CITY OF WORCESTER

Public Safety Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 5:32 P.M.

Adjourned: 07:37 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 Vice Chairperson Councilor Sarai Rivera Councilor Donna M Colorio, who participated in the meeting remotely
 
Also:Councilor Etel Haxhiaj Councilor Thu Nguyen Deputy Police Chief Paul Saucier WPD Officer Brian Green WPD Officer Terrance Gaffney City Solicitor Michael Traynor Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk
 
1.

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 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

2a.

Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Safety hereby approves the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting on April 14, 2022.

View Agenda

Chairperson Councilor Toomey 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

3.

Communications of the City Manager - Police Department Items

3a.

Transmitting informational communication relative to an Unmanned Aircraft System Proposal. # 18a CC April 12, 2022

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and recognized the Deputy Police Chief, who discussed various aspects of the unmanned aircraft system proposal, including the appropriate circumstances such a system would be deployed, how digital media evidence would be stored, how such a system would be financed and policy relative to the city’s homeless population.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed the City Council’s roles in discussing and approving policies and the purchasing of unmanned aircraft systems.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey, who recognized State Senator Michael Moore, who discussed funding associated with the proposal, as well as the effect that such systems have had in other communities.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed allowing time for the community to understand policy and issues relative to an unmanned aircraft systems.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the City Solicitor, who discussed procedural aspects of receiving additional information associated with items, as well as City Council’s role in procedures associated with an unmanned aircraft system.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Colorio, who discussed the City Council and public’s role on the unmanned aircraft system proposal with the City Solicitor.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Haxhiaj, who discussed the moral obligation of bringing forward concerns associated with the unmanned aircraft system proposal, including striking any use of such systems for homelessness responses.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the following speakers:
1. Eric Tars, no residence given, spoke in opposition to the item
2. Courtney Pladsen, no residence given, spoke in opposition to the item
3. Maurice Newman, no residence given, spoke in opposition to the item
4. David Slatkin, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
5. Sam Skinner, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
6. Kevin Ksen, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
7. Wahiya Wolfpaw, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
8. Gabriel Kaufman-Gibbons, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
9. Nick Wertz, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
10. Rick Cipro, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
11. Victor Catalina, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
12. Emily Galante, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
13. Nathan Skyler, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
14. Yenni Desroches, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
15. Emiliano Falcon-Morano, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
16. Francesca Bartholomew-Girard, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
17. Dewey Cosgrove, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
18. Judy Diamondstone, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
19. Nelly Medina, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
20. Richard Coyne, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
21. Gerardo Schiano, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
22. Emmet Karner, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the item
23. Pauline West, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized State Senator Moore and the Deputy Police Chief, who discussed the city’s current procedures associated with identifying homeless individuals.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Rivera, who discussed the potential of organizing a meeting between city staff tasked with drafting policy around unmanned aircraft systems with community liaisons who may be able to aid in said drafts.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized the WPD Officers, who discussed the how the city would interact with the FAA for any flights of an unmanned aircraft system.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Deputy Police Chief, who discussed the reasoning behind creating drone policies after drone acquirement, usage of Taser as part of de-escalation tactic, opportunities for community input to be provided through crime watch meetings and UAS procedures and public mental health professional services as part of the de-escalation tactic.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized State Senator Moore, who discussed the feasibility of postponing drone usage until the development of drone policies.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with report concerning state and federal policies concerning drone surveillance.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey recognized Councilor Rivera and Councilor Colorio, who both spoke concerning the item.

Chairperson Councilor Toomey moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager request City Solicitor provide City Council with report concerning state and federal policies concerning drone surveillance.

3b.

Transmitting an informational communication concerning how the city’s recently passed ordinance relative to facial recognition technology applies to the use of drones. # 15a CC April 12, 2022

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Toomey read the item and moved to recommend the item be held.

Recommend Hold