee Meeting | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Auditorium | Convened: 6:06 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:39 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Khrystian E King | | Vice Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson |
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Union Hill School - 1 Chapin Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King
Councilor Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | | | | Also: | Councilor George J. Russell
Councilor Sarai Rivera, who joined the meeting remotely
Councilor Gary Rosen, who joined the meeting remotely
City Solicitor Michael Traynor
Professor of Law at Stanford University Nathan Persily, who joined the meeting remotely
Assistant City Solicitor Wendy Quinn, who joined the meeting remotely
Principal Clerk Lorena Castillo
Assistant City Clerk Clare M. Robbins, 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 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: 2313 807 9858.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=e97148546cf2d46f4f33b78249e6e5b3b | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Municipal and Legislative Operations hereby approves the minutes of the Municipal and Legislative Operations meeting of November 10, 2021. | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King 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 | |
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| | | 3a. | Order of Mayor Joseph M. Petty – That the City Council of the City of Worcester does hereby authorize the City Solicitor to execute the consent decree containing the following three electoral system options: Option #1: A single-member district-based system for electing all members of the Worcester School Committee with no at-large seats (the “Single Member System”). Under any such Single Member System, there shall be a total of six (6) single-member Worcester School Committee districts, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, and the Mayor as Chair. Option #2: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 1 at-large seat. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of seven (7) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with one (1) at-large seat and the Mayor as chair. Option #3: Hybrid: A hybrid system that combines single-member district-based seats with 2 at-large seats. Under the Hybrid System, the Worcester School Committee shall be comprised of six (6) single-member district-based seats, including two (2) majority-minority districts, based on citizen voting age population of Hispanic/Latino/a and Black residents, with two (2) at-large seats and the Mayor as chair.
# 19c CC October 12, 2021
In Committee for informational purposes only
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and provided an overview concerning the decision to execute the consent decree and discussed the various options available to the city for electing School Committee officials.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor and Professor of Law at Stanford University, who discussed the role City Council has in the process for amending the School Committee election process, including the drawing of districts once a vote has gone through proper approvals.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the following speakers:
1. Henry Keyes, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
2. Samuel Boden, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #3a
Chairperson Councilor King discussed the demographic composition of registered Worcester voters and School Committee elected officials.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the Assistant City Clerk, who provided information concerning upcoming Municipal and Legislative Operation standing committee meetings relative to the consent decree.
Chairperson Councilor King recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the timelines associated with approving an election process for the School Committee.
Chairperson Councilor King 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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| | | 3b. | Communication of the City Clerk transmitting an informational communication concerning House Bill 4118 an Act Relative to Re-precincting (formerly H.3863), relative to the City Council 2020 Redistrciting process, as indicated in the City of Worcester's Charter Section 7-6 Districts: Section A&B.
# 12a CC October 12, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor King read the item and 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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